Rachel Getina was used to being the center of attention. In fact, she kind of liked it. It boosted her confidence as onlookers stared, seemingly infatuated with her. But a change had come about. It was everywhere, from the time she stepped out of her house until the moment she returned. It was as if the eyes of the world were upon her, or at least all the eyes in Tree Hill.

It had started in school. Rachel wasn't stupid. She felt their stares. She heard their loud whispers. Normally, she would simply toss her hair back and smirk, continuing about her business but it was all so different now. Everything had changed that night she had broken up with Mouth, the night he had found out about her and Cooper.

Pulling her bag closer to her side, the normal confidence that always reverberated from the pretty cheerleader was strangely missing. The sea of people in the halls seemed to part for her as if her name was Moses. They stared a hole in her. They talked without even bothering to whisper. And she swore she even heard a few of them laughing. But they weren't laughing with her, they were laughing at her. It unnerved Rachel. It brought her back to the tragic time she referred to as her "fat girl days".

By fourth period, she had had enough. Screw them all anyway. It was just high school. Going to her car, she cranked the engine, saying to hell with Tree Hill High for the rest of the day. Those people were so immature anyway. They didn't know anything. They were beneath her. They didn't matter. So Rachel drove straight to the one person that did.

Putting on a fresh coat of lipstick and making sure her ample and perky teenage bosom were seductively pressed against that barely there second button on her shirt, Rachel bounced out of the car and knocked on the Scott's door. The house was quiet as Nathan was at school and Dan and Deb were at work but Cooper should have been there. The vehicle he was driving was not there and there was no answer from inside as she continued to knock and ring the bell. Sighing, she finally left, disappointed but not defeated.

She drove around aimlessly for a while. Skipping school was supposed to be fun or at least a lot better than what she was doing. But it wasn't. She remembered last time that had happened. It had been a fire drill that had ended up taking too long. So the gang had decided to blow off the rest of the school day. They had even been able to convince Haley to come along. It had been fun. They had gone over to the Scott's beach house and partied. She had been among friends then. She had also been with Mouth.

Rachel closed her eyes. Mouth, poor Mouth. She did feel awful hurting him that way. She hadn't been prepared for that look on his face. It was indescribable but it was clear to see he was in pain and it was all her fault. But it was for the best. She was doing him a favor. They weren't meant to be. She loved him but she wasn't in love with him. Her heart belonged to Cooper Lee and the sooner Mouth realized that, the better off they all would be.

Cooper, she thought, taking a deep breath. That was another story in itself. But she couldn't help but smile or feel tingly all over whenever she thought of him. That's what love did to you. Mouth had never made her feel that way. He was a good person but he was still a boy and Cooper was a man. Men could do things that boys simply couldn't.

She shivered just thinking about him. His touches, his kisses, the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her. How could any woman resist his charms? And she had been no exception. He had felt it too and she knew that. Try as he may, he wouldn't be able to keep denying it much longer. What they had was real, it was beautiful. Cooper wanted her just as much as she wanted him. He was just scared for the time being. But everything was going to be okay. Mouth was out of the picture, which was the first step to making their new "relationship" public. Everything else would fall into place. She just needed to see Cooper and tell him that. Once she explained everything, once she held him in her arms again, everything would be okay.

Driving near the outskirts of downtown, Rachel passed by the empty parking lot of Tric. It was the nightclub, Deb Scott co owned, a happening spot with several nights dedicated to serving and entertaining Tree Hill's underage population. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw it, the SUV from Dan Scott Motors that Cooper had been using as a loaner. Not even caring that she had already almost passed the entrance, and not caring about the grandpa in the Lincoln behind her that was trailing a little too closely, Rachel whipped into the lot sans turn signal as she roared to a stop beside her love. Her whole body on fire with anticipation and excitement, she hurriedly stepped out and ran to the side door, taking the liberty to let herself in.

"Cooper!" she called out to the empty space that served as a dance floor at night. "Coop! Where are you? It's me, baby! It's Rach!"

She walked around to the front of the bar area, gasping when a blonde head popped up from the other side. It was Deb, her hands full with a cart of fruit juices.

"We're closed", she simply stated the obvious as she went back to her duties.

