Disclaimer: I own nothing, Mark Schwann is the man.
Summary: AU- Alternate Universe. New York's hottest and most available bachelorette, Brooke Davis isn't planning on settling anytime. Brooke's rapid sweep through the men of New York becomes excessive when the news of her best friend Haley James is soon to marry hot shot NBA star Nathan Scott. Through past mistakes and troubles, Brooke makes a deal to herself never to fall in love, but it is soon tested when she meets Lucas Scott, Nathan's brother. At first, the two can hardly could stand each other, but on one faithful night brings the two sworn enemies together. They began to fall for each other, but will Brooke let love in or resort back to her old ways.
Author Notes: I believe that if Brooke never met Lucas she would have always been a man-eater in the show.
Chapter One: Who died?
According to Brooke Davis, there are rules to avoid heartache. She believed what the heart wants isn't always what's best.
"Brooke!" Haley demanded as she opened the front door to her apartment.
Brooke raised her right arm, barely showing her tiny hand through the cascade of white roses surrounding her. "Right here!"
"What is all this?" Haley questioned loudly.
"Looks, like roses to me." Brooke bluntly said.
"Yes, I know there roses Brooke, but why is my living room filled with them."
"BTW, it's our living room." Brooke gestured between her and her roommate. Tapping her index finger to her chin, Brooke continued. "Wayne, Zane, or Shane, sent these over."
"Please Brooke, call me. --Dane." Haley read out loud as she picked up a card from one of the vases.
Brooke slammed her palm against the kitchen counter as a revelation came to her mind. "Dane, that's his name." She snapped her fingers and shook her head. "I was so close."
"Brooke, it smells like a funeral home in here." Haley was clearly annoyed.
"All were missing now is a dead body."
Haley darted at Brooke's eyes. "Oh I think I can manage that."
Brooke tapped Haley's head lightly with one of the stemmed roses. "Relax Hales. I'll take care of this."
Haley smacked the rose away from her head. "Brooke, I'm so tired of this."
Brooke shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Haley chuckled in anger. "First there was that wanna-be John Cusack dude playing "In your eyes" outside my window assuming it was your window in God knows what hour of the night."
"Here we go again." Brooke thought. Brooke's love life or lack of was starting to become daily in their heated discussions ever since Haley announced she was engaged. "Haley…" Brooke tried to interject but was immediately cut off. "And last Saturday, I came home to find a naked man on my couch, which by the way wasn't that impressive." She said as she put together her thumb and index finger closely together.
"It was cold." Brooke clarified. Haley chuckled lightly. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that."
"Then there was that stalker…"
Brooke rolled her eyes. "Hello… it's called a restraining order."
"Oh wow, that makes me feel so much better." Haley bit sarcastically clutching her fist to her chest.
Brooke starred at Haley confusingly. "What's your point Hales?"
"You don't get it do you? Brooke, these men aren't perishables. They are actual human beings with actual human feelings." Haley said as she placed her hands on her hips.
Brooke waved her hand at Haley and brushed past her desperately avoiding the lecture to come, but she wasn't getting away so easily. Haley followed down the hallway right behind her. "This isn't a game Brooke."
Brooke stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face Haley. "Wrong Hales! It is a game, and I don't plan on being at the losing end of the stick." Brooke voice oozed with bitterness.
Haley shook her head sadly at her roommate. "Don't look at me that way." Brooke refused to have anyone pity her. It was a sign of weakness, which she was not willing to accept.
"Brooke, I just don't want to see you hurt. I just want you to have the same happiness I have with Nathan, if you would only let yourself."
"I'm so happy that you found that with Nathan. I really am." Tears began to form in Brooke's eyes as she continued. "But this is my life Hales, what I chose to do with, is up to me."
Haley sighed in exasperation, as Brooke slammed her bedroom door.
Growing up, Brooke experienced her mother's grief and pain with her unfaithful husband. Woman came and gone through the Davis home like the wind without so much concern for the women who actually lived in the house. Brooke's mother eventually turned to alcohol to numb the pain, and took her anger out on her only daughter whenever she could. Haley remembered the frequent sleepovers and the endless tears shared between them. Haley knew this wasn't a new facet of Brooke's personality, it was just getting old. In the end, Brooke's mother died of a broken heart and on the day of her funeral Brooke swore to herself never to fall in love.
Haley was clouded reminiscing in the past not realizing a tall dark handsome man suddenly standing beside her in the hallway.
