What Happens Next
Chapter 7
Author's Note: Okay, so I don't know if I did this in the beginning or not, but I'm going to do it now. I do not own the characters, or anything else dealing with Tree Hill. Only these ideas are my own, and I am thankful to Mark Schwann for creating these wonderful characters.
This is an AU fic, and from the moment Haley left in season 2, basically nothing else is the same. This is NOT real. There has been some confusion about that, so hopefully this little note clears that up.
Thank you SOOOOO much to everyone who has sent reviews! I am glad that people are enjoying my story. I hope I surprised some people with the last chapter, when their 'thing' wasn't sex…even though she's never done THAT with anyone else either. This story is taking a little bit of a different turn than I had originally planned, but I still know where I want to take it, so please stick with me, and keep up the reviews!
Lucas sat in the living room holding Natalie while she ate. Looking at Brooke he asked, "How do you think it's going?"
"You're great with her. You'll make a good daddy some day."
Lucas smiled, "Thanks. But I meant with Nathan and Haley."
"I think you'll have your room back in no time. They love each other and won't be able to stay apart for long."
"They've been apart for a year."
"Only because Nathan didn't know where she was, and Haley thought he hated her. They were both being stubborn."
"Their stubbornness is what worries me."
Haley slipped silently into her temporary bedroom through its exterior entrance. She slid down the wall and put her head in her hands, trying to subside the sobs that had been racking her body since leaving the restaurant.
She couldn't believe that after everything Nathan had said about wanting to be together, and now he was pulling this shit.
Out in the living room, Lucas was gently rocking back and forth holding a sleepy Natalie when there was a knock at the door. "Hold on," opening the door slowly he saw a harried Nathan. "Hey, everything okay?"
"Is she here?"
"Haley? No, I don't think so; she didn't come in this way if she is. I'll go put Natalie down and check if she's in there." Lucas walked slowly to the bedroom where he found Haley sitting on the floor, "Hey, Nathan's here."
"Make him go away," she whispered, not taking her head off her arms.
Lucas put Natalie in her crib and went back out to Nathan, "She's not here. Sorry man." Sitting down he watched Nathan as he paced, and picturing the sobbing Haley in the other room asked, "What happened?"
"We had a fight. Did you know she starved herself? And her parents disowned her. Did you know that?"
"Let's go outside and talk."
"She was starving Lucas, and it's all my fault. I ruined her life. If I hadn't been reckless, the guys wouldn't have been kicked off the team and Whitey wouldn't have put you on the team and I wouldn't have met Haley, ruining both of our lives."
Lucas sat silent for a moment, surprised by the outburst. It wasn't anything new, but usually he was drunk. And normally, he'd just hear him out and not argue when Nathan blamed him for his broken heart. But never before had he blamed himself. "Did you ever think, maybe you were meant to be together?"
"Are you trying to say that I was supposed to ruin Haley's life?"
"No, I don't think anyone's life has been ruined, just their path altered. But I do think you would've still met Haley. The two of you were meant to be."
Nathan looked at his, skeptical, "How do you figure?"
"The two of you are so in love. That's not an accident. Your grades really did suck before Haley. Maybe Whitey would've made you go to tutoring."
"Yeah, but the only reason Haley agreed to tutor me was so I'd leave you alone. If you hadn't been on the team, she wouldn't have had a reason."
"But she also wouldn't have had a valid reason not to."
"You really think we're meant to be?"
"Yes Nathan," Lucas gave a small smile of reassurance, while laughing on the inside. Nathan was just like a sad little kid when his true feelings came barreling out. "Now, why don't you go home, get some rest, and call Haley in the morning."
"Just let me go in and kiss Natalie goodnight first."
Lucas panicked, "Okay, sure." Going inside he loudly announced, "You go kiss your daughter Nate, I'm going to rinse out her bottle."
Nathan came back, "She's sound asleep. Have Haley call me, would ya."
"Sure Nate, see you tomorrow." Lucas went into the bedroom, wondering where Haley had slipped off to. He sat on the bed, watching Natalie sleep, waiting for Haley to return.
