Chapter 3
It had been a few weeks since Alex had moved to Tree Hill, and she was settling in quite nicely. As promised she had checked out Karen's Cafe and absolutely loved it. Alex was now a regular customer there. She walked in after school and saw Haley behind the counter making a pot of coffee, Karen was nowhere in sight.
"Hey, Haley." Alex said as she walked up to the counter. Haley turned around at hearing her name called. "Oh, hi Alex, what's up?"
"Not too much. Where's Karen?"
"She went to go see Keith for a minute and left me in charge. As you can see, I'm really swamped." Haley said with a laugh. The cafe was pretty much empty with the exception of an elderly man who was always there.
"Ohh, she went to go see Keith, huh?" Alex said in THAT voice. It was common knowledge that Keith and Karen had been seeing each other for quite a while now and everyone was starting to wonder when, not if, he was going to propose. Alex thought that they were the cutest couple, they really seemed to compliment each other perfectly, and she had been shocked when she found out that Keith and Dan were brothers. They were nothing alike, Alex had met Dan a few times and she would always get the creeps whenever he was around. She understood why Lucas would have so much anger toward the older man. At least he has a great father figure in Keith, she thought.
"So, is Lucas around?" Alex asked.
"No, he has physical therapy today, but he should be back soon." Haley replied.
"Oh, right, how's he doing anyway?"
Haley sighed and said, "Ok, I guess, but sometimes I think he's trying too hard. I know this has been very rough on him, I mean it's almost been a year since the accident, and he still hasn't been able to play basketball yet, but I'm worried that he might push too hard and totally ruin his shoulder for good." She had such a worried look on her face that Alex immediately felt sorry for her. They must really love each other.
"So, you and Lucas have been friends for a long time, right?"
"Since we were like eight. Wow, that's almost ten years." Haley suddenly exclaimed.
"Right, and you guys have never...."
"Never what?" Haley asked wrinkling her eyebrows. Alex waited for a few seconds before Haley finally got it. "Ohhh, God no! We're just best friends, that's it. I mean he's like my brother or something!"
Riiggghhhtt, sure Haley whatever you say. Alex had more tact than that and said. "Ok, it's just...I don't know how you do it. I mean, have you seen him?"
Now, contrary to popular belief, Haley was not blind. She knew perfectly well that her best friend was gorgeous, she just chose not to think of him that way. Besides, she was already with someone, and he wasn't bad to look at either! This is exactly what she told Alex.
"Of course I've seen him, but it doesn't matter, we're just friends. And don't forget, I'm with Nathan."
"Yea, I know. How you managed to have two of the best looking guys at Tree Hill in your life is beyond me." Alex said, smiling.
"Just lucky, I guess." Haley replied, while dramatically flipping her hair off her shoulders, causing both of the girls to burst out laughing.
"What's so amusing?" Karen had just walked into the cafe, and one look at her smiling face let anyone know that she was very much in love.
"Ahh, nothing Mrs. Roe, just crazy girl talk." Alex said.
"Alex, honey, how many times have I told you to call me Karen? Ok, girls, I'm going to go in the back. Haley I'm pretty confident that you can handle the dinner rush." Karen replied while looking at the mostly empty cafe.
"Sure, Karen, no problem. I could always have Alex help me, if things get too wild."
Alex watched with amusement. She loved how everyone was so laid back and entertaining here. Back in Florida, you wouldn't dare joke around with your boss. But, then again, many people did not work for their "second Mother" like Haley did.
Karen walked into the back and Haley went back to cleaning up the counters. Alex offered to help, but Haley refused by saying "this is what I get paid for." A few minutes later, the last customer went strolling out and Haley was about to go and lock up, when she heard the bells on the door jingling. "I'm sorry...."
Lucas came in, and Alex immediately noticed how exhausted and pale he looked. This must have been a hard session. She thought sympathetically. Haley took one look at Lucas and demanded that he sit down. Alex saw the concern Haley had for him and suddenly said. "Look you guys, I better go. Aunt Jolene will have a fit if I'm late for dinner yet again." She got off the stool and started walking toward the door. "See ya later. Hope you feel better, Luke." She took one last look at them, and left.
Once Alex had left Haley went up to Lucas, "Are you ok? What happened Luke?" He shrugged off her questions and answered. "I'm fine Hales, really." He started massaging his shoulder and suddenly winced in pain.
"Oh, my God, Luke! You're not fine. Look, stay there and I'll get you an ice pack."
