Chapter Two

In retrospect RSVP'ing was probably not the smartest decision Haley had ever made. In a way she wanted to make peace with Peyton and Nathan, put them behind her and move on with her life.

She deserved happiness too, the 2.5 kids and the picket fence. She had allowed Nathan to prevent her from having that for too long and maybe seeing him get married would finally set her mind at peace.

She had scheduled her flight back to Tree Hill for the next day, that would leave her four days prior to the wedding to catch up with old friends and visit her family. Thankfully Jake had not only agreed but offered to take Haley to the wedding to avoid making her look pathetic.

She zipped her suitcase up and carried it to the door of her apartment so she would be ready for the next day. Turning, her eyes scanned the open, spacious apartment. She had decorated the kitchen in a soft violet, with the windows the whole room seemed to be glowing. The living room was a mint green with the most comfortable couch in existence, in Haley's opinion. The hallway lead down to her bedroom, guest room and bathroom.

It wasn't huge, but it was perfect for Haley. It was nothing like her childhood home and when she was in it she didn't have the constant reminder of Nathan.

A ringing phone could faintly be heard from down the hallway. She followed the noise answering it after the fifth ring, "Hello?"

"Hey Hales, long time no talk." The voice on the other end instantly brightened her day.

"Skills! How are you? God, it's been a long time."

The line was silent for a moment before he responding, "Hales I really don't want to call you under these circumstances, but; it's Luke. He's sick, real sick. His HCM caught up with him, they don't know how much longer he's going to last."

"Oh god, no. When, how?" Tears stung her eyes and she waited for his answer.

"He collapsed last week at practice, he's the Ravens coach now. Brooke's torn up, she's seven months pregnant and this isn't good for her." His voice was choked up and raw with emotion.

Lucas and Skills had been best friends since childhood, Haley had lived inbetween them and was one of the three amigos. In high school she had become closer to Peyton but she still cared for them immensely.

"Hows Nathan handling this?" Nathan and Luke had the same dad and although they weren't super close Haley knew this would seriously affect Nathan.

The silence was audible, answering Haley's question.

"You haven't told him have you?" She asked.

"Well kinda' not, uh, it's just Luke doesn't want to ruin his wedding. Nate just thinks he's doing some routine tests so he has to miss the wedding. You know?"

"Skills, he has to know."

"I know, it's just, it's not my place. So uh, come see him okay? He's been asking for you, he missed you when you left. No phone calls, no email, nothing, it broke his heart." He left unsaid that it had also broken his heart.

Holding back tears she said, "Don't try to make me guilty Skills, you know I had to leave. After everything with Nathan, I needed a clean break and a fresh start."

"Yeah I know girl, it's just, why did you need a clean break from us? We didn't hurt you. Anyways, I gotta' go, Bevin wants to go out to eat. I'll see you soon girlie. I love ya."

"Yeah, I love you too. See you soon." She hung up the phone, clutching the wall to steady herself as she tried to come to grips with the news she had just heard.

Before her visit to Tree Hill served the sole purpose of closure, now though, it meant so much more. It was her last chance to see her best friend.

Brooke Davis-Scott had always hated the smell of hospitals, the 48 hour labor with her first child, Quinlan Sophia had left her with this intense dislike. Now it bothered her even more then previously.

Over the past ten days Tree Hill Memorial had become her home. Quin was safely with Karen and although her current pregnancy was slowing her down, Brooke was Lucas' primary care-giver.

The nurses insisted she eat something, take a shower and rest, the only reason she found herself at home for the first time in days. She had know idea what to do with herself, without Quin underfoot or Lucas coming up with family outings she felt completely alone.

"Hey baby." She whispered to her stomach, rubbing it lovingly. Lucas was positive it was a boy and had already picked out a name, Jonathan David Scott. He was so excited to have a son to carry on the basketball dream he had given up.

"Daddy loves you, you know that? So does mommy, we all love you so very much." She assured her protruding stomach. Her greatest fear was being a single mom, at twenty-three not having someone beside her to enjoy the journey.

Her kids weren't going to end up like Lucas or her, they were going to have a mommy and a daddy, they deserved it. She hated god for interfering in her plans.

She heared the door click open and knew instantly who it was. "Brookie, you home?" Peyton called down the hallway, seening her friend sitting on the couch she joined her, wrapping her into a warm hug.

"How you doing girlie?" Peyton asked patting her friends stomach. She had been Brooke's support system the past year or so when Lucas' HCM had gotten worse.

Brooke shrugged, resting her head on the other girls shoulder. The world seemed so impossible now. "So Skills says Haley is coming to the wedding? How do you guys feel about that?"

"She's my best friend, you know? I should be happy, it's just, Nathan. It's like, he still cares or something." Playing with her hands she finished, "I can't have her mess this up, I love him, we're supposed to be together."

Brooke looked away, she couldn't look Peyton in the eye and lie, "Nothing is going to happen, you guys are meant to be. Haley won't stand in the way of that, trust me."

Both girls knew it was a complete fabrication of the truth. Maybe Haley wouldn't stand in the way but the fact that Nathan was meant to be with anyone other then Haley was such a falsity.

"So Brookie cookie why don't we go pick Quin up and go shopping? You need a break." Peyton said smiling, a flase happy facade was much more pleasent then her being overly worried.

"Sounds like a plan, I could definitely use ice-cream. Plus I need to see my baby."

"We are now landing in Tree Hill, please fasten your seatbelts and thank you for flying US Airlines." The voice over the speaker was old and tired and it reminded Haley of her grandfather Charlie. Nathan loved him like his own grandfather.

"So I'm finally going to see the infamous Tree Hill, I can barely contain my excitement." Jake joked as they exited the airport. Tree Hill International Airport was lax on security and they had gotten out within ten minutes.

Laughing Haley slipped her arm through Jake's resting her head next to his arm, it felt good to be home. "I think you're gonna' like it here. Tree Hill's a beautiful place."

"Then why'd you leave?" Although Jake knew the bare minimum, Haley had yet to tell him the long version of the painful story.

She sighed, trying to think of an appropriate response, "I don't know, I guess I just needed a change."

The James' residence looked the same as when Haley had left right after high school. The porch, though slightly more weather worn was inviting and as usual only the screen door was closed.

"Well home sweet home." Haley said sarcastically, her childhood had been one of absent parents and bailing her older sister out of trouble. Seeing her former home didn't bring back warm memories.

"For some reason this isn't what I expected, you don't seem like the country home type to me. It's beautiful." Jake was a city boy through and through and had never experienced life in anything other then a penthouse or upscale apartment.

"Yo H. James!"

"Fergie!"