Two Lives Collide (Chapter Two)
TWO HOURS LATER
Haley sighed as she stopped to catch her breath. Her medicines always made her more tired. She was at the front desk of the ER near the entrance. "Are you alright, Miss James?" A nurse asked. Haley smiled as she nodded.
"Just catching my breath," she replied. The ER doors slid open and two people walked through the doors. Two people that Haley never expected to see again. One had tears streaming down her face and the other stopped and pulled the other to him. Haley could barely believe that it was him. But it was.
"Brooke, I'm sure she's fine," he said soothingly. Then, he looked up at her. His entire face was white with shock.
Brooke looked at Haley through her tears and her face practically mirrored Lucas', as she said, "But what if she's not?" Since Haley hadn't seen or spoken to either of them in nine years and they looked just as surprised to see her as she was to see them, she guessed she wasn't who they were talking about.
"Haley?" Lucas said hesitantly.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Brooke asked angrily. Haley flinched at her tone.
"I was about to ask you two the same thing," Haley replied. Brooke scoffed.
"We are Peyton's real friends. The people she needs with her at a time like this," Brooke replied. Lucas saw Haley's face cloud with confusion.
"Peyton's here?" she said carefully. Then, her face went wide with alarm as she digested Brooke's words. "What happened to Peyton?" Haley asked.
"She was in a car accident. Isn't that why you're here?" Lucas asked. Haley shook her head.
"No, I'm a… Is she ok?" Haley said. Now that Lucas got a look at Haley, he was shocked. She looked very pale and tired. She was also leaning onto a pole that had a bag filled with fluid attached to it. The bottom of the bag had a tube that was attached to Haley's wrist. Then it clicked. It was an IV. He was about to explain when he noticed Nathan down the hall. Lucas didn't want his brother to see Haley. He didn't think Haley would want to see Nathan either. He grabbed Brooke by the hand and started to walk towards Nathan, but it was too late.
A woman, who had just walked into the ER, yelled, "Haley James!" Lucas saw Nathan freeze and then he searched for Haley. Lucas and Brooke turned around to see that the woman was none other than Taylor James. Taylor walked over to the desk and Haley turned to face her sister. Taylor shook her head at Haley. "You look awful," Taylor said.
"Gee, thanks," Haley replied. Nathan's heart plummeted as his eyes finally found Haley after he heard Taylor say her name. She did look awful. She looked pale beyond recognition and tired.
"Lisa called me and told me you might need some company. How could you not tell me that you were back here?" Taylor asked. So Haley was a patient. Haley sighed. She was about to answer. She turned around and she froze as her gaze locked with Nathan. Taylor looked at Nathan in shock. "Nathan, what are you doing here?" Taylor asked.
"Peyton was hit by a car, Tay. I imagine that's why he's here," Haley said. Taylor's face went slack at the news.
"Is she ok?" Brooke asked. Nathan shook his head.
"Not at the moment. But the doctors are working on her right now," he said.
"Let's go see her," Brooke said.
"Do you guys mind if Taylor and I come? I want to make sure she's ok," Haley asked carefully. Lucas and Brooke looked to Nathan. Nathan shrugged. Lucas nodded. Taylor went to grab a wheelchair. She wheeled it over to Haley and motioned for her to sit. Haley groaned. "Tay, I don't need that. Put it back," Haley said. Taylor shook her head.
"You look like you're going to drop any second. Sit or you're going back to your room," Taylor said. Haley sighed. She sat down in the wheelchair as Taylor hooked her IV pole to the wheelchair.
"Nurses aren't usually so mean," Haley joked. Taylor laughed.
"Well, I am one-of-a-kind," she said.
As they were walking down towards were Peyton was, Lucas asked, "So, you're a nurse now, Taylor?" Taylor nodded.
"Yes, I am. At this very hospital," she said.
Nathan asked, "How long?"
"Two years," she replied. They walked over to Jake. Jake's smile faltered when he saw Haley. He looked at Nathan questioningly.
"It's a long story," Nathan said. Lucas filled him in on the situation.
"What's wrong with her?" Jake asked. Lucas shrugged.
"How's Peyton?" Brooke asked. Jake sighed.
"She's stabilized. She just went into surgery," Jake said.
"Well, my shift starts in a few minutes, Haley. Do you want me to take you back to your room?" Taylor asked. Haley shook her head. "Ok. Well, I'll come see you on my break," Taylor said. The others sat down in the chairs that were against the wall. Haley wheeled herself beside the last chair which was the one Nathan sat down in. They sat in silence.
"Peyton has to be ok," Jake said. Brooke nodded in agreement. "
I'm sure she'll be pull through. They wouldn't bring her to surgery so quickly if they didn't think she would," Haley said knowingly.
"Haley, what are you doing here?" Brooke asked after a few minutes.
"I'm waiting for news about Peyton. You said you didn't mind," Haley said. Brooke shook her head.
"No. What are you doing in the hospital?" she asked. Haley smiled.
"I'm a patient, obviously," she replied. She knew that's not what Brooke meant either, but she couldn't help but say that.
"Miss James?" a nurse asked. Haley looked up at her.
"Hey, Tina," Haley said. Tina smiled.
"It's time for your treatment," she said. Haley sighed. She took the breaks off the wheelchair and let Tina drive her.
