What's Left Behind

Author's note: This story is based off many people's believe that Peyton is going to leave town for awhile at the end of the season. I'm taking out the fact that Lindsey is suppose to come back in 5x15 and instead stays in New York.

Please read and review! Tell me what you think and I'll most a couple more chapters! The M comes later within the story!

Haley's Pov

I look out into the back porch and see Lucas helping Jamie with his shooting technique. Lucas has been such a great uncle to Jamie. I never could have picked anyone better to be his uncle.

Lucas smiles at Jaime as he makes another shot into the tiny hoop. I'd love to say that was Lucas's full on happy smile, but it isn't he hasn't worn one of those for a long time. He says he still broken up about the wedding that didn't happen, but I don't believe that for a second. He's sat before me so many times telling me that he wants Lindsey to be his wife, but he never said anything about spending the rest of his life with her. He never talks about how much he loves her or how he wants her standing next to him when all of his dreams come true. I believe there is a big difference between him wanting her to be his wife than him wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. I believe he is settling for the safe choice and when I saw the look in his eyes as Lindsey left him at the altar, I knew as much as he will never admit it to himself I've seen him more hurt, more broken.

I can just barely hear what they are saying. Lucas has an amazing gift at teaching the art of basketball. It seems like Lucas is still that boy whose team won the state championship when you watch his eyes as the ball falls through the rim. I would love to say that senior year was a lifetime ago, but in reality it has only been four short years. Lucas seems to think it was a lifetime ago, but for him as I see it, it was like yesterday because that boy the one who fell in love with Peyton Sawyer is still there hidden behind the reflection in his sky blue eyes. Lucas may think many think about what his heart feels, but I know what's true and what's not. I've known to been wrong in the past and I will be the first to admit that, but as I stand here today the clarity of what Lucas words mean I know what he feels even if he doesn't.

I come back into the real world when I hear a gate slam shut and I see a livid Brooke Davis charging towards Lucas. I also hear the phone ring from behind me I turn and pick it up while keeping an eye on the pair outside. I see Brooke bend over and smile at Jamie and ask "Hey, Jamie could you go inside and play with your mom cause I've got to talk to your Uncle Lucas?"

"Sure, Aunt Brooke. Uncle Luke will you still be here after to play basketball with me?" he asks Lucas smiling. Lucas really was great for Jamie.

"Sure Jimmy-Jam" he says and places the basketball in his hands before ruffling Jamie's hair.

I turn away for a second and turn the phone on to answer it. " Hello."

"Oh thank god it's you, Haley" I hear the voice on the other line say.

"Hey, Lindsey I haven't heard from you in a while" I say turning towards the back porch as I hear the door open.

"Yeah sorry about that I've been busy lately" she says making an excuse.

"Momma" Jamie says as he pulls on my pant leg.

"Hey, hold on a sec Lindsey" I say.

"Alright, I've got all the time in the world" she slightly sarcastically.

"What's up, Jamie. Aunt Brooke sent me in here to play with you" he says smiling up at me.

"Hey can you do Mommy a favor and go upstairs and play with the play station for a while, I'm on the phone" I say pointing to the wireless phone my hand.

"Sure Momma" he says before giving me a hug and running upstairs happily. I don't let him play it very often because I think it slows done a child's development.

"Sorry about that Lindsey" I say with a smile because I haven't heard from my friend in forever.

"That's alright, Haley" she says.

"So what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" I ask.

"Always to the point aren't you Haley" she says chuckling.

"I talked to Lucas last night" she says and I can hear the sadness in her voice.

" Wow, what happened?" I say with surprise, worry, and sadness. I'm also surprised at the fact that Brooke just slapped Lucas straight across the face and he almost stumbled backwards into the pool.

"Well I told him it was over between the two of us and that I couldn't keep acting like he and I could possible get back together" she says and I would love to reassure her, but judging by the look on Lucas's face after what Brooke just told him I can't.

"I'm so sorry Lindsey" I say because what else am I suppose to say.

