Haley James had never felt so lost in her life. She, the girl who was
strong and witty and cheerful, no longer knew what to do with herself or
the complexity of feelings. From her spot on the top bleacher, she looked
down at the large crowd yelling and celebrating their heroic basketball
team and suddenly, she wanted nothing more but to run. Run far away from
the noise, the emotions and most of all, the emptiness that kept growing
inside her.
When had life suddenly turned into the complete opposite of what she had always known? Change was inevitable, of course, but she never once imagined things would become so. surreal. She felt lost and removed from the world now. Most of all, she missed him. He, who had been her life and her family, now seemed endless miles away. The funny thing was she could see him, but could no longer reach him. She had never fathomed Lucas- her Luke- would be transformed into a popular athlete, surrounded by adoring girls and envied by all guys. What had happened?
Haley had slowly watched it happen, and as much as she tried to smile and give the best friend support, he had slowly slipped away. Before all this- before the drama and half-brothers and abandoned father realities- she had always been confident in their friendship. Haley and Lucas against the world. Nothing could touch them and only they understood. She had hoped it was a just a stage and he would suddenly wake up and realize how far apart they were and come running back. Or that- the rare times she got to spend 5 minutes with him- her hugs would somehow return the old Lucas. But it never did. And each week, she sat in the same spot watching him play and missing him. He was too busy now. Too busy for mini-golf on the roof or for late night ice cream chats. Or for impromptu sleepovers to watch scary movies. So often, she wanted to take his hand, never let go, and take him away from all this. There was just one problem.
He was happy. Before, he had been content with his life of street basketball and her along his side. Now, he was happy. Seeing him smile and laugh and radiate was enough to prove that. So who was she to speak up? What kind of person was she to hate something that made someone she loved so incredibly happy? And no matter how many times he had to run off for practice or canceled plans or broke his promises, his happiness still meant everything to her. So she kept on sitting and waiting for him and holding onto some unrealistic hope that he would, for once, look her way and realize she was there.
At the end of the day, it came down to the fact that Haley James loved Lucas Scott. And as much as she had tried to let go, something kept holding onto him. She had finally accepted feelings were feelings. Nothing could take hers away. She just wanted peace. Peace of mind, peace of heart and the ability to let her heart breathe. Until then, she would keep on loving him and maybe someday- maybe- he would come back and normal would return.
When had life suddenly turned into the complete opposite of what she had always known? Change was inevitable, of course, but she never once imagined things would become so. surreal. She felt lost and removed from the world now. Most of all, she missed him. He, who had been her life and her family, now seemed endless miles away. The funny thing was she could see him, but could no longer reach him. She had never fathomed Lucas- her Luke- would be transformed into a popular athlete, surrounded by adoring girls and envied by all guys. What had happened?
Haley had slowly watched it happen, and as much as she tried to smile and give the best friend support, he had slowly slipped away. Before all this- before the drama and half-brothers and abandoned father realities- she had always been confident in their friendship. Haley and Lucas against the world. Nothing could touch them and only they understood. She had hoped it was a just a stage and he would suddenly wake up and realize how far apart they were and come running back. Or that- the rare times she got to spend 5 minutes with him- her hugs would somehow return the old Lucas. But it never did. And each week, she sat in the same spot watching him play and missing him. He was too busy now. Too busy for mini-golf on the roof or for late night ice cream chats. Or for impromptu sleepovers to watch scary movies. So often, she wanted to take his hand, never let go, and take him away from all this. There was just one problem.
He was happy. Before, he had been content with his life of street basketball and her along his side. Now, he was happy. Seeing him smile and laugh and radiate was enough to prove that. So who was she to speak up? What kind of person was she to hate something that made someone she loved so incredibly happy? And no matter how many times he had to run off for practice or canceled plans or broke his promises, his happiness still meant everything to her. So she kept on sitting and waiting for him and holding onto some unrealistic hope that he would, for once, look her way and realize she was there.
At the end of the day, it came down to the fact that Haley James loved Lucas Scott. And as much as she had tried to let go, something kept holding onto him. She had finally accepted feelings were feelings. Nothing could take hers away. She just wanted peace. Peace of mind, peace of heart and the ability to let her heart breathe. Until then, she would keep on loving him and maybe someday- maybe- he would come back and normal would return.