A/N: Here is the second chapter…I have the whole story finished it just depends whether or not I get time to type it…I should at least have an update for you every week. As always I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review and feel free to leave any suggestions you may have. As always italics thoughts and bold italics flashbacks
Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill nor do I own the title for this chapter or the song used in it. They belong to the wonderfully talented Patrick Park.
Chapter 2: Something Pretty
One week, Three days, 5 hours and 13 minutes. That's how long she had been here. He heard the clock in the room ticking, listened as second after second passed. He would look back down at her, then back to the clock. Maybe after enough time had passed she would finally be ready to come back to him. Doctors said her prognosis wasn't good. The longer she was in the come the worse her chances of survival became. He didn't want to listen to what they were telling him. There was no way that he was letting her go.
It isn't right. She hasn't done anything wrong. I should be the one in the hospital not her. She doesn't deserve this.
Their friends were getting worried, with each passing day he became more introverted. They had never seen him so angry at the world and worst of all himself. It had been too long since he had had one of his "good days". It seemed both their lives depended on her waking up. The longer she was in the coma the worse he got. The thing that bothered Haley the most was the fact that they should have been able to do something for him. They couldn't do anything for Brooke and they weren't expected to, but Lucas wasn't medically ill, they should be able to help him. So here she sat in the hospital parking lot with another brown paper bag containing yet another lunch that would no doubt go uneaten. Should I even bother going in? It's not like he really wants to see me, or anybody for that matter, but he needs a friend right now even if he doesn't realize it.
In the end the best friend part of her won out and she exited the car, lunch in hand and made her way into the all too familiar hospital. I hate it here. Once Brooke gets better we are all making a pact never to come here again; At least not for anything bad.
She made her way into the elevator and hesitated before pushing the button. The last thing she wanted to do was cause another scene. She was brought out of her thoughts buy the dinging of the elevator doors as the opened on her selected floor. She walked down the hall slowly, she had never dreaded seeing Lucas, he was her best friend and but now she was afraid; afraid of what he might do or say once she entered that hospital room. She grabbed the knob and turned. No going back now.
"Hey Luke." She tried to sound cheery but her greeting seemed to come out as more of a question that was gauging his mood.
He nodded in response. So we're still on the silent treatment then? She tried to ignore the fact that her best friend for more years than she could count was barely acknowledging her presence let alone speaking to her.
"Lunch?" She knew there was no point in asking the question but she still had to try.
"No. Thanks though."
At least I got a response this time. They sat in companionable silence for a long time. Haley didn't want to push anything. It was a step in the right direction that he was even letting her sit there. I can do this. I can just sit here quietly if that's what he needs. I'll do whatever it takes.
Lucas never took his eyes off Brooke for fear that if he were to look away he might miss when she woke up. Watching her every breath made him feel safer. The rise and fall of her chest soothed him.
"Do you think that maybe you might want to come out tonight? You need a change of scenery." Haley knew this subject would hit a nerve but it was time someone suggested it.
"Can't."
"Why not?" She asked.
"If I leave she'll get lonely." He whispered.
Haley willed the tears not to fall at that statement. She had to be strong for Lucas so he could, in turn, be strong for Brooke.
"I'm sure she would want you to go out and have some fun, even if just for a little while."
"If I left and something happened to her I would never forgive myself."
This side of Lucas scared Haley more than she was willing to admit. It was like the Lucas that she knew was gone; replaced by this shell that looked like him but that's where the similarities ended. Even then he wasn't the same Lucas Scott. He was paler due to spending all of his time inside and he was much thinner die to his lack of appetite. She was more afraid for Lucas at that moment than she was for Brooke. If he didn't start taking care of himself soon then when Brooke did finally wake up he might not even be around for it.
"Nothing will happen, just come out with Peyton, Jake, Nathan and I. It'll do you some good." It was her last ditch attempt. Her Hail Mary pass. It didn't work.
"I just want to stay here, with Brooke. Did you know it's our four month anniversary today?"
When Haley didn't answer he continued.
"Yeah, four months ago today we got back together. I just need to be with her. You know?" He finally looked directly into Haley's eyes when he said this. She just nodded and stood up to leave; his attention back on Brooke. She made her way across the hospital room that had become like a second home to all of them, especially Lucas. She glanced back one final time before leaving.
"Happy anniversary." She whispered and closed the door.
"You remember the night we finally got back together? It was so perfect. When you told me you loved me I knew this was it. We're going to be together forever Cheery, now you just have to wake up so forever can start."
He remembered that night so vividly. It was when his life really began.
He found her at Tric, he had been looking for her all day. She looked so beautiful that night, she wasn't wearing anything special, just jeans and a white tank top but to Lucas she had never looked more exquisite. He walked up to her still reciting to himself the speech he was prepared to give her, he was ready to tell her exactly how he felt but when she turned around and smiled at him, and there eyes met the words were gone. He realized then that there were no words to describe his love for Brooke Davis. Instead of professing his love like he had planned he instead asked her to dance; she gladly accepted. They held each other close both relishing the feel of each other.
"I've missed this." She whispered into his chest where her head rested.
"Me too." He agreed. They danced in comfortable silence after that, neither needing to speak, just happy with the other's company.
"I love you Cheery." He admitted, it wasn't how he had planned on revealing his feelings but he had to get it out.
She looked up at him then, to say she looked shocked would have been an understatement.
"Do you really?" She had to know if he meant it or if it was just said in the heat of the moment.
"Of course I do. I love you more than I ever thought possible. You're my reason to be."
A tear slid down her cheek. She wasn't expecting this admission from Lucas but it didn't mean she wasn't happy that it happened.
"I love you too." She replied.
They continued dancing to the song they would forever call "their song" just starring into each other's eyes.
"Happy anniversary Brooke." Lucas said bending down to kiss her forehead. He then reached over to the stereo had had brought her over a week ago to help drown out the deafening silence of the hospital room.
"I love you more than anything."
He hit play and laid his head down on the side of the bed like he did every night. Tonight was different though; tonight he would go to sleep listening to "their song".
Here I am, where I've been
I've walked a hundred miles in tobacco skin,
And my clothes are worn & gritty.
And I know ugliness,
Now show me something pretty.
I was a dumb punk kid with nothing to lose
And too much weight for walking shoes.
I could have died from being boring.
As for loneliness,
She greets me every morning.
At the most I'm a glare,
I'm the hopeless son who's hardly there.
I'm the open sign that's always busted.
I'm the friend you need, but can't be trusted.
At the most I'm a glare,
I'm the hopeless son who's hardly there.
I'm the open sign that's always busted.
I'm the friend you need, but can't be trusted.
Here I am, where I've been
I've walked a hundred miles in tobacco skin,
And my clothes are worn & gritty.
And I know ugliness,
Now show me something pretty.
At the most I'm a glare,
I'm the hopeless son who's hardly there.
I'm the open sign that's always busted.
I'm the friend you need, but can't be trusted.
At the most I'm a glare,
I'm the hopeless son who's hardly there.
I'm the open sign that's always busted.
I'm the friend you need, but can't be trusted.
A/N 2: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wouldn't normally put a song into one of my stories but I just love this song so much and thought it might be a sweet ending. If you have never heard this song you should definitely download it. It's awesome. (something pretty by: Patrick Park.)Anyway I plan to have the next chapter up very soon. There will be more flashbacks to come, sort of showing their relationship grow, it will be good I swear!