Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to anything but the storyline, all right just go to their rightful owners.
"Oh, my god—Chuck wake up"!
Chuck turned over in his bed, well the bed he had been staying in for weeks now at his best friends house. It was basically his bed—until he made up with his mom, which he didn't foresee happening for quite some time.
Lily was tearing the room apart, half-naked, frantically searching for something.
"Where are my clothes"?
Her clothes. She was looking for her clothes.
"What are you doing"? Chuck asked, his voice hoarse and filled with confusion. "Get back in bed, it's only—".
"It's eleven in the morning, and my dad is awake," Lily said, as she continued to search her boyfriend's bedroom. "I have to get to the hospital".
Chuck sat up in his bed to see a pair of jeans at the end of the bed and tossed them to his girlfriend.
"He is really awake"? Chuck asked as he stood up slipping into a pair of his own jeans.
"I woke up and had a thousand missed calls and messages, all saying my dad is awake"! Lily told him. "I just have to get to the hospital, my car isn't here can you drive me"?
Chuck hesitated. "I don't know, babe. Why don't you take the bus"?
"The—the bus"? Lily snapped looking up at him. "You have a car—that works, and you want me to get on a bus to go see my dad who I have thought was dead my entire frigging life"?
"I just—".
"Don't worry about it—I will take the bus" she snapped pulling one of Chuck's old shirts over her head. "Or I will ask Andre, how stupid of me to ask my boyfriend".
And with that, the fiery dark-haired teenager turned on her heel leaving Chuck alone, on her way to see her father.
"Brooke, you're going to fall," Haley said as she sat at one of the tables in the cafeteria, eating, across from Peyton who looked to be playing solitary but she hadn't taken her eyes off of her food long enough to confirm her theory.
"I'm just trying to open a window," Brooke said as she stood on a chair, leaning on her tiptoes. "It's stuffy in here".
"Is she even allowed to do that"? Peyton asked looking over at the cafeteria worker who sat behind the counter flipping through a magazine that had been lying in the room for six months, she could tell by the news on the front.
"I just run the cash register," she told Peyton. "The windows are out of reach—normally we have to have someone come in and open and close them, they have this special hook that does it".
"Probably for when the hospital has patients like her"? Haley said throwing her thumb over her shoulder at Brooke.
Peyton snickered at the remark.
"I heard that—I just about got it," Brooke said.
Haley and Peyton both looked over to see Brooke tilting on her tiptoes, on top of the chair.
"Shouldn't we let someone know where we are"? Peyton asked, looking back at Haley—suddenly occurring to her.
"I tried Nathan, I don't have service in here," Haley told her.
"Why is it anytime we end up locked in a room together we don't have any service"? Peyton asked.
"It's your punishment," Brooke said as she finally wrapped her fingers around the latch and pushed the window open. "Yes—ah-ha"!
"My punishment"? Peyton asked as Brooke jumped down. "What did I do"?
"You never told me anything," Brooke told her bluntly. "You never told me what was going on in your marriage—you never told me about Lucas or anything".
"Oh, c'mon, Brooke," Haley said. "It's not like that was a roll-off the tongue conversation".
"It should have been, I would have told you".
"You would have told me if Julian was in love me"? Peyton asked, not believing a word her friend was saying. "How is it my marriage ended—and you're mad at me"?
"Because you didn't tell me," Brooke said sitting down next to Peyton. "Your marriage was in trouble—because of me and you never told me. I just want to understand why you didn't tell me".'
"Brooke, my marriage was going to end regardless if you I told you or not".
"Because of me"?
Peyton hesitated. She didn't want to say yes, but she couldn't say no either.
"Lucas fell in love with me before I even met him," Peyton told her. "He loved me first, we were only teenagers but he did. Then he met you, and you just swept him off his feet".
"We were teenagers what does this have to do with anything"?
"I once heard that if you love two people always pick the second because if you truly loved the first you never would have fallen for the second. That's what it has to do with Brooke. Lucas has always loved you, time—distance, growing up... that never changed his feelings for you. I always thought that it would but it didn't" Peyton admitted. "If he truly loved me then he never would have fallen in love with you, it's something that took me a long time to come to terms with. No matter what we would have got divorced, yes because of his feelings for you but I don't blame you for it, Brooke. This isn't your fault, in some ways it's mine. When you and Lucas broke up, he was vulnerable. I was young, so I didn't know any better but I feel like if I had waited—given him enough time to move on from you he never would have reciprocated his feelings for me, even that he needed validation from you first".
Brooke was quiet as she absorbed the words that Peyton had said, it made sense. It all made sense, but it didn't at the same time.
"That is the stupidest speech I have ever heard—and I have heard my fair share of stupid speeches. All from you and Lucas" Brooke said rolling her eyes as she waltzed off.
Haley couldn't help but snicker at Brooke, she didn't expect any less from her life long friend.
Peyton shrugged. "I believe she is handling it well".
"Hello" Madison yelled once more as she stood in the darkened elevator with her hands on her hips. "Can anyone hear me—two teenagers trapped in an elevator—which already sounds like the start to a horrible 90's horror movie".
