Chapter One – Home (There is only One Tree Hill)
"What is home? My favourite definition is "a safe place," a place where one is free from attack, a place where one experiences secure relationships and affirmation. It's a place where people share and understand each other. Its relationships are nurturing. The people in it do not need to be perfect; instead, they need to be honest, loving, supportive, recognizing a common humanity that makes all of us vulnerable." -Gladys Hunt
Brooke sighed as she gazed at the all too familiar airport. Everything still looked exactly the same- exactly the same as it had seven years ago. The faded brown leather seats; worn down by so many bottoms that the feathery fluff poked out through several poorly patched holes - still stood gathered in a clump to the far left side.
On the opposite side stood a tall evergreen cactus, cleverly positioned to attack any innocent traveller venturing in to the washrooms at the front desk sat a weary looking grey haired woman who was there to direct any fliers to the weedy looking security guard that was slumped next to a large steel grey machine. The machine was supposed to detect metal and work as a version of sniffer dogs but more often than not it failed at its job.
Even the slow conveyer belt held its place with pride (underneath a big red sign saying 'Please take your bags') and rattled in. Next to it, an old-fashioned music player belted out old school hits and the sir was as usual hot and dusty.
Everything had changed for Brooke yet things still stayed the same and although they were small insignificant things it gave her the feeling of home.
Grabbing a hold of her two sleepy eyed children Brooke began a steady walk towards the simple 'Push n Pull' doors. As she did, so memories bombarded her from all sides.
So many times had Brooke ran away, more than one had she longed to escape and done just that. Back and forth she had flown, driven, walked. Always coming back, to the place where it began. Back to where she knew, back to what she knew.
Now here she stood; Gucci sunglasses perched atop her sleek dark auburn locks. Behind her on a trolley were several Louis Vuitton travel bags and on her arm a brand new Chanel tote.
She was dressed in her usual attire - designer clothes however for flying Brooke had decided to go casual in assorted coloured vest tops, layered over one another, dark wash jeans and plain black pumps. Of course, there were the additions of Jude and Grace Davis, Brooke s adorable seven-year-old twins
They too wore designer labels; Jude was dressed in tight navy jeans and a lighter coloured v-neck top, his waves of dark brown hair hidden underneath a beanie. Whilst Grace wore a pretty cerulean a-line butterfly dress her gorgeous chestnut curls framing her heart-shaped face.
Stepping out in to the Sunshine, Brooke gave them both quick hug, clutching on tightly as they waved goodbye to a departing plane. Flagging down a taxi Brooke pointed out sights to the two excited children and shared with them her better memories of this place. Arriving outside a large three-storey house her son Jude asked if this was their new house.
Waiting for the friendly driver to deposit the rest of their hand luggage Brooke gave a wan smile. "Yes this is our home now. Welcome to Tree Hill!"
~O0O~
Lucas leaned against the closet trailer and swallowed a mouthful of icy water. He had never known a Tree Hill summer to be so hot and now as he sat in the itchy cotton chairs, a hat pulled right over his forehead Lucas longed for the cool autumn to take over.
Eight hours, that was how long he had sat in this heat, a couple of inches away from a big marquee and a few metres from a large cooler. Eight hours. Lucas had observed, commented, and listened. He had rewritten words, pronounced them repeatedly as well as giving feedback. So many takes he had watched of the same scene.
'Why had he gotten himself in to this movie business anyway?' Lucas sighed, he knew the reason, just couldn't bear to think of it.
The others they had all moved on, but it wasn't the same for him. He felt different than the others did, he knew her better, and still she had flown. 6 months later, had he known that she was safe? Alive. How he knew? Because she was on most billboards out there. Her glossy smile and bouncy auburn waves resting on the top of her immaculate suit. Her clothes were everywhere too. Everywhere. Why was it so hard to move on? Well apart from the fact he was currently under seeing a movie being made, transcribed from his bestselling book, all about her, Brooke Davis.
Hearing a shout from his director Lucas looked up his hand shielding his eyes from the blazing sun Day 7 had been wrapped and another four scenes finished. Slowly his movie was forming, as was his heart. Rebuilding.
As he meandered down the path home, Lucas stopped to keep pace with the producer of his movie, Julian Baker.
Julian was currently living in Tree Hill's finest hotel; however, it did not even begin to compare to his handsome estate in LA.
"Great news!" Julian told Lucas as they walked side by side. "We have permission to film on the private beach and in Karen's Cafe."
Karen's Cafe had been re-opened by his best friend Haley James Scott and was currently thriving. Although it had modern features Lucas loved that Haley had kept some of the old touches and whenever he dropped by he always felt a sense of home wash over him.
"That's good." Lucas was tired and although he didn't mean to his tone injected a sleepy can't be bothered attitude in to the air.
"Yeah it's all sorted." Julian trailed off at a loss for words. For minutes, the pair just stepped in silence; finally saying a quiet goodbye to each other as Julian's hotel drew near.
Carrying on Lucas arrived outside RED BEDROOM RECORDS a label owned by his other best friend Peyton Sawyer-Jagielski. Seeing that a light still flickered in the window Lucas headed in, stopping to see how she was doing.
"Hey Peyton," he grinned at the curly haired blonde bent over a thick sheet of cream paper. Noting what she was doing Luke decided to leave quietly.
Some had journals, some like to talk, others drew.
Sunset had ended by the time Lucas opened his black door. Stepping in to his bedroom, he was glad he had never changed it. This room was bigger and he liked it that way. As well as the fact, the master bedroom was his mum s old one and that would just be creepy. With a tired smile, Luke undressed and crawled in to bed. Ready for another day of work to begin. He did not know what was happening or what would happen. All he knew was he lived in Tree Hill and it was his home.
