HEY! Alritey, thats the fastest time Ive ever seen reviews come in! LOL... but thank you for the amazing reviews! Thanks SOO much... so your reviews were fast, so this update is fast. Here is chapter 25. Ps. The song in the last chapter was Face Down- The Redjumpsuit Apparatus... AMAZING SONG!... so without further delay... here you go!...

Michelley P.

Chapter 25: Because Of You

"Haley..." A foggy voice whispered. She opened her eyes slightly, squinting at the bright hospital lights. She moaned, her whole body was throbbing, and at first she wasn't sure what she was doing here. She lifted her hands to touch her face, but couldn't come into contact with her skin. There were just bandages on her left side, the other side was exposed, but tendered and she could feel more bruises forming. Then she remembered, being face down in the dirt, her body trembling, the taste of her own blood, the feel of her shoulder crushing.

She sighed and glanced at her body. Her shoulder was in a cast, and almost every other inch of her body was covered in a white bandages. Her head ached as she finally opened her eyes the rest of the way. She peered at Lucas and Brooke, watching her with sympathy. She rolled her eyes, not wanting anyone's pity, not wanting to see anyone, not wanting to be weak in front of them. And still they watched her, wondering how she had gotten so beaten.

"What happened to you?" Brooke asked in a sad voice, she reached out to touch Haley's hand, but Haley flinched. Probably because it hurt, or maybe because she was afraid to be touched, by anyone and everyone... except. Mark.

"Mark." Haley breathed. She turned her head quickly and became dizzy. Why did she need him so badly? He had put her here and though her body was physically aching, her heart was aching more. She didn't want to see Lucas and Brooke, she wanted to see Mark. But why? Hadn't he caused her enough pain already? Haley's face begun to hurt more as tears stained her cheeks, stinging into her cuts. She did need him. Ever since she left Tree Hill she had a void in her heart and Mark had been the only thing that could ever fill that void. Was it Mark that she needed, or that life? One way or another, he was an addiction to her, an addiction she didn't want to kick.

"He did this... didn't he?" Lucas asked. He already knew, Haley could see it in his eyes, but still she lied as she shook her head slowly, afraid that if she moved too much her whole body would crumble. "Hales... we know. The police did an investigation and Mark came forward." Haley turned her head from them, facing the windows at her side. The sun outside was bright and almost fascinating. It reminded her of the many walks that she had taken with Mark in the park. Sitting on the benches becoming completely wrapped up in each other.

I will not make the same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself cause my heart so much misery
I will not break the way you did
You fell so hard
I've learned the hard way, to never let it get that far

Brooke watched Haley's expressions. She couldn't believe that this is where their lives had ended up. Sitting in a hospital room, eyeing her battered best friend. She couldn't help but feel responsible. She had fallen for Lucas in highschool, Lucas had cheated on Haley, Nathan had kept that secret, and they had hurt her so bad that they drove her into the arms of that man. But still, Brooke became overwhelmed with what she could read on Haley's face. She was completely in love with Mark, but she was anything but happy. Even before this, she was sure that Haley was never truly happy. She could see it in her eyes, the need for something more. And though she didn't want it to be true, if it was Luke that she needed, she could have it.

In this moment, as Brooke traced Haley's outline with her eyes, all the bumps and bruises. The cuts and broken bones, she promised herself that she would never let it get like that for her. She promised herself that she'd never fall so in love with someone, that not even his fist could knock her out of it. She watched Haley, trying to be so strong, but looking so weak.

"What can I do for you?" Brooke asked sweetly. She walked around the bed and kneeled to look at Haley. Her eyes were filled with so much hurt and resentment. She didn't want anyone to see her like this. She didn't need anyone else, nor did she want their help.

"You can leave!" Haley snapped. She automatically felt bad for her remark, and couldn't help sobbing in front of them. This was the last thing she wanted, to be so weak and need someone so much. She was wrong. She did need them. She thought she needed Mark, but as she laid there in so much pain, inside and out, crying, she realized the only thing she really needed was her old life back. She leaned on this life she had with Mark, because her pride wouldn't let her go back. Pride. She didn't have any left, Mark had beaten it all out of her.

"We're not going anywhere." Brooke whispered.

"Lucas, can I talk to Brooke alone... please?" Haley asked desperately. She didn't dare to look in either of their eyes, she didn't want to see the look of pity. Lucas nodded and leaned in to kiss Haley's forehead, his lips stinging against her tapered skin. He quietly left the room, shutting the door behind him. Haley glanced up at Brooke, she could feel her body becoming weak again, she felt light headed and had the uncontrollable feeling once more.

