Disclaimer: The last couple paragraphs of this chapter are actually from the show. I didn't write them, the writers for the show did, but they fit so perfectly that I had to use them. :)


"I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of. "

Joss Whedon


I feel like I've seen it all. Everything, the world, the cities, the landmarks, the people. I've seen it all. My mind is bursting with all the memories I made on my trip, the long lasting impressions I got of people and places. I realized that there was a strange unity among us, people, something that brought us all together. Not money, or backgrounds, or opinions, it was compassion. One man looking at another and thinking, I wonder what it would be like to walk in his shoes. I'm sure many people looked at me like that, watching me, criticizing me, but it was the people who sympathized with me that were the heroes on my journey. This story, my story, isn't orthodox or normal in any way. It's the classic tale of a man struggling to find himself, except rather than finding my inspiration in movies or art or books, I decided to take a different route. Literally. I sold my house, I sold my possessions, I said goodbye to my friends and I started driving. I started in Pasadena, California and I just drove. Whenever I got tired, I stopped, whenever I needed money, I went to an ATM. Whenever I wanted to stop, I did. I started in Pasadena and drove across the northern states, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont, New York, Maine. And then I drove down the east coast via Route 1, Virginia, The Carolinas, Florida, Georgia. God, it was beautiful down there. And then I went across again, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi. Once I got to Arizona, I went up towards Colorado and explored the Midwest.

I saw America. The small cities, the big cities, the people. They were so real, so kind and I loved that.

I started as a man, lost, fearful and alone. And I traveled a journey across the country that ended in discovery of love, of friendship and of myself.

Over those 5 years, I saw 48 states, 452 cities, 311 towns, 25 car accidents, 3 robberies and 1 almost-murder. I met too many people to count, 20 doctors, 1 CEO, 13 aspiring actors, 23 writers, 8 journalists, 3 directors, 3 inventors, 36 scientists, 43 homeless men and women, 6 firefighters, 123 business associates, 41 police officers, 25 college kids, 2 politicians and 1 extraordinary girl, hitch-hiking on a dark road, that I would never, ever forget.


"It's been a few days, how are you?" Peyton asked, walking up behind Lucas as he typed on his computer. She touched his shoulder and squinted at the words on the screen, but he closed his laptop before she got the chance to read it.

He turned around, "Terrible." He said truthfully. "I think she actually means it this time. It's the end and it's my fault, I don't know what to do, Peyton."

Peyton looked down at him, at the man who was always so sure of himself. He looked so lost and sad that she couldn't even bear it. "You'll figure something out." She said quietly, "There's no way that she can deny her feelings for you forever so just keep trying. Don't give up, alright?"

Lucas nodded slowly, "I won't. Not yet."

Peyton smiled, "That's what I like to hear." She said as she sat down on his bed. "So what was that on your computer? It looked pretty promising whatever it was." She said, smirking.

Lucas smiled shyly, "It's just something I've been working on. It's already done, but I'm going through and looking it over again." He explained.

"Need a fresh pair of eyes?"

Lucas smirked, "Not just yet, but the moment I do, I'll let you know." He said.

Peyton nodded slowly, "Can I have a sneak peek? Just to hold me off until you let me read it?" She asked, leaning forward. She looked up at him expectantly.

Lucas rolled his eyes and looked down at her, smiling. "Fine." He said, "The book is called Louisiana Nights." He said slowly, "It's about a guy who travels all over the US, going through all the cities until he meets a girl in Louisiana and falls in love with her."

"Louisiana Nights?" Peyton asked, smiling. "Sounds good, has a nice ring to it. Just let me know when you're done, I'm excited to read it already." She said before standing up and walking towards the door, "I'm going to work. I'll see you around dinner time. Don't forget Brooke wants you to take Jamie at noon."

"What time is it?" Lucas asked.

Peyton looked down at the watch on her wrist. "11:30."

Lucas sighed and stood up, knowing that he should probably leave to go get Jamie. He followed Peyton out of his room, not looking forward to seeing Brooke. Every time he saw her, it felt like his heart was breaking.

"Hey," Peyton stopped and turned towards him, "just keep trying. She'll come around and when she does, it'll all be worth it, I promise." She said, reaching up and touching his shoulder supportively.

Lucas looked down at her and nodded, "Thanks Peyton." He said, giving her a smile. "You've really been there for me through all of this and I know that can't be easy for you so thank you." He said, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek before moving past her and walking down the stairs.

They walked downstairs together and as they made their way out, they both heard Sam's voice behind them.

"Hey, where are you going?" She asked.

