Author: fraidy bat
Rating: T
Pairings: Brooke/Rachel, Brooke/Chase, unavoidable Rachel/Bevin, implied Lucas/Peyton
Summary: Rachel and Brooke's relationship has changed drastically in the last several months. What's really going on there?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from "One Tree Hill." None of it belongs to me.
Notes: These are little snippets I wrote about things that have happened in recent episodes of OTH. Basically, Rachel's behavior was driving me crazy, and the plot bunnies wouldn't leave me alone, so this is the result. I will be writing more of these as things progress on the show. This first one takes place kind of between "Songs to Live and Die By" and "Everything In Its Right Place." Kind of. Just read. :)
"So, Lucas and Peyton, huh? Can't say I'm surprised."
Brooke sighed. "Me either."
"Oh, please. Don't tell me you're still confused about Lucas," said Rachel, rolling her eyes as she brushed her hair. She glanced carefully at Brooke's reflection in the bathroom mirror, not wanting to miss her reaction.
"No, not confused, just…I don't know," she said, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "Maybe a little sad."
"Don't be. This is good—for both of you. Lucas is moving on, and so should you." Rachel smiled triumphantly at her own reflection.
Brooke put down her hairbrush and went back into the bedroom she and Rachel shared. Rachel followed, casually noting the way Brooke's tank top rode up in the back, revealing a slim section of smooth skin that Rachel perused until it disappeared again beneath Brooke's pajama bottoms. Flopping onto her bed, Brooke smiled at the redhead who was studying her from across the room.
"I was actually thinking about staying single for a little while, you know. Consider my options, take a break from relationship drama."
Rachel frowned slightly. "Sure. You need to center yourself or whatever. But that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun once in a while," she said, breaking into a sly grin.
"Ugh, I am not doing the online dating service thing again, not after that ugly English teacher disaster which, by the way, I still blame you for," Brooke said, arching an irritated eyebrow at Rachel, who stopped leaning on the wall and sat down on her own bed facing Brooke.
Rachel leaned forward, mouth quirking up in a suggestive half smile. "Why bother with the Internet when you can have somebody you already know?"
"Like who? I've already exhausted every acceptable choice at school, and this town isn't exactly full of male models—except for the ones that also teach high school English classes, of course," Brooke said, exasperated.
The grin broke out on Rachel's face again. "Oh, I sure if you thought about it long enough, you could think of someone."
Brooke made an irritated noise. "I'm going to sleep now," she said, rolling her eyes, but Rachel could see she was trying not to smile.