Disclaimer: I own no part of OTH or the characters!

Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing! Here is chapter one, as promised. please continue reviewing!

BRATHAN LOVER -I love Brathan too! I love reading fanfics for them.

Ababy99 - thanks, there are major brathan interactions coming up!

Chapter One

Rollin Home

One week later, Brooke was nicely settled in her new apartment. It was on the outskirts of town. All of her stuff was moved in, but most of it was not unpacked. She would get around to it, even though it may take a few months.

It was eight o'clock at night, and Brooke was starved. Although she had grown up in this town, things had changed in the last six or so years. She decided just to go down and walk along, seeing what all is still in tact.

She slipped her heels on and grabbed her purse. She drove and parked in downtown Tree Hill. She was window shopping when her eyes fell on a small corner store. The sign read "Karen's Café."

Brooke grinned. Finally, some familiarity. The café was owned by her ex-boyfriend's mother, Karen. But Brooke and Karen had always had a close relationship, even after she and Lucas broke up.

Brooke opened the door and walked into a warm, opening atmosphere. She sighed, remembering her many nights spent here with friends back in high school. She went and sat at the counter and it wasn't long before a dark haired woman came around the corner.

"May I help you?" She asked kindly, distractedly cleaning the counter with a rag.

"Karen!" Brooke exclaimed. Karen looked up. "Its me, Brooke."

Karen smiled, dropping her rag. She walked around the counter. "Brooke Davis! I never thought I'd see you again."

Brooke hugged her tightly. "I never thought I'd be back again. But here I am."

Karen walked back around the counter. "What do you want? Its on the house."

"Thank you. I'll take a cream cheese bagel." While Karen got it ready, Brooke mused, "You have really done this place up great."

"Oh, thank you. After Lucas went off to college, I had nothing else to do with my time. So the café went under renovation." She handed Brooke the plate. "Enough about me. Tell me how you have been, what you've been doing."

"Well, I graduated from NYU last May. I got a degree in fashion."

Karen was impressed. "Brooke, that's wonderful."

"Thanks. I worked my ass off for it. Anyways, I am partnering up with a woman I met, Tricia Foster."

"Oh, I adore Tricia. Her little store is across the street."

"Really? That's so cool. I am designing clothes for the store."

"Well, you are very fashion-savvy, so I am sure you will be extremely successful."

Brooke smiled. She was quiet for a moment, not sure she should ask the next question. "So, how is Lucas doing?"

Karen loved discussing her son. "He's great. He played college basketball at Alabama State, and graduated last year as well. He got a coaching degree, and will be the assistant coach at Tree Hill High this fall."

"That's great," Brooke said sincerely.

Karen nodded. "He met a girl at Alabama, Crystal Hunter. They have been dating for about two years now. They are so cute."

Brooke smiled. "I'm glad he found someone special."

Karen nudged her. "What about you? Have you found the one yet?"

Brooke laughed. "No, not even close. I was a party girl in high school, and also during my freshman year at college. My grades were barely passing, so I decided to get serious. I stopped partying, meaning I practically stopped dating."

"Well, maybe the one you are looking for is right here."

Brooke shook her head, grinning. "I don't think so. But its cool, you know?"

Another customer came in, and Karen excused herself for a few minutes. Brooke got up and walked around. In the back of the café, Karen had a bulletin board with tons of pictures of Lucas and his friends. Brooke was in a few of them, but the majority of them had him and Haley, Nathan, or Peyton. Then, there were at least ten with him and another girl. Brooke assumed that was Crystal.

"Brooke?"

Brook jumped, and saw Karen standing behind her. "Sorry. In my own little world. So, what is Nathan and Haley up to?"

Karen hesitated. "You didn't talk to them?"

"Well, I talked to Peyton a few years ago. She said that Haley had come back from her tour with Chris. She mentioned marital troubles, but it was Nathan and Haley. I just figured they worked it out. They always do."

Karen shook her head. "Not this time. Nathan couldn't trust Haley anymore, and she admitted to him that she and Chris had kissed a little. Mostly for the cameras. Nathan couldn't put up with it, and they got divorced a month later. I felt so bad for both of them. All Haley did was mope around, and worked extra hours to keep her mind off things. After high school, she took off for L.A. She has come back to visit a few times, but not many. She has her own album."

Brooke nodded slowly. "I saw she had an album, I even bought it. I just always assumed she was still married to Nathan. How's Nathan doing?"

Karen laughed harshly. "He's a mess. After the divorce was finalized, he started drinking a ton. He was so drunk one night, he got into a car crash. He was in a coma for about a week. The other car he hit, they were hurt pretty bad. They are okay now, but the accident changed Nathan. He got into Tree Hill University, and somehow managed to get a two year degree."

Brooke asked, "What does he do now?"

"Sales associate, in sport apparel. I think he loves his job, but he doesn't love his life. He hasn't had one girlfriend since Haley."

Brooke hated to hear this, because she and Nathan had always been friends. They may not have been close, but they were definitely friends. "That sucks. So he lives in Tree Hill?"

Karen nodded. "Yeah. He's the only one of you left."

Brooke sighed. "None of us really stayed close, did we?" She said sadly.

"Well, that's not true. Jake and Peyton are still together, raising Jenny."

"What!" Brooke exclaimed. "P. Sawyer and Jake stayed together? Whatever happened with Nikki?"

"She has to pay child support, but Jake and Peyton have full custody of Jenny. Nikki can visit her once a month, I think. I don't believe she comes through, though."

Brooke scoffed, "Doubt it. That's so cool about Jake and Peyton, though."

Karen smiled. "I'm happy for them. Jake was in town the other day visiting his parents, and he stopped by. They are living in Charleston. Peyton is still in school, and Jake is at med school to be a pediatrician."

Brooke shook her head, in awe. "That's amazing." She looked at a picture of them. She was squeezed in between Lucas and Peyton, with Lucas's arms draped over her shoulder. It must have been taken when they were still dating. Nathan and Haley are standing behind, arm in arm. They were all laughing, because no one could get serious to take the picture. Brooke turned away, sad that their friendships hadn't lasted.

Brooke sighed. "I better get going. Are you sure I don't need to pay you?"

Karen waved her off. "Heck no. Just don't stop visiting, okay?"

Brooke smiled, hugging her. "Never. Thanks so much for updating me."

"You're welcome. Anytime." Karen watched as Brooke walked out of the café, with a very confident look about her. Karen had always known Brooke would be successful.

Brooke walked out and didn't want to go home. She had only been in Tree Hill forty eight hours, and already felt like she was in a different world. Everything was so different. She decided to go to the river court. She and Peyton spent countless hours watching Lucas and Jake play basketball there.

She drove over and saw she wasn't the only one who had this idea. Someone who had an SUV was there as well. She parked, and walked up to them slowly. The river court seemed to be the only thing in this town that was the same as it always had been.

The person was a guy, and his back was to her. He heard someone walking up behind her and turned around. The sight he was met with was one he never thought he would see again.

Brooke sucked in her breath. "Nathan?"