HOMECOMING

1 - Welcome Home

It had been three days since Brooke had last spoken to her best friend. Three days gone by and the sound of Peyton's broken, worn out voice still lingered in her memory. Sure, the blonde had always been a bit on the gloomy, emo side but Peyton just sounded outright defeated during their last conversation. Like nothing in her life was going right and she was barely holding onto her sanity. The thing that stuck out to Brooke was that only two weeks before their last conversation, Peyton had seemed genuinely happy. Almost deliriously so, to be honest.
What could have possibly happened between then and their last conversation to cause such a drastic change in her best friend's demeanor? Brooke knew that the blonde had been seeing someone for a while now, even if Peyton was being all sorts of secretive about the guy. Oh, maybe that's what happened! What if her new beau was tired of being kept a secret? And knowing how Peyton didn't like being put on the spot, she probably ended things with whoever this mystery guy was then and there.
It would definitely explain so much, especially why the blonde seemed so damned downtrodden over the phone. Brooke knew for a fact that when Peyton loved someone, secret or not, she loved that person with her entire being. And if Peyton truly loved this mystery guy like Brooke suspected she did, then the effects of their break up must have spilled into other aspects of the blonde's life. Why else would Peyton so readily agree to Brooke's suggestion on returning to Tree Hill?
"Flight 172 from Los Angeles is now disembarking at gate four," droned the PA announcer, which brought Brooke out of her thoughts. "I repeat, Flight 172 from Los Angeles is now disembarking from gate four."
"About time," muttered Brooke under her breath, impatient to see her oldest friend again after almost two years. While they kept in touch through texts and the occasional phone call (when Brooke's hectic schedule allowed such a luxury), it just wasn't the same as seeing one another in person. When she reached the designated arrivals' gate, her gaze immediately sought out her best friend amongst the throng of people shuffling towards her. It didn't take the fashionista long to find Peyton, and when their eyes met Brooke's heart broke at how shattered the blonde appeared.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," greeted Peyton with a tired smile.
"And you look like shit, P," the fashionista stated in that brutally honest way only a best friend could get away with before wrapping her best friend up in a fierce hug.
"You're such a sweet talker, B," the blonde deadpanned, while returning the hug with equal ferocity. "God, I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too, P," rasped Brooke with barely contained emotion, still holding onto the other woman like both their lives depended on it. "It's going to be okay now, P. I'm here."
"You promise?" Peyton whispered, her voice full of cautious hope.
"I promise," she vowed.
"Thank you, B," the blonde whimpered into her shoulder.

