Chapter One : What You Don't Want To Hear
Lucas sat on a bench down at the river court looking out onto the water. He didn't have a basketball or his Ipod he was just sitting there staring at the fading sun. He had his cell phone in his pocket but it was off. After about the thousandth phone call to Brooke he decided there was no use. She wouldn't answer his calls or return his messages. Lucas was in deep thought when he was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up. He lifted his head to see Haley bounding toward him with a big smile.
"Hey I called you like million times! You can't pick up the phone for your oldest and dearest friend?" She quipped
"Oh sorry it's off" He said still kinda dazed
She shrugged it off "No biggie I figured I'd find you here."
"What's up?" He asked assuming she was here to talk but kind of whishing she wasn't
"Not much I just wanted to let you that Nathan's being released from the hospital tomorrow." She beamed
That got his attention. He realized he was being selfish. Haley had been playing the waiting game with his brother who had been in the hospital for two days now and he was sitting here mopping. Hearing about Nathan was best news he'd gotten all day.
"That's great Hales! I'm really happy for you" He smiled
"Thanks. I just feel like this huge weight has been lifted ….I don't know what I'd do with out him you know?" Haley said a little misty eyed
Lucas took her hand "Hey it's all fine now"
"Yeah I know." She cleared her throat "Anyway I was thinking it would be really great if we could all meet him tomorrow when he gets out. You, me, his parents, Peyton…..ah Brooke if she can make it from where ever the hell she is." (Lucas wasn't the only one who hadn't been able to get in touch with her.)
Lucas just nodded sadly. Haley looked at her friend as if she was just noticing him for the first time. She had been too excited about her own news to realize his sunken face. She sat down next to him.
"Luke what's wrong?" She asked concerned
"Nothing" He lied
Haley looked right at him. She may have been a little slow to pick up on it, but she could tell when her friend was hurting.
"Lucas you're good at a lot of things but lying to me isn't one of them."
He had to smile at that.
"Spill" Haley urged him.
"Ughh" He groaned "It's Brooke…were fighting again."
"Surprise surprise" Haley said sarcastically
"Well this time it's really bad and she kinda left." He explained
"Wow!" Haley winced "Luke I'm sorry you should have told me."
"No it's fine." He said not sounding the least bit fine
"So what you guys are fighting over is pretty serious huh?" she asked
"I mean I guess …but its so stupid Hales." Lucas complained
"What it is?" Haley questioned him
Lucas avoided the questioned "She's insane" Lucas laughed "I mean you could forgive Nathan for being the biggest ass in the world, Nathan was able to forgive you for leaving"
Haley flinched at that one. She hated being reminded of that.
Lucas continued "I forgave her sleeping for with Chris Keller but she can never fully forgive me for something that happened ages ago...and she sure as hell can't forget it"
Haley caught on to what Lucas was saying "She's jealous of you and Peyton?"
He nodded "It's ridiculous Peyton and I are just friends"
"Luke you and Peyton could never be just friends I mean there's history there" Haley corrected
"Yeah Ancient History! I don't feel that way about her any more Hales." He assured her
There was silence for a while. The sun was slipping behind the buildings on the other side of the river. It was so still and calm but inside Haley was wrestling with something. Something she had kept to herself for a long time and now she was wondering if it was time to talk.
"Hey Lucas did you ever think…" she cut herself off
"Did I ever think what?" He wanted her to go on
"Never mind. It's nothing" Haley wished she had never opened her mouth "Really"
"Come on Hales" He knew she was holding something in
"No really Lucas …I can't." she stuttered hoping he would just drop it
"Haley I'm dying here. You're my best friend and I need your advice" Lucas begged
Haley let out a huge sigh "Oh my god I know I'm gonna regret this" she whispered.
But something pushed her onward "Ok I love Brooke and she's an amazing girl"
"Yeah she really is" Lucas said kinda dreamy
Haley went boldly forward "And I know you think you love her"
"I know I love her" Luke interrupted
"Luke do you wan to here what I have to say or not?" Haley asked half hopping the answer was no.
But it wasn't
"Sorry go on" He said
"You say all this, but then I remember last year …I remember my best friend was in love with a girl.
Lucas started to shake his head
"And he loved every little thing about her. Her perfections and her faults .He saw and understood her like nobody else did right from the start. They had and undeniable connection. And he did some crazy things for this girl; he fought hard for her, he took time and broke down her emotional walls, he took risks to be there for her and rescue her, and once and a while he even made a big mistake for her. But the bottom line is he wanted to be with this girl more than anything. He loved her! Some times he accepted that and sometimes he didn't. Some times he hid from it.
Lucas butted in "That was last year Haley.
"Luke I'd like to believe that because that would be the easiest thing for everyone. But sometimes I watch you two do something together or just talk, or laugh, or look at each other ….and for a second it's last year."
"What are you saying Hales" Lucas demanded
She decided against her better judgment to let it all fly "I'm saying that maybe it's always gonna be last year … Some times I think you're still hiding."
Lucas stepped back. His face was filled with anger "I'm not hiding from anything. I LOVE BROOKE" he yelled as he stormed off to his car
"LUCAS" Haley yelled after him
"You know what Haley… don't" He barked "I gotta go"
Haley watched his truck speed off down the road.
"Running away again." She whispered