A/N: Seem to be on a role. I wrote this the same day I posted the last chapter and churned it out in one go. Sometimes when you're in the mood to write, you're in the mood to write.

Chapter 8

Brooke POV Present day

Kick start my career in LA. That's what Owen had thought I needed to find myself and make me feel better. He thought it was the best place for a fresh start.

I disagreed though, and the white sand of Tree Hill beach in front of me was far from that scene.

I sat back against the bench at the edge of the pier, and wondered how far removed this place was from the place I was in as a kid.

"Hey Brooke!"

I turned around and saw Quinn jog up to me in her flip-flops. She had to be the most relaxed art gallery owner I had ever seen—not that I had come into contact with many…well not any at all, but when I imagined what someone in her job would look like I saw chic, particular and business focused. Quinn however was the epitome of carefree in her denim shorts, checked shirt and flip-flops.

I had run into her at a local coffee shop where I'd been sitting reprimanding myself for not having any plan other than to get myself here. She handed me a flyer to her photo gallery and didn't hesitate in asking me why I looked so lost.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to divulge my life story to a stranger, but I did tell her I hadn't exactly planned out where I was going to stay. She shrugged and told me my problem was solved and that she had an apartment above her gallery.

She cleared up the whole issue of following a stranger into their murderous plan to get me alone easily enough, by finishing with 'don't worry I'm not a psychopath, I just need a tenant, and don't worry I know that sounds exactly like what a psychopath would say but really I'm just really broke.'

I couldn't help but laugh at her speech and was following her out the coffee shop to go and see the apartment.

The studio wasn't far from where we were already and she helped me with my duffel bag while I dragged my suitcase down to the pier. She took it upon herself to play tour guide and give me lots of information about Tree Hill and explain directions. I couldn't bring it upon myself to stop her and tell her I'd grown up here.

We'd walked up to the gallery in time for her to see a customer taking a look around inside. I gestured to her to go on, and I'd stopped at the bench to just take a minute.

I had still surprised myself by ending up here. Common sense said I would go somewhere that didn't remind me of Nathan but even though I knew him when I lived here, we were never together here. The Tree Hill version of Nathan I had never associated with—well my Nathan.

Owen made sense when he said to go to LA. He was right. I had a job offer there, I had direction there. It was the fresh start I needed. When I got to the airport though I couldn't bring myself to buy a ticket to Los Angeles. I didn't know if I had it in me to go do New York all over again and be in a professional place I didn't want to be.

I know it was the loser's way out to stop myself trying just because I was scared to fail, but something told me I was taking the LA job just because it was the only other option I had. I wasn't taking it because it was a good job, I was taking it because it was a better job than the one I had in New York.

I felt like the pressure was there at the airport and somehow I had ended up the one place I used to want to get away from.

It was also the last place anyone would look.

I just needed a minute to just get myself together and figure out what I wanted to do.

"Brooke, hey sorry!" Quinn said, tying her hair up into a sloppy ponytail.

"That's ok, don't worry," I said, standing up, feeling the urge to take off my jacket feeling warm, just seeing the way she was dressed. I was definitely still 'New York' dressed and the fact it was ok to dress casually in Tree Hill was one of the few things I liked about it.

"Well shall we go see the place?" she asked.

"Yeah that would be great," I replied, picking up my bag, which she immediately took from me again so I just had the one suitcase to maneuverer.

We walked back up to the studio and she showed me around the side where there was a set of stairs going up to a front door on a small wooden balcony.

It took a few minutes for the two of us to get the suitcase up, and Quinn let us in with her key.

"It's not huge but rents cheap and it's in a great spot—"

"Quinn I love it," I interrupted, and I wasn't lying.

It was small but it was cosy and already had furniture that looked basically new. There were a few wooden beams going across the space, giving it character and leading up to the open plan kitchen.

"The bedroom is around here," she said going around the corner.

I leant the suitcase against the wall, and took my jacket off, following her into the next room.

"It's really great," I told her seeing the double bed in the corner and white painted wooden dresser.

"En suite's through there," she said letting me have a quick glance into the modern bathroom that was separated by shutters.