"Studio." Peyton answered.

"Brooke's store." Lucas said.

Sam nodded, moved past both of them and walked out the front door. "I'm going with you, Lucas." She said as she walked down the front porch stairs.

Lucas glanced back at Peyton, confused, but he didn't protest. He just followed her and climbed into the car with her. "Any particular reason you're coming to Brooke's store with me?" He asked, curiously as he pulled out of the driveway.

Sam shrugged, "Being there is way more interesting than being at home." She said blankly, "Got a plan for today or are you still winging it?" She asked, a smirk on her face.

Lucas glanced at her as he drove down the road. "Still winging it. Got any advice?"

Sam shook her head, "God, after the cold shoulder she's been giving you for the past few days, I got nothing, I'm sorry. I say just go for it again, give it to her straight." She said with a shrug, "I mean, what do you have to lose?"

"My dignity."

Sam bit her lip, "Are you sure you haven't lost that already?"

Lucas glared at her.

"Sorry." She chuckled lightly, "I'm serious though. Go for it."

Lucas nodded slowly, "Fine. I will. You're right. It's not like I have anything left to lose."


I had nothing left to lose. My life was a mess. I had just got laid off. Five years, I had worked at this law firm and they decide to lay me off because of budget cuts. My boss, the day they fired me, that morning I saw him, greeted him and he didn't have the decency to even tell me that later that very same day I was going to be fired.

My boss' assistant walks up to me a few hours later with a paper in his hand. He glanced down at it briefly before he spoke, "Jack Morrison?" He didn't even know my name, but I just nodded. A lot of people in the firm didn't know my name, I was just a paralegal, an associate, assistant to all the lawyers, they didn't need to know my name.

"I'm sorry." He said, "Due to recent budget cuts, we are being forced to trim our staff. And unfortunately, because you are not a vital instrument to this firm, we going to have to let you go. You have two days to clean out your things, but by Monday, you should be gone. Here is a release form," He handed me a slip of paper, "please fill this out and bring it back tomorrow. I'm sorry again."

I looked up at him. In that moment, in that one, stupid, fleeting moment, I was so angry at that guy. He didn't know me. He didn't know how hard I worked or the bills that I had to pay. He didn't know me and he didn't have the right to fire me. I wanted to tell him off, to yell at him, but he walked away before I could. And when I look back at that moment, I'm glad that he did. Yelling at him wouldn't have fixed anything.

When I left that day, I was so lost and sad. What was I supposed to do with my life? I never wanted to be a paralegal. I went to school for business and ended up in a law office. I realized my life was way off track. Should I go back to school? Become a lawyer? Or a businessman? I was only 22, I definitely had time to do either of those things. Or did I want to start a family? Fall in love? Would I even be able to?

I realized that everything I had was superficial. My stupid apartment, my furniture, my TV, phone, computer. I didn't need any of it. The only thing I had in my life that I actually valued was my car.

It was a red 1988 Mustang convertible. I'd had it since I graduated college and I loved that car. Through all the ups and downs in my life, it had been there, it had helped me get away and then I realized that was what I needed to do:

Get away.

So after I sold my apartment, my furniture, my TV, my phone, and all the rest of my superficial things, I started to drive. Just me, my crappy 1988 Mustang convertible and a journal.


"Hey Luke." Millie greeted as he and Sam walked in, she smiled and walked up to them. "Haven't see you two in a while, how have you been?" She asked, eyes bright, smile big.

Sam shrugged and walked past Millie, "Depends on if there's any food in this store."

"We just ordered pizza."

Sam grinned and past the desk towards the back offices, "Then I'm great!" She called over her shoulder as she disappeared around the corner.

Millie laughed lightly and then turned to Lucas, "What about you? How have you been?" She asked as she walked with him to the front desk.

Lucas shrugged, leaning against the desk. "Have you talked to Brooke about me already?"

Millie glanced at the ground for a moment and then nodded slowly, "I have."

"Then you probably already know how I'm doing." He smirked, "What about you and Mouth? How is that going?" He asked with a smile.

Millie nodded, "We're doing okay. He just offered a job in Omaha and he doesn't know if he's gonna take it yet. If he does, I can't go with him because I'm helping Brooke so I don't know what's going to happen…" She shrugged, conflicted.

Lucas shook his head, "I know Mouth. He's not the kind of guy that would give up on love that easily, he'll figure something out, trust me. I'm sure you two will be fine." He said, rubbing her arm.

"I'm sure you two will be fine too." Millie said, referring to his relationship with Brooke.

