Title: Never Gone Author: D. Sollers
Summary: FIRST THREE CHAPTERS REWRITTEN- AU. Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott were high school sweethearts with their whole future ahead of them. The news of a baby drives the couple apart and years later they must come to terms with the present, the past and the future. Couple: It's BL in flashbacks, BL in the future but BN in the present. Hopefully you'll be able to follow (slight Naley implications and Jeyton as well)
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with One Tree Hill except for a few overly played DVDs and a poster of Chad Michael Murray, who at the present time I would like to throw darts at. So…another words don't sue me
Author's Notes: Thanks everyone who keeps sending in their reviews. To name a few: OTHRetard, Buffybabe42, dopeyde, othbaby08, tiggerluvsbroody, brodysgirl, fallie, honey1007, charoltte, and ms. piper halliwell.Also dopeyde: no, Naley were never married. The story is pretty much based roughly on the first season. Haley was Nathan's tutor in highschool, but they never got together. However, Lucas's obsession with Peyton never happened, and most of us would have been happy that way.
Thanks Amanda again, for getting me to update. I always need a little push in the right direction.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Not supposed to love you anymore
"Are you ready for this?" Brooke asked as she turned towards Haley. She nodded her head and stuck the key in the door. "I still don't see why you won't let me do it alone. So Nathan and Jake couldn't get out of work. I can pack up your stuff for you."
Haley opened the apartment door and walked inside. She flipped on the light and placed her keys on the table by the door just as she had done for the last three years for her life. "Brooke, I'm fine. Last night I realized something that I think I had forgotten," Haley smiled. Brooke crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow.
"Is this before or after you and Nathan ruined my kitchen curtains?"
Haley chuckled. "After. And sorry about your curtains, I'll buy you new ones I promise. But last night I realized that when I started dating Chris I had given up so much of my freedom. I forgot how to really have fun. And it's not like I was in love with him or anything."
Brooke's smile fell. "You were with him forever Hales."
"I loved him, hell I still do love him."
Brooke sat down on the neatly made bed and crossed her arms. "I don't understand. You still love him? You're not going to take him back are you Hales? Because the guy cheated on you once. You have no idea if that girl was the only one of if there are more…"
"I'm not taking him back. I just meant I love him, I'm not in love with him."
Brooke grinned from ear to ear and clapped her hands together in excitement. "This is perfect. Tomorrow's our girls night and you are single. So lets go to Tric and we can find you a boyfriend. That's if Peyton will ever answer her damn phone."
"She's still not calling you?" Haley asked, ignoring the fact that Brooke was insisting on finding her a boyfriend. Brooke shook her head no and sighed. "Well maybe she's busy. But Brooke I am serious- I DO NOT want a boyfriend right now. I am going to enjoy the single life for a while and besides I am working on a new album and I really won't have anytime."
Brooke groaned. "But Hales, don't you want to settle down? Get married like Peyton? Have a kid?"
"Sure I do," Haley smiled wistfully. Both were things that Haley had secretly wanted for a long time. But after her miscarriage she wasn't ready for another disappointment and she wasn't sure if she'd ever find someone she'd want to marry. "But I'm going to wait till it finds me Brooke. We can't all find our soul mates at 16."
Brooke looked at the ground sadly and Haley turned back to her. "I was referring to Peyton and Jake…Brooke I am sorry." Brooke nodded her head sadly and jumped off the bed. She walked towards the bookshelves and began taking down what she thought were Haley's books.
"Wow, is this…" Brooke's fingers found an old black photo album and she carefully pulled it off the shelf. She smiled as she ran her fingers over the engraved letters "TUTOR GIRL" and she opened it up. On the inside cover were their friends special notes to Haley when they had graduated high school. Brooke had put one together for all of the girls and even ones for the guys. She smiled as she ran her fingers over her own words and read them out loud.
Think of me ten years from now when you're on stage in front of your sold out crowd and remember I was the one to get your autograph first. I told Broody that you were going to be famous and what can I say? Brooke Davis is never wrong. It was always Peyton and I against the world and I was okay with that until now. From now on it's the six of us. And you're one of us now. I love you girl.
Her eyes quickly darted over everyone else's words and she landed on Nathan's. She wasn't sure why she had never noticed it before but as she read his words she couldn't help but wonder if the feelings Haley had once had for Nathan were just one-sided.