"No, I'm fine, just a little sore." But he had spoken to the air because Haley had already gone in the back to get the ice. She came back a minute later.
"Here, put this on," she raised her hand to him, stopping him from talking. "No arguing." Lucas sighed resigningly and did what he was told. "Ok, Mom," he started to reply teasingly, but stopped when he saw the genuine concern in her eyes. He softened his voice. "Hales, I'm okay, but you're right, I probably did overdo it today."
"I'm sorry if I'm overreacting. I know how much you want to recover so you can play basketball again, but I guess I'm just worried that you'll really overdo it and never heal. Playing basketball isn't worth ruining your arm, Luke." She knew that she was babbling, but she couldn't stop. She really was scared for him. Lucas must have sensed this and he went over and put his good arm around her shoulders. "I know, I promise I'll take it easier, ok?" Haley snuggled closer in his warm embrace and said. "Ok. I love you Luke." He smiled and gently kissed her forehead.
"I love you too, Hales. Forever." Haley smiled at this statement. This had been their special phrase for years, but recently it seemed like he had stopped saying it. She hadn't realized until just now, how much she had missed hearing it.
Flashback:
Thirteen year old, Lucas and Haley lounged on the couch watching the last scene of "Casablanca."
"We'll always have Paris," Humphrey Bogart told the crying Lauren Bacall. A few minutes later, the credits were rolling. Lucas looked over and smile as he saw his best friend, Haley, wiping away tears. "Hales, it's just a movie."
"I know, but it's soo sad." she sniffled. "Do you think anyone will ever love me like Bogy loved Lauren Bacall?"
Lucas, thought about it for a moment before answering. "I don't know, but he'd be really stupid not to." To his surprise, he saw Haley blush slightly. That was a first. He thought. "Well, I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I love you. I always will love you."
"Forever?" Haley asked quietly.
Lucas scooched closer to her, put his arm around her and replied. "Yea, Hales. Forever."
From that moment on, that phrase had become their special saying. And now, as Haley stood in Lucas's embrace, she felt so safe and thankful that she had a best friend like Luke. I hope nothing ever changes between us. She hoped.
Unfortunately, things would not stay the same for much longer...
Author's Note:
I don't know how well this chapter turned out. I am trying to stick to portraying the characters realistically, but I don't know how well I did. Please review and tell me what you think.
It had been a few weeks since Alex had moved to Tree Hill, and she was settling in quite nicely. As promised she had checked out Karen's Cafe and absolutely loved it. Alex was now a regular customer there. She walked in after school and saw Haley behind the counter making a pot of coffee, Karen was nowhere in sight.
"Hey, Haley." Alex said as she walked up to the counter. Haley turned around at hearing her name called. "Oh, hi Alex, what's up?"
"Not too much. Where's Karen?"
"She went to go see Keith for a minute and left me in charge. As you can see, I'm really swamped." Haley said with a laugh. The cafe was pretty much empty with the exception of an elderly man who was always there.
"Ohh, she went to go see Keith, huh?" Alex said in THAT voice. It was common knowledge that Keith and Karen had been seeing each other for quite a while now and everyone was starting to wonder when, not if, he was going to propose. Alex thought that they were the cutest couple, they really seemed to compliment each other perfectly, and she had been shocked when she found out that Keith and Dan were brothers. They were nothing alike, Alex had met Dan a few times and she would always get the creeps whenever he was around. She understood why Lucas would have so much anger toward the older man. At least he has a great father figure in Keith, she thought.
"So, is Lucas around?" Alex asked.
"No, he has physical therapy today, but he should be back soon." Haley replied.
"Oh, right, how's he doing anyway?"
Haley sighed and said, "Ok, I guess, but sometimes I think he's trying too hard. I know this has been very rough on him, I mean it's almost been a year since the accident, and he still hasn't been able to play basketball yet, but I'm worried that he might push too hard and totally ruin his shoulder for good." She had such a worried look on her face that Alex immediately felt sorry for her. They must really love each other.
"So, you and Lucas have been friends for a long time, right?"
"Since we were like eight. Wow, that's almost ten years." Haley suddenly exclaimed.
"Right, and you guys have never...."
"Never what?" Haley asked wrinkling her eyebrows. Alex waited for a few seconds before Haley finally got it. "Ohhh, God no! We're just best friends, that's it. I mean he's like my brother or something!"
Riiggghhhtt, sure Haley whatever you say. Alex had more tact than that and said. "Ok, it's just...I don't know how you do it. I mean, have you seen him?"
