Wow. So, this chapter was the hardest so far to write. I hope I did the story justice, but I doubt this is the case. I actually cried while I was writing this, just because it was such an emotional scene and stuff. The song in this chapter is not really made up by Brooke, it's actually by Death Cab For Cutie, and is entitled "Passenger Seat". It's a great song, and everyone should listen to it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and I hope you enjoy this chapter, and leave nice, long reviews that I can respond to during the next chapter, which is the last. Yep. One more chapter. So, enjoy. PS: Flashbacks are in italics.

Only The Good Die Young

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Wish I Could Follow You

This wasn't fair.

Brooke shouldn't have been forced to say goodbye. It just wasn't right. Her sister - twin sister - was laying in her death bed, at seventeen. She'd hadn't even grown up and had the chance to go to college, or become an actual adult, or get married. She was just going to die. That was it.

And that was just - so - unfair. Because, not only would Haley suffer eternally, but so would Brooke, and her parents, and her friends, and her boyfriend. She shouldn't have had to go in there and bid her sister farewell.

But that was life.

Sighing, Brooke's hands locked around the door handle, and she twisted, allowing the door to slide open.

Brooke gently closed the door behind her, as she stepped into the garden. Flowers - particularly sunflowers - blew softly in the breeze, and she cocked her head to the side, curiously.

Short and cute, with soft auburn locks, Haley sat amiss the chaos of flowers, looking as if she were complete. Like, there was nothing else in the world she needed.

"Haley? Why are you sitting over there?" Even at nine years old, Brooke knew there was something odd about her sister. How mature she was, and how peaceful she was.

Haley smiled softly. "It's really nice over here, B. Sit down with me."

Brooke reluctantly made her way over to her sister, and took a seat beside her. Although she found the flowers pretty, she found the place and position she was in, frankly, completely boring.

Brooke bit her lip, trying not to move, or disrupt her sister. At that point, all Brooke wanted to do was go back into her grandmother's house, and play with her dolls, or maybe bake Nathan some cookies that she could deliver to his house. She didn't want to sit there. In the garden. Doing absolutely nothing.

Sighing, Brooke couldn't help herself. "Hales, this is so boring. What are we doing?"

"We're just enjoying life. For as long as we can."

"I don't want to enjoy life out here. I want to go back inside the house, and call Nathan."

Haley rolled her eyes. "Why do you even like him so much?"

"Because he's cute. Duh."

"Well, I like Lucas better."

"Only because he's your best friend."

"And he has a brain." Haley added casually.

Brooke gasped. "Nathan has a brain!"

"Yeah, well if he does, it's obviously not working properly."

"It's working just fine, thank you! Haley, can't you just be supportive of my future husband?"

"You want to marry Nathan Scott!" Haley teased her sister, giggling.

Brooke laughed as well, and pretty soon, the two were cracking up. Brooke, with her pretty brown locks pulled back into a ponytail, and Haley, with her long hair, down and flowing.

"So," Brooke said, once they'd calmed down, "Why do you really want to sit out here?"

Haley shrugged. "Because I want to enjoy life before the worst comes. Because it will."

Brooke hadn't understood what her sister had meant. But now, thinking about it, it was like, she'd seen the future. She'd seen her death at a young age, and the enormous problems cancer would cause for her.

She heard a soft cough, and her eyes instantly welled up. Haley was so tiny. So small. Compared to the room, and the bed, and even to Brooke.

"I was wondering when you'd come." Haley said so softly, so that Brooke had to strain her ears to hear.

"I'm sorry. I just - I wasn't sure that I could handle being here. Hales, I don't - I don't want to lose you. You're my sister, and my best friend. You're my other half. And I'm not sure it's possible to live without your other half."

Tears filled Haley's eyes as well, and she quickly tried to hide them. "Come on, Brookie. Be strong. For the both of us."

"I can't," Brooke shook her head, tears now rapidly running down her cheeks, "I can't. I'm sorry. I won't be anything if you leave me here alone."

"But you won't be alone. You'll have Mom and Dad. And Nathan, Peyton, and Lucas. And-"

"None of them matter without you, Hales. None of them are you. They can't fill your void in my heart."

It was true. Brooke loved Lucas. She loved him more then life, but he couldn't be his Haley. And neither could Nathan or Peyton. Haley was the only Haley. The most original, fun, beautiful girl, who was destined for tragedy.

She was the only one that mattered.

"Brooke! Brooke, wait for me!" Seven year old Haley squealed as her sister ran off.

The beach was sunny and warm, which was why their parents' had decided they would spend the day there. Brooke couldn't wait. She loved the beach. And Haley was no exception. The beach was her favorite place to be.

Brooke suddenly stopped and laughed. "I love it here! I wish I lived here at the beach."

"Me too. We could live in a giant sand castle that would never cave in!" Haley said excitedly.

"And we could grow mermaid fins for whenever we wanted to swim in the water!"

"And we'd have a castle down there, too!"

"And all the sea creatures would be our best friends!"

"And we could have pet sea monkeys!" Haley laughed.

Brooke spun around. "I wish that would happen so bad."

"I wish it would do. I would love to be free. Small and perfect. This would be the best life anyone could ever have." Haley sighed happily, digging her toes into the sand.

Brooke wrapped her arms around her sister, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Maybe when we're big, we'll buy a big house, right in front of the beach. And we'll live just like we want to."

"That's a great idea, Brooke. Let's do that."

Brooke and Haley thought of this time, together. Quietly, both looked up at each other, knowing this was in both of their minds.

"Who am I going to move to the beach with?" Brooke asked quietly, and ever so sadly.

