This is my first One Tree Hill story, called 'Where Are They Now?' It's set around season three, and is the story of Brooke who left Tree Hill years ago and has now decided to come back. Because of this, Lucas and Peyton dated for a while but after complications they split, still having feelings for each other. Nathan and Haley got married at the end of season 1 and now Haley is on tour with Chris Keller. Dan is running for Mayor, with Deb by his side wanting a divorce. So after that bit of background information, check out my story and let me know what you think. This is just a prologue that I'm hoping to develop into something more. So enjoy!

Where Are They Now - Prologue

Staring up at the house, I took a deep breath. I wasn't even sure I should be doing this, it had been so long. Peyton Sawyer used to be my best friend – we were everything to each other. But now, coming back, how could I even begin to think that things would be the same all these years later. She probably had a new group of friends, and a boyfriend for all I knew! When I left she had a crush on Nathan Scott of all people, and in her letters she always used to write how amazing she thought he was, and how she'd become 'Mrs Peyton Scott' when she was older. I wondered to myself as I stood on the sidewalk if that ever happened.

I was eleven when we moved away from Tree Hill, and being young I thought it would be an adventure. But it was the start of the most horrific six years of my life, and now I'm seventeen, I know leaving home and moving back to Tree Hill is the best thing I'll ever do. After all, it's not like I'm leaving anything behind. I don't have a mother, not really. When I left her she was passed out in a sea of Budweiser, as her latest male friend ate us out of house and home.

The letters from Peyton stopped after the first year or so. She moved to Tree Hill High and I tried to settle in to my own high school in Florida. We last spoke when I emailed around fourteen months ago, but never received a reply. What makes me think she'll want to see me now, I have no idea. But I have no-where else to go, and no idea what to do.

I feel like I'm running on an automatic switch as I force my feet to her door, and lift the big brass door knocker. I let it fall, once, twice, and then stand back, shuffling my suitcase behind me, ashamed that I'm here at all. I can hear my heartbeat thudding in my ears, as the mistakable click of a lock is sounded. It swings open, and standing there with a look of pure shock on her face is my former best friend, Peyton Sawyer. The curls I'd come to know so well had gone, straight blonde hair in its place. She might be older with a different hair style, but she was exactly the same as I remembered her.

"Oh my god, Brooke Davis what are you doing here?" She cried, not quite knowing what to do. I knew it would be awkward, six years of hardly speaking and I expected to be welcomed with open arms.

"I'm sorry to barge in Peyton –" I began, breaking off as she noticed my suitcase. "It's just," I began again; "I didn't know what else to do."

"Wow," Peyton gasped. "I can't believe you're back, I thought old Victoria Davis had taken you away for good."

"Well," I shrugged my shoulders. "Me too, but it seems old Victoria Davis loves her bottle more than she loves her daughter."

Peyton's hand flew up to mouth. "Oh no," she sighed, pulling me into a hug as all the memories came flooding back. "Brooke, what happened?"

"Too much to explain on a doorstep," I smiled sadly. "Do you mind if we go for a walk like old times, I'll explain everything, I promise."

"Of course, of course," Peyton fiddled around on the side table for her keys, grabbed my suitcase and placed it inside before she locked up. As she turned her back on me to pull the key out of the door, I exhaled. I knew we wouldn't know what to say to each other, and part of me wished I'd never come.

"Brooke," she said so quietly I could have missed it as she turned back around, tears glinting in her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't write more."

"That's okay," I told her sincerely. "I'm back now, that's the main thing."