Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back again! Aren't you guys ready to get rid of me yet since I keep bugging you with updates:) Well, here's the next chapter! I know the chapters have been short, but this is the way I have decided to write this story. It allows me to update faster, as you have seen the past couple days, but that's also due to the three day weekend for Memorial Day. Let's just hope I can keep it up after I probably start working full time at my job for the summer until college starts! I might update again tonight or early tomorrow morning before I go to work so keep a look out for it! Anyways, I hope you like it! As always, please read and review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.
Rating: K+ to T
Finding Our Way Back
Chapter 9 – Getting Back To What We Were
It was another couple of days until Lucas and Haley saw each other again. Haley was busy teaching and taking care of the kids while Lucas was busy with Whitey and the team.
Lucas knocked on her door and a few minutes later, the door opened with Haley behind it. She smiled at him but inwardly flinched, imagining one day he would come knocking at her door and he would know about the kids. It frightened her of what he might say or do once he found out. "Hey Luke," she replied. "Can Haley come out to play," Lucas asked in a childish voice. Haley laughed, "Yeah sure, the kids are with Ky for the afternoon. I'm sure she's spoiling them rotten, or corrupting their minds, or both." "She sure has a lot of time on her hands. What does she do," Lucas asked. "She's a writer but she works at the café a couple days a week to pay the rest of her bills and for some spending money since she can't totally live off of what the publisher pays her," Haley responded as she grabbed her jacket and they headed out. "So, where are you taking me," she asked as they strolled walk along the streets of Tree Hill. "You'll see," he grinned.
"Lucas Scott, I am not going to play basketball with you," she remarked when she saw he had led her to the rivercourt. "Aw, come on Hales. For old times sake," he pouted as he squeezed the basketball between his hands. "No, I'm totally out of shape and out of practice. I haven't played in five years. You, however, played just two months ago. You have an unfair advantage, because even though you've played more recently, I still suck like I used to," she crossed her arms as she too formed a pout. "Fine," he shrugged as he dropped the ball then grinned at her mischievously. Haley looked at him cautiously, wondering what he was going to do, because that look and that smile together were never a good thing. Then he started to run towards her, his hands outstretched, "I guess I'll just have to tickle you then!" "No, Luke!" Haley shrieked as she began to run away from him. They chased each other around for a few minutes until Lucas was hot on her heels. He reached to grab her but she quickly dodged it and started to run faster. She was beginning to get tired and her legs were hurting. She hadn't exercised or ran this much since gym class in high school.
He caught up to her once more and he wrapped his arms around her after drawing on a burst of speed. Unfortunately, the force with which Lucas grabbed her caused them to fall to the ground, Haley lying under him and Lucas on top. Haley coughed, trying to catch her breath, and when she did, she said, "Geez Luke, this isn't tackle football." "Sorry," he replied as he brushed some hair from her face then began to rub the back of her head. He thought he saw her hit her head when she fell. "Are you okay," he asked softly, a concerned and worried expression on his face. Their eyes met and they stared at each other for several minutes, getting lost in the moment and not noticing the minutes tick by. Lucas was about to lean in to kiss her, but she coughed and said, "Lucas, can you please get off me? You're taking my breath away here." Lucas closed his eyes and inwardly sighed as he reluctantly got up off of her and offered out his hand to help her up. 'You take my breath away too, but in a whole different way,' he thought to himself.
"Are you sure you're okay," he inquired as they brushed the grass off themselves. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "Come on, let's go get some lunch," he responded as he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her down the street. She flinched a little at his touch and moved forward a bit. Lucas dropped his hand in disappointment and followed after her. "Where are we going to eat," she asked a few minutes later. "The docks," he replied. "Yay," she responded happily, "I love that place!" Or at least she was trying to act happy. Haley was still thrown from their 'moment' back at the rivercourt. She wanted to kiss him, but she knew he didn't feel that way about her. But in that moment, the way he stared at her, made her think that he'd wanted to kiss her too. Even though she wanted to kiss him, she wasn't ready to be that close to him yet. They had just started trying to mend their broken friendship and without that foundation repaired, they couldn't pursue a relationship, even if Lucas did feel the same about her as she did him.
"I know," Lucas responded as they continued on their walk. He looked up from staring at the ground and his eyes landed on the old oak tree. "It's still here," he whispered. Haley stopped ahead of him and turned, "What?" "The oak tree, it's still here," he repeated again as he stared at it then began to walk towards it. She followed him to the spot, standing beside him as he ran his hand over the engraving. Still touching the words as he stared at them, reading them over and over, he lightly slipped his free hand into her own and gently squeezed it.