It's been five years since Brooke Davis left tree hill, and things never been the same, well not in a bad way. Everyone was still happy but it was weird not having the cheery girl around any more. Lucas Scott was sitting on a picnic bench at the river court, as always he was lost in his thoughts about Brooke. He knew she left because of him but he never hoped that they would end in bad terms. He missed her so much. Even though Lucas was with Peyton Sawyer, he couldn't help to miss Brooke a lot. Lucas was truly happy with Peyton and he loves her so much, but Brookes absent kept him worried a lot. All he wanted to know if she was ok and that if they were still friend. He lost hope of her returning as it has been five years since she left. The only thing that angered him the most was that she left without telling or meeting anyone, all she did was leave a note for all of them to read at Rachel's house.

Flash back

Lucas and Haley were walking to Rachel's house to see Brooke. At this time it's been two weeks since Lucas and Brookes break up, since then Brooke never came to school. As always Lucas got worried and wanted to see her but knew she wouldn't talk to him unless Haley was there to convince her. Both of them reached the front door and just stood there. Lucas didn't know what to do, he was a bit scared, he didn't know how to face Brooke after he broke his promise that he would never hurt her again.

Haley stared at her best friend, she knew the pain he was going through

Haley rang the bell knowing Lucas wouldn't. Rachel opened the door to find them both at front.

"What are you to doing here?" asked Rachel looking at them both

"Rach is Brooke there?" asked Haley.

"No she's not here" replied Rachel looking Lucas in the eyes

"Where did she go?"

"I don't 'know"

"What do you mean you don't know" Lucas said, finally speaking for the first time.

"I mean came home, find that Brookes stuff is gone and she's not here, poof, disappeared, vamoosh gone have I made my self clear Lucas" she said glaring.

"Well did she tell where she went" asked Haley breaking the icy conversation between Rachel and Lucas.

"No, what are these 20 questions" said Rachel. "Look guys she's gone and left this letter for us all". Rachel passed the letter to Haley. Both Lucas and Haley looked at the letter. Lucas didn't know what to do, Brooke just couldn't leave tree hill like this.

"She… she can't just leave like this" stuttered Lucas. "I… I mean wh…why"

"You of all people asking why she left" said Rachel angrily. "She left because you hurt her Lucas"

"Look I didn't mean it, I…I just want to be friends with her" said Lucas quietly looking at the letter again.

"Well Lucas friends don't hurt one another" said Rachel "look I don't wanna do this now, so appreciate it if you guys just leave"

"But…"

"Just go… please" said Rachel closing the front door on them. Lucas and Haley walked to car. Lucas couldn't believe, Brooke just left. He just couldn't believe it. He knew Brooke was the type of girl that got hurt very easily and she usually finds ways around it but he never thought she would actually leave tree hill.

"I can't believe she left" said Lucas quietly looking up at Haley

"Do you blame her" said Haley. "She's hurt Luke"

"Yeah well that's not a reason to leave" Lucas shot back

"Well what you want her to do man" Haley said angrily. "Just to hang around here and see the guy she loves and her best friend together. Because Luke that's no walk in the park"

"Ok I think everyone is forgetting something here" said Lucas getting worked up. "Brooke left me".

"Look Luke I don't wanna get into this" said Haley. "Nathan must be waiting for me, so im going bye".

With that Haley leaves. Lucas watches her go and sits in his car. Slowly turning the engine on, Lucas drives off to the river court. He needed time to think and grasp the fact Brooke left. Lucas sat silently on the picnic bench again staring at the letter wondering what Brooke wrote in it that could be her possible reason on why she left. He slowly took the letter out of the opened envelope and opened it. He saw Brookes writing, all blotched up, it looked like she was crying while writing the letter.

Dear guys

Sorry I left without giving any of you a proper good bye. I knew if I came face to face with all of you, then you would have stopped and I don't want that. I went through a lot this year and I don't think I can take it any more. Luke if your reading this then its true, I did leave because of you but also because of another reason but there is no point of going into details. All I knew if I stayed, then you all will help me in my situation and maybe some would have stayed with me for the wrong reasons or they think its there responsibility. And I wouldn't be comfortable with that. I can't tell you guys where im going because I don't know my self. It's stupid I know and I soon need to stand up on my two feet because I don't have much time left and im really scared knowing im going to do all this alone. All I know is that im gonna miss all of you and that I love you all and that hope you can forgive for leaving. Anyway things happen for a reason right, so maybe I had to leave tree hill. Maybe it wasn't my place. I do know that running isn't the best thing to do but it's the only option I have now because I am really afraid of getting hurt again. Im really sorry.

Brooke.

Lucas re read the letter many times. So many questions were going through his head. What was brooks situation? What did she mean by she didn't have much time left. All she left was a big riddle for Lucas to solve and he didn't know how. He thought he knew Brooke but it looks like he doesn't. Lucas got up and walked to his car and drove towards Peyton's house, all the way through he couldn't stop thinking about Brooke and her letter. Lucas got to Peyton's house and pushed open the unlocked door. And walked slowly up to her bedroom. He saw Peyton on her bed, drawing in her book. She looked up when she saw him at her door.

"Luke hey…what's up… are you ok" Peyton asked getting up, walking towards him.

Lucas didn't know what to say. He knew he had to tell her now but he just couldn't get himself to speak. Lucas slowly opened his mouth and looked at Peyton.

"Brooke left tree hill" he whispered to the shocked Peyton when she heard the news.

End of flash back