"Who died?" Nathan asked as he starred back at the roses in the living room.
Haley nudged his shoulders playfully. "There actually for Brooke."
"Who's the poor sap she bit her fangs into this time?"
"Be nice, she's your friend."
"Only by default." Nathan smirked at his fiancé. Haley raised her eyebrows questioningly. "You two are kind of like those buy one get one free offers. It's a set deal." Nathan joked.
She kissed him gently and pulled back slightly starring into his eyes. "I love you Nathan Scott."
Nathan slightly pulled back. "What was that for?"
"It's for making me the happiest woman alive." Haley smiled widely at Nathan. She was thankful for having love in her life, unlike her best friend.
"Well, I love you too Haley James soon to be Scott." Nathan said before he leaned in for another kiss.
Nathan and Haley's love story was quite the opposite from Brooke's parents. They were college sweethearts, and continued their love after that. With every love story, came struggles and heartache. Haley and Nathan were no strangers to this, but they always had each other to surpass all obstacles in their way. It was undeniably the inevitable when Nathan Scott, famous NBA star decided to marry Haley James, beloved high school English teacher.
"Yuck!" Brooke shook her head in disgust as she exited her bedroom walking towards the kitchen.
Nathan and Haley broke away from their embrace. "It's nice to see you too Brooke." Nathan retorted. Haley smacked Nathan's shoulder lightly, as they both giggled.
Suddenly Haley gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh wow, I almost forgot. Don't forget to pick up Lucas from the airport."
Nathan scrunched his face, in confusion. "Oh no, don't tell me you forgot." Haley said worriedly.
"I can't do it Hales. I have an important press conference, tomorrow morning." Nathan put his best puppy face look on. "You think you can pick up my brother at the airport."
"I can't. I caught these boys putting stink bombs in the girls' bathroom and gave them Saturday detention."
"Who gives Saturday detention? You're the meanest teacher." Nathan smirked at his fiancé.
"I'm not!" Haley puckered her lips together. "Before I realized what I had said, it was too late for me to take it back." Nathan pulled Haley into a hug. "It's okay, we'll figure something out."
Brooke rolled her eyes at the display in front of her. "Ugh, seriously don't you have a room Hales." The feisty brunette sauntered up to the couple with a bowl of cereal in hand. It was like someone was giving them a sign. That's when they both looked at each other and smiled. "Hey Brooke… whatcha' doin' tomorrow?" Nathan inquired.
Brooke took a spoonful of cereal into her mouth before responding. "Not hanging out in the hallway, like some people." Haley and Nathan rolled their eyes simultaneously. Brooke popped her right hip out and eyed Nathan suspiciously. "Why?"
"Well, I was hoping you can do me a favor." Nathan said shyly.
"Spit it out, hot shot." Brooke said taking another spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
"I need you to pick up my brother at the airport tomorrow at nine."
"In the morning?! You do know tomorrow is a Saturday." Brooke screeched.
"Yes, in the morning. Come on Brookie, it's not like you have anything to do tomorrow." Nathan stated crossing his arms against his chest.
Brooke scoffed at his last sentence. "Ok, calling me Brookie isn't helping your situation. Besides, I have plenty to do tomorrow. I'm Brooke Davis, owner of Clothes over Bros. May I remind you, I have a multimillion dollar company to run."
"How many times have you been to your company this week?" Nathan pushed, trying to make a point.
"Enough." Brooke sharply stated. "I must have missed the memo. I didn't realize it was lecture Brooke Day." Brooke tried to slither pass the couple to avoid any further tongue lashing.
Haley quickly excused herself from Nathan and grabbed Brooke's wrists forcing them down the hall out of earshot from Nathan. "Please Brooke, I'm asking you as my maid of honor. Do this for me?" Haley pleaded. Brooke shook her head. "I'm sorry Hales."
Haley sighed. "Please Brooke, it would mean so much to me, if you could do me this one favor." Brooke was surprisingly selfless when it came to Haley. Haley knew with enough begging it was just a matter of time before Brooke gave in. "Fine…" Haley embraced Brooke tightly. "Thanks, Brooke. You're a lifesaver."
"So how does Nathan's brother look like anyways?" Brooke asked curiously as they pulled apart.
"He doesn't look a thing like Nathan, almost the complete opposite."
"So he's cute then." Brooke quirked her eyebrows up.
Haley placed her hands on her hips. "Brooke, don't even think about it."