I graduated. Can you believe it Hales? And I know it's all thanks to you. I can't believe how much three years can change a person but I don't think time is what made me a better man. It was you. You taught me a lot these past few years and I don't think I will ever repay you. Do you know you're the only person that's gotten me to do this? Brooke says I am going to write in hers or she is going to have Lucas kick my ass. Whatever. Like he'd be able to anyways. We're in for one hell of a summer Hales.
Haley walked towards Brooke and glanced over her shoulder. Brooke had begun to read Lucas's words but it didn't stop Haley from looking at Nathan's. It had been such a long time since she had read those words and since she had even remembered about that summer.
So Haley James, what's your next move? You know mine. College life at Duke with Brooke right by my side. I still don't know what college you plan on going to. It's going to be weird all of us at Duke and you off traveling the world. But just remember you always have a friend in Tree Hill. I've known you since I was three years old and I don't think that I can imagine my life without you in it. Or Brooke's.
Brooke fumbled through the pages of the scrapbook and marveled at how the years hadn't ruined anything of it. It still looked as if she had just given it to Haley. The book had pictures of them as kids all the way through to their proms and quotes and movie tickets that Brooke had pasted together. When she turned to the last page she held her breathe as she saw the small 4 by 7 photo of her and Lucas being crowned prom king and queen. As she looked down at the picture, she could almost hear Mariah Carey's 'Don't forget about us' playing.
/flashback begins/
"And it's no big surprise here. Your prom queen is non other then Brooke Davis!"
The teacher put the crown on Brooke's head and Brooke turned to smile at Lucas. Lucas grinned down at her and reached out his hand. "I think you owe me a dance your majesty," he whispered into her ear. She put her hand into his and the students of Tree Hill high backed away so the queen and king could have their first dance.
Brooke shut her eyes and listened as Lucas sung the words into her ears. "Baby I must confess…we were bigger than ANYTHING…" Brooke smiled against his suit and Lucas continued to hum the rest of the song.
When the song came to an end, neither Brooke nor Lucas pulled away from each other. Brooke opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Our whole world's watching and all I see is you," he whispered.
"I love you Lucas."
Lucas leaned down and brought his lips to hers in a small kiss. When he pulled away he squeezed her hand. "I love you too…" he reached his hand and brushed it along her cheek, his fingers resting ever so gently. "Pretty girl."
/flashback ends/
"You were always so great at making these," Haley said bringing Brooke out of her memory. Brooke nodded her head and slammed the book shut. She walked it over to the bed and placed it inside Haley's suitcase before moving to Haley's nightstand. "Remember the one you made for me when I came back from tour? You had all the newspaper clippings in it and anything else you could find. It was the sweetest thing."
Brooke smiled. "Yeah well… I like to capture everything. Years from now when we're old and in a retirement center, they're will be proof that I actually looked young," Brooke teased. "Plus it's a good thing for kids to see. I saw some of my moms when I was younger and it helped me put pieces together of who my parents were."
"When's the last time you saw them?"
Brooke put Haley's notebooks into the suitcase and a few photo frames. "A year ago. They were in Paris having dinner and they saw something that reminded them of me. That's the last time I talked to them."
"Sorry."
Brooke shrugged her shoulders and zipped the suitcase up. After a little less then a half an hour, Haley's stuff was packed up. She had decided to let Chris keep the furniture and had only packed her necessities. "No big. I've made peace with that a long time ago. And I have Deb and Karen," Brooke smiled. She had been blessed to have both Lucas and Nathan's mothers support.
"And Dan," Haley grinned.
Brooke couldn't help but laugh. "Who could forget about Dan?"
……
"Chinese or pizza?" Jake asked as he reached for the phone. Jenny screamed pizza and Peyton yelled for Chinese. Jake turned towards Jenny and raised an eyebrow. "You think we can do Chinese tonight if I promise to take you for pizza tomorrow night?"
Jenny shrugged her shoulders. "Sure dad," she said before giving him a hug. "Besides, mom got me pizza for lunch anyways!" Jenny ran up the stairs and Peyton came into the kitchen.
"What movie are we watching babe?"
