Part II
A/N: Some parts of this story might be very confusing but that's exactly what I wanted my readers to feel the confusion and pain that Lucas and Haley both felt. So I hope you'll enjoy reading this one! And please tell me what you think okay? I really need your opinions!
"So Peyton, this thing tonight…should I dress casually?" Haley asked. She didn't know why she was so nervous, but she was very excited at the same time.
"I cannot believe Ms. Haley James just asked me for advice on clothing!"
"Oh please Peyton, tell me!"
"Okay…don't be so panicky. Dress casually it's not as if we're going to somewhere fancy"
"Wait, did you just say we?"
Slapping her forehead, Peyton walked toward her dresser and laughed softly
"No! You heard wrong Hales. Must be the jitters"
"Jitters?!? Please tell me Luke's not planning on proposing"
"He's not. Come on, don't you want to marry him?"
Honestly Haley has thought about marrying Lucas, but she wasn't ready yet. She still wants to pursue her musical dreams.
"Well, yeah. I wanna marry him, just not now. We're not ready yet"
"Hey, don't get too sappy on me now Haley."
"I wont! Thanks Peyton!"
Hanging up her phone, Haley finally decided on wearing a baby blue chiffon dress that complimented her figure. Applying light make up, she looked at her mirror and thought she looked kinda good
"Good? I look hot!"
"Ah, growing conceited now are we?"
Standing by her doorway was a really handsome guy that literally took her breath away. His intense eyes looked from her face down to her body.
"Stop that…"
"Why?" his eyebrows shot up
"Because…" walking towards Lucas, Haley wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoes as she kissed him fully on the lips. She was amazed at how long their kiss lasted, and how passionately it happened.
"Hmm…" licking her lips unconsciously still cherishing the moment they just shared.
"That's sexy, stop doing that!" Lucas reprimanded
"What?"
"You…licking your lips!"
"Oh…"
"Happy Anniversary Hales" all the love was in Lucas' eyes when he said it.
Haley could feel her insides melting and her heart beating wildly.
She wanted every moment like this.
"Happy Anniversary too Luke."
"Hales, I need to talk to you" taking her hand in his, Lucas seated himself on her bed. Pulling her down beside him, he looked at her face full of warmth and love.
"What is it?" dread was starting to creep at Haley's back but she chose to ignore it.
"The Lakers wants me to play for them next season"
"Oh wow..Luke! That's great…you're amazing, I mean its amazing" Haley tried to conjure up as many words to describe her emotions that moment when a thought finally struck her "But, college Luke? You have to go to college!"
"College can wait, but this opportunity can't"
"So you, already decided on going?"
"Yeah, I told my mom and she said that I can do it if it's what I really want.
"You decided on going without telling me?!"
Lucas can already hear the hurt and anger in her voice. He knew it was foolish of him to tell her now but he just wanted to get it over with.
"Well, I'm not yet sure Hales that's why I wanted to know what you think"
Sighing, Haley knew from the moment Lucas told her about it that he really was considering going pro-ball. Defeated she sadly said
"It's you're choice, you're life. Do what you feel is right and keep believing in it until everything IS right"
Seeing that she meant every word, Lucas pulled her in a tight embrace and kissed her hair.
"Thanks, Haley. We really have to go; everyone's waiting at the club"
Nodding her head, Haley followed Lucas out the front door and into his truck.
The ride to Karen's club was pretty quite. Haley stared out of the window, she tried wiping the tears that fell out of her eyes but Lucas' hands we're much faster than hers.
"I love you Haley I want you to remember that"
"I love you too"
When they got inside the club, Haley saw a huge streamer up on the stage that said 'Happy anniversary'
Everyone finally noticed the couple, and started cheering and hooting.
Karen started to chant "Kiss…kiss…kiss" eventually followed by other people
"You'd think this was a wedding reception"
"Nah…Let's just satisfy them"
"If you say so"
Kissing Haley in front of their friends and parents was kinda weird for both of them so Lucas made the kiss short.
"Hey" Haley said lightly punching him "that was too short"
"It's weird Hales"
"Don't I know it. I think my dad just gave you a wink AND a thumbs up"
Karen walked towards the two of them and asked
"So have you told her yet?"
"Yes mom, she seemed pretty okay with"
"Wow that was easy." Turning to Haley she said "It's really brave of you to stay with my son Hales. I'm eternally grateful"
"What do you mean? I'll always be here for him"
"Well, didn't Luke ask you to move with him?"
Staring blankly at Karen, Haley suddenly felt claustrophobic. She needed to get out, to run. Seeing a door that led to the back room of the club, she blindly went it.