No one answered. Again.
But, this time, Madison heard a ringing and it wasn't coming from inside her head. She shined the light from her cell phone to see a phone, an emergency phone, hanging in the corner of the elevator. She quickly made her way across and picked the phone up pushing it to her ear.
"Hello"? She asked, awkwardly.
Jamie could only see Madison's shadow as she talked on the phone while he sat in the corner of the elevator floor.
"Okay, thank you," Madison said before hanging the phone up and turning to Jamie, even though she could barely see him. "There has been an accident, a car hit an electrical pole it knocked the power out for a few blocks and they are working on getting it back on but until they do—".
"We're stuck"? Jamie asked, his voice heavy but frantic.
Madison didn't need to see Jamie know what was going through his head, and she couldn't believe she had completely forgotten.
"They are going to try and get us out," Madison said rushing to his side. "They are working on the emergency lights right now, it's going to be fine".
Jamie shut his eyes right as his head fell back against the wall behind him, he could hear his heart pounding in his ear.
"It's going to be okay," Madison told him. "The lights are off so you can't—".
And the emergency lights turned on, naturally.
Madison looked at Jamie, who was panting as he sat on the floor next to her.
"Let's look at the bright side, it's just us in here—".
"I could be alone and that wouldn't change the fact that in claustrophobic" Jamie told her, his lip trembling as he spoke. "I feel like I'm going to pass out".
Madison ran her fingers through Jamie's hair, maybe out of habit, without the realization that she had done it.
"It's going to be okay," Madison told Jamie. "I'm right here, it's going to be okay".
Keith held his eyes shut tightly, although he didn't know why. He had never been scared or anything before, and it wasn't that he was scared.
Just confused.
Keith was so confused. He tried and tried to remember something, anything, that landed him in the hospital. But, he failed—which frustrated him. He heard the mention of "coma" more than once, and "brain injury" on occasion by the many doctors but he couldn't be sure they were talking about him.
But, he had a feeling they were.
Coma. Had he been in a coma? If so—how long? He could tell some time had passed since the last time he spoke to Deb based on her appearance, not that she didn't still look as beautiful as ever, but it just didn't make sense. None of it did.
"Keith—you still with me"? He heard Lucas' voice ask him, though he wasn't sure where it was coming from or where he was.
"Y—Yeah" Keith answered slowly as he looked up at the top of the machine. "Any word on when I'm getting that beer"?
He heard Lucas chuckle, although he was sure his nephew saw the humor in it—he was serious. He really wanted a beer.
"We are working on it" Lucas informed his uncle.
"I never have this much trouble when I go to a bar," Keith told his nephew, to which he laughed once more.
"When we get you out of here I will take you to Tric—scouts honor," Lucas told him.
Trick? Or Tric? Keith felt confused, but he felt as though he shouldn't be.
"What's Tric"?
Lucas released the red button and looked from his brother to his brother's mother, conflicted.
"When did Tric open"? Lucas asked.
Nathan ran his hand down his face as he thought back on the grand opening of Tric—it was easy to remember that night well.
"It was right after Haley and I got married—not long after at all" Nathan told his brother.
"So, he was alive—or whatever when Tric opened"? Lucas asked. "He should remember it".
"Absolutely," Deb said nodding her head.
"Then why doesn't he"?
Deb shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know," she told him. "The second he woke up they just started running one test after another, he was in good spirits so they didn't ask him any questions".
"Keith," Lucas said pressing down on the button, taking it upon himself—despite the repercussions he could face with the doctors. "Can you tell me the last thing you remember"?
The three waited, Lucas could see his uncle-barely but he looked disturbed. Confused.
"I don't know" Keith answered him. "I don't know what I remember".
Lucas let go of the red button once more, this time more visibly upset.
"Wait—" Keith said after a minute. "We were moving, we moved to Charleston—or Wilmington? No, it was Charleston. Right"?
Lucas found himself apprehensive to answer his question, taken back by the lack of memories his uncle had.
"Yeah," Deb said, nodding as she spoke into the intercom. "You two moved to Charleston".
"So, why am I in Tree Hill"? Keith asked, sounding more confused than he was just moments before.
Lucas released the red button as he fell down into the seat, running his hands through his hair—stressed.
"That's why he hasn't asked for Karen," Deb said. "He doesn't remember that they were ever together".
"How are we supposed to explain Lily to him"? Lucas asked, shaking his head. "We have to tell him that he has spent the past seventeen years in a coma after his brother shot him—and that he finally got to be with the love of his life, and they had a baby together—which he missed, and he also missed the rest of moms life. How in the hell do you tell someone something like that? When Lily gets here she is going to expect to see him—of course, she would, that's her father. I was trying to wrap my head around trying to tell him the coma thing and mom—but there would be a silver lining. Lily. But, now he doesn't even remember being with mom—".
"Alright," Deb said taking Lucas' hand. "Relax. We will figure it out, this is bad but we can figure it out. We have too. Keith is the victim in all this, not you or me or Nathan—not even Lily. Keith is the only person whose feelings that matter in all this".
