Howdy! WOW what a week, my brain is still trying to grasp it all. Well lets just hope for a better one next week shall we?
Well another update is here, this one is one of those major changes that I did to the story, Hope you like it, as always thank you to those of you who review each and ever chapter.

Chapter 14

Julian Baker walked into the house he lived in with his fiancée, it was Brooke's house, she bought it. Well before they started dating but he really didn't mind at all. What he did mind though was the rather pained look on Brooke's face when he walked into the kitchen.

"Brooke what is going on here?" he asked Brooke looked up startled he wasn't meant to be home yet, she was just about to call him to ask him what to do, but having him home was better it was always better. Sighing Brooke didn't know where to start, he'd only ever heard the bad stories of Haley. She had never once told him any of the good things. Things like how they used to be inseparable, that it was Brooke who hid her for the weekend after Haley's dad had died. The reason being the letters in front of her, over the last seven years she had gotten numerous letters from Haley, none of them good and never with a return address. This is what kept her in a constant state of anger towards her best friend, these hate filled, and spiteful letters that she had gotten, ones she had not once dared to show any of their friends. She guessed that was stupid as they all thought she was still mad because they had left.

"Nathan and Haley are back" Brooke knew from the look on Julian's face that he was not impressed and she really couldn't blame him but after Jamie today, and what he had said she was starting to wonder who these letters were really from. Where they from Haley? Did her friend hate her that much was that why she had to find out from a five year old that they were back in town? It couldn't be, as much as one could try no one she knew could make a five year old say the things he had said if his mother hated her like Brooke thought.

"Well, are you going to go over there and give her a piece of your mind, tell her what a lousy person she is, because if you aren't then I sure as hell will" said Julian picking up one of the more spiteful letters. When he saw that, she wasn't going to move he got up and headed towards the door.

"Julian wait"

"Brooke I want to meet these so called friends of yours. You've stayed up every night you got a letter from them crying. They deserve to know what they did hurt you." Brooke knew he had a point, walking over to him, she took the letter.

"Then I'll go, there would be no use in you going, even if they have changed. Nathan would never let you in the door. Stay I'll be back."

Brooke looked up at the house that Haley and Nathan lived in. She had gotten the address out of Peyton who had been reluctant but had finally given in after Brooke's incessant badgering of her. She was in two minds, she wanted to go off at them for leaving her, but she also wanted to find out why they had left. Biting her lip she pressed the door bell and stood back waiting. It was about a minute later that she heard someone running to answer the door. She heard it unlock but and was about to be opened when she heard Karen.

"Jamie ask who it is first," she said Brooke smiled as the little boy did as he was told and asked. But she couldn't help but think that Julian was right, if Karen knew, that meant the rest of their families knew, and probably the rest of the town as well. But they had left her out, she wouldn't take it out on Jamie, it wasn't his fault.

"It's Brooke, Jamie I met you this afternoon." she said the door was then flung open and a grinning Jamie stood in front of her. He took her hand and dragged her inside and through to the informal living room that was across from the kitchen.

"See the pictures I was telling you about" he said pointing to the photos that sat all over the wall unit that held the plasma TV in the middle of it.

Brooke looked at the photo frames to see that they were indeed filled with photos from when they were teenagers. The one that caught Brooke's eye was a handmade one. It was clear Jamie had made it but it was what was written in very neat hand writing that teachers had, was 'mummy and her bestest friend' in it was a photo and Haley and Brooke with their arms around each other laughing at the camera.

"I made it at day care back in California. Miss Emily did the writing." said Jamie beaming up at Brooke.

"Jamie why don't you go grab the one in your room, to show Aunt Brooke?" Karen asked Jamie nodded and ran upstairs.

"Nathan and Haley will be home soon. They went out to dinner. Well I made them. They needed a date night, after this afternoon. Give them a chance Brooke" she said as Jamie came running down the stairs. He came back out with a photo frame. He handed it to Brooke who had a look at it, she smiled it was the last photo she, Lucas, Nathan and Haley had gotten together. It was taken just after Haley and Nathan started dating and at the time she had been dating Lucas.

