AN: I am sorry it has taken me this long to write another chapter, I am a co-director for a summer camp and I have been planning for my first teaching job. Plus thanks to our lovely economy things at home have not been great. Also I received a negative review that really bothered me. I can be really sensitive and that review hurt me. I think having chapters only be 1,000+ words is enough (especially since how busy I have been). Plus, I believe that people can fall for each other quickly(my relatives got engaged on their first date).

Thoughts are in italics

Reminder: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters, except Christy.

After Brooke had read the note over and over again she finally got back to work. However, after 30 minutes she was wondering why Julian had not come into work yet. She knew Julian was coming in today because he mentioned that he needed to get home because they had work the following morning. Brooke did not want to seem like she cared all that much, but she felt like she should ask Christy why Julian was not in yet.

After another 30 minutes of going through the clothes that she felt Julian should model, she finally got up the courage to ask Christy why Julian was not yet in.

After Christy was done with a customer, Brooke approached her. "Christy, do you know when Julian is going to be coming in today/"

"Oh, Brooke, he won't be coming in until after lunch, he is on the set of his new movie," replied Christy to a shocked looking Brooke.

"I never knew that Julian was an actor," stated Brooke.

"Oh, Brooke, he is not an actor," laughed Christy. "He is a director. I thought he would have told you that considering you have been spending a lot of time together."

"Yeah, I thought he would have told me something like that. I wonder why he never brought it up," commented Brooke.

"Well, I have known Julian for five years and I know sometimes he can be a little modest. Plus, he protects his heart a lot, probably because it has been broken a little too much," replied Christy, " I know I probably should not have told you that, but you and him seem to be getting a long rather nicely. Plus, you could probably help him out."

"Well I should probably get back to work before you decide to fire me," replied a stunned Brooke.

All the things Christy told her about Julian made Brooke question what Julian had been through. If his heart has been broken so often then how come he has let me in so easily? Why did he not tell me he was a director? Thought Brooke to herself. Perhaps he and her were not so different after all.

All of those questions and more were running through Brooke's head the rest of the morning. Brooke was more nervous about her 'date' with Julian than she was before. Does he really like me as much as I like him? Am I just imagining every thing that has happened between us? Is he just trying to apologize for yesterday and this is not really a date?

Brooke decided the best way to get her answers, besides talking to Julian, was to have a lunch date with her two best friends. They always seemed able to put her mind at ease. Plus, it would give her excuse to be there when Julian was expected back to the store.

At the restaurant

As usual Peyton and Haley were waiting at the restaurant for Brooke. Haley and Peyton were confused about this whole meeting. All Brooke told them was that she needed a girls only lunch meeting.

When Brooke finally arrived ten minutes later, she heard Haley and Peyton talking about their pregnancies. This hurt Brooke to some extent, but she knew that she would always be happy for her two best friends.

When Haley and Peyton spotted Brooke, Peyton said, "Okay Brooke what is with the cryptic call?"

"Well, thanks P. Scott for the lovely greeting," replied Brooke.

"Yeah, kind of like the lovely greeting we received from you, Brooke," laughed Haley, which caused Brooke to stick out her tongue at them.

"No, but seriously Brooke, what is wrong?" questioned Peyton.

"Okay, well I went into work today fully expecting Julian to be there already, but he was nowhere to be found. So I waited another hour and finally decided to ask Christy about it and she told me some interesting things," explained Brooke.

"Okay, well what did she tell you? He isn't like married or gay or anything like that, is he?" questioned Peyton.

"Geez, thanks Peyton. I think I have better taste than that," replied Brooke.

"Okay, okay. Let's just let Brooke explain," commented Haley.

"Christy said that Julian is a director for a new movie, which is why he did not show up at the store today. She also told me in confidence that he doesn't normally let people in because he has had his heart broken too many times. So is it wrong for me to be worried that he does not really like me the way I like him? Is it wrong for me to not want to be in a relationship that might entail him being out of town for movies? And did he just send me flowers and ask me to dinner to apologize for last night? Or is it really a date?" questioned Brooke.

"Wow Brooke, that is a lot of questions, but I think you are over thinking everything. You need to talk to him. You need to go on this 'date' and see what happens. Maybe going on the 'date' will answer all of your questions. Plus, getting to know him better will allow him to trust you and then maybe you can find out how his heart got broken so many times," replied Haley.

"I know for certain that he likes you more than a friend. We had a little talk once I saw you run to the bathroom last night," stated Peyton. "What?" asked Peyton once she saw Brooke's face.

"You had a talk with him?" questioned Brooke.

"Yeah, I needed to make sure he did not hurt my best friend. Hoes over bros," replied Peyton.

"Well thank you for that P. Scott. But how do you know he likes me more than a friend?" questioned Brooke.

"Oh I don't know, probably because he told me," whispered Peyton.

"What? I cannot believe I am learning of this now. I cannot believe you did not share that information with me earlier," commented Brooke, who was jumping up and down like a little kid.

"I wanted to wait until we were somewhere in private instead of somewhere where you could cause a scene like you are right now," retorted Peyton. "But, I think you still need to talk to Julian to get all your questions answered because than you really no where you stand."

"I will. I will go to dinner with him like he asked," replied Brooke.

For the rest of the meal the three old-time friends talked about work, their families, and the pregnancies. Brooke really appreciated her best friends. However, Brooke knew she needed to go back to work and act like she new nothing. So after their goodbyes Brooke headed back to the store.

________________________________________________________________________

Brooke walked into the store like it was just any other day. She pretended like she had not talked to Christy about Julian because she wanted him to be able to talk to her. But she was still worried about his broken heart. Was it recently broken? Or was it broken quite some time ago. Perhaps I should have asked Christy that.

Brooke spotted Julian getting ready to try some of the clothes on in the back. Seeing him made her even more nervous about their 'date.' Brooke decided that she would not ask him where he was. To her that just seemed too needy.

Brooke joined Julian in the back of the store. She asked him how he was and she told him she would be glad to join him for dinner tomorrow even though it was not necessary because he did not need to apologize.

"I know I do not need to apologize, but I would still like to take you out for a nice dinner," stated Julian not wanting to fight.

"Well I would love to, but can you please let me know where we are going so I can dress appropriately?" questioned Brooke.

"Brooke, it is going to be a secret, but I am sure you will look sexy as hell," stated Julian, "plus it would be no fun for me if I did not get to tease you." With those simple words, Brooke felt a lot better about this 'date.'

"Just be ready at 7, so I can pick you up," smirked Julian. Brooke realized Julian was going to have too much fun teasing her.

AN: Please let me know your thoughts. And if you have any questions feel free to ask. By reviewing it lets me know that people are still reading my story. I just wanted to give you a heads up because I am moving next weekend, then my friend will be visiting, and then I am throwing a baby shower for my sister, so it may take me a while to update. Please keep reading though!

So I continue with the story?