"Who are you and what have you done with my mom"? Nathan asked leaning against the open door, an eyebrow arched.
"Yoga, it changed my life," Deb told them. "I originally took it up to become more flexible during sex, the older I got the harder it got to put my legs behind my head—".
"There she is," Lucas said grinning at his brother, who looked as though he might projectile vomit any given second.
"You still there"? The three heard, realizing Keith had been trying to get their attention, unaware of how long.
"Yeah," Deb said pressing down on the red button. "Keith, they are trying to get the door open—but we will explain everything to the best of our abilities as soon as we can".
Lucas looked at Deb, curious as to how they were going to explain anything to Keith. He didn't believe or understand half of it himself, it didn't make sense.
Nothing in his life made sense these days.
Jake waited, and he waited, and he continued to wait for Peyton. Brooke. Haley. Anyone, that had shared DNA with the four children running around in the dark waiting room, that he was attempting to keep an eye on.
Most kids would be upset, even scared by a blackout—most adults would be. But, the four kids were Unfazed by the lack of light, a small light was shining in from the window after the nurse opened the blinds, much to their dismay.
It seems they liked the dark and found it quite amusing.
"So, what's your name again"? Davis asked as looked up at the man he had been left alone with.
"Jake" Sawyer answered, before he had a chance. Jake looked at her unsure when she had popped up, but assumed she took that after her mother. "He sleeps naked with my mom".
"Whoa," Jake said interrupting. "I don't sleep naked with your mom, we have been on one date".
"But, didn't you two date in high school"? Sawyer asked raising an eyebrow.
She had him there.
"Well, yes".
"And did you two sleep naked together then"?
Damn.
"Who even told you we dated in high school"? Jake asked, hoping that it would semi change the subject he currently found himself engaged in.
"I heard my uncle Nathan and Aunt Haley talking about it at their house," Sawyer told him.
"My mom doesn't like your baby momma" Lydia informed him. "Neither does Auntie Brooke".
"That doesn't mean anything," Jude told Lydia. "My mom doesn't like anyone".
Jake couldn't help but chuckle as he pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing he wasn't going to be able to run from this conversation. And he had a feeling it was only beginning.
"My daughter's mother had a lot of problems when we were younger—she is better now" Jake informed them.
"Sounds like my Aunt Taylor," Lydia said. "She got naked with my daddy and my aunt Quinn's ex-husband. But, now she has her own husband so she will stop trying to steal everyone else's".
"Where do you kids learn this information"? Jake asked—honestly curious.
"Through my vent," Lydia told him shrugging. "I can hear everything in my mommy and daddy's room—they make a lot of funny noises at night. Except when my daddy is in trouble—he gets in trouble with my mommy sometimes so he brings home chocolate".
Jake chuckled once more "smart man," he said nodding.
Andre sat behind the wheel of his car, that hadn't moved an inch—close to an hour. He was parked behind another vehicle, that was parked behind another. The traffic jam went on as far as he could see, as far as Lily could see.
"There is never more than three cars driving around in Tree Hill at the same time and now suddenly everyone comes out of their house at the same time"? Lily asked as she threw herself back against the passenger seat. "This is ridiculous—what is taking so damn long"?
Andre shrugged as he played on his cell phone, scared to verbally answer the dark-haired hot head next to him.
"I can't believe Chuck"! Lily said after a few passing minutes. "I mean he claims to care about me—I always thought my dad was dead, the one parent I did have died, and then by some miracle I get the one I never knew back and he couldn't even drive me to the hospital. He obviously isn't boyfriend material—he isn't anything kind of material. He is just an ass, he is good for sex but past that he doesn't want anything to do with the real stuff. He wanted to put me on a bus"!
Andre looked at Lily, knowing that she didn't know Chuck that well or she wouldn't be so conflicted. For a moment he considered keeping his mouth shut, but because he cared so deeply for the girl next to him he couldn't simply say nothing on the matter.
"What all has Chuck told you about his childhood"? Andre asked Lily. "Or Jamie? What do you know"?
"What do you mean"?
"I don't think it's about meeting your dad," Andre told her honestly. "Chuck has a problem with hospitals, he hasn't stepped in one since the last time his dad put him in one".
Lily looked over at Andre, concerned by his words.
"I'm sure he is nervous about meeting your dad," Andre told her. "But, apples to onions he wouldn't have met him today. Keith has been in a coma, and he still hasn't gone to the hospital before today. It's not about your dad or you—he cares a lot for you. Chuck is a good guy, a great guy—but once you start cracking into his brain he is a little messed up. His parents—they really screwed him up before he could even walk".
"I thought his mom was sober"?
"She is, but that doesn't make up for everything she did before," Andre said. "She stood by while his dad beat him, anytime his dad was around Chuck was in the hospital for—it's not about you, alright"?
"Why hasn't he talked to me about any of this"? Lily asked—genuinely. "I knew he was having issues with his mom, but he never really talked to me about it".
