At The End of The Day
Authors Thoughts: In this chapter I ask you to suspend your knowledge of college basketball if you have any. I don't know if Duke could end up facing the team that they do or whether the team would travel by bus or plane. I opted for bus because the road trip fit better so pretend along with me even if that's not realistic. Basically I'm asking you to ignore any glaringly obvious things that don't fit. Pretend it does. Anyways aside from that this is a pretty important chapter. Somebody finally wakes up and smells the coffee.
Chapter 16"But if you're always looking for reasons not to be with somebody...you always find them and I guess at some point maybe you should give your heart what it deserves" –Keith Scott, One Tree Hill
March is the most insane time of the year for college basketball. It's referred to as "March Madness" and it's a tournament where the best of the best duke it out in single games, one chance to move forward. Lose a game and you won't come back the next day. That was how it was for all the teams. Eventually they dwindled down to the "Elite Eight" and the "Final Four" and finally two teams after all that winning have to play one more game to see who wins it all. It was a place Duke tried to get to every year but even when they didn't make it all the way, they were always, always a part of the March Madness.
That was the main reason both Scott boys were busier than ever and had barely any free time at all. The coach wanted a full concentration from the boys on solely their games and schoolwork and so both Haley and Brooke had been seeing very little of them. Therefore whenever they got the chance they all hung out, and any time they could make it to one of the games they went.
That was where they were now, sitting in the stands cheering them on. Lucas and Brooke's relationship was on the rocks and the truth was not even Brooke knew exactly where they were at in their relationship, or what their status was. Basketball just took up more and more time away from them sitting down and having a decent, long conversation. The issue with Peyton wasn't really the issue anymore, it was just one of many things they needed to talk about. Communication was lacking, and Brooke didn't know where it was all going, but she still supported Lucas in his games as enthusiastically as Haley did. Even if they weren't good friends with the boys they'd probably still come to games considering the whole student body did. Tickets always went fast especially this time of the year and the whole school was in basketball mania. Duke had made it to the Final Four and they were playing for a chance at the championship game. Lucas hadn't left the floor all night and Nathan was in there regularly, not having stepped off it during the fourth quarter.
It'd been a tough game but they won in the end, and Duke was on its way to the championship game. The crowd was gathering on the court congratulating the players as reporters made their way to the players as well. Brooke grabbed Haley's hand dragging her to the sidelines and Haley watched as a reporter came up and interviewed Nathan on the other side of the court. She couldn't hear what they were saying but she saw the smile on Nathan's face as he talked and she realized he meant it when he said he wanted to play professionally. That was such a risk, to want to do something like that and fight for it even though it might not ever happen. It wasn't that she doubted Nathan's ability, but to work so hard for that goal, he'd be crushed if it didn't happen for him. That was one of the things she liked about Nathan though, he had faith and believed in himself. She did too for the most part, but sometimes she was more inclined to do what was expected of her rather than what was right for her. Then again her life was different from Nathan's. She needed a steady career so she could make her own money and not end up financially dependent the way her mom had. She couldn't afford to want some extravagant career but even if she could she was happy about teaching that wasn't the problem. It was something steady, and something she'd never be out of a job in, and something that she enjoyed and wanted to do. It was stable and practical. A career in basketball was far from that. Nathan would have an erratic schedule between home and away games. His life would be on display for the media if they so chose it to be. He'd be criticized and analyzed by sports announcers everywhere, and he'd have to play on a team wondering if they'd ever trade him and make him up and move to a completely different area of the country. Professional sports wasn't practical, but she could see that Nathan wanted it anyways.
He wouldn't let practicality get in the way of what he wanted.
Brooke tugged on Haley's elbow regaining her attention. "Looks like they're going to be too busy for us to congratulate them now, we'll do it later," she shrugged. "How about coffee?" Brooke smiled simply and just as Haley was about to agree her eye caught sight of one of the cheerleaders coming up to Nathan, eyelashes batting, smile wide, and extending her arms for a hug which Nathan politely returned. Haley's eyes squinted trying to see behind the people that were crossing the gym blocking her view and her arms crossed over her chest.
"Who is she?" Haley asked in a tone that had Brooke grinning once she looked in the same direction as Haley and saw what she was referring to. "One of the freshman cheerleaders…Sandy something-or-other…why?" Brooke eyed Haley studying her carefully.
