Tree Hill, North Carolina

Scott Residence

Feet propped up, unopened warming beer next to him on the nightstand, Cooper Lee sighed as he picked his aim and expertly pitched a dart half way across the room onto the board hanging up on the back of his bedroom door. Bullseye…again. Rolling his own eyes, he sat up with a sigh when he heard a knock. The last thing he wanted or needed was a visit from Dan or Deb.

"Come in", he grumbled.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Cooper gave a half smile.

"Hey, Nephew! Come on in."

Nathan smirked.

"Dude, you look way too happy to see me."

"It could have been worse, besides, I'm still in shock. You're like never here, not that I blame you anyway."

"I'm around", Nathan shrugged. "Not that you would notice. You look pissed off. What did Mom do now? Or was it Dad?"

Cooper sighed. His sister had been riding his ass ever since his arrival to Tree Hill and Dan was an ass no matter how one looked at that. But it was expected behavior and something Cooper could deal with. But he had other things on his mind.

"Nah, I'm not worried about your parents. It's something else, actually."

"What's up?" Nathan took a seat next to the bed.

Cooper looked around, uncomfortable. He didn't quite know where to start or how to put it. He loved his nephew and Nathan looked up to him. Would he even understand?

"It's complicated, you know, girl stuff. It's not important, though."

"Is this about Brooke?"

Cooper nearly toppled over the bed.

"Brooke? What? I mean, how…"

"You guys do have a thing going on, right?"

"Let me guess…is that the word going around school?"

"Sort of but even if I didn't hear that, I still would have thought something was happening."

Cooper raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"You guys have been hanging out a whole lot lately. Then at the dance I saw you talking and I don't know, I guess it was just the way you two were looking at each other and stuff."

Cooper took a deep breath.

"Brooke and I are not a couple."

"Okay."

"Okay? Just okay? I mean, you're not mad? You're not disappointed in me?"

Nathan chuckled.

"Man, chill out. It's me you're talking to, not Mom or Dad. I mean, you're a grown ass man. It's your life, your business."

"We're friends. I mean, we're more than friends but less than a couple. Does that make sense?"

"No."

"We talk. We have fun. She's an awesome girl and I mean that. We can talk for hours and we just seem to get each other somehow. I really like her, Nate."

"You sleeping with her?"

"Of course not. It's not like that. I am physically attracted to her but it's so much more than trying to get in her pants. As much as I do want her, the thought never crossed my mind. She's more than that to me. And after what your brother did to her, no offense, Brooke's just really fragile right now. I care about her a lot."

"Damn. I don't think I've ever heard you talk about a girl like that."

"I don't ever think I have felt this way before."

"Then what's the problem?"

"What do you mean?"

"You like her and obviously she's into you. What's holding you back from taking the next step?"

"Honestly? Fear."

"What are you scared of?"

"Everything. Of what it would mean for me to let my guard down and truly feel again. I'm scared if it would work and I'm scared if it won't. And what if Brooke really doesn't feel the same way. What if I'm just the nice old guy who says all the right things and because she's so vulnerable, she's kind of leaning towards that but deep down I'm more like a crutch?"

"What if, Coop? Yeah, all that could be true. It's a thousand 'what ifs'. But you'll never really know until you try."

"Easier said than done, Nephew", Cooper took a sip of his beer before making a face and spitting it out.

"I've been there. Look at me and Haley. Hell, I'm not proud of it now but I went after her at first for all the wrong reasons. Then it backfired on me, all of it. I fell in love. It was the best thing that could have happened to me because I needed something like that, somebody like her in my life but at the same time, it was the worst thing that could have happened. I was scared shitless in the beginning. I didn't know how to act, how to treat her. So many times I messed up and pushed her away. Haley was scared, too. She gave me a lot of chances but in the end, it just kind of felt right. Look at us now. I know Hales and me aren't you and Brooke but…"

"That's real sweet, Nathan and I am happy for you and Haley and she's a great girl but you two are both in high school."

"So?"

"And so is Brooke. You guys are young and you're about to enter this exciting new world and there's college and all. And what am I? About to hit 30 and I still haven't figured out who I am, what the hell I'm doing or what I want."

"Sounds like Brooke hasn't figured any of that out, either. Maybe you could do it together."

"But she just turned 18. She's still in high school. What am I gonna do, sign her report card and drop her off at cheerleading practice? Dude, I look like a perv. It just looks bad. What would everyone think?"

"Screw what everybody else thinks, especially my parents. This one is on you."