Lucas nodded, he hoped so. "Speaking of that, I have an embarrassing, but completely necessary love-speech to give. Is Brooke around?" He asked, looking around slowly.

Millie chuckled lightly. "She's actually in a conference call right now, but she should be done soon so if you want some pizza…I'm sure Sam has already helped herself so…" She smiled.

"That'd be great." Lucas said.

Millie nodded and lead him into the back room where they found Sam, halfway through her second piece of pizza.


I'd been on the road for 492 days and I was finally out of Mississippi. I had no idea why, but it took an abnormally long time to get through that state. Maybe it was because of the scenery, it had been so grassy and empty that maybe it just felt like a longer time than it was. But I was finally in Louisiana. I'd been waiting to get to that state for so long. I'd heard of the thick, beautiful culture there and I was excited to see it.

It was night when I crossed the state line. I was listening to an old, country song that I'd learned while I was in Mississippi. I remembered walking down the street in Jackson and hearing a young guy playing the song on his guitar, his voice raw, the chords strong. And now, as I passed into a new state, because of that song, I had the remnants of the last still with me.

I turned off of the interstate, the road map told me there was another road parallel to the interstate that ran through many more towns and took a lot more time, but I didn't care. I didn't have anywhere to be. So I drove down that road, passed through a few dark, dead towns and turned the radio up. It was static for a while so I listened to a Kid Rock CD that I'd bought in South Carolina. I barely knew the songs, but I liked the music.

The road was dark, the scenery was long, seemingly endless farmland and I was alone. That was, until I saw a figure walking on the side of the road.

The first thing I saw was her hair. It was short and brown, falling just below her shoulders. It was mostly straight with a few natural curls and it shined through the darkness when the light from my headlights hit it. I slowed down. She had a tight figure, not paper thin, but curvy with a smooth hourglass figure that was highlighted by the short white tank top that she wore above her tight, blue jeans. I admired the simple outfit and the way that she walked in it with such buoyancy. Without even seeing her face, I knew that she was confident.

And then she noticed the headlights and turned, her face…I can still remember exactly how she looked the first moment that I saw her. Her mouth was curved into a small smile, showing her straight, white teeth and the small dimples on her cheeks. And her eyes, even through the darkness, I could tell they were green, a deep shade of green that reminded me of the leaves of trees in the middle of summer. And then she lifted her hand and waved.

I slowed even more until I was stopped next to her.

My top was down and she walked over to my car, leaned over the side and flashed me her smile again. "Can I have a lift?" She asked, voice soft and raspy in a unique way that I had never heard before.

I smiled, "Only if you tell me your name first."

The girl smiled, blinked and then replied, "What if I told you I didn't have one?"

"Then I would think you were a fugitive." I answered because truthfully, that was what I had been thinking. There was no other explanation for walking down the side of the road alone and refusing to tell someone your name. "Or worse." I added just for the sake of flirting.

The girl smirked, "It's Kate."

"Are you lying?"

The girl, Kate, shook her head. "Not lying, I promise."

And I believed her, but I would come to find out a few weeks later that, despite her promise, she actually had lied, straight to my face.

But without knowing that then, I let her into my car and we drove. It was silent at first, but then she asked me where I was going and I went on to explain my story to her and I expected her to return the favor, but after I was finished, it was silent again. She obviously didn't want me to know. The Kid Rock CD played uncomfortably in the background and we sat in a stony silence. I glanced at her as she sat leaned back, calmly, comfortably in my car and even though it was too late to do anything about it, I started to wonder if she actually was some kind of fugitive.

Or worse.


"Hey Brooke, can I talk to you?" Lucas asked after Brooke had gotten out of her conference call and grabbed a piece of pizza. He hoped that this time when he talked to her they could do it in private.

Brooke looked up from the pizza she had sitting on the plate in front of her, "Not this again." She said quietly, looking up at him.

Lucas shrugged, "I'll do it every day if that's what it takes."

Brooke looked around and noticed everyone else in the room had fallen into an uncomfortable silence. She sighed, "Come on." She said as she walked to the stairway that led to the roof, but she didn't go all the way, she stopped halfway and turned to him expectantly, the plate of pizza in her hand.

"I don't know what you want from me, Brooke." Lucas said, shaking his head. "I've tried apologizing, telling you how I feel, telling you the truth, and I just don't know what I need to do to win you back."

Brooke stared down at him, "Lucas. What you said, I can't let it go." She shook her head, "What's that saying? About people saying the truth when they're drunk?" She asked.

Lucas hated that he knew the answer. "Drunk minds speak a sober heart." He answered, "But that's not what happened that night. I was angry and bitter and I was just trying to hurt you. I know I shouldn't have, but I'm sorry. And I can't take it back, I wish I could."

