2004 ― Tree Hill, North Carolina

Today was the day of the Winter Formal at their school today. Brianna was excited because it was her first time going with Nathan. Her freshman year she went with Haley, Lucas, and Beckham. During sophomore year, she went with Brooke and Peyton because Formal came during one of Peyton's fights and breakups with Nathan, even though they ended up winning King and Queen that year.

When Brianna walked into their bedroom, she had a tray loaded with breakfast. Nathan was still asleep and she smiled. It was a Sunday morning, and Brianna didn't understand why the Formal was on a Sunday. "Good morning. Rise and Shine!" Brianna exclaimed. Nathan slowly rolled over and opened his eyes. "I slaved all morning... over the toaster, making my famous cinnamon waffles, so eat up," Brianna said.

"Somebody wants to go to that... crummy Formal," Nathan said. Brianna laughed as she shook her head and gently hit his arm.

"Crummy! How could you say that? One, we get to hang out with our friends and get all dressed up and slow dance. How could you not be excited?" Brianna asked.

"Because... my parents are chaperones," Nathan said and Brianna frowned.

"Well, you got me there. But, so what? Safety in numbers; you know I have your back," Brianna said. Nathan leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"Do we really have to go to that stupid dance?" Nathan asked.

"Alright, well, maybe not. I mean... once I get you in that tux... maybe I'll decide we should stay in," Brianna whispered in his ear. Nathan smiled as he laid his hands on top of her arms that were draped over his chest.

"Just uh... don't leave me alone with them," He said. Brianna smiled before kissing his cheek.

"Okay, I promise," Brianna said. Nathan stabbed a piece of the waffle with his fork and held it up in front of Brianna's mouth. She smiled as she bit the piece off. "Hmm, delicious," She said as she leaned forward to give him a kiss. Nathan laughed as he got another piece of waffle.

"My turn."

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Brianna was at work, standing behind the counter with Haley and Karen, while Beckham was sitting at one of the stools. He and Haley were talking about the formal while Brianna was cleaning and organizing some things.

"Hales... I'm surprised you convinced Beckham to go. He hated the idea of the formal our freshman year, we had to force him to go with us," Brianna said and Beckham rolled his eyes.

"It's more about the people than it is the actual dance," Beckham said.

"You acted like we were pulling your teeth freshman year," Haley said and Beckham laughed.

"It had nothing to do with you guys... I just didn't wanna go," Beckham said and Brianna shook her head as she threw the rag she was holding at him. Beckham laughed and caught it. The bell dinged as Peyton walked inside the cafe.

"Hey, there she is!" Karen exclaimed. Then she turned to Haley and Brianna. "Give my trustee club promoter a snack on the house. She's earned it!" Karen exclaimed. Brianna nodded and grabbed the pot of coffee before approaching Peyton.

"What's up, girl?" Brianna asked.

"Actually, this trustee club promoter needs a favor... from you and Haley both," Peyton said. Haley and Brianna exchanged looks as Brianna poured Peyton some coffee.

"Okay," Haley said.

"How would you both feel about playing TRIC next weekend? And I don't just mean one or two songs... I mean... like a whole set," Peyton said. Haley's eyes widened.

"I'm flattered, but I can't," Brianna said.

"Why not?" Peyton asked.

"Because I have Macbeth, and you know this isn't my thing. I just wanted to help Haley out," Brianna said.

"And I've only got a few songs... not a whole set worth of songs," Haley said.

"I've got plenty of songs," A new voice said. The girls turned around and saw Chris Keller had walked inside the cafe. Brianna didn't even hear the bell ding.

"Really! See, that's weird because I wouldn't know that. I've never even heard you play one," Peyton said and Brianna laughed.

"Ah, but you know, let's just skip to the track where you tell me you want me to play," Chris said.

"How do I know you're not going to screw me again?" Peyton asked.

"Been there, done that," Chris responded.

"Are you going to have a list of crazy demands?" Peyton asked and he nodded.

"Just one. Haley plays with me," Chris said. He heard Brianna say she has play rehearsals and she had already told him that she was more into theater and musicals.

"Uh, do you really think I'm ready for that?" Haley asked.

"No, but you will be... if we rehearse tonight," Chris said. Haley frowned.

