A/N: It's going to move kind of slow… there are some other things that are going to happen first… just bare with me!

Chapter 2: Facing Old Friends

(Peyton and Brooke had decided to spend the day looking at adoption agencies, houses, and spaces for rent. They were putting off the trip to Nathan and Haley's. Peyton was ready but after what Brooke had shared with her in the morning she decided that a later afternoon visit would be better than right away. Brooke had spend the day thinking about what she was going to do to help Peyton since she had just given up her life in LA to stay in Tree Hill, a place she hated, to help her out. It finally came to her as they were walking pass Max's old record shop, which was now closed)

Brooke: (with a huge smile on her face) Oh my God, Peyton I've got it!

Peyton: You want to run a clothing store out of Max's little ass shop?
Brooke: Hell no! I know what you're going to do for income!
Peyton: I'm not being your nanny or housekeeper or driver so you can get that shit right out of your mind! I'm also not going to be your assistant!
Brooke: No way! I'd kill you… You can open a Record Company in Tree Hill! You have enough connections in LA to get started and I have enough money what do you think?

Peyton: I was looking into it in LA… I don't know though. It would have been easy in LA but here…
Brooke: Come on P. Sawyer. I have been feeling so guilty since this morning when you quit your job to stay here with me… If you don't let me help you do this then I'm going to have to send you back to LA and be completely miserable here by myself!
Peyton: I'll think about it Brooke.

Brooke: Great! I think I'm ready to head over to Naley's now

Peyton: Yeah, no time like the present

Brooke: I know… this is going to suck

Peyton: maybe, maybe not. We do need some transportation though. Tomorrow I'm going to head over to the storage unit my dad said he put my car there before he sold the house. I'd love to have my car back!
Brooke: Why don't you buy a new one?
Peyton: Because I like my car

Brooke: You're not putting my baby in that death trap!
Peyton: Good to know since I won't be taking your baby anywhere!
Brooke: (looking kind of sad) I thought you were going to help me when I get one
Peyton: Oh I will but I know you won't let me go anywhere without you so you can get a mom-moblie and I'll just drive it around

Brooke: How about we go get one now?
Peyton: What the hell?
Brooke: Do you want to walk to the outskirts of town to Naley's or do you want a car?
Peyton: Whatever Brooke….

(Peyton followed Brooke down the road to the end of the street to where Dan's dealership used to be. Now it belonged to someone else. Brooke walked in and within 30 minutes she had bought herself a Traverse and Peyton and Brooke were sitting in it on their way to Nathan and Haley)

Peyton: I can't believe you just walked in and bought a car

Brooke: Why not?
Peyton: You're crazy

Brooke: So I've been told

Peyton: Are you feeling better about things now?
Brooke: Sort of… I saw a location today for the store but it wasn't for sale

Peyton: You didn't say anything

Brooke: It's Karen's Café. It just seems right

Peyton: Talk to Lucas I'm sure he can help you out

Brooke: Peyton, why are you being so calm about Lucas?
Peyton: (thinking about it) I really don't know. I'm just not in love with him anymore….

Brooke: Is there a love interests you'll be leaving behind in LA?
Peyton: Just my music. I haven't been with anyone. It just hasn't felt right with anyone else. I mean I've gone out on dates and stuff but I just don't feel the connection

Brooke: Yeah, I know what you mean

Peyton: Oh shit you are not still in love with Lucas are you?!
Brooke: (laughing) Hell no! I haven't been in love with Lucas in years! I haven't been in love with anyone in years… (Thinking…. Well not anyone I want to tell you about)

Peyton: Maybe we were put on this Earth to be single moms helping each other out through it all!
Brooke: (smiling at what Peyton just said… why the hell are you smiling? You are messed up, Brooke) That would be ok. You want kids, P. Sawyer?
Peyton: I don't know. I mean I'd probably just mess them up. I used to want kids with Lucas but now that I don't want to be with Lucas I really can't imagine having kids

Brooke: Well you can definitely help me with mine until you decided

Peyton: No problem… (looking at her address book) That's it Brooke. Nathan and Haley's house

