A/N: Eerything written in normal font is from Lucas' POV. If it's in italics, it's a flashback and in general POV. If it's bold, then it's from a new report.
"Good evening, this is Elaine Thompson reporting live from Tree Hill, North Carolina. I'm standing of the edge of the West Ridge Parkway…"
I remember everything so clearly from that day…I can't forget a single detail. I remember the way her hair smelt when she ran and flew into my arms. The way she squirmed and the laughter that erupted from her small body.
Peyton stood in the corner, her back leaning comfortably against the doorway, a smile gracing her face.
"Mommy…mommy make him stop" she laughed along with her pleading daughter.
"Sorry Cassie…" Peyton shrugged her shoulders as she spoke. Giggles echoed through the hallway as Lucas continued to tickle his daughter. Her face was beginning to turn a bright shade of red as she tried to get away. He stopped suddenly as the small blonde rested her head against his chest, panting heavily.
"How much do you love me" He raised a brow, his infamous smirk plastered on his face. He watched her spread her arms as wide as she could, her head tilting back slightly as she attempted to spread them more.
"This much" She put one last effort into stretching her arms before she flung them around her father's neck, burying her head on his shoulder.
"Well that's good to know…'cause I love you that much too" he kissed the side of her head gently as he felt her arms wrap just a little tighter. His attention was drawn away from the girl in his arms and down to the one that was tugging gently on his pant leg.
"Wha bout me?" the young child's voice was small and Lucas didn't hesitate to lift her into his arms as well. Her blue eyes never left his, everyone knew she was going to be gorgeous when she got older…dark brown hair and striking blue-grey eyes.
"Don't you worry Drea…I love you that much too" her head found comfort on his other shoulder, a content smile playing on her lips.
"And me…" he watched Peyton saunter over to him, a mock pout forming. He looked towards the ceiling, pretending to give her question serious thought.
"Hmmm…I guess I love you too…" she scoffed as she came to stand in front of him her hands placed firmly on her hips. "Peyton…" she turned her head away from him as he took a step closer, causing the distance between them to vanish. He leaned in, kissing her temple quickly before lowering his lips to her ear, keeping his voice low. "I can't exactly pick you up too…at least not right now…" she turned her head back to face him, a smile breaking through as she eyed him carefully. "But I promise to make it up to you later"
"Really" she raised a brow and watched him as he raised both of his. "Okay…I'm holding you to that one" She leaned up and pressed her lips against his briefly. She pulled back just on time to catch Andrea yawn.
"Uh-oh…looks like it's time for someone's nap" Lucas kissed his daughters forehead before he let Peyton take the toddler into her arms.
"But I'm not sweepy" Peyton laughed gently as she watched Drea fight to keep her eyes open.
"I know you're not 'sweepy'…but mommy just wants you to lie down with her for a while…okay?"
"Kay…" Peyton watched the small brunette nod her head before leaning against her mother's shoulder. The blonde threw a warm smile over her shoulder before she disappeared into the bedroom, her daughter losing the battle against sleep before she even got to the bed.
"It's been a 15 years since tragedy has struck Tree Hill in the form of a school shooting…"
I always assumed that people were only supposed to go through one extreme tragedy in their life. I understand that it's devastating whenever you lose anyone in your life, all deaths could be considered tragedy's. But by tragedy I mean an event that's completely unbelievable… something that's so devastating, you never forget a moment of it, any detail, something that stays with you for the rest of your life and that can still make your stomach turn after years have passed, that can still drain the color from you face with a single thought.
I thought my one was the day Jimmy Edwards brought a gun to school, the day one of my old friend was accused of shooting one of my best friends, killing the uncle I always considered a father, and then turning the gun on himself. That was the day that changed my life, changed the way I viewed life, altered my perception of everything around me. I never would've of thought I could have another event like that happen in my life…an event more devastating, more painful then anything I ever could have imagined, something that my worst nightmares couldn't even touch.