"Brooke.." Haley pleaded. "I want to go home." She cried.

"No!" Brooke said harshly. "You are NOT going back there." Haley shook her head,

"No Brooke, I don't want to go back to mine and Mark's place... I want to go home..." She said. With that, she faded out, the bright lights getting darker and darker, until she was completely engulfed in this darkness. And even as her body was numb, she could feel her heart, filled with so much fear. She was afraid to breathe, afraid to sleep, afraid to live, because at any moment he could come back, and he could finish his job.

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust
Not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you...
I am afraid

Brooke sadly walked out of Haley's hospital room, tears smearing her cheeks. Her hands trembled as she raised them to her mouth. Lucas walked out and tangled her into his arms as she cried into his chest. She let out a bitter cry as the sight of Haley's broken body lingered in her mind. They had never seen her so weak, and try to be so strong. They had never seen such heartache beam from one person. And they never thought it would ever happen to Haley.

"I hate him!" Brooke screamed as she clenched her fists into Lucas's shirt, hitting him hard in the chest, her anger at Mark exploding out of her.

"I know... they better keep him locked up for a long time, if not... they'll be locking me up for what I do to him." Lucas said bitterly. Hearing such anger come from him scared Brooke, making her cry harder. She couldn't take just standing her in the waiting room, waiting for... she wasn't sure what they were waiting for. They were just there, Haley was suffering and there was nothing they could do but wait... for nothing.

"Nathan..." Brooke breathed. Lucas glanced down at her and saw her staring at the entrance to the hospital. He turned to see Nathan, his brother, standing there, breathing heavily from rushing to get there. He hadn't seen them, as he leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees and letting out a long breath. He looked up and saw them, staring at him as if her were some kind of saving grace. Like him being there was going to change everything.

"Hey..." Nathan said with a panic in voice. "I was talking to mom, she told me that you called her... thanks for calling me by the way." Nathan said in a disgusted tone. Lucas lowered his head shamefully.

" I was so wrapped up in taking care of her, I didn't think about..." Lucas tried to explain, but Nathan cut him off.

"No, of course you didn't. Where the hell is she? When's she going home?" Nathan asked all at once.

"It'll be awhile Nate." Brooke whispered. She hadn't realized she was still in Lucas's embrace, so she stepped out awkwardly, not wanting things to start all over again, just like they had in highschool.

"What are you talking about?" Nathan asked. His voice sounded so angry it was almost surreal.

"It's bad..." Lucas choked out, the reality just hitting him now.

I lose my way

And it's not too long before you point it out

I cannot cry

Because I know that's weakness in your eyes

I'm forced to fake,

a smile,

a laugh

Every day of my life

My heart can't possibly break

When it wasn't even whole to start with

Nathan walked into Haley's room as she slept soundly. The violent beeping of her heart monitor echoed in his ears. He walked over and sat on the chair next to her bed, pulling it close enough that he could easily touch her. He couldn't believe it. He almost choked on the air around him as he saw how terribly Mark had hurt her. He stared at her, thinking about the night before when he had talked to her on the phone, thinking about how he could have stopped this. How he should have known she wasn't happy, how he could have run to her rescue. But he didn't, he stayed in his own world with Cara. It was only now, when he was so close to Haley for the first time in what felt like forever, that his love for Cara seemed to fade. It was still there, but it was nothing compared to the love he had for Haley in this moment, and the hatred he had for Mark, the hatred for himself.

Haley just laid there, her face twisted in pain even as she slept. He couldn't imagine the things Mark did to her to land her here, so helpless. He could feel a lump rising in his throat as he watched her. Running his fingers through his hair, he took a deep breath, trying to fight the tears.

He just sat there with her for hours, he told Brooke and Lucas he'd stay and let them go home, and then he sat there. Waiting for her to wake up. A tired sheet covered him as he yawned, and he looked out the window to see the sun setting. He walked around her bed, to her side with the good shoulder, and laid with her, so gently, not to hurt her, and slept soundly and protectively by her side. He probably should have went home with Cara, or at least called her. But he wasn't leaving Haley now, not again, she'd never be alone again.

I watched you die I heard you cry Every night in your sleep I was so young You should have known better than to lean on me You never thought of anyone else You just saw your pain And now I cry In the middle of the night For the same damn thing

Kay... there you go... please review... once again... the faster the reviews... and the more reviews... the faster the update... SO... review away!

Michelley P.