"Just wondering, God she so rolled that skirt up look at the rest of them none of them have their skirts that short…"
Brooke bit back a smile. Haley was going green-eyed with jealousy and she didn't even realize it.
"You know you're right," Brooke placed an arm around Haley's shoulders, "And my, my would you look at how she's fawning all over Nathan? Hmm I think she likes him." Brooke smiled to herself, hoping to get the reaction she wanted from Haley as she chose her words carefully.
"Pffft, what would he ever see in her? Ew she's wearing enough flashy make-up that I can see it all the way from over here," Haley scoffed her tone irritated with the peppy girl whose attention to Nathan was clearly not pleasing her.
"Well she might not be his type," Brooke shrugged, "But I don't really know that kind of stuff about him…what kinds of girls are his type and whatnot…but even if she is what does it matter to you too?"
"Because! I don't want him dating her!" Haley's voice raised a little bit and Brooke had no doubt left in her head.
"You don't want him dating any girl…"
Haley's eyes finally tore themselves away from the scene to meet Brooke's, "That is not true. He can date whoever he wants I'm not his mother. I just think he's too smart for and can do better than giggling cheerleaders that's all."
"Right," Brooke smiled as she began to lead Haley back up the stairs to leave the arena, "That's all."
Lucas and Nathan sat back on the bus seats trying to relax into them as the bus began to ride north. The festivities had lasted long into the night and this morning the whole team had to get on a bus to start the road trip. Duke would be facing UConn in the finals and Nathan was excited seeing as how they'd be there for a whole week, culminating in the championship game on the weekend. He'd get to be back in Connecticut, which he hadn't seen since the fall considering Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks his parents came down to North Carolina. He was glad that he'd get to see his parents and not to mention all his old high school friends who'd gone there.
"Oh by the way," Lucas broke into Nathan's thoughts, "I saw Brooke this morning before we left she said Haley says sorry she couldn't see us off but she had a presentation she couldn't miss."
"Yeah I know she left me a message," Nathan smiled. It was nice for Lucas to see Nathan smiling again when her name was brought up. He'd almost begun to lose hope that would ever be the case again. But much to his contentment Haley and Nathan had made up on Valentine's Day, and it was almost fitting when he thought about it. There was one thing Lucas wasn't quite sure of yet though and his curiosity along with long hours ahead provided a great medium for discussion.
"So you and Haley haven't gotten into any other fights have you?" he started.
Nathan shook his head, "No we're good again. We're talking and we're friends again. I'm happy." Nathan closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the seat wanting to go to sleep, but Lucas was in a talkative mood.
"So what happened to those feelings you had for her?"
Nathan's eyes opened up again immediately as he turned to face Lucas who'd taken the window seat. He let the surprise at the question slip from his eyes and simply shrugged, "Not only did that ship sail, it was never going to dock anyways. I'm not her type Luke and that's ok. I'm over it." He stated the words and leaned his head back once more, his eyes closing again.
"That's it? You got over her just like that?"
Nathan sighed at the incessant questioning, "It's not like that. It was just our time apart made it easier for me to forget about her even though I was always thinking of her anyways. And when we became friends again I realized how much I missed that you know? And it's fine with me if that's all we are I mean I'm not going to pine after her forever you know? There are other fish in the sea. Haley and I can be just friends."
Lucas was surprised at the conviction with which Nathan spoke. Clearly he'd made up his mind about the whole situation. That was a good thing in a lot of ways because he supposed that way Nathan wouldn't end up hurt again, but on the other side of things it was almost as if Nathan was jaded. Like even if he did still have buried feelings for Haley he was keeping them buried and in a way giving up on the possibility. He was protecting himself from getting hurt again. Brooke had told Lucas about why she thought Nathan had gotten so upset and it made sense, the pieces of the puzzle fit and Lucas couldn't blame Nathan for trying to forget Haley. The problem was that he didn't know if Nathan could really do that. As far as Lucas knew Nathan had never fallen for a girl the way he had Haley, so could he really just put that past him and be all buddy-buddy with her? He wasn't sure that he believed that, but deciding it was best to drop the subject, and feeling exhausted himself Lucas too leaned back in his seat and like Nathan, tried to fall asleep.
