Chapter Three- Every Beginning Has an End

Elizabeth got the mail before walking into the house. She flipped through looking for the envelope that would be arriving any day now. Elizabeth had already gotten into a college, North Carolina University to be exact, but was now waiting for a response from an internship program she had applied for over the summer at the North Carolina Sun newspaper. The program was three hours from Charlotte but only an hour from Tree Hill. This internship would give her the opportunity to finally meet her father without her mom knowing. Elizabeth continued looking through the mail; the very last envelope was the one she wanted. She ripped it open and read,

Ms. Elizabeth Davis,

You have been accepted as an intern at the North Carolina Sun. All expenses will be paid and you are expected to turn up on June 30 at 8:00 am. We are excited about meeting you and having you with us this summer.

She'd been accepted! Elizabeth was overwhelmed; she'd gotten the awesome internship at the North Carolina Sun and her plan was now under way! However she couldn't help but think that everything had seemed to come together too easily…

"So I got accepted for the internship this summer," Elizabeth told Brooke and her friend, Natalie who had stayed for dinner.

"That's awesome," replied Natalie.

"Really, that's wonderful Lizzie. But are you sure you want to spend your summer before college away from home working?" Brooke asked.

"I really want to do this, mom," replied Elizabeth, "It's only a few hours away from here and the hours are great. I only work from Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 to 4:00. Plus all my expenses are being paid by the newspaper. I'll be able to come home regularly while still getting a feel for what college will be like."

"Well I guess this requires a celebration; what do you girls think about shopping and a day at the spa?" "

"Yea, it sounds great," replied Natalie and Elizabeth

. Elizabeth, there was something you wanted to show me right, questioned Natalie as dinner ended."

"Let's go up to my room and I'll tell you."

"So what's so secretive that you're mom can't know?"

"I need to find my father's address in Tree Hill," replied Elizabeth.

"So you're seriously considering seeing him and telling him everything, asked Natalie."

"I'm not thinking about it, I've decided. It's been too long already. My mom doesn't know but I've found a box full of letters she's written to him over the years. Many of them were from the past few months…she hasn't gotten over him and so I'm doing this not only for me but for her too."

The phone was ringing, but Brooke's hands were occupied. She almost yelled to Elizabeth to get it until she saw who was calling. It was Nathan. Yes, Nathan Scott brother of Lucas Scott. Brooke and Nathan had reunited after she went up to him after one of his games five years ago. They'd talked and exchanged phone numbers. Nathan and Haley were still married and had three kids now. Brooke had agreed to staying in touch as long as no one knew, including Haley. Also Brooke had never told Nathan about Elizabeth and vice versa. Brooke answered the phone right before the answering machine came on.

"Hey Nate, what's up?" "

Nothing, except for the fact that I haven't talked to you in a very long time and then quadruple that time to get how long it's been since I've seen you."

"I'm busy Nate, you know that. But when did you get so good at math; Haley tutoring you?"

"Ha, ha very funny, don't change the subject. I miss you, Brooke."

"I know."

"I don't think you do. However I can't feel too bad considering everyone else has no idea where you are. Damn, if they knew that I did, they would kill me then bring me back to tell them."

"Nathan, have you ever heard this quote?" 'I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken -- and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.' That's the way I see it. Nothing good could come out of trying to piece my old life together. No one will be able to overlook all the broken pieces, all the years that have gone by and all the secrets I've kept."

"Brooke, what are you hiding from? The most important people in your life wish everyday to find you. They want to be part of your life; they want to relive all the memories and make new ones. Damn it Brooke, they don't care about the past. The only secret you have left is what you've been doing for the past eighteen years. You've got to decide what's really important. Decide what you want to do!"

"I know, Nate. That's the problem. I don't know how to decide, or even what the best choice is. For some situations it seems as if I've made a choice already and there's no turning back," Brooke said while thinking about Elizabeth.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I'll have the next chapter up in a few days.