She sat on the plane with a burning headache. Pinching the bridge of her nose trying to reduce the pain that she felt under her eyes. She couldn't believe she was currently on a plane back home. Home. That word made her laugh considering she was so quick to leave and it's taken her 7 years to come back. And then the ache she felt in her heart started again reminding her why she was going home.
After graduating high school, her and Brooke stuck to their pact they had made when they were little. They left for California. The excitement and prospects she had hoped to have when they moved there suddenly seemed like a lost dream. Peyton and Lucas broke up fairly quick blaming distance was the main issue. Peyton ignored the fact that another reason being he was still in love with Brooke. They never spoke about it, but she knew the truth. She can remember the moment she realized it.
It was Lucas's turn to come visit Peyton. They had been arguing a lot and she was hoping things would be better after this trip. As much as she hated to admit she wasn't happy with him, the thought of giving up the boy she loved more than her best friend just was not an option at this point. She gave up everything to be with him. Her friendship with Brooke was strained, but Brooke was just the better person as always.
She heard a knock at the door and ran to it. When she opened it, she saw her blonde blue eyed guy in front of her and rushed to him with her arms wide open. She was confused. She could feel him stiffen to her touch, but didn't want to make a big deal out of it. She took a step back and smiled noticing he had flowers in his hand.
"These are for you," Lucas handed Peyton the flowers with a grin on his face. She grabbed them eagerly. He pulled a second bouquet from behind his back, "these are for Brooke. Where is she?" He questioned. Peyton frowned. This weekend was supposed to be about them. Getting back to where they used to be. And here her boyfriend was bringing her best friend, his ex girlfriend flowers. Was this for real? It took everything in her soul not to slam the door in his face from her anger.
Peyton opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by the beautiful brunette. "Broody you're here! I thought I heard you knocking" Brooke shouted coming down the steps. She had the phone next to her ear, "Haley, Lucas is here got to go!" Peyton watched Lucas put his stuff down and open his arms to Brooke as she made it down the stairs. Hurt was an understatement of what Peyton Sawyer had been feeling.
That had only been the beginning of their downfall that day. Lucas had made Peyton cancel their dinner reservations so Brooke wouldn't be alone. Brooke argued she would be ok, but Lucas refused saying he came to spend time with both is girls. Just another stab to her heart because she was supposed to be his only , he claimed to be too tired to have sex, but when she woke up in the middle of the night to an empty bed she tiptoed to the stairs hearing the ex - lovers laughing downstairs on the couch. They had been watching Weird Science and talking about high school. When she cracked the door she could see him moving a strand of hair from her face. Such an intimate moment, she couldn't even get him to sleep in bed with her. Brooke had been at work the last day Lucas had been there which Peyton was ecstatic about. It seemed like the whole trip they never had a moment to themselves. The happiness turned into sadness as they proceeded to get into one last fight and he muttered those final words "Peyton this isn't working. I think we need to break up to salvage any friendship we hope to have."
She had been so distraught. She cried and she screamed. Brooke tried to console her but it was never enough. She told Brooke she needed to leave, go to New York to start over. When in reality she couldn't look Brooke in the face. It was easier to blame her for the breakup rather than admit they weren't meant for each other. They FaceTimed weekly in the beginning, but then Peyton became resentful. She heard from Haley that her and Lucas were visiting Brooke. Then the visits seemed to be more frequent. Then a few of the visits became just Lucas visiting her. Another stab into her heart. He couldn't visit this much when they were together yet he had all this time to visit Brooke? A few months after she got a text from Brooke telling her she was moving back to Tree Hill. Karen had called her to let her know a storefront opened next to the cafe and Brooke should occupy it. Another stab. Karen always loved Brooke like a daughter. Karen would call Brooke at least twice a week when they lived in California. Not once did she ever call Peyton.
And now she sat here on the flight remembering why she was going home. 3 months ago she got a phone call from Brooke.
She hadn't spoken to Brooke in months. Haley told her the success of Clothes over Bros was amazing in Tree Hill. Brooke was getting everything she wanted. Suddenly her phone rang. "P Sawyer guess what." Not letting Peyton speak, "I'm engaged! Lucas proposed! I need you my best friend. I'm getting married in that little church by my house!" Brooke kept rambling. Peyton couldn't process what Brooke was saying. "You'll get your save the date this week!" And with that she hung up. Peyton was confused. She spoke to Haley at least once a month via email and she never said anything. Once the save the date came in, Nathan called and said she should be the good friend that Brooke has always been to her and come to her wedding. It only takes a kid Nathan Scott to try to make you feel bad about something. He noticed way too much and knew so much about Brooke and Peyton. He was Brooke's protector. What a slap in the face this felt being reprimanded by Nathan Scott to be a good person. She threw her cell phone across the room after that phone call shattering the screen.
Brooke and Lucas were getting married. Brooke Davis was becoming Brooke Scott. Brooke was getting the life she deserved. And she was going to do what she could to stop this wedding.