Lucas woke up the next morning, hearing Natalie cry. Looking around, he saw he'd fallen asleep on the bed, waiting. He saw no sign that Haley had been back. That worried him some, but maybe she'd decided to go see Nathan.
Picking up Natalie he rocked her gently, "Where's your mama, huh baby?" slowly he walked into the kitchen and reached into the fridge for a bottle. He'd just put the bottle in some water to heat up when Nathan walked in the back door.
"Morning Luke," he reached out and took Natalie into his arms. "Hi baby," he whispered. "Is Haley still sleeping?"
Lucas looked at him, "She didn't come see you last night?"
"No. Was she supposed to?"
"No. I just thought, well, she didn't come back last night, so I just figured she was with you."
"She must've come over at some time, her car's gone."
"I don't think it's out front here either."
Still carrying Natalie he hurried to the front door and looked around, "You're right, it's not here." Holding Natalie tight, he looked at Lucas, "Where could she be?"
"I don't know Nathan. Why don't you go get Natalie her bottle, and I'll make some phone calls."
"Why does she always leave me Lucas?"
"She hasn't left you. We'll find her, don't worry." Lucas waited until Nathan was in the kitchen before calling Brooke.
"Lucas Scott! You better have a damned good reason for calling so early."
He slipped out onto the porch, "Have you seen Haley?"
"Not since yesterday afternoon at Nathan's."
"Would you look and see if her car happens to be outside?"
"What's going on Lucas?"
"Just do it, would ya?"
"Okay. Hold on a sec." Looking out the window she said, "It's not here Luke. Now will you tell me what's going on?"
"She's gone again Brooke."
"What do you mean gone?"
"Just that, she's gone. They had a fight at dinner, and she disappeared."
"What is it with those two? Let me guess. He said something dumb, and she ran away. Damn them."
"I know. Look, if you see her, call me. I'm going to call Peyton."
"Find her Lucas."
"Good morning Lucas."
"Morning Jake, I'm guessing I didn't wake you."
"No, but it is early. To what do we owe this early morning call?"
"It's more of a who. Have you seen Haley?"
"You mean since Brooke convinced us to kidnap her baby? No."
"Damn it. Where could she be?"
"She's not there?"
"No. Nathan's in the kitchen with Natalie, trying his hardest not to freak out."
"We'll find her Lucas. I'll have Peyton stay with Jenny, go recruit Mouth, and be over. Give me 30 minutes."
"Thanks Jake."
Meanwhile, Brooke was already on the phone with Mouth, "Morning baby."
Mouth looked at the clock, surprised, "You're up early."
"Thank our friends. One's missing, one's going crazy, and one's frantic trying to keep it all together."
"Let me figure out this riddle. Haley's missing, Nathan's going crazy, and Lucas is the one who called."
"I have the smartest boyfriend. Have I ever told you that?"
He smiled, "Not today you haven't. So what's going on with the Scotts?"
"I guess there was some big fight, and now Haley's MIA."
"She's here Brooke. Haley's not missing."
"She's there? Oh thank God. Why didn't you tell someone? Wait, should I be jealous? Your parents are gone this week, and you wouldn't le me stay," she pretended to pout.
"She came by late, and said she needed help." He paused, "She's an old friend. You're not mad are you?"
"Of course not baby. You were just being a good friend. That's what you do. But you also respect your girlfriend, and would never do anything to hurt her." Brooke smiled; she loved him so much, "Is she okay?"
"I think so. She's still asleep. We were up late talking. She's scared Brooke. I spent half the night trying to convince her not to slip of to Vermont, permanently."
"Don't let her leave. I want to talk to her. I'll be right over. See you in 10."
"In 15," he laughed. Walking to his older sister's bedroom he knocked on the door, "Haley? It's time to get up. We're going to have company."
Minutes later, Haley had dressed and walked into the living room, "Thanks for letting me stay here Mouth." Playing with the hem of her shirt she asked, "Who is it?"
"Who's who?"
"You know. Who's coming over? It's not Nathan is it?"
