Brooke Dennis, future Mrs Egbert, was on the phone barking orders to the person on the other end of the line. Her father was in Australia directing and producing a fantasy film that hopefully rivaled Lord of the Rings. She was in Sweet Valley, refusing to move to Los Angeles, stating her fiance's job was important.
She did commute to Los Angeles. More often than not, she was in LA more than Sweet Valley, but she loved the small town and didn't want to move. Her father did live in LA, and Brooke often stayed there whenever she was in town to the chagrin to his third wife. She was hoping to find a condo in LA, so she can have a place to work and sleep.
After she hung up, she stretched. Looking at her small engagement ring, she couldn't help but smile. She re-met Winston when her father asked her to come along to get her opinion on a movie he was thinking of investing. She knew Winston all the way back in sixth grade. They ran in the same circles until they drifted apart in high school. They met again after she graduated from UCLA.
Winston was having lunch with his best friend Todd Wilkins and Bruce Patman, when her father called and asked her to meet with Bruce, since he was tied up with work and couldn't make it. She was curious about her former classmates. When she saw her old chums from middle school, she was surprised to see Winston. He still looked the same, but had a more confident look about him. She was intrigued.
Brooke walked up to the table and introduced herself to everyone.
"Hi, I'm Brooke Dennis."
"Hey! No need. It's been how long?" Todd asked.
Brooke smiled at everyone. Especially Winston who looked at her with a friendly expression.
"A few years. How's everyone? Especially Liz. Are you too still together?"
Brooke noticed how everyone looked uncomfortable. It was Winston that spoke up.
"Uh, Todd and Elizabeth went their separate ways."
"We broke up in freshman year."
"Oh! Sorry." Brooke was kicking herself. Dammit. She remembered how Elizabeth and Todd broke up after she cheated on him with Devin Whitelaw, back near the end of junior year at SVH. After summer ended, Elizabeth started dating a newcomer, Conner McDermott. It was a on/off relationship, with both dating other people. She didn't know Conner very well, but she knew how heartbroken Elizabeth was when they broke up. She then went on a rebound relationship with her ex, Jeffrey French.
They dated for awhile, but they also broke up before senior prom. How did Brooke know? It was Sweet Valley gossip. Plus she and Jeff hooked up at the after party prom. Right after grad, everyone went their separate ways. She knew some of her classmates went to SVU, while others went to to other colleges. Brooke decided to go to UCLA to attend film school.
After she graduated from UCLA, is when her father called. She was surprised to hear he wanted her to meet up with Bruce Patman. She heard about the scandal at SVU, but had no clue Bruce Patman wanted to make a movie about it.
She and Mr. Dennis read the screenplay. It was brilliant. Her father remarked he hasn't read something that intense since the sixties. Who would have guessed Bruce Patman, class jerk of Sweet Valley High has a creative mind? Her father decided to help Bruce promote his movie to his fellow connections.
He asked Brooke to meet up with Bruce. She was glad to be back in Sweet Valley. When she saw Bruce, she was surprised to see how much he changed. He seemed more humble. Todd Wilkins also looked different. She heard of Todd's shenanigans in Sweet Valley, and she remembered reading that newspaper article about him and his friends almost being killed by a psychopath a few years ago. But when she saw Winston, her heart fluttered.
Winston was open and friendly as he always was. When Brooke got to the table, she was kinda nervous on seeing everyone again. Her fears was for nothing though. After the initial nervousness wore off, she and them were talking and laughing like old friends. They weren't alone. Their girlfriends came and joined them.
After they introduced their girlfriends to them, Brooke was disappointed that Winston wasn't available. She was surprised to meet Denise Waters. She looked like a supermodel. Brooke was impressed. Winston sure stepped up his game. She liked Todd's new girlfriend, some local girl that attended OCC college. Todd mentioned they met at a bar where he worked, a place called Frankies. When she saw Lila Fowler, she was really surprised. Her and Bruce were a serious couple. They hated each other in high school. Wow. Everyone grew up since then.
They all had a good talk, especially Brooke, Lila and Winston. Denise was really nice. Not only was she dating Winston, she was also a former president of a popular sorority. They hung out later that night, with everyone joking and laughing with one another. Jessica Wakefield also came to join them. Brooke asked where Elizabeth was. That was apparently the wrong question to ask, because Jessica got up and made a excuse to leave, claiming she had a headache.