"So are you ready princess" Brooke kneeled down in front of her goddaughter, her white dress pooling around her feet. Cassie nodded happily as she held the basket of rose petals in her small hands. The brunette turned to the youngest Scott and raised one of her perfectly shaped brows. "What about you?"
"Yup" The grin on Andrea's face caused her eyes to light up. Brooke handed the toddler her own basket before standing back up to her full height.
"I can't believe you two are finally tying the knot" Haley gushed in her lavender bridesmaid dress. Brooke couldn't help but smile as she turned to face her two friends.
"So how does it feel…in less than an hour you're going to be Mrs. Jake Jagelski" Peyton watched her best friend's eyes light up as soon as the words left her mouth.
"I'm really excited…and really nervous all at the same time…I mean I can't wait to walk down the isle, but a part of me is dying to run away and hide in my bed" Brooke rolled her eyes as she sat on the bench for the vanity.
"Brooke don't worry…I felt the same way on my wedding day…both of them." All three girls gave a small laugh. Peyton rested her hand gently on Brooke's shoulder.
"Davis you're supposed to feel like that…it's normal. The hardest part is taking that first step down the isle and after that…I guess you just get caught up in the moment and everything becomes smooth sailing" The blonde reassured her friends and was glad to see the nervous brunette nod in response.
"Knock knock.." The three woman turned towards the door to see Lucas slowly sticking his head through the door.
"Hey you" Peyton walked over to him and kissed him lightly.
"Hey Luke" he turned his attention from Peyton to the dazzling brunette that was getting to her feet and straitening out her dress.
"Brooke…you look gorgeous" he said genuinely, earning a smile from the giddy bride.
"Thanks…you don't look so bad yourself…your husband did always clean up nicely." The three girls laughed as Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Thanks I guess…anyway I just came to tell you that Jake is at the alter, ready and waiting, and we walk in 5."
"You ready Aunt Brooke?" Brooke turned to face the smiling blonde…a miniature version of her mother, only getting the crystal blue eyes from her father. Brooke kneeled down and winked at her goddaughter.
"You bet I am Cass" Brooke poked her nose lightly before standing back up. "Let's do this"
There's no forgetting the cheeriness in her voice…or the ecstatic look on her voice when we walked out of the room. The smile stayed on her face throughout the entire ceremony. We all had stayed smiling, we didn't have a reason not to. From watching my two precious girls walk down the isle, dropping petals on the red velvet carpet, to watching Nathan and Haley's youngest son Brandon strolling coolly towards the alter, enjoying his important role as ring bearer. I played my part as best man, Peyton as the matron of honor, both of us watching as our best friends enjoyed the happiest day of their lives…or what should have been.
"…a dream wedding quickly becoming a nightmare, as what was thought to be a perfect night takes a sudden and unexpected turn for the worst."
Sudden and unexpected. Those words can't even begin to describe what it was like. The words sound too…calm, nice…peaceful. But that's not what bothers me. The thing is, those words sound too painless to describe the "tragic" event that just destroyed my perfect world. The event that caused the night to take a shattering, gruesome, heartbreaking turn for the worst. An event that crippled me and the people around me.
He spun around quickly, causing his youngest to giggle as she kept herself balanced on her feet. "Daddy…do it agin" Drea shrieked twice…once during her request and then again when Lucas granted her request. Lucas smiled down at the precious toddler that had somehow managed to keep herself awake past 11:00 pm. Through the corner of his eye he caught sight of his eldest being twirled and then dipped by her uncle.
Nathan pulled the blonde back up to a standing position before grabbing her hand in his, her other hand on his waist and his on her shoulder. "So…did you have fun today" he watched her nod with a smile. "What do you say to ice cream at the park with me and Jason" All boys her age were disgusting…except for her cousin. Aside from Cassie, Jason firmly believed all girls had cooties. Born 5 months apart the two kids had remained inseparable since they were toddlers and truly able to remember people other than their parents.
