HELLO ALL!
If anyone is still out there, reading this old story, I'm back. I wrote his chapter probably 6 years ago and never fully finished it. This story is complete..but it needed a different ending. Something to wrap it all up. I like to think I'll come back to this again and continue writing and writing this never ending story I created 8 years ago. I loved One Tree Hill so much. I used to say One Tree Hill was my first love. I never loved a show like it before. It meant so much to me. And it still does. I got to go to Wilmington, NC and see where the magic came alive. It stirred something in my soul, as OTH always had, and made me want to start writing. A passion I had put aside because life had happened. I am married, in love with being in love, and the happiest I've ever been. I lost the women who meant the most to me in the world this year, my Grandmother, and it has only inspired me to write again. Grief is a funny thing. It is just love with no place to go and I try to put that love in to other things. I'm reading books again. I am being a better person, a better friend, a better sister, a better wife, and a better daughter. I am trying. And I think that is the most important thing in life nowadays. That we all try. To be a good person. And to do the things that we love. I loved this story. I truly put my entire being into this story all those years ago. I never forgot it. I just didn't know where to go with it. For me, I used writing to escape the reality that I was living. I was so unhappy. But then I became a Medical Assistant, the love of my life truly came back to me, and I 100% am living proof that people that are meant to be together always find their way back in the end. But enough about me, this is about the story of Megan, Lucas, and Brooke Scott. Everyone deserves a happy ending. Thank you.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Megan POV

I've always been a master at faking my emotions. As if no one ever really knew what I was thinking. I wore different masks each day. When I had to be the Ravens cheerleader Megan, I had this persona of a more serious and direct person. When you are with your friends, you are trying to make sure they continue to like you with the fear that maybe one day they will decide differently in your fate. Each phase, each part of life, you become different versions of yourself where you put on this illusion. It can come in altered looks where sometimes the people who say the love you fall for the trick. Almost like trying not to have anyone notice when you are in pain. You mask it. But no matter what, only the real people see who you are.

There could be no mask for this revelation. My heart wasn't getting better. It was getting worst.

And for the first time since I found out about my HCM, I finally released everything I was holding in.

I was tucked away in my bedroom, sheets skewed across my mattress as I lay in the middle, dreaming of how my short lived like came to this moment. Music from my iPhone echoes throughout the bedroom sending waves of Lea Michele's version of Make You Feel My Love. A personal favorite of mine. One I hope I can walk down the aisle to at my wedding one day…if I live that long. The piano starts to mold together her defining voice….

"When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I will never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love".

There isn't a doubt in my heart that my parents feel this way about me. That there isn't a corner of this universe that they wouldn't uncover to help find a way to heal my shattered heart. But somethings are truly out of anyone's control. They love me so much. And I have so much love for them. And if I die…what will happen to them?

Why does everything have to change? Why can't I just be a normal sixteen-year-old girl who's only issue is having a boyfriend for the first time.

When the song fades, I try to pinpoint exactly when everything went to shit. Moments of impact, what Dad always called it, the things we can't undo.

Maybe my life would have been completely thrown off the earth's axis, another version of myself in a different dimension, if I went to New York when she asked me. Would I still have gotten my heart condition?

I start to picture it. I'd more than likely be in some high-end private school. Maybe like the one as a typical high-school drama teen show based in New York where I'd fall into the fashion world like my mother and become a completely different person. I'd never have to worry about making sure the River Court stays up or the winning record of the Ravens basketball team. Just the latest trend and maybe finding a cute guy. Even daydreaming about that other life repulses me. I'd never be that kind of girl.

Instead. I'm a walking tragedy.

Replaying the doctor visit from this morning, I don't think I've ever felt so shaken at my core.

"After going over your ECG and cardiac MRI results, we're going to have to take on a new treatment plan", Dr. K pronounced in the kind voice he carries. I've watched Greys Anatomy enough to know what this meant. I could see through what he was implying. "Your heart is damaged kid, no more hiding behind the mask that you are okay".

I tried to hold back the tears the best I could but when one slipped from the corner of my right eye, Mom wiped it away before I got the chance.

"What's the next step?" It was Dad, doing what he does best, trying to save the day. My own superman wasn't going to be able to change this. And I think he knew that too as his eyes were beginning to gloss over.

"Depending on if she has any mishaps, I'm going to have to perform surgery. I think placing a pacemaker is the best option. The muscles in the heart that I'm most worried about isn't going to last the more stress it goes through. And her blood pressure is extremely high for someone that's as young and fit as Megan is". Dr. K turns to look at me now, the signature sympathy doctor of bad news looks on his face.

