Chapter One- Coming Home
Brooke looked around the square, familiar billboards flashing in front of her. Everything looked so messy, yet put together some how.
Brooke wished that she was like this. A beautiful square, lit up with golden lights, when really she was just an emotional mess, hidden by a slowly crumbling facade.
Closing the balcony doors, Brooke stepped inside the stuffy penthouse. Just as she was about to pour herself a glass of red wine , her phone rang. Normally at this time, she would have just let it ring to voicemail, but hearing the familiar ring-tone of 'The Wreckers' song she had yet to name, she decided to answer it.
"Hey P. Sawyer." Brooke picked up on the sixth ring.
"Hey Brooke." Peyton's tone was very dejected and Brooke felt her compassionate side kick in.
"What's wrong Peyt?"
"Well I-" There was a pause on the phone and Brooke found herself downing the rest of her glass.
"I quit my job today." Peyton blurted out.
"What? Why?" Peyton's life had been good she thought, she had thrown herself in to work after her breakup with Lucas but then so had she.
"Because, it just doesn't feel right, and I'm still an intern. A bloody intern." Peyton cried.
"Who get's paid minimum wage, lives in a shitty apartment and has never actually seen L.A apart from her journey to work." Peyton was distraught and Brooke made soothing sounds down the phone.
"Well, if that job is not what you want, I'm sure you'll find another, a bigger and better one."
"I don't want another job here Brooke. I want a job near my home."
Brooke found herself hesitating before she spoke the next words.
"And where is home Peyton?"
"Tree Hill." Came the reply after a moment's silence.
"Then go back to Tree Hill, find your dream job, be with your friends." Brooke encouraged the tortured artist.
"You think!"
"I know Peyt, if Tree Hill's where you're happiest then go back to your happy place."
"I do miss home, I miss our friends , I miss"
"Lucas Scott." Brooke finished with a sigh. She knew her best friend so well, too well."
"I do, I miss Lucas." Peyton admitted.
"But Peyton, you can't go back to Tree Hill for Lucas, not this time. He's moved on. You turned him down and he moved on." Brooke reminded the curly blonde.
"I know, but seriously isn't Lindsey his editor." Peyton's tone was full of disgust and contempt.
"Don't Peyton, don't try and wreak another one of Lucas's relationships. Not again. Promise me Peyton, if you go back. You go back for your self, not for him." Brooke demanded sharply.
"I promise."
"Good, now I think a certain best friend of mine needs to start packing and drive back to her home."
"Thank you Brooke."
"Your welcome, P Sawyer, know don't go breaking any more hearts."
"I won't."
"Good luck." Brooke was about to hang up but Peyton's next words stopped her.
"Brooke will you come with me?"
"To Tree Hill." Brooke was unsure.
"Yeah, I mean, it's not like either of us have seen our old friends in ages and I could use the support."
"I don't know Peyt, my life is here."
"But is it really Brooke, yes your company is there, but where is your family, your home." Peyton tried to persuade her friend.
"I'll get back to you Peyt," Brooke pressed the red button on her landline before Peyton could say anymore.
She stared out at the skyscrapers in front of her, wrapping her cardigan tightly around her body.
"Home," She whispered, trying to find any signs that New York was really her home.
She sat there for some time, as the chill of the air swept in through an open window, she let the breeze ruffle her immaculate hair.
Tree Hill had indeed been her home, once upon a time, but was it now. Now when her whole life seemed to be in New York, yet her best friends were in Tree Hill. Now when she sat in a cold empty apartment, listening to the traffic and late night shoppers, yet she longed for the warmth Karen's Cafe provided.
"Have you been sitting there all night?" A familiar red-head bounced in to the apartment, her keys jangling along side the many shopping bags.
"Rachel, you do know you have an early fitting appointment." Brooke looked up, watching as the red-head pottered around the kitchen, making two glasses of wine.
"Yes Boss, I do know, but who cares." Rachel grinned, letting the red-liquid spill down her throat.
"So why are you sitting here all alone." She questioned the brunette who sighed heavily as she drained her cup.
"No-reason." She replied, her attention fixed on pouring herself another glass.
"Woah, slut, how much have you had." Rachel noted the slight glass-eyed look her best friend had and carefully grabbed the bottle from her.
"You're no fun." Brooke pouted. "And I've only had three, that would have been my fourth."
"Yeah, well you have work with the lovely Bitchtoria tomorrow, so don't say I didn't tell you so." Rachel handed the bottle back to Brooke, who quickly downed the glass she poured.
"God, why did I even go in to business with that bitch." Brooke swung the glass around, annoyed about how self controlling her mother was.
"Because you thought she would be good with the finances, and other aspects of your company." Rachel informed her, having been with Brooke when she was debating over the decision.
"Peyton called." Brooke told her best friend who's eyebrows raised.
"Wow, skinny ass Sawyer called, for what?"
"She wants me to go back to Tree Hill with her." Brooke replied, dropping the glass back down as she recalled the conversation.
"And are you?"
"Do you think I should?"
"I 'm asking you."
"Well I'm asking you."
"Brooke just tell me what your going to do." Rachel cried out, annoyed at the banter.
"I'm going to go back to Tree Hill."
"I'm going back to Tree Hill."She repeated, shocked by how easy her answer had been.
"Thank God, you've been so heartbroken lately, ever since 'You Know Who' left and now I don't have to listen to your mono tone voice order me about, it's no fun that way." Rachel smiled, and gave Brooke a quick hug.
"Now go and pack up your lingerie, whore." Rachel smacked Brooke on the bum and sent her in to her bedroom.
"Do you mind if I crash on the couch, I've had one too many." Rachel shouted.
"Sure Slut, just don't get it dirty." Brooke called back, a smile on her face.
She was going back to Tree Hill.