AUTHOR' S NOTE: Pictures added on my homepage here from the 4th Annual James Lafferty charity game

One Year Later…

Brooke Davis sauntered through the infamous New York New York hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though filled with a diverse variety of interesting and beautiful people, all heads seemed to turn in the direction of the brunette as she passed by. It was something about her walk with its perky bounce of a step and the way her womanly hips moved about in the gorgeous sun dress she had sewn herself. The green and white colors offset her tan and pop bottle figure as long, dark hair full of volume hung past smooth shoulders. Her make up was flawless as ever and she seemed to have a unique glow about her, her big dimples and bright smile that shined a mile away. She was more than just a pretty face and a sexy body. The girl had spunk, a special "it" quality that turned heads and drew others to her like moths to a flame.

Though not old enough to enjoy Sin City's lucrative and exciting gambling scene, Brooke had found plenty of other things to do to occupy her time. She had enrolled at the International Academy of Design and Technology the August before, just two short months after high school graduation. Like never before, she had engulfed herself in academics. But never before had studies been so fun. It was an Associate degree of Science and Bachelor of Fine Arts in an environment where Brooke clearly shined…fashion design. It had been an intense year learning about the development and construction of apparel, fundamentals of design, as well as the marketing portion of the business. She had excelled in every creative project assigned, from computer applications to the knitting machine. Brooke was well on her way to entering into the industry as a professional. Her portfolio was one of the best in the class and she eagerly anticipated embarking on a challenging, new career.

But another Brooke had emerged as well. Although funny and still fun loving, the dense, self centered, immature party girl had long disappeared. In her place was an intelligent, ambitious, self assured, kind hearted, confident young woman. Once again she had found herself the toast of her inner social circle but Brooke had surrounded herself with peers on her same level and with her same interests. Soaking up the experience, she lived every day with a smile, not forgetting the hard teenage lessons learned back in Tree Hill, North Carolina. Finally she had discovered inner peace and happiness. And she was well on her way to once again finding love. The new guy in her life had been responsible for bringing more than a few smiles to her gorgeous face. It was a solid relationship built on trust, friendship, respect and balance. With everything going her way, Brooke hadn't remembered a time being so happy. Somehow everything just felt right.

Peering through the Chin Chin Café, she looked around before finally spotting the person she was looking for. Giving a wave and a friendly smile, Brooke walked over to the table, taking a seat as she perched her designer sunglasses atop her head.

"I'm late. I know, I know. Don't even say anything", she meekly tried to apologize with the roll of her eyes and half grin.

"No, you're not."

She glanced down at her Chanel watch. A new and improved Brooke had surfaced on the inside but on the outside, she was still her glamorous and immaculately put together old self.

"Are you kidding? It's like twenty after five already."

Alexis, a pretty girl with bronze skin, striking features and a mass of black, curly hair sat across from her. She had quickly become a friend, as the pair had met through school where Alexis studied interior design.

"I know. I just got here myself."

"But you said five."

Alexis just laughed.

"And when has Brooke Davis ever been anywhere on time, except for class?"

"It's called being fashionably late, you know, making an entrance."

"If that's your story. Anyway, I knew five for you would be more like quarter after so I actually just sat down."

"You suck."

"Nah, I just know you too well."

The girls giggled as they ordered egg rolls and the delicious Classic Shredded Chicken Salad the restaurant was world famous for. The meal arrived quick as they ate and indulged in aimless girl talk.

"You look sad", Brooke observed shortly after the two had just finished stuffing their faces.

"No, I don't."

Brooke shot her a knowing look.

"Lex…"

"Okay, okay", the other girl sighed with a frown. "Jason and I are having problems. I think he might break up with me."

Brooke took a breath. She had been tuning in to the Jason and Alexis saga ever since the girls had grown close months before. The two had been engaged in an on again off again tornado of love, passion and never ending arguments. Brooke had never seen anything quite like it. Though the couple obviously adored each other, sometimes love just isn't enough. Their inability to get along had taken its toll and left all involved on an emotional, non stop roller coaster.

"What happened this time?"

"I think he might be cheating on me."

Brooke frowned. Jason was a lot of things but being a cheat had never crossed her mind.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? Like what gives you that idea? Did you find strange numbers in his phone? Does he reek of cheap, imposter perfume? What?"

