A/N: I don't own anything to do with One Tree Hill
First of all, thanks to all the awesome people that have read, reviewed, added the story to alerts and added author alerts as well! I really appreciate it; it means the world to me! Now on with the story!
Brooke opened the front door with some difficulty, considering the amount of shopping bags in her hands.
"Hey babe, I'm home!" she called from the foyer
"I see you have carved a dint in our credit card" he said, descending the stairs
"Well, husband, that's what joint accounts are for" Brooke said as she pecked her husband on the lips.
"Hmm…considering you are carrying our child…I guess I'll forgive you" he said
"Speaking of kids, guess whose I saw today?" Brooke asked as she flopped onto the couch
"Jake Jagielskis'" Brooke said
He thought for a moment, then his eyes widened with realisation
"Jenny? She must be…."
"12 years old? Yeah"' Brooke finished for him
"Did you see Jake?" he asked
"No, but Jenny gave me their home number" Brooke said as she sat down on the couch
"How do you know that my Dad's name is Jake?"
"I went to high school with him, I knew you as a baby, Jen" Brooke said in amazement, calling the girl by her baby nickname
"I don't believe you...Dad would have mentioned you" Jenny said looking strangely at her idol
Brooke looked at the girl for a moment then retrieved her wallet from her Chanel bag. She pulled out a photo from the display pocket. Brooke gave it Jenny.
"This was taken when you were a baby, Jenny. We are at a place called the river court. There's your dad see? Brooke pointed the tall lanky brown haired boy. And there I am" she said, pointing to her former self.
Jenny looked at the photo and her gaze landed on someone eerily familiar.
"Who's that?" she asked, pointing to the curly blonde haired girl, standing next to Brooke
"You don't remember her, Jenny?" Brooke asked, surprised.
Jenny started to shake her head, until she noticed her fathers eyes staring at the chicken legged girl in the picture.
"That's Peyton isn't it?" the young girl asked
"Yes, it is. She loved you very much"
Jenny thought for a moment. She had vague memories of the person, standing between Brooke and a very attractive blonde. Her father had mentioned Peyton a handful of times over the years, and when he did he always seemed distant and sad.
"Who's the fox standing next to you?" Jenny asked suddenly, changing the subject from the girl who broke her father's heart
Brooke smiled widely, showing her dimples.
"That's my husband. He was good friends with your father. He'd love to know what Jake is up to"
The girl grabbed a card out of her pocket, and handed it to Brooke "This is my dad's business card, maybe he could call Dad?" Jenny suggested
"Sure thing, Jenny." Brooke scribbled her mobile phone number on her business card. "Call me and we can arrange for you and your friends to have a private tour of my store, ok?"
"Ok!!" the teenage girl said excitedly
"Bye, Jenny"
"Bye, Brooke, talk to you soon!"
"Wow, Brooke" Lucas said
"I know" Brooke said quietly
"It's been so long" Lucas said
"Yeah, do you think he knows?" she asked looking at her husband nervously
"About Peyton? I don't think so" he thought
"Maybe you should ring him" Brooke suggested
"Yeah, maybe"
"Luke, you more than anyone know how life surprises you" Brooke said as she rubbed her baby bump. "Maybe this is life's way of telling us that we have lost touch with people that once meant the world to us"
"When did you become so wise, Mrs Scott" he asked, looking fondly at his wife
"Comes with motherhood" Brooke said as she skipped towards the kitchen
Nathan stood in the elevator, ignoring the staring from the other occupants.
It felt like eternity, but the doors opened to the 11th floor. He walked up the reception.
"I'm looking for Barrage" he grunted
"Mr Barrage is away on business today, but you are seeing his associate" said the older looking woman behind the desk.
"Whatever lead the way" he said
They walked down a series of halls until she knocked on a random mahogany door
"Sir, your 2pm is here"
"Send him in" a vaguely familiar said within the room
Nathan walked into the office, and was instantly surprised with who was supposed to be representing him.
"Jake"
"Nathan" Jake said stoically. Jake was a little ticked that Andrew had decided to take the San Francisco side of the case. But he couldn't afford to leave Jenny alone that long, plus Nathan would be the easier of the two to interact with.
