2004 ― Tree Hill, North Carolina

Junior year was coming to an end.

Brianna Davis-Scott and Haley James had been chasing their respective dreams for about two months. Beckham and Haley broke up, he couldn't take it anymore. He went to Austin to see Haley, and all he could see was Chris constantly trying to flirt with her, from his perspective, it seemed like Haley was enjoying it.

Brianna and Nathan were strained. After Lucas told her about his accident on the race track, she was going to book the first flight home, she didn't care that they were about to start officially performing, she just wanted to be home with Nathan, make sure he was okay, and stay.

But Nathan told her not to come home. Nathan told her he didn't want her to come home.

Brianna was crushed, so she threw everything into Broadway. She and Ethan were getting rave reviews about their performances. The youngest to ever perform in the roles and they were impressing many people, and a lot of the reviews stated how they wanted to see Ethan and Brianna continue to take the stage together.

Meanwhile, in Tree Hill, Lucas Scott was missing his best friend, while Beckham and Brooke were missing their sister. Lucas asked if they wanted to come to New York with him to catch one of her shows and then see her, to which they agreed. Beckham said since he wasn't successful in getting Haley to come home, maybe he will with Brianna.

When they got to New York and saw the show, they were in awe of Brianna, and Brooke started crying during the show. All three of them always knew that she was a good actress, but seeing her in action and seeing her on Broadway, they were so proud of her.

The three of them were allowed backstage to see her, and when they got to Brianna's dressing room, they saw Brianna and Ethan sitting on the couch, out of costume, and Ethan was tickling her. Brooke's eyes widened while Beckham and Lucas' set into a glare.

"Brianna Nicole Davis-Scott," Brooke snapped, which made Ethan and Brianna practically jump apart. "Or did you forget the married part?" Brooke asked. Brianna looked at the door and was shocked to see her siblings and Lucas. Brooke had her arms crossed over her chest. Brianna immediately jumped off the couch and ran to them.

"Luke! Brooke, Beck, hi!" Brianna exclaimed as she hugged all three of them.

"Oh, well, it's about time the tribal leaders came to collect their squaw," Ethan said. Brianna rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, Ethan," Brianna said.

"Yeah, shut up, Ethan," Lucas snapped.

"Alright, I'm going," Ethan said as he stood up from the couch and held his hands up in surrender. "Good show, as always Bree. See you in like 5 more hours to do it again," Ethan said. Brianna laughed as she nodded. They had just done their afternoon show, and they had one more performance later that night, and then tomorrow was Monday so they would be off.

"Sorry about him. It's so good to see you guys," Brianna said as she hugged all of them again, and she hugged Brooke for a bit longer.

"Yeah, you too, fugitive sister," Brooke said and Brianna laughed.

"So what are you guys doing here?" Brianna asked. Lucas held up his laptop that they had been working on while they drove up to New York, whoever wasn't driving was working on the laptop.

"We brought your English assignment," Lucas said. Brianna's eyes widened as she realized she hadn't thought about school in a while.

"My... Oh my gosh, finals! That just feels like a totally different life," Brianna said as she shook her head. There was a knock on the door and one of the backstage hands was walking into the room.

"Let's go diva," He said and Brianna smiled.

"Hey, Teddy, this is my best friend Lucas and my siblings Brooke and Beckham," Brianna introduced. Brooke gave him a small wave, Lucas gave a small smile, and Beckham gave a tight smile.

"What's up, guys? Ah, sorry I have to drag her away, but we've got three meetings and another interview before tonight's show. You ready, Bree?" Teddy asked. Brianna looked at the ground, knowing she didn't want to sit through meetings.

So she started coughing.

"Um... I'm feeling just a little... lightheaded, I think I need to just rest before tonight's show," Brianna said as she started coughing again.

"Brianna!" Teddy said, but he was also smiling, so Brianna knew he wasn't upset.

"Yeah, I...-" Brooke cut her sister off as she coughed.

"...-It's totally going around," Brooke said.

"Cover for us? I'll be back before tonight's show," Brianna said as she smiled.

