And that was all she could manage. She stood and turned, heading back toward the waiting room.
Chapter 13
It had been understood that Karen and Haley should see Lucas first. Now that those visits were out of the way, Brooke and Peyton wanted their turns. But they both wanted to be first. Both girls tried to shove their way through the doorway of the waiting room, but in the end Brooke won, being the more aggressive of the two.
"Lucas," Brooke said to her unconscious friend, "I just want you to know that I care for you very much. Even though you stabbed me in the back by getting together with Peyton, I still care for you. Sometimes I wish I didn't, but I just can't help it. When I look at you, I just melt. I guess I understand that you don't feel the same way. You should know that, if you come back to me, I'll be yours in a second. In any case, you still need to hang around. What else will Peyton and I have to fight over, right?" She smiled to herself as she leaned forward and kissed Lucas's forehead. It had been so long since she'd felt the touch of her lips on his skin...and even longer since she'd felt his lips on hers. She sighed as she stood, wondering if that was the closest she'd ever get to Lucas again. Only time would tell.
Peyton was next, determined to remain composed as she walked toward Lucas's hospital room. Like Haley, though, her composure melted away when she saw the ventilator. It was simply unthinkable that, save for the machine, Lucas's life would end within minutes.
"Look, Lucas," Peyton said, trying to keep from sobbing, "I'm sure you've been hearing this a lot—that is, if you're hearing anything—but I really need you to stick around. Excuse me for being completely selfish, but it's true...I really don't know what I'd do without you. These past few months have been the hardest of my life, because I've been denying my feelings for you. But I'm done with that. Brooke can just get over it—I'm not losing you again. If you come back to me, I'll be yours in a second. Please..." At that point, she lost it. The tears began to flow freely as she, too, kissed Lucas on the forehead. And then it was time for her to go.