Two days had passed since the tragic return that had caused so much drama. Haley was grateful to have Peyton and Mouth to lean on through it all. After trying to compose herself during those days, she felt finally ready to face whatever demons laid waiting for her. She was going in for all or nothing. She thought she might as well start with someone that has meant the most to her for a long time. Someone who sent her into a tailspin after he abandoned her. Mouth had given her the details of where to find everyone. She stood outside the apartment door. Taking a relaxing breath in, she reached up to knock. She waited while she practically bit her lip to death. Her nerves always seemed to get the better of her. She bounced on her heels until he finally opened the door.
"Hi…you are?" An unfamiliar figure questioned her. Her clothes looked ragged from the wrinkles in them and her hair was messy and muddled.
"I'm…" Haley started but was stunned at a near naked Lucas came into her sight.
"Who is it?" he called out from behind the girl's figure. He came up and leaned on the doorframe. He tilted his head and shook his head faintly. A silence lingered before the girl turned to the masculine frame.
"I gotta go. I had plans with friends. Give me a call sometime, again." She pushed her bag higher on her shoulder as she gave him a pleading kiss on his cheek. Haley looked down at her black flip flops. "Bye" the girl waved off to Haley as she walked down the hallway. Haley followed her with her eyes and mentally rolled her eyes. She turned back to see a closing door about to hit her in the nose. Acting quickly, she slid her foot in the doorway.
"I wanted to talk" Haley started.
"Well I clearly don't." Lucas entered the kitchen and poured himself a coffee. "I see tutorgirl didn't catch on to the oblivious last night." He smirked to himself feeling satisfied with his attack.
Haley fully entered the apartment and placed her black purse on the bench by the door. "Look Luc…" Lucas' eyes narrowed. "Lucas." She completed. "We…you just need to hear me out. You have no idea how sorry I am for what I did. It was selfish and wrong. I was young and immature and acting purely on impulse. I never meant to cause such damage that it did."
Lucas sipped the black coffee. "Don't you wish you were physic sometimes huh?" The sarcasm within the room was suffocating. "Where have you been for six years anyways? Wait, I know probably conning people for their money, hearts or their love." His tone was ripping through her.
"You think I wanted this!" Haley spoke up. "I never tried to purposely hurt you. It just happened…and before I knew it, I hurt the people that mean the most to me."
"Meant." He added.
"No mean, you all still mean the world to me." Haley entered the kitchen.
"I don't think it's the same for all of us. Brooke is a basket case. Nathan is every cliché from a romantic novel and me…well you tell me. Who am I?" Lucas twisted the knife already stabbed into her heart.
Haley twiddled her fingers nervously. "You're my best friend, my first love, my partner in crime. You were there for all my firsts. You know everything about me. You have always been, nothing will change that. Right now, you just need an old friend to help you find your way." Haley stepped closer and reached up to his face. "You're my Luc."
Lucas felt a relaxing calm when she spoke. A moment of grace overtook his tortured heart for that place in time. Unfortunately, it was overtaken by his damaged goods. He smacked her hand away from his cheek. "You don't deserve to call me that. You…" His thoughts were broken for a moment as he looked over her shoulder at the familiar black bag that sat by his front door.
"What?" Haley turned over her shoulder and noticed his attention towards her bag. "Umm…what you looking at?" She questioned nervously. She remembered his comments about her purse before. She lunged to grab it and hide it behind her.
"No." He spoke, shaking his head again. "I've seen this before." He retrieved it from behind her back and examined the bag in his hands.
"Well from what I hear, you could have seen it on the shoulder of any of your sluts." Haley tried to grab the bag away from him.
He pulled it over his shoulder. "Where did you hear that?"
"Oh…" Haley stumbled. "Just the word, you know…a small town."
"Right." Lucas remarked while stepping back and examining the bag again. He grazed his fingers over the Kentucky State key chain that hung from a zipper. He also gazed at a sketch of red paint near the base of the purse. It was hers. He was sure of it.
Haley was able to snatch it away from his grasp finally. She pulled it behind her securely. "Anyways," She tried to downplay it while straightening her hair from her eyes. "When can we talk?" She smiled politely.
Lucas looked at her apprehensively.
"Okay, I know this is incredible hard for you. But just give me a chance." Haley started.
"And why should I do that?" Lucas leaned into the countertop.
"I'm back in Tree Hill for firsts."
