FLASHBACK
The River Court had always been a place of peace and fond memories, the night sky and only the dim lit lights of the court made it peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of life it sat beside the river and over looked the town, it was a place to gather thoughts and think things through clearly. Nearly every night Lucas went to the River Court to think about his day and relax, however on this particular night he was shocked to see a familiar face staring at the written memories on the basketball court. The petite blond figure stood there motionless, until she heard the recognisable thuds of a basketball on the court floor.
"Peyton" Lucas whispered, smiling as he attracts her attention.
"God how long has it been?" Peyton responds, smiling at her best friend, both of them still shocked to see one another.
"Three years, I can't believe you're here, you look great" Lucas says admiring how beautiful Peyton had become, causing Peyton to blush.
"I've missed you" She says as she runs up to Lucas wrapping her arms around him and he returns the gesture. "How are you and everyone?" She asks as she pulls away from Lucas her hands still firmly on his arms as she admires being in the presence of her friend.
"I'm good and their great, they will be so excited your back" He laughs at the thought of how they will react to seeing Peyton again.
"How's Brooke?" She whispers as Lucas struggles to hear her, her face changing from a smile to a concerned expression.
"Peyton why are you here?" Lucas asks with concern, as he watches his friend look away in deep thought.
"You always said you did your best healing here on the river court, just thought I would see if it worked" Peyton responds as she walks back from Lucas and sits down on the bench to the side of the court, resting her head in her hands.
"Peyton..." Lucas immediately walks up and sits beside her placing a comforting arm around her.
"Luke you can't tell anyone I'm home, please" She's says as she turns to bury her head in his shoulder, holding him close as a comforter.
"Ok" Lucas whispers holding Peyton close and looking at the names written on the court, it all seemed so much simpler then he thought.
END FLASHBACK
"You can't tell anyone" Lucas stated as Haley came out from the kitchen more interested by the conversation.
"Luke who is it?" Asked a concerned Haley, as she watched her best friend struggle to find the words.
"Yea Luke" Nathan added, with the tension rising.
"Peyton's home" Lucas said bluntly, looking up to see his best friend fall back into her seat with shock.
"What?" Nathan was even more confused by Lucas' statement.
"We got to tell Brooke" Haley spoke as she sat forward, analysing the situation in front of her, she didn't want to see both friends getting hurt again.
"No we cant. Peyton doesn't want anyone knowing she's back, I think she needs to figure out what she is doing first" Lucas explained as he stood up trying to think of a way around this, he had made a promise to Peyton and although he had told Nathan and Haley, he knew that Brooke couldn't find out yet.
"But Brooke" Haley whispered, trying to convince Lucas it was the right thing once again.
"But nothing Haley, it's best if Brooke doesn't know" His voice rose as his concern for both his friends grew, he knew he had to control the situation in order for any resolution, he wanted nothing more than to see his two friends back together again, and he knew Haley wanted that deep down as well. Lucas quickly left the room leaving Nathan and Haley to think about the news he had just dropped on them, although they couldn't help but plan to play cupid.
CLOTHES OVER BROS STORE - AFTERNOON
Since Brooke had moved back to Tree Hill a few months ago, she had settled back home again, choosing to venture in opening her own boutique in Tree Hill. Brooke even had her assistant choose to move to Tree Hill with her to help her set out on her own, away from her overbearing mother Victoria.
Converting Karen's Café into a boutique was a long, hard process, but with the help of everyone Brooke had finally got it up and running. As Millicent and Brooke went about their normal routine of checking stock and rearranging merchandise.
"So I was thinking that the co tour line should be displayed over here," Millicent suggested as she pointed to the corner of the store. Millicent was very enthusiastic about her work and her and Brooke had become good friends, they always enjoyed working together and made the work fun. Over the last 4 years when Brook was living in New York, Millicent was the only true friend Brooke had, especially after everything that happened with Peyton.
"Yea I like that, then in the window we should have..." Brooke turned and walked over to the window demonstrating with hand gestures how she wanted to lay the merchandise out, although when she turned to look out of the window she wasn't expecting to see a face that she had tried so hard to get over.
Across the Street opposite Brooke's boutique sat Peyton in her recognisable comet, her car was stopped at the traffic lights and Peyton was looking directly at Brooke watching her as she worked. As soon as Peyton saw that Brooke had seen her she drove away, this wasn't the way she wanted Brooke to know she was home, but she just had to see her again and from a distance seemed the best idea.
"Brooke?" Shouted Millicent trying to get her attention once again, but Brooke was too engrossed as she watched what she thought was Peyton driving away.
"Yea" Brooke whispered, in deep thought and confusion, her face had turned pale with shock.
"Are you ok? You look like you have just seen a ghost" Responded Millicent as she placed a comforting hand on Brooke's shoulder making sure she was ok.