Brooke sighed, "Lucas, I don't want to talk about what happened that night anymore, it's irrelevant. I just don't think I want to have this with you again. Every time I even start to think that it might work, I get hurt. And I'm done being the one that gets hurt."

"I won't hurt you this time, Brooke, I won't."

Brooke shook her head. "You said that last time." She said, her voice soft. "This doesn't work, okay? It never has, it never will."

Lucas gazed up at her, he could see the hurt in her eyes and his heart ached, but he had to ask the question that had been bugging him for days. "What's going on with you and Julian?" He asked, "And don't say nothing because you've been out every night with him and I can see that look in your eyes when you're with him."

"I'm not going to lie to you." Brooke said firmly, "I kissed Julian." She paused, "And I think I like him and I need to move on from you, Lucas. All these years, I've been getting over you and now you've just pulled me back in."

"So you're using Julian as some kind of rebound?"

Brooke shook her head, "No. I'm moving on. And you should too."

"Never." Lucas said firmly. "I'm going to keep trying. Every day until you think I'm so annoying that you have to go out with me again." He told her, "You'll see. You and Julian."

"Lucas, he makes me happy." Brooke said suddenly, "You used to make me happy. We used to laugh, we used to have so much fun, but after all of this, I can't have that with you anymore. And Julian is there and he's…I like him, I do."

Lucas looked up, "Do you love him?"

"I think I could."

"Do you love me?"

Brooke closed her eyes and then looked down at the ground, "Love…" She said slowly, "I haven't felt that since senior year. I probably don't even know what that feels like anymore."

Lucas shook his head, "Brooke. Do you love me?"

"Lucas, I'm not doing this with you." Brooke tried to move past him, but he stood in her way.

He stared at her, gaze firm. "Answer the question."

Brooke let out a long sigh. "I think I could love you." She said softly, "But I don't want to." She added before pushing past him and making her way down the stairs.


It took us weeks to get through Louisiana and this girl, she was…she was something. And I fell, hard. Her hair, her eyes, her personality. She was simple, smart, mean, playful, and quiet. Like me, she enjoyed the silence of the ride. But I still had no idea who she was, the only thing I did know was that she wanted to get out of Louisiana, desperately, which only strengthened my fugitive theory even though she insisted she was trying to get to San Antonio to live with her aunt.

It wasn't until we reached Morgan, Louisiana that I finally found out who she was.

"So, Jack, mysterious traveler, what has been the most interesting place that you've visited so far?" Kate asked me as we drove down one of the back, deserted roads on the countryside.

I thought for a moment. I wanted to say Louisiana, because it was beautiful and that had been where I'd met her, but I got the feeling she didn't feel the same way so I went with a safer choice. "I really loved South Carolina. It was gorgeous and there was so much history and the people there were so nice and hospitable. It was refreshing." I told her and then, thinking I would get no reply, I asked, "How about you?"

"I've never been outside Louisiana." She told me.

I nodded and offered up another question, "Then what makes you want to leave all of a sudden?"

She didn't look at me, "Long story."

"In case you haven't noticed, I don't have anywhere else to be." I said with hope that maybe, she would finally tell me her story, let me find out what was underneath because I couldn't stand not knowing anymore.

She looked up at one of the road signs as we passed, "Morgan, Louisiana."

I looked up and saw the name just before we rode past.

"That's where I'm from." She said quietly, "It's also the town that I'm named after."

"But-"

She smirked, "I know I lied to you and that I promised I wasn't lying and all that stuff, but…I just didn't want to be associated with that town." She said softly, "I'd lived there my whole life and I loved being there more than anything. It's beautiful and small and its home. Or at least it was."

"What happened?"

Morgan shook her head and looked out over the countryside that was rolling by. "I was married. It was a small town, I had a high school sweet heart and the moment we could, we got married just for the sake of being married. I loved him more than anything. His laugh, his smile, everything about him." She said, "And then one night, at 3 in the morning, I got the call. There had been an accident, he'd been t-boned. I went down to the hospital, but it was too late. He died in the ambulance before they even got there."

My heart dropped.

"They said that the guy who hit him was drunk and that he would survive. They told me I could sue or get him arrested, but I…" She shook her head, "I didn't. And then, after that, the town just wasn't the same. For everyone else, the world kept spinning, but I was just stuck…standing still. I had to get out of there, so I did. I got a job in a few other cities and towns, but nothing stuck. So I started walking and I've been hitch-hiking ever since."