"Rent's negotiable," she added, "but its around $800 a month."

"I'll take it," I said.

"Are you sure? I know it's not—"

"I've been paying rent in New York, it's a godsend in comparison," I laughed.

"Really?" she said looking thankful, "you'd be doing me a huge favour! I just haven't had time to advertise this place and it's been empty for ages—"

"Quinn you basically saved me," I told her.

Quinn gave me a grin.

"Ok so do – you look beat. I am so sorry I've just been rambling on and on," she said.

"That's fine, don't worry," I said.

"How about I let you get settled and we can figure everything else later? Are you free tonight? Do you maybe want to come to a bar? It's really low key, we can just work out all the small details?"

Did I want to go to a bar? I wanted to lie in my bed and wallow but before I said no and asked if we could just work it out now, I saw the hopeful look on her face and didn't want to be rude considering what she had just done for me.

"Sure," I said.

"Great, I'll leave you the details," she said taking out her phone. I reached for it and gave her my number.

I started following her out and she gave me the key, and I closed the front door behind me.

"I'm just going to grab some coffee," I explained, behind her on the stairs.

"Oh you should go to Karen's! It's great there, and they have these amazing banana muffins," she advised.

And there it was—the reminder that I was in fact back in Tree Hill.

"I'll consider it," I told her.

"I'll see you tonight," she said, giving me a quick wave before going into the studio.

Xxxxx

Brooke POV Flashback

I pulled on my hoodie and opened the door, after the soft knock, wanting to get back into bed.

Nathan stood there on the other side, his hair still damp from a shower. It was weird to think I had only left him about two hours ago and his shower was washing off any remains of me on his skin.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey," I replied.

This morning felt like years ago. I had left the room to see what was taking Nathan so long, and paused in the doorway when I noticed the front door open, not wanting to go any further with just Nathan's t-shirt on.

I had heard Haley's voice before I saw her. I couldn't work out what she was saying, but I knew it was her.

I felt my body freeze going into overdrive. I wasn't sure what I was meant to be thinking or doing but this was the last think I thought I'd see.

Her voice was getting louder and I panicked. I did the only thing I could think of in that moment. I ran. I pulled on my jeans and grabbed my clothes and climbed out of the fire escape window.

I got to the bottom and didn't stop until I got to my apartment. Luckily my keys were in the pocket of my jeans and not in the living room.

I'd changed out of Nathan's t-shirt, wearing it wasn't helping me to think clearly, and gotten into bed. I could still smell him on my skin, and for some reason the fact he'd showered made me feel vulnerable somehow, which was ridiculous because what normal person didn't shower.

I wasn't sure what was going on. I didn't even know what happened between Nathan and me and what it meant. I thought we had time to think about it but now another factor had been thrown in the mix.

Haley was back? There had been no sign of her since she'd left. Apart from the initial time with Nathan he hadn't even mentioned her.

God this was messed up.

I don't know why I was so freaked out. It wasn't because I thought Haley would get between us—that was another story, and I didn't even know if she was staying. I think it was mainly because I had been content in the little world we had created and now it felt like there was an invasion.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"Sure," I said, stepping aside and holding the door open.

Nathan came in and looked uncomfortable as though he handle hung out in here a thousand times—hell he had even taken naps in my bed whilst I studied.

I hadn't told Nathan I was leaving but it was clear enough from the fact I did, why. He still felt the need to tell me though.

"Haley came today."

"Yeah I saw," I said.

"I'm really sorry," he said.

I wasn't sure if he was saying sorry for making me leave or for something else. Ok logically I knew what was coming next and he wasn't wrong to want it, which was why I couldn't bring myself to be mad. Only disappointed.

"It's fine," I said shrugging.

"I know it sounds like I'm just taking her back after everything," he said, "but she's my wife and she said she made a mistake. I owe it to her to at least hear her out."

What did I want him to do? He made sense. We were just friends. We acted on something last night but it's not like we were a couple.

"You do what you need to do," I said.

"Brooke you're still my friend," he said.