Haley was silent for a moment. "I want to be cremated. And I want to have my ashes go wherever you go. So, if you go to the beach, I'll go there too. How does that sound?"

Brooke squeezed her eyes shut. "That sounds like a pretty good idea."

Haley bit her lip painfully. "Brooke, I don't think I'm going to be here for much longer."

"Please don't say that." The pretty, usually composed brunette had to try her hardest not to go insane right there.

"It'll be better this way. I'll protect you from heaven."

"Please visit me. Please don't just disappear."

"You'll be fine," Haley promised, "I know you will."

"Without you, I severely doubt it. I'm trying so hard to contain myself right now. Imagine what life's going to be like without you. It's impossible. There's no way."

"You'll be happy someday. And you'll marry Lucas, and end up having a crazy, amazing family. And you'll name your daughter Haley Renee, just like we always planned." She could barely get this out, her voice so thick with tears and emotion.

"I don't want any of that if you're not there with me." Brooke whispered.

"Please be happy. I won't know what to do if I go knowing that you're going to make your life miserable."

"Then don't go."

"I wish I didn't have to, B."

"I mean, what is Nathan going to do without you? Or Lucas? Or what about Bubbly-Boo? Who's going to cuddle him at night?"

Haley looked down towards the elephant in her arms. Her parents had brought her beloved stuffed animal to her, at her request.

"You will. Or Nathan. I don't know…"

"And what about Mom and Dad? You're just going to leave them here with me, The Rebel Child?"

"Brooke, you are far from a rebel child, trust me."

Brooke sighed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "And what about me? What am I going to do without you?"

"Everything."

"So," Brooke put the picture down, looking back up at the ceiling, "Do you think we'll always be like this? You know, best friends and sisters?"

Haley turned and smiled. Whether or not she'd ever admit it, Brooke was by far her most best friend in the world. "Definitely. We'll be together forever."

"We'll live together forever." Brooke agreed, nodding.

"In the same house. You'll be married to Lucas, and I'll be married to Nathan." Haley continued, but Brooke shook her head.

"No, no. Not in the same house. It would be so unfair to you and Nathan. You'd have to hear- anyway, we'd live on the same really huge property, with two gigantic houses."

"Good idea. And we'll name our kids after each other." Haley bit her pen cap softly.

"Of course. Little Haley Renee." Brooke cooed.

"And don't forget my little Brooke Allison."

"I wouldn't ever."

Haley stood up, laying next to Brooke, and grabbing her sister's hand. "You know, I know that a lot of the time, it seems like I'm disappointed in you, or I'm mad at you, or whatever. But I really want you to know," Haley brought her sister's hand to her lips, "That I couldn't ask for a better sister, and I love you. No matter what happens."

"Yeah. Nothing else matters."

And so they lay there, holding hands, and wondering what life would hold for them. It seemed that even then, both knew tragedy was near. Right around the corner, even.

It seemed that they were preparing themselves for what would become of their future. Or lack there of.

"Promise me you'll do everything. You'll go on and live a great life."

"No," Brooke shook her head stubbornly, "No, I can't."

"Promise me, Brooke. It's the only thing I want from you." Haley looked into her sister's eyes pleadingly and painfully, taking slow, deep breaths. And Brooke couldn't resist.

"Okay. I promise."

"Thank you." Haley said softly.

"So, what do we do next?"

Haley thought for a moment. "Sing to me."

"What?"

"Sing me a song."

"I can't sing. I suck at singing."

Haley laughed in spite of herself. "That's bull, Brooke Davis, and you know it. I'll even sing along. Come on."

Brooke chewed on her lower lip. "Well what do you want me to sing?"

Haley thought for a moment. "Passenger Seat. That's always been my favorite song."

"Only because I sang at to you while I was half drunk, and you were driving me home." Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Because I've never felt closer to you that I did in that moment."

Brooke laughed, and more tears fell from her eyes. Haley relaxed into her pillow, one arm around Bubbly Boo, and the others clasped in Brooke's.

The girl sighed, closing her eyes, and pretending the familiar, soft melody was ringing in her ears.

I roll the window down

And then begin to breathe in

The darkest country road

And the strong scent of evergreen

From the passenger seat as

You are driving me home

Brooke paused, as she felt herself choking up. Haley listened, smiling. She loved her sister. And even then, as her sister's heart broke, she could tell that she was going to be okay.

Then looking upwards

I strain my eyes and try

To tell the difference between

Shooting stars and Satellites

From the passenger seat as

You are driving me home

Both girls laughed softly, remembering the night it had happened. Brooke had been completely wasted. She'd confused everything and anything she saw with something else, and had eventually begun to sing. Haley loved the song she sang, even to this day.

Do they collide?

I ask, and you smile

With my feet on the dash

The world doesn't matter

How, in her drunken state, Brooke had managed to think this song up was beyond Haley. But even then, as she'd dragged Brooke back into their mansion, she'd chuckled, singing the song quietly to herself for hours. She'd teased Brooke later, but had always loved the song. It was slow, and steady. And powerful.

Brooke couldn't stop crying now. Her eyes were completely glazed over, and she could clearly see her sister slipping away.

If you feel embarrassed

I'll be your pride

Haley's eyes closed, and then opened once more.

If you need directions

Then I'll be your guide

And now, Haley began to sing as well, softly, and painfully. Brooke stopped to listen to her sister, and then she knew. What exactly it was that she knew, she wasn't sure. But somehow, she was positive that she would be safe; that it would all work out.

For all time.

All time.

Brooke kissed her sister's cheeks, nuzzling her for just a second, before pulling away.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you, too." Haley replied, smiling, through her tears. Smiling through her pain, and everything that had gone wrong in her life.

And then, peacefully and contently, Haley was gone.