Hi everyone, thanks once again to everyone who reviewed. As always, it is very much appreciated. I am warning you now, this is VERY long, so I've broken it down into two chapters, enjoy!

Ch. 8 & 9 Nothing Lasts Forever

...And as she ran down the hall she ran into someone...Haley.

"Oh, my god, Haley. I'm so sorry, I was late to class and wasn't watching where I was going. I'm so sorry." She exclaimed quickly. Haley just looked at her for a moment before replying. "It's no problem, you were late to class. Next time just look around you and see if anyone's there. Well, you're late, I'll talk to you later." She said cooly.

Alex stared at her retreating back in shock, did she just blow me off? she wondered silently.

"Miss Loften, unless you want a detention, I suggest you get inside the class immediately."

Alex jumped about a foot. "Oh, sorry Mr. Dunn. It won't happen again sir." She said sheepishly. Alex walked into the classroom with Mr. Dunn following closely behind her. She had no clue why Haley had acted that way, but she was determined to find out.

Meanwhile, Haley was slowly walking down the hall, also completely lost in her thoughts. She only had study hall this period, and for the first time since junior high, she actually considered skipping class. But her conscience got the best of her and she decided to go. It didn't really matter if you were late, as long as you signed in. Haley thought back to her run in (literally) with Alex. Part of her felt bad about being so distant, it wasn't really her, but the other part still couldn't get over her anger against the other girl. This is ridiculous, I hate feeling this way. That's it, I am going to find Lucas after class and talk with him. She planned on telling him how she felt and hopefully get things back to normal. Unfortunately, things would not turn out the way she planned.

Alex couldn't believe how slow her last two classes had gone. Her thoughts were completely on Lucas and she wasn't able to concentrate on anything. During Spanish, she was unable to answer a question and felt very embarassed. She was usually a top student and could speak almost fluently, but today, it might as well have been Latin for all she could understand. Finally, the final bell rang and Alex bolted out of class, hoping that Lucas would be back and he would have good news to tell everyone. She ran out into the hall and was disappointed when Lucas was nowhere in sight. Sighing with disappointment, Alex walked over to her locker. She was about to open it, when she saw a note sticking out. She took the note, surprised and looked around to see if anyone was watching, no one was. She opened it and a slow smile spread across her face. It was a simple note that read.

Lex,
Meet me in the gym.
Lucas.

She completely forgot about her books as she nearly ran to the gym, lots of thoughts running through her head. Does this mean that he has good news and wanted to tell me in person? Or is it bad news and he can't face anyone right now? she wondered. She walked into the gym, and saw that Lucas wasn't there. "Lucas, Luke, are you here?" She called out. After about a minute of waiting and no sign of Lucas, she started to turn and walk out the door. When suddenly she felt strong arms grab her and spin her around. "What the.." Alex started to say, but was stopped by looking up into Lucas's laughing blue eyes. "I'm guessing the doctor's went well, huh?" she said wryly.

"Yep." he replied. "Really well and I owe it all to you Lex."

"Me? All I did was spot you and get on your case a few thousand times."

"Yea, well I needed you to kick my ass a few thousand times." he teased. "You've been my inspiration, my rock. I would probably have given up by now, if it weren't for you."

"Uh, I highly doubt that, you just would have found someone else to do it." she replied modestly. "You did it all by yourself Lucas, I was just someone to cheer you on, that's all." She really wanted to change the subject so she said. "Well, now that you're better, I guess I can kick your ass in basketball."

He raised his eyebrows at her. "Yea, right. I'd like to see you try." Alex walked over to the bleachers where there was a basketball lying there. She walked over to the courts and threw the ball. It sailed in the net neatly with a "swoosh." She picked up the ball again and smirked at Lucas who's mouth had dropped open in shock. "Try me." she said confidently.

"You're on." he said before taking the ball from her. And this started a one-on-one game.

While Alex and Lucas were trying to kill each other on the court, Haley was tying to find Lucas. She saw Nathan coming up to her. "Hey Nate," she said reaching up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "have you seen Lucas?"

"I'd imagine he'd be celebrating his good news right about now. Actually, I kinda thought you'd be with him." he answered.

"What are you talking about, what good news?"

"You mean, he didn't tell you?" Nathan asked very surprised.

"NO, he didn't tell me, what's going on?"

