Disclaimer: not mine, characters created by mark schwan. Loosely based on the song promise me by cauterize.

A/N: contains spoilers for those who haven't watched Season 1's 'Life in a glass house'.

- - -

Chapter 1

If this a game, then I don't want to play.

It means too much to me and you're so

far away.

Brooke leaned in towards him,grabbing his upper arm, "Jake, Jake, Jake" she taunted
and teased at the same time.

He looked at her gorgeous face and tried the best he could
to hide how nervous he really felt, "Brooke, Brooke, Brooke" he replied, sounding a lot
cooler than he actually felt.

She pulled him closer to her with his tie, well, he sort of helped her by moving closer
to her. After all, it wasn't as if a 85 pound girl like Brooke could actually pull a 142
pounds of muscle toward her with a thin piece of silk.

She smiled drunkenly at him. "I'm drunk, you'll do." For a few crazy moments,
Jake thought she was going to kiss him and he felt higher than he ever had at
any game.

"Oh, hey, it's quite an honour, but I got to be somewhere" he said, pulling away
from her. Oh, she was a temptress, and for more than a few minutes he was tempted
to shrug off his responsibilities and lose himself in her.

"Oh right, the big mystery." She said, her lips curling in an unhappy smile.
"What's wrong tonight? Lucas rejects me, you reject me-" Jake cut her off
before she finished her sentence, "Brooke, I know you're feeling vulnerable
now. Why don't you let me take you home?"
For a moment, Brooke let him see right through her, she did look
caught off guard that he could tell she was feeling this way. Then,
in a flash, her walls were back up. "Vunerable?" She laughed, then
gave him the sexiest look he had ever seen a girl wear, "Jake, if you
want an excuse to take me home just say so."

She paused, "the knight in shining armor thing is kinda cute though."
And this time, her smile was a one of genuine happiness.

- - -

They drove in silence and that was fine with him
because it gave him time to think and admire her
silently like a piece of art, a statue so fragile
that if he shouted, she might break.

They finally reached her house and Brooke
leaned over to him, "are you sure you don't
want to come in?" She whispered huskily
before kissing him.

Jake felt himself get lost in the kiss, but
not before he thought to himself, 'I don't
want to be just another one of her boy toys,
a meaningless one night stand. I want to
be in her life, she means to much to me,
even if this is the first time I've really talked
to her for more than 5 minutes. I have strong
feelings for this girl.'

And reluctantly, he pulled away. "Brooke,"
he said softly, stroking her cheek, "I don't
want to be just another one night stand. I
want to be something more than that. This
would probably freak you out, but I doubt
you'll remember it tomorrow anyway."

Brooke looked at him and remained silent. They had those
few moments of silence, sitting in his beat up convertible,
looking at each other before she drifted off to sleep.

Smiling and sighing at the same time, Jake carried
the pretty girl up to her room. Tucking her in carefully,
he kissed her on the forehead, "good night pretty girl"
he whispered before leaving home to see his daughter.

- - -

A/N: I LOVE BAKE ((: hahaaa. You can e-mail me at narinenia at yahoo . Com if you guys want (;
bake is the love. Hellooooo. Hee hee.