Chase could hear the music blaring as soon as pulled in the driveway. Cars lined either side of the road for what seemed like miles and everywhere running around, screaming, laughing and drinking beer were the kids he went to school with. It was the first party he had been invited to since he had transferred to Tree Hill High and even the invitation had come by way of a technicality. He had received it by default simply because he was the boyfriend of the school's prettiest and most popular senior. It was fine by him. Parties were cool but hanging out with Brooke was even cooler. He loved being next to her.

"We don't have to stay long," she said, taking his hand and rubbing it in hers. "It's just one of these deals where you kind of have to show your face, you know, a Can't Miss party."

He gave her a smile and a wink.

"Can't Miss, huh? It's cool. Whatever you want to do."

She had debated long and hard about what to do. She loved spending one on one time with Chase but a part of her desperately missed the social scene she had helped to create. It wouldn't be long before graduation and she knew she would miss those familiar faces. Rachel had bet her she couldn't stay away and her vixen roommate had been right. So when she had casually mentioned Tim Smith's blowout bash to Chase and he had agreed to be her escort for the evening, the matter had been settled. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time. Everyone, though a bit baffled, knew about Brooke's Clean Teen membership and they were certainly aware of her relationship with the school's hottest transfer. What was the worst that could happen?

"Well, well, look who's here?" Rachel, the first to greet them, grinned evilly.

"Roomie," Brooke nodded. "You know Chase."

"Of course. You know, she talks about you all the time."

"All good, I hope," he smiled politely.

The sexy red head licked her lips.

"Oh you have no idea. Anyway, the gang's all here so enjoy. By the way, the Jello shots are in the kitchen."

Brooke's face turned crimson. Jello shooters were her specialty and she had a reputation at parties for letting the guys take the shots from her bare tummy. But that had been the old Brooke. A lot had changed, a lot had happened...Chase had happened.

"Water?" she asked, handing him a bottle and helping herself to one.

He nodded.

"Water sounds good but if you want to drink, then it's cool, Brooke. I mean, I'm not a prude or anything. If I wasn't driving I might even have a beer or two myself so if you want to, it's okay."

"Nah, I'm fine."

And the truth was, she was. Those days of hitting the beer keg upside down at full speed seemed so long ago. It felt good as she held his hand and they mingled around the house. Everywhere they went, people knew her name. They spoke and they smiled and she took the time to stop and chat, always making sure to introduce Chase as her new boyfriend. It felt good to hear it and he felt proud to be by her side. After an hour or two, they came outside to where Skills and Bevin were. She was sitting on his lap, their lips pressed together, oblivious to the other partygoers and the rest of the world for that matter. Brooke loudly cleared her throat after a few minutes to get their attention.

"Hey guys," Bevin looked up, smiling, wiping her mouth. "Didn't see you two standing there."

"How could you?" Brooke laughed.

"Hey girlie. Hey Chase. You guys know Skills. Babe, you remember Chase."

They all exchanged pleasantries.

"You want a beer, dawg?" Skills offered Chase.

"No, thanks, man. I'm good."

"Yeah," Brooke spoke up. "In fact, we're leaving pretty soon. We just wanted to stop and say hi."

"Where are you love birds off to?" Bevin cooed.

Brooke smiled at Chase.

"I don't know. The pier maybe? The beach?"

He shrugged, returning her loving gaze, rubbing the small of her back.

"I don't care. Whatever you want to do."

"Aw, you two are so cute and sweet," Bevin clapped her hands together. "Just like a little pair of Yorkies, right, honey?" she turned to Skills.

He just shook his head.

"Whatever you say, Ma."

"Anyway, we wanted to come find you before we took off. You guys can totally come hang out if you want. It'd be fun."

"We might catch up with you later…" Bevin began.

"Hey, dude, it looks they're out of Corona but I found this Rolling Rock…"

All conversation ceased as Lucas and Peyton, beer in hands, entered the room. It was awkward to say the least. Brooke had managed to deal with the situation by steering clear of it and in return, Lucas and Peyton had tactfully chosen not to rub it in her face. Their mutual friends had done their ultimate best to play Switzerland and keep it neutral. But Tree Hill was a small town and impromptu run ins were bound to happen every now and then.

"Hey Brooke," Peyton finally spoke after a few long seconds.

She and Brooke had grown up together and despite all the turmoil and drama over Lucas, she loved and missed her former best friend. Brooke, still apprehensive, clung a little closer to her boyfriend.

"Hey," she mumbled.