"No, it's not Nathan. But you're going to have to talk to him soon."
"I don't know if I can Mouth. Everyone says we're meant to be together. But everyone's wrong. We're not meant to be. We're just a couple of dumb high school kids who know nothing about love or life."
"Don't you dare day that Tutor-Wife."
Haley turned, "Brooke."
Broke slid up next to Mouth and kissed him lightly, "I told you it would be only 10 minutes," she whispered. "Now, what did I hear about you not being meant to be with Nathan?"
"We're not; just like you weren't meant to be with Lucas. Neither of us were meant to be with a Scott brother." Haley paused, "You found someone who better completes you Brooke. Now it's my chance."
"Don't say that Haley," tears started to stream down her cheeks. She jogged across the room to Haley and enveloped her in a hug. "You love hi, or you did once anyway. And God knows he loves you. You are meant to be together." Brooke put her friend at arms length, "And you believed that once too, when you married him."
"It won't last Brooke. All we seem to do is fight."
"People fight Haley, its normal."
"We haven't had a conversation in over a year that hasn't ended in a fight."
"You weren't fighting when we showed up yesterday."
There was a knock at the door, "I'll get it," Mouth said softly, "You two keep talking."
Haley looked at Brooke, "But our day ended in a fight. There will be no more fights, I won't let that happen. I'm leaving."
"Haley, no," Brooke pleaded, "talk to him."
"I told you, I can't. don't make this hurt anymore than it already does. Don't let Nathan come after me. And please help him keep our baby safe."
"You can't be serious. Think about what you're doing. You promised you were going to stay."
"I also promised forever. I guess I suck at keeping promises. Goodbye Brooke." She sprinted out the front door and past Mouth and Jake sitting on the porch steps.
"Haley?" Jake shouted as she got behind the wheel of her car.
The two young men, who were now standing watched the car drive away. Turning they saw Brooke in the doorway sobbing silently, "She's gone."
"Yeah, we saw that Brooke," Jake said, "It'll be okay."
"No, it won't. You don't get it. She's really gone. She asked me to help keep Natalie safe."
Mouth embraced Brooke and shared a look with Jake, "Who's going to tell Nathan?"
Jake shook his head, "I don't know. What I do know is that this is going to kill him."
Nathan sat on the bed, watching his daughter playing on the floor with Lucas. He'd been sitting there all morning, just waiting for her to come back. Lucas had been out looking for her most of that time, and had only just returned.
Nathan could tell that Lucas was trying to be optimistic for his sake, but they were silently sharing the same fear, that she might really be gone again.
Hearing the door click open he looked up, hopeful. Seeing his solemn looking friends, he fell back on the bed and closed his eyes.
Brooke, Peyton, Jake and Mouth crept into the room, their gazes shifted sadly from Nathan to Natalie to Lucas.
Peyton sat on the bed, "Hey."
Not opening his eyes he said, "So you were the one who drew the short straw huh?"
"Nathan…"
"It's okay Peyton. You don't have to say it," becoming choked up he continued, "I know she's gone. She's going back to Vermont. I have to go get her."
Brooke sat next to him and wrapped her arms around him, "Nathan, she asked me not to let you do that."
Mouth stood in the corner, his arms crossed, "I'm sorry Nathan. I should've called you after she fell asleep, but I thought she'd changed her mind about leaving."
Lucas looked at his two friends, "It's not your fault Mouth. She was here last night Nathan, when I laid Natalie down. I shouldn't have listened to her when she asked me to tell you she wasn't."
Nathan grabbed his coat, "It's nobody's fault but mine and Haley's. I have to find her. I don't care what it takes. I will find her. Please watch Natalie until I return." And with that he was out the door.
The five friends glanced at one another, and Peyton was the first to speak, "Will they ever be back together?"
Lucas looked at Natalie, "God I hope so."
Brooke sat silent, "I don't know. I want them back together as much as you guys do, but you didn't hear her this morning. She truly believes that they were two dumb high school kids, and that it will never work out."
Mouth sat next to her, "It was the same last night. When Nathan finds her, I fear it will only be to say goodbye."