"Um...-" Brianna didn't wait for a response. She grabbed her sister's hand and started pulling her to the door.

"...-Really because we're just feeling so lightheaded here, we need to lay down for a few hours," Brianna said as she coughed again and pulled Brooke out of the door. The boys followed behind her.

"No, no, wait, Brianna... Bree!"

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Brianna took her siblings and Lucas back to her hotel room. Since they were set up in a hotel right next to the theatre, if they didn't have interviews between shows, Brianna would come back to her room and try to sneak in a nap. She really missed them and she was glad to see them, especially since things went so horribly when Nathan came to visit. On Broadway, Monday is normally their 'dark day,' which means they don't have any performances, so on those days, Brianna has been working on her play. At first, she wanted to do a period piece, but now it's turned more into a tragedy. Drawing from Shakespeare and her own life, the play was coming together tragically.

Dan Scott also came to see one of her shows and to see her. She knew it wasn't out of the kindness of his heart. She wasn't shocked when he gave her annulment papers. Her mom attempted the same thing. What shocked her was that Nathan signed them. She couldn't sign them, she didn't want to act like their marriage never happened. She didn't sign her name where her signature was supposed to go. Instead, she said, 'I love you.'

She also heard from her parents. Stephanie and Daniel came up one weekend to see the show, and her mother called her, saying that she'd seen online that Brianna was on Broadway. Her mom gave her congratulations in a very Victoria Davis way, not fully saying she was proud of Brianna, but also not making her feel like a monumental disappointment.

Now Lucas, Brooke, and Beckham were visiting and she couldn't be happier. She and Haley stayed in touch. She knew Haley was still on the road with Chris and that she and Beckham had broken up. He couldn't take her barely calling, sending him to voicemail, and the fact that she was with Chris Keller, who she kissed before leaving. Brianna understood Beckham's side of it, but she also understood Haley, since they were both chasing their dreams.

"Come on in. What do you guys think?" Brianna asked as they all got assembled around the room. Brianna had her own suite, including a full kitchen, living room, and then a bedroom with a bathroom attached. The bathroom had both a tub and a shower. She has loved staying here. She has stayed in her fair share of luxury hotels, but she was normally sharing a room with her siblings. She had this suite to herself and she loved it.

"Now this is what I'm talking about," Brooke said as she looked around and nodded.

"So... what do you guys wanna do? Wanna take a limo to see the city? You wanna...-" Lucas cut in.

"...-I was thinking maybe you and I could just... talk," Lucas said. Brianna raised an eyebrow. He didn't want to hang out with everyone?

"Um... I'm in New York City, and our parents have resumed allowances. Bree, not sure if you knew that or not," Brooke said and Brianna nodded. One day when she was about to pick up food after the last show of the day, she checked her account and saw she had extra money from the last time she checked it, when she checked the transactions, she saw there had been a deposit. She called her Dad to verify that if came from their bank, and he confirmed for her and said that they would start getting regular allowances again. She thanked him, and that was the end of their phone call.

"Yeah, I spoke to Dad," Brianna said and Brooke nodded.

"So, I would be crazy not to shop right now. So, Beck, we're gonna take that limo and leave these two alone," Brooke said. Beckham nodded as he stood up.

"Uh... Hales is in New York too. She's coming to tonight's show. I can also get you guys in again if you want to see the show again," Brianna said. She and Beckham's eyes met when Haley was mentioned and Brianna softly smiled. Brooke smiled as she nodded her head.

"Bree, you were amazing, I'd love to see the show again," Brooke said and Brianna smiled.

"I have to be back at the theatre by 4 for hair, make-up, and the works, but the show doesn't start until 7. I'll get seats reserved for you guys," Brianna said. Brooke and Beckham smiled at their sister before leaving. When Brianna turned to Lucas, he didn't look happy. "What you walked in on in the dressing room was completely innocent," She said and Lucas scoffed.

"Sure," He said.

"It was! Look... I'm not with Ethan, okay? We were just kidding around like...-" Lucas cut her off when he realized what she was going to say.