"It's not about you, it's about him. I know, Jamie knows, and Madison knows—but we know because we have been friends with him for so long. It's not something that's easy for him to talk about Lily. Even though you didn't grow up with your mom and your dad you were raised in a happy home, Jamie—he is the Naley prodigy, my mom did everything she could for me until she couldn't, and even Madison had Lauren—despite the current circumstances. Chuck—he didn't have a happy childhood. He holds a lot of resentment towards both his parents, his mom in particular. I know that you needed him today and your hurt that he didn't come but just cut him some slack. It's not something he does intentionally".
Part of Andre wished he had said nothing, the feelings he had for Lily were almost unbearable to sit on the sidelines watching his best friend continually stick his tongue down her throat. But, despite his feelings, they were just that. Feelings.
Chuck was one of Andre's best friends and had been as far back as he could remember. He wasn't everyone's cup of tea, and most the time Chuck wasn't even Andre's cup of tea but he was one of his best friends, more like a brother than anything, and that was what mattered the most.
"That's disgusting," Brooke said as she took a sip out of her coffee cup, as she stood in of the coffee kiosk in the corner of the cafeteria.
"I would guess because the electric is out, that means that coffee is no longer being heated," Haley said as she walked up behind Brooke, smiling.
Brooke rolled her eyes as she took another sip of the cold coffee in her hand before she looked around to see Peyton sitting in the corner—what looked to be resting her head on her folded arms on the table, eyes shut.
"It's not Peyton's fault—and you really have no reason to be mad at her," Haley said, stating the obvious. "I really don't think she asked for this either".
"I know," Brooke said as she sat down at the nearest table, Haley joining in the seat next to her. "I'm just frustrated about the whole situation—I was a freaking bridesmaid, no I was the maid of honor at their wedding. I haven't thought of Lucas in that way in years, I was with Julian and—".
"First of all" Haley said taking Brooke's hand. "I am team Brooke's happiness, I am completely neutral, as long as you are happy I am happy. But, with that said no one, Luke included, is not trying to take away from yours and Julian's love story. Julian would have moved mountains just to see you smile, he spent weeks and months, just trying to break through your walls. He was patient enough to do it, too".
"Yeah, walls that were built from Luke" Brooke pointed out. "He really screwed me up, for years, and now he just blurts out 'oh, by the way, I still love you'. What did he want to come of that? What did he expect me to do? Just jump in his arms like nothing ever happened, like he didn't just spend a decade married to my best friend, or pick up right where we left off? It's more complicated than that".
"I agree," Haley said. "But, those are questions for Luke to answer, not me. He is my best friend, but I don't always agree with the way he handles things, I don't think he should have told you the way he told you but—".
"But"? Brooke nearly shouted. "There is a but—from you? About this? Peyton and he are getting a divorce and the first thing he does is tell me he has loved me for god knows how long"!
"But" Haley interrupted Brooke's meltdown. "But, he was stressed, to the max. He was to his breaking point, and something had to give, and I think that's why he told you when he told—I'm not defending his choices, but he has a lot on his shoulders right now and he had to brush something off before it broke him".
Brooke sipped on her coffee, she hated that Haley made sense. But, then again Haley always made sense, even when she didn't want to.
"In my mind, I keep going back to when we first broke up, and the problem is it's been so long ago it's been hard to remember everything so clearly" Brooke admitted. "I was a teenager, and now I'm a widow with twin boys who depend on me for everything, I'm just not the same self-centered teenager anymore".
"Do you—maybe think that's why Luke has always loved you"?
"It doesn't matter why it only matters that he has," Brooke said. "Peyton married him, and they have a daughter—I just don't know what to do, Haley".
"Let me ask you this—take Peyton and Sawyer out of the equation for a minute—".
"But—".
"No, just hear me out," Haley said holding her hand up in defense. "If he hadn't married Peyton, what if he had married Lindsey instead—and he and Peyton had never got together after you two broke up in high school. Instead, he was single until he met Lindsey, they got married and now he was divorcing her, not Peyton. He comes to you and tells you what he told you—how would you respond"?
Brooke froze, she looked forward as she thought about her answer. Although, she didn't need to think about it.
She looked across the room at her best friend, who was still asleep—or at least she hoped she was asleep.
"Peyton is moving on, with Jake," Haley told Brooke as she continued to stare at Peyton. "She is happy, for the first time in years she is with someone who wants to be with her and not someone else—".
"It's not about Peyton," Brooke said her voice just above a whisper, tears welling up in her eyes. "Well, it's not just about her—there are so many issues when it comes to this, it's not as simple—but it's Julian".
Haley looked up at Brooke, who was now full-blown crying in the hospital cafeteria.
