Chapter 2

Everyone was gathered in the church. It was Lucas, Nathan, Haley, Peyton, Deb, Karen, Keith, and other close family.

Lucas and Nathan went up together to look over his casket.

"This is crazy how our dad could just die. We're suppose to cry and mourn over this, but I just can't and I don't know why." Nathan says looking up from his fathers casket and looking over at Lucas.

"I know I mean I am sad you know cause he was my dad and all, but I feel like Keith is more my dad than he ever was. I mean Dan was never in my life. He left my mom when I was 4 and then Keith took over and he's all the dad I've known and I am more than ok with that."

"You are so lucky. He was so selfish and greedy."

"How sad is this we're talking bad about him when he is knocked out dead in a casket."

"I know."

"I think it is just now hitting my mom." Lucas says pointing to Karen who was crying on Keith's shoulder.

"Yeah mom's been taking it easier than what I thought. This is the first time I have seen her actually full out crying."

"It's actually kinda getting to me now." Lucas says holding back his tears.

"Yeah I know."

"I mean I hated him so much for making me live my life without a father, but I was starting to forgive him, cause I started to understand. He didn't run away he was just scared. He just got scared and he didn't know anything else to do then just leave so he did and I was ok with it. When I was in the hospital he came every single day to see how I was. He never stayed long, but the doctors said he would come in every morning and everynight to see how I was doing and that meant so much to me. And that's what turned my whole point of view about him around."

"I remember one night he came into my room and he sat down and we started talking about you. He was like I'm sorry that I made you and Lucas turn against each other. I wish we could all be a family again and get along, but we can't. That's when I knew that me and you had to get over our differences and be brothers again. I mean we are brothers you know we can't change it."

"It's crazy, cause now I don't only look at you as my brother, but I look at you like a best friend."

"Really?"

"Yeah and I want to be there for you in this time, cause even though your not showing it I know it still hurts down inside."

"Yeah it does. I can't believe we are actually this close to where we know what each other is feeling on the inside."

"I know."

"Yall ok?" Peyton says hugging Lucas.

"Yeah."

Haley walks up and hugs Nathan.

"You ok babe?" Haley asks.

"Yeah. Let's leave."

"We still got to go to the grave site remember?"

"Yeah, but I'm not going. I mean coming here was enough."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah yall can go if you you want, but I can't."

"I'm going with you Nathan." Haley says.

"We will to. Where you going?" Lucas says looking at Peyton then at Nathan.

"I was going to go back to my apartment, but if yall want to go eat or something then we could."

That night Haley decided to spend the night at Nathan's for comfort to Nathan. They laid in his bed and just talked.

"Get this mom is blaming me of killing my dad. How messed up is that. I can't believe this Haley. My life is so messed up and I'm sorry you have to be a part of it."

"It's ok Nathan. Your mom is just really upset."

"What if I did do it? What if I was a bad player? Maybe if I was a better player then he wouldn't of had worried so much and wouldn't of had the heart attack."

"That day you were in the hospital I couldn't take it. I had to get out, cause if I didn't I would have just started to cry and wouldn't be able to stop till you opened your eyes. It was so long Nathan. I thought you would never wake up, but I'm so glad you finally did. All I could seem to do was sit by you and write out everything I was feeling. I had so much emotion built up inside it hurt to keep it all in. I was so scared that you wouldn't have woken up. Then the doctors told me they had lost you for a second and all that went though my mind was OMG he died for a minute. What if he never came back? It was so scary. I hated your dad so much for making you go to that limit. Why Nathan? Why did you always listen to him?"

"Because I was scared. I wasn't like Lucas I don't know what it's like to not have a dad."

"Well now you do."

"Yeah I know. Let's go to bed babe everything will be better in the morning."

"I doubt it."

Haley leans over and turns the lamp off and cuddles up with Nathan and falls asleep.

The next day Lucas walks into the school and goes to his locker.

"Hey Peyt."

"Oh hey Lucas." Peyton says looking up from getting her books out of her locker.

"What are you doing after school?"

"I actually have a strip due in 2 days and I haven't even started. So yeah. What are you doing?"

"Well I was hoping we could hang out, but yeah."

"You always loved to watch me draw why don't you come by watch some tv till I get half way done at least. Then we can go by the cafe and get some food."

"Ok cool. I guess I will see you after school?"

"Yeah."

"Ok c ya."

"Hey Haley wait up." Nathan says trying to catch up with her.

"Hey babe what's up?"

"So are you nervous?"

"Oh about tomorrow."

"Oh yeah."

"Have you told Lucas?"

"No I haven't had the chance to you know with Dan dyeing and all."

"Yeah well we got him a tux so you better tell him tonight."

"Ok I will."

They give each other a peck on the lips and then they leave to class.

