Here we are with the last chapter...so many of you reviewed saying you were practically crying. I'm sorry. I didnt mean for you to be that sad but I guess if you were then it was really good...lol... but anyway heres the last chapter of Who You'd Be Today...enjoy.
"We are all gathered here today to say our goodbyes to Haley James. Haley was a good person who didn't get to live long enough. Her death was a tragedy to us all…." The priest went on.
Brooke couldn't handle it. People would be going up there to be talking about Haley but how many of them knew her. Haley wasn't a good person…she was a GREAT person. Who they hell did he think he was. Of course her death was a tragedy... This was all just too much for her to handle. She stood up and ran out of the church. Lucas, Nathan, Peyton and Jake all looked at each other before standing up and following her.
"Hey, baby. You ok?" Lucas said as he sat next to his girlfriend on the bench outside the church. These past couple days had been hell on everyone. Mostly Brooke and Nathan. They've seemed to bond more then him and Brooke but he knew not to interfere, whatever would help Brooke. And if that was Nathan then he was fine with it. They both knew Haley more…
"They know nothing about HER! They think they do. BUT THEY DON'T!" Brooke said as she wiped away the tears that came to her eyes.
"Your right Brooke. You're totally right. This place, and these people, are nothing but BS." Nathan said as he walked in front of her. "They don't know Haley. Only we do. So lets blow this joint and go somewhere else. It'll make you feel better. I promise, you and me will stop by the cemetery later." He said as he looked towards Lucas then stuck out his hand to Brooke. She looked around at her friends before looking up and Nathan then grabbed his hand and stood up.
"Alright, Nate. What are you up to?" Peyton asked as the 5 friends piled into Lucas' truck.
"First, how 'bout we go to the beach for a late lunch?" Jake said as he looked at Brooke and gave her a small smile.
"Yeah, Hales loved the beach." She whispered, as she looked towards Nathan then cuddled up to Lucas.
"The beach it is."
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"When Haley was diagnosed, we stayed up all night and talked about the future. About how we would live next to each other, and name our kids after each other. She promised me she would fight it and stay alive! And…she did." Brooke said as her friends listened. She was just starting to choke up. "When she started getting sick again and she told me it was the cancer…I was so scared. Then the doctors told her she wasn't going to live. You don't tell a 17 year old your going to DIE! Its…its, it wasn't fair. She never got to live her life. She'll never have kids or, or get married. Just like she said in the hospital. And I think she knew when she was 13 that she was gonna …die…. some day. But I wasn't ready for that day to come yet." Brooke said as she started sobbing. Lucas just held her close and kissed her hair as he looked over at Nathan to see him tearing up.
"Nate, you ok?" Peyton asked as he stood up.
"I'm sorry you guys…. Brooke. I…I gotta go." He said as he walked away.
"Luke…I'm sorry but I should really go find him. You understand, right?" She asked as he wiped her tears.
"Yeah, go make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." He said as she stood and walked away. Peyton, Lucas and Jake just sat there and prayed that their friends would be ok. But they knew it would take time…
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"I knew I'd find you hear." Brooke said as she sat next to Nathan on the ground. "You know if you talk, she'll hear you. She promised to always watch over us." Brooke said as she smiled a little at him.
"You wanna hear something funny. Haley made me promise not to forget her. Like I ever could." He said as he stood up. " I loved her a lot Brooke. Like you said. This just isn't fair. I wasn't ready for this day to come yet." He said as he kicked the tombstone. "God Dammit HALES! Why'd you have to go! I wasn't ready. Brooke wasn't ready. Luke, Peyt and Jake weren't. Most of all…YOU WEREN'T READY! WHY! Brooke? Why now? Why Haley?" he said as he collapsed back on the ground and tears slid down his face.
"Oh, Nate. We are going to be ok." She said as she hugged him. "It might not seem like it now, but we will…some day. I promise you. Also, I promised Hales her name would live on. SO in a couple years there WILL be another Haley running around." She said smiling up at him. He just let out a chuckle as he moved a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Haley was lucky to have a sister like you Brooke." He said smiling at her as he stood up.
"She was lucky to have a boyfriend like you." She said returning the smile.
"C'mon. Let me drive you home."
"Nah. I'll walk. I…uh…wanna talk to my sister." She said as Nathan bent down and hugged her.
"Were going to be ok." He said before walking away.
"So big sis. Alone at last. You know…when you first started dating Nathan I didn't understand what you could see in a guy like him. But over the past couple months. Hell the past couple years you were dating, he's really changed. He's a great guy, Haley. Ever since you've left he's been the only one who's really understood what I'm going through," She said as she started to cry. "Why was it you Haley? Why not me? Or someone else? I can't believe you're gone. These past couple days I've been waking up and going into your room expecting you to be there. Or sometimes I'll sleep in your room pretending your just out late with Nate and you'll be home soon. But your not, coming…home. Haley I can't handle it. I never really knew how much I needed you." She said as she started sobbing. "God! Haley! Nathan was right. I wasn't ready and neither were you. I wanted that beach house and our kids to grow old together. I WANTED TO GROW OLD TOGETHER!Were only 17. Your not supposed to DIE AT 17! You're supposed to be stressed out about what dress your going to wear for…prom or, or what college you wanna go to. Not which wig looks more like your real hair. Or, or if your wearing enough make up to hide the bags under your eyes. ITS NOT FAIR HALEY! IT JUST WASN'T FAIR!" She said sobbing as she hit the tombstone over and over again. "Its not fair. ITS NOT FAIR!"
"BROOKE! Brooke! Stop!" Lucas said as he ran up to his girlfriend and grabbed her bleeding hands. "What are you doing? Where's Nathan?"
"It's not fair Lucas. It's just not fair." She sobbed leaning into his chest as he held her close.
"I know. I know."
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"So I heard Brooke had a mental break down last night. But don't worry. She's fine now. She and Lucas talked. Me and her talked." Nathan said as he sat down on the ground. "She really misses you Hales. We all do. I do. Life without you…is really tough. You made me promise not to forget you. And I told Brooke I never could. But I never got to ask you not to forget me." He sighed as he wiped a tear away from his eye. "I really love you Haley. No matter how many people come into my life. Right now I don't even see anybody…but even if someone did…. I'll still never forget you. Cause you know what they say. You never do forget your first true love. I think you said that to me one time." He said as he chuckled. " I've been thinking about all our good times we've had over the past couple years and even if I knew back then that you were going to die now…I wouldn't give these years back for the world." He said as he let the tears fall. "I do remember everything you've said to me Haley. I'll never forget you or anything you've done. Brooke even made us both a tape of your song that night at TRIC. I listen to it every night. Your voice is actually what helps me sleep." He said as he stood up. " I love you Haley." He kissed his fingers and touched the grave before laying a white rose on the ground.
"…. I'll see you again someday…"
THE ENDA.N - Well that's it. That's the end. I hope you all enjoyed it! Thanks for reading it and giving it a chance! I really enjoyed writing it even though one of my favorite characters died. But that's how the song went so that's how I had to do it. But I hope you guys liked it anyway. Thanks for reading!
Lyl
-Kris