Chapter 2:

Peyton took Brooke home to the house that they both grew up in. It was usually empty what with Peyton's father, Larry, working out at sea for weeks at a time and Peyton living in an apartment near the Duke campus where she was currently a sophmore. Larry had made it home after he had heard that Brooke would be staying there. Brooke was like a second daughter to him. As soon as she walked in the door Peyton, he was there to wrap her up in a hug.

"I'm so sorry sweetie."

"Thanks for letting me stay here Larry. I didn't really feel comfortable with my Aunt. I hadn't even talked to her in like 5 years before she called about the funeral arrangements."

"No thanks necessary B. I wouldn't have you staying anywhere else. Although, I did mention to Karen that you were coming and I think that you would be welcome there too," Larry told her pointedly.

Brooke smiled back at him tersely. "I feel bad for not keeping in contact with Karen. I wanted to call her and tell her about the funeral…I just couldn't. Not after the way I left things with…" She couldn't even say his name. She just looked down and Larry gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"You're gonna have to see Rake boy sometime B."

"Especially since after you rest up, Daddy's taking us to Karen's Café for dinner. We both just got home this morning so there's no food here," interrupted Peyton.

"Hmmm, saltines and water for dinner or Rake Boy? Tough choice B."

Brooke had to give a small laugh. "I dunno, I may go for the saltines and water."

"Yeah, but we're outvoting you aren't we daddy?"

"That's right Peyt. I've been on a boat for over a month, there's no way I'm going to pass up some of Karen's meatloaf."

"Gee, thanks guys," Brookes says, while rolling her eyes at them. It was nice though. They were teasing her like she had never left. "I think I will take that nap though. I didn't get much of a chance to sleep on the plane."

Brooke fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. When she woke up, she noticed that it was dark outside. She sat up, yawning as she stretched out. She went over to her suitcase and grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater so she could be more comfortable. She walked into Peyton's bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

'I look about as bad as I feel' she thought to herself.

Her eyes were red from all the crying and were getting baggy for the lack of sleep. She rinsed her face and put her hair into a ponytail and she felt a little better. Walking downstairs, she could hear Peyton and her dad watching tv. They looked up at her expectedly as she came in and sat on the sofa opposite them.

"All rested B?" She could tell from his eyes that he was worried about her.

She nodded. "How long was I out?"

"About 3 hours. We thought you might be out for the night. You hungry, we could always bring you back some takeout if you're too tired to go with us?" Peyton asked helpfully.

"I'll be ok. A lil jetlag isn't going to hurt me. I actually want to see Karen. Besides, what are the chances he'll be there, right? He doesn't even know I'm in town and he's at school."

When Peyton, couldn't look at her in the eye, Brooke began to worry. "Pey, what did you do?"

"Well…you see, you know how Haley, Nate, and Lucas are all at Duke right? Well, they would notice if I was missing for a week. I told them that you were coming back. Haley insisted on coming with me, so of course that means that Nate would come. And they told Luke that he was coming too."

"Do they hate me?" Brooke asked in barely a whisper.

"Why would they hate you? Hales is so worried about you. She doesn't think you should go back to California. She says that you're going to be all by yourself."

"That sounds just like Tutorgirl. I missed her too but I did make some friends out there. I'm not a total loser," Brooke joked.

"We just miss you around here, Brooke. We want you here with us."

"You guys are sweet. I wouldn't want me back after I left and didn't look back."

"You were hurt, we understand. Especially me, believe me."

"Does he hate me?"

"Yeah, right. It's Lucas, Brooke. He could never hate you. I think he's just hurt too."

"Ok, well let's do this."

Larry drove them over to Karen's Café. Brooke lagged a little bit behind as Peyton and her dad burst through the door. Karen looked up as the bell rang indicating that there were new customers. It was pretty late so there weren't too many people in the café anymore. Seeing Peyton, she walked towards them. Brooke looked over at Karen and gave her a weak smile. She looked nervously around and as if she had radar for him, she found the back of his head in a booth in the back. He was in some intense conversation with Haley and Nathan so they hadn't noticed them yet.

"Sweetie, come here," Karen said and she was pulled into another hug. Karen held onto her tight. "I missed you Brooke. I'm so sorry. Whatever you need, I'm here."

"I missed you too Karen," Brooke was now crying into the older woman's shoulder. Before, she had gotten close to her own mother again, it was Karen who had taken her into her home and treated her like her own daughter. At this point, Brooke couldn't control her emotions. She broke down. "It's not fair, Karen. How could they leave me again? They promised me, they wouldn't leave me anymore…they promised."

"I know sweetie, I know. It's ok to let it out Brooke."

By now, Lucas, Haley and Nathan, had noticed the commotion. They saw Larry with his arms around Peyton as they sadly watched Brooke in Karen's arms. They all stood and walked over to them. Brooke had seen the movement and knew that everyone was watching her now so she tried to compose herself. She let go of Karen and stepped back to take a deep breath. As soon as she looked up she saw his intense blue eyes staring back at her. Her heart felt like it was going to explode. After so much time, he still had such a hold over her.

Haley broke the silence, hugging her. "Tigger…you're back."

"Hey Tutorgirl," Brooke sighed. She was exhausted. The feeling of hunger that she once had was gone and all she wanted to do was go back to bed and hide under the covers. A few seconds later, she felt another pair of arms encircling her as Nathan was holding both girls.

"Welcome home Brooke. It hasn't been the same without you."

"Thanks Nate."

Brooke was finally able to stop the tears and calm herself down. She stepped out of the hug and gave everyone a brave smile and then looked down. Everyone expectedly looked over to the only person who hadn't greeted her yet. After a few minutes of awkward silence, it was obvious that neither Brooke nor Lucas was going to make the first move so Karen took control. She nudged her son in the ribs and slightly nodded in Brooke's direction. He stared back but the look she gave him told him that he needed to do something.

"Hey Brooke," he said dryly.

"Lucas…"

"Well, why don't you all grab a seat and I'll get you some food?" Karen asked after a few more minutes of silence.

"Actually, I'm pretty beat. I'll see you at home, Mom. Bye guys." With that, Lucas made a motion as if he was waving good-bye and walked out.

Nathan sighed and said his good-byes as well and went to check on his big brother.

Brooke thought that she might start crying again as she saw him walk away. 'It's your own fault,' she argued with herself. Peyton gave her a squeeze and led her to a table.

"Let's eat, Brooke. You're going to need to stay strong."

Brooke just nodded and went through the motions to make it go faster. She was so relieved when she got back to the Sawyer house and she could collapse into her bed.