"I know he is gone" Brooke admitted. "It took me so long to accept that, to come to terms with that. I had to go on the road with Peyton and Lucas because everywhere I turned there were memories here of me and him, some were good and some weren't. But, they were here—and his death was still recent and it hurt too much to stay here. Finally, I realized I was taking away from my boys childhood because they were being homeschooled—of course they got to see things and go places most kids their age didn't but they also deserve to be able to play sports and go to school, when we came back it wasn't as hard, I still haven't set foot in our old home, I have things in there I need but haven't been able to bring myself to walk through the door, I opened it once but that was it. Haley, it's hard enough with everything else, I feel like even thinking about Luke—like I would be cheating on Julian. I feel like even sitting here having this conversation, I'm betraying him somehow".
"Oh, Brooke—".
"I am still so in love with my husband, I know I make jokes and act like everything is fine but it's not," Brooke told Haley. "When I went to see Lucas last night, I wasn't angry with him, he can't help the way he feels I was angry with myself because I feel the same way and even putting Peyton to the side for a minute... Julian is the main focus of my mind, do you know that we planned on trying to get pregnant again this year? We froze my eggs and everything".
"You froze your eggs"?
Brooke nodded, wiping the tears from her face "it was hard enough the first time, to get pregnant. This time we were going to go with a surrogate, Kim Kardashian style" she said chuckling beneath her tears. "I have still thought about moving forward with the plan—but it's like anything I do I feel like I'm going behind Julian's back. If I went on a date with some random guy I met out in town, I would feel like I'm cheating—having a stranger fertilize my eggs I feel wrong but I want more kids, I have even thought about adopting Maddie, but he isn't here for me to talk to and I feel broken, about everything".
Haley brought her friend close and hugged her tightly. It was a pain she couldn't imagine hanging over her heart, she remembers when Nathan was kidnapped.
But, Haley couldn't imagine the pain of losing Nathan, she didn't want to. However, her best friend didn't get a choice, she felt the pain and carried it every day.
Jamie could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He knew for a fact that the four walls weren't getting closer, but it sure felt that way. He tried shutting his eyes, but that only seemed to make matters worse for him, in fact anytime he shut his eyes it was so easy to begin to feel like he was a little kid again, trapped in the back of his teacher's car that was submerging in water.
The sixteen-year-old's eyes quickly opened, to find himself still in stuck—the very idea sent his mind in a frenzy.
"Try to relax".
Jamie looked over at Madison, who sat next to him, her hand running up and down his arm—which was comforting, but it didn't help him escape from the thoughts inside his head.
"I'm trying," Jamie told her, not that he needed to, she saw his efforts. "I should have taken the stairs—are they even trying to get us out"?
"Jamie, I don't think there is anything they can do until the electric comes back on," Madison told him. "It needs electric to go from floor to floor, even to open the door. But, they told me on the phone they were looking into it, but some patients are stuck in their rooms and that's their main priority right now".
Jamie nodded that made sense.
"I thought the therapy you went to helped," Madison told Jamie, as she looked at her ex-boyfriend—who sat against the wall, panting.
"It did—some" Jamie told her.
"It doesn't look like it".
Madison didn't say it to be rude, and Jamie knew that she was simply stating facts. And the facts were it didn't look like he was better from when they were kids.
"I hate being confined" Jamie admitted. "Stuck. I feel like I can't breathe".
"Jamie, what you went through was traumatic, you were a kid—you could have died, drowned. You don't have to explain anything to me, I just wish I could do something for you".
Jamie looked back at Madison, into her brown eyes, for a brief second, he forgot he was stuck in an elevator because she was all he was looking at it. He became painfully aware of the fact that she was not his girlfriend, as she had always been, as long as he had known her.
"I'm a dick," Jamie said laying his head back against the wall he was sitting in front of, looking away from Madison.
"What"? Madison asked, confused.
"I'm a stupid dick".
"I'm not any less informed by that statement than I was the previous one".
Jamie chuckled.
"Breaking up with you was without a doubt the dumbest thing I have ever done, and I have been friends with Chuck for ten years".
Despite the circumstance, Madison had to laugh a little at his words. Chuck did tend to get the group into some dreadful situations.
"I know you were just scared and that you didn't mean anything by it," Jamie told Madison, taking her hand without looking at her. "I think I was just as scared and that maybe somehow if we weren't together, it would be easier if you were to leave, but it wouldn't be—because not being your boyfriend is worse than any of that".
Jamie wasn't looking at Madison, mostly out of fear that she wouldn't want him back, so he didn't see the smile on her face.
"It's hard for me, too," Jamie said, his voice breaking. "The thought of you leaving, maybe I didn't handle it like I told you—".
Madison pressed her lips to Jamie's swinging her leg over him, straddling him to the floor sitting on top of him.
As the two kissed it was the first time Jamie didn't realize the small space the two were confined in, because he couldn't see anything past Madison.
"I do love you," Madison said breaking apart their kiss, sitting smoothly into Jamie's lap. "And I don't want to be with anyone else in this lifetime or the next when I said that—I'm not the only girl who notices you, Jamie".
"What does that mean"?
"It means, I'm not some tall blonde skinny cheerleader, I'm five foot three and dark-haired and—I have an ass for days—".
"Which I'm grateful for".