Brooke: Here we going… facing the past

Peyton: They're our friends and it's going to be fine!
Brooke: I know I'm more worried about when you see that Broody Blonde and realize that you've been lying to yourself since we got back to Tree Hill

Peyton: It's not going to happen! Really I'm serious

Brooke: Whatever you say

(Brooke parks the car and she and Peyton walk to the front door. They can hear voice coming from the backyard and walk around to the gate. They open it to see Nathan, who looks like hell sitting in a wheelchair, Haley in the pool with a cute blonde haired little boy and Lucas with whom they assumed to be his editor girlfriend. Brooke looked at Peyton who still had a real smile on her face. Maybe she is over Lucas… Maybe just maybe she is in to… Oh shit Brooke stop!)

Brooke: You ready P. Sawyer?
Peyton: Sure am!

(The two walk through the gate)

Brooke: No one told me to bring my suit!
Peyton: me either

(All the eyes turn to see Brooke and Peyton standing next to the gate. Everyone was shocked. No one had seen or heard from these two girls in three years. Lucas' face immediately dropped. Oh my God it's Peyton! What is she doing here? My heart just skipped a beat. She's back! Maybe she came back for me…. Shit, Lindsay. Great that's not going to go over well. No one is saying anything)

Peyton: Maybe we should have called?
Haley: (handing Jamie to Lucas and getting out of the pool) Oh my God no! I can't believe you two are here! (She gets a towel and then walks over and gives them both a hug)
Brooke: (very stand offish) Haley

Haley: Hey Brooke (looking sad knowing she's just trying to protect Peyton)
Peyton: (grabbing Haley again and giving her a hug. She wanted the past to be in the past) Hey Hales it's so good to see you!

Haley: (taken back) It's good to see you too Peyton

(Brooke's look of hate fades. If my P. Sawyer is ok, then I'm ok. What the hell my! I have to stop this shit. She's my best friend that's it)

Nathan: (smiling to see how great Peyton looks after worrying about her so much, a little thin but still good) What the hell brings my two best friends back to Tree Hill?
Brooke: Well I hate New York so I'm moving home and I convinced P. Sawyer to leave her great successful life in LA to come home with me!
Lucas: (For the first time speaking since they arrived) You guys are moving home? (looking directly at Peyton as he asks)
Peyton: (with a huge smile on her face) Looks that way. So if I start the introductions can we meet that handsome little boy and the lovely lady who is now holding him?
Peyton: (To the woman) I'm Peyton and this is Brooke
Little Boy: You're my Aunt Peyton and Aunt Brooke! I'm James Lucas Scott!
Peyton: Well come over here and give us a hug!

(Lindsay lifts Jamie out of the pool and he grabs a towel and runs over to the two women. Peyton picks him up and spins him around.)

Peyton: I can't believe how big you are! I haven't seen you since you were born!
Jamie: I know you live in LA!
Brooke: Why are you hogging my Godson!
Peyton: (putting Jamie down) Sorry!

(Jamie jumps into Brooke's arms and give her a big hug. She kisses him and puts him down. Now Lucas and the woman are out of the pool and walking towards the group. He gives Brooke a huge hug and then looks at Peyton. Without even thinking about it she leans in and gives him and hug. Not an I'm missing you hug or an I want you back hug but just a hug like she'd given everyone else so far. Lucas notices and his heart sinks. Brooke notices and her heart skips a beat. The woman standing next to Lucas is just standing there looking at Peyton and Brooke)

Peyton: (smiling) I'm sorry but you are?
Woman: Oh, I'm Lindsay… Lucas' girlfriend

Peyton: (holding out her hand) It's nice to meet you

(Haley, Nathan, and Brooke all have shocked looks on their faces. Lucas looks almost hurt that Peyton didn't even bat an eye when Lindsay said that.)