"I know," I said, but I wasn't an idiot. I knew it wouldn't be like it was before, and if he thought it he was the idiot.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Yeah me too," I replied, gripping the door frame.

Xxxxx

Brooke POV

I pulled on my high-heeled brown leather boots and rummaged in my suitcase searching for my leather jacket, which I'm sure I put at the base.

I considered dressing up a bit considering it was a bar—well with the little I had brought with me. Clearly I hadn't packed very efficiently, bringing random pieces of clothing that didn't even go together. Quinn did say it was low key though and she didn't seem like the type to say that, but then only to do the opposite like many girls I knew would.

I located the jacket, and pulled it on whilst locking up, and heading out down the pier.

I still wasn't in the mood to go but I couldn't back out now. I'd intended to pack but after grabbing coffee I brought it back to the apartment and curled into bed playing with my phone. Packing soon turned into taking a nap and I'd woken up to see the light flashing on my phone with a message from Quinn telling me where to meet her tonight.

I had seven missed called from Nathan and a bunch of texts I didn't open. I knew this would happen but didn't think he would realise so soon. I made a mental note to get a new SIM card tomorrow and change my number. I was only doing it to help myself.

I also had a text from Owen and I texted him back on my way to bar to tell him I was ok, but didn't offer up more details than that.

I didn't recognise the bar name, but I did know the street so I made it there without having to google a map. I glanced at Karan's quickly as I passed, feeling a strange sensation. It was the same sensation I felt about this street—it was a feeling like it was a brand new place yet there was a sense of deju vu. That's all it was. It was otherwise a new place to me.

I nearly walked past the bar because I wasn't paying proper attention but the noise coming from inside made me stop, and look up. The bar was new. It had definitely not been here before. It had huge glass windows panelled in, and there was a dim light inside. It was moderately full for a weekday night, and I let myself in, taking in the surroundings. The place looked newly decorated and could have easily been one of the more relaxed bars in New York. What told me it wasn't though, was the relaxed manner everyone was in. I loved it. Considering I had only been in New York just under two years it felt like forever.

"Brooke, hey!"

I heard Quinn's voice over the music and saw her sitting at a small high table right next to the bar with a blond guy, who's back I could see. She waved me over, and she pulled up a stool just as I got there.

"Glad you found it ok," she said, hopping back on her stool, "Brooke, this is my charming boyfriend Clay, Clay this is Brooke."

"Hey," he said shaking my hand, "She hasn't shut up about you all afternoon."

"Oh my god, Clay, now she's going to think I'm insane!" Quinn said, going red.

"It's ok, don't worry," I said laughing and sitting up on the stool, making sure my jacket was secure on the back.

"I just said I thought we could be good friends that's all," she justified.

There was something about her quirky ability to just say what she was thinking which I couldn't help but like.

"It's ok, I think I see friendship in our future too," I told her, avoiding the topic of how long I was even planning on staying here.

"So did you just move here? How long are you planning to stay?" Clay asked, taking the question I was avoiding right out my hands.

"Err—"

"Will you stop with the third degree!" Quinn said to Clay and then turned to me, "sorry he's been paranoid about my naivety ever since he found out I picked you up and gave you the apartment without any sort of check first."

He raised his eyebrow at her but she just rolled her eyes.

"It's ok," I told her, "I just arrived from New York and I'm not sure how long I'm planning to stay just yet."

"Wow, the big apple huh?" Quinn said.

"Do you have a job down here yet?" Clay asked. I could tell he was asking this time out of interest rather than in a way that showed he was just protective of his girlfriend.

"No," I said. It hadn't occurred to me until now but I should probably get on that. Even if I wasn't planning to stay long the money I did have in my account wouldn't last long on rent, "I need to sort all that out still."

"What do you do?" Quinn asked.

What did I do? I ran errands. What I wanted to do was another story.

"I want to work in fashion," I explained.

"No offence but you do know you left the right city and came to the wrong one right?" Quinn said.

"It just wasn't working out in New York," I said.

I didn't offer up any more information but I could tell they wanted to ask more or found it odd. I could see Clay's expression and he was definitely suspicious. Who just up and left somewhere without a plan on where to live or what they were going to do, especially somewhere where it was clear would have been a better place for the career I had just described.