Madison rolled her eyes but chuckled at his remark "I just meant that if I left, if the state makes me leave all the girls that already google over you, I just didn't think it would be fair to ask you to wait on me".
"Maddie, I will only ever have eyes for you. I'm not interested in anyone but you and your butt—".
Madison pushed Jamie against his shoulder, laughing.
"I'm not going to let anyone take you away from me".
"How do you purpose we do that"?
"I don't know yet, but I'm not letting anyone take you away from me, ever".
"They got the door open," Nathan told his brother and mother, as he observed the two men who had been working on the door the same amount of time they had been there.
"Let's go," Deb said standing up, immediately.
Lucas followed but as Deb tore through the doorway into the small room, Lucas froze, although he wasn't sure why. He stood outside of the room unable to take another step forward, his brother standing behind him.
"You okay"? Nathan asked placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I—I don't know" Lucas answered him, honestly.
It was a lot that the eldest Scott was dealing with, particularly in the Keith department. Or any, it had become hard to breathe in his day to day life, and rightfully so.
But, now wasn't the time to focus on that or worry about anything except his uncle.
Lucas took a deep breath before taking a giant step forward and into the room that his uncle had been stuck in for the past two hours.
As the brothers walked in the first thing they noticed was the whirling noise, and looked up to see one of the mechanics that worked at the hospital, that had worked hard to open the door standing at the back of the MRI machine with his handheld to a button—which they assumed was helping Keith exit the machine.
"Are you okay"? Lucas asked as he rushed to his uncle's side.
"Where's that beer"? Keith asked, immediately.
Lucas smiled. "Unfortunately, no one can leave the hospital—like your door was the doors are locked, and we can't leave".
"There's a window," Keith said, half smiling.
"That's a five-story drop," Nathan told his uncle.
"Your point"?
The brothers both chuckled, lightly at their uncle.
"Do I have to lay on this thing—or can I sit in one of those uncomfortable chairs over there"?
Lucas looked over at the two mechanics one of which was waiting as the other propped the door open.
"We won't tell," one of them said as he picked the toolbox up. "We have lots more to do".
Lucas waited as the two left, and smiled before Deb brought one of the chairs as close as she could to the bed, as Lucas and Nathan helped Keith over to it.
"I have no feeling in my legs," Keith told them as he sat down. "I can move my toes, so I'm not paralyzed—but it's like... a car that sat around in a garage for years".
"It's the lack of use," Deb told him as she brought the rest of the chairs over and the remaining three all sat down.
Keith nodded, when he looked up Deb, Nathan, and Lucas were all looking at him—the only light in the room was the one shining in through the windows, but he could easily see the three in front of him.
It was more of a confirmation for him than anything, just by seeing their faces, none of them looked the same as he last remembered them.
"What happened"? Keith asked. "What happened to me"?
"Keith—" Lucas began.
"Save it" Keith ordered. "Whatever speech you have prepared to avoid telling me what happened, don't bother. So, what happened to me—and when did it happen? Judging by the wear and tear on your face, it wasn't yesterday so let's just get on with it".
Keith was mad, but not at any of them. It wasn't anyone around him fault, not that he knew that, but he was trusting in that. He just wanted answers, it was his life and he didn't know what had come of it.
"I'm pretty sure of a couple of things but I need you to fill in some blanks for me," Keith said, his teeth pressed together. "So, What happened to me? Car accident? Heart attack—".
"Dan" Deb blurted out, not entirely sure it was the right move but it was the one she was going with. "Dan is what happened to you".
Keith looked more confused now than he had moments ago.
His brother? What could his brother have to do with him being in a hospital. That didn't make any sense, but none of this made any sense.
"Wha—what do you mean"? Keith asked, his eyebrows pushed together as he stared off, not at any of his family members, not at anything, he just stared.
"There was a school shooting," Lucas told him, the words escaping his mouth slowly. "Do you remember Jimmie Edwards"?
Keith didn't verbally answer his nephew, but he nodded.
"He showed up to school with a gun," Nathan said, talking on behalf of his brother, knowing how close to home it hit for him. "You came into the school, but you couldn't save Jimmie. He shot himself—".
"What"? Keith asked before Nathan could finish the story. "No, he was a good kid—he, that doesn't—why would he do that"?
"That's for another time" Deb answered before either of the boys went into to much detail.
Deb didn't want to overload Keith's brain, not knowing what it was capable of at this moment. She wasn't even sure she should have said anything at all, but she thought he deserved answers and he did.
"Dan got in the school, too" Nathan continued.
"When did he go from Dad to Dan"? Keith asked his nephew.
"Around the time I found out he tried to kill you," Nathan told him honestly. "We all thought he did until here recently, he got in the school and he shot you. We all thought Jimmie did it until high school graduation if he hadn't turned himself in he probably would have got away with it".
The room fell quiet as Keith absorbed the information that had been laid out for him.
At first, he thought it was a joke, it had to be. But, who would make a joke like that? Nathan had been a bit of a prick as a teenager, but even as fresh as his teenage years were in Keith's mind he couldn't see his nephew making a sick joke like that.
