Phoebe went to the mall alone. She had changed her plans and went into the shop. Of course she knew that she was not aloud to spend so much money but she did not care at all when she saw the big bike and knew that this would make Jamie very happy.

She smiled happily when she imagined how Jamie would look at her. There was no way that Julian or Brooke or anyone would make her stop buying this bike. It was still her money. She knew how much Jamie wanted it and she wanted to have a cool present for him too. So she bought the very expensive bike without hesitation. Of course it was way too big for her, so she had to wheel it out of the shop.

She was glad that she still had a credit card from Victoria and that nobody had asked her how old she was or why she had a credit card. With a big smile on her face she went outside with the bicycle but stopped in shock when she met someone she never wanted to meet again.

The new girl in her school and one class over her, a junior, was standing in front of her. She had long brown hair and was dressed in black and brown. She was wearing a black shirt with a band on the front that Phoebe did not know. Phoebe would never dress like that and looked disgusted up at her and then at him. So the rumors were really true.

Joshua had replaced her with that emo chick that was not only older but way bigger than she was too.

Phoebe looked mad at them but decided to leave as fast as possible. She hoped they would not talk to her, she was just not in the mood to start a fight and angry with Joshua and hurt as well. It was never easy to be replaced that fast, even if you did not really miss the other person.

His new girlfriend saw her and tried to be nice to her, which made her even more furious, "Hello Phoebe.", the girl was really not trying to start a fight, especially now after coming back to Tree Hill and being the new girl at school. But Phoebe just looked furiously at her.

"I don't talk to bitches.", she said back trying to sound calmly.

Of course Joshua's girlfriend was no one, who did not know what to say back and answered immediately, "Well, I've heard you talking to yourself.", she laughed and got an evil look from Phoebe. But Phoebe decided not to start a fight today.

"Look. Phoebe. I am sorry but...", Joshua went to her but Phoebe just shook her head.

"I feel really dumb that I thought you were different.", with that she left them and went to Jamie's house.

xxxxxx

Jamie was shocked when he went outside with her and saw the bike," Happy Birthday. Well, it's not your birthday any more but...I had no present. So...now I have one.", Jamie could not believe it and went to the bike and smiled happily.

"Thank you so much. You are the best", he hugged Phoebe and started cycling the bike, "C'mon.", he pulled Phoebe on it as well and they cycled along the street. Phoebe was so glad to have Jamie in her life and forgot Joshua and his new girlfriend for a moment.

xxxxxxxx

Meanwhile Brooke and Julian sat on the couch again and opened the letter. Both of them took a deep breath and then started reading.

"Dear Brooke, my oldest daughter,

I am sorry for every pain I added in your life, which is pretty much. Don't look so stunned. I know that I was never the mother you wanted or deserved.

I am happy that Phoebe and you found each other's and when I look at you two I am so proud and hope that your futures will be happy ones and that you two manage to build up the lives you deserve and want.

I know you have a lot of questions and I will try answering them.

Phoebe was conceived through an affair I was having some years ago. It was just an escape from, well, to be true, I don't really know from what- but Phoebe's father made me forget my miserable marriage for a while.

When I realized that I could not do this any more to your father, although I knew that he was having affairs too, Phoebe's father did not want to accept it.

When I said that I would leave him he hurt me that bad that I ended up in the hospital for days. That was the night the doctors told me that I was pregnant.

Phoebe was definitely not conceived by choice and I thought about an abortion for a long time. Don't ask me why I did not abort. I don't know it either!

Nine months later I held that little girl in my arms that looked exactly like you and I was glad that I did not abort her but on the same time I was very sad.

Richard knew that she was not his child because we weren't intimate for a long time. I lied to him that Phoebe's father had forced me every time and somehow this made us get closer again and he wanted to protect me. Even from Phoebe.

I am sorry that I lied to you, that Phoebe was your distant cousin but somehow I felt safer not telling you the truth and you weren't living with us any more back then, so I hoped that you would never know the truth.

I was ashamed. Phoebe was an incredible child. She made me laugh and talked so much nonsense. She reminded me so much of you and made me realize that I had done so much wrong with you. And then she reminded me of her father every day. I hated him and I made him responsible for everything that went wrong in my life.

He made me feel vulnerable and he made me think about my past and future.

And then he gave me my little precious Phoebe. A daughter I loved so much but on the other hand hated so much as well.

I know you probably won't understand this but when she was three I gave her to him.

I can still hear her crying after me and I knew that he would not build up a good home for Phoebe but Richard did not want her any more and I could not look into her eyes every day and reminding me of him.

I know it was wrong and every day I thought of her. I often just drove to them and looked out of my car window. I hate me so much that I did not get her back. I remember when I saw her as a six year old one playing outside and having bruises all over her body and her arm in a cast.

I ran towards her and she did not even recognize me. When I wanted her to come with me she screamed after her dad and at first she did not believe me that I was her mom although I gave her a picture of her and me and you as well.

