A/N: I hesitated doing this... I really did... but with so much positive
feedback, how could I NOT give you guys the one thing you're looking
forward to the most? This is just a short update then we're back to the
letters... let me know what you think. Do you guys prefer the letters or the
personal interaction among characters... I'll consider your opinions, but
keep in mind, I can't do much about the Nathan-Letter situation... that much
has to stick... I can however, if you guys would like, try to incorporate
more interaction between the remaining characters... give me your feedback... I
love it!
And thank you again: EmW05, Haleyx3xLucasx3x, alytru146, Aiesha, naleyfan4546, meagan191, OTHlover04, Sara, lysser8312, Alison, auggy1984, Lily, S!
I stare out the passenger window as we turn onto the highway, heading back to Tree Hill. It's not the same now... "When do you have to go back?" I ask my best friend quietly, not really wanting to have a conversation, but knowing that it's only a matter of time until the silence must be broken.
"We're going to stay down tonight and head back tomorrow morning." My shoulder sink. I'm not ready to deal with this on my own. I need someone longer than just tonight.
"You can't stay any longer?" I turn to face Luke, finally getting up the courage to look him in the eyes. Its Labor Day weekend and that means that classes for Monday are all cancelled. An extra two days would be good. It'd be better than good. It'd be great.
"I've got practice Haley. You know that." He takes one hand off the wheel, taking my hand with his now free hand.
"I know. And that's why I wouldn't be asking if I didn't really need you guys right now." He shakes his head in disbelief, almost as though he really doesn't believe me.
"I don't know Hales. I've already missed quite a few practices. I don't think I can afford to miss any more." Instead of trying to understand where he's coming from I break down in tears.
"Just forget it." I don't know why it's upsetting me so much. It's not like I'm the first person to ever have to go through this alone.
"I don't know what's up with her Brooke." We're lying in the spare bedroom at my Mom's house, Alex already tucked away in the portable crib we bought last summer. "She's acting all weird though and won't talk to me."
"Jeez, Luke. What do you expect from her? Her husband just left for god- only knows how long. He's going to Iraq. Do you have any idea what must be running through her head right now?" I turn, propping myself up on my elbow and look at my boyfriend. How can he not understand this one?
"Look..." I sit up suddenly, hoping to finish this conversation and get on with the night. "She wants us to stay longer. I can't. I've already missed too much practice. If you want to, why don't you and Alex stay then get her to give you a ride back Monday afternoon?"
I've kind of wanted to stay longer all along. It's boring back at Chapel Hill. We haven't exactly made any friends yet and I can only stand to stay holed up in the apartment with Alex for so long. "Really?" Suddenly the idea is very appealing to me. It sounds like it'll be the perfect way to end a long weekend.
"Sure. Why not?" He stops, trying to warn me. "But I'm telling you. There's something more going on with her than just Nathan leaving. If you're going to stay, you've got to get it out of her, okay?" I nod my head excitedly, glad to have this opportunity arise.
The quietness that envelops the apartment is almost too much to bear. We're sitting in the living room, not saying a word. Instead, our eyes are both directed to Alex, sitting on the floor in front of us, contently watching one of the evening cartoons that we always happen to catch. I glance up to Haley's eyes and see the longing that exists. I try to change the atmosphere around us by drawing on a conversation.
"Okay, what's going on tutor-girl?" I ask in the playful tone that she's become familiar with. I raise my eyebrows as if to re-question her when she doesn't respond right away. She doesn't respond at all though. Instead, I notice the tears glazing over her eyes as she watches my son so intently from her position on the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, hugged tightly by her arms.
She shakes her head at me, as if to say she doesn't want to talk. If it were anyone else, I probably wouldn't push her into talking. But it's Haley. If you don't force the emotions out, they'll never voluntarily come. I stand from the recliner and move closer to her, sitting beside her on the couch and pull her into a hug, guessing that a hug would be a good place to start. As her head drops to my shoulder, the tears begin to fall. "I miss him Brooke." She states it plainly, as though it should be obvious. It is. But there's something else eating away at her. "I can't do this...I can't do it without him..." She brushes away the tears, making room for the new ones that are falling.
"Can't do what sweetie?" I ask her, finally softening and taking her position on the whole thing. "Huh?" I pry, hoping she's going to open up to me. "You know Lucas and I are here when you need someone. And Nate's going to be home soon. You're still going to hear from him." Reassurance is something I think she needs right now. Apparently though, it's not enough.
She nods her head, appearing to agree with me. "I know." She muffles, her voice extremely quiet. She sniffles a few times, finally standing. "I'll be right back..." She stands quickly, leaving the living room. I glare at her longingly as she heads down the short hallway and disappears into their bedroom.
I make my way towards where she was headed, almost alarmed that fifteen minutes later she still hasn't returned. I knock softly and enter without waiting for a response. She doesn't stir though, from her position in front of the dresser. With Alex in my arms, I make my way up behind her, placing one hand on her shoulder and glancing over it to see what's captured her attention. I gasp at what I see.
GO HERE!!!! Copy and paste the link to a new turns upon hearing my gasp, the tears once again streaming down her face. "Are you...?"
Sobs rack her body and she sinks into my arms, nodding her head the slightest big. "Oh my god...." I feel horrible. I can suddenly appreciate everything she's been going through the past few days. And quite possibly, the past few weeks.
