Disclaimer: I don't own anything, credit Mark Schwahn.
Authors Note: This is a future fic, but in this Karen and Haley were never pregnant in season 4 and Brooke and Peyton never made up. There is also a few things that has been added to their past but you should figure them out easily.
They were staring at the faded writing, all thinking the same thing but none wanting to say it.
"You know she won't come" She said walking up to the group
"You don't know that" He bit, frustrated at her constant negativity towards her former best friend.
"I think we all know that. Don't be stupid Nathan, she hasn't been back here in 7 years, this situation isn't going to bring her back." She bit back
"Will you guys just stop it. All you two have done is fight since you got back into town" Haley said nodding towards Peyton "And Im sick of it."
"Agreed" Lucas said solemnly still looking at the pavement
"I just don't understand why every year we meet up Nathan thinks she is coming back. I mean come on Nate it's not like you two were close anyways"
"Will you just Shut the fuck up Peyton." He yelled throwing his hands in the air
"Nathan" Haley scolded
"No Haley! I don't get why all of you think its weird that I care that Brooke hasn't been here in 7 years."
"We don't think its weird, its just that. Its just..." She started trying to find the right words
"Its just that when we all hung out in high school you two weren't all that close." Lucas finished, finally looking up
"Okay so we weren't close the last two years of high school but that doesn't mean we weren't close before." He tried to explain
"Well we know you were close before. We have it on tape." Peyton said sarcastically
"Peyton" Haley warned
"Sorry Haley. Its just I don't get this. I mean Nathan you two never seemed all that close friendship wise"
"Well we were. And we were best friends before middle school. But you wouldn't know that. You didn't know us back then." Nathan said calming down, taking his seat on the bench next to his brother and wife.
"Maybe so, but obviously not good enough friends to stay that way. And obviously none of us were good enough friends to give her a reason to come back." Peyton said, making eye contact with each of them
"What are you getting at Peyton"
"All im saying is that each year the four of us meet here. That's it, Lucas comes down from Jersey, I come out from California. This should be our time to talk and catch up, not mope because our former friend broke her promise of coming back." She sighed "I mean our names have faded from the court, maybe our friendship has to."
"That's not true Peyton, were all just sad that one of the group still hasn't come back" Haley tried to reason
"But why are you really sad. I mean you all shouldn't be." They all sent her questioning looks. "Lucas. All you did was break her heart over and over. You were never a friend to her. Haley, you guys were fake friends, if you didn't have anybody else then you had each other, but that was it. And well I have already expressed my thought on Nathan and Brooke's friendship. Face it, none of you really knew here and you never..." She was cut off by a sharp jolt of pain overcoming her cheek.
"Don't say that." Haley's voice quivered and her body shook, as Nathan pulled her back. "Stop yelling at us for caring about Brooke Peyton. Because we were her friends and we have a right to miss her. Lets just get down to what's really bugging you." She took a step closer to Peyton standing strong now. "Your problem is that you screwed up, and Brooke didn't forgive you. I mean how can you expect her to. You screw around with 2 out of 3. I wouldn't forgive you, and now that I think about it. Maybe she hasn't come back because of you."
"You don't know what your talking about" Peyton said taking a ragged breathe but regaining her composure.
"We all know what happened Peyton, lets not pretend anymore." Haley said fiercely
"Well then I guess since you being such a great friend to Brooke what I heard must have been false. Because what I heard was the night before graduation Brooke got drunk off her ass and you freaked. Smacked her across the face, seems to be a reflex for you." Peyton smirked
"That's different" Haley whispered
"Really, you said some pretty nasty things."
"She was hitting on Nathan"
"She was drunk"
"Its not an excuse"
"I think we both know it was more then that. We all know you were still pissed as hell about the sex tape."
"I was over it." Haley said shaking her head
"I don't think you were. But you weren't the only one to go full on postal with Brooke that night. If I remember right Lucas had a few choice words with her." She blinked against Lucas's glare but kept going. "I mean don't get me wrong Lucas I completely understand that you needed to confront her. Finding out that she had aborted your baby the year before, well its just a tragic thing to here."
"Stop" He Yelled, jumping up from his seat on the bench. Causing all of them to jump at his outburst. "Don't talk about that. Ever!"
"Why are you being like this Peyton? We have been dealing with Brooke not being here for 7 years and what you just decide to spice things up. What's gotten into you." Nathan questioned, disgusted with her behavior
"You want to know what's wrong. Well I want to know why my best friend who I haven't seen in 7 years is writing to you and not me." She sobbed, crumbling to the ground
"What is she talking about Nathan" Haley questioned looking up from her spot near Lucas "Nathan?"
And Now All Eyes were on Nathan