Chapter 7: Before Time Runs Out

Meanwhile, Brooke is hanging out in Jake's house. She spent the whole day taking care of Jenny. In fact, she's been holding the sweet little angel in her arms ever since she arrived from school. As soon as she was able to rock her to sleep, Brooke gently put her down on her crib. She smiled as she looked at the baby peacefully sleeping in the crib.

"Hey gorgeous, you sure will make a great mom," whispered Jake as he put his arms around Brooke's waist from behind.

Brooke giggled as she turned around to face Jake and lean her face on his, "Looks like we make a pretty good team."

Jake laughs, "Yeah, that's what everyone thinks..." Suddenly, the smile faded from his face and was immediately replaced by immense seriousness.

Brooke noticed the sudden change of expression on her boyfriend's face, "What's wrong? Don't you think we make a pretty good team?"

Jake suddenly pulled away from Brooke. He turned around and let an exasperated sigh, "I don't know babe, I've been thinking lately...." Jake had never wanted this moment to come between him and Brooke. He loves Brooke more than words could say and he knows she loves him too. He could not help but feel bad though, for the situation their relationship has put Brooke in. He sat down on a couch in his living room and buried his face in his hands. He feels like he can't face Brooke, the sight of her makes it harder for him to say what he's about to say. Brooke just stood by the hallway, leaning on the wall with her arms crossed. She just can't understand why Jake is suddenly having doubts about their relationship. She knows she's always had a bitch-like image around the school, but it never bothered Jake. Now, she can't help but wonder if he feels that Jenny should never grow up with someone like her by her side.

Feeling she would not like the words that would be coming out of Jake's mouth, she gathered the courage to ask him anyway, "What is it Jake, what's wrong?"

Mustering all the courage he's got, Jake looks at Brooke. "Brooke, I love you so much. You and Jenny both mean the world to me and everyday, I feel grateful that I have you in my life. Sometimes, I have to pinch myself because I can't believe you chose to be with me....me who is already carrying an excess baggage for life." Jake felt he could no longer continue with what he wants to say. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed softly.

The sight of this broke Brooke's heart. She ran to Jake's side as tears started to stream down her face too. Without hesitation, she knelt in front of Jake who was still covering his face with his hands. Brooke felt really helpless at this point. She doesn't want to hear the rest of what he's got to say. She already knows what's coming next. She sat on the couch's arm rest as she smoothed Jake's hair, tears still falling from her face. "Baby, I don't care about that. I love you, I want to spend my life with you," she whispered between Jake's sobs.

Jake looked up at her with tear-stained eyes, "I know that and it makes me feel so bad. It makes me feel so unfair to rob you of a chance to be with someone who does not have a child...someone better than me."

Brooke shook her head in between tears, "I don't want to be with anyone else Jake, I want to be with you...and Jenny."

At this point, Jake refused to give in to what his heart is telling him. At this moment, all he wants to do is take everything he has said back, put his arms around Brooke and kiss her ever so passionately. Instead, he let his mind rule over his heart. "Either I do it now or I'll never have the guts to do it...ever," he sadly thought as he gazed into Brooke's brown eyes that remained in tears.

Jake suddenly pushed Brooke's hand away from his. With a grave face, he looked at Brooke directly. "Look, you and I....we've had great times together. I've always had the best time with you, Brooke. But, we also know that we're not 'gonna last. You and me....it's just not going to work. I'm a single parent and you're a...great woman," he lets out a sigh as he looks down briefly. "What I'm trying to say is...I think we should break up before one of us gets hurt. At least, we would only have good memories about each other that way," Jake felt the immediate need to look out the window and avoid Brooke's eyes the moment he finished. Any minute, he felt like he was going to breakdown himself.

This time, Brooke cried at him angrily. "You can't mean that, Jake! After everything we've been through, you're just going to throw us away?" Brooke continued to look at him in disbelief, silently praying that he'd take everything he said back. "Damn it Jake, how can you do this to me when you say you love me?!" Brooke's tone was getting angrier by the moment.

Jake felt she had all the right to be mad at him. He was a jerk and he knew it. Still, he felt the need to push Brooke further away from him, "Look Brooke, I'm leaving after this school year. I'll be living with my mom and I'm moving in with her for good. I'm a father, Brooke and my daughter means the world to me....more than anyone else. "He didn't think it was necessary, seeing the pain and anger Brooke has on her face at that moment. Nevertheless, he found himself blurting out a lie, "Besides, Jenny's mom and I are planning to get back together. She's my first love and the mother of my child. I think I owe her a chance."

Upon hearing Jake's last words, Brooke was completely furious. She stood up and glared at him, not bothering to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks, "Then I guess you're right about one thing, Jake Jagelski. I really deserve someone better than you!" With that, she stormed off.

Jake could not help but peek into the window as he watched Brooke get into her car and pull out of his house angrily. Once she was gone, tears welled up his eyes. He knows that there won't be any other chance to get back with Brooke for good. He has lost the one woman he truly loved and loved him just as much. He sadly walked over to Jenny who was still in peaceful slumber, apparently not having been woken up by the emotional voices that filled the house just a moment ago. He smiled through his tears as he gently put a hand on Jenny's, "Well, I guess it's really just you and me now darling. I'm all yours from now on."

Brooke cried the whole time she was driving. She was mad at Jake for doing this to her. The moment she and Jake got together, Brooke felt needed and important. Her parents never gave her much of their attention, all they knew was how much she needed. Jake made her feel special, he made her feel wanted. The moment she started dating Jake, she stopped trying to get her parent's attention by getting into trouble. Jake was her world and being able to take care of Jenny made her feel all the more important. Now, however, she felt like her world was tumbling down and she cannot do anything about it. She did know one thing though, she can't go home. She needed a friend, someone whose shoulder she had always leaned on for so many years...

