Missing You
By: Sari
Summary: Futurefic. Laley. Brathan. Naley. Brucas. One act of passion can change everyone's lives forever.
Chapter 12: Love Is Not Enough
Lucas, Nathan, and Jake were sitting in the living room of Nathan's apartment waiting for their girls, or more accurately Nathan and Jake's girls to get dressed. Brooke's party was in an hour and a half and they had decided to go all out for the event. Not only was the whole affair black tie, but they had rented a limo for the night and had reservations at a swanky new restaurant for desert. Brooke's accomplishment was a big deal and the group hadn't done anything this significant together since prom.
Lucas smiled sadly to himself. "I wish Haley was here." He said softly. "This is something all of us need to be doing together; it's so weird with her not here."
Jake nodded. "I know what you mean man, but you know it would have been awkward if she had come. Brooke kind of hates her."
"I just want her home." Lucas said sighing and staring at his hands. "I know I said that I couldn't take her back if she came home but I was angry and stupid, I can't imagine my life without her in it. It just hurts."
"You know man, you just got to let her do her thing and come back." Nathan said. "I did the stupid thing in high school, I got angry and I got bitter and it took us ages to get back to where we were and even then it wasn't that innocent relationship we started out with. Truthfully it was probably from then that our marriage started to slowly fall apart. It took a couple of years but it was inevitable." Nathan said, hindsight making the situation clear. Nathan didn't hold any grudges toward Lucas. The fact of the matter was Haley had been his first love and she would always have that status for him and he wanted her to be happy. He couldn't think of a better person for her to be with than his brother. "You guys will work it out in the end. If there were two people who were more right for each other, it's you two." Nathan said.
"I really got to thank you man." Lucas said look at his brother gratefully.
Nathan looked confused. "For what?"
"For being my brother, I thought this would be the end of us and it's just made it better. I just got to thank you for not letting all this shit that happened ruin our relationship."
"You're my brother and one of my best friends." Nathan said. "I didn't want to lose that bond."
"Well personally" Jake interjected. "I'm just glad I didn't have to choose sides. You two switching girls made this a whole lot easier."
Lucas threw one of the pillows on the couch at his friend. "Thanks for the input Jake, not needed or wanted, but thanks."
"Hey you know, I strive to please" Jake said laughing. He glanced at his watch, "but the girls are getting into the red zone when it comes to time."
"I'm not going in there to get them." Lucas said.
Nathan looked to Jake. "I'm not going either."
"Neither of you cowards have to come and get us we're ready." Brooke said rolling her eyes.
Peyton and Brooke stood before the three guys looking stunning. Brooke had just begun stunning and after a mini breakdown had took Peyton shopping with her and bought some of the most expensive maternity clothes Nathan had seen but they were beautiful. The dress she had on made her glow, and Peyton, well Peyton always glowed.
"Peyton you look beautiful." Jake said beaming.
"You look beautiful too Brooke." Nathan said in awe. Lucas nodded his agreement at both of his friend's statements. "You guys look really great." He added.
Brooke couldn't help but notice the sadness in Lucas's eyes. She would always care for him; he'd been the love of her life since high school. "C'mon Luke, cheer up, for me? Please?" She pleaded.
Lucas smiled just for her, but he couldn't do anything about the sadness invading his heart. "I'm sorry Brooke."
"The limo awaits us guys; let's go welcome my new fashion line!" She said excited.
Haley sat in the airport with Chris taking in her last sights of San Diego. "Well I have to thank you for a wonderful week." She said looking at Chris earnestly. "You really helped me more than you could ever know and I'm thankful."
"I'm not a jerk all the time Haley." Chris said joking. "But seriously, I was just as much a part of this as you were, there was nothing I could do but try to help fix the mess that I made."
Haley nodded, she was apprehensive about what was waiting for her back in New York.
"Worried?" He asked.
"God I'm a wreck." Haley said laughing. "It's funny, you know? Lucas and I, I would have never thought that we would ever get together. He's been such a constant in my life from day one. We've been friends since we were children and through all the boyfriends, the lies, and the fame I knew if there was something I could count on it would be him. But when we crossed that line, everything changed. It was wonderful and new and it felt so right, but with those feelings comes so much more responsibility. All of a sudden I have to make sure that my decisions wouldn't hurt him because if it hurt him it would kill me."
"Haley, why didn't you tell him?"
She guffawed. "Tell him that I pregnant with your baby? The guy who almost ruined my marriage in high school, slept with Brooke, and who I proceeded to have a two month affair with that he knows nothing about? Are you insane?"
"If he loves you, and I'm just going to guess here and say he does, then it'll hurt but he'll understand." Chris sighed. "Look, I'm not the best at relationships. Hell, I hate them, but I do know one thing that hearing the truth from the one you love is a whole lot better than hearing it from someone else, or worse hearing it too late."