Peyton had grabbed a bunch and sighed. "I don't know. I picked a few of them and I figured I'd let Jenny choose. It's been a while since I've watched a movie with her."
Jake smiled at how good Peyton was to Jenny. It had to be weird, being the woman to help raise another woman's child. But not for Peyton. She had been there every step of the way since high school. He still couldn't believe his little girl was going to be thirteen. It seemed unreal to him. Brooke's daughter had barely turned ten. He smiled as he thought about how close Isabella and Jenny had become over the years. Jake wondered if the age difference would become a problem later in school but decided that whatever their problems were- Jenny would be able to handle them. Just like he had once.
Twenty minutes after he had placed the order the door bell rang and he went to answer it. Peyton and Jenny were both in the living room, having already put the movie in and chosen their spots. "Damn, that was fast!" Jake answered the door and opened his wallet but was confused to see Lucas standing there. "Luke!"
"Jake look I really need to talk to someone," Lucas said as Jake shut the door behind him and walked outside onto the porch. "I don't know who else to talk to. I can't really tell my mom and well I haven't seen anybody but you and Peyton. If I talk to Peyton nine out of ten I am going to get punched again and I don't want to…" Lucas ran off at the mouth.
Jake motioned for him to sit down on the two chairs and waited for Lucas to explain. "What's going on man? Did you talk to Brooke?" Jake asked as Lucas shook his head no. "Well, what is it?"
"I woke up this morning and I am leaving my old room and there is my mother on the front porch talking to my ten year old daughter who doesn't know me but I think it's possible she could hate me," Lucas said putting his head into his hands. "Maybe it's just best I go back to New York and just forget it altogether. I was stupid to think that I could just waltz in here and she was going to accept me back."
Jake wasn't sure what he wanted him to say. "You knew that coming here. It's not going to be easy Lucas, but your daughter will come around eventually."
"Will Brooke?"
Lucas had thought about that everyday since he had returned to Tree Hill and perhaps even before that and still he didn't know the answer. Jake shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know Luke. All I know is that your daughter's here and you're here and you need to make things right. But that's another day, how about some Chinese food and a really bad girly movie."
"Sounds great man. Sounds great."
……
"Who was better in basketball?" Isabella asked.
Nathan looked up from his newspaper. "Honestly? He was."
"Smarter?"
"Your dad."
"Funnier?"
"I was funny, your dad was sarcastic."
"Who had the most girlfriends?"
"I did. Your dad had your mom," Nathan smiled sadly. Back in the day he had been a real ladies man and Lucas had been the one with a loving woman by his side. He didn't even remember Lucas ever even dating anyone but Brooke.
"Who was hit on the most?"
"Your dad."
"What did mom do?"
Nathan laughed. "Your mom threatened anyone that went near him. There was a while there where she didn't talk to Peyton because she heard from someone that Peyton had called him cute."
"Totally mom."
Nathan smiled proudly. "Yeah, totally," he teased. She leaned into her uncle, something that over the last few years had become second nature to her and smiled at his memories of her parents.
"Were you and mom close?"
Nathan shook his head and sighed. "Your mom and I never really got along back then. At first I was dating Peyton and she was just my girlfriends annoying best friend. And then when we broke up she had become my brothers girlfriend. I never really thought much of her back then. And we know your mom didn't have eyes for anyone but your dad."
Isabella watched her uncle and for a moment felt sorry for him. She had known for years now that her mother and him had somehow managed to form a relationship. Isabella had constantly wondered what kind of relationship, they seemed more like brother and sister then they did boyfriend and girlfriend. She had also thought about how her dad would feel if he found out and had decided once that she didn't care. That whatever pain he felt, he deserved. But moments like this, it reminded her that no one deserved to be hurt.
"What about you and Haley?" Isabella questioned. She got up from the table and made her way to the counter waiting for her uncles response.
"What?" Nathan stammered. "What about me and Haley?"
"Well I know that you dated Peyton and then you two broke up and she got with Jake and then my mom and dad were like all exclusive… so what about Haley and you? Did you ever think of hooking up with her?"
Nathan was surprised that Isabella was even worried about him and Haley but still he felt his cheeks turn red. It wasn't everyday that someone brought up his past with Haley. Not that whatever they had once had would have ever been considered a past. Except for that summer. He shook his head and smiled a bit. "She was my tutor, princess."
