Thank you guys for all the reviews, I really appreciate it!

The story is starting off a bit slow, I know. It was originally intended for a three or four part story but now I think I want it to be a full length story.

xxxxx

"No way!"

"Yes. I couldn't believe it, I mean did you know? I didn't!" Peyton questioned.

"I had no idea! Why did they decide to move to Tree Hill all of a sudden?" Brooke asked, drying herself off and sitting on one of the lounge chairs by the pool.

"It's so twisted! Apparently Deb and his mom became friends a few years back. I guess Deb was just…curious about her, I really don't even know. But they decided to open a café here together." the curly blond explained.

"How's Nathan taking it?" the brunette asked, immediately becoming concerned, even though she knew it wasn't her place.

"He hates him. His attitude is really appalling Brooke. We… actually broke it off two weeks back because of it. Now he's trying to bully Lucas out of joining the basketball team." Peyton informed her, anger evident in her voice.

"You guys are over? For good?" Brooke asked, she felt guilty that a part of her was secretly very happy about that prospect.

"Yes, for good this time. I thought it was what I wanted but then I met Lucas and I just realized how many things were wrong with our relationship." Peyton explained.

"Wait...what? You broke up with Nathan for his half brother? Peyton! There is no better way to completely destroy a guy's ego." She replied, a little surprised but all the more thankful, knowing that as soon as she got back to Tree Hill she could put that ego back together.

"No! It's not like that, I promise. It's just that Lucas is in two of my classes so I see him a lot and I met him even before I knew he was Nathan's brother and we just connected right away. We have the same taste in music, and I can show him my art and feel like he truly understands it, you know? And I never felt like that with Nathan. Lucas and I are just friends." Peyton reassured.

"For now. You sound like you really like this guy!" she told her friend honestly.

"I do, I know I've only known him for like three weeks, but I have strong feelings for him and that kind of scares me. Which is why I'm being shunned by Nathan and all the people I thought were my best friends forever!" the blond replied sarcastically in a mock valley girl voice.

"I can't believe so much has changed in three months," Brooke said.

"Oh, you won't believe! How's the Malibu private school?" Peyton asked. "And when the hell are you transferring back?"

"Sucky. Which is why I'm coming back on Monday." She responded.

"What? So soon?" her friend inquired, and Brooke couldn't tell if Peyton was excited or disappointed.

"Yeah, I'm renting out an apartment. I've already gotten all of that paperwork out of the way so as of now I am back to being a student at Tree Hill High." Brooke said.

"That's..wow, that's really good!" Peyton replied. "I didn't think you were getting back for another two or three weeks though."

"Well surprise- I am! Do you think you'll be able to pick me up from the airport? Tomorrow at 7 pm?" Brooke asked.

"I actually have plans with Lucas, we're going to a drive-in movie, I'm sorry Brooke." Peyton told her.

"No worries, I'll just call Nate or Theresa or Bevin!" Brooke told her, her tone a tad more cheerful than she felt. "See you Monday!"

As she hung up the phone, she began to think about how much things had changed for her in such a short time. A few days after Keith's wedding, her parents had told her they were getting divorced and she was whisked away to Malibu to live with her grandma while her parents sold their home in Tree Hill and began dividing up the assets. Peyton had been too busy with Nathan to bother to even call more than once a week, and the majority of that time was spent talking about Nathan and their relationship, the last thing Brooke wanted to hear about.

A part of her wondered if going back to Tree Hill was a bad idea, as she sat there debating who to call to pick her up, it dawned on her that there was no one that would come for sure. There was no one she could rely on.

And that thought frightened her more than she wanted to believe.

xxxxx

She finally found the last piece of her luggage, struggling for a few seconds before pulling it onto her cart and strolling out towards the arrivals doors.

She couldn't believe how happy she was to be home. Regardless of the fact that she was not going to get the warm welcome she was hoping for or that she was virtually alone.

There was just a comfort that she would never be able to find anywhere else in the world that Tree Hill held.

As her cart pushed through the doors she smiled happily, ready to walk past the large group of people waiting for their loved ones.

And then she saw him.

Long and lean. Smirk on his face, shorts and a Raven's hoodie on.

"Nate?" she questioned, shocked and happy beyond belief to see him.

"Hi B." he replied with a boyish grin.