Disclaimer: Don't own One Tree Hill, too bad for me.
Author's Note: Last chapter was super short! But the rest of the chapters will all be pretty long. We're half way done with this story so I hope you're still interested! That means pretty soon Lucas and Brooke will be hooking back up! But some things have to happen before that so enjoy :-) Also I have a few questions about the season finale (2) that I need some help with. If any of you would be willing to answer a few questions could you email me at Thanks in advance.
Special thanks for the reviews I have gotten so far! You all are great!
Adrian: well here's another scene of Brooke and Sean. Hope you enjoy
CrazyAznChik: lol, I am impatient already as well! I want Brooke and Lucas to hook up more than you probably! It's coming! And no, this will deffinitly not end up a Brooke and Sean story. It's an OTH fanfiction- Brooke needs to be with Lucas!
BrucasNaleyluvr: Awe! You're so sweet! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Here's more
DanceDude09: Yeah it did take forever! So hopefully the updates will be sooner and sooner for you all. This one is done and I'm almost finished the following chapter. So you'll have plenty. I'm also updating my Never Gone story tomorrow as well. So look for that :-) Yea, I agree with you. Teachers with students is creepy cause all of my teachers were old as well- except for our gym teacher who was actually my english teachers son (total hottie) that we all had crushes on. Anyways, I don't hate Chris I think he added tension into OTH and this is my way of trying to 'torture' Naley.
L-A-C-18: You loved the chapter as much as I loved getting your review! Truth is I was scared everyone wouldn't want to read more after such a break. A month. Ugh. But thankfully I am all settled in and can continue to write. I want to thank you once again for always leaving such a lengthy review- I look forward to them. As for the last chapter things are being put in place to where Sean and Brooke can only go so far- even though they do still have genuine feelings for each other. Peyton and Brooke will repair their friendship before the story is over and never fear! There are PLENTY of Brathan friendship moments still ahead so look out for them. I too think that they should incorporate that into the show- they have the most in common to me (like Peyton and Lucas.) So hopefully you will continue to read and review :-)
Kelz3192: thanks for welcoming me back! And I am glad you are still interested in this story. Lucas is always coming up with sweet things to say even if he's the only one that can really hurt her. So here's the next chapter
Back to You
Chapter fifteen- "As you Were"
By: Dayz Sollers
Peyton pulled up to her drive way and smiled as Jake walked towards her. Jenny was sitting in the stroller on her porch. "Hey, you're early," Peyton said as she shut her car door and put her arms around him. She kissed him briefly before rushing up to give Jenny a hug as well.
"I know. I'm sorry. But Karen needs me at the café in like ten minutes," Jake explained. He leaned down and kissed his daughter gently on her cheek. "You be good for Peyton okay? I love you."
Peyton watched as Jake interacted with his daughter and couldn't help but smile. It was clear to her just how blessed she was to have him and Jenny in her life. Jake was a great boyfriend and an even more amazing father. She wasn't sure what she had done to have them in her life but was glad that they were.
"As for you," Jake said as he stood up and made his way towards Peyton. She smiled as he brought her closer to him. "I will see you later." He kissed her and she was amazed once again at how he made her feel. Peyton watched as he made his way towards his car and she waved goodbye. Once he had driven off she turned towards Jenny and squatted down.
"So it looks like it's just you and me Jenny," Peyton said as Jenny cooed at her. Peyton lifted her out of the stroller and brought Jenny towards her giving her a hug. "Your daddy will be back later, how about we watch cartoons!"
After an hour of playing with her toys, Jenny had fallen asleep on the floor with Peyton sprawled out next to her. Her phone vibrated and as she looked down at the screen she couldn't help but smile. 'I love you,' was sent to her from Jake. As she shut her phone she laid her head back down and looked at Jenny. She couldn't help but realize that everything in her life was falling in to place. That made her wonder when the other shoe was going to drop.