She didn't know what to think anymore. She knew she loved Lucas, but this…this was way too big for her
"Hales, I'm sorry. I was going to tell you but I just wanted to celebrate our anniversary first. "
Looking at him, Haley was dumbfounded and speechless.
"I know this might not be the most romantic place to do this but I have to…" kneeling down in front of Haley he pulled out a velvet box and opened it "Haley James, will you marry me?"
"Yes…but not right now. Not now Luke"
"Why Haley? Why not now? Now is perfect, you don't have to worry about a thing. The offer to me, will provide us with everything we could possible need"
"Because Lucas, I have to go to college. I need to study; I need to figure out who I really am. I need to know who I am without you"
"I don't understand Haley" rising from his knees Lucas looked at Haley's face and said weakly "Make me understand"
"For the longest time Luke, I've been you're best friend and then you're girlfriend."
"What is so wrong with that?"
"Nothing, except that my whole world revolved around you and I'm afraid Luke" Grasping for words to make him understand Haley felt so tired. "I'm afraid that I will become nothing without you"
"How many times do I have to tell you Hales that I will always be with you?" utterly frustrated, Lucas ran his hands on his hair
"I know that, but a part of me also knows that I need to learn, to be strong on my own. To pursue my dreams, it sounds selfish and yeah maybe it is. But isn't asking me to marry you selfish also?"
"How is it selfish?"
"It's selfish because you didn't consider my part in all of this. You followed YOUR dream and just made me a part of it to suit you."
"But you knew that I always wanted to play in the NBA after college"
"I cant just be your wife Luke. I have to be my own person."
"I'm not telling you to quit college Hales"
"No, but what you're asking me is to give up a future we've already planned…together"
"So what? We'll make new ones Hales."
"How about my home? This is home for me. I can't just give that up"
"I'm not asking you to give up anything Hales. All I'm asking is for you to give us a chance."
"Lucas I need to think… give me time. "
"I'll give you time Hales, but I wont wait forever"
"So what now Lucas? I'm supposed to give up my life for you. I'm supposed to abandon all my aspirations and hopes so you could live the life you've been dreaming about?"
"Yeah, if you love me, you'll go with me!" his voice was loud and he couldn't contain the anger in his heart.
"I love you Lucas but I need to know…"
"What?"
"Me or basketball?"
He didn't know anymore, he wanted to tell Haley that he'll choose her but….
"Don't Hales…don't…make me choose"
Haley can see the answer in his eyes. She knew that at this very moment Luke already made his choice. Unable to take his rejection, Haley went inside again only to be blocked by her father.
"Hey there baby girl, can you sing one song please?"
"Dad… I don't think…"
"Please, for me?"
The door swung open and Haley saw Lucas come in as she went up the stage.
There was a time in her life when she was so sure about everything. Now all she is sure of is that, somehow, someday she'll survive without Lucas by her side.
She knew it was wrong of her to make him choose, but she was so sure he would choose her. Life was really funny; it comes to bite you in the ass.
It hurt, it tore open her heart.
Her greatest fear realized…
As she looked at the keyboard she played with it for a moment before proceeding to the actual notes of the song. Inhaling deeply she started
It
doesn't really matter now you're gone
You never were around that
much to speak of
Didn't think that I could live without you, baby
It couldn't be that hard to live alone
But I'm all, all
alone again
Thinking you will never say
that you'll be home
again
It was cold, she felt cold. Her heart now empty while Lucas' words echoed through her head
'I don't love basketball enough to leave you' he once said but….
And
it's gonna be a long night
And it's gonna be cold without your
arms
And Im gonna get stage fright caught
in the headlights
It's gonna be a long night
And I know I'm gonna lose this
fight
Once upon a time we fell in love
And I thought that
I would be the only one
But now I'm on, I'm on my own again
Thinking you will never show
you won't be home again
And
it's gonna be a long night
And it's gonna be cold without your
arms
And Im gonna get stage fright caught
in the headlights
It's gonna be a long night
And I know I'm gonna lose this
fight
Lost in you arms baby
Lost in your arms
Now
I'm on my own again
Thinking you will never show
you won't be
home again
And it's gonna be a long night
And it's gonna
be cold without your arms
And Im gonna get stage fright caught
in the headlights
It's gonna be a long night
And I know
I'm gonna lose this fight
I'm gonna get stage fright caught in
the headlights
It's gonna be a long night
And I know I'm
gonna lose this fight
I'm lost in your arms baby
Lost in your
arms
The song ended, but their lives have just started. A life they have to survive all on their own. A life where they will feel forever lost.