Haley had next period with Lucas so she figured she should tell him then. Class had already started so she passed him a note.

Hey Luke I am really glad your back. w/b

Thanks it feels good to be back to the place where I know everyone.

LOL yeah. I got something to ask you.

Ok what?

Will you be in me and Nathan's wedding. I know you and him was getting along really well at the funeral so will you?

Sure when is it in another 5 yrs. hahaha

Tomorrow?

ur kidding right?

No I'm serious please we already got you a tux and everything all you gotta do is show up.

Ok I guess.

Thank you Luke it means alot to me.

Lucas takes the note and puts it in his bookbag.

The bell rings and everyone goes to there cars and drives home.

Haley rides home with Nathan. They go into his kitchen and talks.

"I talked to Lucas he said he'll do it."

"Ok good so everything is organized."

"I'm scared Nathan."

"Why?"

"What if we regret it? What if we realize we're to young and it's to late?"

"Haley all I know is I can not wait any longer. I need you and I want it official."

"Ok."

"But if you don't want to I won't force you to do anything this serious. If you think we should wait then I will."

"No I want it."

"Ok."

Lucas goes by Peyton's house and runs up the steps and into her room. He slides though the door and just stands there and watches her draw for a minute until she soon looks up and sees him.

"Hey Lucas you can watch TV or get online. What ever you want."

"I guess I will get online."

"Ok it's already connected."

"Ok."

Lucas walks over and sits down and gets on AOL.

"So why didn't you tell me Haley and Nathan are getting married tomorrow?"

"I guess I forgot."

"You think it'll last?"

"I hope it does."

"Yeah it's hard to believe my little Haley is so grown up now it's crazy."

"Yeah I know. I can't believe she said yes."

"Do you ever miss Haley?"

"Yeah I do at times you know." Lucas turns around in his chair. "When I see her with Nathan I get kinda well yo u know jealous, but it's all good, cause I know he has changed and he did it for her so that makes him ok with me. I think he cares about her and he would give her the world if she asked for it."

"He is so good to her Lucas you have no idea."

"I know."

Right then Haley comes running in.

"Hey guys sorry to interrupt, but Karen said you would be down here." Haley said to Lucas.

"Yeah what's up?"

"Can we talk?"

"Yeah. I will be back in a hour and we can go get something to eat."

"Ok."

Haley and Lucas walk outside and start walking.

"I can't believe this Luke. We're no longer kids we're adults moving on with our lives and getting married."

"I know it is crazy. I got a question."

"What?"

"Did Peyton ever talk about me after I left?"

"Oh yeah. Lucas Peyton really did miss you. She literally went into a depression stage and it was scary. She started talking abut suicide. She loved you so much Lucas and you just couldn't see it."

"I saw it I just wasn't sure."

"Well now you are and you need to be in her life again, cause who knows what she's capable of doing."

"Yeah I know. I was thinking about asking her to be with me again tonight."

"Awwww. You should."

"Yeah I think I am. So am I walking you home or something?"

"Yeah." Haley laughs. "You didn't';t realize that.

"No. I will be home around 10 I will come over and tell you about it."

"Ok and if it's later just peck on my window and I will let you in."

"Ok see ya."

Haley walks into her house and Lucas walks back to Peyton and they drive down to the cafe.

"So what you and Haley talk about?" Peyton ask stirring the milk into her coffee.

"Nothing."

"Oh come on you had to talk about something."

"I rather not talk about it."

"Oh I see. It's a best friend thing." Peyton laughs.

"Actually yeah."

"Oh ok."

"Can I ask you something Peyton?"

"Anything."

"All my time up in Charleston all I could seem to think about was you and how we ended things."

"Please Lucas could we not go into this?"

"I have to Peyton. All I could think about is how we left each other fighting and broken up. I missed you so much. I just wanted to come back right away and apologize."

"Then why didn't you Lucas?"

"Cause I couldn't cause I was scared if I came back you wouldn't forgive me. Peyton if you never forgave me I would just die."

"Yeah well that's what I felt like doing when you were gone."

"I heard."

"You heard what?"

"That you were thinking about suicide."

"Great." Peyton says embarrassed.

"It's ok Peyton cause I thought about it to."

"You did?"

"Yes a couple of times actually. I want to know will you be with me again?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean I don't know if I want to jump back into a relationship that shattered and bruised my heart so badly. I don't know if I can stand to put my heart through all that again."

"I have changed so much. I will never hurt you again."

"Yeah that's what they all say."

"I'm serious. All I know is I want to live my life and I want it with you. I don't want a reason to run away again."

"And you won't have one Lucas. I will not be the reason you run away again."

Lucas takes her hand that was setting on the table. "Please Peyton be with me again."

"I don't know." Peyton stands up and walks out the door.