Epilogue

Hey guys!

This story sets after S4. Lucas and Peyton are still together. Brooke and Peyton are living in NH old apartment. Karen and Haley had their baby. That's about what you need to know! So enjoy! )

Léonie

As Brooke was packing her last bag, she looked around the apartment, the place that has been her home for the last six months. A bunch of boxes were surrounding her and she knew that soon, it will be over. Her life in Tree Hill was coming to an end, the high school years and she was leaving behind all her friends. She felt so sad that this part of her life was coming to an end; she will have to start all over again.

As she was packing the last pile of books that was lying on the floor, a sheet of paper fell from it. Immediately she recognized Lucas's handwriting. She looked at it for a long time before deciding to read it again. The letter was so beautiful. As she was reading it, she felt so good and loved. When she finished reading the letter, tears were silently falling on her cheeks, at this moment she realised how bad she missed him.

"Hey Brooke are you done?" asked Peyton as she came in the room

"Yeah, that's my last box." said Brooke sadly

"Have you been crying?" asked Peyton as she noticed Brooke's red eyes

"I'm just going to miss this place." answered Brooke sadly

"I'm going to miss you Brooke Penelope Davis and I really loved being your roommate." Peyton said hugging Brooke.

"I'm going to miss you too Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer" said Brooke breaking the hug

"Promise me you're going to write me even if you are busy in New-York with your classes and clothing line" said Peyton

"Of course, I mean you are my best friend Peyton. But promise me you're going to do the same from Montréal… I still can't believe you're going there." said Brooke

"I will" simply answered Peyton hugging Brooke once more

Lucas was packing his clothes and all the stuff he was going to need in New-York. He couldn't believe that he was leaving for New-York tomorrow, with Brooke. When they were dating, it seemed such a good idea to go to college together, him in journalism and her in fashion design. Now, he was not so sure. They started to talk again but somehow being around her felt weird.

He gave a last look in his cupboard. It was almost empty except for two boxes. He took the first one and started going through it. It contained stuff of Peyton and him this year and stuff of the two of them that he kept to remind himself how bad he screwed up things with Brooke. He still couldn't understand why he still kept the things of Peyton and him from last year. Every time he was going through that, he felt so bad about what happened with Brooke and Peyton.

He took the other box this one containing only beautiful memories, Brooke's letters. He went through them smiling sadly as he was seeing Brooke's handwriting on each of the envelopes. He remembered reading each of them one every day and how happy he felt as he was reading them. It felt like ages ago yet not that much time passed since then. Sadly he put back the two boxes full of memories and packed a picture of him and Peyton and another one of all the gang together at the Rivercourt.

"So Lucas, you're finally done?" asked Karen as she entered the room holding his little sister, Clara.

"I guess so… I'm going to miss you mom." said Lucas looking around

"Me too, at least I'll still have your sister to keep me company. But I know you're going to love New-York and in two weeks, you won't even think of this place anymore" said Karen

"At least you are not leaving alone tomorrow" continued Karen seeing that Lucas stayed silent

"Yeah, I guess so… Now I have to go see Peyton and then Haley. See you tonight mom" said Lucas leaving his room

Lucas was walking hand in hand with Peyton walking toward Karen's Café. He felt sad to leave her but at the same time, he couldn't wait to be on his own and discover something else, another life.

"Luke I'm going to miss you" said Peyton almost crying

"Yeah me too, Peyton. But we'll be fine, after all if we are meant to be together it will happen anyway" said Lucas trying to convince both of them

"You sound like Brooke when you say that" noticed Peyton as he was taking her in his arms unaware of Lucas's smile

"I love you Lucas" Peyton said softly

"I love you too Peyton" said Lucas as he broke the hug

"You do?" whispered Peyton

"I promise. Come on we have to go meet the others" said Lucas as he started walking in the café.

In the café, he immediately headed toward a table where Haley, Nathan and Brooke were sitting in an animated conversation. Brooke was holding little James, her nephew.

