A/N:

Reviews are really important for me. They are what keeps the story going because they keep me creative. So, I need you to review and let me know what you think. You can make suggestions and I may or may not use them as the story is already created in my mind.

Thanks to Vicky who has re-read my chapters to date and helped pick out any oddball sentances or inconsistancies.

Jenna

"Under Pressure"

Standing there, taking in her surroundings it all seemed so surreal. Sure, she'd been at these events more times than she could count but the feeling never got old. Hardly able to remember her rise to the top, the pretty brunette stood there happily. Everything in her life was going wonderfully. A successful fashion line, a gorgeous and loving man by her side but something was missing. Brushing off the empty feeling, telling herself she was being selfish for wanting more than what was already in her grasp; Brooke snapped out of her temporary daze and started to pay attention to the bustle all around her.

Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure - that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets

"Listen Callista, I need you in the make up chair yesterday!" One man shouted "We're on in 15 minutes and you look like you haven't slept in a week!"

"Alright, alright I'm coming…" the girl who wasn't more than 17 replied as if she had better places to be.

This caught Brookes attention and instantly Nazi Brooke, fashion designer, stepped into gear. One thing Brooke didn't take lightly was her fashions shows and if her models weren't professional 100 of the time, well, there was hell to pay.

"Callista!" Brooke hollered from across the room with fire in her eyes. She'd just about had enough of this girl, only a couple of years younger than herself, this wasn't the first time she'd behaved unprofessionally and if she didn't smarten up, it would be the last.

"Come on Brooke, lighten up…" The tall, slender beauty replied casually. "It's not like I've ever disappointed you."

"Listen Callista, you may not have in the past, but that doesn't mean you won't tonight. Honestly, I'm getting fed up with your 'whatever' attitude when it comes to work. Contrary to popular belief, this industry is not all fun and games." Sure there was a time for fun, the after parties, the charity fundraisers, but the work up to the actual show was to be taken seriously.

"Brooke-" as she started to reply Callista was cut off almost immediately as she looked up at her boss.

It's the terror of knowing
What the world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming 'Let me out'

"What the hell is going on with your eyes?" The petite brunette demanded of her model, hoping it wasn't what she thought because if so, well she'd be down a model tonight and with only a few minutes before show time, there'd be no way to get a replacement in. "They're all bloodshot Callista, and you look like you haven't slept in a week." Brooke was starting to panic, thinking back to Rogue Vogue and the first time she took part.

As Brooke walked into the 'true' VIP room, she looked around for the pretty model two years her junior "Solaris?" Glancing around she was noticing that there were a few people who seemed 'not quite there' and a one or two couples making out.

"Solaris?" She called again rounding the corner.

"Brooke?" A very dazed and out of it Solaris responded just as Brooke spotted her hunched slightly on a trendy sofa.

"Are you okay?" She asked concerned as the young girl looked in a daze.

"I just snorted to much H… I'll be, I'll be fine in a minute" Solaris stuttered slightly but explained as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"As in heroine?!" A very surprised Brooke questioned. The petite brunette was shocked to say the least, she certainly had not been expecting anything like this when she made the decision to stay at Rogue Vogue rather than join her friends for the classic.

"Oh look, the princess fell off her pony…" Travis spoke with a mocking tone in his voice. It was apparent he was enjoying this.

"Is she okay?" A concerned Brooked asked.

"She's more than okay sweetie, trust me..." Travis replied with a somewhat cruel but knowing tone in his voice. He obviously didn't care about the young model and was used to seeing this kind of thing.

"Your so pretty…" the ebony model, who Solaris had pointed out earlier, spoke softly to Solaris while stroking her hair gently.

"Isn't she?" Travis spoke raising his hand and caressing Brooke's arm.

"Wow, hey, I'm only 17…" A once again surprised Brooke announced. She was really freaked out by this point.

"Didn't know you were so old sweetie, thought you were more Solaris' age…" Travis remarked snidely.

"That's disgusting" The brunette stated, clearly trying to digest everything. This was too much and she no longer felt safe.

"Watch it little girl, your swimming in the deep end now…" The pervert of a man that Brooke once thought was kind warned. It was enough for the young designer to bolt from the club away from a world she was no longer certain she was ready to enter.