"The age thing does bother me, among other things. Like we were spending a lot of time together and we kind of had the talk about where things could go and just when I thought she was really feeling me, I, um, I saw her downtown on a date with another guy."

Nathan shrugged.

"Then I don't know what to tell you, Coop. Sorry. Look, I've got to go, but whatever it is, I hope you figure it out, the sooner the better. You're looking kind of sad in here holed up in your room playing darts by yourself drinking warm beer."

Cooper let out a little smile as the two bumped fists.

"Thanks for the advice. By the way, when did you get so damned smart?"

Nathan thought for a second and shrugged.

"I don't know. Must have something to do with my tutor. See you later", he put on his jacket.

"Where are you off to? I looked outside a few minutes ago and it looks like straight Doomsday out there. The weatherman is calling for one hell of a storm. You leave now and you're gonna be caught in some nasty weather."

"I'm going over to Haley's. Her parents are out of town and we'll be all alone. Being stuck in the rain for a few hours doesn't seem so bad to me."

Cooper nodded and smiled again before looking outside at a sky that was getting darker by the minute. Closing his eyes, he sighed. He had come to Tree Hill to get himself together and start over, now he had only created another mess. He could follow Nathan's advice but maybe it was better if he just followed his own. Maybe it would be better for everyone, most especially Brooke, if he just got the hell out of town…

McFadden Residence

"Please, please answer", he whispered to himself.

"Hey, this is Rachel and I can't come to my phone. Leave a message and if you're lucky, I'll get back to you."

Mouth sighed heavily at the tone of the beep.

"Hey, Rach, it's me…again. Um, I've called a few times and I even went out looking for you. I'm starting to get worried. It looks really ugly out there so wherever you are, I hope you get home soon. Please call me so I'll know you're safe. Love you. Bye."

He hung up and sat on his bed, smiling sadly and fondly as he stared over at the framed picture next to his bed. It had been taken at the North Carolina State Fair that year. There was a grinning Mouth, his arm draped around his beautiful girlfriend. Mouth put the picture to his chest. God, he loved her. Rachel Getina had been the best thing to happen to him…ever. Winning her love was a true testament to geeks and underdogs throughout the world.

It had been going well. They had even discussed attending college in mutual cities and the lovable nerd blushed every time he thought about Rachel's suggestion for them to move in together. Shacking up, living in sin. It did kind of have a ring to it, he thought with a smirk. It would be totally out of character for someone like Mouth McFadden but he didn't care. Caution be damned! He was in love and the only that mattered was being with Rachel.

But there were still the haters out there, still those who had doubt about Tree Hill's most unlikely duo. Sometimes Mouth had doubt himself, though he would never admit it out loud. He wished he could talk it over with Brooke. They used to be so close and could tell each other anything. She had always been there for comfort but in this situation, it was her with the most doubts. She had further increased his looming insecurities by bringing up Cooper Lee, a man who looked like he had fallen off the Beauty Tree and hit every single branch on the way down. He was the talk of the town and subject of much admiration with his Hollywood good looks, chiseled frame and dynamite charm and personality.

What girl wouldn't be attracted to that? Was his girl any different? Brooke hadn't seemed to think so and she didn't mind voicing her opinion. In doing so, a shadow of doubt had been cast in Mouth's mind. He had questioned Rachel nonchalantly about their relationship and she had dismissed it with a shrug and quick but innocent explanation. They had danced a few times. They were just casual acquaintances. Brooke was just jealous and trying to start something. Why would she want Cooper? He was old and besides, she loved her Mouth. He had nodded and accepted the answer. It was enough for him…or was it?

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the photograph of her face before glancing at the window. The wind picked up, howling as it's mighty force thrashed about. A storm brewed outside his window and inside his heart…

Davis Residence

Brooke paced aimlessly around her room, digging her bare, painted toes into the soft carpet. The TV hummed in the background and the latest edition of Cosmo lay on her bed. She was interested in neither. Her mind was elsewhere. A storm was coming. It had been the talk of the town. Tree Hill residents were advised to seek immediate shelter. High winds, flood producing rain with dangerous lightening. Brooke sighed as her regularly scheduled program was interrupted again with yet another message from the National Broadcast Center.

