A/N: Once again I will like to thank everyone for their amazing support.
This chapter is short but it tells you what you have all been dying to know from the very beginning.
Tossing the pictures he was looking at for the past half hour on his desk, he lied back down on his bed. Resting his head under his arms, he closed his eyes. He could almost feel the way Haley felt next to him, the way their bodies fit perfectly together as they experienced a world of their own. Ever since Haley graced him with her presence, he couldn't get her off his mind. She was constantly appearing in his dreams. Most of them were reoccurring ones of them raising their beautiful children. Their daughter would have Haley's beautiful auburn hair and brown doe eyes and Lucas heart-warming smile. Her gentle nature and kindness would have her father at her beck and call. Their son would have fair blonde hair as well as the infamous Scott charm. He would be overprotective of his older sister even at his young age, tagging along where ever she went. Haley of course would be the ideal mother and wife, tending to the needs of her family as well as her own. Being the doting husband and loving Father, Lucas would teach his children how to play basketball, document all their first moments and show his children and his wife that they were loved unconditionally. These dreams were so vivid that he'd wake up looking for Haley lying next to him, only to be disappointed that the perfect life he wanted to live was out of reach.
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Reaching for a mug in the cupboard, Haley poured herself some coffee. She knew that she shouldn't be drinking coffee when her nerves were frazzled, but she couldn't help it. Since she couldn't sleep, she might as well drink a highly caffeinated beverage. When she was younger, she swore to herself that she wouldn't be one of those people who wake up every morning drinking coffee, constantly refilling their mugs for more like her parents did. Luckily she was disciplined, drinking it only when she needed it. It all started when she applied to work at Karen's Cafe. She needed some spending money seeing how her parents constantly forgot to leave her some. One day, when she was walking home from school, she saw the "help wanted" sign. Immediately she went in to fill out an application. Karen graciously hired her on the spot when she handed in her application. The benefit of working at a coffee shop was drinking Karen's delicious coffee for free.
Her work hours coincidently fell on the days of Lucas' basketball practices. By the time Lucas might have stop by the cafe, she would be home already. She never minded not being able to watch the basketball games since she was never into sports. Heck, she disliked any sport. That was until she was walking home from a late tutoring session. She took a different route, enjoying the scenery when she saw some students she recognized from Tree Hill High playing basketball by the river court. They looked like they were having so much fun dunking and playing for the pure joy of it that she became fascinated. Taking a seat where she couldn't be seen, she continued watching them.
Not long after, a couple of kids who looked like they were in the sixth grade walked towards the basketball court, engrossed by the older kids' abilities. One of them walked over to invite them to join in. The children's eyes lit up from sheer joy that they were invited to participate with the grown-ups. Only then did Haley realize that one of the boys was a lot younger than the rest. She estimated he was probably in the second grade. A dark haired boy ordered that he sit on the bench and watch as they played. Looking defeated and left out, the young boy did as he was told.
The tears running down his cute, scrunched up chubby face provoked Haley to want to run from her hiding spot and give him a tight bear hug, but before being able to do so, she saw a basketball being handed to the young lad. A surprised look etched his face as he held the ball in awe. Lucas picked him up, carefully placing him on his shoulders and walked towards the basket. A swoosh sound and cheering shortly ensued as the boy grinned widely at his brother and then Lucas. The warm gesture brought tears to Haley's eyes. She knew from that moment that she fell in love with Lucas Scott and ironically was able to appreciate the sport she at one time loathed the most.
Shaking her head in an attempt to erase the memory, she took a sip of coffee, allowing the hot liquid to seep down her throat. Picking up the overturned pictures she placed on the table when she got home, she looked at it once more. She wondered if Lucas was looking at his copies of the pictures at the same moment. The pictures that were taunting her about the person she could have had if she took a chance. Who was she kidding she asked herself. Lucas was confused about his emotions for her. He saw a damsel in distress and like the kind hearted person he was, he wanted to alleviate the pain. When he was finally thinking clearly, he realized his mistake of thinking he was attracted to her when it couldn't be farer from the truth. She was right in refusing him because she would be the one who was hurt if she didn't put a stop to it before she got involved with him. But when she studied the photos closely, she wasn't so sure she was right. If a stranger looked at the picture, he may think the couple in the photograph were in...love. Not love, maybe experienced sexual attraction. That couldn't be it either because Haley knew she was not remotely good looking. She couldn't place exactly what the pictures revealed because there were so many different levels that could be read.