Chapter 9: Choice

Nathan, Haley, Peyton and Lucas sat in silence. Lucas had just told them about Brooke's predicament and needless to say, they were all stunned.

"Wow," Haley breathed, breaking the silence, "Poor Brooke. She's got to make this big decision all on her own," she shook her head.

"How was she when you spoke to her?" Peyton asked Lucas.

"She was upset, obviously. She's got no clue where to start and I just wish I could do something to help her." Lucas told them putting his head into his hands.

"Well, you can't. None of us can. It's her choice and I guess whatever she does, she loses out. She could go to New Bern with her parents and leave us, or she could stay here and leave her parents. I have to say, I don't envy her right now," Haley sighed putting her head on Nathan's shoulders.

"Peyton, you okay?" Nathan asked noticing that the blonde hadn't spoken since she'd been told. Peyton looked around the group and shrugged.

"I don't know. She's my best friend, you know and I… I hate the thought of her moving away. We've known each other since forever and I always thought we'd be together at least until college. Maybe even after that,"

"Yeah, I know that we've only just bonded into this group of friends, but us without Brooke is like… I don't know… a ship without its captain. It's unthinkable,"

"You never know, she might just decide to stay in Tree Hill. I don't get it, Brooke's parents are hardly ever here and now they just expect her to leave with them now that they don't have any money? It seems selfish to me," Nathan commented, "How many times have we heard Brooke say she hates her parents for never being there?"

"Maybe not expressed in the same way, but yeah, I guess she doesn't really like them all that much," Peyton agreed, hopeful that maybe Brooke wouldn't leave, given her relationship with her parents.

"But it's just principle. If your parents leave, you follow. The fact that they're asking Brooke if she wants to go just shows that maybe losing their money has changed them for the better. It's not like they're forcing her to go if she doesn't want to," Lucas explained to the group.

"Look, guys, I hate this as much as anyone else does, but right now, we have to support her. And obviously that involves respecting her decision. I trust Brooke to make the best decision for her and her wellbeing. She'll make the right choice," Peyton said trying to inject some positive atmosphere into the discussion.

"What if she does decide to go?" Haley asked.


Nobody replied, but instead sat in silence, quietly contemplating a life without their friend.

Brooke waited impatiently at Karen's Café for her friends to arrive. Glancing around the café, she momentarily reminisced over all the events that had happened here, bringing a smile to her face.

"Another coffee?" Karen asked coming over to Brooke. Brooke shook her head.

"No thanks, Karen. I'm just waiting for everyone."

"Okay," Karen smiled, "You look happier,"

"I am. I told Felix off,"

"Lucas told me. I'm proud of you, Brooke. You really stood up for yourself. I never had a doubt in my mind," Brooke grinned.

"Karen? I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me. I don't think I would have got through it if it hadn't have been for you and Lucas. Thank you," Brooke told her, bringing tears to the older woman's eyes, "I bought these for you, it's not much but it's just a little token of gratitude for opening your home up to me," Brooke handed her a wrapped gift. Karen opened it, the gift bringing tears to her eyes.

"Oh Brooke, it's wonderful. I love it. Thank you very much," Karen said as she looked at the antique photo frame Brooke had given her. "You're a strong woman, Brooke. I had no doubt in my mind that you could get through it. Do you know what I love most about you?" Karen asked. Brooke shook her head.

"Your heart. And your energy. You're a wonderful person and I just wish there were more people like you,"

"Thanks Karen. It means a lot," Brooke hugged Karen and watched as Karen took her gift and went back to the counter. She then sighed and waited for her friends to turn up.

Within five minutes, all four of them turned up, a little out of breath.

"Sorry Brooke," Lucas apologised taking a seat next to her, "Peyton's car ran out of gas and so we had to run here,"

"No problem, I was going to call otherwise. Is everyone here?" she looked around as her friends sat in seat around the table, and waited until they caught their breaths.

"Okay," Brooke said taking a deep breath, "I'm not sure if Lucas told you about what's going on or not," she waited for a confirmation, which came in the form of nods, "So you know that my parents want to move to New Bern," she saw another chorus of nods.

"Have you made your decision?" Haley asked tentatively. Brooke nodded.