"Mama gave me this last year. She also gave me one with grandma and grandpa and Grandma Karen and Grandpa Keith. She said that her daddy was an angel and that he sent me to her cos he couldn't be with her. That's why my name is James just like grandpa," Brooke smiled and handed him the picture as the front door opened and Nathan and Haley came in, Brooke could hear Haley laughing at something and Nathan grumbling.

"I am not old" said Nathan Haley laughed and turned to look at him the hand that wasn't linked into his came up and rested on his cheek.

"No you're not, but Nathan she is a teenager. A young teenager anyone older than 20 is old to her. If it makes you feel better, the woman behind the bar was practically undressing you with her eyes. She gave you and the whole bar a great look down her top when you went to get me another drink." said Haley Nathan laughed so that was why Haley had got up and sat on his lap giving him a kiss that made him wish they were at home.

"Well that explains the kiss, not that I didn't enjoy it but you know my eyes don't wonder" he said Haley laughed and let go of his hand and wrapped both hands around his neck.

"That kiss was for her. I passed her coming back from the bathroom; she was talking to someone about getting you away from your sister. I look nothing like Lilly. And I made damn sure she knew that" she said before kissing him again, Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist getting lost in the kiss till he felt Jamie pulling on his jeans. Both Nathan and Haley looked down at their son who was used to his parents make out sessions.

"Isn't it past your bedtime mister?" Haley asked ruffling her son's hair.

"Grandma Karen and Aunt Brooke are in the kitchen" was Jamie's reply Haley looked up at Nathan a little worried about what their pissed off friend was doing here.

"Brooke?"

"Yep I was showing her our photos, the one in the frame I made at day care"
Haley smiled and bent down to pick him up. She rested him on her hip as they headed out to the kitchen. Karen smiled at her son and daughter in law. She went to say something when Brooke walked over to them.

"Welcome home Hales"

"Brookie, I've missed y- Before Haley could make her way over to Brooke she saw something in her friend change, it was like a switch had been flipped, the look on Brooke's face suddenly got dark menacing even.

"Did you really? Seven years is a long time and as much as I want to listen to Karen and give you a chance to explain. There is a voice in my head that says you've had so many chances to explain, why do it now? I look around here and can clearly you've been here for some time. A Month at least and you seemed to have managed finding your families perfectly fine. Jamie knows Lilly, Karen and Quinn but I was left out of everything. Oh if you're wondering what I'm talking about with the chances, let me refresh your memory, the letters they really made my day when I got them. Well the first one did, I thought my best friend was actually going to explain what the hell was going through her mind when she decided to leave with her boyfriend half way through our junior year. Boy was I wrong. Also please for your son at least; stop pretending you care about me, because these letters, and the complete and utter lack of well any mention to me that you've been back this long say otherwise, have fun, with your families, but stay the hell away from me. I don't want to know I don't care. I gave up caring a long time ago" Brooke opened her bag and placed the letters she had received on the counter then glaring at them one more time walked out. Karen looked over at Haley who stood there in shock; so much so that Jamie slid down off her hip and walked over towards his grandmother all of them wondering what the hell had just happened.

"Grandma Karen, why did Aunt Brooke yell at mama, she was happy with the photo's right?" Jamie asked. Karen shrugged she really didn't know why Brooke had done that, it confused her as much as it confused Jamie, she seemed happy to see the photo's she even looked happy to see Haley and Nathan, then it all changed.

"I don't know buddy, I thought she was happy as well, but your dad will figure it out, just watch by this time next week your mama and Aunt Brooke will be friends again" Jamie nodded he wasn't so sure about that but he'd go with whatever his grandma said he looked up at her as she took his hand in hers, tilting her head they quietly left Nathan and Haley in the kitchen, as Haley had said it was past his bedtime.

Haley walked over to the counter and picked up the first letter off the pile that Brooke had left behind. She sat down on a bar stool and began to read it. Tears fell down her face as she read what had apparently been written by her.