Lindsay: It's nice to meet you too. I feel like I already know you two after working so hard on Lucas' book with him since the first half was about you Brooke and the second half about you Peyton (pointing at the girls as she said that)
Peyton: It was a very good book

Brooke: It was

Lucas: You guys read it?
Peyton: Of course! I have like 100 copies of it. I'm so proud of you! That was your dream and I'm proud of you for working so hard to make it come true!
Brooke: She made me read it. She sent me a copy of it!
Peyton: Oh stop! I have every copy of B. Davis magazine too!

(That made Brooke smile)

Haley: So we all know what B. Davis has been up too what has Peyton Sawyer been up to?
Peyton: Not much

Brooke: ok, whatever "Miss I Know How to Move Ahead"
Haley: What is that supposed to mean?
Brooke: Oh let's just say Peyton isn't working in the mailroom anymore or getting her boss coffee

Nathan: Brooke, what are you getting at?
Peyton: I just have a lot of responsibilities now

Lucas: So you're not the assistant to the assistant anymore?
Peyton: haven't been in about two years

Brooke: Two years?!
Peyton: Brooke, not now!
Brooke: Two years?! You've been sleeping with him for two years?!

(Everyone turns to look at Peyton. Brooke covers her mouth knowing that she just betrayed her best friend. She couldn't believe she had just done that. She also couldn't believe that she was the reason Peyton had that look of hurt in her eyes. Lucas face dropped. He couldn't believe that Peyton was sleeping with someone else and not someone she loved but someone that could help her get ahead in the world. He really did mess her up! He felt like an inch high right now)

Peyton: No, I haven't! But thank you so much for telling my friends that I haven't talked to for 3 years that I'm sleeping with my boss!

(Peyton turns and walks away. She heads for the gate and disappears)

Haley: Brooke, is she really sleeping with her boss?
Brooke: Occasionally! It's a long story

Nathan: Let me guess it all stems back to the love of her life walking out on her and then she just hit a downward spiral from there (giving Lucas a dirty look)

Brooke: Actually she's doing awesome! Didn't you just see how great she looks! A little skinny but that's just Peyton
Haley: She does look a lot better than I thought she would

Lindsay: I don't mean to butt in where I don't belong but is anyone going to check on her?
Brooke: She isn't going anywhere. I have the keys and she isn't going to walk back to the hotel we're staying at!
Lucas: You guys don't know her very well.

Brooke: She's not the same emo Peyton we went to high school with. She's totally changed. I don't know what happened to her but she's different. She's not mad she's probably just embarrassed that I blurted that out

Haley: We were going to order some pizza for dinner why don't you and Peyton join us. We have a lot to catch up on.

Brooke: I don't know. She's probably not going to want to be around you guys now that you know that…

(Peyton walks back into the backyard. She has her hands crossed over her chest and looks very pissed off)

Peyton: I'd rather stay here and have dinner with my friends then go back to the hotel and have dinner with my big mouth ex-friend!
Brooke: P. Sawyer… I'm sorry I didn't mean to tell them that…
Peyton: Whatever Brooke. We're staying for dinner. Thanks Haley
Nathan: Ok since Brooke outted you spill!

Peyton: Fine…

Haley: Let's sit down and I'll go get some lemonade. This sounds like it's going to be exciting!
Brooke: Tutor Mom you need to get a life.

(Haley smiles and walks into the house)

Nathan: (smiling for the first time in a long time) it's so damn good to have you back!
Brooke: Thanks

Nathan: Peyton it's good to have you back too… My best friends are back! It's a great day!

Lucas: What the hell am I? (looking hurt)
Nathan: Not the sunshine I needed.
Peyton: You look like hell Nathan!
Brooke: I was thinking the same thing

Nathan: Ok, not so great to have you back (smiling at them)

Peyton: Why don't you shave and get a hair cut. I'm coming to get your tomorrow and you are so getting cleaned up. You look like my junkie old boss before I took his job!
Nathan: Well then maybe I'll stay like this since you sleep with him!

Peyton: No, I don't sleep with him I only sleep with the owner of the label

(Lucas has a horrified look on his face and so does Brooke, both for the same reason. They don't like the thought of Peyton sleeping with anyone she doesn't love or anyone that wasn't them. Haley walks back out and joins her friends who are sitting around the table.)