It was quiet for a couple minutes until I finally figured out what I was going to say, "I'm so sorry." I started, obvious choice, "And I promise I'll do my best to help you get as far away from this state as I can."

Morgan smiled and looked over at me, "Thanks." She paused, "You know, when I was walking down that road in the dark that night, I thought I was going to end up dead in a ditch somewhere or sitting awkwardly with some truck driver, but instead, I got you. There must be someone up there looking out for me." She looked up at the sky.

I smiled at her. And when she said that, for the first time, I thought that it might actually be possible for this beautiful, complicated, and extraordinary girl to love me back.


Julian was sitting in his hotel room, alone, as he spent most of his time. He looked over the drawings Brooke had given him for the costumes. He smiled as he looked over the gently sketched lines, they were unbelievable. He looked over the designs labeled, "Brooke Davis" and smiled. The clothes reminded him of her, he could tell that she had been just as confident back then as she was now.

A knock at the door woke him from his thoughts.

He glanced down at his watch, it was 3:30. As far as he knew, he wasn't supposed to be having any visitors. Slowly, he walked to the door and pulled it open. And before he could even react, in stormed Brooke.

"Well hello." He said, surprised.

Brooke trudged through his room. "I am so pissed off right now!" She exclaimed as she paced at the foot of his bed.

Julian sat down on his bed and watched her, amused. "Obviously." He said with a smirk.

Brooke shook her head, "First Lucas gives me another 'I want you so bad' speech, then my mom shows up and tries to guilt trip me into coming back to the company with all this stuff about how she's my mom and people will lose their jobs and then the hospital called and told me that I have stitches that need to be removed and then I remembered I had to pay the hospital bills because my insurance didn't cover it…" She rambled, "What am I going to do?"

Julian raised his hand, "Permission to speak?"

Brooke looked over at him, as if, for the first time, realizing that he was sitting there. "Sure." She said as she paced past him.

Julian nodded slowly, "First, you need to stop." He stood up, blocking her way and preventing her from pacing anymore. "And sit." He put his arms on her shoulders and sat her down on the bed, "Listen to me. You are Brooke Davis, alright? You know how to handle these problems." He told her, "You know that you're with me now and that what Lucas does or says doesn't matter, and you know you're gonna do the right thing with your company and you know that you have enough money to pay those hospital bills back. You're gonna be okay." He said as he sat down next to her, "And if you want, I can go with you when you get your stitches removed."

Brooke looked up at him, "You'd do that?"

Julian bit his lip, "Actually…I was kind of hoping you'd say no. I have this thing about blood and hospitals." He said, gulping, "I'd probably faint if I went with you."

Brooke shook her head, "Well you already offered and you can't go back on it now." She leaned towards him until their faces were inches apart, "Plus, I think it's about time you face your fear, don't you?"

Julian met her eyes, "Fine." He breathed, "But if I faint, you can't make fun of me."

"I am not agreeing to that."


Sparks flew the first time we kissed.

We had just crossed into Texas. It was dry there, the terrain starting to become more desertous. I liked the change of scenery and the change of culture. That state, especially, I had noticed how kind and compassionate the people were. Everywhere I went, the people asked where I was going. And when I told them, they would often offer me money or food or just a piece of advice. It was a charming place.

It was there, in Texas, that Morgan and I really connected.

"You remind me of him." She had said one day, out of nowhere as we were driving down towards the Mexican-American border.

I looked over at her, I didn't have to ask who she was talking about. It touched me that she saw some of her old husband in me. She had described him so highly and to think that I would be half the man with that kind of a reputation was extremely humbling.

She continued on without waiting for me to say anything. "His name was Matthew." She said quietly, "And he would have loved this, an honest trip through the US, just for the sake of it." She smiled sadly, "He was a people person. He loved to meet people, learn their stories. And I loved him for that." She looked over at him, "I admire what you're doing. You realized your life was off-track and you stepped away and you decided to do something about it."

She made it sound a lot more charming than it was, but I was thankful for it anyway. "Thanks." I said, feeling shy all of a sudden. There was something else I wanted to add before the moment passed, "Matthew sounded like a great guy."

"He was." She said, smiling lightly before continuing, "And so are you."

I glanced away from the road to look at her. I wanted to tell her how I felt right then, but the moment didn't seem right. So we drove on, reached the Mexican-American Border and drove down along the bottom edge of Texas for a few days before reaching the city where everything changed: Corpus Christi.

It was beautiful.

The beaches were clean, the water was a crystal clear blue and even the city had a charming, alluring quality to it that made it all the more extraordinary.

