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Chapter Eight

Haley tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, as she lay with her head at the foot of the bed.

Something I haven't told anyone else? Despite what people may think, I love to read. Every chance I get I pick up a book, I'm not saying you'll find me sitting in a coffee shop everyday with some highbrow novel, but I do like English class and the range of books we get to read. I don't know, maybe it will lead to something as a career. Well now it's your turn. As for my name, how about like they do in the movies, I'll sign with a letter.

L

Lucas sat on his bed, resting his arms on his lap, leaning over to read the letter.

So you're a reader huh? Well that's something we have in common, I don't think it's something that people don't know about me so that doesn't count. Hmmm I'd like to travel one day, I'm not saying that I want to leave Tree Hill and never come back, its just it would be nice to see some of Europe, I would love to go to Italy one day, that would be my first stop. So how about you, where would you go?

Haley

My mom recently spent some time in Florence and hasn't stopped talking about it since, she says I have to go. But apart from that I don't think there is any one place that I would have to visit, I think if you go with the right person then it doesn't matter where you are. Okay that sounded kinda corny, but I don't feel like I need to act all macho insensitive guy like around you.

L

I get what you mean, in a weird way its like we don't know what baggage the other carries. It's easier that way, no preconceptions, no one is going to turn around and judge you because you're acting out of 'character'. I like it, I want you to be able to be yourself around me, I won't judge, and in turn, I'll be myself, deal?

Haley

Haley sat in the library, reading the newest letter from the anonymous L. They had been exchanging letters for over a month now, and they knew each other pretty well, so the only anonymous thing about him was his name. She had tried to figure out who he was, but in the end thought it best not to know, for now at least. She unfolded the paper.

I guess its time for something I haven't told anyone else. Seen as we know each other pretty well now. I guess the biggest thing would be that I'm pretending to be something I'm not. Everyone sees me in a certain way, I've had to live up to that, but the truth is, it's not who I am. I'm tired of having to act a certain way, but for some reason I don't feel I have to do that when I'm writing to you.

L

She sat there stunned, how would she reply to that. She thought about it, the only way she knew how was to tell him the biggest thing that she had never told anyone.

That was something, I can understand why you wouldn't want to tell anyone that, especially from what you say, everyone around you is creating this problem. But I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me, I guess we really are friends. Now something I haven't told anyone else? I'm allergic to oranges, how about that? Actually my parents know, and so does Lex, so that probably doesn't count. Something I haven't told Lex or my parents, I want to sing. I took piano lessons as a kid and I just love sitting down to play, to sing along, and compose. But you can't tell anyone, I have enough self-esteem issues as it is.

Haley

Lucas smiled, he had told her his biggest secret, apart from him reading her journal, and she hadn't judged him, hadn't told him what to do, she had accepted it and told him her biggest secret.

Brooke smiled as she looked at the stack of photocopies that sat on her bed. She had been collecting them all, and the latest letters from both Lucas and Haley sat at the top. Phase one was complete.

When Haley opened the envelope that next morning, she suddenly began to feel her stomach tighten into knots. She re-read the letter again making sure that what she had seen was, indeed written, it was, and she felt her knees give way slightly under her. She had been quiet for a while and Lex noticed this and stopped her rambling.

"Haley, are you alright?"

She paused before she answered, was she all right?

"I don't know." She handed the letter to a confused Lex, who suddenly smiled.

Please meet me in the gym after the game tomorrow.

L

"Are you kidding, this is amazing!"

Haley gave a small smile and a slight shrug of her shoulders.

"How are you not jumping up and down with excitement? This guy you've been talking to, for like forever, wants to meet you, tomorrow!"

"I know, but it's one thing to write to each other, but meeting just brings all kinds of problems."

"Such as?"

"Well," Haley paused. "Well what if he expects someone else, someone not so low down on the food chain as me Haley James, good student, hard worker, tutor and all round, let's face it geek."

"Haley, you are not now, nor have you ever been a geek. I myself have seen geeks, and you certainly are not one of them. Besides, you've been talking to this guy since the dawn of time, you know each other, nothing else matters."

She smiled shyly. "I knew there was a reason you were my best friend."

"Come on, we have to plan what you're gonna wear."

"Lex I'm meeting him at a basketball game, it's hardly Cinderella at the ball."

"It doesn't matter, you are gonna look amazing!"

When Lucas opened his locker, he found an envelope, which to him seemed strange. He and Haley had always used the same envelope, it stood as a sign of their friendship, and he currently had the envelope himself. Never the less he opened it, and the world around him disappeared as he read those words.

Please meet me in the gym after the game tomorrow.

Haley

All this time he had been writing to Haley, one day he wished that they would eventually meet, but were they ready for this? More importantly, was Lucas ready for this, for Haley to see who he was?

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked concerned.

Lucas shook his head slightly as her voice entered his subconscious. "I'm fine."

"Okay, you just looked a little preoccupied that's all."

"Yeah um, you could say that. Are you heading off to class?"

"Not yet, I have to photocopy some more flyers for the game tomorrow."

"Okay, well I'll see you there." He replied doing up his bag, not noticing that he had dropped something.

Brooke bent down to pick it up. Un-scrunching the ball of paper she couldn't believe her luck. Lucas had read Haley's journal and this looked like an attempt at telling her the truth, Brooke's plan just got better, phase two was definitely in action.

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