……
"So I'll see you tonight at eleven?" Haley asked as she put a binder in her locker. She turned back towards Nathan who shifted uncomfortably. He nodded his head and looked towards the school doors.
"I should get going though. Promised mom I'd be there at 6," Nathan said. Haley bit her lip. She didn't want to accuse him of lying, but the signs were all there. He was nervous about something. Instead of pushing him to tell her the truth, she leaned up to him and kissed him gently on the lips.
"Well I'll see you later then. I love you," Haley smiled.
Nathan nodded his head and mumbled an I love you back to her as he hurried down the hall. Haley shrugged her shoulders in defeat. He would tell her the truth- eventually. And she had bigger things to concentrate on, like how to talk Brooke out of her relationship with their teacher.
She sighed, feeling at a loss. Brooke would never listen to her about anything, let alone relationship advice. After all it had been her and Peyton who had told Brooke to give Lucas a chance. And although she hadn't known what had happened over the summer, she couldn't help but feel guilty for Brooke's heart yet again being broken.
'That reminds me,' she thought to herself as she reached in her purse for her phone. She was broke out of concentration by it ringing and as she stared down at it, she couldn't help but wonder if she should answer it.
Chris.
He had told her he was leaving town to go back on tour. As she opened the phone she shut her eyes. "Hello Chris." She instantly regretted even answering the phone but knew she would drive herself crazy if she hadn't. "What's going on?"
She could hear music in the background and could only imagine Chris in the back of the bus his guitar propped up in his lap. Haley use to see herself in that picture as well, perhaps beside him with a pen and paper as they wrote a song together. They had clicked in a way that was hard to understand, in a way that Nathan would never be apart of. She didn't feel anything romantic towards him, but still had wanted him in her life.
"Gavin Degraw. That's what's going on," Chris said. She sighed and listened as she headed down the hall and towards the doors to leave. "The eastern tour did so well he's been asked to tour southern California. Problem is the other opener bailed."
Haley couldn't help but feel her heart sink. She knew what was coming. "And what exactly does that have to do with me?" The words fell from her lips and she knew she shouldn't have said it. She should have just excused herself from the conversation and leave it at that.
"He wants you," Chris replied. A smile played at her lips and she felt her heart skip a beat. Gavin Degraw wanted her to sing for him? The reality of the situation wasn't hitting her, all that she could think about was that a singer had requested her. Out of everyone else. "It starts next Friday."
Haley leaned against her car and shut her eyes. "I can't," Haley whispered into the phone. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want to, but she knew she couldn't go. Her life was in Tree Hill and she knew it. She had already left once and had fought really hard to win Nathan back. Nothing could come between that again.
"Look don't say anything now. Just think about it Haley. Sure you're talented, but will you ever get a chance like this again?" Chris asked her. A part of her knew he was right but she couldn't go through with it.
She got into her car and turned the engine on. As she leaned her head against the steering wheel she sighed. "It's a chance I have to take. My place is here. With Nathan."
Chris chuckled. "Is it? Can you honestly tell me that you're happy here? Being stuck in Tree Hill? Maybe you are. But what happens when Nathan graduates? He's going to be accepted to colleges all over the united states. Why would he choose to stay in tree hill?"
Haley felt like she wanted to cry. Truth was she had been thinking about that recently. Nathan was talented and it was certain that he would get scholarships to different schools. They hadn't really talked about what would happen in the future, only that they would be together. "Then I'll go with him. I'm his wife," Haley said.
"For now."
She rolled her eyes. Why was he pushing her? Over the months that she had been on tour with him she had come to know the real Chris. Sure he was sarcastic and always saying things at the wrong time. But he meant well, deep down. Way under all the fake charisma. "Chris stop," Haley hesitated. "I did it once, but I can't do it again. Tell Gavin I'm sorry."