"No. I, I just have a feeling. I can't explain it. What do you think?"

"You really want to know?"

"Of course. Brooke, I totally trust your judgment and opinion."

Brooke couldn't help but smile a little bit. It was nice to hear someone say that to her and actually mean it.

"I don't think Jason is cheating on you."

"Then what do you think it is?"

"Honestly? I think he's immature and a little self centered. He has a great girl that I feel he really loves but sometimes it seems he takes you and the relationship for granted."

Alexis exhaled with seeming relief.

"Thank God!"

"May I ask why that's a good thing?" Brooke raised one eyebrow.

"Jason isn't cheating."

"Probably not but he is treating you like crap."

Alexis dismissed it with the wave of her hand.

"It'll be alright. He just likes to hang out with his friends a lot. Hell, it could be a lot worse, right? He could be off hanging with some other woman. It's cool."

"No, it's not. I hate to pry but don't you get tired of it? The fighting, the lies, him constantly putting everyone before you when you always put him first."

"It sucks but I deal with it."

"Why?"

Alexis sighed.

"Because he is a good man and it isn't bad always. Brooke, we have some incredible times. And besides, he loves me."

"Maybe so but you deserve so much better."

"Jason is fine. Besides, maybe this is as good as it gets."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm not like you. Damn, Brooke, you have it all. You're gorgeous and you're smart and you're so talented. You have all this confidence without being stuck up. You know exactly what you want and you go get it. Guys kill to be with chicks like you but not every girl is like you."

"So you settle?"

"I don't see it that way."

"Well, I do. Look, Alexis, all those things you just said about me were wonderful compliments and I really appreciate them. It means something to me that you kind of look up to me. It's pretty cool."

"Get out of here. Girl, I bet people have been looking up to you your whole life."

"They used to but that doesn't mean anything because they were doing it for the wrong reasons. They wanted to be popular and I was. Call it high school hero worship, I just call it plain stupid. Being dumb and irresponsible and sometimes down right mean, is in no way a role model for anyone."

"That's not you."

"Not anymore, thank goodness, but it's a part of who I used to be. Lex, believe me, I am so not proud of that. But I changed and it was for the better. I'm a good person now and so are you but regardless of that no one needs to treat you that way in a relationship."

"Brooke…"

"Do you know how lucky we are as women? And love, well, it can be a beautiful thing. You are a strong, beautiful woman and you deserve nothing less than a faithful, respectful, loving guy who'll make you smile way more than he makes you cry."

"That's easy for you to say. You're dating Mr. Wonderful."

"It wasn't always that way. Trust me, I had to kiss my share of frogs before I got my prince. I've been hurt before, I mean really hurt. I was used and played and made a fool of. Then I met a really great guy or at least I thought he was. He was quiet and broody and smart and quite possibly the sweetest boy on the planet. He originally was interested in my best friend, which should have been my red flag. Anyway, we got together and it was great and he was great."

"And? What happened?"

"He cheated on me…twice, broke my heart, humiliated me in front of the whole town and basically shattered my self esteem."

"Jesus, Brooke, what's so great about that?"

"Would you think I was crazy if I told you that was one of the best things that ever happened to me?"

"I'd pretty much think you're insane."

"Well, call me cuckoo, but it totally was. Know why? That guy was the first guy that ever made me feel special, wanted, I mean truly loved for me and not just my body or my popularity. I'll never regret that. No matter how screwed up everything ended up being, I guess a part of me will always be grateful for the good times. And after it was all said and done, I was in a pretty bad place, pretty much rock bottom. But all that hurt made me a stronger, better person. It taught me a valuable lesson. It made me stop depending on other people, especially guys. It made me realize I have all I need here and right here", she pointed to her head and her heart. "And once I learned that, once I became comfortable in my own skin, everything else just fell into place. And time and a lot of soul searching and a whole lot of tears made me ready to be where I am now. I'm in a new relationship and I can handle that and I am totally happy. It could be that way for you, too."

Alexis smiled.

"You're pretty amazing, you know that?"

"I'm not one to brag", Brooke teased, eyes twinkling.