Lucas shuffled his weight before extending his hand to Chase.

"Hey, man. I'm Lucas Scott. This is Peyton Sawyer."

"Hey," Chase politely accepted it.

More silent minutes passed by as the group struggled to find the appropriate words to speak.

"Y'all can sit down," Skills began making room for the other couples.

"Totally," Bevin chimed in.

"It's okay," Brooke spoke. "Um, we were just about to take off, right, Chase?"

"Yeah," he didn't miss a beat. "But thanks anyway. It was nice seeing everybody."

And with that, they were gone. Brooke's face burned, knowing all eyes were on them as they made their exit. She was relieved when they were back in the living room.

"Thanks," she looked at him.

He smiled, stroking her cheek.

"No problem. The infamous Lucas and Peyton, huh? Well, that was…weird."

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Weird and awkward and tense and horrible."

"You handled it like a champ," he assured her. "Anyway, you ready to get out of here?"

"I thought you'd never ask, Boyfriend. Come on. Let's go."

They were stopped at the door. Grinning broadly, shot in hand, clad only in a pair of boxers was their very drunk host.

"Brooke Davis, new guy! What's up?"

He was loud and reeked of alcohol as he put his arms around them.

"Cool party, Dim," Brooke sighed.

"That's how the Tim Smith does it, baby. You know how I roll! Now I know I just didn't catch you two sneaking off on me. The night is still young."

There was no use trying to reason with Tim when he was sober, much less when he was high and drunk off his ass.

"We were just getting some air. We'll be back," she promised.

"Well, don't be long. We were just starting the entertainment portion," he walked over to the wide screen TV and popped in a DVD. "I call this one Tim Smith's greatest basketball moments. Trust me, babe, you don't want to miss it. This will be an ESPN classic one day."

Chase and Brooke exchanged grins.

"I'm sure it will. Anyway, thanks for the invite. We'll catch you later, Dim."

They turned to leave but she stopped when she heard her name being called. It was coming from the screen. She and Chase looked and her breath caught in her throat. The DVD had nothing to do with basketball and Brooke recognized that. In fact, it was from another wild party almost three years before at Nathan Scott's parents' beach house. She barely remembered the night but knew enough to know it hadn't been a good one.

"Is that you?" Chase squinted his eyes.

"Let's go," Brooke said through pursed lips.

But it was too late. Within seconds it was as if every guest, including Skills and Bevin and Lucas and Peyton had convened in the large living room. All eyes focused on the television.

"Brooke, you lost the bet, you know what that means," an unidentified male voice spoke from the TV.

"Oh God," she whispered, mortified at what was coming next.

"A deal's a deal, fellas," she purred. "Ask and ye shall receive."

She giggled before giving the camera a seductive look. The lens zoomed in just as she removed her top and lacy bra. With her breasts exposed, several members of the then varsity Ravens approached, groping and spraying her body with whipped cream. Taking a swig of something from a flask, she tossed her head back and laughed as they began touching her with their hands and mouths.

"Brooke, can you handle all this attention at once?"

"Of course," she winked. "I'm a team player. Consider this one my contribution."

The scene was only about to get more graphic as everyone stood shocked. It was Mouth, with Shelly, that ran ahead and frantically stopped the DVD player. When it shut off, there was complete silence as every eye stared at a humiliated Brooke.

"I, I don't know where that came from," a freshly sober Tim stammered. "Um, it was supposed to be about basketball. Brooke, I'm sorry…"

Tears filled her eyes and she felt sick to her stomach. Her knees were literally knocking together as the air in the room began running thin enough to make her feel light headed and dizzy.

"Oh my God…" she whispered in disbelief.

Like it was a hot potato, Chase dropped her hand.

"Brooke…"

Her lips quivered.

"I can explain, Chase…"

"What was that?"

"I…"

"You lied to me."

"Chase…"

"You slept with all those guys at one time and you even let them record it."

"Just listen to me. Please. Let's get out of here. Let's go talk…"

He shook his head. His porcelain princess, the good, pure girl he had put high on a pedestal had deceived him. He was finding out the real Brooke and so were about 50 other kids.

"I don't want to talk to you right now," he answered quietly. "I don't even want to look at you."

With that, he left the house. The silence turned into murmurs and Brooke felt like she might die. Just before she dissolved and collapsed in her own embarrassment, surprise, anger and sorrow, a pair of hands wrapped themselves around her.

"Come on," Rachel held her, guiding her. "Let's go home."