"Oh, I can't tonight. Tonight's the formal," Haley said.

"Hmm, just as well; I don't really wanna play with someone who's not... totally committed. Not with record labels in the audience," Chris said as he turned to Peyton and Haley. "I have interest, but you just went off to prom," He said. Haley rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I'll be there,"

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When Haley got back to her house after work, Beckham was already there. Haley's parents let him in and he was on Haley's laptop. He wanted to make a surprise for her and needed the song she recorded, which he didn't know she recorded with Chris. When Haley followed the music into the kitchen, her eyes widened.

"Beckham!" She exclaimed as she walked up and closed her laptop.

"Hales! Come on, it sounded amazing," Beckham said.

"That's a work in progress, I told you I wasn't ready for you to hear it yet. Plus, you have a habit of sending things out before they're finished," Haley teased, referring to when he sent her song to Peyton in the first place.

"Well, you see how that turned out," He teased and Haley smiled. "And when did you find time to record this?" He asked.

"Oh, just... when you were in Charlotte over the weekend," Haley said. She was about to walk to the fridge and ask if Beckham wanted anything, but then she turned around. "Oh, shoot. Okay, um, so something's come up. Peyton wants me to play the next TRIC night... with Chris," Haley said. Beckham sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Haley, come on! You don't need that guy," Beckham said. He didn't like the comments that Chris made the night Haley and Brianna played TRIC.

"He's got connections and they're going to hear me play and hear some of the songs I've written. It's just really important that I rehearse with him... starting tonight," Haley said. She frowned as she watched Beckham's face completely fall.

"Hales!" Beckham exclaimed.

"Well, come on! I'm just gonna be a little late. We won't miss anything, I promise. Okay? I promise."

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Meanwhile, Brianna was having a similar conversation with Nathan about Macbeth rehearsals. After a week of practicing after school, Ethan invited Brianna to practice some more before the formal because they were going to start dress rehearsals soon, and Mr. Griffin had given them feedback that they still weren't digging deep enough.

Nathan did come to a few rehearsals and he wasn't entirely fond of how Ethan was with Brianna. He understood that they were the leads, and as the leads they were playing husband and wife, but even when they weren't acting, Nathan thought he was getting a bit too close.

"So, something's come up, and Ethan and I have to rehearse tonight," Brianna said. Nathan frowned.

"Bree!" Nathan exclaimed.

"I know! I'm sorry, but we're starting dress rehearsals soon and all of that," Brianna said.

"Bree. You've got this play down. I bet Ethan just wants to spend more time with you," Nathan said and Brianna shook her head.

"Nate, come on! It's not like that at all. I promise I'm only going to be a little late for the formal. Plus, Mr. Griffin told us that people connected with Broadway are going to be there. I have to nail this performance," Brianna said.

"Bree," Nathan said.

"Come on, I promise we won't miss anything, I promise," Brianna said. Nathan nodded and Brianna kissed his cheek before going back to their bedroom.

She was hoping they wouldn't go too late.

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Brianna had been rehearsing with Ethan and Griffin for what felt like hours. Griffin was passionate about the play, which Brianna understood, especially because Broadway Agents were going to be at the show, that's why he was being so hard on them, but not in a critical, shattering their excitement about the play type of way, but in a way that made them determined. Brianna was especially determined because Broadway was her goal, and since Broadway Agents would be at the play, even though it's not a musical, she still wanted to make a good impression.

"What now?" Brianna asked Griffin when she and Ethan finished a scene.

"Nothing, it's fine," He said.

"Are you sure?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah... the only problem is... Broadway Agents don't recruit 'fine.' Broadway shows don't put 'fine,' on their stages," Griffin said. Brianna sighed as she gathered up her hair and pulled it up into a messy bun.

"I thought you said we were doing good!" Brianna exclaimed.

"And you are, your performances in your individual scenes are phenomenal, but your scenes together as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, husband, and wife, they're not great, they're just fine," Griffin said as he shrugged and Brianna sighed.

"Well... I don't know, can we pick this up tomorrow after school? We have the formal tonight!" Brianna exclaimed.

"Oh, sure... well, that's fine," Griffin said as he nodded and walked away. As if on cue, Brianna's phone started ringing, it was Nathan.