"...-Like we used to," He said and Brianna nodded as she ran her fingers back through her hair, then she kept doing it until she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

"Yeah," She said in a soft tone and Lucas frowned. He was standing away from the bed, with his back to his best friend. Brianna sighed as she got up and walked over to him. "I miss you so much, Luke," Brianna whispered. Lucas turned around and smiled at her before wrapping her in a hug. Brianna smiled as she hugged him back and laid her head on his chest. She knew she was being unfair and selfish by not staying in contact all the time, but when she wasn't on stage, she was in interviews, signing autographs, or doing meet-and-greets, and if she wasn't doing any of that, she was sleeping.

She really did miss everyone.

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Lucas and Brianna were walking through Central Park, they had been talking and catching up. And she knows the real reason he's there. She knew it was to see her, but she also knew it had to do with Nathan as well.

"I'm guessing you're here because of Nathan," Brianna said and Lucas nodded.

"Kind of," Lucas said.

"I was on my way home, Lucas... when you called me about his accident, I was at JFK, ready to drop everything and come home, and then Nathan called me. He told me not to come home, he told me didn't want me to come home. Did he tell you that?" Brianna asked. She could tell by the look on Lucas' face that Nathan had not told him that.

"Look... mostly I'm here because of us, Brianna. You know, I was... I was sitting in class the other day and I looked over, saw both yours and Haley's empty seats and it struck me that not too long ago, it was just the three of us," Lucas said and Brianna frowned because he was right.

"Yeah," She said. She looped her arm through Lucas' as they continued to walk and talk. Brianna let out an exhale.

"Suddenly, it felt wrong that you and Haley weren't there," Lucas said. Brianna stopped walking and turned to face him.

"You think I was wrong for leaving," Brianna commented. Lucas sighed as he sat down on a bench that they were next to. Brianna sat down next to him.

"Here's what I think; you stood by me when I left the river court... because a voice in my head told me that it's what I had to do. So, I'm here for you, Bree, and I always will be. Even when I don't understand it," Lucas said as he smiled. Brianna nodded.

"Thanks, Luke... Thank you," Brianna said as she laid her head down on his shoulder. "Sometimes I don't understand it either," Brianna said as she sighed.

"Um, oh my gosh, Brianna Davis?" She heard. She lifted her head from Lucas' shoulder and saw two young girls with their moms approaching her.

"Hi, we're sorry to bother you. We took the girls to the show last night and they've always been big fans of Beauty and the Beast, they were wondering if they could have an autograph?" One of the moms asked. Brianna nodded as she smiled.

"Of course," Brianna said as she stood up. It was her first time being asked for an autograph, and the two young girls were adorable.

"Thank you," The mom said. Brianna smiled and looked at the girls.

"What are your names, girls?" Brianna asked.

"Sophia and Ella."

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"Hey siblings, I hope you had fun out in the city," Brianna Davis said when she and Lucas got back to the hotel. Brianna noticed that they weren't fully standing in front of the hotel door that was Brianna's, but someone else's. "What's going on?" Brianna asked.

"Your sister was just hitting on me," She heard Ethan's voice and she shook her head. "Hey, missed you at the on-air. How's the headache?" Ethan asked when Brianna came into the doorway. She smiled while shaking her head.

"Oh, it passed. How was the on-air?" Brianna asked.

"It went great. People are really loving the show, and speaking of, we have to be back soon," Ethan said and Brianna nodded.

"Yes, Ethan, I'm aware. I won't be late, don't worry," Brianna said. Then she led her siblings and Lucas back into their room. When everyone got settled and Brooke showed off her clothes, she said she was going to go down to the pool. Beckham said he would go with her because he could tell Lucas hadn't told Brianna about the Nathan part of why he was there.

"Also, Luke, sorry about today with the fans, earlier. We were talking and I just... I'm sorry," Brianna said. Lucas shook his head.

"It's okay. It was actually cool to see how far you've gone. I'm... I'm proud of you, Bree," Lucas said, but she knew he had more to say.

