Brooke took a seat at one of the picnic tables located in the back of Tree Hill High. Checking the time again on her phone, she frowned. Cheerleading practice was over and school itself had been dismissed hours ago. Looking around at the few students still hanging around for various extra curricular activities, she failed to locate her roommate. Living together, attending the same school and same amount of classes and cheering together made carpooling the logical option. It was Rachel's turn again and a tired and anxious Brooke was more than ready to go.
"Why so glum, Chum?" Rachel snuck up behind her, draping a long, tanned arm around her.
"There you are. It's about time."
"Somebody's fussy."
"I'm just ready to get out here."
"Why? So you can go home, take a shower, put on your PJs and veg out in front of the TV?"
Brooke crinkled her eyebrow.
"How did you know?"
"Because your very boring and slightly pathetic schedule is becoming routine."
"You're so nosy," Brooke defended.
"What happened that day?"
"What day?"
Rachel rolled her eyes.
"You know the day. The day of the storm when I came home and you and Bevin and Mouth were balling your eyes out in a prayer circle."
Brooke let out a sigh. Over time she had actually come to like Rachel and the two had grown close. She had even come to trust her. But what had happened in that living room between three friends was sacred. She could never tell anyone, not even Rachel.
"I told you, nothing. It was no big deal. We were bored and watching sappy movies and you know the rest."
"If that's your story."
"It is."
"Fine, Brooke but you've been different ever since that day."
"No, I haven't."
"Yes, you have."
"What the hell is going on? I wish you'd talk to me or at least snap out of it already. I want my old roomie back, the fun one."
"I'm fine. I'm just tired."
"I call bullshit but I know exactly what is wrong with you."
Brooke folded her arms and smirked.
"Do tell, Dr. Gatina."
"You have lost your groove," Rachel stated matter of factly.
Brooke couldn't help but laugh.
"My what? Hey Rach, 1990 called and they want their word back."
"Make all the fun you want but you know it's true. Think about it. When we first met, back when we couldn't stand each other and you were playing all hard to get with Lucas, you were so, so fun and happy and alive then. What happened? Now it's like you're a different person."
"Rachel…"
"You need a man."
"Let's take a look at my track record the last couple of years. Lucas, Felix, Lucas again, Nick Chavez. Need I say more?"
"So you made some mistakes in the romance department? Big deal. It's just high school. Lucas the first time never should have happened because he wasn't true to himself. He was still into Peyton and even though you were in major lust with him, deep down you knew that so you should have backed off. Not that I blame you because I would have done the exact same thing but this is your crazy, mixed up love life, not mine."
"Thanks."
"Anytime. Now onto Felix. That wasn't so bad, right? He was cute, he dropped a lot of cash on you and you had fun."
"Yeah and it would have been great if he hadn't been the bigoted bastard that wrote the word dyke on my best friend's locker."
"True. Noble excuse to dump him but be real, Brooke. You really weren't that in to the guy. He was something to do, to past the time away so you wouldn't be alone. Admit it. A part of you was just using him."
Brooke shrugged.
"Maybe a little but what does that have to do with anything?"
"You were dating. You were exploring. You were having fun. That's what you're supposed to do. It's a normal, healthy part of being a teenager. You don't always have to find everlasting love with every guy you meet."
"Which brings us to Lucas the sequel."
"Precisely. That time around you weren't the one being true to your feelings. You really loved Lucas but you weren't in love with him. You had outgrown him by then. You were a different Brooke. Look at all the things you had accomplished on your own…Student Council President, Clothes Over Bros. You didn't need a guy. You didn't need your parents. All you needed was yourself, you knew you were strong enough to do anything."
"And Nick?"
"You mean Mr. Chavez?"
"Oh don't go there, Friend. That one was all on you, thank you very much."
"Hey, I just set it up trying to help. How the hell was I supposed to know he was our new teacher?"
"That was bad," Brooke giggled.
