I know there was a long wait for this chapter…not my favorite chapter but I hope you like it! Review!!!

Chapter 6-

"I'm glad you're coming," Brooke said as the plane took off to New York. She was holding Chase's hand. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

"As long as you're happy," Chase said looking around at the people that were sitting around them. Brooke's smile vanished. Chase hadn't been acting the same lately while they were packing for the trip.

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked.

"Yea," Chase said pulling his hand away from hers.

"Are we ever going to talk about it?"

"Not right now Brooke…"

"Then when Chase? We can't keep avoiding it."

"I said I was sorry, you forgave me and that's it."

"I still want to talk about it," she said a little quieter.

"About the fact that I slept with Cindy? You forgave me remember?"

"Yea I remember, it's just you didn't even say that you regretted it. Just tell me Chase, why did you do it?"

"I don't know, just drop it," Chase said in a high whisper glaring at her. Brooke didn't say anymore and just looked straight ahead. She felt scared with him, like whenever she would go too far with her words he would go too far with some other girl. She never felt this way before. Brooke didn't want to be alone and figured that she should just stay with him. It was better than being with no one…

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Lucas was now in from Chicago and he was going to Nathan and Haley's house to say hello. He got out of the car and made his way to the front door. He knocked on the unfamiliar door and saw a light turn on inside and footsteps coming to the door.

"Lucas you're here!" Haley screamed.

"Yea, finally!" Lucas said smiling at his best friend.

"Come in!" Haley said opening the door wider and then closing it behind him.

"Where are Nathan and James?"

"Nathan is still at work and James is in the back playing basketball as usual."

"That's my godson!" They shared a laugh and it immediately felt like old times. They walked to the backyard together and saw a five-year-old playing basketball with Nathan's old basketball hoop. He quickly turned around when he heard the door open and close.

"Uncle Lucas!" James screamed running to his uncle and hugging his legs. Lucas bent down and ruffled his hair.

"Nice to see you Buddy," Lucas said smiling. James looked just like Nathan with Haley's hair color.

"Did you bring me presents?"

"James!" Haley screamed.

"It's okay Haley," Lucas said, "Of course I did. They have to wait until your birthday though." James made a loud groan and made his way into the house.

"I'm sorry about him," Haley said.

"Don't worry," Lucas said as they laughed.

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"Do you wanna come with me to Nathan and Haley's or go to the hotel?" Brooke asked after she and Chase got their bags.

"I'll go to the hotel with our bags and you can go to Nathan and Haley's."

"Are you sure?" Brooke asked.

"Positive, have fun," he said kissing her on the cheek.

Brooke took her purse and took a cab to Nathan and Haley's house. She hoped she could talk to Haley alone before anyone else came.

KNOCK, KNOCK

Brooke waited patiently at the door.

"Brooke! I'm so happy you made it!" Haley said pulling her old friend into a hug.

"I wouldn't miss it!"

"I thought someone was coming with you," Haley said pulling her inside and closing the door.

"Chase came but went to the hotel after the flight."

"Chase Adams? You guys are together again?"

"Yea, why are you so surprised?"

"I'm not! I'm happy for you," Haley said nodding.

"You're happy for whom?" Lucas said coming into the room.

"Brooke," Lucas and Haley said in unison.

"Hey Lucas," Brooke said giving him a small smile.

"Hi."

"Ok, James has been asking for you. I'll get him," Haley said leaving them alone.

"How have you been Brooke?"

"Good, I heard you asked for me," Brooke said walking over to the couch.

"Really? I heard the same about you."

"Just curious…"Brooke smiled at him. He missed that smile.

"Brooke!" James screamed and ran up to Brooke. She picked him up and hugged him tightly.

"I missed you Brooke!"

"I missed you too. But before you ask, I have one present here for you. The other one is for your birthday." Brooke handed him a neatly wrapped present. He quickly tore it open and smiled at what he saw. It was a brand new basketball.

"It's just what I wanted!" James smiled.

"A little birdie told me," Brooke said bending down and playing with his hair.

"Thanks Brooke!" James said and then ran to the backyard and started playing with the new basketball. The adults were left inside with an uncomfortable silence.