"I think I need to head home, we'll finish this off tomorrow" Brooke stuttered before picking up her bag and leaving the store, leaving behind a shocked and concerned Millicent.
BROOKE'S HOUSE – AFTERNOON
When Brooke got home she came through the front door with tears streaming down her face, the thought of seeing Peyton was driving her crazy, she was confused and hurt and her first port of call when she got home was her bedroom, running to her room she went to her wardrobe and pulled a box from the back of it, throwing herself on the bed she opened the box and started taking photos out, they were of her and Peyton and she was breaking into violent sobs as she held the photos close and took the time to look at them intently.
FLASHBACK
In the busy streets of LA 3 years ago. Brooke waits across the road outside the rather large extensive building of Sire Records, the time is 6pm and Brooke knows that Peyton will be out any minute after a long day of work, she waits across the road by a magazine stall, that hides her from Peyton but gives her great access to watch as she comes out from work. Standing their briefly glancing at a magazine and the doors to the building her mind is overpowered by what she should say or do when she sees her. However Brooke is suddenly thrown of balance as she watches Peyton exit the building with a bunch of people, she is smiling and laughing, it breaks Brooke heart to see her so happy and know she isn't the cause of it, Brooke stands there a moment longer watching as Peyton says goodbye to her work colleagues, the time is now for Brooke to approach, instead she puts the magazine down and walks in the opposite direction, away from Peyton and Peyton's new life.
Brooke walks the streets of LA back to her hotel, taking in all the sights, but she cannot get Peyton off her mind, regretting her decision every step she makes, not speak to her. As Brooke enters her hotel room she sits on her bed and begins to sob into her hands, the silence is soon broken from the vibration of Brooke's phone. Checking the caller's i.d. she smiles at just how great Haley's timing is, taking a deep breath she answers the phone.
"So did you see her?" Haley asks impatiently.
"No, she wasn't there" Brooke fights back the tears and lies to her friend, in hope to avoid what had just happened.
"Oh Brooke, I'm sorry, I guess it's for the best" The disappointment was clear in Haley's voice, she understood how much it meant to Brooke to see Peyton again, but all that was left now was to reassure her friend that it would be ok.
"I've got to go Hales" Brooke finds herself unable to hold back the tears and tries to get of the phone as quick as she can.
"Oh Ok, call me when you get home, we love you" Haley says noticing the sadness in Brooke's voice.
"I love you too" Brooke finishes before hanging up the phone and sitting in silence once again.
END FLASHBACK
It was the noise of people entering the house that had awoken Brooke from her memories, hearing the footsteps come down the corridor, she quickly put some of the photos away and composed herself in the mirror, before sitting back on the bed.
"Jamie slow down" Haley shouted through the hall at Jamie as she rushed after him.
"Hey little man" Brooke said as she got up and approached her bedroom door, opening it to have Jamie come running into her arms.
"Jamie...Oh Brooke I'm so sorry, he was just so excited" Haley reached the end of the hall and saw Brook holding Jamie and immediately apologised for the intrusion.
"Hey no worries, plus it's always good to see my god son" Brooke plastered a fake smile on her face, ruffling Jamie's hair and placing him back down on the ground.
"What are you looking at Aunt Brooke?" Asked Jamie, as he noticed the photos lying on Brooke's bed, immediately he was interested and ran up to the bed and started looking through them.
"Oh nothing just some old photos" Brooke explained as she looked back at a concerned Haley.
"Hey Jamie, I think Aunt Brooke has ice cream, why don't you go get some." Haley said trying to get Jamie's attention to leave the two women to talk.
"Cool" Shouted Jamie as he jumped down from the bed, running to his Aunt Brooke looking for her permission. "Please Aunt Brooke?" asked Jamie.
"Go for it Buddy" Answered Brooke, smiling at her Godson as she watched him run off into the kitchen.
"Taking a trip down memory lane?" Haley asks as she walks into Brooke's room sitting on the bed next to the photos.
"Yeah I guess so" Responds Brooke as she tries to hide the tears building in her eyes.
"Millie called she was worried, are you ok?" Asks Haley as she stands and takes a hold of Brooke's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Um no, I thought I saw Peyton today...outside the store, but I guess now I'm seeing things" Brooke pulls away and immediately walks over to her cabinet and tries to busy herself by tiding items away.
"Oh Brooke" Haley watches as Brooke fiercely wipes the tears away from her face. Again Haley approaches her friend and places a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey I'm ok, it just kind of threw me, you know?" Brooke stutters before she breaks out into tears.
"Yea I know sweetie" Haley says reassuringly bringing Brooke into her arms, she hated lying to her, but after seeing her like this she knew the truth had to come out soon.
"I miss her." Brooke whispers.
"We all do" Haley replies as she hushes Brookes tears and hold her close letting Brooke cry into her shoulder for as long as she needed.