"It's alright because as long as he's happy and he realizes who truly loves I will be fine" as she says that I realize that Lindsey wasn't in love with Lucas either.

"Just out curiosity, who's yelling profanities in the background?" says Lindsey.

"That would be Brooke" I say rolling my eyes at how many curse words Brooke can put in one sentence.

"Why and who at?" she asks as Brooke says "I would call you a son of a bitch, but your mother happens to be the nicest person I know. She also is probably the second biggest supporter Leyton, me being the first"

"She's yelling at Lucas and I'm pretty sure you probably don't want to know why" I say as I tune more into Lucas and Brooke's conversation.

"Haley I would like to know" says Lindsey stern voice through the phone.

"I think he did something to upset Peyton" I say with reluctance.

"Surprise, surprise it's Lucas, Haley" she says as if almost like she wasn't a part of the whole love triangle with Lucas and Peyton.

"What did I cause Brooke because last time I checked I couldn't read your mind and I would like to know what has possessed you to yell so many cuss words at me" Lucas says acting clueless.

"Any guess on what he did Haley" I hear the voice from the phone say.

"Not a clue" I say leaning over the kitchen counter to hear what is being said better.

"She left you idiot. If this is what you wanted then fine, but you could have told her some other way because you and I both know you could never hate her" says Brooke and she is yelling at him by the end.

"Brooke, what are you talking about I never told Peyton I hated her" says Lucas and I can tell that he is question if it's true.

"I don't believe that even for a second, Lucas Scott" says Brooke giving him her death glare.

"What did he say to her?" asks Lindsey voice. I totally forgot for a second that I was on the phone because I'm so shocked that Peyton just up and left. We were just starting the record.

"He told her he hated her" I say simply.

"I think everyone knows that he loves her and this coming from me Haley, the woman that was in love with him and about to spend the rest of my life with him" says Lindsey with sincerity.

"Of course, you wouldn't Brooke" says Lucas crossing his arms open in protest.

"Oh, I'm sorry Luke, you probably don't remember" says Brooke squinting her eyes as she probably thinks about what Peyton had said previous.

"Oh, my god" says Luke in realization.

"Yeah you better give her a call or something because you owe her at least that" she says with anger.

"I don't owe her anything Brooke she said no to my proposal and now I lost my fiancée because of her" says Lucas angrily.

I'm going to kill Lucas Scott! How can he say he owes nothing to Peyton, after everything that has happened in the past few months?

"So is Brooke going to kill Lucas?" asks Lindsey.

"Yeah probably" I sadly because my best friend is gone for god know how long.

"What's wrong Hales?" she ask worried and she must be because she has never called me that.

"She left" I say putting it as simply.

"How dare you say that Lucas, after everything you put her through, you think it is fair for her to have left because you are being the biggest asshole I've ever met. Her whole life is her Luke. For god sake if you don't figure out that you love Peyton more than anything in the world you are going to be left with nothing and I swear that will haunt you to the day you die" says Brooke throwing a duffel bag from her shoulder at Lucas's feet.

With one final disgusted look Brooke leaves a thoughtful looking Lucas standing by himself.

"I'm sorry Haley. I guess it's true people always leave" says Lindsey and that's what does it for me and the tears that had refused to fall for years over the loss of me best friend.

"I've got to go, Lindsey because Lucas really needs a serious kick in the pants" I say with a watery laugh.

"Take care of yourself, Haley" she says and I know this is her goodbye.

"I will. Thanks Lindsey for all the good times and I know you will do great things with or without Lucas by your side" I say and I know I will probably see her again one day and I hope she has all the happiness the world can offer her.

"You welcome Haley. Tell Lucas that no matter what he says I know where his heart lies and if you could help him find his way back to her it would be great because I know he can write a beautiful sequel about how that love has never died" and as she express her heart felt account of the events, I smile, Lindsey Strauss is a great friend, but now that I look at I realize there was only one girl who could ever be Mrs. Lucas Scott and it wasn't her.

"Bye, Lindsey" I say and hang up the phone. I look up into the blue orbs of my best friend has I do so.