Thanks for the reviews guys. I can't say enough how much I enjoy getting them. Hopefully, I'm doing better with the updating thing since I have some ideas for what I want to do next. Lucas and Peyton are going to be on non-speaking terms for a while because I don't want them to just "kiss and make up." But stick with it because personally, I love writing them arguing. That's horrible of me to say, but I love it. So much comes out. So I hope you enjoy these next few updates since this fic will probably be coming to an end in about 3-6 chapters.

Love, Emily



"You wanted to see me, coach?" He knew what was coming, but he didn't want to believe it.

"You want to explain what these are?" Whitey placed a small tube a little less than halfway full of its original contents, the same one Peyton had found just nights earlier. "Or should I just bring Haley in here to tell me everything? Thank god someone has some damn sense for you since you seem to lack it!"

"Maybe they're Haley's pills."

"Haley come on in here…" Whitey stared Lucas down as the brunette walked into the office to face Lucas. "You want to try that again? Lying to me isn't your best choice, Lucas because if you don't tell me, I'm sure your mother would love to."

Lucas eyed them both, switching between the two before looking down at the small bottle of pills in front of him. He was caught, this was it, and he struggled to find the words, "I have a heart condition." He saw Whitey's expression soften, and his arms dropped simultaneously. "And this is exactly why I didn't want to tell you…" He backed up away from the two of them, his arms thrown above his head as Whitey called after him. He ceased once the door slammed and turned his attention back to Haley who had tears silently falling down her cheeks.

"He'll come around…" Whitey patted her shoulder lightly, getting a nod from her as they both began walking out into the gym.


"I saw you cut out of practice early today," Nathan appeared in her doorway and made his way toward where she was seated comfortably on her bed.

"It's not like I'm much use there anyway."

"Well you're not much use anywhere, Sawyer, but that doesn't stop you from doing any of those things." She grabbed a pillow and hit him softly, a smile fighting her expression. He took the pillow from her and sat down, "But I also saw Lucas cut out after you." His tone escaped away from sarcasm, and she looked down toward the papers in her lap. "What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing." Two days ago, and that would've been a lie, but as of now, it was nothing but the whole truth.

"Whitey told us about his heart condition today, and I assume you knew about it." She looked up at him and nodded.

"I was the one who told Karen, and he's not speaking to me because of it."

"All I know is he was really upset when he took off out of that gym-"

"Wait, how does Whitey know?" She cut him off, confused on how they even got on that subject.

"He and Haley walked out of his office together, so I guess she knew and just built on what you already accomplished with Karen." Nathan looked toward her hands, trying to see what was within them, but she hid it more so from his sight after catching him staring.

"Maybe now he'll see." Her voice was soft.

"Like I said, I've never seen him that upset before, Peyton, not even that day the school opened back up." Nathan made sure she was looking directly at him as he spoke. "And I also know that you're the only one who's going to be able to talk to him."

"Didn't you hear me? We're not speaking." Tears were threatening her eyelids again. It hurt her to know Lucas was hurting, but it hurt her even more knowing she couldn't help.

"Peyton, he'll never stop speaking to you." Nathan cupped her face with one hand, "So just think about it, alright? Just go see him."

"What if he yells again? I can't take that shit again from him."

"What if he doesn't…"


"Hey! You're home…" Haley skipped over to him, throwing her arms around his neck after giving him a quick peck. "You okay?" Her hand brushed through his hair while the other held his face, rubbing his cheeks lightly with her thumb.

"Whitey told us about Lucas, and I'm just worried about him, that's all." He kissed her lightly in reassurance. "Hey, uh, when you told Whitey today…" He caught her attention as she nodded for him to continue, "who else knew at that point? About his condition I mean."

"Well it was just me and Dan, but then Lucas told Peyton, and she told Karen."

"Wha-Dan? He knew?"

"Yeah, that's what Peyton said earlier." She looked up at him in confusion, "What's the matter?"

"Haley, I'll be back soon…" He grabbed his coat off the chair and headed out the door.


I could just go see him, the thought circled her head as she remained seated in the same place Nathan left her in. She finally gave in, grabbing a sweater before heading out of her room. She was down the stairs quicker than usual, and she opened the front door in the same sense of hurry. Her hurrying stopped when she saw the very same person she was just about to see, walking up toward her house. Simultaneously, they both stopped where they were, not sure what to do. They both wanted to see the other, but they weren't exactly sure what they'd do as soon as they got there.

She looked at him carefully, walking up to him cautiously as his eyes remained on hers. Her arms looped around his neck, and he quickly pulled her close to him, holding her tightly against his body as his head buried against her shoulder. Her hand ran through his hair, her lips kissing the side of his face gently, letting her lips graze across his warmed skin, and it wasn't long before she felt tears soaking through her sweater.