Winston told Brooke what really happened. During the summer break, right after sophomore year, Jessica, Elizabeth, and two guys the twins were dating went on a road trip. Jessica didn't approve of the guy her sister was seeing, and plotted to split them apart. It worked sadly. Elizabeth walked in on Jessica trying to seduce Elizabeth's boyfriend and all three of Jessica's road buddies walked out, ditching Jessica in a expensive hotel room.
Elizabeth disappeared to Europe and Jessica returned to Sweet Valley, dropping out of SVU. Jessica couldn't handle the loss of her sister and went into a deep depression. She didn't want to return to college, so her parents suggested she get a job. Jessica did just that. Surprising everyone when she got a job for a dog food commercial. But that wasn't the only best part. She got a audition for a popular soap opera.
Three months later, she moved to LA and got the part of Brittany Leons. A villainous character that swept the small fictional town of Melodic with her wild ways. Brooke and everyone in Sweet Valley tuned in to watch. Everyone laughed when Winston admitted he was a fan. Jessica was a great actress. Brittany was a bitch. She slept with Noelle's husband, Liam.
She stayed in LA for a few months, only returning for a weekend visit. It was only than that she found out that Elizabeth was moving home. Jessica was terrified. She missed her twin like crazy, and was nervous about seeing her again. She had to return to LA to work, but when she had a a few days off, she returned to Sweet Valley to greet Elizabeth.
They hugged and Elizabeth forgave her sister. Elizabeth, while in Europe, took a gap year from college. To make a living, worked as a servant for a wealthy family. That wasn't the only thing. She brought back her new boyfriend. The reunion was pleasant. Until Elizabeth caught Jessica and Todd together.
That didn't happen right away. It was after six months. Elizabeth moved home. Her and her boyfriend broke up, and Elizabeth decided to stay at her parents. Elizabeth was debating on what to do. She loved England, and was torn on what to do. Should she stay in Sweet Valley, or go to school in London?
It was around this time that Todd and Elizabeth were slowly picking up where things left off. It wasn't a serious relationship, not until Elizabeth and Todd decided to take things to the next level. But before that can happen Jessica came back from Los Angeles. She said she wanted to come home for a mini break since Hollywood was in a middle of a writer's strike.
Elizabeth, Jessica, Todd, Winston, and many of SVH's former alums threw a spontaneous high school reunion party at the Fowler mansion. Brooke was there, as well as many others. Even former El Corro kids showed up. Fair, since their school combined with SVH during senior year. Brooke was laughing at Winston's antics, as always making people laugh at his jokes. The rumor of Winston being a snobby jerk was false. Most likely started by his former bullies. They were jealous of Winston's life.
She saw many of her former classmates. Even those that graduated the year before. Heather Malone was one, now married with two little boys. Ken Matthews now working at SVH as a coach for the athletics department, Maria Slater was living in New York, working in Broadway, Amy Sutton was making a living as a real estate agent, engaged for the second time to none other than Nicolas Morrow, Enid "Alexandra" Rollins who was working as a obstetrician at the local women's clinic, Jeffrey French was now happily married to the twin's cousin, Robin, Betsy Martin is now working as a youth counselor for troubled kids, having sobered up after getting into a auto accident that killed a local family with Charlie Cashman who ended up in prison for drinking and driving, Conner McDermott was making his living as a struggling musician in New York, Aaron Dallas was making a successful career being a professional football player in Europe, (soccer) Annie Whitman was now making a living running her own indie cosmetics brand, and Tia Ramirez was a single mom raising her baby since her high school boyfriend and college sweetheart was killed during a robbery when he was out buying diapers for their newborn daughter. There were countless others but those were the ones she remembered the most.
The party was loud and crazy with Lila's parents in Switzerland. Lila was living in the Fowler mansion trying to run her dad's computer company. She was actually doing pretty good, having graduated with her degree in business, and wanted to learn how to take over the reins from her dad who's wife, Mrs Fowler wanted him to retire after he had a near fatal heart attack while working in his office. She wasn't hurting for money, not with her trust fund, and her dead husband's estate from way back in the day, she was actually smart and ruthless. Her new idea for a social media app she created was already generating buzz in business and magazines. Her idea, was a dating up for how to get a perfect mate. Not just another dating app, but one in how to bag a rich, successful partner, while becoming a successful socialite. Her idea was featured in a reality TV show, Real Housewives of Sweet Valley, and she was in talks with many investors and businesses who was offering her high figures in the eight digit figures to purchase it. At the moment she was taking another break from Bruce who was busy running his own movie company.