"Okay" she gave a wide smile which was immediately followed by a yawn. The blonde rested her head comfortably against her uncle's stomach.
"…59 Year old Charles Bennet was killed instantly"
"What's up Luke…you look all… dazed and confused…what's got you in your own little world?" The eldest Scott had been sitting at the table with his head buried in his hands. Brooke, who had changed into a form fitting strapless red dress, had broken him from his thoughts when she laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and sighed.
"It's nothing" he shook his head before dropping his head back in his hands.
"Doesn't look like nothing…" the brunette frowned as she took a seat next to the brooding blonde.
"What's going on over here" Peyton and Jake approached the two at the table, Peyton resting her hands gently on her husband's tense shoulders.
"I was watching Runaway Jury on TV the other night…and Cass likes the song that the dad was singing in the begin.."
"Wait…you let her watch that movie" Peyton bent down and cocked an eyebrow once she had caught her husband's eye.
"I thought she was sleeping" he shrugged as Peyton rolled her eyes before hitting him in the back of the head softly.
"Uh-oh…looks like someone's in trouble" Lucas looked to his left to see his brother smirking with his arm around Haley's waist.
"Shut up" Lucas said with a roll of his eyes. "Anyway…" he turned back to face Brooke. "I told her earlier I would sign the song for her before she went to sleep" his eyes drifted over to the dance floor where his two girls and Nathan and Haley's three seemed to be having the time of their lives.
"Lemme guess…you can't remember how it goes" Peyton couldn't help but laugh at the guilty expression on his face.
"My mom used to sing that song to me too when I was little…and I just can't get past the first few words…"
"Okay…I'm sure the six of us can figure it out somehow…what's the first line again…" Brooke encouraged as she waited for him to start singing.
"Okay…umm…Oh the buzzing…" he stopped…his mind just wouldn't allow him to remember.
"of the bees" Jake continued as Lucas looked up at him with a smile.
"In the cigarette trees" It was Nathan who sung out the next line…earning a look from everyone around him. "what…I always thought that line just didn't really fit…and I always remember it."
"You would" Haley said with a roll of her eyes as everyone else laughed.
"Okay so…the buzzing of the bees, in the cigarette trees…" Brooke let the last word hang waiting for someone to continue.
"Near the soda water fountain" Peyton filled in with a smile. She winked at Lucas when she felt him grab her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
"At the lemonade springs" Haley continued as she suddenly recalled the words to the song she had heard Karen sing more than once.
"Where the bluebird sings" Lucas added with a thankful smile on his face, glad that he would be able to keep his promise to his daughter.
"On the big rock candy mountain." The six of them finished together, each of them laughing at the fact that it took six adults to recall a child song.
"Thanks you guys" Lucas looked around the group.
"No problem…now get the hell up and lets go have some fun…I was the queen of the party scene…you don't think I'm just gunna sit around at my own wedding reception." She stuck her tongue out before grabbing Jake's hand and pulling him out onto the dance floor.
I can still hear her screams echoing through the street, slicing through the silence. The sound of the sirens drowning out her horrified pleas for help. The blue and red lights that swirled throughout the air turning the shedding unwanted light on the ugly scene.
The headlines that followed for days, talking about the event that even made the usually cold and composed newscasters emotional.
"Tree Hill tragedy…the quaint little town has once again become somber… heartbreak for the Scott and Bennet family"
I can see my brother's face clearly in my head. The shock, the pain…worry and confusion…all etched in his features. But the look that will always stay with me - the moment our eyes connected and his normally happy brown eyes reflected nothing but heartbreak and sorrow, the moment I knew things were worse than I thought because our eyes only connected for a second, and after that he refused to look at me. No matter how many times I tried to get his attention, to get him to tell me, he wouldn't look me in the eye anymore.
"You know I haven't seen you drink anything other than water tonight…" Brooke broke eye contact with Jake and looked over her shoulder at Nathan.
