Thanks bunches for all of the great reviews! I hope you like this new update, sorry for leaving you with the cliffhanger for so long. I'm not quite sure when the next update will be. I'm getting busy with report cards and what not, since we're done with school next week. But, once summer hits, hopefully I'll have lots of time to write!
Oh, and my last day is the 18th...same day at THE announcement! So, it's going to be a great day. That will probably affect my updates too...so continue wishing for good things!
Amanda :)
Where Do I Belong?
Chapter 12
Nathan was now alone. Peyton had left hours ago. Even though it was only some made up reality, it still felt all too real. He read the slip of paper for what had to be the hundredth time.
Haley is walking home after class and is hit by a car. Doctors are unsure if they will be able to save Haley's life, or that of her unborn child. Nathan must choose. If it comes down to it, do they fight harder to save his wife or his baby?
Nathan knew Haley said she trusts him to do this on his own, but he couldn't, not this. This was too much. He picked up the phone and dialed Haley, once again reaching her voicemail.
"Haley, please call me. I can't do this one on my own. I need you. Please," and a tear dripped down his face.
Haley looked at Brooke with pleading eyes after listening to Nathan's newest message. "What did you put in that envelope? I could hear it in his voice Brooke, he's crying." Haley paced, "I don't think I like this plan. You were just supposed to get Nathan to be with me, not break him."
"It's going to work, and Nathan will be fine," Brooke's phone rang, "I'd better take this," she answered, "Hello."
"How could you!" Peyton screamed.
Brooke looked at Haley, "I'll be in the other room," then paused and snatched Haley's phone, "Don't want you to get any ideas."
Once in the other room she smiled, "Hi to you too."
"How could you?"
"I take it you read my little challenge."
"Oh yeah," Peyton paused, still seething, "And it's just plain mean. Nathan is going crazy. He wasn't even this depressed when Haley left for the tour. You'd think it was the real thing."
"Trust me, I know. Haley's given me play-by-play of his messages."
"How many?"
"Four, so far. But he has yet to tell her what it says. So, he hasn't broken yet."
"Does she know what it says?"
"Are you crazy?" Brooke eyed the doorway behind her. "Haley refuses to even visit Stanford. She sits around, waiting to hear his voice. If she knew, she'd he uncontrollable."
"I take it she hasn't told you her secret yet either?"
"No," Brooke scrunched up her face.
"Don't worry, she will."
"I know, I know." Brooke paused, "Look, I should get back to her. We're going to watch a movie before bed."
"Night Brooke."
"Night Peyton."
"So, tutor girl, what will it be? Comedy or romance?"
"How 'bout Dude, Where's My Car? I need to get my mind off of my problems for a while.
Lying next to Brooke in the darkness long after their movie had ended, Haley spoke, "You think I'm dumb, don't you. For not going to check out Stanford."
"No, I don't think you're dumb tutor girl. I'm pretty sure you have a good reason. Even if it only makes sense to you."
"Tell me what you think Brooke."
"I think you love Nathan, no, sorry, I know you love him. And you're willing to do almost anything to be with him. But you don't want to be tempted by your dreams, which would once again take you away from him. But I think you need to remember your dreams. They all became dreams for a reason. And if Nathan truly wants to make this work, he will work with you to find a way to stay together. No matter how far apart the body is, the heart and spirit are always connected."
Haley sighed, "You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for Brooke. God, I wish I'd thought of it. It sounds so much better than the real reason."
"Which is…"
"I'm pregnant."
"What!"
"Yeah, going on three months now."
"And he doesn't know, does he? THIS is what Peyton was talking about when she said you need him."
"He can't know Brooke, not until he decides. I can't spend the rest of my life wondering if we're together for the right reasons, or being trapped in a relationship like his parents were."
"But you two are nothing like them," Brooke argued, knowing it was the truth.
"Maybe not now, but they too were in love, once upon a time. But they married and stayed together because of Nathan. And none of them are the better for it."
"That's where you're wrong. Nathan is, because it brought him to you."
"Yeah, so I could break his heart, then have his baby, all before graduating from high school. Yay him."
"Don't give up hope yet. Our plan is still in motion, and I am still promising it will work."