~O0O~
Haley stretched out in her seat and lifted her sunglasses off her eyes. Staring up at her with big blue eyes was her son Jamie. James Lucas Scott was 11 years old and had finally grasped the meaning and mastered the 'puppy dog' eyes.
Sighing Haley looked around for a sign of her husband. Surely it was his turn. Haley could never resist giving her babies what they wanted and although Nathan was a little better, he was still not much help.
"Please can I have another ice cream and a coke with ice? I promise not to get hyper." Jamie gave a gleaming white smile and Haley melted.
Taking a can out of the blue cooler she handed him money to go get an ice-cream from the truck nearby.
"Thanks, love you" Jamie kissed her on the cheek before darting off.
Haley smiled and bent down to pick up the giggling five year old at her feet.
"Let's hope your father doesn't teach you the cute eyes." Haley tickled Lydia and she burst in to a loud chortle.
Lydia was her younger daughter, named after her mother who had passed away a year before her birth. Lydia's full name was Lydia Bob Scott, her middle name coming from her mothers who was named after a family cat. Bob-Cat.
Hearing the laughter of his two favourite girls, Nathan wandered outside to take a look. There he found the two engaged in a game of peek-a-boo and tickle wars. "Playing without me I see."
"Well we can't have you around whilst we have our mother daughter chat about you."
"Oh and what do you talk about?" Nathan questioned as he took Lydia from his wife's outstretched hands.
"Just the usual, about how your parenting skills are too good and that you're too nice and sweet to your wife." Haley smiled at him and softly brushed his lips with hers.
"It's your turn to deal with Jamie's incessant desires. He's got your charming eyes too," she smirked at her husband before waltzing inside.
"You don t get away that easily!" Nathan sat Lydia in her outdoor playpen as he rushed after his wife.
He chased her up the stairs and in to their deluxe en-suite bathroom, here he found her running a cool bath.
"Ahh now I see why you led me here." Nathan s eyes glinted and Haley grinned.
"Mmm!" She leant in and the two shared a heated kiss.
Slowly Nathan began to kiss down Haley s neck, softly cupping her face with his calloused hands. "Dad... want to play basketball?" Jamie s voice floated up the staircase and the two pulled apart looking at each other longingly.
"Go!" Haley smacked Nathan and pushed him out of the door. Seeing his departing figure descending the stairs, Haley turned on her music player, sliding in a Cd quickly as she ached to get out of her sweaty clothes. 'Lovely, just want I needed.' Haley thought as she climbed in to the bath and let the icy water wash over her skin. In the background she could hear the soft guitar strings as Sheryl Crow played 'The First Cut is the Deepest'. Sinking lower in to the water, Haley slathered herself in luxurious body gel, designed to sooth your muscles and relax any tension.
Haley could feel it working, as a teacher at the local high school she often had to deal with difficult teenagers but now she could feel all the stress going away. Any worry that had been itching at her mind floated away. She was serene, calm and as cool as an iceberg.
This was something she had longed for;
Because it was as usual a very hot summer in her home town of Tree Hill.
~O0O~
Peyton sat at her desk trying to figure out what she had done wrong. She was never one for maths and now as she sat here trying to work out her money, Mia's money and what she owed the record label she drew blank.
Giving the jumbled numbers one last glance Peyton pushed herself away from the papers to her record player, here she popped in a disk and began dancing in a crazy fashion.
"Wow I didn't know we were back to this era." Jake joked as he took a look at his wife's dancing.
"I'm having fun!" She shouted over the blare of the record player.
"Sounds good," and with that Jake pulled Peyton in to his arms and they began a mad dance across the studio.
"Not in front of the children." Jenny, Jake's oldest daughter stepped in to the room, holding the hands of Sawyer, Peyton's first born.
Peyton had adopted Jenny when she married Jake and although she wasn't her real mum they were every bit as close as she and Jake were. When Sawyer was born, the females bond grew, as they nurtured the baby and Jenny definitely took over the role of caring sister.
Peyton and Jake in mid kiss paused, laughing at the sight of Jenny s dramatic expression.
"I mean it you're scaring Sery for life." Jenny covered the 6 year olds eyes and pretended to tie a blindfold with her brand nee scarf. Jenny was tall for a girl of thirteen and this was surprising seeing as neither of her parents were over 6 feet, however this did not make her lose confidence, it simply boosted her idea of being a model as career choice and helped her retrieve items lost to punishments. She was a very good looking teen with only a few spots hidden beneath a layer of creamy foundation and blusher. Her eyes were framed by thick lashes and her lips were a natural rose pink colour. Her hair was a striking ink black, a colour from her birth mothers side.
Sawyer also took after her mother with soft golden ringlets and green eyes taken from her dad.
"Hello mummy!" Sawyer ran to Peyton and she leant down to hug her beautiful child.
"Hey baby, have you had a good day." "The best!" Sawyer shouted, jumping down from her mother's arms to hug her dad.
"Oh I see how it is." Jenny put her hand on her hip as she looked at her parents; Jake and Peyton cuddling whilst holding Sawyer.
"Come join in you silly sausage." Jake held out his free arm for Jenny to join.
She slowly ambled over, trying not to appear eager, even though she loved family hugs as much as the rest of them
"My Family." Peyton looked them over, examining each of their faces, treasuring this moment they had together and saving each snapshot she took of them with my mind.
This was what Peyton always did, memorise the good moments. You never know when they were going to vanish. Disappear with one small action. Right now her family seemed perfect and on the outside they were. But they had issues and all of them were rooted in this town.
Their home, Tree Hill
Sarah Dessen once wrote "Home wasn't a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go."