She hung up the phone and turned the ringer off. There was no doubt in her mind that he would try to call again and she couldn't do it again. She didn't want a chance to turn her back on Nathan, even if it meant giving up her dream of becoming famous.
……
Peyton woke up to Jenny crying beside her. "Do you need a bottle?" Peyton asked, picking her up and sitting her in her bouncy chair. Jenny stopped crying and stared at one of her toys. As Peyton began to move away, Jenny called out to her.
"Mama."
As she poured the water into the bottle she turned around a bit startled. "Jenny? What did you say?"
"Mama."
Peyton smiled. She couldn't' t believe it. Not only had Jenny said her first word, but she had called her mommy. She reached into her pocket and franticly dialed Jake's number. When his machine picked up she hung up. "You're daddy would be so proud of you! Can you say dada? Dada?"
"Mama."
She leaned down and kissed Jenny on her forehead. "I know I'm not your real mom but I was kind of hoping to be one day. Would you like that?" Peyton asked. Jenny smiled and tugged on one of Peyton's curls. She didn't say anything but Peyton knew she wanted the same thing. Peyton just hoped Jake would as well.
……
Lucas knocked on Keith's door and waited. He had been released from jail last night, and Lucas had hoped he would be home. As much as he wanted to talk to Jules, he really wanted to talk with Keith. He couldn't bring himself to think that Keith was guilty of hurting anyone.
As Jules opened the door she reached for Lucas, bringing him into a hug. "Lucas," Jules said as she held the door and motioned for him to come into their home. He had been in their home a million times, but something about this trip made him feel like he was a stranger in their house.
"Is Keith here?" Lucas asked as he sat down on the couch. She sat down in the chair beside him and shook her head. Keith wasn't at home, so talking to him would have to wait. But Jules was there. "He's innocent."
Jules looked up from her hands and sighed. "I'd like to believe so," she said. "But why would he confess if he didn't try to murder Dan? It just doesn't make sense." Lucas nodded in agreement but then looked at her. He held her gaze and raised an eyebrow.
"Unless he was trying to protect someone he cared about," Lucas replied. Jules sat back in her seat and folded her arms across her chest.
"Someone like me? You think I tried to kill Dan."
Lucas wasn't sure what he thought. Things in his life hadn't been going the way he had planned. Not that they ever did. When he thought he had wanted Peyton, he was dating Brooke. When he realized he loved Brooke, she was with Felix. When Keith and his mother were supposed to be together they had both fallen in love with other people. He knew he wasn't the one to judge anyone or anything.
"I'm not sure what I think. All I am saying is Keith is innocent."
Jules shook his head understanding how he felt. "I'm innocent too." She whispered. "If you care."
He nodded. "So you don't know why he said it was him?"
She shook her head and looked down at her hands. "The truth Lucas? Keith hasn't come home. He stayed at a hotel last night. I haven't even really talked to him," Jules explained.
"When we left him last night he said he was on his way home."
She sighed. "He lied. He hasn't been home. He called to tell me he was at motel six and that was it. I haven't heard from him."
"I need to talk to him," Lucas said as he stood up. Jules shook her head. Someone needed to get the truth out of Keith and if anyone could do it, she knew that Lucas could. Keith had felt like a surrogate father to Lucas, and never would want to disappoint him.
Jules stood up and walked towards the door. "I think you should. Just don't get your hopes up Lucas. Whether Keith did it or not, he's in a lot of trouble," Jules explained. "Will you tell him I love him?"
Lucas nodded and headed out the door. He really didn't understand why Jules wasn't going with him, why she wasn't trying to prove Keith's innocence. Maybe she really was hiding something. But he couldn't help but think that it was because she didn't trust him anymore. And Lucas took it in his hands to prove that his uncle was innocent.
……
Brooke was running late. She was supposed to meet Sean on the beach at eight thirty. When Lucas and her had gotten home they had found a note from his mother explaining that they all needed to talk.