Nathan quickly explained to her that Lucas's appointment with the doctor had gone well, and he was able to get back on the team. He first saw confusion in her eyes, then shock, then a mixture of relief (for Lucas's recovery) and hurt (that he hadn't told her.) Nathan tried to appease her by saying. "Hales, the only reason I know is that Whitey told us today after Luke told him. He is probably still in shock and hasn't told anyone else yet." At that moment the two of them saw Brooke walking down the hall. "Hey Brooke," Nathan yelled. "Have you heard the news about Lucas yet?"

She walked over to them and replied " Hey, Tutor Girl, haven't seen you for a while. What? No, why have you?" Nathan gave his "I told you so smile," and Haley felt much better. Maybe he hadn't told anyone yet. She heard Brooke squeal with excitement, and she figured that Nathan must have told her the good news.

"Well, have you seen him lately?" Haley asked. Brooke answered. "Yea, I saw him heading torward the gym a little while ago."

"He's probably practicing already." Nathan said rolling his eyes.

"You're probably right," Haley said. "I'm going to stop in there, I need to speak to him anyway. The others decided to walk with her. They were in visual distance from the gym when they heard a girl's voice scream. They all looked at each other and took off running toward the gym.

Of course they didn't know that Lucas and Alex were in there, or that Lucas had just picked Alex up to stop her from hitting another shot. "Lucas Scott, put me down right now!!" she yelled laughing hysterically. "I really think that this is against the rules."

"Nope, it's legal." he replied.

"Oh, really? So this is how you'd handle Nathan to keep him from getting a shot?"

"Possibly, if I could pick him up." Lucas said smiling.

"Oh, you're just so...impossible."

"Thanks."

Alex took him by surprise letting out a loud scream. (this is what Haley, Nathan, and Brooke heard). Lucas was so surprised that he dropped Alex. She took off running, and threw the ball, once again making a shot. "No offense Scott, but you suck." she said jokingly. "You can't even beat a girl, pathetic." At this, Lucas grabbed her once again, this time throwing her over his shoulder in a fireman's hold. "Lucas, put me down!" she begged.

"Nope, you're right, and I can't let myself lose to a girl." He said with a laugh.

About this time Haley, Nathan, and Brooke ran into the doorway of the gym, fearing the worst. What they saw was Lucas holding Alex over his shoulder, while she squealed and screamed at him to let her down, saying something about "good sportsmanship," Haley watched the scene unfold and she felt tears welling up in her eyes, then she turned on her heel and sped out of the door, leaving Nathan and Brooke still standing there in surprise.

Lucas's Bedroom, a few hours later.

Lucas was sitting at his desk trying to concentrate on his math homework, when he heard a knock at his door and it opened before he had a chance to say come in.

"Haley," he said in surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought you had work... wait a minute, what's wrong?" he asked with concern ask he took in her tearstained cheeks. "Is it Nathan?"

"That's just typical of you, you automatically assume that Nathan is the reason I'm upset." she said angerily. Now Lucas was very confused. "Okayyy, then what is it Hales?" She looked at him in disbelief for a moment before replying. "You."

"Me?" Lucas shook his head in confusion "What did I do?"

Now Haley was trying her very best to stay calm, but at his last sentence, she finally blew up at him. "WHAT DID YOU DO?! DAMMNIT, LUCAS YOU CANNOT BE THIS STUPID!" He took a step back in surprise as she let out all of the anger she had been feeling for the past few weeks. "YOU'VE ONLY BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORING ME FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT'S ALL. YOU'VE ONLY BEEN LYING TO ME, AND SPENDING ALL OF YOUR TIME WITH ALEX, OH, I'm sorry I mean LEX!" She knew that she was acting childishly, but she couldn't stop herself. "I'm not your best friend anymore Lucas, Alex is. She's the one you've been talking to, she's the one you've been asking for help." tears were now freely streaming down Haley's face, but she did nothing to stop them.

"What? You said that you had gotten over me not telling you about my shoulder. I was only trying to protect you Hales." he said defensively.

"Well, I was-am, but that doesn't change that Alex has completely replaced me in your best friend category."

"Haley that's ridiculous, you know I would never do that." he took a step closer to her, but she put up her hand to stop him and backed away. "And me ignoring you, that's completely the other way around. For the past week you've been avoiding me like plague and treating Alex coldly, and you're telling ME that I've been hurting YOU?!" he saw her wince at Alex's name and wished he could take that part back, but he was just as angry and confused as her.