Rachel gave her best smile.

"I know. I was dropping by to visit. I, I'm looking for Cooper. Is he around?"

"No."

Rachel bit her lip. Each response was growing shorter by the answer. The red head couldn't help but detect some animosity.

"Oh. I, um, I thought…isn't that his truck outside?"

"The one that my husband loaned him, yes."

"Oh. Okay. Well, I just thought…"

"Well, you thought wrong", Deb gave her a cool look, the first time the two women made eye contact.

"I, um, I really need to talk to Cooper. Do you know where he is?"

"Yes."

Rachel waited for the rest of the reply that never came.

"Where, where is he?"

"Rachel, is it? Are you aware that Cooper will be 30 years old in a matter of months?" Deb folded her arms.

"Yeah…"

"And you're 17?"

"18 almost."

Deb nodded.

"I see. Well, Cooper is not here and where he is, I am not at liberty to say. As for you, I would appreciate if you do not visit my house anymore. As for Tric…you know the hours of operation on Teen Night."

"Mrs. Scott, is there a problem?"

Deb laughed in spite of the situation.

"Oh you bet there is a problem but the sad thing is, I don't even think you know it."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh save the act. I know what happened between you and my brother."

Rachel smiled.

"You mean the fact that we're together now?"

"Rachel, you and Cooper are not together."

"Look, Mrs. Scott, I'm sorry that you're upset. Everybody wants to make a big deal about the age thing but who cares? It's only like 12 years. When he's 90 and I'm 78, what's it gonna matter?"

"It matters a whole lot now. You are in high school, Rachel. You're still a minor and Cooper is 29. I'd say that matters a whole hell of a lot."

"We didn't do anything wrong. It's not like it's even illegal. The law for this state says I only have to be 16 and…"

"And that makes it better? That's supposed to make it okay? Please, Rachel."

"We're together and we're gonna be, whether you like it or not so you may as well get used to it. Besides, it's none of your business anyway. Quit trying to run Cooper's life."

"Are you serious right now?" Deb put her hands on her hips. "Where on earth are your manners, young lady? I am an adult and I would appreciate some respect from you. How dare you march into my place of business with an attitude? You know, at first I was being a little short with you but the truth of the matter is, I'm not angry at you, Rachel. In fact, I feel sorry for you. I hate to burst your teenage dream fantasy world bubble but the reality is, you and Cooper are not together and never will be. And the fact that you feel you can just waltz into my home and disrespect it does make it my business. As far as Cooper? Someone apparently needs to run his life because obviously he's doing a piss poor job of it."

"Whatever. Just tell Coop I stopped by", Rachel turned to leave.

"It won't matter."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't you get it? He won't see you, he doesn't return your calls…"

"Cooper is a very private person but nobody knows what goes on in our relationship."

"Rachel…"

"He made love to me. Did you know that? Right in your living room, Mrs. Scott."

Deb frowned.

"Unfortunately, I am aware of that…myself and the whole town, in fact."

"He knew how old I was at the time and he didn't care. Age is just a number. We connected. We get each other. What we have is special. I know how Cooper feels about me. Sure he's scared of another relationship and I'm sure all that gossip about stuff is starting to get to him but I don't doubt what we have. I was there. It's real."

"It was a moment, Rachel. I'm sorry. It was nothing more than a fleeting moment. Cooper says he made a huge mistake and he's sorry. Don't you understand? There is no relationship and there never will be. It was one night that he severely regrets. Now he is way old enough to know better so I mostly blame him but you need to grow up and accept some responsibility as well. Walk away, Rachel. Don't make this any worse than it already is."

"You don't know."

"No, you don't know. Everybody else does. You don't see them talking about you and pointing at you?"

Rachel shrugged.

"Who cares? They don't know. They're just jealous anyway."

"It's not jealousy. And you should care. It's about your reputation and that's a very precious thing."

Rachel just nodded. She didn't need a lecture and she had had enough. Deb was wrong. Everybody was wrong. They were all just trying to come between her and Cooper, ruin their happiness and Rachel wasn't going to allow that. She regained her composure and turned to leave.

"Just tell Cooper to call me."