"So how have you been?" Nathan said, looking clearly uncomfortable
"Fine. Now let's get to the case. I have read your file, and it seems your wife wants the house in San Francisco, the villa in Tuscany, and her car"
"Ok, but Jake- Nathan said remorsefully
"She claims that you can keep the country house in England, your house that you owned prior to the, um, marriage and the 2 other cars" Jake said reading from the file
"Yes fine but-" Nathan interjected
"Now, she will get 2 million dollars, as per your pre nup" Jake continued
"I know but Jake"
"Look Nathan, I'm trying to get through this case as quickly as possible, considering who your wife is" Jake said, finally looking up at Nathan, hurt flashing in his eyes
"Just let me explain what happened" Nathan pleaded
"Well something obviously happened, since the time I saw you, you were married to Haley and your wife left me for Lucas" Jake said painfully
"Look, Peyton and I-"
"You and Peyton, what? Got married 5 years ago, and now are getting a divorce. I can see that right here, Nathan." Jake said fiercely
"Ok, fair enough"
"Is there any other assets you want in the separation because my colleague is in San Francisco organising her side of the settlement." Jake said
"No, there isn't"
"Ok then, my assistant will contact you when this stage is finalised" Jake said, closing the file in front of him.
"Jake" Nathan tried again
"I'm sorry, Nathan, it was"-Jake paused-"good to see you but I am extremely busy. I will speak to you soon" as he lowered his head again and began to read the next file on the desk.
"Bye" Nathan said. This was the first time since Peyton had sent the divorce papers that Nathan really understood how their marriage destroyed not only the two people in it, but the people who had truly loved them.
Haley walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. She had received the call from her record company that the artwork for her album would be late. This made her nervous, considering this was the first time this had happened in her 10 year career. Rod Green, her contact from the art department gave a vague excuse for this. Now it was a waiting game.
The door bell sounded just as the kettle started whistling. She opened the door, and was greeted by a UFS delivery man.
"Haley James?"
"Yes?"
"Sign this" handing her a pen and ledger
Haley printed her signature, and the delivery man handed her a wrapped box.
"Thanks"
Haley closed the door, and opened the box. Inside was a box was copies of her finished album. On the cover, was a familiar drawing style that she had not seen in over 10 years. There was a drawn image, "sometimes they come back" with a two hands linked.
A handwritten note accompanied the first CD in the box.
"It's always been you"-Peyton
Haley picked up the phone and dialled her record company's number
"Joey D, its Haley."
"Hey, H. What's up?" he asked his favourite client
"I need the number of the woman who did my cover art" Haley asked
"Peyton Sawyer? The number is 533-555-344.Why?" asked her manager
"I just want to give her some feedback" she suggested
"Ok, H.J, see you tomorrow"
"Yeah, Bye"
Her hand trembled as she dialled the SoCal number
"This is Peyton"
"Peyton? It's Haley" she said quietly
"Haley, I thought I would be hearing from you" Peyton said frankly
"What's the deal with the album cover?" Haley asked, getting straight to the point
"Look, Haley, what happened between Nathan and I was a mistake"
"You think?" she said sarcastically
Peyton sighed. She knew this conversation was going to be hard, but Haley had toughened up over the years.
"You married him Peyton!" Haley exclaimed
"Yes but I have spent the last 5 years wishing I was with something else, and he was wishing I was you" Peyton admitted
"I don't think so, if he wanted me so much, he wouldn't have divorced me" Haley said
"He was hurting, Haley"
"Well too bad, I've moved on with my life, and so should he" Haley lied
"You don't get it Haley. He hasn't moved on since you 10 years ago" Peyton said, trying to get through to her former friend
"You could have fooled me, Mrs Scott" Haley said scathingly
"Look, I wanted to sort this out, Haley but obviously you have changed over the last 10 years" Peyton said disapprovingly
"No, Peyton, I just wasn't the one who stole Lucas from Brooke twice then up and married my ex-honey!" Haley cried
"Yeah because you left town" Peyton said quietly
"Okkk Peyton, maybe you should just go steal another husband"
Haley slammed the phone down, and started crying.
That's chapter 2, folks, please read and review, and I will update ASAP!