But when she finally did believe me she said that she hated me and I could see it in her eyes that it was true and I realized that she had every reason to do so. I don't know why but I yelled at her and called her a brat and that even you hate her and then I never saw her again. I still sent money but that was it.

I did not know that her father died or that she was alone on the street. The next time I met her was in your shop and all those feelings were coming back. You probably hate me now.

Even more than before but you have every right to do so. As weird as it may sounds I love you two and I wish I could take it all back. I don't know what really happened at home with Phoebe and him and I pray to god that he "only" hit her.

I am so happy that you two finally are together and I know that you two will take care of each others. I wish I could stay in your life but for now, it is better not to bother you.

In love,

your mom."

Brooke was crying in Julian's arms. Not only had she realized that her mother was a broken woman but she had even worse images of her little sister with bruises now.

And moreover she hated to feel a bit pity for her mom. Victoria had hurt her so much in the past and now she was reading this letter and somehow she wished she could talk to her mother right now. Of course the letter had answered some of her questions but it was totally different to actually talk about the past with her mother. But of course this was not going to happen because Victoria had already left town. Again.

Brooke wanted Phoebe to tell her everything that had happened in the past but she could not push her. She knew that the past was a sensitive theme for Phoebe and Brooke wanted to try everything to help Phoebe feeling safe and at home with them.

Julian held her tight and kissed her head. They stayed like this for a while until Phoebe came into the house and went over to them.

"I have to tell you something.", Phoebe whispered from behind the couch and took her arms around both of them.

Brooke and Julian turned around and looked confused at her. She was dirty all over and had a little bruise on her face that was definitely hurting. But what confused them more was her expression. She kind of had a guilt-face.

"What happened?", Julian asked worried and hoped that she had not been in another fight.

"I...I kinda...umm...fell from Jamie's new bike.", she stuttered and looked away.

Brooke and Julian looked at each other's and suppressed a laugh. Of course they knew what she was going to tell.

"Oooky, go on.", Brooke said and Phoebe nodded.

"Um...well...I never feel guilty about not listening to anyone but you two now make me feel very bad because I did not listen to you. This is your entire fault. I...kinda...um...bought him the bike although you forbid me to do so.", she kept on and added "and I am really, really sorry but I did not have a good present and I wanted him to have this bike because he wanted it sooooo bad. I know I am probably grounded now but you should over think this because I just told you the truth and did not lie to you."

Julian and Brooke laughed.

"You can start breathing now.", Brooke said and took her hand.

"Where did you have the money from?", Julian asked Phoebe and she looked with wide eyes at him. She had not thought about that question and she definitely did not want to give her credit card away.

"Um...I...", she stuttered and Julian and Brooke took her hand, so that she was sitting in between them.

"Phoebe?", Brooke asked again and Phoebe looked from one to another.

"Okay. Look. I still have this...um credit card with a bunch of money on it from Victoria.", Julian immediately held out his hand and Phoebe knew what he meant with his gesture. "Oh c'mon. You cannot take everything from me. Pleeeeaase.", she whined and tried her puppy face but it did not work.

"You are horrible persons.", she said and gave the card to Julian "how am I supposed to go shopping now?", her arms were crossed in front of her and she kicked a book down from the table.

"You still have your pocket money.", Brooke said back.

"Yeah right. Which I think you should increase.", Phoebe smiled at them.

"And why is that so?", Julian smiled back.

"Because everyone in my class gets more than I do."

"Well, we increase it with every birthday.", Brooke said and Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Okay, look. Although I am the youngest at school, I have the same desires. You have to stop seeing me as a child but as a...um...a freshman."

"And how do we have to treat a freshman?", Brooke asked confused while smiling because of the conversation they were having.

"With respect and as an adult who can have his own credit cards and decide what is wrong and right for herself.", Phoebe smiled proudly but looked shocked at Brooke and Julian when they burst out into laughing, "It's not funny.", she slapped both of them softly and tried to get free when Brooke and Julian almost hugged her to death.

"So, I am not grounded, right?", Phoebe then asked.

"You are not grounded and we are very proud of you that you told us the truth but you still get a punishment."

Phoebe rolled her eyes "and what is it?".

"You have to help me at the store cause I am going to design new kid's clothes and I hope you're still my model."

Phoebe smiled "Sweet. Of course I am. Your bruised model.", Phoebe pointed at her cheek, "Jamie is such an idiot sometimes. He drove so fast that we crashed into a stupid tree and now the bike needs a new tire, which I am not going to buy by the way."

"I wouldn't do that either.", Julian smiled.

"You too need a bike Phoebe right?", he asked and Phoebe looked up at him.

"I cannot ride a bike, so I don't need one."

"Oookay, you could not swim either but now you want to do it all the time, so I'll show you how to ride next weekend.", Julian suggested but Phoebe shook her head.

"No way, I will fall of it again and break a bone. I hate breaking a bone.", she went to the refrigerator and took some juice when Brooke's mobile rang.

"Hey Haley. What? No! Oh my god! Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I saw her yesterday. She is back in Tree Hill.", Haley answered immediately.