Morgan and I stopped there, we parked my car and walked down to the beach. I couldn't believe I was here, on this beach, with a girl like this. My life had completely changed since I'd left my home. For the better? I didn't know.

We sat down on the beach and talked until the sun went down.

"It's so beautiful here." She said through the darkness, I could barely see her.

I nodded, "It's weird to think that I would have never known this place existed if I hadn't been fired that day." I said as I looked over the waves. And then I became curious, "Do you believe in fate?"

"No."

I was surprised by that. For some reason, I expected her to believe in that kind of stuff. "What do you believe in? If not fate, then what?" I asked, suddenly curious about how she was the world.

She shrugged and then looked over at me, "I believe that we make our own choices. Sure, I guess our lives could be predetermined, but when you're standing at a dead end and you choose to go left rather than right, to me, it feels like my own choice."

I smiled and nodded, looking over the water. "Do you believe you only have one true love?" I asked, curious.

Morgan sat still for a long time until finally, she spoke. "No." She paused, "I used to think you only get one, like how people say you have 'the one' and then if that doesn't work out, you just settle…but I don't think I believe that anymore. Matthew was the one for me and he's now so the thought that I can't find love again doesn't seem right." She looked over at me, "What do you think?"

I looked back at her. I already knew my answer, I just had to pick the right words. Slowly, I replied. "I think love is something you can feel for anyone. Friends, family, 'the one'. But it's not something that happens overnight either. It takes work, compromises, commitment and sometimes it'll feel like it's not worth it." I paused and looked over at her. "Until you look into other person's eyes and you know that you'd do whatever it takes to have them."

She stared at me, her eyes big. Her mouth curved slowly into a smile. "I've never met anyone like you before." She said slowly.

"I've never met anyone like you before either." I replied, gazing at her. I knew I had to say it then. This was the moment when everything would change. "Morgan, I…I don't know if it's fate that brought us together or choices or God, but all I know is that you changed me. Ever since you got in my car that night, I've been changed. I've gotten to know you and been able to see the world through your eyes and…"I paused, my confidence faltering slightly as she stared at me, "I think I feel something for you."

"Something?"

"Love." I clarified, though I was pretty sure it was obvious. "I think I'm in love with you, Morgan." I blurted it out without a second thought. I had tossed my feelings out into the open. I watched her for a reaction, but she just sat there, silent.

My heart raced in my chest. What was she thinking? Had I just blown it?

And then suddenly, her lips were on mine. It happened so quickly, I had barely noticed her leaning forward. And when our lips met, sparks flew. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered and I closed my eyes, admiring the feeling of her soft lips as they brushed so gently against mine.


Peyton had just gotten home. It was 1:30 in the morning, but she'd been at the studio all night, helping Mia. She was trying to get the chorus for a new song right and it had taken them try after try to finally get it right at 1 in the morning. She was exhausted, but starving so she put a frozen pizza in the oven and sat at the kitchen counter, barely awake.

Slowly, without even knowing it, she drifted off, head on the counter. The pizza probably would have burnt the house down if she hadn't heard a noise at the front door that woke her up.

"No, get out of here." It was Brooke's voice.

"No…" Another voice said, "Can't I just stay? I'm so drunk and so tired…" It was Julian's voice.

Peyton looked up, she could see both of their figures standing in the doorway.

Brooke pushed Julian's chest, but not hard enough for the gesture to be taken seriously. "Oh you're tired? Yeah right, Mr. Grab Ass." She said sarcastically, her words slurring sloppily. "Now get out of here, the hotel's a block away…walk or take the bus or whatever."

"Take the bus? Are you serious?"

Brooke shook her head, "Don't be a baby." She said, reaching into her purse. "Here's a dollar, go crazy." She handed him the bill and then pushed him further out the doorway.

Julian put his arms out, "And here I thought you would offer me a bed to sleep in." He said with a grin. "I've heard the stories…I see the look in your eyes, you want me to stay, you just won't admit it." He said, smirking.

Brooke gave him a hard look, "Go take a cold shower." She smirked before adding, "See you tomorrow." She said before shutting the door and locking it in front of him. She stood there for a moment in front of the door, holding her head against it's cold surface. Slowly, she turned around.

Peyton looked at her. She could see the distant look in her friend's eyes, the slurs in her speech, the way she swayed and stumbled as she made her way towards the kitchen. Brooke was drunk, not even that, she was completely wasted.

"Peyton!" She exclaimed when she saw her friend. "What're you doing awake?"