She remembered another huge storm over a year before. There had been no warnings, it had seemed to develop out of the blue. Before the coastal shore knew it, Mother Nature had released her wrath dumping them with bright flashes of lightening, loud claps of thunder and enough rain and wind to blow a house down. Karen had been stuck at the café and had reluctantly allowed her teenage son's girlfriend to stay over until the weather had passed. No hanging out in the bedroom, was her one rule. Ha! Brooke adored Karen but the woman was naïve. Hang out in the bedroom? Brooke had already been naked, placing butterfly kisses along Lucas' bare back before he could even hang up the phone with his mother. But it had been more than mind blowing sex that day. For Brooke it was all about the intimacy, the closeness. She shivered as he cuddled with her and in a world of teenage happily ever after, she thought it would be that way. Forever.

"I hate you!"

There was the familiar sound of breaking glass.

"Oh, you're nothing but a drunk! Why don't you go somewhere and take a pill or something?"

Brooke shrugged. When all else failed and nothing felt familiar, leave it to the classic arguments of her parents to change all that. It seems they had been fighting since the day she was born. Brooke wondered how they'd even had time to slow down and conceive her. But stranger things had happened, she supposed.

Then there was Cooper. She couldn't help but smile. Just the thought of those eyes made her feel giddy. But it was more than that, more than a crush. He was hot and she wouldn't mind jumping his bones but it was more than sexual as well. They had a connection and it was beautiful, amazing. They liked each other and there was potential for something more, something so much more.

"No!" Brooke surprised herself by screaming out loud.

She liked him but she couldn't, she just couldn't. Maybe it was fear of the unknown or fear of getting her heart broken again. Maybe it was the yearning to start life over at the end of high school with no ties or commitments holding her back. Maybe it was the age thing. Or maybe, just maybe, it was something else.

Brooke pulled out the old photo album, the one that had acquired a million and one dust bunnies from being shoved beneath the bowels of her bookshelf. She hadn't been able to bring herself to look at it for months but something nostalgic inside her brought her to slowly open the pages. Lucas giving her bunny ears on the bus on the way to a Bear Creek away game. She sitting in Lucas' lap at Jake's birthday party. Doing silly poses at a photo booth in the mall. Kissing on the beach.

Brooke sighed as she carefully and slowly turned each page before closing the book altogether and bringing it close to her heart. Cooper was on her mind and in her heart but so was Lucas still. And the poor schmuck she had flirted shamelessly with at the coffee house had been nothing more than a mere distraction. Trying to take it all in, a large, single tear slid down her cheek as at the same time, a large, single raindrop slid down her bedroom window…

Somewhere In Midtown Tree Hill

Rachel gave the steering wheel a white knuckled grip. Her heart pounded. For one who usually craved a walk on the wild side, the pretty red head had more than enough of her share of adrenaline for one day. Sure she had heard all those stupid reports on the television and the radio but she hadn't really listened. Tree Hill was always exaggerating one thing or another. A storm was coming, big fucking deal! She had no idea how true that would be.

The wind blew gusts so strong, it was as if nature was playing a game, tossing her SUV all over the road. The thunder blasted, causing her heart to drop each time. God, she hated thunderstorms. They scared her and it wasn't much that frightened Rachel Getina. But it wasn't getting better, only worse. She knew she'd have to pull over soon before something terrible happened. Picking up her cell phone, she cursed when there was no signal. She was a long way from Mouth's and an even longer way from home. Tears formed in her eyes as she wished for the comfort and gentle caresses of her loving boyfriend at that moment. Driving a little further, she turned her windshield wipers on full power. Please, God, she prayed but it was too late. There was a snapping sound and just like that, the right front wiper was gone. Screaming, Rachel veered off into the shoulder, blinded by overpowering rain as she screeched to a halt.

She was safe, at least for the moment, but it didn't feel like it. With zero visibility, it could have been a lot worse but she had been spared. She had been able to stop without hitting something or someone and she and her vehicle were both in one piece. But Rachel was still terrified. She couldn't sit there all alone for who knows how long. But where could she go? Then she saw it. Sighing with relief, she knew where she was. Biting her lip, she opened the door. The wind and rain was so strong it nearly blew her away several times but Rachel kept running. She ran with all her might against the fury of the storm. She ran across several streets until she found herself in that winding, paved driveway. Out of breath and shivering, she banged on the door…

Scott Residence

Cooper's nap was interrupted. What in the hell? It was the storm of the century, and he was home alone. Who on earth could be knocking at the door? Dragging out of bed, he yawned as he made his way to the front. Could Deb have lost her key? Then he smiled, imagining a wet and furious Dan on the other end. But he opened it and to his surprise, it was someone else.

"Rachel…"