Brooke couldn't help but feel nervous as she straightened her skirt and rang the bell of the comfortable ranch style home located at the end of the cul de sac. She had spent hours on her outfit, hair and make up, wanting every single detail to be absolutely perfect. She had arrived at six sharp, on time for once, instead of making one of her trademark 15 minutes late, grand Brooke Davis entrances. A few seconds later, a smiling pretty and petite woman with dark hair answered the door.

"Hello. How are you? You must be Brooke Davis."

"Yes, I am. Hi."

"Come on in," she invited her inside. "Chase will be right out. I'm Susan Adams, Chase's mom and this is my husband, Doug."

A handsome man with salt and pepper hair walked towards the doorway, shaking Brooke's hand.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, young lady. We've heard a lot of good things about you already. Chase talks about you all the time."

Brooke couldn't help but blush. She had been ecstatic, yet nervous when Chase had asked her over to his house to have dinner with him and his family. Meeting the parents was always a big deal, yet one she hadn't experienced with a lot of boyfriends. Making a good impression was her first priority, still it warmed her heart to know he had said such good things about her in front of his folks.

"Thank you," she smiled politely. "It's so nice to meet both of you. Thank you for having me over."

Susan Adams gave her a warm smile as the three walked towards the dining room table.

"Dinner will be out in just a few minutes. In the meantime, can I get you something to drink, sweetheart?"

"Water, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. Coming right up, dear."

Brooke took a seat at the dining room table that had already been beautifully set. She looked around the house, neat and comfortable with its dark oak furniture. Already she began to feel at ease. Chase's parents seemed friendly and welcoming and it was easy to see where he got his good looks from as she looked around at the many family pictures that hung throughout the house.

"Oh my God, is that Chase?" Brooke smiled, staring at a particularly adorable photo of a small, overall clad child.

"He was two years old," Susan returned with the water. "Look at those eyes. He was such a pretty baby. I used to enter him in beauty contests all the time. He won most of them."

"Mom!" came the red face as Chase joined them in the dining area. "That's so embarrassing."

"Nonsense," she hugged her only son. "And you're still gorgeous."

He made a face as he sheepishly made his way over to Brooke and hugged her.

"I'm glad you made it," he smiled. "Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for inviting me."

They took a seat and made small talk as Mr. and Mrs. Adams brought a delicious home cooked meal of salad, roast beef, macaroni and cheese, rolls and dessert.

"I hope you're hungry," Mr. Adams winked at her. "My wife is a great cook."

"I'm starving actually," Brooke answered. "Everything looks and smells delicious."

"Let's say grace," Mrs. Adams interrupted before Brooke could dig in. "Chase, would you like to lead?"

He nodded as everyone grabbed hands and bowed their heads. Brooke followed suit. Saying grace had not been a ritual in her house or Rachel's. In fact, she couldn't remember a time when she had sat down and had dinner with her parents at the kitchen table.

"Loving Father, we thank you for this food and for all Your blessings to us. Bless it to the nourishment of our bodies. Bless us all and keep us from harm and guide and direct us through all our days. Amen."

"Amen," the others chimed in as they began to eat.

Brooke hadn't tasted a meal that good in a while. It was a different atmosphere than what she was used to. It was nice, if even for an hour, to be a part of a real family. She smiled over at Chase who just winked at her.

"So Brooke, Chase tell us that you've been tutoring him," Mr. Adams began.

"I just help out with Calculus here and there," she downplayed her lie, praying the father wasn't some math genius about to start quizzing her.

"Smart and beautiful. Looks like you picked a real winner, son. And Brooke, anyone that can help our son understand math is some kind of miracle worker in our eyes."

"Chase is a good student."

"And your parents live in California now?"

"Dad, you don't have to give her the third degree," Chase laughed.

"Nonsense. We're just getting to know each other. You don't mind, do you, Brooke?"

"No. Um, not at all. My dad's job transferred him out near Los Angeles. I visit them and I like it out there but I love Tree Hill and all my friends are here and I really wanted to graduate with them. I stay with Rachel Gatina and her parents."

Mr. Adams nodded.

"We come from out west, Arizona to be exact. It's a nice place but so is Tree Hill. My job transferred us as well. It's been a bit of an adjustment but we like it so far. We've met a lot of good people and it looks like our son has too."

Brooke smiled as she continued talking to the Adams' and enjoyed a scrumptious piece of chocolate cheesecake. Afterwards, before deciding to stay in and watch a movie, the two teenagers sat outside alone on the family's back patio, enjoying the cool night air, post another amazing sunset.

