She smiled looking out the window. Her car was passing by kids playing outside in their lawns. Running around through sprinklers. Playing catch with each other. She caught a glimpse of the Rivercourt seeing a group of guys playing a pick up game. Him. Shirtless with sweat dripping down his toned abs. He just shot and made it and everyone cheered him on. A smile formed on her face, then the aching feeling began to settle in. She turned herself forward facing her driver and sighed. Two weeks had gone by so quickly and so much had changed with her. She didn't tell people she was getting away nor did she tell them when she had planned on coming home. Just needed to do it on her own. For her. "Miss," she hears and is taken out of her thoughts. "We are home."

She got out of her car as the driver brought her two suitcases up to the front of her house. Only Brooke Davis could go away with one suitcase and come home with two. "Anything else Miss Davis?" the man questioned. "No thank you," she said as she handed him a $20 for tip. He graciously thanked her and walked towards the end of her driveway. She could tell nobody was home; just what she needed. She didn't want to have to answer 20 questions from everyone in a packed house. In the foyer, pictures were displayed everywhere. From their yearly family pictures, to individual ones, to siblings ones. Her mother loved capturing these moments as she always dramatically says one day they were all going to leave her. She shook her head with a smile as her fingers touched the frames on the side table. She got to the most recent picture and held it in her hands. Her brothers graduation a little over three weeks ago. Sadness came upon her. She held the picture in her hands. Her smile in the frame. Or lack there of. 4 people in the picture beaming with huge smiles celebrating one of the greatest moments of her brother's life and there she was. Lips closed forcing something. Hiding how she felt. I was so unhappy. She thought to herself. Why did it take her so long to do what she had to do.

After much strength to her dismay, she was able to get her two suitcases up the stairs and into her bedroom. She looked around, just how she left it. Walking over to the doors leading out to her balcony. She took in the air. Tree Hill Summer's were her favorite and she knew this Summer would truly be the best one in a long time. Birds chirping, ducks in the lake that backed up to her house. Her eyes landed on the bench that connected both backyards under the tree. When she was little, a storm had hit taking out part of the fence at the end of their backyards. Theirs fathers decided since the families were such good friends there was no need to fix it rather than put a little seating area there. Overtime, it became their spot.

She turned back around hearing her phone ring. Sitting on her bed she picked up."Hey slut, you back yet?" said the person on the other end. Brooke laughed. "Yes hoe, walked in the door 10 minutes ago Rach." Rachel and Brooke didn't start off as friends. Both practically having the same personalities, they didn't mesh well like oil and vinegar. Overtime, Rachel began being one of the few who knew the real Brooke and helped her talk about what was going on in her life. She was one of the few who knew the plastered smile was fake. After these two weeks, Rachel knew she was going to get the real Brooke back. "Listen there is a party at Bevin's tonight. We should go. A little welcome back surprise from Tree Hill's biggest hoe Brooke Davis herself. Somehow you're taking the gold away from me on this one." Silence between them both. Rachel spoke first, "Brooke, it's time for you to be happy again. Its time for you to be your old self." Brooke stood up looking at her bulletin board, pictures filling the whole thing. Replaying Rachels words Its time for you to be happy, its time for you to be your old self. Taking one of the many pictures and ripping it up into the garbage. A grin forming onto her face. "I'll be over in 15." Rachel screeched, "YESSS BITCH. Brookie, you and I are going to rule this summer hahah. See you soon!" And Rachel had hung up. Brooke continued taking photos shredding them into pieces and putting them in the garbage. When she was done, she packed a bag to get ready at Rachel's and walked down the street to her house.


"Lucas Scott dribbling down the court. And he shoots!" Mouth excitedly announced. Lucas's arms still in the position watching the ball glide into the basket. "AND ITS GOOD!" Mouth shouted as Nate and Skills came up to him smacking his back. "Team skins wins Team skins win." Mouth announced as the game had ended. They all had been at the Rivercourt for a few hours game after game this one being the last. Everyone began packing up as Nate and Lucas sat at the picnic table drinking water. Clay walked up to them, "Nate can you catch a ride with Luke? I want to get home and start packing a little so I can at least enjoy the Summer." Luke took a sip of his water, "Yea man I'll take him home," he responded to Clay. Clay pointed to them both, "Bevin's party tonight? Biggest party of the Summer so far." Nate shook his head, "Bro its only week 2 of Summer of course its the biggest so far," Nate said as he chucked his empty water bottle at his brother. "Ouch little bro," Clay rubbed his harm where the bottle hit. "No need to get violent just want to make sure when mom asks what our plans are I got them straight." "Yea yea you big baby," Nate said watching Clay walk away.

Lucas broke the silence first. Hesitantly playing with his fingers, "So have you heard from your sister?" Nathan gave him a small smile, "Yea man. She said she's coming home soon. I know she misses everyone, but she just needed to get away ya know. With everything that happened after Clay graduated." Lucas nodded his head understanding why. He just wished she would talk to him. "I texted her a few times and tried to call her, but you know," Lucas said with some sadness. "Don't take it personally man, she's doing some detox of her phone. I know stupid. She called us from the house phone not even her cell phone. What a weirdo," Nathan said trying to break the awkwardness. Nathan and Brooke were twins with Clay being a year older. They all were super close and Nathan and Luke were best friends. Nate knew how his best friend felt about his sister. Nate stood up first. "Listen man, maybe its time you finally make your move. Stopping being a little girl and tell my sister how you feel. You know Clay and I wouldn't care. You're not some dickhead trying to get into her pants." Lucas nodded his head. Everything Nathan said was the truth. He loved Brooke. He loved her the second the Davis' had moved in next store. This little girl with brown pigtails walking up the driveway yelling. "Daddy, Nate ripped my Barbie's head off. Please let's take him back to Charlotte," she yelled rolling her eyes. She turned to her left and thats when their eyes locked. She gave him a small smile and a little wave and walked into her home. She had the most beautiful smile that melted his heart. At 8 years old, he knew he was in trouble.

They drove in silence on their way back to their houses. Luke pulling into his driveway. Nate began walking next door, "What time you want to go later?" Nathan questioned." "8 sound good?" Nathan nodded his head and the both walked into their houses. Lucas placed his bag on the ground of his bedroom looking out back. His eyes scanned over his backyard hearing his little sister Lily in the pool with his cousin Hailey. They were laughing and splashing each other. His eyes continued to scan the backyard landing on the bench. Their bench. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath remembering her smell the last time they sat there with her head laying on his shoulder. He walked towards his desk picking up the single picture that was framed. That beautiful smile he loved looking at him. He cant remember the last time he actually saw that true smile.