A/N: Hey Lovely Readers! So, this is a new story that was requested by Naley12. The storyline will not be like it was in the show. Nathan, Haley, Brooke, Peyton and Lucas were all best friends in high school. The story picks up five years after high school with everyone coming back to Tree Hill. Pairings will be Naley, with Brulian and Leyton! oh, and as requested this story will later become M rated.
Enjoy!
*April, 2012*
Haley James sat on the bus, fiddling with her hands in her lap as she waited for her stop. She had been on the bus for about three hours, opting to fly from Chicago to the North Carolina Airport and then taking a bus to Tree Hill. She hadn't been back in five years, not since she graduated high school. She had graduated college completing a double major of English Lit. and Teaching, and completing a masters degree for her educational teaching degree.
She hadn't seen of heard from Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer, Lucas Scott or Nathan Scott for the better half of five years. They had all drifted and lost touch. She smiled as she saw the magazine next to her. On the cover, were both Brooke and Nathan at a charity event in Los Angeles. Brooke had designed and built the company that she had started when they were in high school, Clothes over Bros. And Nathan had made his break in basketball, now playing for the LA Lakers for the past three years.
When she had last spoken to Brooke, over six months ago, she had been dating her long-term boyfriend Julian Baker for two years, and she suspected Julian would be popping the question sometime soon. From what Brooke had heard, Peyton and Lucas were living happily in Durham. After they had eloped when in Paris on break their first year of college, Peyton and Lucas had both finished their degree at Duke University along with Nathan. Lucas was now a famous author working on his fourth novel, having been nominated for a critic's literature award for his first published novel, An Unkindness of Ravens, which was based on the true events from his, Haley, Nathan, Brooke and Peyton's lives through high school. Peyton was in the process of building her independent label, Red Bedroom Records, with the help of her business partner and old high school friend, Jake Jagielski and Lucas and Peyton were now trying for a baby.
Haley was happy that all her friends had gotten their dreams. She just wished she didn't feel so behind. But that's why she was here, back in Tree Hill. Her old Principal, Mr. Jacob Turner, was looking for a new English teacher, and after running into Mrs. James in the grocery store, had found out that Haley was looking for a teaching position. She was hoping that this would be a good opportunity for her.
She had loved Chicago, truly she did. But it wasn't for her. She missed her home. She missed sitting on the old picnic table by the rivercourt and staring out into the Cape Fear River, and walking along the docks as the autumn breeze passed gently by. Chicago was a real tough bitch, and while she did lover her, she missed the warm and comforting embrace of Tree Hill.
She stared at the envelope in her hands, pulling out the shiny pink-white paper and re-reading the words yet again.
Nathan Scott sighed as he sat next to his old friend, downing the scotch on the rocks the air hostess has just given him.
"Jeez Nate, pace yourself" Brooke Davis chuckled as she sat next to her friend "We're only an hour into the trip"
"I can't believe I agreed to this" he mumbled to himself
"You'll enjoy it, everyone will be so excited to see you Mr. Hot-Shot-NBA-Star"
"You know as well as I do, it's never as glamorous as people think" Nathan chuckled as he signalled the hostess for another drink "Do you think she'll be there?"
Brooke smiled "Last I talked to her, she was planning on it"
"Okay then" Nathan said blowing out a breath
"Man he really is nervous about this" Julian chuckled leaning forward to look past his girlfriend "And who are we talking about coming to this thing?"
Nathan smiled as she came to his mind.
"Victoria, we've talked about this! I am not selling the line!" Brooke yelled through the phone. She, Nathan and Julian had just landed in North Carolina and were waiting for their private town car to arrive.
"You're being unreasonable dear. This is best for business" Victoria dismissed her daughter
"It's MY company. And we're doing just fine. Better than fine!" Brooke exclaimed
"You've never made a men's line Brooke -"
"That's kind of the whole point Mother" She bit out
"You don't need to concern yourself with silly little ventures like that. You need to stay focused on the main lines. Couture, lingerie, the summer collection! Those are the money-makers" Victoria tried to reason
"And you're telling me you don't think I can run a men's line?" Brooke said
"Sweetheart, you've never had that good a head for business" Victoria replied
"That's funny, since it's my head for business that not only launched this company those many years ago when I was barely 18, but I do recall that MY business head and MY company are the reason you can afford your condos, trips to Greece, Milan, Spain. Oh and let's not forget the botox-"
"Fine!" Victoria snapped "Do what you want. It's your company dear"
Brooke smirked "Then I will tell you this once more. I am not selling MY mens line. Goodbye Victoria" She said before ending the call.
Brooke sighed as she felt Julian wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her into his side "What did she want now?"
Brooke shrugged "Same as the last few weeks" she chuckled sadly "Why can't she just ever be a normal mother?"
"I'm sorry baby" Julian said kissing her temple
Brooke closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath before turning in Julian's arms and smiling up at him "Don't be. I have you, and that's all I'll ever need"
"You'll always have me" Julian said leaning down to kiss her
"Come on lovebirds!" Nathan shouted from the car which had just arrived, breaking the two apart.
Brooke chuckled as she took Julian's hand and walked towards the town car.
"I cannot believe you Lucas Scott!" Peyton Sawyer-Scott yelled as she walked through the door, slamming it behind her.
Lucas held his hand out to stop the door from whacking him in the face as he walked behind his very angry wife through the house, following her into the kitchen as she pulled out the half empty bottle of wine from the fridge, pouring herself a glass and taking a large gulp. She sighed in relief as she felt the alcohol course through her body.
"Peyton-" Lucas started as he walked towards her
"Don't" She said putting up her hand to stop him. She could see the sadness in his eyes and sighed "I can't believe you told her"
"It just happened, I-"
"well maybe you shouldn't let it happen then!" Peyton snapped "And then the fact that she came up to me to try and discuss it!? Like she's all of a sudden my friend!?" Peyton ranted
"She was just worried Peyt" Lucas sighed in frustration
"You and I both know her concern isn't for me" She glared "And for future reference, I would prefer you not tell your love-struck-editor out private business" she stated before walking towards the staircase and up to their bedroom
"We're just friends Peyton!" Lucas yelled as he followed her
"Well your friend doesn't need to know that I can't have kids now does she!?" Peyton screamed before slamming their bedroom door shut and dropping to the floor, her back leaning against the door in case Lucas somehow managed to get past the lock. She could hear him pleading softly with her to let him in, to talk this through with him, but she didn't want to. Not right now.
She took a few deep breaths, willing the tears to stay at bay, before standing up and packing her clothes into her suitcase and placing it next to Lucas' at the foot of their bed. She couldn't wait until they were in Tree Hill, She was ready to be back home.
Dear Miss James,
We are pleased to invite you to the five-year high school reunion for the class of 2007!
Where: Tree Hill High School Gymnasium
Date: April 12th, 2012
Starting Time: 12:00pm
Food and beverages will be provided, as well as an open bar.
We hope to see you there!
Bevan Mirsky: Tree Hill High P&C President.
A/N: So, I know that was a bit of a weird start but it'll all pick up in the following chapters. As much as I wanted everyone to be all sunshine an rainbows, they've all got to have a little drama to fix don't they!? For those Leyton fans waiting for a baby, don't worry Peyton's fertility comments and everything else will be explained very soon ...
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of 'What I Knew I Always Wanted' !
Please leave me a review, let me know what you thought and follow and favourite!
- Maddie :)