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Chapter 25

The college acceptance letter.

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It was April. The school year, their last year in high school was coming to an end. Basketball had ended a month ago. Nathan was proud that they had not only made it to finals, but won the state championship. It had been a great day with everyone. Things had gotten a lot better with him and Lucas, they were hanging out on a regular basis. They either hung out alone, shooting some hoops and talking, or they would go on double dates with Haley and Brooke. At first it had seemed like a horrible idea, Brooke's crazy idea, but in the end it had all turned out pretty good. Nathan went out to check the mail. He used his key to open up the box that read "Scott," and opened it. In there was the letter had had been waiting for. Duke! Nathan ripped it open. He got in! Not only did he get in...but with a full basketball scholarship!

"Brooke!" Nathan shouted running into their apartment, "I got in baby! I got in! I am going for free, and I get to play basketball for a great school,"

Brooke smiled, she was thrilled for him, "Nathan! I knew you could do it!" She hugged him and kissed him.

"Have you heard anything yet?" Nathan asked. Brooke had promised him she would apply for Duke, even though she promised him there was no chance of her getting in.

"Nope. Not yet. I haven't heard from anywhere yet..." Brooke told him.

"Alright. Since I was on scholarship they probably inform us first...so I am sure it will be fine," He smiled.

"Right."

"I am going to go shower,"

"Okay...then we will call Lucas and Haley, we're going out tonight babe," Brooke told him.

He smiled, "Thanks."

--

Haley came and sat on Lucas's bed. The past month, every morning she would sneak into Lucas's bed to cuddle. This morning, she came with the mail in her hands.

"What is this?" Lucas asked.

"College mail, and tons of it!" Haley told him.

Lucas grabbed it from her, "Okay, let's see. Well, they are all big envelopes. We have two for University of North Carolina, one for Stanford, and one for New York City University," Lucas told her.

They plowed through all of them, "I got in everywhere. I...I got into Stanford!" Haley told him.

They hugged.

"So...is that we're you are going to go?" Lucas asked.

"Well, it is my dream school..."

"I know...and I am so happy for you. I just can't believe I am going to be so far away from you, here in North Carolina."

"You are going to UNC?"

Lucas nodded, "Yeah...I think so..."

"Oh."

"You got in there to ya know..."

"I know. It was my fall back school. The school I didn't really want to go to- I mean, just not my first choice."

"I get it. It's okay. We can do the long distance thing. If I got into a school in California, I would go." Lucas told her.

--

As soon as Nathan left the room, Brooke opened the dresser. In it was her rejection letter from Duke. Brooke had been ashamed to tell him. He was so excited about getting in and she didn't want to let him down. She would tell him, but not today. It just didn't seem right.

--

Peyton got her mail as well. She got into the school in Georgia she wanted to go to. She couldn't wait to call Jake and tell him the good news.

"Jake! Baby! I got in!"

"You did! Peyton that is great! Are you sure you want to do this?"

"110% sure! I am going to come down in July, so just a little bit longer. Give Jenny a kiss for me and tell her I miss her,"

"I will tell Jenny that, she misses you too."

"Tell her Daddy I miss him too, and I can't wait to give him a kiss,"

"I can do that," Jake told her. He was thrilled she would be coming down there to live.

--

"What is your point? You want me to give everything up and go to UNC?"

"I didn't say that...I just wish there was someway we could go both go to schools we like, but still be together. I've seen how you handle things long distance--"

"Hey!" Haley slapped him playfully, "What if we met in the middle? You want UNC, I want SU...so how about we both go to New York City? I mean...it's an amazing place. Columbia is a great school and NYC has a great writing program, and so many opportunities!"

Lucas smiled at her, "NYC DOES have a great writing program. I like the sounds of this plan,"

Haley kissed him.

"Brooke called. She wanted us to all go out to dinner tonight. Nathan got into Duke,so wanted to celebrate!"

"That's awesome for him! We can share our good news too,"

--

The four of them arrived at dinner.

"Are there any good movies playing?" Haley asked, "We should go do that after dinner,"

"Sure," Brooke said. She was worried about college and everything, and that was the whole reason for this outing, and she didn't want it to come up at all.

"So, Lucas and I also have some exciting news. We are both going to school in New York together."

"Aw...that is cute." Brooke said.

"It will suck being so far away from each other," Nathan said, "But you two will have each other in New York, and Brooke and I will have each other at Duke,"

"You got in Brooke?" Haley asked, "You didn't tell me!"

Brooke shrugged, "Not yet."

"You will," Nathan encouraged.

"I have to go to the bathroom," Brooke said, excusing herself. She went outside the resturant, and looked into the sky.

Nathan realized she seemed upset, and said he would be right back.

"Brooke...what's going on?" He asked, as he found her outside after a few minutes of looking for her.

"Just everyone...talking about school..."

"Brooke! Don't worry you haven't heard yet from places, it's fine,"

"I did hear back! I didn't get in Nathan. I told you I wouldn't...and you just had this idea in your head it would all work out. I knew it wouldn't. My grades were never great, cheer-leading doesn't count for much, and I was president this year, but it didn't do it--"

"Brooke...calm down. It's okay. Basketball is a big reason why I got in. Don't be down on yourself.."

"I applied to a smaller school near by, not as high requirements. It's less then ten miles away. I got in there." Brooke admitted.

"Brooke...you could have told me that!! That is great news."

"I just didn't feel good enough...all of you got into such amazing schools, I got in somewhere most people haven't even heard of.."

"Brooke! That doesn't matter. It really doesn't. If it weren't for basketball, I would have been LUCKY if I had gotten into community college. Please..you don't need to feel that way with me. I love you, and this is great news!"

"Yeah. It is great news!"

"We can get an apartment down there, and we will still see each other every night, you can come to my games. It will be perfect." He smiled.

"Yes. It will."

They reached in for a kiss, and lingered for a few more moments. They then decided to go back in and enjoy the rest of their night.

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A/N: Just a few chapters left. :)