2 "Five years down the road."

The cloud passing overhead covered any sense of sunlight trying to peak through the rain. Of course it would rain on the day of a funeral. Because sunlight would be too happy. Brooke sat down on the hard stone bench in the cemetery and watched as people drove away. Today was the hardest day of them all for her. In the entire five years she had been away from Tree Hill. This was the first time she was back. Of course she was late. She made it just in time to see everyone leaving. Maybe that was for the best. She was here to pay her respects and good byes to the person she once cared so much for. Not to see the people she left behind.

As soon as the graveyard cleared she stood and walked to the freshly dug soil. She bent down on her knees letting her black nylons rest onto the grass. "Haley James Scott." she read aloud. "You'll forever be missed." she whispered. This wasn't the way she wanted to leave things. How could she bring herself to just up and go five years ago without even so much of a phone call. How selfish could she possibly be? Now the girl who once was one of her closest friends, was gone.

A finger touched her back and she jumped to turn around. The girl facing her scared her, almost to the point of tears. "Brooke?" she whispered sadly.

Brooke reached for her hand and took it. It was thin. She could feel every bone inside of it. The girls eyes were starting to sink in and her once beautiful blonde curls turned straight. "Peyton?" she asked suprised. She looked like she had to be almost forty years old. That was the last thing she was expecting from her only 22 year old friend.

Peyton nodded. She didn't speak. She just pulled Brooke close to her and embraced her into a hug. "It's good to see you." she told her into her ear. "Really good to see you."

"What happened to you P. Sawyer?" Brooke asked rather rudely. "Are you alright?"

Peyton nodded. "I've been trying to kill myself since you left."

LINE BREAK

Brooke jumped from her bed startled by the dream that just passed through her. She hadn't dreamed of Peyton in years. And Haley? Poor Haley, how could she dream of her dying? Her heart raced as she climbed out of bed and looked in the mirror. "Wow." she whispered. The dream was completely horrifying. She reached down and gathered her things, ready to go to the airport.

The entire flight back to Tree Hill left Brooke thinking about her dream. It must have been the fact that she was going back which led her to dream about it. At least the circumstances were a little bit different. She wasn't attending a funeral. She was attending her five year reunion.

The drive through Tree Hill was pretty much the same. Karen's cafe still stood strong as always. She passed the river court flooding her mind with memories of her last night lying on the pavement. And then she saw the school. It was different seeing grown adults walking into the school rather than high school students gossiping with their friends. That's when she saw her. Peyton Sawyer. And next to her stood non other than Lucas Scott.

Nathan Scott buttoned the last white button of his collared shirt. He stepped out of his Mercedes and toward the school. He watched in amazement as so many people entered the school. He never thought that many people went to Tree Hill let alone graduated with him. As he approached the building he took a deep breathe and stepped inside.

The hallway were covered with photographs. Pictures from the many basketball games he played. Photos of the Cheerleaders, the crowd, him and Haley. He closed his eyes as he looked at the picture. He remembered it as the championship game. Right before the accident.

For over a year he stuck around Tree Hill. Trying his best to make things work with Haley. As always she gave him another chance but when the baby was born everything just ended. It had now been almost four years since seeing Haley, and four years since seeing his son. He wondered if she'd be there. Jamison Scott at her side. But somehow he knew she wouldn't. She had taken their son and gone to California in hopes of recording another cd.

Nathan on the other hand never played basketball. He gave up everything to be with Haley. Left himself heartbroken and alone once again after she left. After his dad was put in prison when they found out he murdered his Uncle Keith, Nathan took over the dealership.

He stood staring at the picture when he felt movement beside him. "Fun times huh?" he heard the voice. He turned to see non other than Brooke Davis standing next to him. She looked different. Taller, more grown up. He couldn't help but notice the maturity in her face. The happiness.

"Brooke!" he smiled reaching for her and giving her a hug. "You look amazing."

"You don't look so bad yourself stud." she smiled kissing him on the cheek.

He smiled when he heard her call him stud. He always remembered the little nicknames Brooke gave everyone. And even though she annoyed him in high school. He always thought of her as one of his friends. "It's really good to see you."

Lucas watched silently from the end of the hallway as Brooke and Nathan embraced. He was surprised to see her. He didn't think she'd come. His life was steady now. Him and Peyton had a strong relationship and Brooke really hadn't crossed his mind in years. Seeing her now brought back all these memories. Good and bad.

"Drink?" Peyton asked handing Lucas a glass. "What are you looking at?" she turned her head down the hallway to see nothing. Brooke and Nathan just walked into the gym.

"Thank you," he smiled kissing her on the forehead. "Nothing," he lied. He wasn't sure why he didn't tell her, but figured she would realize it soon enough.

Peyton walked into the gym followed by Lucas. She glanced around looking for a place to sit when she saw Haley sitting in the corner. "Oh my God!" Peyton pointed to Lucas. "Haley is here!" she exclaimed dragging him over to her.

Haley's heart started to beat as she watched Lucas and Peyton running toward her. She sat in the back of the gym hoping to avoid being seen by anyone. Her life wasn't in Tree Hill anymore. It was in California. She just finished recording her cd and was sending it to press next week.

She was sharing a small two bedroom apartment with her son and her new boyfriend Marc. "Hi!" Haley smiled standing up to hug Lucas and Peyton. "How are you?"

"Great Hales" Lucas smiled. "It's good to see you! Where's my little nephew?" he asked looking around hoping he brought Jameson.

"He's at home." she said sadly. She wished her son had a chance to really know her uncle, but knew that it wasn't possible right now.

"By himself?" Peyton asked surprised. "He's only 4 isn't he?"

Haley laughed. "Yeah, he has a babysitter." she wasn't ready to tell anyone about her new boyfriend, because she knew they would start asking questions. "Anyway, that's not the point." she said hugging them again. And as she did, she saw Nathan and Brooke over their shoulders.