Disclaimer: I do not, as much as I wish I did, own OTH or any of the songs in this story. All I own is the plot of the story, and I barely own that.

AN: Thanks guys for all the wonderful reviews. I never realized, until I posted this, just how scary it is to post something that you've worked hard on and not know how people are going to react. You have all helped my fear so much, so thank you so much for that – I couldn't do this without you.

I want to give a special thanks to ashstalker, Kimberlli, and Brucas4Evah. Your reviews have meant a lot to me, and Brucas4Evah – thanks so much for all the conversations on the forum.

I've come to realize that I do the whole flashback thing in almost every chapter, and I still have a lot of things to explain that would be easier done in flashbacks, so I'd really appreciate it if you guys could tell me whether or not you like the flashback thing. I'm just worried that if I try to throw in quick explanations instead of the flashbacks, that things won't have as much meaning – tell me what you think.

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Chapter 6: The Best Day

Brooke's lips quivered slightly, turning down at the corners as she stared at the phone, still unsure about what had happened between herself and Peyton mere minutes before. She sighed quietly as she closed her phone, her mind flying in ten different directions, caught mostly between her thoughts of Peyton and her memories of Jake. She wondered idly if Peyton would have viewed her former relationship with Jake as a betrayal, or if she would have understood the connection the two brunettes shared; two broken hearted people doing their best to hold themselves and each other together despite the harsh reality that their hearts' desires no longer loved them back.

Brooke shook the thoughts from her head, knowing it was pointless to focus on her past mistakes when her present mistakes were so much larger. For the last four days, she had managed to avoid Sam's probing gaze and relentless questions, but had promised herself, and Haley, that she would sit down this afternoon and discuss her decision with the moody teenager who had grown to be the most important person in her life over the span of the last few months. And though she was dreading it, she knew that explaining things to Sam was crucial to their relationship. Her mind began to wander again as she pushed all thoughts of her much-needed talk with Sam from her head.

Brooke's eyes glazed over and a small smile replaced her gloomy look as she thought of those nights in New York when she first fell back into contact with Jake, and her eyes shined brightly, the green swirling with specks of brown as she remembered her many visits to Savannah after. Brooke rolled over in her bed, her smile fading as she remembered the way she'd pushed Jake away after the attack when he'd been one of the only people she'd been able to confide in.

She sat up slowly, her head filled with several visions of the past, each somehow revolving around Jake Jagielski.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Nearly three months after seeing Lucas and discussing with him his and Peyton's breakup, Brooke still found herself in a slump. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw visions of herself wearing that ring again, Keith's ring, and for just a moment, she allowed herself to wish that he had given her that ring for real. Who knew that fake engagements could be so traumatizing to an already broken heart.

Brooke sighed and lowered her head to rest on her fist, bored. After agreeing to the partnership with her mother, who insisted that Brooke call her Victoria, she'd had a lot of free time on her hands. Most of the meetings these days were about money or some new merger with another clothing company; it was almost as if the fashion aspect of her fashion line was starting to take a backseat to the business side of things. Brooke groaned loudly and stood up, unable to sit around and wait for her mother to explain the details of some meeting at which she, the business owner, was not even wanted.

A few minutes after she left the 'Clothes Over Bros' headquarters, she found herself standing outside "The Golden Circle," a bar she'd heard about weeks ago from Chris; she smiled as she entered the doors, the sound of soothing jazz buzzing through the speakers. She walked, or skipped rather, over to the bar, debating whether or not it was too early to buy herself a drink, but within seconds of sitting on one of the beige stools; the bartender placed a martini in front of her, his dark eyebrows rising humorously.

"Hey, you're uh…Sal right?" He nodded, "Keller told me all about you; he said you make the best drinks in town," she glanced down at the drink he had just placed in front of her, "but I'm not exactly drinking tonight. Do you think you can send this back to," she glanced around, "…whoever sent it?"

The bartender nodded and tilted his head toward a blonde guy sitting at the other end of the bar. Brooke allowed her gaze to drop to the strangely docile looking man at the other end of the bar and pushed the drink toward Sal, standing as the calming jazz came to an end and was replaced by soft rock. Brooke found herself swaying to the alluring beat, and she began walking toward the small stage where the band was playing; she couldn't look away from the guitarist, noting the hypnotic way his fingers moved skillfully over the strings, and she was unable to stand still, her body taking over her mind until she was unconsciously tempting every man in the room with her persuasive movements.

Brooke closed her eyes, barely aware of her own whereabouts, and it was almost as if the music was fixing every horrific thing in her life, helping her to forget all about Lucas Scott and his indecisiveness. The band played a few more songs and was soon replaced by another band, country music this time, and Brooke began to lose interest in this game. She smiled, feeling the happiest she'd been in months, but it was getting late and she knew that playtime was over. She glanced over toward the door, knowing that she should probably leave soon but really dreading the end of the night.

"Brooke?"

She turned at the sound of his amicable voice, her smile growing and her dimples popping, "Ah! Jake Jagielski!" She threw herself into his arms, noting how happy he looked, "You look great; how have you been?"

He grinned, wrapping his arms tighter around her for a moment before letting go, "I'm wonderful. I finally have full custody of Jenny now, which is what I hoped for all along, and every few weeks I fly up here and play a gig with some of my closest friends. Life's pretty amazing at the moment."

"Where is cute, little Jenny?"

"Hanging with my cousin at home; even when I'm only away from her for a few days, I miss her..." His eyes slid over her, curious and prodding, "By the way, Brooke, you look even more beautiful than I remember."

Brooke grinned, "Of course I do. And to be honest, you're looking pretty good too; the whole raggedy thing is working for you." She raised her eyebrow teasingly and Jake laughed, "So, how long are you in town? We have to hang out before you go!"

