Background Information: This takes place four years after graduation. Nathan went to Duke, Haley went to Standford, Lucas went to Ohio State, and Brooke went to F.I.T. I originally wrote this story back in 2007, so Nathan and Haley never had a kid and Peyton and Lucas never got together. Basically Season 4 didn't happen when I wrote this.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill. If I did Nathan and Brooke would be together, and the show wouldn't be over haha!
Brooke ran through the airport looking for gate three, she was late and was starting to panic. She couldn't miss her flight; she had to get back to Tree Hill. She came to a halt at her gate just in time, and handed her ticket to the lady before she boarded. Brooke found her seat and stored her luggage before she sat down in her seat. She looked to her left and saw a nice elderly lady sitting next to her.
"Hi, I'm Brooke." She said extending her arm to the lady.
"Hello dear. You can call me Mabelle." The lady replied smiling while shaking Mabelle's hand. "Would you prefer the window seat? I heard it helps calm nerves."
"Thank you Mabelle but I am fine. I am a pro at flying." Brooke replied smiling.
"What are you flying to in Tree Hill?" Mabelle asked.
"An old friend. And home I guess, but mostly to see my friend..." Brooke smiled, thinking back to the day that changed her life forever. The summer before she left for college.
"Bye Luke! Good luck at camp! I'm proud of you big bro! Keep in touch! I will miss you." Nathan said to Lucas as he hugged him goodbye. Lucas was leaving for basketball camp at Ohio State where he would be playing college ball. Camp was starting in June and he wouldn't be back until Christmas.
"Bye Nate. I will miss you too little brother." Lucas smiled as he patted Nathan on the back. They had been through a lot the last couple of years, but he loved his brother. He turned to Nathan's right and smiled at his girlfriend Brooke.
"Bye pretty girl. I love you, promise to call and write?" Lucas asked pulling Brooke into his arms.
"Of course, boyfriend. I love you too! I will miss you…" Brooke choked up, and hugged him tighter.
"I will miss you too. Don't worry, we will be okay." Lucas replied to Brooke kissing the top of her head, as he looked around the airport. "I gotta go or I will miss my flight. Call you when I land… I love you." Lucas put his finger under Brooke's chin and brought her lips to his. He gave her one last hug then picked up his suitcases.
"Bye guys. I love you both." With a wave Lucas turned away and walked towards the ticket counter to check in.
"Then there were two…" Nathan joked. Lucas was the last of the group that was leaving this summer. Haley had left first going to a summer honors program at Stanford University. Nathan and Haley had decided to follow their dreams, and try the long distance thing. They couldn't stand in the way of the other's goals. Peyton had moved to Berkley early to get an apartment settled with Jake. They were back together and had custody of Jenny. Peyton was going to go to school while Jake worked. This left Brooke and Nathan in Tree Hill until they left in late August.
Nathan looked to see Brooke crying silently next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in.
"Shhh... Brooke its okay. You can always go visit him." Nathan soothed her. Brooke nodded her head, still clinging to the younger Scott. "Plus you've got me this summer. I promise it will be fun."
Brooke pulled away and smiled at him. This was true, it would be just him and her this summer. They were never really that close, but she was glad she would have someone to spend her time with.
That summer Nathan and Brooke grew to be best friends. They spent everyday together, going to the beach, shopping, or just hanging around one of their houses. By the end of the summer they were inseparable. In a few short months they had become best friends. Brooke opened up to Nathan, and found that he truly cared. He listened to everything she had to say, and always worried about her. He even opened up to her, and they felt like they could really trust each other.
Brooke was the first to leave. Nathan drove her to the airport because her parents weren't home, as usual. This was the hardest goodbye for Brooke. She cried more than she did when Lucas left. She knew she was making a scene, but she didn't care. Either did Nathan, he was really going to miss her. Nathan promised to call her everyday, and Brooke did too. Brooke swore she would come back for his first game at Duke. With a few long hugs, Brooke sadly pulled herself away and got on her plane. She was going to miss Nathan Scott the most out of everyone in Tree Hill.
"That's nice dear. Is it anyone special?" Mabelle asked, pulling Brooke back from her thoughts.
"Yes, actually my best friend!" Brooke smiled.
After she had left for college Nathan and she had kept in touch, like he promised. She went to his first game, and watched him score 20 points. She was so proud of him; she even brought a sign for him. After the game they spent all night catching up.
The next three years they became even closer, they went through many bad times. Many times Brooke called him crying in the middle of the night needing support. He always picked up. Sometimes he called just needing to vent about the high expectations his dad put on him. They were there for each other no matter what. She flew back to North Carolina when he got the call from Haley that she wanted a divorce freshmen year, he had called Brooke crying and she was on a plane within two hours. She missed class just to be the shoulder for him to cry on. And he in turn made a trip or two to New York City to soothe Brooke when she felt like her life was crashing down around her. Then junior year she was the one to help him grieve after Duke lost in the finals when they were supposed to win it all.
There were good times too, Brooke watched as Nathan won three championships during his years at Duke. She was at all three games, and watched as his dreams came true. Brooke was the one he hugged as confetti fell. And he came to her first fashion show she had, and brought her three bouquets of flowers. While all her models went out to party afterwards, Nathan and Brooke walked through the city till dawn. He went to her last fashion show too, and helped her celebrate when they liked her sketches and designs.
Through the good and bad they were each others rock. She needed him as much as he needed her. They were best friends. Brooke was still dating Lucas, all four years of college. They had their breaks but they always got back together. That was until last week when she called his phone and his other girlfriend picked up. Brooke was crushed. She didn't call Nathan though because she knew she would be seeing him soon enough. Brooke didn't want to ruin his graduation, like it had hers. As luck would have it, their graduations were on the same day. That was the first major event of the others that either of them missed. But they were going to celebrate once Brooke got back to Tree Hill.
"That's very nice dear." Mabelle said, bringing Brooke back to reality once again. "Is he just your best friend?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes just my friend. I just broke up with my boyfriend last week." Brooke replied sadly.
"Well here is my advice. You brightened up the minute you mentioned him, don't let him slip away." Mabelle suggested. "If you don't mind me, I have a novel to finish, dear."
Brooke smiled and slipped on her earphones. She imagined finally getting to see Nathan again and smiled even brighter. This time she was home to stay, and Nathan would be waiting for her. He drifted off to sleep, but not before thinking about what Mabelle had said to her last.
"Nathan!" Brooke yelled as she ran across the airport as she saw him. Two feet before she reached him she dropped her bags and launched herself into him.
"Brooke! I've missed you so much!" Nathan whispered into her ear as he held her and spun her around.
When Nathan finally put her down, he put both hands on either side of her cheek. She looked up into his eyes, and bit her lip. Before he could tell her to stop doing that, she got on her tiptoes and kissed him.
When they pulled apart, Nathan smiled down at her. As she looked up to him three words blurted out of her mouth.
"I love you…"
"We are landing dear…" Nathan replied putting his hand on her shoulder and shaking it.
"What?" She asked confused.
"We are about to land in Tree Hill…" Nathan said again.
Brooke opened her eyes and instead of seeing Nathan, she saw Mabelle trying to wake her.
"Good morning sleepy head. We are landing in Tree Hill right now." Mabelle smiled, sitting back in her seat.
"Thanks Mabelle." Brooke replied straightening up in her seat. She then thought to herself, 'What the hell was that?'