"Oh shut up. You're too much sometimes. Anyway, I have to go. I've got stuff to do. I'll call you tomorrow."

Brooke pouted.

"You're going to see Jason, aren't you?"

"Brooke…"

"Don't lie to me."

"I can't help it. I love him. Besides, not everybody can be as strong as you are and uh, not everybody gets the fairytale."

She stood and hugged her friend.

"Call me later, Lex", Brooke left with a sigh.

She watched the girl disappear into the crowd as Brooke waited by the entrance. A few minutes later she saw him and couldn't help but smile as she waved. He returned her grin with own, wading through the mass of people to get to her. When they were face to face, he smoothed a lock of her dark hair before planting a sweet kiss on her lips.

"Half a million people in this city and I'm dating the prettiest one. Go figure, right?"

Brooke shrugged and gave him a sexy wink.

"Aren't you lucky?"

"I'll never deny that. You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

"How was dinner? How is Alexis?"

"Dinner was good and Alexis? Well, she's not so good."

"What's wrong?"

"Boy problems. It's a long story. Can I tell you about it later?"

"You bet. But hey, don't be sad, alright? I know she's your friend and you're worried but Alexis is a smart girl. She'll be okay. Besides, sometimes people have to learn things on their own. You went through a lot but look at you now. You look great, you feel great. You're living in the best city in the world, you're getting an education and you've got a killer career ahead of you. What more could one person want?"

"I could think of one thing."

"Oh yeah, I mean, besides a hot stud like myself."

She laughed as she swatted at him.

"What am I gonna do with you?"

"We could over to my place", he suggested, slipping an arm around her waist. Tell you what, we'll watch a movie, even one of your tear jerking chick flicks, and I'll take a look at some of the new designs in your portfolio."

"Sounds like a plan."

"And I can wait to show you the draft they sent me for my new car. It's hot."

She looked up at him with quiet adoration, loving the excited look in his eyes.

"Whatever you want to do, Coop. I'm yours for the night."

"I like the way that sounds."

And so did Brooke although it was still a bit unbelievable. The road had been long and rocky. From the beginning there had been undeniable chemistry and a unique kinship shared between the two of them but timing had been everything. When they had met, both had been lost in their own way and it taken a year for them to respectively find themselves. Fed up with being his own worst enemy, Cooper had taken a few months off to search his soul. He jumped in his car and drove aimlessly across country, no particular destination in sight. It was a few months of solitary in the desert and eventually he had gone back to his first love…racing. But something else was still missing.

After making amends, Brooke had spent her last summer of freedom in Tree Hill, hanging out and laughing it up at the beach with Peyton, Jake, Haley, Nathan and the rest of the gang. Then on a hot day in August, she boarded a plane headed non stop to Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a new beginning and Brooke found herself happier than ever. But something else was still missing.

It had been a short yet nevertheless painful good bye. Cooper had tried to explain everything and ended their meeting with an apology. And then he was gone. It would take months before they would reconnect, first in the form of an e-mail sent from Cooper to see how Brooke was doing. Some might say it was a coincidence that led them both across the country to the same city but Brooke and Cooper finally decided it was fate. The chemistry was still there and everything that had kept them apart was long gone. They had decided to take it slow, rebuilding their friendship first. In time they had become inseparable. Self assured and their lives together, the relationship had been based on the winning combination of trust, honesty, and communication. And of course love. Knowing full well that tomorrow wasn't promised, Cooper and Brooke were taking it one day at a time but anyone who saw them together could see their future together in their smiles.

"Let me just call Alexis to make sure everything's alright", Brooke reached for her phone. "That damned Jason. I swear men can be such pigs sometime."

"He's young and dumb. We can't help it. Sometimes it just takes the right woman to come along", Cooper said just as a sexy red head who could have been a double for a certain Ravens co-captain, walked by.

Not missing a beat and never looking up from her phone, Brooke quipped, "If you turn around and look at her, I will stab you tonight in your sleep, so help me."

Cooper couldn't help but laugh. He had more than learned his lesson. And so had Brooke. Both were exactly where they wanted to be with who they wanted to be with. Young, though no longer restless, fate indeed had had the last word.

"Wouldn't dream of it, babe", he placed a kiss on the side of her head. "Wouldn't dream of it."

THE END