"That's because someone doesn't know how to tell their boss no" It was Haley who responded with her eyebrow cocked up as she looked at her husband.
"That's 'cause I'm leaving in half on hour…I'm on call tonight."
"…first on scene"
I don't know what it was like for him, to drive up and see the wreck…that must have been bad enough. To run and check inside and find all of us. Then to stand up and see her on the side of the road. To not be able to do anything but wait for help to come. To have what was minutes seem likes hours. How do you sit back and watch helplessly.
"Congrats again you two…" Haley wrapped her arms around Brooke as the group stood outside the reception hall.
"Thanks Tutor wife…but I have question…is Coop gunna be able to handle all three of your rambunctious boys for the night?" The two brunettes laughed as Haley shrugged her shoulders.
"He's watched two of them before…of coarse they were younger then and didn't argue nearly as much…but I'm sure he'll be okay…at least I hope so…" the petite brunette bit her bottom lip as thought about Cooper trying to stay in control of all three boys.
"Hey…if he gets in too much trouble I'm sure Deb will help him out." Brooke winked at her friend.
"Have fun Tigger" Haley winked back before turning to Jake and hugging him as well.
"Thanks for coming…"
"One I was in the wedding party…and two, I wouldn't miss this for the world Jagelski" Haley smirked as she pulled away, hitting him on the arm lightly. He watched as she climbed into the limo, already occupied by Karen and Andy, who had finally returned to Tree Hill 5 years ago, the two taking it slow in their blossoming relationship.
"Well best friend…welcome to world of married life"
"You seem to enjoy it P. Sawyer" The blonde hit her arm playfully.
"I can't deny it" she threw a glance over her shoulder and smiled at Lucas. He looked up from playing with Cassie and Andrea, and he gladly returned her gesture.
"So this feeling…the happiness…it doesn't just disappear after today" Brooke was hesitant with her question…she never wanted to lose the feeling she had at that moment.
"Lucas and I have had our problems…we've argued and everything…but as long as you don't ignore the issues and you actually sit down and talk about whatever's wrong…no the feelings won't go away, and in the end all those problems just make you stronger." The words brought a smile to the brunettes face, and she quickly through her arms around her best friend. Peyton pulled away and offered one last smile at her friends before retreating into the limo. Lucas and the girls had already gotten in, so after one final wave the driver shut the door and retreated to the other side of the limo.
The newlyweds watched as the limo took off, both with a content smile. "Have I told you how much I love you today?" Jake turned to look down at his wife.
"I'm sure you have…but it never hurts to hear it again" Brooke whispered as she wrapped her arms around her neck…the day couldn't have gone more smoothly…just as her best friend has promised…everything went perfectly.
"…a perfect night ends tragically…"
It just all happened so fast. One minute everything was normal…Cassie tucked under my arm, Drea on Peyton's lap, my mother and Andy chatting away happily, Haley and Peyton talking lightly. Then it all changed. It didn't get chaotic. It just changed…more than any of us could have imagined.
"Ohh…the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees, near the soda water fountain, at the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings, on the big rock candy mountain" Lucas dropped kiss on his daughters head as she sat next to him, his arm draped over her small shoulders. He glanced to the side and caught his wife's eye…she was smiling at him…at him being an excellent father to their first born.
The talking ceased when they heard Charlie swear from the front. Before any of them had the chance to turn their heads, the seven passengers were being thrown from their seats, the impact from the collision sending Lucas flying from the rear of the limo all the way to the front, his body dropping next to Haley's.
It was like a bomb went off and then…I don't know what happened after that. I keep trying to remember, but I can't. I closed my eyes and suddenly there was glass everywhere, twisted pieces of metal sticking out…one piece protruding from Haley's stomach. That's the first thing I remember after being thrown out of my seat. Maybe there was nothing to remember after that point…maybe it really did just happen that fast.
