Chapter One: The Perfect Place
The weather was cool and the wind softly brushed upon her pink-colored cheek. The leaves on the tree, waved around slowly. If she tried hard enough, she could smell the river as if it was close.
Brooke Davis walked out from the gym doors, after finishing her last exam, thankful. She was done and now she could leave. No schooling, no people.
People. Brooke wished that someone would be here to hug her goodbye, but they were too busy sitting and talking to her right. Brooke fought the urge to look and wanted to cry after she heard her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend erupt in laughter. Her hand protectively goes to the hopeless baby inside of her.
She had found out about two months ago and did everything she could to hide it. From baggy shirts to making her own clothes that tailored to her changing body, she did it all. Even forgetting a meal one and while, telling herself it wasn't on purpose. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to anymore. Where she was going, there was no Peyton; no baby father, Lucas, no Nathan or Haley. Where Brooke was going only had an ocean breeze and water crashing against her toes.
The perfect place.
Brooke knew there was no such thing as a perfect place. Once upon a time, Tree Hill had been the perfect place. Brooke guessed she wasn't looking for perfection because something as sensitive as perfection can be taken away in a blink of an eye.
Brooke plopped herself in her car and started the engine. If time prevailed, she would be there in a day and half. Although, her morning sickness had gotten better, there were still days she woke up and threw up everything and anything possible.
Pulling out of the parking spot, Brooke couldn't help but smile. There had been good times and there had been good people. But, been was the key work in the sentence.
In a day or so, she would be there. Fresh start, new life.
In one day, she'd be California.
----
It's a warm, sunny day outside. As if the weather understood that the school year was over. The beach is filled with hundreds of people. Most of them locals since it was too early to be tourist season. By July 1st, the beach would be filled with people and he bet he would probably get lost in the crowd.
Julian Baker took off his flip flops and walked into the cool ocean water. He let out a sad sigh and took a deep breath in. Today had been a busy day. Last night he spent his first night at his fathers and then drove an hour and a half to Santa Monica to write his final exam. Julian let out another sigh, at least I'm done.
Julian's toes began to get cold and he walked out of the water, pulling his shoes back on. The beach was beautiful. It wasn't Santa Monica but maybe that was okay. The waves did compare to those first thing in the morning at Venice Beach. Although he hadn't had the chance to see the pier, Julian heard it was the greatest and longest from Pierre, his fathers' butler.
"Are you new here?" A young teen, about his age asked. The teen was dressed in a surfer suit and held his bored tightly to his hips.
"Is it obvious?" Julian questioned with a laugh. The teen laughed in agreement.
"Welcome, I'm Mark." Mark and Julian both reached their hands out and shook hands. Julian gave Mark a small smile after the hand shake had ended.
"Do you surf?" Julian gave Mark a small nod.
"In the morning, it's the best time." Mark nods in an agreement, until a teen girl calls from behind him.
"I guess I'll see you around." Julian nods.
"It was nice to meet you." Julian watches as Mark hops into a convertible with a cute brunette in the front seat. He watches, jealous, as there lips meet.
Julian places himself on the warm sand and lies down. He wasn't the amazing mathlete here; he was just the new kid. And maybe, that presented opportunities. Maybe, he could be like Mark hopping in a convertible with a cute brunette and showing off by catching some high waves.
Maybe.
Julian lifts himself up and looks out to the never ending water. Even after being raised by the ocean, he could never figure out how something so beautiful could keep going. He wondered if relationships, the right ones, the ones so beautiful and filled with passion, just kept going like the ocean.
Maybe.
Julian gets up and decides he better head home. Pierre warned him that his father hadn't been in a good mood when he left this morning. Thankfully, Julian had left super early and returned home before Andrew made his return. However, it was past 3:30 and Andrew had commented on wanting a "family dinner." Julian rolled his eyes at the thought. This wasn't a family. The only reason Julian was even here was because his mom found herself in rehab and Andrew couldn't possibly handle his boy staying by himself.
Julian snickers at the thought, always a show for the camera.
Julian keeps his head down while walking to the car. This place was filled with people who had different interests. Why couldn't he fit in? Why didn't his father treat him like a son, behind the scenes?
Julian pulled out of the parking spot, taking one last look at the water.
"That will all change."
-----
One day, that was exactly how long Brooke had been on the road. She loved every single moment of it. For the first time in months, she could go along think about everything. She could be pregnant and not have to hide it.