"Couch?" Haley asked as they nodded and all took a seat, "What have you been doing Brooke?"

"Same stuff, I still sketch and I'm an intern at Vogue. It's all working out for me finally."

"That's good. I talked to Peyton about her and Jake coming. She didn't know yet."

"I haven't spoken to her in like a year."

"You have talked to her?" Brooke asked jealous that it was her who he kept in touch with.

"Yea, once in a while though."

"She's still with Jake?" Brooke asked.

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"Jake, answer the phone. It's Peyton again." Peyton called him and left messages until his mailbox was full. She cried until there were no tears left. She then checked her voice mail to see if he called.

"Hey Peyton, its Haley. James is turning five and it would be great if you could come to celebrate with us. Jake and Jenny are also invited. Call me back. Bye." Peyton packed a bag, stuffed her cell phone in her pocket and started driving to the airport.

"Hello," Haley said answering her phone.

"Hi, it's Peyton."

"Oh, hi! Did you get my message?"

"Yea, I'm on my way. I'm boarding the plane now."

"Great! Are Jake and Jenny coming?"

"No, it's a long story. I'll tell you when I'm there."

"Ok, Brooke and Lucas are here. We'll see you when you get here. Bye."

"Bye."

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Peyton got off the plane and was surprised to see a familiar face standing there with a smile on his face.

"Nathan Scott? Here for me?" Peyton asked smiling as she spoke.

"Who else would I be here for?" he asked pulling her in for a long hug.

"How are Haley and James?"

"Great, what about Jake and Jenny?"

"Jake and I are actually on a break," Peyton said looking down.

"Um…let's go," Nathan said taking one of her bags as they walked to his car, "I'm sorry about Jake," Nathan said when they got into the car.

"Stuff happens, I'm happy for you and Haley. She's lucky to have non- Nathan." They shared a laugh.

"I guess that's a compliment so thank you," Peyton smiled at him.

"I feel the same thing I felt about you in high school," Peyton said recalling old memories.

"Like when we were dating?" Nathan asked raising his eyebrows.

"No, like I felt after you were a jerk," Peyton laughed. They got to his house and took the bags with them. They opened the door to see Lucas, Brooke, Haley, and James in the living room.

"Peyton!" Haley and Brooke screamed as they greeted her at the door. They hugged her one by one.

"Lucas, what's going on?" Peyton asked hugging him.

"Nothing, just catching up with Haley and Brooke," he said as she joined him on the couch he was sitting on.

"Yea, it's been a while and I've missed all of you," Peyton said finally taking her eyes off Lucas and moving them to the others. There was another awkward silence. It was never like this, how did they get this way?

"I got to go now," Brooke said looking at the time on her phone.

"Bye Brooke," Haley said hugging her.

"See ya Brooke," Peyton said. Nathan waved and Lucas followed her outside.

"Brooke, I just wanted to know if you read that letter I left for you," Lucas asked as she searched her phonebook for Chase's number.

"Um…yea?" Brooke said.

"So, you didn't," Lucas said closing her phone while she was dialing.

"Nope," Brooke said wishing she did.

"Do you still have it?"

"Yea, why? Do you want me to read it?"

"I'm kind of happy you didn't. It would be really awkward right now if you did," he said sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Like it isn't already?" Brooke said laughing.

"Yea, I know. Do you need a ride to the hotel?"

"I'm not going to the hotel. I was going to get a coffee at the café."

"I'll take you if you want; I was just about to leave."

"Alright," Brooke said as they walked to his car together.

"So, any Pucas when Peyton moved to Chicago?" Brooke asked to break the silence.

"Pucas?" Lucas laughed.

"Yea, Peyton and Lucas, Pucas."

"No, she's married to Jake."

"Before them?"

"Why does it matter Brooke?"

"I don't know Peyton and I had a talk after you left."

"About what?"

"Stuff," Brooke said smirking.

"Alright we're here," Lucas said stopping at the front of the café. Brooke didn't immediately get out when he stopped.

"Do you want to come in with me?" Brooke asked.

"What about Chase?"

"What about Chase?" Brooke said as he followed her into the café.