PROLOUGE...
Peyton is sorting through her desk searching for some particular paperwork while Haley is sat on the desk listening to the music playing softly throughout the office. Peyton sighs in frustration opening various drawers, while Haley just watches on and laughs.
"What are you looking for again?" asks Haley while jumping off the table and trying to help.
"It's a contract I had drawn up for Mia, to keep John off her back." Peyton replies, throwing various pieces of paper all over the room.
"Have you ever considered a filing system?" Haley laughs as Peyton shoots her an evil glare. Behind all the commotion the phone begins to ring.
"Red Bedroom Records. Haley speaking. How can I help?"
"Is Peyton Sawyer there?" asks the caller on the line. Haley looks over her shoulder finding Peyton still searching her office, looking at Peyton she smiles.
"She can't make it to the phone right now, but can I take a message?" Haley picks up a pen and paper ready to write a message.
"Can you tell her that Dr Simmons her Oncologist phoned and would like to discuss her options. Thank you." When the person on the line hangs up the phone, Haley pulls it away from her ear and looks curiously at the receiver, in a state of shock.
"Found it! Who was it Hales?" Peyton smiles proudly as she holds up the paperwork in her hand, walking triumphantly over to Haley, she notices the strange expression on her face and begins to worry.
"Were you ever gonna tell us?" Looking up from the receiver and into the eyes of one of her best friends.
"Tell you what Hales? What's going on?" Placing the paper work on the table, Peyton reaches forward and places a hand on Haley's shoulder.
"That was your oncologist, he called to discuss your options." Sudden realisation flashes through Peyton and Haley stands and walks across the room, keeping some distance so that Peyton can't see the tears threatening to fall.
"Hales?" Rendered speechless, Peyton looks to the ground for some answer and looks up to see Haley looking at her for some sort of explanation that all this is just one big mistake.
"Why? Why didn't you tell us." Closing her eyes and finding some composure Haley walks towards Peyton with hurt and anger evident in her emotions.
"I wanted to, so bad." Peyton looks up at her friend, hoping for some way to stop this conversation.
"Then why didn't you?" Haley's voice breaks as she holds her emotions in check.
"How do you tell the people you love most something like that?" A trail of tears fall down Peyton's cheek. Watching this almost breaks Haley's heart that she has to turn away and wipe away her own tears.
"How bad is it?" asks Haley.
"They found a tumour in my liver and it's spread, doctors say there isn't much left that they can do." Peyton explains.
"Oh god. There must be something they can do." Haley whispers.
"It's too late Hales." Composing herself Peyton busies herself with tidying her desk again. Until she is suddenly turned around by a tearful angry Haley, clutching onto her hand.
"No! It's never to late. Your young. God your only 22, this can't be it." Haley demands.
"It's gonna be ok Hales." Softly smiling at Haley, Peyton tries to convince her friend and herself that her statement is inevitable.
"How can you believe that?" clutching onto Peyton's hand and letting her tears fall freely.
"I have to. Because If I don't I'm gonna start thinking about all the things I'm gonna miss out on, my life with Brooke, my friends, your next record." They both laugh and Haley pulls Peyton into her embrace, relishing in the feeling of having her friend so close, for never knowing when it would be her last.
"Were gonna get through this. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. You hear me, your too important to me and all of us." Haley whispers in Peyton's ear. Peyton simply closes her eyes and for a moment she can believe that everything will be ok.
"How am I gonna tell Brooke?" Peyton's question lingers in the air, as they both know that the person who would take this the hardest would be Brooke, Peyton's best friend and also the love of her life. If the last 20 minutes had taught them anything it is that no one is ever prepared to hear that someone they love has only a handful of moments left with you.
Should I Continue?