Brooke was sure it was about her staying in their house and wondered to herself just how long she would have a home. Lucas had assured her that she would always have a place in their home, even if that meant he would continue to sleep on the couch. He was trying to joke with her, but Brooke couldn't help but wonder if he really would. Even as she thought it- she knew the answer. Lucas would do anything for her.
She had realized it after she entered her bedroom and found that the doll house she had loved so much had been put back together. There was a note scribbled on a piece of paper and as she opened it she smiled. It was from Lucas.
Everyone should have something to hold on to.
I should know- I have the memories of us.
I love you Brooke.
Three words. This time he had chosen to write it down instead of saying it, but it didn't change how she felt. As she looked in her car mirror she wondered the real reason why she was late. Was it because things kept interrupting her, or was it because she really didn't want to be there?
Brooke loved Lucas. There was never a question, or a doubt in anyone else's mind. They could all tell by the way she presented herself that her feelings for Lucas had never disappeared. But every time she found herself thinking they could work on their relationship or even move on she was reminded of the times he had hurt her.
Sean was safe. She knew that. As she blotted her lipstick she got out of the car and made her way down the sand towards him. In the distance she could see him a picnic basket sitting beside him. She smiled slightly at how romantic it was and she couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
They weren't supposed to be meeting in a public place, but neither one of them could stand being away from each other for any longer. Brooke had known it was wrong and that people would find out. But she didn't care. All that mattered was the moments they spent together. Moments that weren't filled with anguish, lies and tears.
"Sorry I'm late."
Sean looked up and smiled. Brooke's white sundress blew in the wind and he knew he was in trouble. He had brought her to the beach to tell her they couldn't be anything more than friends. But seeing her in the moonlight, hell just seeing her was enough to make reason go out the window.
"I thought maybe you weren't going to show," Sean said as he moved over so she could sit down next to him. He poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her. "I wasn't sure what you'd drink."
She smiled and leaned in to kiss him gently on the lips. "This is great," she whispered. Brooke leaned her body next to his and stared out into the water. The waves were crashing on the sand and in the distance she could see house lights being turned off.
"When I was little during the summer Peyton and I spent all of our time here. Even when it would rain," she told him. He listened to her as she continued. "I love it in the summer when it's so humid and hot and then it starts to rain. And there's heat lightening."
As she said the words, her mind drifted back to another time. It seemed like years ago to her. If she shut her eyes she could probably she Lucas leaning against the table drinking his beer. She smiled to herself and Sean noticed.
"What?"
Brooke shook her head and watched the water. "Sean? Do you like weird science?" Brooke questioned him. He looked at her, a bit confused by her question. He shrugged his shoulders and turned into her.
"I never really got into it," he replied. Her smile fell from her lips and she sighed. "You?" She simply nodded her head. They stayed quiet for a long time just enjoying each others company. Brooke silently wondered if they had anything in common, but stopped herself from continuing the conversation. Lucas and her didn't really have anything in common either. But he had loved her for it.
"Tell me more about you," Sean said after a while. She couldn't think of what to say so she told him the truth about her life growing up. He held her as she explained how her parents were hardly ever home, and there was no one to take care of her except for the hired help. She explained to him that she always felt like she needed to be there for Peyton the way Peyton's mother would have been. And as Brooke explained to him about Peyton and Lucas he held her tighter.
"He still loves you."
Brooke turned to him and pulled away. Where had that come from, she wondered.
"He might not say it but he does. He told me that if I hurt you… he'd ruin me," Sean looked down at the sand. Brooke chuckled a bit and rolled her eyes. Just like Lucas to be the brave knight. She just wasn't use to him trying to save her. Normally it was Peyton or Haley.
Brooke thought a minute. "He means well. I guess," Brooke said. Sean put an arm around her shoulders and nodded his head.
"There's no guessing. That boy loves you. And he wants you to be happy," Sean said. She placed her head against his shoulder and looked up at him. "So Miss Davis. Are you happy?"