Haley: ok, spill Peyton!

Peyton: It's not that interesting. I just decided that my dreams were important to me and I figured out a way to reach them.

Nathan: there's got to be more to the story than that!
Peyton: Ok, ok…. So about two years ago John's assistant, my boss, got stoned out of his mind and put in rehab. They had no one else to take his place so they let me give it a try. I did an amazing job so they kept me on as an assistant. Then about 6 months again John asked me if I wanted more responsibilities… I did and I knew what he wanted and I knew what I wanted and we made a little deal. Now I'm his arm candy and I have almost the same control of the place he does… Well I did until I quit my job this morning

Nathan: So you were still sleeping with him?
Peyton: Yeah up until about a mouth ago…

Brooke: You told me you only slept with him twice
Peyton: I sort of lied… But about a mouth ago I went to pick him up for another event and he was with someone….

Brooke: That bastard!

Peyton: What?
Brooke: He cheated on you!
Peyton: I wasn't his girlfriend… I was his booty call. It wasn't that big of a deal..

Brooke: Yeah it kind of is. You could be full of diseases now

Peyton: I live in LA and I was sleeping with a semi-junkie I've been tested believe me

Brooke: Damn, Sawyer…
Nathan: So who was he sleeping with?
Peyton: The head of this little music company… He's name's Joe!
Lucas: He was with another guy?
Peyton: Yep! He forgot I was coming and he was with his boyfriend

Brooke: Then way was her sleeping with you?
Peyton: He likes to get it from both sexes…

Haley: They were so going to ask you to join them!
Peyton: Good I hope not!
Brooke: Would have you?
Peyton: Um no! I had a hard enough time sleeping with John, I don't think I could sleep with him and his boyfriend at the same time

Lucas: I still don't understand if he was in a relationship why'd he need you?

Peyton: even though it's LA you have to keep the appearance up! Once I found out though he'd have me drop him off at his boyfriend's house most nights on our way home… He just stopped trying to get into my pants after awhile. A few times the last month if he was really drunk he'd try to get me to take him home but I'd just take him to Joe's and the next morning at work everything was fine. I was the only one at work who knew and we had an understanding. He started letting me sign bands and he liked what I was doing…

Lindsay: Gotta love LA

Peyton: I know it's the dirtiest place around
Lindsay: I started at our publishing company out there… People do a lot of strange things

Peyton: Like sleep with there boss?!
Lindsay: I didn't mean anything… (looking concerned she said something she shouldn't have)
Peyton: (smiling) Chill woman! I was a desperate move but well worth it! It got me to where I am today plus he really was harmless

Brooke: (interrupting) Wait a minute… this morning when you quit your job you sounded like he was mad

Peyton: He was because I get all the good bands! He knows I wanted to start my own company and he was dangling a lot of carrots to keep me there because I'm young and fresh and everyone wants me to produce their music. He was pissed about that… He knows that if I start a company he'll be shit out of luck!
Lucas: Wow! I didn't realize how well you were doing…

Haley: Me either
Brooke: Nor did I and we talked at least once a week

Peyton: You guys know I'm not bragger but I was doing good and eventually I'll get that back but right now I'm here for my best friend and I'm unemployed!

Haley: Well I need someone to watch Jamie and take Nathan to his appointments. School is almost over for the year but we have a few weeks left. I'd be more than happy to pay you to be Jamie's nanny and Nathan's Bitch (laughing at that)
Peyton: (smirking) I've already been Nathan's bitch and it's not that great but I'd be more than happy to help you out!
Brooke: You're not going to have time P. Sawyer. You are starting that label company! Now after hearing what you just told us there is no way in hell I'm going to let you stay here without your label company! No way at all!
Peyton: I'm not ready for that yet Brooke. Like I told you John was trying to keep me on his staff but in the end he would have helped me in LA and then we would have worked out some deal. I'm not ready to start all by myself plus we have to get clothes over bros going so you can support my ass!
Brooke: That reminds me, Lucas?

