AN: Hey guys! Sorry it took me a while to update! Studying for finals, it's crazy! Lol. But thank you guys so much for the reviews! Thanks to: beachiegaljeytonloverlilmonkeygirl31
I Care For You
CHAPTER 3: The Chances We Take
June Part 2
Jake rode down the streets of New York on hi motorcycle. He had been all over the east coast already, had done everything he could to find Nikki, but alas, he hadn't found her. And he would soon be running out of money. And since he was in the Big Apple, he figured that he might spend a couple days there, to get a short-time job and get some more money to travel the rest of the way until he ran out again.
He knew that this obviously wasn't the smartest way to do this, but he didn't want to deal with the police. They would just tell him how Nikki had gotten sol-custody of Jenny and that Jake had broken the law by running away before too, and he didn't need to hear that again. He didn't really have a choice...
Jake walked into a small cafe after parking his motorcycle. It reminded him of Karen's cafe, and he could maybe get a job there since he had previous experience working at a cafe.
"Uh, hi, I'm looking for the owner?" Jake asked when he walked in. A girl behind the counter wearing an apron didn't even look up at him, but simply pointed to a door behind her. "Uh, thanks." Jake said. God, he missed Tree Hill. New York City was too... big, and rude for him. He missed his quite, pleasant home town. But when he looked around, one thing was so significant in his mind. This was Peyton's type of place. This is where you'll see the best bands live. There's noise, and it's busy, and it's just the perfect place for someone... special. And Peyton was just that... special.
Jake met with the owner of the cafe briefly, and got the job right away. He would start that evening, right after he found a place to stay.
OK, take a chance, Lucas thought, as he still sat in front of his computer, deciding whether or not to send the e-mail that he had written to Brooke or not. Yeah, but last time you took a chance, it didn't end so well, Lucas reminded himself remembering the day Brooke left and he had kissed her. Still, it didn't go badly... she did kiss him back a little.
What's the worst that could happen? She could read it, then write back saying that she actually didn't want to be with him... But no, that wouldn't be the worst. Lucas's worst fear was that she would tell him that she wasn't coming back. Because, girlfriend or just friend, he needed Brooke in his life.
He clicked the SEND button, before he had the chance to change his mind.
"YOUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT" Lucas read on the screen.
June Part 2 (continued)
Dan was still in the hospital. Luke had come back to visit him a few times, but he was the only one. He was still unconscious and they were just waiting to see if or when he would wake up. Lucas had mixed feelings about all of this. He didn't even know of he wanted him to wake up. He didn't want him to die, but if he woke up he would just cause so much more trouble to the people Lucas loves like he always did.
Brooke hadn't answered his e-mail yet, but then again it had only been a few days. He was sure that, unlike him, she had other, better, things to do in California than check her e-mail everyday. But he hoped she would answer soon if she even answered at all, because he didn't know how long he could take the anticipation.
Lucas had kind of kept to himself these last couple of days. Haley was busy trying to refurnish the apartment, Peyton was busy with her mother, and his mom was still in New Zealand. It was times like these, when he really needed Brooke by his side.
Peyton had given Elizabeth a chance to get to know her. She didn't know why she did it, she had had her chance and she had given her up to someone else. Maybe it was the absence of a mother figure in Peyton's life since the death of the woman she thought was her mother, or maybe it was just the absence of everyone in her life that she loved. Jake. Brooke. Jenny. Her dad, who was off in Idaho and still didn't know that Peyton knew about Elizabeth.
Right now, Elizabeth had gone out to try and contact some old friends of hers, so Peyton was alone in her room, sketching and listening to The Killers. Bobbing her head and singing to the music really made her miss the feeling of seeing a great band live at her very own club night. She didn't think she would miss Tric so much. It's like: When she was there, it didn't seem as special. But maybe it's just that, you never really realize how special something is to you, until it's gone.
Nathan was on the bus back to Tree Hill. His week at camp had been incredible. They had great trainers that were able to get Nathan right back on track from his injury. It had been the hardest workout of Nathan's life, but the best. He couldn't believe he almost didn't go. All the other guys from the camp were staying there for the weekend to practice their game, and Nathan knew that he probably needed it more than them, but he couldn't be happier to be coming home for the weekend.
He hadn't talked to Haley since that conversation they had when he told her he was coming back for two days. He couldn't wait to see her. He knew that all those feelings that he had when they got married wouldn't all come to him when he say her today, but they were out there somewhere, and were bound to come back soon.
At least, that's what Nathan hoped.
Brooke's POV
I read over the e-mail for the ten-millionth time. And every time I read it I got tears in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. If a short, five line e-mail would get me to cry, then in what state would I be in when I see him again? That's right, I'm going back! Well, just for the weekend, but it's still something. I can't even believe my parents are letting me! They must want a weekend alone... Okay, EW! On to a more comfortable subject...
I decided not to answer Lucas's e-mail, and just to surprise him when I get back. I'm not even going to tell Peyton when I get back. She's been a little weird lately. All she says in her e-mails is that 'stuff is going on' and that she doesn't know what to do about it. I hope that when I get there I can help her out and be there for her. Because I really miss my best friend!
But, oh God, what am I suppose to say to Lucas?
"Hey, the only reason I was all weird when you kissed me is because I thought you were into Peyton, but they obviously you weren't, because you kissed ME, and then I was all weird and surprised, and I really had to go..." I said to my reflection in the mirror.
"Hi, Lucas! How's it going? I think that I love you, but I'm just scared to let you in again." I said to my mirror. I sighed, God I can be so pathetic sometimes.
"Hey, Luke." I said in my last attempt to find a correct greeting, with a little wave. There. That'll have to do.
I glance at the clock, 4:50. Oh crap, my flight leaves really soon! So I grab my bags and head out! I'm on my way back home! Tree Hill, here I come!
Okay, so Jake knew that he told Peyton to move on and all. But he couldn't help the sinking feeling in his gut when he saw that she hadn't e-mailed him. The last time he left, her e-mails had saved him, kept him going. And they would still have the same affect for him now, but she didn't send him any. Of course she didn't. It's not like Jake had sent her any. He figured he wasn't good enough for her. It would just be a shame for the world if Peyton closed herself up and waited for him. Because he still didn't know how long it would be.
Hey, for all Jake knew, Peyton could be with some other guy already. But Jake knew he was kidding himself. The look in Peyton's eyes when he left... It was love. The real thing that just can't be denied. And there is no way that someone moves on from that kind of love so fast, if they even ever move on.
Haley sighed as she stood in front of her great accomplishment. She had found some used, but still nice, furniture for a cheap price. She had unpacked all her clothes and all the pictures of Nathan and her that she had kept were scattered around the apartment. She had re-painted all the walls, except the one with the pink and the 'Sometimes They Come Back' sketch.
She had to admit, she was a little taken-aback when she had first walked in and saw that wall. That was when it all really hit her. How torn Nathan was after she left. She needed to keep that wall up, to remind her that the only thing she needed to do now, was rebuild their marriage. And nothing else mattered.
Then the doorbell rang. So she went to get it.
"Nathan!" She said, happily when she saw her tall, handsome, husband in the doorway. She wasn't expecting him until way later. Nathan put down his bags and went to hug his wife.
Lucas was at the RiverCourt, shooting around alone. When he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around expecting to see one of the guys (Skills, Fergie, Junk, or Mouth) but instead, he saw the one person who held all his thoughts.
"Hey Luke," Brooke said with a little wave, like she had practiced.
"Brooke," Was all Lucas could say. The knots tightened in his stomach and his heart was racing. What now? He thought.