Chapter 16

"Okay, Brooke should be here any minute now. So everyone take their places." Karen yelled as she turned off the lights. Brooke walked in about a minute later.

"Karen? Deb? Is anyone here? I brought the cups you needed." All of a sudden the lights flew on and everyone yelled surprise. Brooke couldn't believe it. No one had ever thrown her a surprise party. She loved Tree Hill and she was sad she was leaving, but at least she was going out with a bang.

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe this! Thank you so much everyone! You don't know how much this means to me." Brooke said on the verge of tears. Everyone soon sat down to eat. As they were finishing up the meal Abby stood up and cleared her throat. When that didn't get everyone's attention she started clinking her glass. She finally got everyone's attention when Brooke yelled.

"Guys, if you don't' mind Abby has something to say about me." She paused for a minute to make sure everyone was done talking. "Okay Abby, go on." Abby smiled.

"Thanks Brooke. Well, first I want to thank you all for coming. I am happy that this turned out okay. I want to thank Karen and Deb for helping me out with this. It is now story time." She smiled as she heard Brooke let out a sigh.

"When I moved here in the middle of the school year, I did not have a lot of self-confidence. That changed because of two wonderful people. Lucas and Brooke helped me so much. And because this party isn't for Lucas I will concentrate on Brooke's part." Lucas grabbed her hand as she continued.

"I met Brooke the second day of school. She was so nice to me during lunch. She knew nothing about me and yet she stuck up for me. I'm not saying no one else stood up for me, but I remember Brooke the most. Then, we had history together and I was welcomed by the Student Council President and that night she gave me the confidence to go out with Luke. She didn't get mad when she found out the truth about my past and present situation. She stood there with me as a friend and a confidante. She has always been there and is always worried. I'm glad I met you Brooke Davis. And I'm glad you gave me a chance. I will miss you so much." When Abby was done talking she noticed the tears sliding down her cheeks. She noticed that a lot of the guests were also tearing up.

"I will miss you too A.J." Abby was confused. "Oh it is a mixture of Abby and Jamie. I will always know you as two girls, so I figured I would shorten it." They both laughed and hugged each other. The party continued all through the night. The adults left, but not until they made sure no one would drink. After the party finally died around three that morning, they all headed to the River court for one last game with everyone there. Brooke was leaving for California, Abby was leaving for Wisconsin, and Nathan was going to the High Flyers basketball camp. Life in Tree Hill wouldn't be the same, it wouldn't even go back to normal.

"So Brooke, are you coming back here for senior year?"

"I don't know Haley. I want to, but I don't think my parents were too excited with me staying here for the end of this year." Haley, Peyton, Anna, Mouth, Felix, Brooke, and Abby were sitting on the picnic table talking while the rest of the gang played a quick pick up game.

"Yea babe, you better come back or I'm going to have to emancipate myself and move to California." Brooke smiled at Felix. She was surprised that he had turned into a decent guy. She was sad that this was their last night together, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I will make sure I'm back here for senior year if A.J. is."

"Sorry Felix, I guess you will have to move out to California because I don't know how I will be able to stay in Tree Hill."

"Ye of little faith"

"I wish it was true Pey, but um…I'm leaving for Wisconsin in like a day and a half."

"But you will be back until they find you a foster home. Won't you?" Peyton and the rest of the gang didn't like the look on Abby or Haley's face.

"Abby…Haley…what's up?" Anna couldn't take the silence. When Anna spoke up all the guys on the court started walking over.

"Um…" Abby began. "Well, technically I don't belong to the state of North Carolina. John didn't adopt me, so I have belonged to the state of Wisconsin for the past three years. So I have to go to a Wisconsin orphanage, which will try and find me a home."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Mouth asked.

"Yea, we could have thrown a party for you and Brooke." Skills added.

"I planned the party a couple weeks ago and I didn't know at that point. I just had Karen helping me out. I'm sorry everyone, but I don't want a party because I don't want to celebrate me leaving. It was hard enough the first time." Lucas walked over and gave her a hug. He remembered that day like it was yesterday.

"But at least I won't be mad at you this time." The kids that knew Lucas and Abby when they were little laughed.
"What are you kids doing here?" A voice yelled from behind them.

"Um, well Officer Carter, it is my last night and we were just hanging out while the guys played a game." Brooke said.

"As long as there is nothing illegal going on around here." They all shook their heads. "Okay, well I'm off then."

"Wait, Officer Carter…could you take a picture or two of the group?"

"Sure, if you guys make it quick." They all got together on the picnic table and he snapped a couple pictures.

"I will send everyone a copy of the picture." After a couple minutes of conversation the guys finished their game and then everyone headed home to get a couple hours of sleep. Even though she was leaving in less than five hours, Brooke was calm. She even managed to say her good-byes with minimal tear shed. If you had asked her a year ago if she would have been sad to leave Tree Hill for Los Angeles she would have said no. She had become incredibly close to so many people who changed her life and showed her that it doesn't matter how much money someone has or what they look like on the outside. They gave her a confidence in helping others. She would never forget what these people had done for her. After she finished her good-byes Felix dropped her off at Lucas' house. She knew she was going to miss this house. It wasn't as big as her old house, but she knew she was never going to find another one with as much love and comfort as was found here. She crawled into her bed and soon drifted off to a sleep filled with happy memories of the past year. Back at the court Lucas, Abby, Nathan, Haley, Peyton, and Jake were standing around talking. No one wanted the night to end, but they knew they had to say good-bye sometime. Peyton and Jake were the first to leave because Jenny would need to be watched. Nathan and Haley finally decided that they were going to leave.

"Abby, we'll just leave the door open for you." Abby looked at Lucas who was busy talking with Nathan.

"Um, no that's okay. Luke and I are going to go back to his house. I'll just sleep there. That way I can get a ride to the café with Karen. Tomorrow is my last day."

"Okay, if you are sure." Abby shook her head.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow. Does lunch at the café sound good?" Nathan and Haley agreed to Lucas' invite and the two couples parted. When Lucas and Abby got to Lucas' house they noticed Felix's car was still outside, but it wasn't empty.

"Well, at least I know they aren't doing it on my bed."

"Lucas Scott! That is wrong to even think about." Abby said with a chuckle.

"Yea, especially…never mind." Abby didn't know what he was talking about, but she wasn't too concerned. She was more worried about Felix and Brooke catching them watching.
"Lucas, let's go inside before they see us watching them." She finally pushed Lucas in the house and then sat on the couch. Lucas grabbed a couple bottles of water from the fridge and then joined Abby on the couch.

"So, you are really leaving Tree Hill again?" Abby shook her head as she took a sip of her water. "Oh, okay" Lucas said sounding disappointed.

"It's not like I have a choice Lucas. Trust me, if there was, I would definitely choose here." Abby yawned and laid her head on Lucas' shoulder. He looked down after a couple minutes and saw that Abby had fallen asleep. He laid back on the couch and soon fell asleep.