Dear Brooke,
I guess you know by now that I left and was able to talk Nathan into coming with me. You know I have thought about it and I really can't see where or how we became friends. Sure we had a few things in common but nothing that should have kept us as friends.
I mean look at us we are two totally different people and yet we got along. So tell me something how is that?

Haley

Haley looked up and at the ceiling how could she think I wrote these? She thought as she felt Nathan rest a hand on her shoulder, placing the first one down she pick up another.

Dear Brooke,

How is it someone with your street smarts can be so dumb? I mean just look at you, you start a business in Tree Hill of all places, do you not think that maybe Tree Hill is a little too small? You could do so much more if you left that stupid little town with all those close minded people. But then again you are just like them aren't you? Stupid and close minded so I guess you fit right in there. Tree Hill will never be a part of Nathan's or my life again. Even at a young age we could tell how ridicules it would be to stay, shame the same can't be said about you. But then again you did fail the class life skills didn't you?

Haley

Haley looked up at Nathan, who wrapped his arms around her shoulders. How could Brooke think that she wrote these? They were cruel and cold hearted, and what the hell was life skills?

"Nathan, how-

"I don't know Hales, trust me if I knew I wou- Damn it...Dan it had to be, he was still living here he would know whatever the hell this life skills class is. If it wasn't him directly he had to have paid someone off. I'm so sorry babe. I will fix this I- I don't know how but I will" He said kissing the top of her head. Haley nodded and got up.

"I just I need some space ok. I'm going to head up to bed, make sure Jamie is actually sleep and not just faking it" Nathan nodded and watched her walked away, he wanted to kick Brooke in the ass for this, what on earth gave her the idea that, Haley would ever send her best friend something so mean and spiteful. Looking up as his mother walked back into the kitchen he sighed and lent against the counter top.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to Nathan, however I do suggest you call Peyton maybe she can talk some sense into Brooke. Jamie is reading one more story I said until either you or Haley came in. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you my baby boy" she said as she grabbed her things and kissed him on the cheek.

"Love you mum, thanks again for watching Jamie"

"It's what grandmothers are for honey, to spoil our grandchildren rotten and fill them with sugar then give them back." Nathan laughed and nodded, he'd remember that next time Lilly was over here for dinner, and use that line against her.

"Remember call Peyton" Nathan waved as he watched his mother walk out the front door, before he sighed again, well this entire day hadn't really gone his way at all, he only hoped tomorrow would be different.

Lucas looked up as Peyton walked into their study she looked like she was ready to go somewhere although the look on her face was hardly amused.

"Nathan called; Brooke did her monster thing at their house in front of, Haley, Nathan, Karen and Jamie. Nathan wanted me to go and kick some sense into that friend of mine. So I'll be back later." Lucas nodded, he knew something like this was bound to happen; Brooke was a live wire sometimes, he also knew that Julian probably had something to do with it. He'd heard nothing good from Brooke about the other Scott family.

"Be safe and punch Julian for me"

"Will do"

This wasn't the first time she had ended up on Brooke's door step late at night, but it was the first time that she was playing messenger. Nathan had wanted to come with her but Peyton had thought it best for her to come on her own; she knew what he was like, he might have changed over the years but the Scott temper was something that never changed and when it came to Haley...well Nathan just like Lucas, had a one track mind hurt the person who hurt the woman he loved.

As she rang the door bell, Peyton pulled out the A4 envelope that Nathan had given her she smiled as Brooke answered the door.

"That was fast, I honestly didn't expect anyone till tomorrow, what excuse did she use on you?"

"When you know the full story you'll feel like a goose, can I come in?" Peyton asked, Brooke nodded and walked over to the lounge where Julian was sitting, Peyton headed over there as well, passing Julian and punching him.