Peyton's legs were crushed under bodies and metal, but she was slowly pulling herself away from it all. She had seen Cassie fly out the window. The pain didn't matter to her anymore. She could hear Andrea screaming from somewhere inside, so for now that only thing that mattered was finding Cassie, making sure her other daughter was okay.
I had watched her crawl. Watched her drag her body from the twisted remains of the wreck. I can still hear her piercing scream when she got out of the limo. I tired to call out to her, but I couldn't find my voice. No matter how hard I attempted to scream, nothing came out. I had flown straight ahead…but Cassie…she flew in a different direction. Away from me…away from all of us.
"Good evening, this is Elaine Thompson reporting live from Tree Hill, North Carolina. I'm standing of the edge of the West Ridge Parkway, where a perfect day has suddenly turned tragic. Here behind me is what remains of a collision between a limousine and pick-up truck. Twenty-six year old Gregory Stanford, who blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, was going 75 miles an hour in the wrong direction when his truck drove head on into a limo, which was carrying 7 family members home from a wedding reception. Driver Charles Bennet was killed instantly. Ironically, Bennet was known for picking up intoxicated people and bringing them home free of charge. But the real tragedy was the death of 7 year old Cassie Lyn Scott. The young girl who had just been a flower girl at her godmother's wedding, was thrown from the limo, her body decapitated. Officer Nathan Scott was the first to arrive on the scene. Officer Scott was Cassie's uncle, and husband to one of the victims. Scott arrived on the scene and looked inside the limo to see his family, and when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he turned to see his sister-in-law sitting on the curb, cradling what was left of her daughter.
Nathan had to give a report on when he saw when he arrived. He gave vivid details on everything, everything except Peyton sitting on the side of the parkway. He won't talk about it, I didn't even know that it had happened until I was in the hospital and I watched the news. No one had told me how Cassie died…or why Peyton was in shock and hadn't spoken to anyone in three days. I didn't see what she did. I didn't spend an hour holding my daughter's…her…holding her severed head. I didn't see any of it, but Peyton did…she saw it all.
Cassie's father Lucas Scott remains in the hospital with a broken leg, her mother being treated for extensive shock. Haley Scott is in stable condition after her stomach was penetrated by a piece of metal, while Karen Roe and Andy Hargrove both remain in critical condition.
Drea and Peyton were both okay…physically okay. But my other little girl…my first born…my pride and joy…she was stolen from me, ripped out of our lives in the blink of an eye. How do you go on your honeymoon after this…you don't. Jake and Brooke were the first ones to show up at the hospital, and Brooke hasn't left Peyton's side in the three days that we've been here. Jake had to go home and bring her a change of clothes because she refused to leave her best friend, unless it was to check on the rest of us. But she's only done that once. She can't bear to walk away from distraught girl she was used to seeing with a smile. I didn't see Peyton the first night, they wouldn't let me leave the bed and she wouldn't come to me. I'm not sure if she really has to will to make herself move. Cooper offered to keep Drea for us, but Peyton simply latched onto her hand…not saying a word but indicating a no. Even if Peyton hadn't responded, I wouldn't have let Drea out of my sight.
It was on the fourth day that Peyton and I were both released. We walked into the house and everything was eerily calm…quiet. "Daddy I'm hungry" I looked down at the brunette in my arms and pulled her close to me. She's too young to understand this, to grasp what happened to her sister.
I glance at Peyton as she ascends the stairs. I have a feeling where she's going… Cassie's room. Jake and Brooke watch her too, and then they turn to meet my gaze. The smiles I remember so clearly from just a few days ago are nowhere to be found. How do you celebrate your wedding anniversary after this, knowing that the same day that brought you such joy brought others pain. I wish I knew they would be happy, but I don't know that. I don't know that everything's going to be okay, if my family is ever going to be stable again, because right now all of us are falling apart. Eexcept for the little brunette in my arms who only knows that her arm keeps hurting…that mommy's sad…and that Cassie didn't come home with us.