Summary:

-Taking place two years after the summer of graduation. Lucas and Peyton decided to take a break in their relationship due to each of them being in different locations. Peyton is in Burbank, California working as a manager's assistant in a club that showcases independent bands, while Lucas is attending a local community college in Tree Hill.

-Nathan and Haley still live in Tree Hill, both of them decided to not start college until a couple years so they could raise their child while being committed to their jobs. Haley is the new owner of Karen's Café due to Karen deciding to just focus on her Club (that is very successful) and take care of her child.

-Dan's secret was never revealed, and him and Karen are in a relationship. Dan reopened his dealership and also is helping Karen raise her child. As for Nathan, he is working at Dan's dealership.

-Lucas and Brooke are really good friends. Peyton and Brooke are still also close friends. So as of now, there is not drama between BLP.

-Rachel did end leaving to New Orleans before prom of senior year. Mouth was broken up about Rachel's departure but after some time he rekindled his relationship with Shelly. Him and Shelly are now in a serious relationship, and everything seems to be going smoothly with them.

-Brooke still lives in Tree Hill working on her Clothes / Bros line and she is still dating Chase. She has her own apartment and she is more successful then ever.

Chapter 1:

Burbank, California

Peyton is sleeping in her bedroom while the phone continues to ring. She wakes up after the third ring and answers the telephone.

Peyton: (trying to adjust to the morning sunlight before saying hello) Hhh-ello?

Club Manager: Hey Peyton, we need t-

Peyton: God, it's 6:00 in the morning, and I don't work till tomorrow

Club Manager: It's about the club

Peyton: (slowly getting out of bed) Did we book Copeland? We did, didn't we! I knew their manager wouldn't turn us down after explaining the con-

Club Manager: (cutting off Peyton) Peyton, it's not good news.

Peyton: (voice tone changing from excited to apprehensive within a second) what happened?

Club Manager: The landlord of the building came by this morning and they said the profits of our club have gone down 6 since last month.

Peyton: That can't be right. It can't. We have had more income from the decision of raising the entrance fee and the advertising has been so go-

Club Manager: (cutting off Peyton once again) Peyton, stop. The club got too much exposure too fast and people got sick of it.

Peyton: How can we be overexposed!? All we have done was promote! God, this can't be happening.

Club Manager: Well, if our profits don't have at least a 3 raise in income by the next two weeks their closing us.

Peyton: (frustrated) I got to go…

She hangs up the phone and takes her fingertips and rubs her temples. She plops back down into her bed, pulls her comforter over her body, and grunts.

Karen's Café same day

Haley is taking an order from a customer at Karen's Café while Rachel enters.

Rachel: Hey Haley.

Haley: (confused) Rachel?

Rachel: (sarcastically) Yea, that's my name. (Looking down at Haley's stomach) So… you popped out the baby.

Haley: Yea, like two years ago (laughs). He's wonderful. He's actually home with Na-

Rachel cuts off Haley

Rachel: Is it just me, or have this place not changed one bit?

Haley: What are you doing here? What happened to New Orleans?

Rachel: I was staying with my cousins there, they got sick of me, blah, blah, blah. Why does it matter?

Haley: Well you show up in Tree Hill after two years of no one hearing from you. Is it weird that I'm a little curious?

Rachel: Well, it doesn't matter. I heard Mouth took a job here. Where is he?

Haley: His shift doesn't begin until at least another hour.

Rachel: Do you know where I could find him?

Haley: No, I don't. Why do you want to see him so bad?

Rachel: (ignoring her question) If you see him tell him I stopped by.

Rachel leaves the Café and heads over to a bar down the block. When she arrives at the bar she sits down at a stool and calls over one of the bartenders.

Rachel: Get me an Irish scotch.

Bartender: ID please.

Rachel: I'm over 21, okay.

Bartender: Yea, fine. But I still need to see ID.

Rachel: I forgot it at home. Big deal. Can I get my drink now?

Bartender: Well, you can go home. Grab your ID. And I'll be glad to get you your drink.

The bartender looks past Rachel and waves at someone.

Bartender: Hey man! Over here! I love your music dude.

The person turns out to be Chris. He walks over to the bar where the bartender is.

Chris: Yea? Well, you know good music.

Rachel: Keller?

Chris: Do I know you?

Rachel: (glares) You hit on me half a dozen times two years ago in high school.

Bartender: (turns to Rachel) So, looks like we caught you in a white lie.

Chris: Don't worry about her man. She's with me.

Rachel looks up at Chris with a dirty look.

Chris: Now if don't mind, get this woman a drink.

Bartender: (looking confused) Alright. One Irish scotch coming right up.

Rachel: (bitterly) What was that?

Chris: What? That? Babe, I was doing you a favor.

Rachel: How so?

Chris: For one, I said you're with me, which makes you look good. And for two I got you a drink. And what's with the Irish Scotch. What are you? 50 years old?

Rachel: Shut up. And I've turned you down several times, and I don't mind doing it again.

About 1 hour later Mouth heads down the sidewalk over to Karen's Café. While walking down the sidewalk he passes the bar that Rachel was at. He stops, thinks for a moment, and walks back a couple feet. He sees Rachel and Chris kissing at the bar through the window. He stops in shock, and then thinks again for a moment. Deciding whether to go in and say hi or continue walking. After a short moment of deep thought he continues to head over to Karen's Café.