"We caught this early and that's the most important part. We can fix this; I just need you to work with me too. Don't overexert yourself. Keep the stress to a minimum and until we decide if you need the surgery, I'm going to have to advise you to a strict exercising regimen".

I immediately remove my gaze off Dr. K and let the news sink. This is the part when I break down. It was all not going to be okay.

This idea of hope was coming undone. I was falling apart. And it didn't hit me until I heard the words out loud. What was I going to do? Why did it have to be me?

I was in every sense of the word, "brooding". Lucas Scott was my father after all.

The look in his eyes today bothered me, like he blamed himself. There was guilt and something else I've never seen before. I couldn't define it. Maybe a part of me didn't want to know what was going on inside that mind of his. And the way both of my parents were acting today was off. At one point during the doctor visit when I changed to get an ECG, when they walked back into the exam room, I swore they were holding hands.

On the way home the only conversation I involved myself in was when Mom said she was cooking spaghetti for dinner, a personal favorite of mine, and they had some things to discuss with me. I had nodded yes and continue to blare the best of All Time Low through my headphones. I didn't want to talk to anyone; I was dealing with my own self-pity.

So now I sit, listening to music, going over how I'm living with a dysfunctional heart, and I don't know how to keep living the life I've always envision for myself.

What do I do next? Do I tell Ryder?

A part of me knows it isn't fair to start this young relationship with this very important secret. Another part doesn't want to bring it up at all. What would be the point if he looks at me differently after wards? I am not fragile. I'm not going to break because of this.

Maybe it's best I don't say anything at all. I shouldn't let him date me if it's likely I'm going to die soon, that wouldn't be right to him. If I stop now and tell Ryder I changed my mind it would probably be the best for both of us. That way no one gets hurt in this, especially him. Just because I don't work right doesn't mean he should be in the wake of the destruction I could cause. I'm already going to hurt so many people if I die.

The most important one decides to not knock on my bedroom door and floats into my bedroom unannounced.

"Okay enough with the depressing music", Mom yells walking straight towards my phone pausing the start of How to Save A Life by The Fray.

"I was listening to that", my voice cracks at the end of the yell which causes Mom to frown at what I appear to look like, a hot mess. I know it. The tears have been pouring down since I plopped down in bed.

"Jamie stopped by a little while ago. He said for you to call him since you haven't answered your phone all day". She can't make eye contact with me again until she picks up my phone on the nightstand again. With a quick snatch she holds it out to me to see I've had a lot of missed alerts. You skip school one day and suddenly everyone is worried about you.

"Ryder has texted you and called a bunch of times, so has Jamie, and Amanda. Do you want to tell me why you're brooding and avoiding everyone"? She puts the phone back down and climbs on top of the bed to sit next to me. "I'd think they'd really like to hear from you, maybe you can talk to them, if you don't want to talk to your dad or me".

"I rather not talk to anyone", I sigh turning my face so she can't see another tear fall. "I want to be alone".

She reaches her hand to rub my back and I can tell I'm about to get a lecture about how unfair it is for me to feel this way. Instead, she scoots over and wraps her arm around my stomach, her face falling to my hair. Mom kisses the side of my head and breathes in almost like smelling a signature scent. "You are never going to be alone as long as I'm on this earth".

The silence that follows is the most comfort I've felt all day. Mom doesn't loosen the tight embrace, she's managed to pull me in, like when I was younger, and I used to sleep in her bed when Dad was on book tours. "I love you Meg, and I am so sorry. I wish I could change this for you". She finishes that sentence with a lingering peck to my temple.

"Did you ever want custody of me when you first moved to New York"? The question has nothing to do with this impossible weight I feel from the doctor's office, it's the overwhelming need to know if somehow, I could have changed my future.

"Of course, I did baby, why did you ask that", her voice sounds raspier than it did seconds ago. It's the emotional tone where she's questioning my ulterior motive without asking.

"Just wondering what my life would have been like if I didn't live in Tree Hill. If I could have lived a different life in New York, with you and maybe I'd never gotten this disease". I spill my inner thoughts because all I can think about are what ifs.

"That's not how life works, especially medical conditions. You would've gotten sick either way Meg. Nothing could have changed that". The silence seemed defeating even more now. She's right, of course.

"I was curious that's all", I mumble letting the last of the life I never got to have go.