"I weighed up the pros and cons of both sides. And it was such a hard decision to make because I love you and I love my parents so I was – still am – kind of split down the middle. But the simple fact is… Tree Hill is my life. I have my best friends here, I've made a life here and it's all I've ever really known. I couldn't dream of leaving this place,"

Lucas smiled slightly, Brooke's comment adding hope to her friends.

"Tree Hill is such a secluded area that no-one really knows what's out there. My parents take so many vacations and go from place to place that I've come to rely on the people here to give me a sense of balance and a place that I can call home,"

"So…?" Nathan impatiently implored.

"So, I made my decision," she said looking at all of her friends, "And I've decided… I'm going to move to New Bern with my parents," she announced. "My parents have promised me that they'll try to make up for leaving me all the time and this is such a good opportunity for me to start a new relationship with them. One where they aren't jetting off to an exotic location every other week,"

Lucas felt like somebody had hit him with a ton of bricks. After her speech, he'd assumed that she would be staying put. Her decision had been something that he hadn't expected and didn't know how to take.

Peyton was speechless. She truly couldn't believe what had come out of Brooke's mouth and now she had to accept the fact that her best friend was leaving, only months after patching up their differences.

Haley held tightly onto Nathan's hand, squeezing it as tightly as she could as she tried to stop the tears forming in her eyes. Nathan couldn't really feel the pain. He was too busy trying to digest the information he'd just received.

Brooke looked at their expressions and immediately felt bad.

"Please don't hate me," she said quietly, "I told you that it was a really hard decision to make and I couldn't take it if you all hated me,"

Peyton spoke up first, "Don't be silly, Brooke," she said trying her best to keep her voice normal, "It's just the shock, that's all,"

"Yeah," Haley agreed reaching out to hold Brooke's hand, "It's your decision and if you're happy with it, we're happy. We totally respect your decision… don't we, Nathan?" Haley turned to her husband for support.

Nathan forced out a smile and nodded, "Yeah, totally."

Brooke turned to Lucas, "Lucas?" she asked nervously. Lucas merely looked up at her and nodded.

"Of course," he said. Brooke reached out to touch his arm but he stood up, "I'm going to go get us some drinks. Uh, a toast or something," he excused as he made his way to the counter.

"He hates me," Brooke said before looking at all their faces again, "You all hate me," she sighed.

Peyton put her arms round her best friend, "Nobody hates you. He's just in shock. To be fair, after that speech you made, you did kind of sound like you were staying. It was a little unexpected," Peyton explained.

"Look," Nathan said quickly, "How about we throw a party?"

"You're that excited about me leaving?" Broke tried to tease.

"A going-away party. A little thank you for all you've done. You've thrown us amazing parties,"

"And bachelorette parties!" Haley chimed in.

"You deserve one just for being you. We can hold it in Tric, when do you leave?" Peyton asked.

"Uh… next week," Brooke said. The three tried to disguise their shock.

"That soon?"

"My dad's job starts Monday, we leave Saturday" she explained.

"Okay, well, on the Friday before you leave, we're throwing you a going-away party and there are going to be no arguments about it." Peyton said. "And we won't let you lift a finger so just sit back and relax,"

Brooke smiled, "Thanks guys. You don't know how much this means to me," she said as they got into a group hug.

Lucas watched from behind the counter of the café, still in disbelief. Karen came up behind him.

"Hey Lucas, you okay?" she asked following his gaze to where Brooke was, "What's happening over there?"

Lucas looked down at his mom before replying, "Brooke's going to New Bern,"

"For how long?" Karen questioned.

"For good. She's moving there," Lucas told her before excusing himself and walking out of the café.

Brooke watched him leave and sighed inwardly.

"Don't worry about him," Nathan reassured her, "He'll come around,"

Brooke nodded unconvinced, "Yeah, I know. Look, I have to go and start packing so I'm going to run. Will I see you guys later?"

Peyton, Nathan and Haley nodded and waved Brooke goodbye. When she had gone, the three sat back down in their seats.

"So I guess that's it then," Haley said.

"I can't believe she's going," Peyton added, "Lucas seemed to have taken it badly,"

"That's because he likes her," Nathan commented.

"We all like Brooke," Haley said before realising what her husband meant, "Wait, you mean?" Nathan nodded and Peyton agreed, "Wow, poor Luke," she said finally.

"Well," Peyton said as she stood up, "There's plenty of time for moping later. Right now we have a party to plan. We can't let Brooke Davis leave without a bang,"

To Be Continued…