Chapter Seven: Congratulations?

Brookes head popped out the door fifteen minutes later, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, her face make-up free. In the dim light of the lamp Dean had switched on she looked ethereal.

"Do you hear that?"

"What?" Dean sat up straight straining to hear something, already on high alert.

"The music?" Now she mentioned it there was the faint sound of music coming from upstairs.

"Ain't it Peyton?"

"Exactly" She stepped out the door revealing her flannel pajamas.

"Nice jammies" Brooke stuck out her tongue and crept towards the stairs.

"That's moppy music"

"Don't you think you've done enough meddling for the night?"

"No such thing" she made her way up the stairs to Peyton's room.


Brooke came down the stairs to be greeted with a cup of hot chocolate.

"You waited up?" she smiled at Dean.

"Hard to sleep with the moppy music"

"Oh please you couldn't even hear it. Admit it you were waiting up for me" she said from the bottom of the stairs.

"Peyton ok?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"You'll admit it eventually" her face darkened "And Peyton's…coping. She's having a hard time with the whole Luke and Lindsey thing" she walked over and joined him on the couch.

"What about you?" Dean didn't know where it came from but he wanted to know how she felt about her ex.

"What about me?"

"How are you with the Lucas and Lindsey situation?"

"It sucks you know" she leant back and slid slightly down in the seat, the top of the pajamas coming up a little so he could see her bare flesh. "Peyton and Luke are meant for each other. Their soul mates"

"Soul mates?" Dean said disbelievingly.

"Yeah, Mr. Cynical. Look I didn't believe it either but it's pretty hard to ignore in Tree Hill. I mean look at Haley and Nathan. She was a Tutor girl, he was a meat head jock, who was kind of an ass. If they weren't destined to be together and have my adorable god son do you think they would have ended up together?"

"So you think it's some big cosmic plan?"

"Maybe" she shrugged "All I know is I never would have thought of Hails and Nate as a couple before they actually got together, now I can't imagine them apart. With Peyton and Luke, well he had me and he cheated so I gotta believe its more" she finished jokingly.

"Still hurt huh?" Brooke looked at Dean who was watching her intently.

"A little. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm not interested in Luke like that anymore. It's more the rejection, the feeling I wasn't good enough. Guess you never get over that" Dean felt a little relived but a felling of anger bubbled just underneath. He hated Lucas for making her feel bad, even though he knew he had made plenty of girls feel that way.

"Yeah, I kinda had that with my dad" Dean admitted.

"Got more in common then I thought" Brooke smiled. It was funny whenever Dean talked about his dad he got a knot in his stomach and a nagging feeling, like he was doing something wrong or missing something but as he looked down at Brooke that feeling was gone. All he felt was serenity and calm, something he never sought after but now he had it he realized he liked it. "I don't think I believe it because it makes me feel better" Brooke admitted "I honestly think it has always been the two of them. Like there the main stars in a play" she said reflectively, letting her guard down.

"You don't think you're the star?" Dean questioned, genuinely surprised. He had watched the last couple of days as people had flocked around her for advice, consoling and friendship. Dean didn't know much about Lucas or Peyton but he knew enough about Brooke to know she wasn't a bit player.

"Of my play maybe. Make that movie, more glamorous" she smiled. "Now all I need is a handsome prince charming" she looked at him intently "Know anyone?" They sat staring into each others eyes. Dean found himself hypnotized while Brooke held her breath.

"Nope" Dean replied after a minute, it took everything he had to look away. Brookes face showed her disappointment.

"Shame" she said through a forced smile. "Well anyway I better get to bed. Thanks for the hot chocolate" They both reached for the cup and their fingers touched. A tingling feeling shot through both of them, their eyes met again. Brooke laughed awkwardly and grabbed the cup. "Night" She got up and left Dean staring after her.


"Hi, I'm really sorry we're late" Brooke turned around to see Haley steering Jamie into the store. "No TV for you and no Ice cream till the afternoon, keep it to one scoop ok?" Haley instructed her son.

"One ok" Brooke said tightly.

"You forgot" It was a statement not a question.

"It's fine. I just didn't get much sleep last night" she turned her attention to Jamie. "You look so handsome"

"Ok, um your dads gunna pick you up after practice alright you, bye" she kissed Jamie and turned to leave "Thank you"

"Bye" Brooke waved. Just as she was leaving Lindsey rushed in.

"Haley, I'm so glad you're here"

"I gotta go actually but is everything ok?"

"Everything's great, as long as this town is big enough for two Scotts" She held out her hand revealing a sparkling engagement ring. Brooke and Haley exchanged a disbelieving look. "Oh my god" Haley's eyes fixed on the jewel. "Uh"

They both turned to Lindsey "Congratulations" They said with big smiles.