Haley and Brooke stared at the TV in disbelief as the sound of the final buzzer emitted through the speakers.
Duke lost.
One game, and it didn't matter how close they'd gotten, Duke had lost and UConn was celebrating victory on its home court.
"Great, now campus is going to repeat that same depression of two years ago," Brooke sighed stretching across her place on Haley's bed.
Haley got up from her place on the carpet floor to lower the volume on the TV, "Well that year we didn't make it to the finals and this year we made it but lost. What do you think stings worse?"
Brooke shrugged, "Ask all the students who are currently on their way to try to get drunk and forget."
"I know right," Haley laughed dryly rolling her eyes, as she knew Brooke was right. Half the campus was going to be drunk by the end of the night, but had Duke won, they'd still have gotten drunk, it was what they did.
Looking back at the TV something caught Haley's eye, "Unbelievable."
Brooke, whose head was facing the opposite side of the room propped on a pillow, mumbled a reply, "I know I thought for sure they'd win it."
"No not that look!" Brooke lifted her head and turned it around to find Haley pointing at the screen, specifically to that same cheerleader lingering around the Duke basketball team, specifically around Nathan. "Geez does she have nothing better to do than to follow him around?"
Brooke laughed, "Relax they're just friends Miss I'm-Jealous," she joked truthfully.
Haley turned around to face Brooke her mouth hanging open, "I am not jealous!"
Brooke just couldn't take this anymore and she chucked her pillow at Haley's head.
"Ow Brooke what the hell?"
"Would you PLEASE stop being 5 years old and just admit it already."
"Admit what?"
"That you like Nathan. Not as a friend, not as a best friend, but as more than that. Like in the you like-him-like-him sort of way."
"I…"
"Haley do not deny this anymore I'm sick of it," Brooke's voice rose, "You wouldn't be this jealous of Miss. Short-Skirt if that wasn't the case and that's just the cherry on top Haley. The fact that you like Nathan is the most obvious thing since…" she paused, "I don't even know since what but the point is you like him Haley and do not tell me you don't and do not tell yourself you don't because the game's getting old. You like him Haley and I don't see what's so wrong about that, that you can't even admit it to yourself."
Brooke finally stopped talking and bored into Haley's eyes with her own daring Haley to disagree with what she had just said. Haley's mind was spinning. Brooke had never been this upfront with her about anything and despite her own personal doubts she trusted Brooke's instincts. What Brooke usually saw was usually true.
Haley sighed in defeat, she'd been fighting it for weeks, maybe even months, but she couldn't hide or lie anymore, not to herself and not to Brooke. She liked Nathan.
"Well it doesn't matter," she told Brooke quickly getting up and beginning to sort through the papers and mail on her desk.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"
"Because even if I do like him it doesn't mean he likes me…"
"Ugh Haley! I told you Nathan liked you!" Brooke whined, she felt like she was explaining this stuff to a 5 year old that kept forgetting.
"That was a long time ago," Haley turned to face Brooke, "IF he ever did feel that way and that's a big IF because a part of me thinks you're just exaggerating your gut instincts, it doesn't mean he still feels that way. Besides we're friends Brooke and I don't want to lose that."
Haley took in a deep breath facing her desk once again as Brooke got up off the bed and went over to stand next to her.
"How many serious relationships have you had in the time that I've known you Hales?" Brooke questioned in a soft voice.
Haley turned to face Brooke sharply not believing her friend had just thrown that in her face. "Maybe I haven't had a serious relationship but one of yours ended with you heartbroken and the other one is currently wilting and in between the two you just had a lot of random sex." Haley didn't like her own tone of voice, but Brooke's question had been a low blow to her.
Brooke reacted to Haley's statement with a flash of hurt in her eyes that quickly went away as a smile spread on her face, "I must have hit a nerve for the Haley James claws to have come out in full force. The defensive Haley James claws might I add."
Haley didn't answer, Brooke knew her too well. Brooke was making this moment one of confrontation for Haley, confrontation with herself.
"I didn't say it to hurt you Haley but it's true. I know that you're looking for Mr. Right, but something's keeping you from giving guys a chance. Perfectly good guys might I add, like Kevin."
"Kevin and I didn't have any chemistry like that."
