Disclaimer: I do not have even a tenth of the genius that Mark Schwann possesses, therefore I own nothing of Tree Hill or its characters. I simply make a few new ones to play in their world for a bit. :)

Last Time:

"I just wish you were coming with me. I don't know when I'll see you next since I'm not sure when I'm coming back. Will I see you before…" she trailed off.

Peyton closed her eyes at Jessie's question. It pained her every time she brought up the inevitable.

"Hey don't talk like that. Of course I will see you soon. Maybe after I find out what this sudden road trip is all about I'll come visit you in Tree Hill and you can show me all of your favorite hangouts, as well as some of the sights. How does that sound?" When Jessie didn't respond Peyton's smile fell, and she continued more seriously, "Jess, I will come and meet you in North Carolina. You are one of my best friends, and I am just not ready to say goodbye to you yet, so I will say 'see you later,' and I will. Okay?"

"Okay," Jessie finally said with a glimmer of a smile.

"That's my girl," Peyton said as she waved once more and headed out the door.

Chapter 4 - The Trip

When Peyton got home she went to her beloved record collection to find solace in the lyrics that have always brought her such comfort. There were not too many to choose from as most of her collection had to stay in Tree Hill, but she had made due thus far. She thought over some of the revelations that Mr. Sorenson mad this afternoon. She was so happy for Jessie and the Thompsons that they now had the ability to spend as much time as they had left together. However, she had to admit, however selfishly, that she was a bit disappointed. She had so been looking forward to showing Jessie around Tree Hill. Whatever this trip of Brooke's was, it had better be good!

As she was thinking of all the fun Jessie would have in Tree Hill there was a knock on the door, followed, almost simultaneously, and a loud thump, as if something bigger than a fist had hit the door. As she got up to unlock and open the door, she heard a muffled "ow!" through the wood. When she finally got the door open, she found a confused Brooke Davis trying to rub her arm and her forehead at the same time. With a laugh Peyton greeted the woman enthusiastically, as it had been nearly a year since the two had seen each other.

"B. Davis! Don't you know that you have to open the door before you simply try to walk through it?" she asked with a laugh as she hugged her best friend.

"Well what happened to the P. Sawyer I used to know that never locked her door?" was the reply.

"She moved to L.A. which is a much more dangerous place than Tree Hill."

"Says the girl who got shot at school and was nearly killed by her psycho stalker, who is friends with the woman who almost lost her unborn child after being hit by a car driven by a vengeful loan shark, and whose ex-boyfriend's father…"

"Okay, okay I get it," Peyton interrupted, "if you continue to list all of the dangerous things that have happened in Tree Hill you could go on forever, which I know is your point." The girls laughed and caught up for a while until Peyton's curiosity got the best of her. "So, what's with the road trip Brooke? I had plans this weekend that, no offense, were important and I was greatly looking forward to them."

"You quit your job at the label right?" When Peyton nodded, Brooke continued, "then I have a proposition for you. You drive, and I'll talk," she said as she got up and headed for the door.

"Wait a second Brooke. All of this is about a business deal that could have been told to me over the phone, in an email, or here in L.A.?" she asked incredulously. "Why mess up my weekend plans and schedule a mysterious, spur of the moment road trip to who knows where, for that?"

"I told you, you drive, and I'll talk. Just trust me P."

Peyton paused momentarily before grabbing her keys and preceding Brooke out the door.

"Whatever this is about, had better be amazing B. Davis."

A/N: This is VERY late, much more so than I wanted it to be, but here it is. I know that it is short, but I did warn you all of that in the last a/n. As promised, the next chapter will be much longer, but although it is partially written, I will not make any promises of when it will be up. I am terrible at keeping my promised to my loyal readers and I am SO sorry about that. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoyed what little there is.

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