"Oh, hey sweetie... I'm so sorry, this is taking a lot longer than I expected," Brianna said.

"How much longer?" Nathan asked.

"Why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you there, not a second later than 8:30," Brianna said.

"Do you know how long Haley will be? Beckham is here too," Nathan said and Brianna mentally cursed. They all agreed to go together before Haley and Brianna got roped into their separate rehearsals.

"What did she tell Beckham? I know she's in the studio, we haven't talked," Brianna said.

"She said she'd meet us there, too. Brianna," Nathan said and Brianna frowned. She could hear how upset Nathan was and she felt horrible. But theater was something that Brianna was passionate about, and if she was going to impress those Broadway Agents and not embarrass herself, she had to be perfect.

"I'm sorry! What's the big deal? I mean, so we miss a few minutes. This morning you were acting like you didn't want to go anyway," Brianna said. Nathan let out a heavy sigh. Little did she know, Nathan and Beckham had gone half and rented a horse and carriage to take them and the girls to the Formal tonight. That's why both boys had been acting disinterested in going because they wanted to surprise them.

"Okay, I'll see you there," Nathan said.

"Okay. I love you."

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"That was good!" Griffin exclaimed after Brianna and Ethan had finished the scene where Lady Macbeth and Macbeth discuss their plan to kill the King so the witches' prophecy of Macbeth becoming King would come true. "I could see more chemistry between you two, this scene was better," Griffin said and Brianna smiled with relief.

"Better than good?" Brianna asked.

"Better than fine," Griffin said and Brianna rolled her eyes while she laughed.

"That's great, maybe we should rename the play, 'Macbeth; Better than Fine," Ethan said and Brianna laughed.

"On a serious note, you both really dug in and did a lot better. Brianna, I could believe Lady Macbeth's ambition and her hunger for power, to get her husband on the throne by whatever means necessary, it'll make the guilt and her downfall after the murder even more powerful," Griffin said and Brianna nodded. Then she finally got a glance at the clock in the room and turned to Griffin.

"Uh, is that clock right?" She asked.

"Uh, no... I unplugged it," Griffin said and Brianna's eyes widened.

"You what!?" She yelled.

"Bree... you were this close to nailing it," Griffin said.

"Griffin... what time is it?" Brianna asked.

"Nine and change," Griffin said. Brianna's eyes widened because that was a full hour later than what she told Nathan. She felt awful and she knew Nathan was probably pissed.

'Oh my gosh! I can't believe you did that! Nathan is going to kill me," Brianna said.

"When he comes to the show, he'll understand," Ethan said and Brianna shook her head.

"No, trust me. He won't."

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Brianna and Haley arrived at the same time. Chris had done the same thing to Haley, he unplugged the clock so she would focus on the music and not on the time. Beckham and Nathan were both pretty annoyed.

"Nathan, I'm so sorry, I'm late, I just...-" She cut off when Nathan grabbed her and tried to put her corsage on her. She could also hear Haley explaining to Beckham.

"The clock at the studio stopped and...-Ow!" Haley exclaimed as Beckham pricked her with the corsage. "Have you been drinking?" Haley asked.

"Just a little bit," Beckham mumbled.

"This year's Tree Hill High King and Queen are... Beckham Davis and Haley James!" Karen Roe exclaimed. Beckham explained his idea to Nathan, saying he heard the demo of Haley's song and wanted to win King and Queen so he could play it if they won. Nathan helped rig the votes and Mouth helped Beckham get the song set up.

Haley smiled widely as she kissed Beckham. "Beck!" She exclaimed.

"Surprise!" He said.

"But this...-" Beckham cut her off.

"...-Hales, come on," Beckham said as he dragged her to the stage. Haley's eyes widened when she realized what song was playing, and she knew that Beckham was not going to be happy when Chris' voice came on.

"Beck, I told you this song wasn't ready," Haley said.

"I know, but you're too critical," Beckham said as they got on stage. "Everyone is going to love it. I told the DJ to play it if we won," He said. Brianna could see the nervous look on Haley's face as Karen crowned them. Once Haley's vocals faded out, Chris started and Brianna saw all the happiness drain from Beckham's face and his eyes widened.