Currently, Brooke wore a tight pink tank top and loose fitting sweats. She felt so comfortable and it felt good not having anyone to impress.
Brooke hears her phone ring and picks it up off the other seat. Before answering, she looks at the speed dial.
Peyton Sawyer.
Brooke throws the phone back on the chair and turns up her music to drown out the ringing phone. Brooke takes a deep breath in and tried to maintain her bliss. It's not as easy.
Brooke touched her growing belly and frowned. Was she doing the wrong thing? Probably, the baby deserved to know its father. Did she miss Peyton? Even though she hated to admit it, she did miss Peyton. Kind of. Brooke missed her best friend, but she didn't miss the person who took everything she worked hard to gain. Peyton said she was sorry but made no real effort to change it. Instead of not going out with Lucas again, Peyton went out with Lucas. Instead of spearing the public display of affection, they kissed all the time.
Public display of grossness is what they should call it.
Brooke turns down the radio and leans back into her chair. Taking one hand off the wheel and putting the other one to her side. She can't keep her eyes off the road. She wasn't looking back because if she looked back she might loose control of her car or unable to get over the past.
Always the Future.
Brooke never use to make plans, before she thought they were silly and useless. However, now she knew better. Go in without a plan and you'll get heart broken. Now, sitting in the car looking at the never-ending road in front of her, Brooke realized she needed to make a plan because she wouldn't be alone.
How would she go to school? How would be able to lie to her parents? Make money?
Would she never fall in love?
Brooke shook her head out of her thoughts, when she arrived at her new home she would make of a list and solutions to go with them. A list of plans, she would call it.
What if Lucas found out?
Brooke looked at the letter next to her and frowned. She had written a letter, but didn't know if she would ever send it.
Brooke turned up the music to drown her of her thoughts. She didn't need to think about any of that now. She needed to keep herself healthy and try and get an education.
----
"Son, Jake and I are going to play a little one on one. Do you want to come?" Andrew peaked his head into Julian's room and Julian frowned. It had been two days since his venture to the beach. Yesterday had been spent taking family photos for a Vanity Fair spread.
"I'd rather not, I hate basketball." Andrew rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on, Jul, how could you hate basketball?" Jake Lucas stuck his head into Julian's room. Julian rolled his eyes. There he was perfect Jake.
To Andrew, Jake was everything Julian wasn't. Jake loved basketball and football, he's respectful and better looking.
"Have fun doing nothing, you may have been allowed to do nothing at your mothers but I won't tolerate that. Get up." Julian rolled his eyes and got up from his bed.
"This will be so much fun."
The walk to the beach court was a long one and Julian was thankful that they didn't try to include him in the conversation. While walking along the beach, Julian spotted a young girl. She looked so happy to be at the beach. Kind of like him at the 7:30 catching some waves.
Outside, the game started quickly. Before Julian could even blink, his father and Jake had teamed up and scored a point. Julian was running around like a maniac, from right to left, up and down the court.
Julian was thrilled when he finally got the ball, too bad he hit the ground before he could even take a shot.
"Get up Julian." Julian heard Jake say. Julian was blinded by the pain and all he could hear is his father laughing.
"Oh man, it's almost 6! Dinner time lets go Jake. He'll find us." Julian watched as Andrew and Jake walked away.
----
Brooke carefully took off her shoes and planted her feet into the ocean. This felt so good. Brooke placed a hand onto her stomach and let a wild grin appear on her face.
She wondered if the ocean had that kind of effect on everyone. If no matter what they were going through, they could look at this never-ending water and just smile. She hoped when she was as big as a house and about to give birth she could look at the water and fall in love. Each time would be a like a new discovery with the same person.
If only she could discover that.
Brooke puts her shoes back on and walked towards the basketball court, if she had a son, there was no doubt in her mind that she would be here a lot.
From a distance she thought she could see a person lying on the ground. Maybe he wanted to be there. From either further, she could see two guys running towards the person and then asking questions with a concerned look on their face.
Brooke turned the other way and walked with one hand on her stomach.
A new start.
A/N: I don't own anything, just Andrew, Mark and Jake. If you are wondering, all three will become very important characters.
You guys all probably thought that Brooke would save Julian. A part of me wanted too. Maybe he'll get injured again and then they can meet. Well, probably not. That's not the plan.
Whether you liked it or not, please read and reply!