And This Too Shall Pass
By: Sari
Summary: Post Season 2 Finale. The ones left behind spent a whole summer getting over their heart break. Now that summer's over, they find out that this too shall pass. P/L/H Friendship, LP, BL, and NH.
Disclaimer: Nope, I do not own One Tree Hill.
2: Where Things Become Awkward
Brooke hadn't gotten any sleep. After her run in with Lucas she had been wired, hoping that he would follow her into his old bedroom and they would talk like they used to. She knew it had been wishful thinking, but just for one moment she wanted things to be simple. Maybe a simple 'I'm sorry' and 'I love you' would fix what had transpired between them but that wasn't going to be the case. Not this time. Too much had happened in too little time.
She rolled out of bed to the sounds of Karen making breakfast. She smiled; at least some things didn't change. She had to admire Karen for still accepting her into her home. After the way she had described Lucas, Brooke wasn't sure if she was put in the same situation she would be as understanding as Karen was being.
She was ready for school in no time at all, amazingly enough, and made her way downstairs. Brooke almost gasped in surprise at the sight of Haley and Peyton laughing with Karen at the kitchen table. Brooke knew they were going to have to confront each other sooner or later but she didn't think it was going to be this soon.
"Lucas is that you? It's about time you got your lazy self down here!" Haley called up the stairs playfully. "Luke? Don't tell me you're sarcastic wit hasn't woken up yet."
"It's not Lucas." Brooke said softly stepping into the kitchen.
Haley's mouth dropped open. "Brooke."
"Yes, that's me." She quipped.
Brooke never saw someone's expression change so rapidly. First it was the playful look she probably had on for Lucas and then it went through betrayal, uncertainty, and anger before finally settling on neutral. "That's different." Haley said turning back to Peyton.
Brooke tried to hide the hurt of being brushed off so casually. Looking to Karen she smiled at the older woman. "So Karen, what's for breakfast?" She said in a shoddy attempt at sounding cheerful.
"Pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon." Karen said giving her a reassuring look. "A breakfast fit for the first day of school."
Brooke made a plate and sat down at the circular table. "So, Hales, have you talked to Nathan?"
Haley stopped her rapid conversation to look at Brooke. "No, we haven't talked since summer let out. I wrote him but he didn't answer, sort of like what you did to Lucas." Haley remarked.
"Look Haley…" Brooke started.
Haley just shook her head smiling tightly. "I don't want to talk about it Brooke. It's the first day of school. Let me enjoy it before you and Nathan ruin it eventually okay?"
Lucas came down the stairs at that moment and Brooke could tell that he could feel the tension between herself and Haley. "Peyt…Hales, why don't we go?" He asked.
"No breakfast Luke?" Karen protested.
He shook his head. "I'm not that hungry." Brooke thought he wasn't going to acknowledge her presence at all but he looked straight at her and smiled. "Brooke I'll see you at school."
She nodded. "Yeah, at school."
"God what was up with her?" Haley complained as they all climbed out of Peyton's car.
"I think she was just trying to be nice." Peyton said giggling. "It really isn't as foreign of a concept as you're making it out to be Hales."
"And she called me Hales too." Haley said disgusted. "She lost that right when she broke my best friend's heart."
"I don't think you're the issue at hand Hales." Peyton reminded her. "Luke, how are you taking it?"
Lucas shrugged, holding the door to the school open for them. "I don't know how to take it. I thought that I'd be able to be around Brooke and not feel all the hurt from the beginning of the summer but it's really hard, and now that she wants to talk things over I just don't want to do it anymore."
"Do what anymore?" Peyton asked cautiously.
Lucas closed his eyes. "Love her anymore. If someone really loved you they wouldn't leave you thinking otherwise for such a long period of time. I didn't even expect an answer, I just wanted her to give me a sign that we could at least still be friends and she didn't do that Peyt. She left me hanging and thinking that she pretty much hated me. It hurts too much to be in love with Brooke and her insecurities. I know I screwed up bad with her, but I didn't deserve that." His voice was soft and choked with emotion.
"Hey…" Haley said pulling her two friends into a secluded corner of the school. "You're not a bad guy Luke, you never deserved anything like that and frankly Brooke's proved that she doesn't deserve you. I know you love her and if you decide that you want to put your heart through that again and be with her I'll support you, but if you decide against it just know that we'll be there for you through that too. Peyt and I are on your side this time Luke, we love you."
Luke smiled. "I love you guys too. Thank you Hales. Thank you Peyt."
Haley noticed the tall figure of her husband walking down the hallway towards them. "Now if I could just take my own advice." She muttered.