I suddenly felt like the girl in that old Nicholas Sparks book Safe Haven who was hiding a barrel of secrets the town were suspicious of.

"Well," Quinn said after a moment, "I hope you find what you're looking for here. I've only been here a few years but Tree Hill is great."

"Thank you," I said smiling.

"Let's get you a drink," Quinn said, waving her hand.

"Did you want to sort out those contracts?" I asked her.

"That can wait, don't worry," she said, as a shadow cast over me.

"I'm not a waiter Quinn, if you want a drink get off your ass and come to the bar like everyone else, or call for a waitress."

"Quit being grumpy," she said over my head, "and get our new friend here a welcome to Tree Hill drink."

The barman groaned, "What will it be?"

"Just a beer please, but I can come to the bar," I said, as I saw his shadow moving around me.

"It's ok, Quinn will never let me hear the end of—Brooke?"

I looked up when he reached my side and gasped.

"Chase?" I said.

"Wow, I did not expect to see you of all people in here," he said.

It felt stupid not to think I wouldn't run into anyone I knew before but it hadn't occurred to me. I didn't mind though, Chase was always more my friend than a mutual friend with Nathan.

I hopped off my chair and gave him a quick hug.

"Wait you know my cousin?" I heard Quinn ask confused.

"Umm yeah," I said, "but he's your cousin?"

"We actually knew each other from high school," Chase said blushing a bit.

"But you went to school here, so wait…" I could see Quinn thinking.

"I grew up here," I finished for her.

"You grew up here?" she said, "Oh god I cannot believe I was acting like I was the expert around town all day! Why didn't you stop me!"

"And now it all makes a bit more sense," Clay said in a friendly tone, and I smiled as his clear loss of suspicion. Now the fact that I grew up here answered all his questions about why this would be my destination.

"Wait…this is that Brooke?" Clay asked Chase, then grinned.

"Oh my god, can you stop right now," Chase said and then trying to change the subject, "So a beer right?"

"Yes please," I said laughing at his embarrassment which I only found endearing.

Chase went off and Clay laughed.

"I think you're going to fit in here just fine," Quinn said.

"Well, welcome to Tree Hill," Clay said just in time for Chase to place a beer in front of me.

"Thanks," I said, knocking my bottle against Quinn and Clays as they held them up.

xxxxx

Brooke POV Flashback

Ohhh! It all made sense now! I didn't know why I didn't think of this before! I'm in the Twilight Zone!—Well it was the only thing that made sense.

I felt like I had accidently stepped through a time warp sending me back a few months. Either this, or it had sent me to an alternate timeline before and I was only just returning.

"Brooke! Are you listening?" Peyton asked.

"Sorry what?" I asked, coming out of my own thoughts.

"Are you up for dinner tonight?" Haley asked,

"Oh I can't," I said, "I have this thing with some people my parents know."

"Are you sure?" Haley asked, "We don't have to go to the Mexican, that Chinese place actually sounds so much better right now. I have a craving for sweet and sour chicken."

The two worlds were blurring and there was no space for one in the other. I purposely avoided looking in Nathan's direction—not that I had let myself give him any attention for the whole of lunch anyway, but even now more so when I knew he'd be looking for my reaction to what Haley had said. I didn't know what I couldn't handle more, looking up and seeing him watching me or looking up and seeing he wasn't.

Nathan had been acting completely normal for the whole week. I wasn't sure what I was meant to be thinking. It's not like I expected him to act differently around me, I wasn't stupid enough to think broadcasting what we did would help anyone but I could detect anything from him which told me that it wasn't all a dream. All that was happening now was that I genuinely was starting to think I was crazy.

"Yeah sorry I have to go to this," I said.

"Maybe next time," Peyton said.

"Sure," I said.

God it was like they'd all gone insane. Peyton had been mad at Haley for about a day and now she was acting like everything was completely normal.

Was I the only one who remembered that she had just up and left? Of course I didn't want a huge scene, which would end in hating on her forever but this was just unreal.

"I don't mind going there, we could go to Rydell Street and do Thai?"