And for the first time in her life, Brooke Davis wasn't sure what to say.
……
"You called?"
After a hour of trying to get Jake on the phone he had finally managed to call her back. "Jake! You will not believe what happened! Jenny spoke to me!" Peyton excitedly told her boyfriend.
Jake smiled into his phone and shook his head. "Really. What did she say? I want a cookie? Or how about we listen to three days grace?" He joked.
"No not about a cookie or three days grace! She said mama," Peyton said quietly.
Jake paused. "She said what?"
"Mama."
"I gotta go Peyton. I'll see you when I get off."
……
Nathan knocked gently on his parents bedroom door and peaked his head inside. "Mom? Are you here?" He yelled out but realized she wasn't. Nathan wasn't sure what he was looking for. Nathan made his way throughout their bedroom and walked towards their closet.
After opening a few boxes and making his way through their dressers, he realized he was wasting his time. His mother wouldn't be hiding anything, because she was innocent. As he was about to exit their closet, his mothers jewelry box caught his attention. "Score."
He opened the drawers one by one and saw nothing but jewelry. Nathan wondered why woman thought it was essential to have so many damn pieces in different colors when men really didn't notice. Why would any woman spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on a diamond bracelet when a cracker jack one would work just as well.
Nathan smiled as he thought of Haley. She was perfect for him. With her there wasn't anything too elaborate that she wanted. She wore that cracker jack bracelet which meant that she appreciated it and didn't care that it wasn't diamonds.
But maybe she did. Maybe that had been why she had left him in the first place. Perhaps that was the reason she had left him before. He rubbed his fingers over a diamond bracelet and made a promise to himself that he would buy one for her one day to replace the ratty old cracker jacks prize.
Nathan shut the bracelet drawer and opened the last one. There were letters bound together with a rubber band and Nathan lifted them up. He noticed they were addressed to his mother, and he stuck them in his jean pockets. Nathan looked back down at the drawer and lifted up a few scarves to find a bottle of pills stashed underneath.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Nathan jumped back. He turned to face his mother and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm thinking about buying Haley a piece of jewelry and I wanted an insight on what women like," he explained.
She walked towards him and he shut the drawer. "I didn't mean to snoop through it but our anniversary of when we met is coming up. I get paid Friday and really wanted to pick something up," Nathan continued.
"That's sweet. But the things in that jewelry box are a little out of Haley's league," Deb said. She didn't mean to come off sounding so harsh, and tried to back peddle her way out of it. "I mean that the two of you could afford."
Nathan looked once more at the diamond jewelry and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess you're right. Next year maybe," Nathan said as he pushed past her. He made his way to the bedroom door and turned to face his mother. "Tell dad I said hello."
Deb watched as he left the room and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. "Hey. It's me. We've got trouble."
……
Jake walked into Peyton's house and headed into the front room. He was sure he'd find Jenny tucked into her crib and Peyton sound asleep on the couch but was surprised to find Jenny sleeping beside Peyton. He pulled his shirt off and kneeled down beside Peyton.
"I'm here," Jake whispered to Peyton. She turned to face him and smiled slightly.
"Are you mad at me?"
Jake shook his head no and laid down next to her. He pulled Peyton towards him, but still stared at his daughter. "I've been teaching her mama and dada for the last two weeks," he explained to her.
She shook her head as she listened to what he said and turned to face him. "You're teaching her mama? But Nikki isn't in her life," Peyton said. Her smile fell from her face as she turned towards Jenny.
"Yeah, but you are."
tbc...
Well what did you think? I told you the chapters would get longer again! Please if you have any comments I love to hear them! Whether they're good/bad. Please tell me what you think.
What's next on Back to You?
- Nathan talks to Dan about his accident
- Sean and Brooke are seen once again at school
- Felix and Lucas talk about Brooke
- Karen visits Keith
- Nikki breaks into Jake's house