"But?" Brianna asked. Lucas deeply exhaled, but he should've known Brianna would've caught onto that. He didn't want her to feel bad about chasing her dream, but things were not great in Tree Hill since she left.

"It's killing him, Brianna," Lucas said and Brianna groaned.

"I'm so sick of this," Brianna said. She was tired of people trying to make her feel guilty for chasing her dream. She refused to. Sure, she doesn't like the way she left town, and she knows she could've done that better, but she was not going to apologize for taking the opportunity to be on Broadway. "Why is it that Nathan or men in general are allowed to chase their dreams and it doesn't matter who or what they leave behind, but when I chase my dream, you come here and tell me that it's killing Nathan. Are you trying to make me feel guilty? Are you trying to make me feel like I shouldn't be here just because Nathan can't take it? He was going to go to High Flyers for three months, and if I had told you it was killing me, you would've told me that Nathan was going after his dream and that he would be back, so why can he, but I have to feel guilty?" Brianna snapped. Lucas' eyes widened, he didn't realize that was what he was doing. 

He carefully considered his words before he spoke again.

"I guess I just don't understand why it has to be one or the other; theatre or Nathan," Lucas said with a sigh. Brianna didn't understand why it had to be like that either. "Beckham and Haley fell apart... for almost the exact same reason, but they aren't married... and I noticed you're not wearing your ring," Lucas said. Brianna sighed as she looked at her hand, and then she pulled the necklace that she put her ring on out of her shirt.

"It's not because of the show or because I don't love him, but I just... I feel like I don't deserve to wear it, so this is where I keep it," Brianna said as she tucked the necklace back into her shirt. "Things were so much simpler when it was just us, Beck, and Haley," She said with a sigh.

"I know... but it's not like that anymore."

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After the evening show, Lucas wanted to take Brianna out to dinner, so everyone came, including Haley. It was slightly awkward with her and Beckham because everyone at the table could tell they still loved each other. When they got back to the hotel, Beckham and Brooke fell asleep in Brianna's bed, and Lucas was on the pullout couch in the living room area. Brianna didn't mind, she stayed up all night finishing her English final. They told her the prompt was to talk about loss, and she knew that was a pretty easy topic.

The next morning, Brooke had gone out shopping, and when she walked back inside, Haley was with her. "Lucas, we have to get out of New York before I spot another sale," Brooke said.

"Brooke, allowance, save up," Brianna said.

"Brianna, ew. Plus, I told Steph and Daniel I'd bring them back some souvenirs," Brooke said. Brianna smiled as Lucas started to stir on the pullout couch. "Come on, Haley, let's go find somebody to carry these," Brooke said. Brianna smiled as they walked out of the room. Lucas sat up and ran his fingers back through his hair. Brianna held out hers and Haley's assignments.

"Here. It's mine and Haley's English finals. We pulled all-nighters," Brianna said. Lucas took the papers from her hands and flipped through them.

"Aren't you supposed to be trashing hotel rooms or something? What kind of stars spend their entire night doing an English final?" Lucas asked and Brianna laughed.

"Well, Haley's a rockstar, I'm just a theatre nerd, and I'm still Tutor Girl. Besides, it was a pretty easy topic for me," Brianna said. Lucas set the papers down and he looked hopeful.

"So, maybe... this means you're coming back soon?" Lucas asked and Brianna sighed.

"Well, I'm under contract until the end of the summer when the shows are over, so it all depends on whether or not I book another role," Brianna said as she shrugged. Lucas frowned, but he understood. He knew Brianna couldn't just walk away from Broadway. "Oh, before I forget," Brianna said as she walked over to the other side of the room and picked up the annulment papers. She had them inside the envelope Dan brought her. "I need you to give this to Nathan for me, please," She said.

"Brianna," He said as he looked down at the envelope. She guessed he probably knew what they were.

"Please, Lucas," Brianna said softly. Lucas sighed as he took the papers from her hands. Brianna looked down and wiped her eyes.

"So, I guess this is goodbye?" He asked and Brianna nodded.

