This is Not The End………………

Haley's POV

"Knock knock," I heard the faint words from the halfway opened front door. I looked up from my magazine and was too stunned to say anything. It was him; he was finally home. I blinked wordlessly as I watched him come forward with a small smile planted on his face. At the time I wasn't sure how I felt about him being home finally. I mean because of all the times he could have been home, he picks now, the day before his son is moving to New York for college, to saunter into this house.

"What? No hello, Daddy?" He tried to joke, but I was still to stunned to say anything. I stayed put while he walked closer to me, putting his keys and wallet down on the end table of the living room couch. "Haley?" He questioned, "Is that my baby girl?" He sat down next to me on the couch, which angered me. It was now when I had the ability to speak.

"Jacob," I hissed standing up, "you've made a huge mistake coming back today." I glared my eyes down, hoping he would see how serious I was. When it didn't faze him I spoke up again, "Why are you even here to begin with?" I fold my arms across my chest.

He sighed at me, figuring that I wasn't old enough to understand. "You know that it's impolite to use my first name while speaking with me?" I kept silent, waiting for him to answer my question and also trying to forget about his jab. When he notices my seriousness he finally answers, "Look, I'm here to see Lucas off," he stands up next to me.

I scoff at him, now unfolding my arms and throwing my magazine down on the coffee table. Terrible timing, I kept screaming in my head. My dad never was keen with his timing. In fact, he had the worst timing ever thought possible. He noticed my infuriation while I began to walk towards the kitchen and follows me.

"Haley," he stressed my name, "Look, I'm here now, okay? Isn't that what matters?" Before I could open my mouth to object he begins again, "I came here to see my son off for college, now where is he?"

I slammed a cup I had in my hand down on the counter. The way he spoke made it seem as if we should have been here, waiting for his appearance. I roll my eyes at him while I turn around to open the refrigerator door. I can hear his lack of patience with me with the tap of his feet. I turned around as slow as possible, hoping to irk my father even more. When he gives me that look of ingratitude I knew that I should stop being a brat.

"Lucas went to go hang with his friends one last time at Nathan's, and mom's out shopping for some of Lucas' last minute things," I throw out nonchalantly while I pour myself a glass of milk. With just my eyes I stare up at him. It was now that I noticed his repentance for missing him, but it was quickly covered up when he took a jab at me.

"You're not joining them like always?" He asked truly shocked. I guess he remembered that part of my childhood. Big whoop. I shook my head. "You know Haley, I'm proud, you finally found a gang of your own," He smiled at me but I didn't say anything. I took a sip of my milk and went back into the living room. My father wasn't my favorite person at the moment.

I wanted to spend time altogether with them, but I knew this was Luke's time to hang out, and like a good sister I was, I gave him his time. Even though Nathan was going to be there.

"Okay, so I get the cold shoulder, that is to be expected," he says somewhat to himself but loud enough for me to hear. I turned around with a scowl on my face. My dad knew how to irk me; he knew how to get me to speak up. Why was he even here, why was it so important, now of all days?

"You don't have a right to be proud of me," I say cynically ready to yell my heart out. I took a deep breath in, which game him the opportunity to butt in and explain.

"Haley Elizabeth!" I cringed, just like my mother used to yell at me. "How dare you say that to me! After everything I've given you? I've been busting my ass to give you and your brother the perfect home life. To give you whatever you wanted. So don't tell me that I have no right to be proud!"

I know what he means; I know that he worked hard for all of us, but for some reason that just wasn't enough for us. I lick my lips before I open my mouth again for they have suddenly become tremendously dry.

"You may have given us what we wanted," I say slowly, trying to sound sincere this time and not just angry. "But you forgot about the things we needed," I paused to watch his face, hoping he would understand what I meant. I could tell he was trying to decipher m y words, but it was taking longer than I had expected. "They should both be home soon." I said quietly and turned away to head for the stairs.

I don't know if I was thankful, or disappointed that he didn't follow me.

