Chapter Four: What's Left of Me

Elizabeth had finished packing her last suitcase. She'd also said goodbye to her friends last night at a surprise 'going away' party her mom had planned. She was ready to go if only her mom would let her.

"Mom, I've got to go or I'll be late!"

"Ok I'll let you go if you promise me again to call every day!"

"Yes, mom. Now let go!"

Elizabeth was leaving today for the internship and she would be three hours away. Brooke worried about Elizabeth living on her own but constantly reminded herself that she would be ok. Elizabeth was smart and strong; she could take care of herself.

"Alright mom this is it. I'll call you when I get there. I love you."

"Love you too, Lizzie! Bye."

A few weeks later…

Brooke sat at her desk, bored out of her mind. Seeing the picture of Nathan she kept in her wallet, she thought back to the conversation she and Nathan had a few weeks ago. Decide what you want, he'd said.What did she want? What was her choice; was there a choice to be made anymore?

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Meanwhile, Elizabeth was getting ready for the important day ahead. She was heading up to Tree Hill, a place that in her mind held the answers for the past, present and future. Natalie had helped her find out exactly where her father lived. 1530 Main St. She'd also found out that Lucas was now coaching the Tree Hill High Ravens.

I'm finding my way back to you
And everything I used to be

Driving down the highway Brooke couldn't believe what she was doing. She was doing what she had only dreamt about for the past eighteen years; she was driving to Tree Hill, the place that held painful memories of the past that she was sure would be reopened when she appeared. Brooke had considered turning back but then she had remembered a quote she'd heard a long time ago, 'The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.' Brooke could only hope that in the end she wouldn't regret it just as she regretted keeping her daughter a secret and hiding away all these years.

Brooke drove around Tree Hill, visiting the high school, the river court, her old house and Tric. Finally she arrived at Karen's Café and parked her car across the street. Nathan had told her that it hadn't changed since they had been in high school; Karen had kept it the same resulting in a feeling of traveling to the past every time you walked in.

Stepping out of her car, Brooke walked across the street. She was about to open the door to the café when her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Brooke, its Nathan."

"Hey Nate, what's up?"

"Not much just heading over to Karen's for some lunch."

Brooke took a deep breath and then making up her mind replied, "I'll see you there then" and hung up the phone. Then gathering all the courage she had left, she opened the door to the café and walked in.

Elizabeth got lost several times. She had passed Karen's café, the Rivercourt and several other places her mom had told her about. Elizabeth was so nervous that when she had passed Karen's café she thought she had actually seen her mom's car. In a million years, she'd thought.

Finally Elizabeth found the house she was looking for. The house was quaint, and on a cul de sac not far from the café. Gathering up her courage and taking a deep breath, she stepped out of her car. She then walked up the steps and stared at the red door for a minute before knocking.

I'm finding my way back to you
And everything I used to be
And waiting is all that I can do

Hearing a knock, Lucas went to open the door. Before him stood a young girl with auburn hair and blue eyes that he swore he knew from somewhere. Just as he was about to ask her who she was, she said, "I'm Elizabeth Davis, you know my mom Brooke."

Author's Note: Leave a review (I've noticed many people have looked at the story but haven't left a review) and I'll post the next chapter in a couple of days. Thanks for reading!