Holding Out For the Best

Before I start, I want to thank all the brucas fans out there for reading my stuff and supporting my fan fiction.. In this chapter there are some differences in the characters' family life, Brooke has a better family life while Haley deals with some major issues with her family life. I know this chapter isn't that good but I had to make an important background for the characters.

Chapter 2

Haley's POV

I was on my way to Peyton Sawyer's house, my best friend in the whole world, she was going through a rough time with her dad and with Nathan. Nathan was a jack ass I didn't see why she still was with him, he was never going to be good enough for her because deep inside she was better than that, better than him. As the loud rock music filled my ears, I nodded along tapping my hand against the steering wheel, my favorite song was on the radio it was called, "How far we've come" by Matchbox Twenty. Unexpectedly, I saw Lucas Scott at the basketball court with that girl he always hung out with at school. I decided to drop by to see what he was up to. I parked my mustang under a shady tree nearby and headed over to talk to them. All of a sudden I saw loser girl jump on his back and cling on to him as he was trying to run away with the ball in his hand, it seemed like something else was going on other than playing basketball.

He started to chuckle and then he said, "Ok, I surrender. You won. Your seven to my three."

She said satisfied, "Thank you very much. Told you I'd win."

He saw me, froze in place, smiled at me and then walked over to me when she decided to jump off him. I heard my heart skip a beat when he came closer to me. I could tell I was getting nervous, I always had butterflies in my stomach when I was around him. I asked, "What are you doing on Monday night after the game?"

He looked confused, "Didn't you get invited to Peyton's party?"

I totally forgot about Peyton's party, I forgot that I was invited. I felt like I was in my own little world these days, thinking about asking out Lucas and trying to focus on my grades, I felt distant from everyone but Peyton and Lucas. Peyton was there to talk to me when I felt out of place at home. Then a month ago, when Lucas joined the team, everything changed. The first time he talked to me I felt that click with him, I didn't get that click with any other guy, then once we started hanging out more, he made me feel confident, beautiful, I felt that I mattered to him.

Then I responded snapping out of my flashback, "Yeah, now that I thought about it, I was invited. Thanks for reminding me."

Lucas studied my face, he knew something was bothering me. He looked concerned, "Is everything ok?"

Everything was not okay. I was a different person these days, I was a better person to Lucas Scott but when I was around everyone else I was not myself. I sighed, sounding hopeless, I said, "Nope. My parents don't have time for me anymore, they don't talk to me they don't give me any attention, they travel a lot, I hardly see them, and when I do see them they criticize my dreams. I want to be a singer someday but they think it's just some childish dream like it's never going to happen."

"Whatever you dream is not foolish. If you want to be a singer be a singer, don't let anyone hold you back, you're better than that. Be Haley James, the girl I see."

I slowly smiled at the idea of being that girl for him. The one that could be successful, more independent, more of myself. As much as I wanted to be that girl on my own, I couldn't, I was too scared.

"Who knows maybe someday I can be something, somebody to the world."

He teased, "Hey once you get into Hollywood and become a big star, make sure I'm the first one to get your autograph."

I winked at him, "Sure thing."

He turned to look at his friend and then back at me, he said, "I would like you to meet someone."

As I followed behind him, we stopped in front of his friend. He introduced us properly, "Haley, I would like you to meet, Brooke, my best friend."

Brooke stepped forward, shook my hand and said in a polite manner, "Hey Haley, it's nice to see you."

As I grinned at her, I said courteously, "You too, Brooke."

Lucas asked me, "Would you like to watch us play basketball? Brooke has been kicking my ass."

Rejecting his offer I admitted, "I can't, I should get going, I was on my way to Peyton's house, when I saw you and I thought it was a good idea to just stop by, say hi, and see you."

He motioned me to come forward. As I came closer to him, he wrapped his arms around me, giving me a hug. I put my arms around him, hugging him back. I closed my eyes, taking in every bit of this memorable moment. I felt more alive. Then we pulled away from each other 10 seconds later.

He looked at me trying to reassure me, "Everything will be ok."

When he was referring to my parents and my career path, I knew nothing would be ok in my world but in Lucas's world I would be fine.

Trying to put on a smile, I said, "Bye Luke." I turned around to face Brooke and said, "Bye Brooke."

She said, "Bye Haley."

As I got into my car, I sat there for a moment thinking about my parents, they were coming home today. I was scared, I felt weak, hopeless. I tried to hold in my tears but I couldn't stop them, I kept crying.

Brooke's POV

I came home that afternoon to take a nice hot shower, I felt so sweaty and gross after I had played basketball with Lucas. I felt exhausted as well, all my energy was drained out of my body, so afterwards I took a nap, which didn't last longer than I expected. Someone woke me up, someone like…

"Hey kido, rise and shine, it's time to wake up," my dad said in an upbeat tone.

I rolled my eyes and then put my pillow on top of my face, I said complaining, "Go away, I'm trying to get my beauty rest before Lucas gets here."

He chuckled at my lame joke. He said sarcastically, "Gee, I wonder where you get your grumpiness from when someone tries to wake you up."