And then Peyton smelled it, the pizza. She remembered that it was in the oven and she'd fallen asleep. Quickly, she scrambled around the corner and yanked the oven open, pulling the pan out with an oven mitt and then placing it on the stove. "I was hungry." She said to Brooke as she turned the oven off.

Brooke nodded slowly and walked to the back door. "God, it's so pretty outside. Have you ever noticed how pretty it gets outside? It's beautiful." She slurred, pulling the back door open and walking onto the porch.

Peyton followed, amused. "I'm gathering that you had a few drinks after work."

"Just a couple…" Brooke said, gulping.

Peyton chuckled lightly, "With Julian?" She raised her eyebrows, hoping that drunk Brooke would give more details of her relationship with Julian than her sober counterpart.

Brooke shrugged and smiled, "I had to get my stitches removed." She gestured to her back, "And so Julian said he would take me, but he's scared of hospitals so I suggested we get a little tipsy before we go…to calm his nerves." She explained with a laugh, "But don't worry, we weren't this drunk when we were in the hospital. We hit the bar after too."

"Two bar trips, one night." Peyton smirked, "You know you're not 17 anymore, Brooke."

She laughed and rolled her eyes, "Yea I'm 22! My life is good, I mean I'm hitting some bumps, but that's nothing. I'm Brooke Davis. Fiercely independent, brave, beautiful Brooke Davis. I'm ready to change the world. Today. Today, Peyton!"

"Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep first?"

"No!" Brooke protested, "I'm wide awake. I feel like I could take on the world." She looked over at Peyton, eyes wide with excitement. "Do you ever just feel like you want to do something crazy?" She asked.

Peyton had a bad feeling about that question, "No." She answered, hoping that would be the right answer, "Especially not when I'm as drunk as you are right now."

Brooke walked over to Peyton and put her hands on her friend's shoulders. "What happened to the P. Sawyer I used to know? The badass P. Sawyer that did crazier things than me."

Peyton gave her a look.

"Okay, maybe not as crazy as the things I did, but you are a badass, P. Sawyer. And we're 22, we're hot, we're single and we have nothing left to lose, right?" Brooke asked, excitement in her eyes again. "So why don't we do something crazy?"

Peyton hated how easily her friend got her to agree to these kinds of things, "Define crazy." She said.

Brooke smiled mischievously, "This crazy." She slipped her heels off and walked past Peyton, "Come on." She went down the back stairs of the house to the dock where she jogged to the end and stopped, looking back at Peyton, who had followed unenthusiastically.

"No." Peyton said as she walked up. "Sharks feed at night."

But Brooke was already slipping off her dress until she was just in her bra and underwear. "P. Sawyer, you have got to learn to have more fun."

Peyton stared at her friend for a long time and then finally slipped her shoes off, "Damn it, Brooke. Why can't I ever say no to you?" She asked as she pulled her clothes off until she was in her bra and underwear too.

Brooke grinned, "I knew you were still in there." She said as she reached out and took her friend's hand, "On three." She said, laughing. "One, two, three." And then she jumped.

And Peyton jumped too.

They both crashed into the cool, black water only to come up a few seconds later, laughing.

"Oh my god, it's freezing!" Brooke exclaimed, "If I was drunk before, I'm definitely sober now." She said, swimming over to her friend. "Thanks for taking the plunge with me, P. Sawyer." She laughed.

Peyton rolled her eyes, "Regretting it. But…you're welcome."

And then they both heard a noise behind them.

"What the hell are you two doing?"

Brooke and Peyton both looked up and there was Lucas, standing at the edge of the dock, his hands in his pockets, his head cocked in curiosity. He looked down at them, "Am I wrong to be confused about what's happening? Or is this normal?"

Peyton laughed.

"We took the plunge." Brooke said, smiling, she was still drunk, no matter how much she tried to deny it. "The question is…is the quiet, "I never have any fun", Lucas Scott man enough to take it too?" She asked, playfully.

Lucas stared down at her, confused by her sudden kindness towards him. "I do have fun."

"Then take the plunge, Lucas." Peyton pushed.

He really didn't want to. The water looked cold and he had just taken a shower, but looking at the two beautiful, half-naked women treading water in front of him, begging him to come in, he couldn't say no. Smiling, he slipped off his shoes, then his pants, then his shirt. And then, in just his boxers, he walked backed up a few steps and then ran to the edge, jumping over both of the girls and making a large splash on the other side of them.

When he came up, they were cheering.

And then, for the first time in the past few weeks, he finally felt like they were friends again.