Now, contrary to popular belief, Haley was not blind. She knew perfectly well that her best friend was gorgeous, she just chose not to think of him that way. Besides, she was already with someone, and he wasn't bad to look at either! This is exactly what she told Alex.
"Of course I've seen him, but it doesn't matter, we're just friends. And don't forget, I'm with Nathan."
"Yea, I know. How you managed to have two of the best looking guys at Tree Hill in your life is beyond me." Alex said, smiling.
"Just lucky, I guess." Haley replied, while dramatically flipping her hair off her shoulders, causing both of the girls to burst out laughing.
"What's so amusing?" Karen had just walked into the cafe, and one look at her smiling face let anyone know that she was very much in love.
"Ahh, nothing Mrs. Roe, just crazy girl talk." Alex said.
"Alex, honey, how many times have I told you to call me Karen? Ok, girls, I'm going to go in the back. Haley I'm pretty confident that you can handle the dinner rush." Karen replied while looking at the mostly empty cafe.
"Sure, Karen, no problem. I could always have Alex help me, if things get too wild."
Alex watched with amusement. She loved how everyone was so laid back and entertaining here. Back in Florida, you wouldn't dare joke around with your boss. But, then again, many people did not work for their "second Mother" like Haley did.
Karen walked into the back and Haley went back to cleaning up the counters. Alex offered to help, but Haley refused by saying "this is what I get paid for." A few minutes later, the last customer went strolling out and Haley was about to go and lock up, when she heard the bells on the door jingling. "I'm sorry...."
Lucas came in, and Alex immediately noticed how exhausted and pale he looked. This must have been a hard session. She thought sympathetically. Haley took one look at Lucas and demanded that he sit down. Alex saw the concern Haley had for him and suddenly said. "Look you guys, I better go. Aunt Jolene will have a fit if I'm late for dinner yet again." She got off the stool and started walking toward the door. "See ya later. Hope you feel better, Luke." She took one last look at them, and left.
Once Alex had left Haley went up to Lucas, "Are you ok? What happened Luke?" He shrugged off her questions and answered. "I'm fine Hales, really." He started massaging his shoulder and suddenly winced in pain.
"Oh, my God, Luke! You're not fine. Look, stay there and I'll get you an ice pack."
"No, I'm fine, just a little sore." But he had spoken to the air because Haley had already gone in the back to get the ice. She came back a minute later.
"Here, put this on," she raised her hand to him, stopping him from talking. "No arguing." Lucas sighed resigningly and did what he was told. "Ok, Mom," he started to reply teasingly, but stopped when he saw the genuine concern in her eyes. He softened his voice. "Hales, I'm okay, but you're right, I probably did overdo it today."
"I'm sorry if I'm overreacting. I know how much you want to recover so you can play basketball again, but I guess I'm just worried that you'll really overdo it and never heal. Playing basketball isn't worth ruining your arm, Luke." She knew that she was babbling, but she couldn't stop. She really was scared for him. Lucas must have sensed this and he went over and put his good arm around her shoulders. "I know, I promise I'll take it easier, ok?" Haley snuggled closer in his warm embrace and said. "Ok. I love you Luke." He smiled and gently kissed her forehead.
"I love you too, Hales. Forever." Haley smiled at this statement. This had been their special phrase for years, but recently it seemed like he had stopped saying it. She hadn't realized until just now, how much she had missed hearing it.
Flashback:
Thirteen year old, Lucas and Haley lounged on the couch watching the last scene of "Casablanca."
"We'll always have Paris," Humphrey Bogart told the crying Lauren Bacall. A few minutes later, the credits were rolling. Lucas looked over and smile as he saw his best friend, Haley, wiping away tears. "Hales, it's just a movie."
"I know, but it's soo sad." she sniffled. "Do you think anyone will ever love me like Bogy loved Lauren Bacall?"
Lucas, thought about it for a moment before answering. "I don't know, but he'd be really stupid not to." To his surprise, he saw Haley blush slightly. That was a first. He thought. "Well, I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I love you. I always will love you."
"Forever?" Haley asked quietly.
Lucas scooched closer to her, put his arm around her and replied. "Yea, Hales. Forever."
From that moment on, that phrase had become their special saying. And now, as Haley stood in Lucas's embrace, she felt so safe and thankful that she had a best friend like Luke. I hope nothing ever changes between us. She hoped.
Unfortunately, things would not stay the same for much longer...
Author's Note:
I don't know how well this chapter turned out. I am trying to stick to portraying the characters realistically, but I don't know how well I did. Please review and tell me what you think.