My head still under my pillow, unwilling to move, I swayed my hand to the right, giving him a hint to leave. He was trying to bribe me, "Mom's famous home made spaghetti is calling your name downstairs. Yummy spaghetti, you should eat something before you go to the concert."

I moaned once, giving him another hint to exit my room. He wouldn't take the hint of course, my dad was a very good at bribing people and he was very persuasive at times. He also could make people laugh and most people were comfortable talking to him, he was very laid back and easy going. I tried talking him into becoming a psychiatrist one day but he would just look at me like I was crazy. He loved his job though, he was a doctor at a hospital.

I could smell my mom's spaghetti from downstairs, it smelt good. A minute later I removed the pillow out from over my head, still laying there to look up at my dad, I gave in a sigh and I finally said convinced, "Sure, I guess, I can't pass up mom's famous spaghetti. So how long have I slept in?"

He stated, "For three hours. You were really tired huh?"

"Extremely. Just keeping up with Lucas makes me exhausted."

He chuckled again, admitting, "Sounds like you two had fun today."

I slowly smiled thinking back at the moments we shared at Karen's Café and the basketball court. Somewhat distracted I said, "Yeah, we did. I just can't wait until tonight."

As he crossed his arms he gave me the look Karen gave me at the café, "Kido just tell him."

I knew what he was talking about but I pretended to look confused like I didn't know what he was talking about. I asked, "Tell him what?"

He didn't buy it. He said, "Nice try but I don't buy that act you're giving me. Just tell him how you feel."

I've never told my dad about the feelings I've had for Lucas. I wasn't really ready to open up to someone about my feelings for Lucas, even my own parents. It just didn't feel right, opening up and admitting that I like Lucas, when I all I wanted to do was ignore or reject the fact that I was falling for him.

Feeling uncomfortable and awkward, I said, "Ok, you got me. Look, I just don't think I'm good enough for him."

"You are good enough for him you just have to believe in yourself. Who knows, if you tell him how you feel there might be a chance that he might like you back."

I sighed. "Dad it's not going to work, I just know it," I said sounding hopeless.

"And why not?"

Being hesitant to respond to him, I felt uncomfortable talking about Haley in front of my dad, I've never told him about her before. I hugged my pillow tight looking down at it, I finally said, "Because he's just better off with someone prettier than me, someone like Haley James."

"Oh come on don't be so hard on yourself kid, you're a beautiful young lady and I'm sure Lucas likes you inside and out."

I looked at my dad like he was nuts. I added sarcastically, "Yeah right I'm so beautiful that Lucas is blinded by my love towards him."

He put his arm around me and told me, "Just because you have braces and frizzy hair doesn't mean you're not beautiful. You don't have to be materialistic or trendy to be beautiful, beauty is in everyone you just have to look close enough to realize what's in front of you."

Although this time he didn't convince me, I tried to put on a happy face when I said, "Thanks dad."

"No problem. Come on let's go eat, I'm starving."

I followed him downstairs and into the kitchen, where I found mom setting up the table and loading spaghetti onto our plates. My mom and I have a close bond. We do things together like go to the movies or go to the mall. Sometimes I want what my mom has, I want to be a designer like her one day or go out and change the world the way she always tells me too.

I said, "Thanks mom, I'm starving. It looks delicious."

She smiled warmly at me and said, "Your welcome honey. Did you have a nice nap?"

I then looked at my dad and gave him a fake grin, "Well, I was having a nice nap until someone woke me up."

He looked like he did nothing wrong and shrugged while he was talking, "What? Someone had to wake you up."

As I took a sip of water, she said, "So are you excited about your date with Lucas tonight?"

I was so surprised that I spit out the water accidently all over my dad. Of course he looked disgusted and complained, "Brooke?!"

My mom and I laughed a little and I said, "Sorry, dad. I was just surprised to hear that mom thinks that I'm going on a date with Lucas."

My mom said, "Well you are going out with him, aren't you?"

I said sarcastically, "Oh yeah me and Lucas a couple, what a match made in heaven."

"So I take it that it's not a date."

"Correct. Lucas and I are just friends."

Just then the door bell rang and my dad said, "I'll get that."

When he opened the door there was Lucas. Lucas said, "Hello Mr. Davis. I know I came early but I thought I might come by and see what Brooke was doing."

"Well we're about to have dinner. You're welcome join us."

"Cool. What are you guys having for dinner?"

"Spaghetti, garlic bread, and a salad."

"Sounds good I'm starving."

He followed my dad into the kitchen and my mom said joyfully, "Hey Lucas. We were just talking about you not that long ago. How's Karen these days?"

As he sat down beside me he said, "She's doing fine. She asks about you guys all the time."

"Well I'm just going to have to catch up with her sometime soon. Did you eat yet?"

He shook his head. "I heard that you're cooking spaghetti so I thought I might stay awhile and eat with you guys."

He looked at me and asked me, "Is that ok with you?"

I said, "Of course it's ok with me."

"Ok then so it's settled."