Dan and Keith had never seen eye to eye, ever, but he couldn't imagine his brother trying to kill him. But, he had—that just couldn't be right.
"There has to be a mistake," Keith said looking at the three in front of him. "I don't—Dan, tried to—he shot me"?
Keith was physically and emotionally weak, he was distraught and conflicted, it wasn't a look any of the three he was surrounded by had ever witnessed. But, they also hadn't seen him face to face in so long, it was still difficult to believe that he was sitting there in front of them, in fact, it was damn near impossible to believe even when they were able to reach out and touch him.
"I'm his brother," Keith said, speaking of Dan unaware of his death. "Can I see him"?
"Erm—no," Lucas said shaking his head.
"Dan died, about six or seven years ago" Deb informed him.
"He is dead"? Keith asked, genuinely upset by the news of his brother's death. "Six or seven years ago—how long have I been out"?
He chose the word out because it was the only one that seemed fit, it was the only word that seemed to do justice in his mind for covering the description because truth be told he still had questions and no answers. He knew he was shot, but he didn't know much after that.
Deb looked up at her son and his brother, none of the three wanted to answer his question but one of them had to.
Nathan took the bait, he knew his mother and brother were closer to Keith than he had ever been so he took a deep breath and said: "around seventeen years".
"So, what's your intentions with my mother"?
Jake froze, no longer flipping through the magazine he had in his hand and slowly looked over at Sawyer who sat next to him—arms crossed, eyes narrowed, curly blonde hair in disarray from the amount of playing she had been doing over the course of the past few hours.
She was definitely her mother's child, leaving Jake speechless.
"I'm sorry"? Jake asked, as though he had heard the child wrong knowing he hadn't.
"Your intentions—are they pure"?
"Pure"?
"She heard it on a movie," Davis said rolling his eyes dramatically.
Jake looked at Sawyer, slightly amused, even though she had been exposed she didn't budge. He actually found it cute, and it showed him just how much the young girl cared about her mother, it was obvious beforehand but now it made him smile.
"My intentions are very—pure" Jake said, fighting the laugh caught in his throat.
"Do you plan on having intercourses with her"?
Jake suddenly wasn't laughing anymore.
"What damn movie was this"?
"Aww," Jude said pointing. "You said a swear, you have to put a dollar in the swear jar".
"Your mom is Brooke Davis—actually, that makes sense why you're millionaires. Where is your mothers"?
Sawyer shrugged.
"I thought they would be right back, they have been gone for hours," Jake said, quickly changing the topic before anyone could bring up intercourse again.
"Maybe they got lost"? Lydia said.
"Or maybe they ran away"? Jude suggested.
"Or maybe they are still eating" Davis offered.
"Or maybe the lights are out and they are stuck like everyone else," Sawyer said rolling her eyes at the three younger kids.
Jake didn't say it out loud, but the last one made more sense than the rest.
"They have been gone for hours, you can't eat for hours, even with a stomach like Aunt Brooke's," Sawyer told the kids.
"I wouldn't say that in front of Brooke" Jake told her as he pulled his phone out. "I will try to call your mom, figure out where they are—".
"If they could call—don't you think they would have"? Sawyer asked looking at him. "You may be cute, but you aren't that bright".
Jake, once again, looked over at Sawyer.
Speechless.
"You really are Peyton's daughter aren't ya"?
"Is this line ever going to move"? Lily asked—more frustrated than she was a few hours ago, believe that or not.
Andre and Lily continued to sit in the line of traffic, longer than either had anticipated as the continued to wait. Luckily enough—the car had an amazing air conditioner for a day like this. Even as fall approached North Carolina still carried some extreme heat.
"What's that"? Lily asked, sitting up at the roaring noise.
The two both turned to see a motorcycle sliding through the many cars that had been stuck in the same spot for hours, and at first, neither of the two recognized the man on the motorcycle but the closer it got the more he became recognizable.
"Chuck"? Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chuck parked the motorcycle next to Andre's car, shutting it off, holding the bike steady with his feet planted on either side.
"What are you doing"? Lily asked rolling her window down to talk to her pain the ass boyfriend.
"Andre told me you were stuck in traffic, so I thought I would give you a ride to the hospital"?
"Is that even legal, what you just did"? Lily asked, curious.
Chuck shrugged. "I don't know" he answered honestly. "All I know is my girl needs to get to the hospital, and she can't and I have a way—unless you prefer to sit here".
Lily stopped for a minute and looked up at him, in amazement.
"I thought you didn't do hospitals"?
"I don't" he answered with a cocky smile. "But, I do you—".
"Oh, my god" Lily said wishing he was within arm's length to smack him one good time.
"Your dad is awake, and that's important to you and you're important to me and I'm not good at this stuff—do you want the ride or not"?
Lily smiled before looking over at Andre "I'm not abandoning you if I go, am I"?
"No, you have to get to your dad," Andre told her. "Go, I'll be fine".
Lily quickly jumped out of his car but froze as her boyfriend went to hand her the extra helmet.