Bruce was busy in Hollywood. His parents wanted him to take over Patman Enterprises, but he declined. He was too busy. So his cousin, Reginald "Shred" Patman took over the reins. Funny. In high school he was nothing but a slacker who wanted nothing more than to surf and party, now was a serious businessman. He wasn't a snob. His money and position never changed his personality, he surfed every weekend, whenever he wasn't busy. He and Bruce were very close, ever since their cousin, Roger Barrett - Patman died in high school. He wasn't married, but was dating some model he met in South Africa.
Todd was at the punch bowl. He didn't drink, not since college. He was drinking a cup of punch talking to Liz about his parents. His dad's company was in trouble and was in danger of bankruptcy and his parents savings was running out. He was depressed and was also stressing about losing his beloved bar he owned. He wanted nothing more than to drink himself into a stupor. But he didn't. He snapped at Liz for not understanding and stormed out. Poor Liz was trying to cheer him up and he snapped.
He went outside to the gardens when he ran into Jessica. Jessica was there worried she was going to be laid off due to the writer's strike and was sitting on a bench alone. She was drinking with a bottle of rum when she saw Todd coming towards her. She was embarrassed when Todd found her drinking. Todd assured her he wasn't going to judge her. They both ended up talking to each other about their money woes and were drinking from the bottle Jessica stole from George Fowler's liquor cabinet. They were drunk afterwards and were giggling and happy afterwards.
They ended up polishing off the bottle and when Todd suggested they go somewhere more private, Jessica agreed. Since the party was spilling out to the grounds. They ended up upstairs in one of the guest bedrooms and before they knew it, they were having drunken sex when Liz walked in worried about Todd since she saw him going upstairs alone presumably to vomit, since one of the guests mentioned he was drinking with someone.
The aftermath was messy. Both Jessica and Todd were horrified when they were caught by Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew Todd and her weren't serious, but seeing Jessica, her own twin betraying her again? With her on/off boyfriend Todd? That was the final straw the broke the camel's back. She ran out and packed whatever she could and slept in a hotel that night and moved back up England to stay with her friend she met during her maid job. She ended up going to Oxford University that same year and when she graduated, refused to move back to Sweet Valley moving to New York to make a living as a writer with her best friend Maria Slater as a roommate. Since that day, neither twin's relationship was the same.
Brooke and Winston got together a few years later, when his former fiancee, Denise Waters drowned in a tragic boating accident. She was attending a party with her former sorority sisters, and their friends when she fell off the boat during the party and no one saw her because it was dark. Her body was found washed up on the shores of Sweet Valley beach the next day.
Poor Winston was devastated. They were planning their wedding when he got the call from her parents. Winston screamed when he got the news and his parents held him while he cried. They were together for years, all the way till graduation. The wedding was going to be a Christmas wedding, since Denise loved Christmas. Denise's parents opted to have a cremation instead of a casket, and Winston was too depressed to protest. The funeral was beautiful with many SVU former students attending. Even Brooke was invited, since she was friends with Winston.
They didn't date right away, not till a few years have passed. Brooke was busy with her father's company, and Winston was working hard as a radio DJ. They only got together when they ran into each other when they were both working at a press conference for a movie premiere that was was being held at a film festival that was taking place in Sweet Valley.
They ran into each other literally by accident. Brooke was telling her camera crew where to go, and Winston was there to do interviews with the film's attendees for his radio program. When they walked into each other, there was a lot of wires and swearing. But when Brooke saw who she walked into, she gave him a spontaneous hug. Winston was happy to see a friendly face and asked her for a interview. They ended up going for coffee afterwards, and their friendship slowly evolved into love after months of friendly dates.
Winston dated over the years, none serious. It wasn't until he saw Brooke when he felt like it was time to settle down and get married. Many of his friends were having families and Winston was getting lonely. Besides, he knew Denise would want him to move on. He proposed to Brooke while on top of a waterfall in Hawaii by pretending to lose her diamond ring in the water by "accidentally" dropping the ring into the waterfall. When she panicked at losing Winston's ring, Winston laughed and gave her her real ring. He then asked her to marry him and was ecstatic when she accepted. They celebrated by diving over the falls.
Brooke called Winston. They were still planning on the wedding, and were deciding where to have it. She was considering holding their wedding at her father's former estate, while Winston wanted to get married in Hawaii. He refused to have the wedding at the local beach, and Brooke agreed. That place was a graveyard as far as Winston knew.
She kissed Winston over the phone and hung up. She then called her friend Elizabeth in New York, to see how she was doing. Plus to invite her to their upcoming wedding.