Brooke smiled coyly as she glanced over at the driver's seat. Chase had a smile of his own but he was silent as they continued their drive. Just a few days before the pair had decided to go on an official date and Brooke had been eagerly awaiting it ever since. The plans had been a surprise and his only hint to her was to dress casually and comfortably. So Brooke had taken extra care in her appearance. She had decided on a cute black mini with matching sandals and a classy but trendy orange tank that did wonders for her complexion. She had expertly applied her make up and pulled her hair back, allowing Rachel to answer the door when Chase rang and making him wait a whole ten minutes before she made her entrance.

He had looked handsome in his neatly pressed jeans and collared short sleeved shirt and had arrived with a bouquet of fresh lilies. Ever the perfect gentleman, he had kissed her hand and opened the car door and they had driven in comfortable silence to their destination. The first stop had been downtown. Chase had parked his car in the garage and they had gone for a carriage ride through the scenic streets of Tree Hill. Then they had taken a tour on the classic Henrietta III River Boat. It had been a fun day of flirting and talking but he had one more surprise for her. The date was far from over as they began a drive that took them out of the city limits.

"So I guess you're wondering where I'm taking you," he said after a while.

But Brooke already knew as they came to a familiar road.

"Lucky for you, I love Wrightsville Beach," she grinned.

It was late afternoon and the sun would be setting shortly.

"You know, I thought and thought about tonight and what we should do. I really agonized over it, Brooke because I wanted things to be perfect. So I hope this is okay with you. I just want to have a good time."

She loved how sincere and shy he could be. It was rather cute.

"Me too and I'm sure it will be."

He got out and opened the door, leading her down the beach to the spot he had already set up. Brooke's eyes grew wide with surprise. There was a picnic basket and food and drinks along with a blanket and a Frisbee.

"So what do you think?" he shrugged. "Corny?"

Brooke grinned.

"Clever more like it. Come on, Clean Teen. Lucky for you again, I love beach picnics."

They sat down and he opened the impressive spread. Sandwiches, potato salad and fruit, along with their drinks.

"I made it myself," he told her as they dug right in.

"Well it's nice to know you put the meat between the bread," she teased. "Good job."

Chase laughed.

"I meant the potato salad. It's my grandma's recipe. Eggs, mayo, vinegar, celery and of course the potatoes. I think the onion and the grilled peppers is a nice touch."

He picked up a spoonful and carefully guided it to Brooke's lips. She tasted it and moaned.

"You did this?"

"Yeah. Is it okay?"

"Okay? It's great. That is seriously the best potato salad I have ever tasted," she smiled as she looked it him. "Cute and fabulous in the kitchen, too. That's a nice plus."

"What about you?"

"Me? Um, yeah. Sure. I love to cook. Baking is my specialty."

Brooke cringed as she said it. Why did she always find herself in those predicaments? Talking to Chase was so easy and so comfortable. And she really liked him. He was a nice guy and perhaps there was actual potential for something real between them. Yet every time she opened her mouth, another little white lie seemed to tumble right out.

"That's great. Maybe we can cook together some time."

"Maybe," she said, but really meaning "never".

"So," he leaned back. "Tell me more about yourself."

Brooke gave a smile and a shrug as they continued to enjoy their picnic.

"There's not much to say. Um, you pretty much know everything. I'm president of the student body and the cheering captain and a Clean Teen. I have lots of friends and I love them to death and life is pretty boring but still cool in good old Tree Hill. My dad got a job in California but I didn't want to leave Tree Hill High, you know, I wanted to finish out school with my friends so the Gatinas let me live with them."

"You like cheerleading?"

"Yeah. I really do. It gets kind of routine because I've been doing it so long that sometimes I take it for granted but when I really think about it…yeah. It has been a big part of my life and I guess I would really miss it if it wasn't there."

She relaxed a little. It felt good to be honest for a change.

"And what made you want to run for Student Council?"

Brooke looked away.

"I was going through a lot of changes, finding myself I guess you could say. Anyway, I wanted to do something that actually meant something. Yeah, I mean, it's just high school or whatever but as corny as it sounds, I guess I wanted to leave some sort of legacy. I wanted to change things and make a real difference. You know how something can be really bad and it pisses you off but you do nothing about it? So many times people complain but they do nothing to change the situation. I wanted to do something, make my actions speak louder than words."

"Sounds like you had something to prove."

"I did. To myself."

Chase looked right at her.

"That's pretty cool."

She blushed and laughed, turning away.

"Oh my God…"

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing. It's just…well, I never told anybody that before."

"What made you just tell me?"