It had been at that moment that Brooke had decided that she needed to make a difference in the industry and not just design clothes. If it was going to be the career she entered, than she'd be damned sure that her models would be clean of drugs and alcohol abuse and young girls wouldn't be taken advantage of.

"It's nothing a little make up can't fix Brookie..." The girl was starting to drag her words lazily. That was the end of this girls career with 'Ho's over Bros'. Between Peyton and the last model Brooke had that was on drugs, it wasn't something taken lightly. Brooke's models knew better than this as drug tests were conducted every few months, but apparently, Callista thought she was exempt from that rule.

Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets

"Jeremy, get this girl the hell outta my sight and call one of the doctors. Hopefully they can do something to help her, get her in rehab or something." Brooke spoke sadly. Switching gears quickly, rethinking the line-up. Each girl was supposed to hit the runway 3 times, Callista was the finale. "Listen up people, things have to be reorganized a little with the order." Thinking fast, Brooke pulled her 3 top models to fill in the now vacant spots. "Eva, you're filling in for the Callista's first run, Rachel, you've got her second run and Caridee you've got the finale so make it good.

Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours

Rachel smirked at her long time friend. Brooke caught this and gave her a small smile as the redhead made her way towards the brunette. "Told you you'd eventually cave and give me the better dresses, it's about time you got rid of that little brat." It was said in such a typical 'I'm better than all of them' Rachel fashion that Brooke could only stifle a laugh.

"Go on Rach, you're one of the first ones up and the shows starting in 10. Go finish getting ready, we'll chat later." With that Rachel turned on her heel and made her way over to hair and make up for finishing touches. She was ready to go, usually one of the first, but when Brooke gave instruction to do with one of her shows, well Rachel just did as she was told. Something Brooke never would have expected from the pretty redhead.

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming 'Let me out'

Standing there, left to her thoughts once again, Brookes mind drifted. She thought about everyone often, things never stopped for her and she missed the days of life in Tree Hill. Despite her feelings at the time and all the drama that for the most part felt like the end of the world, Brooke realized how simple things were back then. She had her friends close by and despite the fact that her parents all but abandoned her, aside from the cheque sent every month; she knew how lucky she was to have so many people around her that loved her. Now, she was far away from everyone, or at least it felt that way.

Pray tomorrow - gets me higher high high
Pressure on people - people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love
but it's so slashed and torn
Why - why - why ?

Brooke had lost touch with Lucas and Petyon completely, but not unintentionally. Although it wasn't an easy task as her and Lucas were godparents to little James, she managed to avoid him with the help of Haley and Nathan. Lucas and Peyton needed to be together, they were soul mates and no matter how hard it was, she backed away. Disconnecting her friendship from Peyton had been one of the most difficult things to do, after all they'd been through together, all they'd overcome. In the end, it wasn't enough for Brooke to stay in touch, it had hurt her too much.

Love love love love love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance
Why can't we give love that one more chance
Why can't we give love give love give love give love
give love give love give love give love give love

Chase was long out of the picture. Although they had told each other they were in love with the other, it wasn't meant to be. They were fill-ins until something better came along, having some fun along the way and building a solid friendship. So, they ended things between them and promised to stay friends.

'Cause love's such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And loves dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves

She still talked to Haley and Nathan though, and of course regularly visited her favourite godson "I don't know what I'd do without tutor wife" Brooke said to herself "her and Nathan both have been so great to me over the past two years…"

"Hey Brooke… Earth to Brooke…" A familiar voice stirred her from her thoughts.

"Huh?" Brooke looked up somewhat startled.

"C'mon Brooke, the show is starting, get it in gear for God's sakes!" Jay, her assistant snapped at her.

"Oh, right, the show… sorry I was thinking of old times" Brooke said quietly "Hey wait a second, what are you doing snapping at me? Aren't you my assistant?" She said with a smirk. Jay was so reliable; he certainly kept her on her toes and organized with all the craziness. She'd never be able to deal with everything had she hired someone else, that was for certain.

"Well, they're waiting for you to give the go ahead to start the show, so let's go and make sure everything is perfect with the models and that Rachel isn't starting wars over the dresses she feels the need to wear again" He said as he walked out of the room. Brooke followed closely behind. Laughing at Rachel already...

With issues already arising, this show had to be a success. Nothing else could go wrong.

Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure

So there's chapter two. Under Pressure (the version I used) was done by Queen