Jake sighed, taking her hand and leading her to the bar, "I'm actually leaving tonight, but, hey, here's my number and email address." He pulled a pen from his pocket and began writing on a napkin, "It was great seeing you, Brooke Davis. And hey, you better call me."

Brooke smiled and nodded, "Count on it."

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Two months after her meeting with Jake in 'The Golden Circle,' Brooke sat at her computer composing another email, smiling to herself. Chris came out of the kitchen, looking bored, "Writing your lover another email?"

Brooke laughed and rolled her eyes, "Yup. I'm writing my friend another email; I didn't realize how much I missed seeing him until I ran into him. He's a really great guy."

Chris leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, thinking it was strange how normal things felt with her, despite their strange history, "Did you tell him that you and I broke up?"

He looked a little too excited by the notion of she and Jake sending silly emails, and part of her felt the need to remind him that they were 'just friends,' despite the fact that she knew it would ruin his giddiness, "Why? You want me to give him your number? Think Jakey's kinda sexy?"

Chris rolled his eyes and grinned, "Nah, I'm good…I mean, the Keller is a great catch and all, obviously, but I have a feeling that he'd be more excited to know that you are single rather than that I am."

She laughed and pulled Chris down into the chair next to her, "Can what we had even really be considered a relationship, anyway? We went on, what, three dates?"

He looked offended, "Five dates – five AMAZING dates. Don't sell me short, Davis."

She giggled, "Yes, they were pretty amazing…" Her brow furrowed, "But kinda weird."

"True." He nodded, raising both his eyebrows at her, "It was like dating my little sister…except for the part where I find you really sexy; there was absolutely NOTHING sisterly about that." His eyes widened in realization, "You know…we had sex once." Brooke's eyes widened, wondering why he was bringing that up now. "So, if you're like my sister now, but we had sex before that, is it still creepy?"

Brooke cracked up at his words, surprised as always at his honest curiosity, and tears began falling down her rosy cheeks, "Gah, Keller, quit making me laugh…it's starting to hurt."

Chris grinned as her breathing calmed and her giggles stopped, "So, are you gonna do it? Visit him in Savannah like he asked you, I mean?"

Brooke nodded, glancing over at a picture of her and Peyton hugging, and hit the 'send' button, "Yup, I guess I am."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Brooke grinned as she stepped off the plane, her eyes immediately falling on the single father who had managed to take her from a whiney rich girl with an unhealthy love for a man that was never really hers to a more confident, albeit slightly neurotic, rich girl who finally believed in true friendships again with only simple emails as his tool. She could feel the warmth of his eyes with each step she took, feeling safe and at home for the first time since moving to New York. As she reached him it was as if every word he'd written to her came rushing back and she found herself wanting to hear him say the words aloud. He reached down, taking her hand in his, and smiled, "Come along, Miss Davis, welcome to my life."

For hours they ran around Savannah, him showing her the school he worked at, the small bar he often played at, and finally his home; the little blue house reminded her of those homes she'd seen on sitcoms, everything seemed perfect. She'd glanced around at all the pictures of Jenny, unable to comprehend that the tiny baby she'd once known was this gorgeous 3 year old she saw in all these recent photos. They didn't talk much, their words not having nearly as much meaning when spoken, but they each knew this for what it was; two friends rediscovering each other's lives.

That night, after tucking Jenny in, as they sat beneath the stars, Brooke couldn't help but feel as if this was right. Because in those moments when she'd stared into little Jenny's eyes as Jake read her a bedtime story, she had never felt more alive, or more in love; that child had awakened within her the need to be a mother, the need to love someone with every fiber of one's being.

"Jake?" she whispered softly, lifting her head from his chest, "This is what I want for my life."

Her words were mere whispers, but he heard her. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at her for what felt like the first time, "What do you mean?"

She smiled wistfully, "I want to have a family someday; a baby of my own…" For a moment neither of them spoke, they merely looked into one another's eyes, feeling that if words were spoken, the spell would break and leave them both more damaged than before.

Jake leaned forward, his breath hitching in his throat, and Brooke licked her suddenly dry lips. Jake ran the tips of his fingers over the side of her face, "Brooke." Then their lips met, fierce yet soft, harsh yet loving. His tongue played with hers in ways that she would later remember as perfection, and he wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her as close to him as he could. There was not an inch of their skin that wasn't touching; the pure intimacy in their every touch captivated them both beyond simple kisses. Soon enough they were forced to part, gasping for air as they leaned their foreheads against one another's, every few seconds one of them leaned in for another sweetly soft kiss.

Brooke smiled and placed her hand on his cheek, "This is the life I want, and, to be honest, I don't want to go back."

Jake rubbed his nose against hers, "We'll be here when you get back – I promise."

Brooke glanced down, suddenly more aware of her surroundings, "What about Peyton?"

Jake frowned, "Brooke?"

Brooke pulled herself from his embrace, "I'm sorry…I know it isn't fair to kiss you like that and then take it all back, but she would never understand this…never. I don't have the right to take this from her."

Jake frowned and reached out toward her, "This isn't about her."

"I know. And I still…"

He nodded, knowing from the way she had kissed him that she had feelings far beyond what she was admitting. "I still…too."

Brooke laughed slightly, "I should go home. I love you, Jake Jagielski. You make sure you tell Jennybug that her Aunt Brooke loves her."

He nodded, pulling her into his arms, "I love you too, Brooke."

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Brooke jumped at the sound of the front door slamming, knowing it was time to face the inevitable. She turned, not looking at the young girl, "Sam."

Sam raised her eyebrow and tossed her bag onto Brooke's bed, "Why'd you say no?"

TBC…