"Hey guys!" interrupted Lucas and Peyton in a same voice

"Hey! Do you guys realise you are late? Little James here wanted to see his godfather." said Brooke smiling

"Well I'm sure he did" answered Lucas as he took the baby in his arms

The gang talked for a while. After some time, Brooke and Peyton left after promising Haley they were going to write as much as they could. Then Nathan decided to leave with baby James leaving Lucas and Haley together.

"Luke there's something I need to show you. Come on, we need to go on the roof" said Haley

"Alright" said Lucas following her

"So I have to show you my predictions since you already showed me yours." Haley continued looking for the metal box

"Okay, so here we go… This year, I'm going to be with Nathan before graduation and we're going to be happy. And… Lucas will not give up on Brooke" read Haley

"You wrote that? Haley…" asked Lucas

"I mean you should never give up on true love" interrupted Haley

"Haley I'm going to miss you" Lucas finally said after a moment of silence

"Me too Luke" said Haley starting to cry

After leaving the café, Brooke and Peyton were walking slowly toward their apartment.

"I feel so sad. I'm really going to miss Haley, Nathan and baby James… And tomorrow I'm going to say goodbye to my boyfriend" said Peyton sadly

"I know, but you guys will be fine" said Brooke trying to convince her best friend

"Yeah I hope so. What about you and Chase?" asked Peyton

"I need to go talk to him Peyton. See you later okay?" said Brooke

"Alright, don't be too long" said Peyton

Brooke walked to Chase's house even more slowly. It was going to be so painful but she knew it was the right thing to do. She wondered if she ever loved him. Of course she needed him, but other than that she wasn't so sure anymore. Lucas's letter brought so many emotions that everything was confused. She knocked on the door almost hoping Chase wouldn't be here.

"Hey! Come on in" he said opening the door with a smile on the face

"We need to talk" Brooke said following him inside

"Of course" said Chase waiting for her to start

"I don't think it'll work…" Brooke said after a long silence

"What?" Chase asked confused

"…the two of us. I'm sorry Chase, but we'll be miles apart and I don't think I want to do this. I don't want to think about you everyday and I want to enjoy college, you know. I like you Chase, I really do, but something tells me that it won't work" continued Brooke half in tears

"It will work Brooke, if we want to. I love you Brooke Davis. You are the girls of my dreams, you are…" started Chase

"No it won't and you know it" interrupted Brooke as she was heading toward the door

"Wait, don't go!" pleaded Chase

"I'm so sorry… bye Chase" she said leaving the house crying

When Brooke arrived home, Peyton was not there probably spending her last night with Lucas. For a long time Brooke lied in the bed, wondering how the next day was going to go. She was scared of the unknown and of what was going to happen…

The day was finally there. Karen drove Brooke, Lucas and Peyton to the bus stop with their entire luggage. They were finally going away to college. Brooke and Lucas were to first to leave; Peyton's bus was only half an hour later.

"All passengers taking the bus in direction to New-York must present their tickets to the reception. The bus leaves in ten minutes…"

"So I guess this is ours" said Brooke after a moment of silence

"Yeah it is… Bye mom, I'm going to miss you" said Lucas his voice filled with emotion as he was hugging his mom

"See you Peyton" said Brooke hugging Peyton

When the two girls broke apart, it was time for Lucas to say good bye to his girlfriend. As soon as he hugged her, she started crying like a baby, not wanting him to go.

"We'll be fine Peyton…" said Lucas

"I love you Luke" said Peyton in between sobs

"Me too" answered Lucas as if he was trying to convince himself

Brooke and Lucas left Peyton and Karen crying. As they were sitting in the bus, none of them could say anything. There was nothing to say. Together, they were heading to new-York, a place unknown to both of them. The only thing they knew was that they were together and that at least, they were not alone. After a while, Lucas finally broke the silence.

"So how do you feel" he asked looking at Brooke

"Actually I feel good. There's nothing left in Tree Hill for me. Plus, New-York is so exiting. What about you?" said Brooke trying to sound convincing

"I'm gonna miss my mom and… Peyton." answered Lucas

"I guess so…" said Brooke

"But now, I feel like it's a start of another life Brooke. And I'm glad you're going to be in it" said Lucas smiling especially for Brooke

"I'm glad to be part of it." said Brooke

And they reminded silent for the rest of the trip wondering what was going to happen.