"Your mom and dad are really nice."

"They're pretty cool," he shrugged. "They can be a little embarrassing at times but I guess that's what parents do."

"They were really sweet. I like them. I mean, I was kind of nervous at first about coming over."

"Why?"

"Because. Meeting the parents is a very big deal. Of course you want to make a good first impression so that's always nerve racking. I don't know. I guess I just wanted them to like me."

"Of course they like you, Brooke. They love you. I can tell it already. What's not to love?"

"You're a real charmer, Chase Adams. You know that?"

"I like you too, Brooke. I want you to know that. At least I hope you know that by now. And I don't just introduce any girl to my parents but it was really important to me that you meet them."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because you're special," he didn't miss a beat. "I've been through a lot, relationship wise. I've been hurt before and it sucks. The last thing I wanted was to go through something like that again. I didn't think I'd meet another girl so soon. The truth is, I wasn't even sure I wanted to. But meeting you changed all that. I love spending time with you, Brooke and I hope you feel the same way."

Brooke looked away.

"Chase…"

"Is something wrong?"

"No. Um, not exactly. Look, you're a really nice guy and…"

"Uh oh. The nice guy speech."

She looked at him and chuckled.

"It's not like that. You are a nice guy and that's why I like you so much. I love spending time with you too but…I don't know. I guess I want you to be sure."

"What do you mean?" he frowned.

"There are lots of girls at Tree Hill High. You could totally have your pick. I like you and I'm glad you like me but I just want you to be sure that I'm the one you want to hang out with."

It was hard for Brooke. She was falling harder by the second. But at least she knew the real person she was falling for. Chase hadn't been afforded that opportunity.

"You're something else, you know that? You're so beautiful and the cool thing is, you don't even know it. I like you, Brooke. I like you more and more every day. I like getting to know more about you. You're just different from the other girls and that's what makes it so special. It's not just because you're pretty and popular. You're smart and you have a kind heart. I love talking to you and hanging out with you. And you're real. That's the one thing I haven't been able to find with a lot of girls. It's like honesty doesn't even exist anymore."

Brooke swallowed hard as she shifted in her seat.

"Chase…"

His face inched closer to hers and she could feel his warm, minty breath on the side of her face. Brooke felt guilty. In a town full of toads, she had happened to stumble on the one prince left in male teenage civilization. Lying to him and pretending to be something she wasn't was wrong. Brooke knew better. It was on the tip of her tongue to just confess all and try to start over. But it was too hard. He was such a great guy and she had already gone too far with her little white lies. He had developed trust in her and revealing all would just push him away. She liked him too much to lose him. Brooke closed her eyes when she felt his hand touch hers. Every nerve ending in her body felt like it was on fire as his fingertips stroked hers. She couldn't see or speak or think or even breathe. It felt good and Brooke hadn't felt that way in a long time.

"Come here," he whispered, kissing her again.

His kisses were magical, perfect and the moment just felt right. All the one night stands, the disappointments and the heartache over Lucas no longer seemed to matter anymore. It was as if Brooke had waited her whole life to be right there in that moment with Chase Adams.

"You're a really good kisser," she gave him a dimpled grin.

"So are you. Ready to go back inside and watch that movie?" he asked. "Because if we stay out here I'm afraid I'm just gonna keep having to kiss you."

Brooke closed her eyes again as his soft lips found hers once more.

"Chase?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"Tonight. For everything. I've been having a really great time hanging out with you, especially tonight. I had a good time, no a great time. Thank you for letting me meet your family and um…just no matter what happens, never forget tonight and how we felt at this exact moment, because I know I never will."

"I'm falling hard for you, Brooke Davis," he stared right into her eyes. "They say everything happens for a reason and when my parents first told me we were moving, I was just so pissed about having to leave everything behind that I didn't understand the reason. I didn't think there was one. Now I know better. Meeting you was the best part about coming to Tree Hill. I'm really glad I moved here."

She sighed contentedly as she relaxed in his strong embrace. He said those words and she knew he meant them. Perhaps everything did happen for a reason. Before when she had refused to move to California with her parents, the biggest part behind her decision had been not wanting to lose Lucas or Peyton. How the tides had turned and at times, those two and their newfound relationship had made her regret her initial decision. Not out of nowhere, the new kid on the block had showed up and changed everything. Brooke hadn't felt that happy or that wanted in a long time. Chase was happy he had moved and for the first time in a while, Brooke was happy she had stayed.