"Me and Nathan went for a walk last night and that's closed down," Haley said.

"Oh you're kidding? That sucks," Luke replied.

"I have to go," I said standing up, and putting my backpack over my shoulder.

"I thought you didn't have class again until three?" Peyton asked.

"Yeah but I have to finish some work because I have that thing tonight," I lied, gathering my wrappers which were still filled with food I hadn't touched.

"Ok call later," Peyton said giving me a small wave.

I said by in the general direction of everyone, breathing in relief as I got far enough away, throwing my trash away, before walking toward the car park, intending to skip out on the rest of my classes.

"Brooke, wait up!" I cringed internally as I heard Nathan's voice.

"Hey," I said brightly, looking for my car keys in my bag to give me something to do.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm fine," I said, still 'looking' for my keys. I had located them a second ago but didn't make a move to fish them out because this way I didn't have to give him all my attention.

"Listen you don't have to make excuses not to hang out with us," he said.

"I'm not doing that," I said, pulling out my keys. I figured if I spent much longer searching it would just look suspicious—my bag wasn't that big.

"But you said you weren't coming to dinner," he said.

"Yeah because I have something to do with my parents and their associates," I said.

"Your parents are in town?" he asked

"Yeah," I said, "they had a meeting or something."

"Are you ok with that?" he asked knowing how I felt about my parents.

"They're my parents," I answered.

He sighed at my lack of detail.

"I know you said you're not but you haven't been around all week. You keep giving excuses," he said and at this point I looked him in the eye for the first time, "look I just don't want you to pull away from everyone, you don't have to do that."

"What am I meant to do then?" I said, "You know that makes me feel like shit right? Everyone is welcoming her back with open arms and it's like she's my friend Haley again and what did I do? I slept with her husband!-"

"Woah, Brooke, no!" he said reaching out for me, but realised what he was doing and stopped. He glanced quickly behind him to make sure nobody has seen which only frustrated me more. It made me feel like we were doing something we should feel guilty for now even when it was all over.

"Then what?"

"We didn't do anything wrong. She was gone ok? And what we did happened after some time. Ok maybe we blurred some lines about the rules of being with your friends ex, and in my case my wife's friend, but really she left, it's not like she can claim innocence."

"I don't really think it works that way," I said.

"Whether it does or doesn't, it doesn't matter. It's done now, and what happened," he said, "Brooke despite how it is now I want you to know I don't regret what happened. We needed each other these weeks."

"Everything's just different now, and it's almost like she never left, and nobody is even acknowledging that.

"Brooke—"

From his tone I knew he thought my comments were coming from something other than friendship.

"Hold on, I'm just saying this as a friend and I know she hurt you and who's to say she isn't doing it again? And she's not just taking it for granted? It's something we should all be thinking to look out for you," I said.

"I appreciate it, I do, but she seems like she feels really bad about leaving," he said, "I know it seems like its all fixed but it's not. We're trying to work through it all."

What else could I say to that? Nathan was smart enough to know the risks himself and I was sure he had thought them through. He obviously still loved her.

"Ok," I said.

"We're still friends Brooke, nothing has changed with that. Don't disappear on me," he said.

"I'm not," I told him.

I realised how selfish it was for me to just take a step back just because Haley was back. Despite what happened with us, Nathan and I formed a friendship these weeks and I couldn't just desert him now. It wasn't fair. We turned to each other for comfort; I couldn't play the clingy girl he slept with now.

"So you'll come to dinner?" he asked hopefully.

How he thought it would be fun for me to just watch him and Haley interact said a lot.

"My parents really are here," I told him.

"Then can you come out with us tomorrow then?" he asked.

"Sure," I replied, telling myself I had to suck it up.

xxxxx

A/N: I really had a lot of fun writing about some other characters we know. It felt refreshing especially because Quinn and Clay never feature in any of my stories so it felt like something new. I also hope the tone of the story in the Tree Hill I've created is different from the rest of the story and I hope it comes across.

Let me know what you think about the new turn the story has taken. I know there's a lot of Brooke in this chapter but I think a nice intro into where she went was needed.