"Hey Luke, you're mom said I could just come up..." she stopped as she looked up and immediately felt the intensity in the room. "Umm, am I interupting something?" she asked softly.

Haley looked at her with almost...contempt in her tear-filled eyes, before replying coldly. "No, you're just where you're supposed to be." With that she ran out the door, startling Karen and Keith who were cuddling on the couch.

"Haley, Hales, wait. Stop. Come on." Lucas said as he bolted down the stairs and out the door after her, once again surprising the couple on the couch.

"What on Earth is going on?" Karen asked Keith worriedly, who only shrugged.

"I don't know," Alex said as she walked down the stairs to join them, but I have a horrible suspicion that it has to do with me."

Meanwhile, Haley had stopped running but was still walking at a very brisk pace, trying to get home without breaking down again. "Haley, come on. Slow down please, you know I hate running." Lucas said as he jogged after her. She didn't know why, but she stopped walking and stood in front of a streetlight, which illuminated her face, showing her pain and sadness. Lucas had caught up to her, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. "I never thought that I would have to chase after you like on one of those cheesy nighttime dramas." He said trying to lighten the situation.

"Yea, well I never thought I'd lose my best friend." Haley answered back. This stunned Lucas. "Since when have you lost me as a best friend, Hales?"

"Were you NOT listening to me in your room?"

"No, I was, but that was just your anger talking, I don't blame you. I have been spending a lot of time with Le-Alex lately." he said.

"No, it wasn't Luke," Haley sighed sadly, but also strangely calm. "The truth is, you and I have been drifting apart for a long time now, since Sophomore year, and we just didn't want to face it." Tears welled up in her eyes again, but she forced herself to keep talking. "You and I have been friends for nearly ten years now, and it's always been Haley and Lucas, Luke and Hales. We've always been inseparable, and never knew how to live without each other. But Luke, we have been and we are. Sometime between last year and now, we've become individuals-living separate lives." It was starting to rain, but neither seemed to notice. It was hiding Haley's tears. "And somewhere along the way, we stopped being best friends. I guess I was so mad at Alex because I used to be the one you went to when you needed something. I was the one you told you're deepest secrets and biggest fears and I was the one who you completely opened up to, and now..it's her. And it really hurts Lucas." He stood there in absolute shock, not knowing what to do, so he just did what came instinctively- he hugged her tightly, trying to take away the pain. She let herself be comforted, but she knew she had to keep going. "But I realize that I can't be mad at you for moving on. We just have to face facts that we're not best friends anymore," she stopped and took a shakey breath before continuing, "we've grown apart."

He only hugged even tighter if possible. He felt tears in his own eyes and almost ferociously pushed them back. "Haley, that's not true.." he started to say, then realized sadly, that it was. They always had known everything about the other, but now he really didn't have any clue what was going on in her life, and with the exception of school and the cafe, they didn't even see each other anymore. He leaned down and touched her forehead to hers. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen." he said whispered.

"I know," she choked out. "But that's not enough, is it?"

"I guess not." he answered huskily, his voice betraying his emotions. They stayed together, hugging while the rain now poured steadily down on them, which they still did not notice nor care. Finally he pulled away and searched Haley eyes- the eyes he had always been able to read so well. In them, he could see the pain and sadness, the same things that mirrored in his own. "I love you, Hales. Forever."

"Forever," she echoed faintly at the same time. They stayed locked in the embrace for a while longer. It was Lucas who finally broke away. He pulled up his hood on his grey sweatshirt, finally noticing the rain. He put his hands in his pockets and walked away.

Haley watched him go, and stood under the light for a few more minutes, trying to control her tears, but she was having no luck. Finally she turned and walked back to her house, realizing that for the first time she was really alone and that she was walking toward a future without Lucas in it. She was walking up the steps to the front porch, when she heard "Hales? Haley, Oh my god, you're soaked. What happened?" She tried so hard not to break down, but at the sound of her boyfriend's concerned voice, she threw her arms around him, and broke down completely, sobbing as if her heart was breaking. Nathan held her tightly, stroking her hair, and murmured soothing words to her, while wondering what exactly had just happened?

Author's Note:

Ok, I'm sure you all want to kill me right now, but I promise it gets better, just bare with me. And PLEASE keep reviewing.