The cool twilight air washed over a pensive Peyton, who now stood alone outside her childhood home. The two story house that the blonde had grown up in hadn't changed much since the last time she'd seen it. Sure, the paint was newer and brighter but still remained the same color it had been for as long as Peyton could remember. She wondered if the family who now lived there were good people, if they were a loving family. Were they living out their lives like they wanted to?
Peyton shook her head at the thought. Regardless if these people had attained their dreams or not was none of her business. Who was she to judge others when her own life was such utter crap at the moment?
With a quick glance at her watch, the former intern began the trek back to her new home. She let out a soft laugh under her breath. Leave it Brooke Davis to keep surprising her. Not even twelve hours into their stay in Tree Hill, and the former cheerleader had purchased a house for them. And not only that but it was a fully furnished house! Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty!
It was about the half way point on her walk home that Peyton recognized where she now stood, her gaze directed down the street at the currently vacant river court. Another glance at her watch told Peyton that she had time for a short detour. She wasn't due to meet Brooke back home for a good forty minutes, so another trip down memory lane couldn't hurt, right?
Her decision made Peyton headed towards her goal, pleasant memories of a simpler times sweeping over her with every step. A soft smile graced her lips when her heels clicked against the concrete of the basketball court, her gaze drawn to where she and her friends had graffitied their names on the pavement.
The sudden ringing of her cellphone caught the blonde by surprise, who nearly dropped it while hurriedly fishing it from her backpocket. Unfortunately for Peyton, in her haste to answer the damned thing, she'd neglected to check the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Hello!? Is that all you have to say for yourself?"
"Uh, crap," she swore under her breath, ready to end the call then and there.
"Don't even think about hanging up on me, Sawyer," the irate caller warned.
"What do you want, Julian?" Peyton sniped back, definitely not in the mood for this conversation.
"What do I want? What do you think I want, Peyton?" Julian snapped, angry. "Where the hell are you?"
"I'm not telling you where I am, Julian," sighed the blonde.
"And why the hell not?" he demanded.
"Uh, maybe because I don't want you telling a certain somebody where I am?" she countered in exasperation. "And don't even think about denying that you wouldn't because we both know you would!"
"I would not," he denied.
"Oh, please," Peyton scoffed. "Like you could ever say no to your best friend."
"Fine, don't tell me where you are," sighed Julian, seemingly knowing that he'd lost this particular battle. "But can you at least tell me that you're safe?"
"I'm safe," she assured him.
"Good," he said, sounding somewhat satisfied. "How long are you planning to be gone?"
"Indefinitely."
"Peyton..."
"There's nothing left for me in LA," she explained, her voice tight from emotion. "Not when-"
Just then a familiar voice cut in, a voice that Peyton hadn't heard in almost three years.
"Peyton? Is that you?"
"Lucas?" Peyton cried out in surprise.
"Lucas?" Julian squeaked over the line. "As in Lucas Scott? You're in Tree-"
"Sorry, I'm going to have to call you back," the blonde interrupted, her emerald green eyes wide at the young man now standing in front of her. Peyton didn't wait for a reply before pressing the end button on her cellphone and returning it to her back pocket. "Hello, Lucas. Fancy meeting you here. How's life?"
"Hmm, how's life? Interesting you should bring that up," he nodded, thoughtful. "Well, I published my novel."
"I know, I read it," she smiled, genuinely proud of his accomplishment. "It was really good. A little sappy at times but overall, really good. I enjoyed it." Instead of looking flattered like expected, he seemed to become angry at her praise. "Okay, what did I say wrong?"
"Really, Peyton? You don't get it?" Lucas asked, incredulous.
"What? All I said was that I liked your book," she answered. "Okay, I could've left out the part where I thought it was a bit sappy but-"
"Stop it," he snapped. "Just stop it, Peyton!"
"Okay, I'm sorry," Peyton apologized, hands held up. "Forget I said anything! Jeez!"
A full ten seconds of awkward silence went by until Lucas decided to break it.
"I have a girlfriend now," her ex-boyfriend stated in an expectant voice.
"I know, Brooke told me earlier," she nodded, smiling warmly at him. "Lindsey, right? I can't wait to meet her, Lucas."
"When did you become so cruel?" Lucas demanded softly, obviously hurt.
"Oh, Luke, you can't possibly still be thinking about that," pleaded Peyton, feeling every bit the idiot for only now catching on. He was trying to make her jealous. "I know that I hurt you when I said no but it's been nearly three years. We've both moved on, haven't we?"
"Yeah, I suppose we have," he admitted, albeit reluntantly. "It's just...I wish I knew why-"
"We were both too young, Luke," she cut in, knowing what he was about to ask. And what Peyton was about to tell was not going to be easy. "I know I wasn't ready, that's for sure. Besides, if we had gotten married, then we'd probably have made each other miserable and be divorced by now."
"You don't know that," denied Lucas, his offended expression telling Peyton that this was definitely the wrong thing to say. Before she could say anything further though, the now aggitated looking author rallied on. "You may have not have been ready but I was, Peyton! I would've waited if you'd asked me to! I would've waited until you were ready, until you were finished sowing your wild oats!"
"Sowing my what? Who the hell talks like that?" Peyton cried, completely confused by his accusation. "And are you seriously saying I cheated on you?"
"Oh, we both know that you did, so don't try to deny it!"
"You know what? I'm not getting into this with you," she shouted back at him. "But just for the record, I never cheated on you! Not once!"
"Oh, yeah? Well, then tell me this, Peyton," sneered Lucas, his steely blue eyes narrowed at her in anger. "How's Charlie?"
The resulting slap caught them both by surprise as her hand flashed out to strike the author hard across his face, momentarily causing Lucas to stagger.
"Fuck you, Lucas Scott," Peyton sniffled, the palm and fingers on her right hand now throbbing in pain. "Just...fuck you."
"Fuck you, too, Peyton Sawyer," she heard him whisper while the blonde stalked away, tears streaming unheeded down her cheeks.

It was almost midnight when Brooke wandered into the house, still a bit tipsy from her visit with Mouth and Skills at their apartment. The fashionista felt rather guilty for getting carried away on the wine she'd shared with Mouth while Peyton was alone in their new home, so she had attempted to rectify that by phoning her best friend to come join her and the boys in their revelry. Unfortunately, the blonde had apparently shut her cellphone off, which resulted in Brooke becoming worried about the other girl. So with no other choice, Brooke called it a night and took a taxi home. It was just as well though. She had to be up by nine o'clock to pick up Jamie anyway, and Brooke seriously doubted that Haley would be impressed with her being totally hungover while babysitting her godson.
Upon entering the house Brooke immediately knew something was off. She couldn't quite pinpoint what it is was right away but maybe it had something to do with the empty bottle of Jack Daniels on the coffee table. Or maybe it was the fact that a snoring Peyton lay face down on the floor between said coffee table and couch.
"Oh, Peyton," she whispered, kneeling unsteadily onto the carpet next to her best friend's prone form. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Cha...? No, go'way," the blonde whimpered, those green eyes still closed tightly like she was having a nightmare. "Stupid Julian...you weren't sup...pose...ta'tell..."
"Come on, P," the brunette shook the other girl's shoulder. "Let's get you to bed."
"Go'way," a billigerant Peyton slurred while trying to shrug her off. "Stupid Julian...hate you...for..."
"No, it's me," the brunette corrected. "Brooke."
"Brooke? No, this isn't what it looks like!" Peyton shrieked, shooting up into a sitting position so fast that Brooke had no choice but to fall backwards onto her butt. Confused hazel colored eyes met wild emerald green ones. Never once in the entirety of their friendship had she seen Peyton this terrified, so utterly panic stricken like now. "Where? Where am I?"
"Tree Hill," answered Brooke softly, not wanting to panic her any further. "We're home. In Tree Hill."
"Why am I on the floor?" Peyton whispered, still confused by what was happening.
"I'm guessing because you finished that bottle of Jack by yourself?"
"Oh, right," she nodded, now seemingly more cognizant. "Damn."
"You alright, P?" Brooke ventured in concern, only to dart forward to embrace Peyton when the devestated blonde simply shook her head and began to sob into her hands. "Shh, it'll be alright. I'm here, P. I'm right here."

Thanks for reading, please review.

Track 1: Welcome Home - Coheed & Cambria