"I have no idea," she sighed. "You're a nice guy and I like talking to you. I feel comfortable. I haven't felt that way in a long time."

"I'm glad. I like you, too, Brooke."

"Well, that's nice to know," she grinned.

"I didn't know if it would happen for me."

"What do you mean?"

"Being a Clean Teen. I mean, I'm not naïve. I get it. Sex and intimacy are a really big part of a relationship. That's something I don't want now, something I'm not ready for and I was afraid that would make it hard for me to date. I was afraid when I moved here that girls wouldn't want to go out with me. I was scared people would think I was some kind of prude freak. But I got here and everyone was so nice. Then I met Shelly and the rest of the Clean Teens and it was cool. I don't have to tell you but they're a great group of people. It's so awesome to have a bunch of people you can relate to."

"Yeah…"

"Then I met you. You're so pretty and smart and sweet. You're like the girl every guy wants to go out with in high school. It's like we clicked right away and I couldn't help but fall for you. Don't think I'm a weirdo or anything but I feel this connection with you. I like you, Brooke and I like getting to know you."

She smiled at him, loving the way he looked in her eyes before bashfully looking away. She liked the way he smiled, the way he dressed, the way he went out of his way to impress her.

"So what about you Mr. Chase Adams? Tell me about life before Tree Hill."

"I don't know. I grew up out west. I'm an only child. My parents are wonderful, amazing people who I love and look up to. I always liked school and I was pretty good at it except the math part, which I don't have to tell you about. Anyway, I always had a lot of friends. I mean, good, quality, trustworthy people that I loved spending time with. I really cherish it and although I keep in touch with them, I really miss it. Besides that, skateboarding is my passion. It's my hobby and I do it all the time. I even competed a while back. Freshman year, I began dating a girl who had been my best friend since kindergarten but we broke up last year and unfortunately, let's just say it was a pretty bad breakup. I was really bummed about that for a while, then my dad got a job that transferred him here so we had to move in the middle of my senior year so I know how you felt about that but I didn't have the choice to stay behind. I was kind of pissed at first but he's a good guy and he works so hard to take care of Mom and me. So I just went with it and decided to make the best of things. And here I am."

Brooke stared right in his eyes.

"Here you are. Wow. That's a pretty cool story. So you dated your best friend, huh?"

He nodded.

"If it wasn't gonna work out, fine. I just wish it had gone down differently. I wish we could have ended it as friends, you know? The last thing I wanted was to hate her and I know hate is a strong word but trust is everything. I mean, if a friendship, if a relationship doesn't have that, then what the hell do you have? One lies leads to another and another and another."

Brooke swallowed hard, pangs of guilt washing through her body like the crashing waves in front of her.

"Yeah."

"It just really, really sucks to lose your best friend, put it that way."

Brooke closed her eyes. That was one subject she could painfully relate to.

"I know."

"Anyway, I've moved on. You have to. It's over now and I'm here and I'm glad. Like I said before, Tree Hill has been really cool and meeting you has definitely been cool. I looked forward to tonight and I hope it wasn't lame or anything. I don't want to drop you off and you call all your girlfriends and tell them what a dork I was," he joked.

"Lame? Are you kidding? Chase, this is the nicest date I've ever been on."

"Are you just saying that?"

She shook her head.

"First of all, obviously you put a lot of thought into it. That means you care and I think that's really sweet. Second of all, with the carriage and boat ride…it was amazing. Today was like you reintroduced me to Tree Hill. I live here and almost every day I pass those same streets and that river and don't even think twice about it. Today you made me stop and realize how cool it is, how beautiful it is. And that was really nice. As far as the picnic? Awesome food and sitting by the water, talking…it's nice. Really nice."

"I'm glad you feel that way. Look," he pointed. "They sky is so awesome right now. I love the colors when the sun sets. You can't beat the view."

He inched over and nervously wrapped his arms around Brooke. She leaned back, loving the feel of his strong but gentle embrace.

"Yeah," she agreed. "You sure can't."

They were quiet for a while, just enjoying each other's company along with the sound of the beach and the breathtaking sight of the sky before them.

"I wanted it to be perfect and it was but all I can think about now is how much I want to kiss you."

There was something about the way his words made her skin tingle in a good way. She rubbed his hand.

"What's stopping you?" she asked in that trademark husky half whisper of hers.

Brooke turned to face him and he tenderly stroked her cheek before tilting up her chin to meet his soft, waiting lips. They kissed and it was warm and caring and perfect. Afterwards they stood and walked barefoot hand in hand closer to the ocean.

"I had a great time, tonight, Brooke."

"Me too."