"It was fun until he turned out to be a lying, playing dog who nearly ruined our friendship."
"Exactly. So now that we just traveled down Memory Lane and revisited all of my disastrous relationships, I think it's safe to say that I, Brooke Penelope Davis, need a new man like I need a hole in my head."
"You need the right man."
"Whatever, Rachel."
"Want some advice?"
"Hell no, but like that's gonna stop you."
"Of course not so listen up and take notes."
"This ought to be good…"
"You are Brooke Davis. You are the Brooke Davis. You're popular and gorgeous and sexy. People want to be around you. It's time to revamp that image but at the same time, play hard to get. We've got to get you back in the game."
"Okay, that officially makes no sense whatsoever. Can we finish this conversation…in the car…on the way home?"
Rachel looked around, a smile finally appearing on her lips.
"I've got it. Come on."
"Hold on," Brooke protested. "Where are you dragging me?"
A deviously grinning Rachel finally stopped in front of a large classroom in the front where an after school meeting was taking place.
"Here you go."
Brooke peeked in, her eyes wide as her mouth fell open. She gave Rachel a swat on the arm.
"Are you drunk?"
"No but I plan on that later."
"Rachel, I'm serious. What's the matter with you? Surely you don't expect me to be one of them."
"Why not? Stranger things have happened."
"I doubt it. Look at them. They walk around school with their noses in the air with that sickening holier than thou attitude judging everybody else. And those shirts? Are you kidding me? You couldn't pay me enough to be a, to be a…Clean Teen."
Clean Teens were a group of primary and mostly secondary virgins who paraded around the school practicing their preaching of abstinence and trying to recruit any soul willing to convert to their precious and pure little cult. Brooke had already had several run ins with the founder and president, senior Shelly Simon.
"It's brilliant," Rachel whispered. "It'll make the guys want you even more. This time around you'll have my expertise. I will be more than happy to weed out all the liars, players, users and creeps."
"Rachel, let's get out of here before I kill you!" Brooke stated a little too loudly.
"Can I help you?"
Both girls turned and noticed that the all the Clean Teens were looking right at them. Hand on her hip, Shelly was now directly speaking to them.
"Uh, no thank you," Brooke smiled her best fake smile. "We were just leaving."
"Actually we were just staying," Rachel said.
"You were?" Shelly raised an eyebrow.
"We were?" Brooke made a face.
Rachel took it a step further and walked in the room, still dragging Brooke behind her.
"This is Clean Teens, right?"
"Yes."
"And you are looking for new members, someone dedicated and loyal, committed to your cause, ready to be pure again and renounce their sinful, lustful ways?"
"Well, yes…" Shelly looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Great!" Rachel smiled. "I have just the person for you. Brooke Davis, these are the Clean Teens. Clean Teens, meet Brooke Davis."
There was a murmur throughout the crowd as even the fearless leader, Shelly, appeared flustered.
"I don't know if this is the place for you, Brooke…"
"Sure it is," Rachel piped up. "You're Clean Teens and Clean Teens never turn away lost souls looking for redemption, do they, Shelly?"
"Well, um, no, I, I guess not."
"Then that's settled."
"Rachel!" Brooke angrily mouthed.
"What?" Rachel quietly whispered in her ear. "All you have to do is give up sex and you haven't been having that lately anyway so what's the big deal?"
"I am going to smother you in your sleep," she threatened through pursed lips.
"Have a good time, kids," Rachel backed away, waving. "I'll be waiting out front, Brooke when you're done."
And then she was gone. And a blushing, overwhelmed, embarrassed Brooke, put on the spot by Rachel was left standing with no choice.
"Welcome to Clean Teens," Shelly cleared her throat. "Um, we were just getting started so have a seat anywhere. This meeting will be pretty quick, it should last no more than an hour or so."
"Lovely," Brooke smiled as she sank into a seat in the very front.
One hour was plenty of time to plan exactly how she was going to torture and murder her roommate.