Chapter 9

Nathan sat on the edge of his bed anxiously watching his door. Lauren was supposed to drop by his room before she left for Chapel Hill. Even though he would be going back there in a few days and he was almost one hundred percent sure he would see her again he knew it wouldn't be the same. Lauren and Nathan were not friends before they dated and it would be nearly impossible for them to be friends after their relationship.

He tapped his foot in hopes that she would come soon and that he didn't get up at ten o'clock for no reason. He could see a shadow approaching and finally saw her tall, think frame standing in his doorway. She casually knocked on the opened door, "Can I come in?"

Nodding and smiling he said, "You have seen me in less clothes than this," referring to his baby blue plaid boxer shorts. He winked at her and she almost blushed.

She smiled at his comment and pointed to the boxers, "Nordstrom's. Twenty- two dollars. I bought them." She looked down at the carpet and kicked a Prada dress shoe out of the way. She walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. Their arms almost touched. Her eyes stayed on the floor, "Listen, Nathan, I know that when we go back to school everything is going to be different..."

"I don't want it to be though Lauren." He looked at her and touched her arm.

Looking up at him, she said, "It is going to be though and there is, unfortunately nothing either of us can do about it but take it in stride."

"You know I didn't want this to end like it did."

"No one does Nathan," She shrugged her shoulders, "It just happens that way sometimes."

He nodded his head knowing that she was right. "I'm sorry Lauren."

She smiled at him, "Don't be. You and Brooke are perfect for each other." She stood up and walked toward the door. Turning around to wink at him, she said, "You be good to her, okay?"

He laughed, "Always."

Lauren turned around to leave but quickly turned back toward Nathan's room. She reached behind her neck. "Here." She said throwing something at him. He caught it and she said, "I know someone else who should have that." She smiled once more and left his room.

Nathan looked at the item in his hand. It was the necklace he had given Lauren several months before. He raced out of his room to make sure to catch her. "Lauren!" She stood at the bottom of the steps. She turned around. "Thank you."

"No problem." She pulled up the handle on her luggage and said, "Just remember what I told you."

He nodded and watched her leave the house. He wondered if maybe Lauren was a blessing in disguise and if she was put in his life to make him realize how precious everything was. He looked at the necklace in his hand and reached for his phone on his bedside table.

Before he could pick it up the phone rang. "Hello?" He said, curiously.

"Hey, its me." It was Brooke and she sounded painfully upset.

"What's wrong?"

"Please don't hate me."

"What are you talking about?" Nathan asked her as he threw on a vintage tee and camouflage cargo shorts.

"I have to leave."

"What?"

"The woman that I nanny for in Charlotte needs me to come back. I have to go Nathan, that... I live with them."

"You don't have to go. Where are you?"

"I am at the airport."

Nathan raced down the stairs and out the door. Lauren stood in the kitchen. "I forgot my cell phone." She said.

"Brooke, don't leave. Listen to me! Don't leave." He turned the phone off and dropped it onto the marble floor. "Lauren I have to go to the airport." She gave him a confused look. "Brooke is there and she has to leave. She can't leave."

Lauren nodded and ran to the taxi van. Nathan followed her. "Okay, I need you to drive to the airport faster than you have ever driven before, alright? I have a fifty dollar bill with your name all over it if you can get us there in ten minutes."

The taxi driver nodded his head and said, "Yes ma'am." He slammed on the accelerator and the van peeled out.

Lauren looked at Nathan, "Fast enough for ya?"

"Hopefully."

Brooke stared at her watch and then at the board with the posted time for departure. 10:53. Her watch read 10:21. She knew she should be boarding any minute. She looked up and down the airport for as far as she could see looking for Nathan.

"...Now boarding Flight 752 to Charlotte, North Carolina first class rows one through three..."

She stood up and hoped that he would come with in the next minute or so. She chewed on her lip, broke the skin, and kept going. Handing her ticket to a stuartess, she looked back once more and prepared to board the plane.

"Nathan I would love to run down to Brooke's terminal with you and I would love to see you two reunited once again, but I can't. I have to go." She hugged him, pulled away, and said, "If its meant to be... I'll be." She winked at him and walked away.

"Lauren," Nathan yelled. She turned around. "Thanks for everything. You were perfect."

She laughed, "So I've been told."

For a moment he watched her walk away, wondering if what he had just done was the right thing. He looked at the necklace in his hand and was completely reassure. He ran to the screen where the flights were posted. His eyes scanned it until finally finding it, flight 752 to Charlotte, Terminal A7.

Nathan ran faster than he ever had at any practice in his life. This wasn't a game, this wasn't a practice, this was his future and his future was relying on the next five minutes.

Fighting back tears, Brooke took her seat on the airplane. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. No missed calls and no service. Perfect, she thought to herself. She ran her fingers through her hair and let her index finger touch her bottom lip. Blood was still flowing out of it.

She leaned her head back and said, "This day just keeps getting better and better."

Brooke stared out the window hoping that in any second Nathan would come running, yelling for her to get off the plane and stay with him forever. She closed her eyes hoping that any second she would wake up from this dream and be back in Charlotte.

Opening her eyes her dreams were smacked down. No such luck.

He was there. Nathan stood at the terminal that Brooke was supposed to be at. No one was there. He looked at his watch 10:47. "Damnit." He said. He looked up and watched the plane pull away.

Shaking his head in disbelief he fell to the ground. She was gone, again. Part of him couldn't believe her, how could she do this to him again? How could she just leave? But the other part couldn't believe himself. He let her go. He knew there was something he could have done to make her stay.

He picked himself off the ground and began to walk away. Before he could get too far a familiar voice called his name, "Nathan?"

Author Note: First of all, I am so so so sorry for the lack of updates. I have been out of town for longer than expected and I have also been out of ideas. Second of all, what do you think? Please, please, please tell me. I am dying to know!

Next Chapter:
-Who called Nathan's name?
-Will Brooke and Nathan ever get to be together?
-What will happen between Haley and Lucas?
-All these questions answered in what I believe will be the final chapter!