Nathan's POV

I laughed again at another one of Tim's lame jokes to cheer us up. I know it sounds girly, but it was true. We were all saddened by the fact that we would be splitting apart, and that our generation of friendship was almost at its end. I knew I would always count on Luke to be there with me, we both applied and been accepted to the same college, which I was thankful for.

We all knew we had a lot ahead of us, and that, as girly as it sounds, we would stay friends forever. At least, we had all hoped for that. But somewhere down the line I knew that it wasn't going to last forever. For, forever is quite a long time.

Jake gave me an assuring smile from across the room. I had a feeling he knew what I was thinking. But I was no longer worried about it, in fact I felt better with myself that I had finally come to a conclusion. That question no longer lingered in my head; I knew what I had to do even if it could destroy everything I have ever worked for. But it was the right thing to do, for both of us.

I looked over at Lucas hoping to see some sort of emotion inside him. It was his last night, he and Maureen where going to drive down to the airport and then off to New York to move him in. He seemed okay, as far as I could tell, but I knew something was bothering him.

"Something wrong, man?" I asked him; while Jake and Tim began there own conversation. I could tell he was struggling to get it out. "Luke?"

"It's just," He shook his head, "I dunno, I guess I never expected us to be here. You know the point in our lives where we are all going to separate. I thought it would never come, and I guess it's well, surreal." I nod, fully comprehending the meaning of his words. Suddenly he shot me a curve ball.

"Did you always have a thing for Haley?" He asked me with his brooding eyes. I sighed, how would I tell him without him acting weird about it? When I didn't answer he laughed. "Hey, Nate. I'd understand it actually. It actually makes a lot more sense now." He laughs again.

When I see the smile on his face, his words, 'Haley deserves better' had begun to scream in my head. I figured he still felt the same way. But just when I thought I knew everything, he threw another crazy one at me.

"You know, you deserve Haley and she deserves you," I furrowed my brows up at him. What made him change his mind about this? "I always knew that it'd be you that she would fall for. I mean not completely but…you know maybe it was just my wishful thinking that got you two together."

I was about to choke, the news was literally about to kill me. I figured Lucas saw my shocked expression when he laughed again. By this time Tim and Jake began to listen in.

"Don't sound so shocked man, I know I was upset when I found out it was true and that it was actually happening. But I was just trying to protect my little sister; I wanted her to be unscathed from the evils of this world," He laughed at his own foolish words, "But I realized that you were the best fit for her." This is when I began to feel distressed, and when he genuinely smiled at me. "I know you have a big decision to make too, but whatever you decide, I know you have your best intentions for her." He paused watching me frown, "And I appreciate it," I looked back up finally realizing that Lucas never thought low of me, that I always was a good guy, and that I was good enough for anyone that I truly loved.

"Thanks, man," I began, "And the truth is, yeah, I have always had feelings for Haley. I just always thought that she was too good for me, and that she did deserve better, sometimes I still do, and some part of me was afraid. But the truth is, now, that I have her still I'm afraid." I gave them my true solemn face, and right away I knew that they had understood. "I love her so much, it hurts,"

"So why isn't she here with us tonight like always?" Tim asked confused at this. Jake and I both shrugged. I mean I was just as confused myself, she was always here with us, whenever there was a party or a get together. When it was, the Fandom Five. My face began to drop. I knew I shouldn't have felt this way, but I did. I missed Devin; I missed the friendship we all shared. I just wish it never had to end they way it had. But I guess everything is meant for a reason.

I had learned that by being with Haley.

"She shocked me by saying it was my time, and that she didn't want to get in the way of that," Lucas told us, in a rather regretful tone. "I think she always thought I was annoyed by her hanging out with us. Well sometimes it did, but not always. I just wish she realized that now is when I would want her here with us."

It grew silent between us, and I'm assuming we had all thought of the same thing. Thought of flashbacks of when we were all together, happy, carefree, and even troubled and wounded. But then like the saying goes, 'all good things must come to an end.' And so it did.

And with a promise to Lucas I told him I would see him in the morning and we all gave our manly hugs and advised to always keep in touch.