"No but you have to admit he's right up your alley. Nice normal job in mind for the future, a guy who wants to start a family and who has values, blonde and green-eyed. He's totally your type and you gave him a chance for one date."
"Yeah and turns out we weren't good together, not like that."
"Exactly, but you still gave him a chance didn't you? And I've seen you do that time and again, going on one-date-and-your-out with tons of guys but none of them never amount to anything."
"What's wrong with my not wanting to settle?" Haley interrupted, "I don't have to go for the first male that shows up in front of me."
"And I'm not saying you should. I'm saying you gave all those guys a chance but you won't even consider the possibility with Nathan. Why not Haley? Are you afraid that if you give him a chance you might find the real thing there? Is that what's scaring you?"
"Brooke…" Haley shut her eyes steadying her hands on the desk, as her head swirled with thoughts and Brooke's words that were hitting all too close to home.
"Because I think you're scared of something Haley, and I don't know what of or why…"
"We're so different Brooke," Haley looked up at Brooke opening her eyes to reveal glistening tears. "And he's young, I don't think he's ready for the kind of commitment that I'm looking for, or that he wants it rather."
"You don't know that Haley, you're not giving him a chance to tell you, or not tell you, that. And young? The boy does not look it at all and he's so mature Hales, God he's more mature than Lucas some days."
Brooke laughed and Haley answered her with a slight smile of her own, her eyes still shining.
"What if it didn't work out Brooke? Then I'd lose a friend...and there's a good chance it wouldn't work out, we're so different," she repeated.
"How? Tell me what's so different and you already played the age card so you can't use that one," Brooke crossed her arms defiantly challenging Haley.
"Like, I don't know…basketball. He's so devoted to that sport and he wants to go pro and he probably will because he's so good at it and that means a lot of traveling and stuff and I just always imagined something else. I imagined the whole family at home everyday. And let's see…we're both from such different backgrounds. He comes from an upper class happy family and I was raised by a single parent, saving every penny. Those kinds of situations shape who you are Brooke and while it may not seem like a big deal now those are the kinds of things that can really affect a relationship…"
"Why Haley? It doesn't affect your friendship but it would affect you guys if you decided to be more than friends? I don't get that."
"I'm not saying it would!" Haley's voice rose, "But it could."
"Yeah and Nathan could hurt himself playing and have to have a regular career. And I could cross the street tomorrow and get run over by a bus. And Lucas could decide he wants to be with Peyton not me," she ranted exasperated.
"Brooke come on..."
"No Haley it's true. I love Lucas ok," her voice choked up, "But at this point I don't know if we're going to make it we've just been so distant for a long while now. But that doesn't mean I would give it all back, because it really is better to love and lose than to never love at all I think."
Haley had moved to sit on the bed and Brooke moved to sit down beside her, lowering her voice to almost a whisper, "So yes, you and Nathan could try and it could not work out," Haley lifted her head to look at Brooke. "Or it could be the best thing that ever happened to you."
Haley swallowed in a deep breath as she listened to her words.
"Don't be afraid Hales. You're my best friend and I just want what's best for you and I've seen the way you smile when he's around. He makes you happy Haley and I think he has the potential to make you even happier. So come on, enough of reasons why you two wouldn't make it. Instead give me one good reason why you two could make it."
"Because he listens to rap music," Haley answered her and Brooke's eyes narrowed.
"What?" a laugh escaped her lips.
"Because Nathan likes rap music and it's always on when I get in the car and I can't stand it so he lets me change it to whatever I want. But sometimes I let him listen to it and it's like he likes rap music and I don't. He's tall and I'm short. He can put a ball through a hoop with ease but I get winded just from running to class. He hates Calculus and I love it. He didn't even want to come to Duke at first whereas it was my first choice. Because I freak out when I have to hand in something graded or take a test while he sits there laid-back and relaxed. Because God Brooke he likes rap music whereas I can't stand it but that's just it…he compliments me in every way and I need him to calm me down when I overreact to things. And when he's not around I miss him more than I would if I only liked him as a friend."
Haley finished talking and Brooke smiled putting her arm around Haley and pulling her into her side, "I only asked you for one reason," Brooke winked.
"But I'm glad you finally see it, now all you have to do is tell him."