"Besides, you'd missed out on a lot of great things. Like Ryder, who also was with Jamie", I turn my face to see hers at the mention of the blue-eyed boy I can't stop thinking about.

"I'm going to have to break up with him now, aren't I"?

The confusion sweeps across her face making her sit up in the bed pulling me up as I land in her arms again.

"Meg, you don't have to push him away. You aren't some damaged goods. The best thing you should do is to be allowed to love", she laughs at the end of that and the warmth of it fills me a little.

It doesn't change anything though. I still could die.

"How is that fair to him"?

The words don't come out of her. The answer to the question I have been beating myself over about for the whole day. Even she didn't know.

"Because if he loves you, he won't care", we both turn our heads to the groggy voice that suddenly makes their presence known from the doorway. "It's worth the risk". There's no response as he strides over to the vacant side next to me. Dad grabs my left hand and brings it up to his lips to lightly peck.

"No man is ever going to love you as much as I do, but if there is anything I've learned from love, and trust me I've learned a lot, it's to give faith a fighting chance and put everything you have into it". His eyes don't meet me gaze since their glued to my mothers. And that's when it all clicks. They're back together.

I look at them staring and my face goes side to side making the realization; I got what I wished for.

"What was it that you wanted to talk about tonight", I manage to reply without a single hesitation.

It breaks the stare between them as they both look like deer caught in headlights.

"You Father has something to tell you", Mom's the first to beat the punch which makes Dad literally laugh out loud. It's more of breathy chuckle he gets when he's nervous.

"We've been waiting to tell you for a few days. We got home late last night, and you were already asleep and then the appointment this morning didn't go so well", he keeps rambling so to put him out of his misery I re-grab his hand. I have Mom's already grasped in the other as I bring them to my lap as they instantly fold together.

"He forgave me".

It is the simple way she says the phrase that makes me know the weight of that is heavier than what I can understand.

She doesn't stop looking at him as she continues, "When it isn't like it should be, you do anything to make it right. Especially with the person you are in love with".

The smile that is on my face hasn't been there since I was eleven years old. I'm that kid again instantly. "This is the greatest news", I cheer and wrap both in a group hug. "I am so happy".

"So are we", Dad laughs kisses my head and then I feel him lean over to kiss Mom.

"What does this mean then", I blurt out letting them go to see both of their faces.

They exchange a quick glance as they communicate without words. "It means that we're going to be a family again", it's Mom who again answers for Dad. His smile doesn't falter and for the first time in a very long time I see a set of happy tears in my father's eyes. And to furthermore reveal how serious they are, he reaches over and kisses my mother on the lips. It's a quick steal of a kiss and I couldn't remember the last time I had ever seen them show affection like that.

"Just don't tell your Aunt Haley yet, she already thinks it, but I want to be the one to tell her", Dad adds nonchalantly. If there was another person whose opinion truly mattered, it would be Aunt Hales.

"Deal", I reply and laugh because of course she already knew.

I wanted to share with the world that my wish had come true. My parents were back together. They were in love. And that people that are meant to be together do find their way back in the end. There was only one person I wanted to tell.

It was that boy, the gorgeous boy that has captured my stupid damaged heart; stupid, stupid heart.

Ryder Lynn. I am so in love with you.

The thought at first makes me incredibly angry. How did I fall in love so fast? And when did he become such an important person, did I miss it while it was happening because it has swept me away. Suddenly I understood what everyone talked, sang, and wrote about when it comes to love. It happens so slowly and then all at once. All I wanted as a little girl was to have a love story like my parents. They were always so happy. They fought the world together and made it seems worth all the hard times just to appreciate the good ones. I wanted it all. The love, the commitment, the family they had created for me. It was the safest place in the world. And to fall in love like they were, correction, they are, isn't that the whole part of life?

"People that are meant to be together really do find their way in the end", the whisper that had replay again in my mind suddenly becomes an open thought. I had to find Ryder. I had to tell him the truth.

"I have to go", words that are now a shout awaken me as I bounce off the bed to find my shoes. There was only one place Ryder could be at this time of day.

"Where are you going", Mom laughs not moving from where her hand is tangled with Dads.

"To find Ryder", without hesitation I reply after putting on the last sneaker. I stand up smiling, "I love you guys. My prediction came true. Your love for me brought me to this point in time, and I'm going to be okay because of it. No matter what happens", and with that sentiment I turn around and race to the front door of the house. The rest of my life was starting now regardless of the circumstances. My heart has never been truer, I am in love with Ryder Lynn. And I want him in my life.

The End