"Wait, is that... is that Chris?" Beckham asked as he turned to Haley. "You told me that I was in Charlotte when you recorded this," He said and then he thought about it, and the whole puzzle came together. "You were with Chris and didn't tell me?"

"Beck... I was going to tell you, I swear," Haley said. The disappointment in his eyes ripped Haley apart. He turned away from her and Brianna frowned as she watched them.

"Yeah? You're a little late... for the second time tonight."

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After the Formal, Nathan hosted an after-party at the beach house. Brianna was trying to find her husband because he didn't speak much to her during the formal, still upset that she missed all of it and the surprise of the horse and carriage he had planned. She found him standing on the docks and she approached as she sighed.

"Nate, I'm so sorry. I swear I did not mean to be that late. Griffin unplugged the clock so I would focus on the scene and not the time, and I...-" Nathan cut her off.

"...-And what was Ethan's role in this?" He asked and Brianna frowned.

"Ethan has nothing to do with it, Nate. Griffin said he just wanted to see more chemistry between the two of us since we're playing a married couple, but our scenes together weren't as convincing as our solo scenes," Brianna said.

"Yeah, but you actually are my wife. I spent the whole night waiting for you; planning everything; dodging my parents alone, all while you were with Ethan," Nathan snapped.

"Okay, Griffin, the director was there too, so we can leave Ethan out of it?" Brianna asked.

"Why? Are you into him?" Nathan snapped. Brianna's eyes widened as she looked at her husband. Thinking about Ethan in that way has never crossed her mind. Yes, they're playing husband and wife in a play, but that's fake, that's pretending. She chose to marry Nathan and she's committed to him fully.

"You know what... it really hurts that you would even ask me that," Brianna said in a softer tone. Nathan shook his head, the pain in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Not as much as it hurts me," He said and then he walked away, leaving Brianna on the dock alone. She wiped her eyes because she didn't realize she started crying when Nathan questioned her loyalty, but she was hurt.

How could he ask her something like that?

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When the party was over, Brianna found herself out at the docks again with Nathan. She knew Nathan wouldn't leave yet. When Brianna approached, Nathan turned around to see who was coming when he heard footsteps, but when he saw it was his wife, he turned back around to face the ocean.

"Listen, I want you to know something. I don't have feelings for Ethan, okay? I have not hidden a single thing from you since we started rehearsals for the play, I've told you everything, I've given every update, and told you that you're always welcome to come to rehearsals and watch. I don't get you, Nathan... you encourage me to keep on with my acting, and I had been in school plays before we ever gave each other the time of day, so what's the real issue?" Brianna asked.

"It's just... you don't need that Ethan guy! He's into you, Brianna. I can tell. Even during rehearsals when you guys are no longer doing scenes, he's always trying to be close to you, whispering to you, I'm not stupid," Nathan said.

"I never said you were stupid, Nathan, but I kinda do need Ethan considering he's the other lead in the play. But that's all it is, a play, it's not real. You don't need to feel threatened by that or him," Brianan said. That made Nathan turn around.

"You think I'm threatened?" He asked. Brianna frowned and took a step closer to him.

"I know it must be hard for you to see me going after my dream of theater when you didn't get into High Flyers, but it's not fair for you to take it out on me when I've been nothing but honest with you about the process since we've started," Brianna said.

"I'll tell you what, Brianna. Go home and look in the top drawer. You'll see a letter from High Flyers. Read that and then talk to me about fair," Nathan snapped and then he walked away, once again leaving Brianna alone on the docks. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

What was happening to them?

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Brianna did what Nathan said. She went back to their apartment, to their bedroom, and looked inside the top drawer. She found the envelope from High Flyers and opened it. When she read what Nathan wanted her to see, she started crying. Now she understood why he was so angry, but she still didn't think it was fair for him to take it out on her when she didn't tell him to make the decision that he made. Brianna grabbed her phone and immediately called her husband.

"Nathan... why did you tell me you didn't get into High Flyers when you did? Why would you turn them down? You have every right to chase after your dream, just like I'm doing with mine. Call them back, tell them you've changed your mind. You have to go to that camp."

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the jock jealous of the theatre kid? gotta love it. 

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xoxo.