(Lucas isn't listening to any thing except Peyton. He is taking it all in. Floored by all he's learned. Peyton hasn't even once looked like she has missed him at all. She is doing amazing. She is happy and alive really alive without him. He hasn't felt alive since the day he walked out of the hotel room in LA and here she is not even bothered by the fact that he is sitting there with his girlfriend. She must be over him. Wow, he has to find a way to get her back! Brooke noticed that Lucas didn't respond and then she notices that he is once again staring at Peyton. God, if he doesn't stop looking at P. Sawyer she's going to kick his ass. Peyton wasn't his to stare at. God, Brooke stop! She's not yours either and she's obviously not going to be so I just need to stop getting pissed every time Lucas stares at her.)

Brooke: Earth to Lucas?
Lucas: Sorry. I'm just trying to take this all in.

Brooke: Anyway… I need a favorite

Lucas: Sure anything

Brooke: Do you think Karen would mind if I bought her shop and turned it into a clothing store?
Lucas: Oh God no Brooke! She would probably love to have that spaced used by one of her favorite girls
Brooke: If you could talk to her and let me know that would be great

Lucas: I'll call her tonight

Brooke: Thanks

(Jamie came bouncing out of the house. He looks from Brooke and then to Peyton. Then he walked over and sits on Peyton's lap)

Jamie: So are we going to eat tonight or not because I'm really hungry!

(Everyone starts laughing and Lucas takes out his cell phone and orders some pizza.)

Lucas: Ok dinner is on the way

Jamie: Cool!

(He jumps off Peyton's lap and walks back into house. Brooke looks really sad and Peyton grabs her hand that's resting on her lap and gives it a squeeze. Shivers run through Brooke's body and she doesn't know if she can take Peyton holding her hand any more. Peyton has done that hundred times but it's different this time… But Brooke knows it isn't different. She's always has some sort of feeling when Peyton touched her she's just keenly aware of it now….)

Brooke: James Lucas Scott is so damn cute!
Haley: We think so

Peyton: He is…
Nathan: He wasn't so cute when he was a new born and never sleeping!
Peyton: And that's why I don't know if want kids! (Smiling madly)

Brooke: (noticing the weird ass look on Peyton's' face) Are you on drugs?!
Peyton: No, I'm just overwhelmed to be home and around all of you guys again. It just feels so good to be back in Tree Hill. I can't believe I stayed away so damn long!
Brooke: Me either! I'm glad to be home

Nathan: Well we're glad to have you

Haley: Let's go out tonight you guys!
Lucas: Let's go to TRIC
Peyton: That place is still opened?
Lucas: Yeah, I own it. I own TRIC and my mom's house. She kept the café but she's never coming home

Nathan: I'm not sure I want to go out tonight

Peyton: Well then who's going to get stinkin' drunk with me while Haley and Brooke are cutting a rug because you know they'll want to dance their assess off and you know I don't dance. Sorry Lindsay I don't know if you like to dance or not. Broody doesn't usually dance but I don't know he might now…

Lindsay: Oh, I'm invited too?
Peyton: (looking shocked) Why wouldn't you be?
Lindsay: I just thought the five of you would like some time together

Peyton: You're part of this group now too. You've been around a lot more than Brooke and I have so of course you're invited

Lindsay: Thanks (smiling at Peyton)

Peyton: Hell nothing's going to be the same around here so we might as well form new bonds and new friendships after all we're all going to be living in Tree Hill together!
Haley: Ok Peyton what are you on?
Peyton: Nothing really you guys the last few years I've been really good but being home is even better!

Brooke: There's only One Tree Hill

Peyton: Amen!

(The gang sits and catches up on old times and the last few years. They had so much to talk about and so much to share. It was great to have the gang back together. Everyone found it really strange how calm and cool Peyton was being about Lucas. They all vowed to figure it out when Lucas and Lindsay weren't around. Lucas was the love of Peyton's life so how could she be ok with everything… She puts on a brave face. What everyone didn't realize is the fact that Peyton wasn't in love with Lucas and all those years in LA made her realize that!)

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