Debbie didn't mind Nathan going home late since she knew he was happy where he was that night. Nathan was grinning as he cleaned tables in the café. Meanwhile, Haley was behind the counter watching him with a grin on her face as well. "He looks pretty cute with a floral printed apron on," she thought.

They suddenly met each others' eyes and gave each other a smile. Nathan approached the counter, "Hey Hales, is there anything else that I can do around here?"

Haley just laughs in disbelief, "I can't believe I'm hearing this from you! Karen is so impressed at the work you've done tonight that she wants to hire you already!"

Nathan laughs as he takes a seat by the counter, facing Haley. "Is that so? Maybe I'll consider if basketball doesn't work out for me," he replied as he smiled at her. "Damn, she really has a pretty face," he thought as he found himself looking at her.

A moment of silence settled between them all of a sudden. Neither knew what to say to the other. After awhile, Nathan finally said something, "Uh...Haley.."

Haley looked up at him, "Yes?"

Nathan found his courage failing him at that moment and he decided not to go on, "Um nothing, just wanted to thank you...again."

Haley just smiled at him warmly, "You're welcome. I'm the one who should thank you actually, for helping me out here. At least I can go home early tonight."

Upon hearing what she had just said, he realized another opportunity, "Well, let me take you home....after dinner, that is."

Haley gave him a surprised look. "This guy is full of surprises," she thought. Without a second thought, she agreed. "God Nate, I owe you so much already!" she exclaimed as she kept a pretty surprised expression on her face.

Nathan just laughs," Don't worry Hales, you make it up to me faster than you can say "I owe you" anyway!" He wanted to scream with happiness, just thinking that he'd get to have dinner with Haley tonight. She was becoming his obsession and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Haley smiled at Nathan gratefully, "Well, let me finish up here so we can go."

Nathan nodded in agreement, "I'll give you a hand." He stood up and went back to cleaning tables.

Suddenly, the café's door opened and Lucas stepped in. He saw his best friend working on the counter, "Hey buddy!" Haley saw him and waved, "Hey Luke, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Peyt?"

Lucas just laughs as he leans on the counter, "I know we're quite inseparable lately but, I'm also quite inseparable with my mom's café. I promised her I'd be more visible in here too."

Haley nodded, "Maybe you and Peyton can hang out in here sometime. Just don't make out, alright?"

Lucas laughs at his best friend's remark, "Don't worry Hales, I promise to keep it at GP level with Peyt every time we're here!"

As Lucas turned around to survey his mom's place, he was surprised to see Nathan Scott in an apron, wiping table after table. "Hey Hales, I'll just go say hi to Nate. Catch 'ya later, okay?"

Haley just nods, "Yeah sure, later Luke! By the way, your bro. has been so much help in the café tonight."

Luke just nods in amazement as he walks over towards his younger brother who has been busily cleaning the tables...he didn't even notice Lucas coming in. "Hey Nate, I think you look better in an apron than a jersey!" he remarked as he approached Nathan who finally noticed he was around.

Nathan just laughs at Lucas, "Well, maybe someone can put 23 on the back of this apron."

Lucas settles in the table his brother was cleaning at that time, "Listen man, what's going on with you and Hales?"

Nathan was surprised to hear the question being raised by Lucas, "Huh? What are you talking about? She's just my tutor Luke. Look man, we're cool right now, but you don't know much about me to...."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh as he put a stop to his brother's desperate attempt to deny that's something's going on between him and Haley, "Look man, I didn't mean to pry on your life or anything. Haley is my best friend, she means a lot to me and I just don't like idea of her becoming one of your trophies or something like that. I hope you're not just thinking of having a one-week thing with her. I swear man, I'll kick your Scott ass if you ever hurt her."

Nathan just looks at him and sighs, "There is nothing, absolutely nothing going between me and Haley, Luke. We might never been the best of brothers but I swear man, we're not seeing each other."

Lucas looks at him with curiosity. Something tells him he asked the wrong question, "But you wish you were?"

Nathan looks down and lets out another sigh, "I don't know, Luke."

Lucas stared at Nathan directly, "Oh, I bet you do Nate. Why else would you not have bothered to correct Whitey earlier?"

Nathan looks at his brother surprised, "You saw that? Don't tell Haley, okay? I don't want things to go all weird between us especially now that we're enjoying each other's company."

Lucas smiled at his brother as he nodded in agreement, "Your secret's safe with me, man. Just don't make my buddy cry, I'll make you wish you never met me if you do." With that, he gave Nathan a pat on the back and headed to the counter.

Nathan just laughs as he shook his head in amazement, "Luke," he called out.

Lucas suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to his brother who was mischievously grinning at him.

"I already made that wish once, you know?" he just laughed as Lucas understood what he meant and laughed too.

Luke was actually already on his way out. He just decided to stop by the counter to say good-bye to Haley. Haley was beaming at him when he approached her, "Why is there so much brotherly spirit going on between you guys today?"

Lucas just laughs, "Maybe we just realized there's something we have in common after all."

Haley looked at her buddy curiously, "What's that?"

Lucas just looked at her and gave her a wink, "Something very special...and priceless." With that, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "Take care buddy!"

Haley still didn't get what Lucas meant. "Brothers," she thought, "it's hard to understand them." She just waved at him as he walked to the door, "Drive safe, Luke! See 'ya!"