"Yeah, I guess so," Brianna said with a fake smile. They stood there silently for a moment, and then Lucas wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"I will always be there for you, Brianna. You'll always be my best friend," Lucas said as he kissed the top of her forehead. Brianna broke down into tears, she couldn't hold it in anymore.

Brianna walked Lucas out so she could say bye to her siblings and Haley as well. Brooke noticed that Brianna didn't have luggage following behind her and she frowned.

"So you're not coming home?" Brooke asked.

"I'm sorry, Brooke. I'm under contract, I can't just leave," Brianna said.

"Don't you miss us?" Brooke asked.

"Brooke, of course I do. I miss you guys all the time. I promise I will try to call more, but I'm here throughout the summer, you can come anytime during break," Brianna said and Brooke scoffed.

"Yeah? And when would you have time for us? Between shows, interviews, or being laid up with Ethan as he tickles you," Brooke snapped and Brianna's eyes widened.

"Ethan and I are not together, Brooke," Brianna snapped back.

"Yeah, and by the looks of your finger, you and Nathan aren't either," Brooke snapped. Brianna's eyes widened.

"Brooke," Beckham said and Brianna shook her head.

"What the hell is your problem?" Brianna asked.

"My problem? My sister leaves without so much of a goodbye and runs off to join Broadway with a guy she let kiss her, which I didn't find out from you, but instead, I found out from Amber! And while you're gone, you don't bother to pick up the phone and call once to check in to see how any of us are doing. Peyton really needs all of her friends, but of course, you wouldn't know that," Brooke snapped back. Brianna's eyes watered as tears started to fall. She knew Brooke was right, and she didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry, Brooke... I don't know what else to say," Brianna said.

"Save it. Enjoy your new life, Brianna. Hope it was worth it," Brooke said as she got in the car. Brianna looked down at the ground as she started to cry harder. That's when Beckham stepped in and pulled his sister into a hug. Brianna clung to her brother as she sobbed into his chest.

"I'll talk to her, Bree," Beckham whispered as he kissed the top of her head. "Do I wish you would call more? Yes... but I also want you to know that I am so proud of you. You were shining on that stage, you belong here," Beckham whispered to her. Brianna nodded as she squeezed him again. "Tree Hill will still be there when this production is over, and so will we," He said and Brianna nodded again.

"I love you, Beck," She whispered and he kissed the top of her head again.

"I love you more, Bree."

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Brooke and Beckham Davis along with Lucas Scott were now in the car, on their way back to Tree Hill. As soon as they pulled off and Brianna was out of view. Brooke broke down in the car. Lucas and Beckham let her cry. Beckham would've comforted her like he did for Brianna, but she was sitting up front with Lucas, and Beckham was in the back.

Lucas kept one hand down on Brooke's lap, trying to give whatever comfort he could while he was driving. Brooke knew she was a little harsh with her sister, but the words were coming out of her mouth faster than she could stop them.

When Brooke stopped crying, Lucas removed his hand and he had them both on the wheel, staring out of the windshield at the road ahead. Thinking about how he may have just lost both of his best friends, to Broadway, to the music, to the tour, to a new life.

"You miss Haley and Brianna don't you?" Brooke asked him, and Lucas nodded. "Are you going to be alright? Both of you really?" She asked, and Lucas gave her a quick glance before looking back at the road, while Beckham remained silent. He was proud of Haley, and he missed her, but he was so hurt by all of her actions leading up to leaving for the tour, he wasn't sure what to do.

"Are you?" He asked.

"I've never been away from Brianna this long... and I guess I just don't know what to do without my sister. . guess that makes all of us, huh?" Brooke said, and Lucas nodded his head.

"Yeah, it's just hard to let someone go, you know?"

"This year, I got everything I wanted, and everything I wished for... but I was now left in wonder if it was all worth it; because with everything I gained, I lost even more."

THE END

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the last sentence is a quote from brianna's paper. and that is the end of season 2! i'll let you know the book containing seasons 3-4 are out.

don't forget to vote/comment. 

xoxo.