"Two and a half months..."
I don't know what else to say. How to react. "What'd Nathan say?" I inquire, not sure how he would react to that kind of news.
"He doesn't know. I didn't tell him. I couldn't..."
And thank you again: EmW05, Haleyx3xLucasx3x, alytru146, Aiesha, naleyfan4546, meagan191, OTHlover04, Sara, lysser8312, Alison, auggy1984, Lily, S!
I stare out the passenger window as we turn onto the highway, heading back to Tree Hill. It's not the same now... "When do you have to go back?" I ask my best friend quietly, not really wanting to have a conversation, but knowing that it's only a matter of time until the silence must be broken.
"We're going to stay down tonight and head back tomorrow morning." My shoulder sink. I'm not ready to deal with this on my own. I need someone longer than just tonight.
"You can't stay any longer?" I turn to face Luke, finally getting up the courage to look him in the eyes. Its Labor Day weekend and that means that classes for Monday are all cancelled. An extra two days would be good. It'd be better than good. It'd be great.
"I've got practice Haley. You know that." He takes one hand off the wheel, taking my hand with his now free hand.
"I know. And that's why I wouldn't be asking if I didn't really need you guys right now." He shakes his head in disbelief, almost as though he really doesn't believe me.
"I don't know Hales. I've already missed quite a few practices. I don't think I can afford to miss any more." Instead of trying to understand where he's coming from I break down in tears.
"Just forget it." I don't know why it's upsetting me so much. It's not like I'm the first person to ever have to go through this alone.
"I don't know what's up with her Brooke." We're lying in the spare bedroom at my Mom's house, Alex already tucked away in the portable crib we bought last summer. "She's acting all weird though and won't talk to me."
"Jeez, Luke. What do you expect from her? Her husband just left for god- only knows how long. He's going to Iraq. Do you have any idea what must be running through her head right now?" I turn, propping myself up on my elbow and look at my boyfriend. How can he not understand this one?
"Look..." I sit up suddenly, hoping to finish this conversation and get on with the night. "She wants us to stay longer. I can't. I've already missed too much practice. If you want to, why don't you and Alex stay then get her to give you a ride back Monday afternoon?"
I've kind of wanted to stay longer all along. It's boring back at Chapel Hill. We haven't exactly made any friends yet and I can only stand to stay holed up in the apartment with Alex for so long. "Really?" Suddenly the idea is very appealing to me. It sounds like it'll be the perfect way to end a long weekend.
"Sure. Why not?" He stops, trying to warn me. "But I'm telling you. There's something more going on with her than just Nathan leaving. If you're going to stay, you've got to get it out of her, okay?" I nod my head excitedly, glad to have this opportunity arise.
The quietness that envelops the apartment is almost too much to bear. We're sitting in the living room, not saying a word. Instead, our eyes are both directed to Alex, sitting on the floor in front of us, contently watching one of the evening cartoons that we always happen to catch. I glance up to Haley's eyes and see the longing that exists. I try to change the atmosphere around us by drawing on a conversation.
"Okay, what's going on tutor-girl?" I ask in the playful tone that she's become familiar with. I raise my eyebrows as if to re-question her when she doesn't respond right away. She doesn't respond at all though. Instead, I notice the tears glazing over her eyes as she watches my son so intently from her position on the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, hugged tightly by her arms.
She shakes her head at me, as if to say she doesn't want to talk. If it were anyone else, I probably wouldn't push her into talking. But it's Haley. If you don't force the emotions out, they'll never voluntarily come. I stand from the recliner and move closer to her, sitting beside her on the couch and pull her into a hug, guessing that a hug would be a good place to start. As her head drops to my shoulder, the tears begin to fall. "I miss him Brooke." She states it plainly, as though it should be obvious. It is. But there's something else eating away at her. "I can't do this...I can't do it without him..." She brushes away the tears, making room for the new ones that are falling.
"Can't do what sweetie?" I ask her, finally softening and taking her position on the whole thing. "Huh?" I pry, hoping she's going to open up to me. "You know Lucas and I are here when you need someone. And Nate's going to be home soon. You're still going to hear from him." Reassurance is something I think she needs right now. Apparently though, it's not enough.
She nods her head, appearing to agree with me. "I know." She muffles, her voice extremely quiet. She sniffles a few times, finally standing. "I'll be right back..." She stands quickly, leaving the living room. I glare at her longingly as she heads down the short hallway and disappears into their bedroom.
I make my way towards where she was headed, almost alarmed that fifteen minutes later she still hasn't returned. I knock softly and enter without waiting for a response. She doesn't stir though, from her position in front of the dresser. With Alex in my arms, I make my way up behind her, placing one hand on her shoulder and glancing over it to see what's captured her attention. I gasp at what I see.
GO HERE!!!! Copy and paste the link to a new turns upon hearing my gasp, the tears once again streaming down her face. "Are you...?"
Sobs rack her body and she sinks into my arms, nodding her head the slightest big. "Oh my god...." I feel horrible. I can suddenly appreciate everything she's been going through the past few days. And quite possibly, the past few weeks.
"Two and a half months..."
I don't know what else to say. How to react. "What'd Nathan say?" I inquire, not sure how he would react to that kind of news.
"He doesn't know. I didn't tell him. I couldn't..."