"I was scared Chris." Haley said, knowing her argument sounded weak. "I was scared and insecure. Brooke had just found out she was pregnant and I just paled in comparison. And it's not only that I just…"
"…didn't want the baby." Chris finished.
Haley looked down ashamed.
Chris smiled kindly at her. "Hey look at me." He gently grasped her chin and pulled her face up so she could see the earnest expression in his eyes. It was rare that Chris Keller showed any emotion other than arrogance but he always cared for Haley and he understood her. She was the only girl who had ever understood him too. "It's okay you know. I mean you're barely 25 and you have an amazing career ahead of you. A baby would have destroyed that. And I'm not the one you want to have a kid with." He grinned "though that would have been one talented kid."
Haley laughed, and she had to fight for it not turn into a sob. "I think it was a girl." She said softly. "Our girl would have been damn talented."
Chris squeezed her hand. "No regrets Haley. Come on, promise me. I don't want you to regret this."
She nodded as she heard her plane's boarding begin. "Thank you Chris, and no matter what any tabloid or spurned lover says you're a good guy."
He smiled. "Yeah, I know, I'm just waiting for the rest of the world to figure it out."
The party was in full swing and Lucas had about enough of dancing and mingling with Brooke's high fashion friends. Much to his chagrin, she had made him tag along with her and Nathan while she showed off her new boyfriend. He was happy for the both of them and he appreciated her attempts at getting his mind off of Haley but he didn't want his mind off of Haley. He wanted her back so badly it was physically hurting him.
"Lucas Scott, well this is just damn convenient!" A voice he hadn't heard in ages called from behind him. Lucas turned around in surprise. "Rachel?" He asked in amazement. "Rachel Gatina?"
The redhead grinned in response running up to him and giving him an air kiss. "Wow, look at you. The years have been good to you. You keep getting handsome."
Lucas really looked at Rachel. She was beautiful as usual. "And you keep getting more and more stunning. What are you doing here?"
She waved her hand. "I'm a freelance writer and I was given the lovely task of writing about Brooke's awesome party. You must be really proud of her, you two are still together right?"
He smiled. "No, we're not."
Rachel's mouth made a little 'o' in surprise. "Wow, okay never would have thought you two would break up again after you fought so hard for her last time. So the tabloids are not bullshitting me this time. Brooke and Nathan are really together?"
"Yeah, it's for the best." He said shrugging.
"Okay, well I actually am kind of glad I got to see you. I got the most interesting delivery at my office today and I thought I'd show it to Nathan but maybe it'd make more sense if I showed it to you." Rachel said. "You want to come out to my car with me for a second?"
He looked confused. "What's this about Rachel?"
Rachel looked nervous. "Well I might have stretched the truth just a little. I didn't come here because I was assigned to the story; I kind of requested it because I knew there was a pretty big chance all of you guys would be here. Haley and I have never seen eye to eye so when you guys saw the headline I didn't want your first impression of me in such a long time to be that I was still harboring a grudge, because I'm not."
They were at her car now; parked in the parking garage across from the hotel the party was being held. Rachel was still chatting away but Lucas was hardly paying attention. "Rachel" He finally said impatiently. "I get it, and I doubt anyone still thinks you're the bitch you were in high school."
She pulled a large manila envelope out of her car and opened it to reveal a magazine cover. "What's this?" He said taking it from her.
"It's a mock up of what the next magazine cover is going to look like. I have some friends in layout and design who know that I knew Haley and they gave it to me."
It was a blown up picture of Haley and Chris Keller walking outside a free clinic in California. Lucas closed his eyes and then opened them, not believing the headline. In large bold typing read: "AMERICA'S SWEETHEART AND BAD BOY ROCKER AT ABORTION CLINIC."
"Lucas?" Rachel said softly. "Are you and Haley…together?"
He smiled bitterly. "We were, but I don't think so."
"Are you going to be okay?"
Lucas nodded and gave Rachel a quick hug. "Yeah, I'm going to be fine." He pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket and scribbled his number on it. "Give me a call when you're free okay? I'm sure the gang wouldn't mind seeing you again. I know Brooke especially wouldn't mind seeing you. You two were really good friends once right?"
Rachel nodded and smiled. "Alright, and take care of yourself Lucas. I know we weren't the best of friends but you were one of the good guys back in high school. I can't pretend that I know much about you but I don't believe you could have strayed too far from that person and I really want to be friends because we never got that chance in high school."
"I would really like that too." Lucas said genuinely, and watched Rachel get in her car and drive away.
Next Up: Haley has some explaining to do. Rachel proves that she really does want to be friends.
A/N: I would love some reviews guys, I haven't been getting many for this story so please review!