"From Lucas, now Nathan and Haley wanted to tell you this but as you have been a world class Brookie Monster, or as Haley said when I went to talk to her an excellent interpretation of Bitchtoria; they said I could tell you" Peyton then placed the envelope on the coffee table. Brooke looked at her friend and waited, as Peyton told her what she had only just been able to process herself she watched the colour drain out of Brooke's face.

"So now you know why they left. I'm going to drop another bomb on you and tell you that the first person to know wasn't Karen, Keith or Lydia; it wasn't even Lucas, Quinn or I. It was Lilly who is in Haley's English class. It took them three weeks to tell us. Haley was scared what of how you were going to react, and from what I'm told she had you pegged B. Davis. Now as for this, she wanted you to read them. Both of you" Brooke looked at the envelope before she grabbed it tipped it out. A few letters fell out and a photo that fell to the floor, she picked up the first letter and read it.

To my dearest Brookie,
I know you must be fuming, and thinking she stood me up for that dam boyfriend of hers. Yeah I know you pretty well Brooke Penelope Davis; I know how your mind works I've been your friend for too long to not know how it ticks. You and Luke are too easy. Trust me when I say this, this isn't what I wanted or how I wanted things to happen. By the time you read this if you ever do I really hope you know the truth. That I would never leave my best friend high and dry for some lame reason, you, Luke, Peyton and Nathan are my life and my world and I would do anything to protect any of you, and that's what had to be done. Please know that it has broken my heart just that little bit more with every mile I moved away from you. I have so much to tell you but I really can't think straight so I hope when you read this I am standing next to you. I love you Brookie monster always have always will.

Hales

Brooke looked up with tears in her eyes. The wording let alone the writing in the two sets of letters was so different. The ones she received left her with nothing but anger. But this one, this one made her heart break, it was so real so honest and more, than that it was Haley. How did she even think for a minute the letters she had received where ever written by her best friend? Jamie was right and she had gone off at his parents in front of him. Closing her eyes she leant into Julian as he picked up the next one and read it out loud.

"Brookie Chookie!
Guess what! My baby boy was born yesterday. A healthy baby boy named James after my father, Lucas well I don't need to tell you that one and obviously his last name is Scott. But the thing I really wanted to tell you was that I miss his godmother so much right now. Yep it's you if you hadn't caught onto that. It's kind of surreal I know tutor girl having a baby at 18, seriously who would have thought that? Not I. But I love him and his ten little perfect fingers and ten little perfect toes. Listen to me I sound like a total mum. Which I guess I am so that's gives me all the right to doesn't it? I know he was only born not twenty four hours ago but I love watching him and Nathan. Like now for example Nathan has James resting on his chest one hand on his back as he plays with his phone. God I love them both so much. Ok I know you're thinking mush factory. But really I wish you could see this.
Well I have to go it's time for someone lunch. Miss you every minute of every hour of every day like you wouldn't believe

Hales." When Julian finished he looked up at Peyton who smirked.

"You only ever heard the bad and only because this one was hurt. Haley is, was and always has been the most caring and thoughtful person I know. Nathan showed me the letters. Brooke, life skills was introduced when we were in senior, when they weren't here they'd never heard of it till that letter. How would Haley have known you failed the class if she didn't even know what it was? That my friend should have been a dead giveaway, that maybe she hadn't written those letters. Now you can go through the others later, there should also be a picture that that Nathan wanted you to see" Brooke sat up and looked through the papers on the coffee table before finding it on the floor, picking it up she looked at the photo, it was of Haley curled up on a couch reading a magazine.

"Wait that's, she's wearing me, and that's- that's the interview I did with Vogue a few years ago" Brooke looked up at Peyton and knew she had been incredibly stupid. Peyton didn't have to say anything the look on her face said it all. Brooke had stuffed up, although it was mostly her fault, Julian was partly to blame as well.

"I'll leave you, to read the rest, oh and Julian you get where the punch came from now." Julian nodded and watched as Peyton left, he knew that one day in the not too distant future, he'd meet these two and then he'd probably feel like even more of an ass than he already felt, but for now he had to live with this feeling of complete stupidity.