Chapter Five

Love and Memories

Haley was nervous. He could tell by the way her hands rubbed up and down her thighs. She fiddled with the handle on her luggage, pretending like she was going to tip it over but then, at the last minute, bringing it back up. Her Louis Vuitton luggage rocked back and forth and she crossed her legs. She wiggled her right foot until her shoe became loose. She looked around, leaned over, and slid her shoe back on. He watched her every move, remembering the way they were when they were together, back before anything got in the way, back when it was just, "Nathan and Haley".

Nathan couldn't look away. Her short hair made her look older and he liked that. He was scared of what might happen when she looked up and noticed that he was there. He was scared of what might come out of her mouth once they finally started speaking. And he was scared of how he would feel after they spent time together, especially with how he left Sarasota, with Terin telling him that she wanted a divorce. Unfortunately, this didn't really come as a shock to Nathan. Of course he loved Terin, but if anyone knew about there being more to marriage than love, it would be Nathan.

She finally looked up at him. His blue golf shirt made his ice crystal eyes pop. She scanned him up and now and even though she wanted to smile and tell him how great it was to see him, all she could do was look back down at the ground. Haley stared at her luggage again. Nervous and annoyed, she gave it another chance and looked back up at him. Now all she could think of was Savannah Blackstone, he girl he cheated on her with, and Terin Collins, his new wife, his second wife, the wife he loved more than his first.

He couldn't say anything.

She couldn't even form words.

He was so nervous.

She thought she was about to throw up.

"Well if it isn't my little brother?" A voice rang out from behind Haley. It was a familiar voice. A voice she had not heard in nearly a decade. "You already meet a girl? What about that wife…"

Haley slowly turned around to see a tall, dirty blonde man standing next to a thin, brunette woman.

"Haley?" Lucas Scott said as he dropped the bags off of his broad shoulders. He walked toward her and put his hands on top of hers. "My god, Haley James." He put his hands on her cheeks and smiled, his white teeth gleaming.

She stood up and smiled at him. "Hey Luke." Her smiled was a nervous one and Lucas could see right through it.

Lucas pulled her into a hug and whispered into her ear, "Don't be nervous. It's just us. Okay?" She nodded. He could hear the beginning of a cry welling up inside her body. "Just breathe." She took a deep breath and nodded her head again. "Better?" He asked, still holding her.

"Yeah, fine." She said, starting in a whisper and then gradually becoming louder. Haley pulled away and put her and atop her luggage. She looked around for a minute and then looked at Brooke.

Brooke winked at her and said, "Haley James, tutorgirl, love of my life." Brooke's dimples caved in. Something's never change, Haley thought to herself.

"Brooke Davis, tigger, sunshine in my day." She gave Brooke a big smile and then let her arms engulf her in a hug.

"It's going to be okay, Haley." Brooke whispered into her ear, "I always told you he would come around and he will. I promise."

The two girls pulled away and Haley smiled at her.

"So, Haley James, author extrodinare, how is life? Sensational I'm sure." Brooke said as she locked arms with Haley and they walked toward the sliding glass doors.

Nathan put his bag over his shoulder. "Did you even talk to her?" Lucas asked as he lifted a duffle over his shoulder and drug a rolling bag behind him. Nathan stared at the luggage. "I know, I know. Half of the duffle is mine. The rest is Brooke's."

"Overpack much?" Nathan said as the brothers followed the girls through the doors.

"Yeah, well ask her." Right as Lucas said that Brooke turned around and winked at him.

"I don't think you could be any luckier Luke, and I am serious. I truly mean that. You and Brooke are just too perfect for each other."

The four adults stood with their backs to the airport as they watched a black suv pull infront of them. The tinted passenger window rolled down to reveal the driver.

"You have got to be kidding me." Nathan said as he dropped his bag to the ground.

"Dan?" Lucas said as he leaned forward to get a better look at the man in the driver's seat.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Nathan asked his estranged father.

Dan and Nathan had not seen each other since Terin and Nathan got married nine years ago and the only reason Dan was at the wedding was because he found out that his youngest son was getting married, again, and he wanted to come and make a fool out of himself. Dan and Lucas hadn't seen each other in even longer. Dan saw Lucas at his high school graduation, but since then the two had not spoken and that was exactly how Lucas liked it.

"What? I can't come pick up my son's at the airport…" Dan Scott rose his left eyebrow and smiled, "Trust me, it wasn't easy fiding out you two were coming home. I practically had to threaten people to get them to tell me." He chucked, "Well okay, I did threaten them, but that is not the point."

No one said anything. Brooke grabbed Lucas' hand and squeezed it tight.

"Wow, Lucas Scott, you and cheerleader still together? That's amazing. Hm, you remind me a lot of Lucas's mother when we were… well, together." He laughed again and Lucas narrowed his eyes at him, "But we all saw how that turned out."

"We also saw how your marrage to Deb turned out; I don't sense a trend do you." Lucas said as he put his arm around Brooke's waist.

"Yes, well, Lucas, boys will be boys." He looked at his other son, "Right Nathan?"

Haley glared at Dan until their eyes met. "Wow. Well if it isn't Haley James Scott." He leaned over the passenger seat, "Or did you change your name?" Haley said nothing. "Right, you changed it. I remember now. What with all the books you have been writing its hard to forget your name."

"With all the pain and trouble you have caused everyone it's hard to forget your name too, Dan Scott." Haley said as she shoved her hands deep into her pockets.

He pretended to wipe his eyes, "Wow, that is really moving Haley. Thank you for that." He looked at Brooke, "Well cheerleader, you haven't really said your piece."

"That's because I don't have anything to say to you mister Scott."

"You always were my favorite." Dan said winking at her.

Brooke made a vomiting noise and covered her mouth with her hand. She looked up at Lucas and then and at Dan and said, "Oh I'm sorry, I thought I was about to throw up there for a second."

Dan shrugged his shoulder, "Maybe you got knocked up or something…"

The four friends stared at the black SUV and said nothing. "Well look at the time," Dan said as he looked at an imaginary watch on his wrist, "I better get going. You all didn't need a ride or anything did you."

They said nothing as they watched him roll up the window and drive away.

Lucas looked at everyone and said, "What are we supposed to do now?"

Nathan reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone and said, "I think I know someone who can get us."