278Sorry about the update pause-I thought I had already posted this! I kinda drew from the epispde "In da Club" (but no nanny Carrie of course!) Enjoy :)
Chapter 16: Far More
"This is going to be a great night." Brooke said as she coated her eyelashes with mascara. She and Haley had spent the better part of the past hour getting ready for Tric. "You, me, Nathan, Jake and Lucas watching me grind up with other men."
"You two are ridiculous." Haley commented, tucking her skinny jeans into her boot. It felt great to be out of the cast and Nathan, Jake and Lucas had surprised her by moving her stuff back up to her bedroom. She paired the jeans with a lacy pink tank top Brooke had lent her which showed more cleavage than she would have usually done, but added a sparkly necklace to balance it. Her hair was in big curls with a few pinned off her face and her eyes were shimmery. "You profess your love to each other, then go a whole week barely speaking."
"I've been busy!" Brooke protested. She wore a black leather mini skirt with black boots and a bright blue scoop neck tee. Her hair was, as usual, poker straight and she had done her makeup so she would definitely pass for 21.
"Busy scheming?" Haley questioned.
"Well, yes. Anyway, I have the perfect solution which I will present to Lucas later. Friends with benefits." Haley gave her a look. "It's foolproof! Obviously there is still an attraction between us, but I'm going to keep it purely physical. Hookups without the heartbreak."
"If that's what you want Brooke, then I'll support you." Haley told her.
"Good to hear. Now let's go meet the men!"
"Woah," Nathan said as Haley came down the stairs. "You look amazing." Haley slightly flushed.
"You don't look too bad yourself" She said, wrapping her arms around his waist and bringing her lips to his.
"You better watch her like a hawk." Jake said to Nathan, motioning to Haley's shirt.
"Oh I'll be watching her," Nathan said, looking right at Haley's chest, causing her to lightly hit him.
"Let's get this party started!" Brooke cheered, bouncing down the stairs, right past Lucas but taking long enough for him to get a good view of her outfit. Lucas ran his hand through his hair, sighing and Haley gave him a sympathetic look.
"She'll come around." Nathan told him.
"Maybe." Lucas said quietly and followed Jake out the door.
Tric was definitely somewhere Brooke Davis could get used to. It was exactly the kind of thing she loved—the music was loud, the place was dark and the guys were very, very good looking. She grabbed Haley, who grabbed Nathan and went to the dance floor.
"You're a terrible dancer," Haley laughed as Nathan attempted dancing in tune with the music and her.
"You are not helping!" he defended. "You're busting out all these moves and I can't keep up." Haley tried to stop herself from cracking up, but did a lousy job at it.
"Uh oh," she said, noticing a fire in Brooke's eyes as she watched Lucas dance with some red head girl a few feet away.
"We should probably clear the dance floor before there's a war," Nathan suggested and Haley gave him a pointed look.
"How convenient for you," she smiled, but she took his hand as they ordered sodas from the bar.
"Sup lovers?" Jake said, walking up to them.
"Jake, you are so white." Haley shook her head.
"Says the girl dancing with the worst dancer," Jake looked pointed at Nathan who gave him a look. "Anyway, The Honorary is playing tonight! Turns out Brooke picks good clubs after all."
"If only she'd pick a good guy," Haley muttered. "When do they go on?"
"Well there's this opening act first and then they're after her. Actually," he said, motioning to the stage. "I think she's going on now. Wanna get a table?" Nathan and Haley nodded as the girl took the stage. She was introduced simply as Mia and took the stage with a guitar in hand.
"Hey guys. So I know tomorrow is Valentine's Day for the happy couples, but this is a song for the rest of us. It's called No Good." She began strumming the guitar and the audience watched and listened to her opening verse.
I never feared the unexpected Well I should know so much better than this I'm moving in reverse
'Till I found myself in this peculiar place
Unaware of where I was headed
Turns out it was your footsteps I had chased
But you've occupied the center of my universe
Under your mighty curse
I hate myself for loving you
I turn my head away
But my heart will remain
'Till the day I learn you're No Good for me
She transitioned into the chorus with such honest passion that they were all stunned at her talent. But one was even more interested.
"That's the girl I want." Jake said, looking at Mia almost mesmerized. "You guys, I gotta meet her. Mia." Haley looked at him, part of her worried and part intrigued.
"Jake," she started. But he shook his head, stopping her.
"I'm gonna meet her." He said firmly. Lucas and Brooke, though from opposite sides, walked up to the table at the same time.
"This girl rocks!" Brooke said.
"Jake's in love," Nathan announced and they all watched Jake, who only focused on Mia.
"You know Jake," Lucas started, but Jake waved him off.
"I'm gonna meet her guys." He said and Haley shook her head. Mia finished the song and the crowd went wild for her. She brightly smiled at their table.
"You guys are great, thank you! And now, The Honorary!" There were even more cheers as she exited the stage. After putting her guitar away, she fought through the crowd, towards their table.
"Oh my god shed coming this way," Jake said, growing nervous and excited. Haley was surprised to see he was right, but her heart sunk a bit when Mia jumped into Lucas' arms.
"Lucas Scott!" She said excitedly. "I heard you moved to these parts!"
"It's good to see you Mia, it's been too long." He said. They pulled back and Lucas scanned the faces of his friends, seeing expectant expressions. "You guys, Mia graduated last year from Charlotte. She used to sing the National Anthem at the basketball games."
"Needless to say, this is better." She said smiling and motioning to Tric.
"Wait, you're only nineteen and you can sing like that?" Brooke asked, impressed. "And you write the songs too?" Mia humbly nodded. "Oh my god that is so cool!"
"Anyway, Mia this is my cousin Nathan, Haley, Brooke and," he said pausing and looking to the boy who still had yet to say anything, "this is Jake."
"Hi," Mia said, smiling at him. He was definitely cute and the way he was looking at her made her feel something she hadn't felt in a while. "Well I have to go talk to my manager…I'll only be a minute if you want to listen to The Honorary," she said sweetly, looking right at Jake who grinned.
"I'll be here." He said. She smiled one last time before going backstage.
"Well what do you know." Nathan smirked.
"Looks like the race of women are no longer scum," Haley smiled and patted her brother on the back.
"Just the cheating blonde ones." Jake said, but smiling. "I can't believe you knew her Luke and didn't tell me about her ages ago." Lucas threw up his hands in protest.
"How was I supposed to know it would be freaking love at first sight?"
"Just in time for Valentine's Day!" Brooke squealed. They all laughed and Nathan turned to Haley.
"Dance with me?" he asked.
"You sure you want to do that again?" She teased.
"It's a slow one," he pointed out and she took his hand as they went to the dance floor.
"Okay, I don't want to be rude," Jake said. "But Mia's coming back and-"
"We get it," Lucas said, and he and Brooke left the table. "Brooke," he called as she walked ahead of him.
"What?" She said turning around.
"Dance with me. Just one song." She hesitated, but the look in Lucas' eyes made her cave in.
"One song." She repeated and they began to dance.
How much, how much, how much NEXT: Valentines Day! Naley date and a Brucas surprise Songs: "No Good" by Kate Vogele "Far More" by the Honorary
How much longer, girl
How much longer do we need to wait?