"And she had a crush on you because you were like the high school jock. So did you have feelings for Haley?"
He wasn't sure how to put his feelings for Haley. Had it been a crush? Infatuation? There was a small voice in the back of his head that whispered over and over to him that he had been in love with her but he ignored it.
"Hales was amazing. She was the first girl that I genuinely liked. I was such a jerk back then and never treated any woman right. That's why Peyton and I broke up, luckily she found Jake. But Haley… she taught me things that I didn't know about. She didn't force me to become something I wasn't, she made me want to become something better than I was."
Isabella leaned against the counter and giggled. "So once upon a time you were totally in love with a rock star! Wait till I tell Jenny!" Nathan laughed at his niece and rolled his eyes. Perhaps maybe he had been. But that was then and this was now. And his heart was Brooke Davis'.
So why even as his niece disappeared from sight did the words "totally in love with a rock star," keep replaying in his mind?
……
Lucas stared at the ringing phone in the Jagelski's kitchen and groaned as it rang once more. Jake had gotten a business call a few minutes before and both Peyton and Jenny were in the master bathroom after Jenny had announced that she had experienced a girl problem. Lucas laughed picturing how grossed out Jenny was and how proud Peyton would be. But no one was answering the phone that had been ringing for the last five minutes and he was getting aggravated.
"Jagelski's," he said after deciding it would be okay for him to answer the phone. There was silence on the other end and then a familiar voice rang through the phone.
Brooke stammered. "Hello?"
Lucas took his mouth away from the phone and contemplated hanging up. He knew that if he did Brooke would either call back or drive over. "Jagelski's," Lucas said again. He decided his best choice was to pretend he hadn't heard her. That way she could think it was someone else.
"Is…" Brooke couldn't form the words. "Is Peyton there?"
Jake had entered the kitchen right as Lucas was wondering where to go next. He threw him the phone and then signaled it was Brooke. Jake's eyes widened, wondering whether or not their secret had been blown and threw up his hands.
"Hello? Oh hey Brooke. Peyton is upstairs with Jenny, can she call you back? Alright, I will tell her. Ok. Bye."
"What the hell man!" Jake said as he put the phone back on the hook and turned to look at Lucas. It was one thing to not go out of his way in telling Brooke that Lucas was back in town but it was quite another thing to lie to her.
Lucas sat down at the kitchen table and leaned back. "I couldn't just say it was me. She's going to be so mad at me Jake and hurt that I didn't go to see Isabella and her first."
Jake pretended her understood and Lucas couldn't help but think about Brooke's voice. She had sounded so confused and so hopeful all at the same time. It was as if she had known that it was him. But she couldn't possibly…
/flashback begins/
"Hi Broody."
"How'd you know it was me?" Lucas asked, smiling into the phone.
Brooke giggled. "I could feel it, we're connected. You said so yourself."
"Shut up. You saw it on your caller ID."
Brooke giggled again. "Maybe. Maybe not."
/flashback ends/
Brooke hung up the phone and sat down on her bed. She wasn't sure why her heart had started to beat fast, but whatever it was it had shaken her quite a bit. That voice had been so familiar. 'Jagelski's,' she shut her eyes trying to imagine who the voice sounded like and jumped off the bed when she realized who it was.
Brooke stared at the center of the table and watched as Lucas handed out the dare packets. The whole thing seemed stupid to her, but Felix had initiated it and Lucas was not backing down.
"Smith's."
Lucas threw the packet at Tim and Tim gave Fergie and Skills a high five. Brooke tapped her fingers waiting impatiently as Lucas called out the final names. "Scott, McFadden, Sawyer, James, Jagelski…" Lucas looked around the table and noticed that Jake had made his way out of the room. He turned to Peyton and tossed Jake's to her and smiled. "Jagelski's."
Lucas gave the last package to Brooke. "And here you go Pretty Girl," he said as she took the package from him. She smiled at his nickname before standing up and leaning into her boyfriends body.
"Prepare to lose."
Brooke's thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing and Brooke tried her best to regain her thoughts. There was no way Lucas was in town, let alone at Peyton's house. She had come to the conclusion that it was just one of Jake's work friends and that it had been only wishful thinking on her part.
'Yeah, wishful thinking,' she whispered to herself.
TBC...