We'd finally reached San Antonio. But I thought nothing of it. We were in love. We were happy. She didn't need to go and live with her aunt anymore, we could travel the world together. Together. I finally had someone that I could use the word together with. And that felt good, especially to me. So when we reached San Antonio in the dead of the night, with Morgan snuggled to my chest, I drove into the city.

She woke up as we were driving through downtown. And I heard her mumble something.

"What?" I asked.

"42nd street, it's where my aunt's apartment is." Morgan said, her voice soft. She'd just woke up so she was still pretty groggy.

My heart dropped, "You're still going to live with your aunt?" I asked, confused. I looked over at her when we were stopped at a stoplight. "Still?"

Morgan looked up at me, "I have to." She sat up.

I shook my head. "No you don't. You can come with me. We can keep driving, we can explore, we can…be in love. Isn't that what you want? A second chance at love?" I asked, trying to say anything to get her to stay with me.

But when she looked over at me and met my eyes, I knew. I knew whatever her explanation was, whatever I said to try to get her to say, whatever happened, none of it would matter. She was going to leave.

"I want that more than anything." She said, "But…Jack, I can't just drop everything and go with you. My aunt is waiting for me and I have a life waiting for me here. I'm just at a point in my life where I'm not…I'm not ready for this kind of love."

I didn't want to hear any more of it. I was hurt, how could she just leave me? After all I'd done for her, after everything we'd told each other…

"But I do." She said quietly, "I do love you, Jack. And I know that you love me too, but I don't want you to be with me. I'm small-time, I'm broken, I'm…not the girl you've been waiting for." She told me.

I hated her in that moment. She wasn't good enough for me? Is that what she was trying to say? Of course, she was good enough for me. She was the best girl I'd ever met. And in the matter months, she'd changed my life, she'd stolen my heart and now…she was breaking it.

"Jack." She said suddenly, "You are…you are so special. You'll get over me and you…you'll meet someone so much better, someone so right for you that you'll wonder how it could have ever been possible to love someone else, alright? You're special. And you deserve someone who is as special as you are. And that's just not me."

Tears came to my eyes, but I didn't let them fall, not in front of her. "But I love you." I said, trying so hard to understand.

She reached up and touched my face, her hand gentle and soft. "I know you do." She said, "But I have to go."

So I drove her to 42nd street. I pulled over and even though it broke my heart, I let her go. She said goodbye, she said I could come see her someday, but I didn't say anything back and to this day, I wish I had.

I just watched her go.

It took months to get over her, but eventually…I did. I continued with my trip, started writing, started seeing things differently. I missed her. I missed her so much that it ached sometimes, but I had to move on. And I did. When I finally got back to Pasadena again, I stopped. I was home again. And for the first time in a long time, it actually felt like home. I settled back down, went back to school and got my masters degree in business. I started working in advertisement and I loved it. I finally felt like I was doing something I loved.

The same year that I started working in ads, I met the love of my life. She was beautiful, elegant, everything I had ever wished for or looked for. Her name was Kelly. And she was really something, well really…everything. That girl was everything.

And we fell in love.

Years passed and here I am, 37 years old, married with two annoyingly beautiful children, one boy and one girl. I love my family. But I will never forget the first girl who really broke my heart. Morgan. I never saw her again after that day. And I came to find, a few years after I'd started dating Kelly, that she'd died…overdosed.

I felt so guilty, but I didn't know why. If she'd stayed with me then maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe if I'd stayed with her. But then I realized that there was nothing I could have done. I couldn't blame myself for something I couldn't control.

So from then on, every summer, I would take a trip to Louisiana. First, it had been alone, but after I'd married Kelly and we had children, we took the trip together and once my beautiful daughter asked me why we went there every year and why we went to the small town of Morgan.

And I replied, "Because I used to know someone that lived here. And this town, it meant a lot to her. And now, it means a lot to me."

I never forgot her, or that trip, or Louisiana. The memories I made on that trip still stick with me today and I'm glad. I had been so lost and scared and confused, but that trip, that girl, it had changed me.

There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads; afraid, confused, without a roadmap. The choices we make in those moments will define us for the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back.

But once in a while people push onto something better.

Something found just beyond the pain of going it alone, and just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in, or to give someone a second chance.

Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream.

Because it's only when you're tested that you discover who you truly are. And it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be. The person you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work, faith and belief. And beyond the heartache and fear of what lies ahead.


"It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done."

Vincent van Gogh


A/N: Wow that was fast, I guess you guys really wanted this chapter. Well, here it is. I hope you like it. Our homecoming football game is this Friday so I probably won't post the next chapter Friday. I promise I will Saturday though. Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming, I love your feedback and ideas!