"Hales it's not the same thing." Lucas immediately said, his eyes landing on his brother. "You and Nathan have true love. Don't throw that away, he was hurting and he was stupid. You know that and I know that. Fight for him, fight for your marriage."
"Thanks for the words of encouragement Luke, but I don't think we can survive this." Haley said eyes tearing up. "Not after this summer. I've changed too much, I'm not the sweet girl he fell in love with anymore."
Peyton wrapped an arm around Haley. "And he's not the bastard you fell in love with anymore. Love changes, it evolves just like people do. So go after him okay?"
Peyton pushed their friend towards Nathan as soon as he passed by. Lucas and Peyton chuckled to themselves as their friend collided straight into Nathan.
"Think we did the right thing?" Peyton asked Lucas.
"Yeah, I think it's the best decision we made all summer." Lucas said grinning. "One of us has to come out happy.
"You'll be happy again one day." Peyton says squeezing his shoulder. "Brooke isn't the only girl there is."
Nathan heard, more than felt Haley fall into him. She was cursing Lucas and Peyton who were laughing at her. He quickly steadied her and then stepped backward.
"Hey Haley." He greeted her simply. There was so much he had to say to her. So many things they needed to talk over and explain to each other. He knew now, after months away that he had been wrong in so many ways when it came to their relationship once Chris had come onto the scene.
He had been hurt and jealous and instead of talking about it he had hidden behind accusations. Now that he was finally acting like a man he needed to confront those feeling and hopefully, he'd get Haley back in the process.
Haley smiled shyly. "Hi Nathan, how was High Flyers?" She asked.
He shrugged. "It was a good experience. I needed it at the time." He said carefully.
"I think everyone needed it." Haley said nodding. "It must have opened a lot of doors for you, with the talent scouts and all."
"A lot of guys from universities were there. I told them about Lucas and they're interested in him as well."
"That was nice of you to do." Haley said smiling. "Lucas really had it rough while you and Brooke were gone."
"Yeah, my dad for one, have you guys been to see him yet?'
"Lucas has, I really didn't want to go. I think the fact that I'd rather see Dan Scott dead would be bad for his recovery." Haley said truthfully.
Nathan laughed. "Yeah, probably." He gave her a genuine smile slowing to a stop in front of her classroom. "This is your stop right?"
She nodded, peering in the classroom and seeing Peyton already waiting for her. "Yup, this is me. It was really good talking to you Nathan." Haley said.
"Yeah…do you think we could talk about us?" Nathan asked cautiously.
"Eventually, but not now okay? Let's just try being friends first."
Haley gave him a smile devoid of any malice from how they left things just a few months earlier before stepping into class.
Nathan couldn't do anything but smile as well. He and Haley were going to be okay. He knew it now with that one look she gave him, they would eventually be okay.
Lucas sighed as he walked into his English class and saw Brooke. Of course with his amazing luck the only empty seat was next to her. He had a strange feeling she had planned for it to be that way.
Sighing again, he sat. He put his stuff away and settled into his seat to listen to the droning on that all teachers inevitably did the first day of school. Not five minutes later a folded piece of paper landed on his desk.
I'm sorry, it read.
I'm sorry too, but sorry can't fix everything Brooke, he wrote back.
I love you. It may have took me two months to figure it out but I love you, Brooke wrote.
You broke my heart
And you broke mine, but I'm still here asking for your forgiveness.
We can't go back to what we used to be, not after this summer. It took you forever to even begin to trust me again Brooke, now it's your turn.
I'm willing to wait forever for you Lucas. I'm not going to give up on you.
I want you to move on; I can't give you a time when I'll be ready. I don't even know if I want to be ready.
Don't say that. A second chance is all we need.
We had a second chance. Maybe this just wasn't meant to be.
Lucas watched Brooke's face. It seemed to crumple and he closed his eyes not wanting to be the cause of her pain once again. He felt good though, letting her go was the right thing to do, his heart was too conflicted to deal with…them.
The note landed on his desk again. The once pretty script was not smudged from what he assumed were tears.
Maybe what we had was destructive, and maybe what we had only caused us pain, but all I know is that I love you and I don't want to be with anyone but you. I know I hurt you, and I know you're afraid. I was afraid too when I left for California. I'm not afraid anymore Lucas, I know what I want and what I want is you. I'll fight for you for as long as it takes for you to realize that what you want is me.
Lucas sighed and glanced at Brooke. She smiled at him, the tears now dried and the look in her eyes determined.
Yes, he was in definitely in trouble.
A/N: Thanks for the encouraging reviews! Reviews make me right faster!
To my reviewers: Most likely this story is going to end up a Leyton but already you guys can see that Brooke is going to fight for Lucas so it's going to have a lot of one-sided and reciprocated Brucas. You'll just have to see!