"When did you get a motorcycle"? She asked, it suddenly occurring to her.
"I didn't. It's Jamie's, he hid it at my moms in the shed that no one ever uses so his parents wouldn't find out about it" Chuck told her wrapping an arm around her waist.
"But, you're not old enough for a motorcycle license".
"We forged our parents signature," Chuck told her with a grin. "You want on or not"?
Lily knew she didn't have a choice at this point, but instead put the helmet on and jumped on the back of the motorcycle wrapping her arms tightly around Chuck.
Saying her final prayers as he started the motorcycle and took off.
Lily closed her eyes and when she opened them they were parked outside of the hospital, which had a group of people standing outside waiting.
"What's going on"? Lily asked Chuck, confused by the sight.
Chuck shrugged as he parked before the two jumped off the bike and walked over hand in hand.
"What's going on"? Lily asked one of the nurses that looked familiar.
"Long story short, until the electric is back on we can't go in," she told Lily. "That's why any injuries have been sent to another hospital".
"What if there was an emergency inside"? Chuck asked.
"Well, it's still a hospital, it just doesn't have light. Everyone inside is safe, and in good hands" the nurse told them.
"But—my dad, he is awake".
"Keith is awake"? The nurse asked, of course, all the nurses and doctors had known of him and his story at this point. "I'm sure he is okay, Doctor Lafferty is the best, he is in good—great hands".
"She is right," Chuck told his girlfriend placing his hands on either side of her shoulders. "I'm sure he is fine, he is surrounded by doctors and nurses. I'm sure the doors will open any minute now. You just don't worry, relax, and think of what you will say to your dad when you see him".
"Oh, my god" Lily said turning around to face Chuck. "I'm going to get to meet my dad".
It was a dream come true, for now.
Haley sat next to the lady that worked in the cafeteria, eating a piece of pie, as she watched Brooke walk over towards Peyton.
Slow and steady.
At first, Brooke was going to avoid talking to Peyton, because she was semi embarrassed about her behavior earlier, not that she would ever admit it out loud. But, this was her best friend, and she could t avoid her forever—especially since the two kept getting locked in rooms together.
"Hey," Brooke said sitting in the seat across from Peyton, who was currently devouring a piece of pizza.
"Hi," Peyton said, attempting to quickly chew the food in her mouth.
"I'm—I'm sorry" Brooke blurted out.
Peyton arched an eyebrow as she picked up a napkin to wipe the grease from her hand. "Broke Davis apologizing, I need to call Victoria this should go into your baby book".
"Oh, please—she never had a baby book for me, I think the maid did though".
Peyton chuckled, as she discarded the napkin in her hand. "Why exactly are you apologizing"?
"A lot of things" Brooke admitted to her. "I shouldn't have been mad at you in the first place, but you should be mad at me".
"What for exactly"?
"Oh, come on Peyton—are you going to make me say it out-loud"?
"Brooke, let me ask you something...from the moment Luke and I got together have you ever kissed him"?
"No".
"Have you ever slept with him"?
"Of course not".
"Have you in any way tried to be with him behind my back"?
"No".
"Then you have absolutely nothing to apologize to me for," Peyton told her. "Lucas should have been honest about his feelings before we got married before we got together even. I shouldn't have told him that I was in love with him when I did, I knew he wasn't over you, and I chose to tell him anyway. From that moment on it was like dominos, one thing fell right after the other".
Brooke listened to Peyton speak, this time she really listened to her.
"I told him at the wrong time and he reciprocated at the wrong time because he was, I can only assume trying to force himself to move on," Peyton told her. "There were always signs but I never paid attention, this is not your fault it has never been nor will it never be your fault. He should have told me in high school that he still wasn't over you. It doesn't matter about the past, who did what or who said what or who shouldn't have done this or that, it's in the past. But, I need you to know that I don't blame you and I'm not angry with you, and I wouldn't be if you were to pursue something with Lucas—".
"How could you even be thinking about that"? Brooke asked.
"Because, I am happy—with Jake, I know it's only been a few weeks and a few dates but he makes me happy and I want you to be happy, and I was Luke to be happy—".
"Damn," Brooke said. "Jake must be really good at making the headboard rattle if he has the Queen the darkness acting like she just has seen a damn unicorn".
"We haven't had sex" Peyton informed her. "We aren't there... not there yet—".
"You are aware that you two have already had sex before, right"?
Peyton rolled her eyes. "That was almost another lifetime ago, we are starting over and I'm happy with that. I don't want to rush anything, I want to take my time and get to know him again, I don't have any expectations of this relationship other than how he makes me feel".
"I don't think I have ever seen you this happy".
Peyton smiled, she smiled a smile that lit up the entire darkroom. It was impossible to miss, the way she smiled when she talked about Jake, she could have been talking about a sewer and wouldn't have been able to wipe the smile from her face.
"I haven't ever been this happy, I don't think," Peyton said grinning.
"I'm happy for you—".
The lights came back on, the two immediately dropping the conversation they had been engaged in.
"Oh, my god" Brooke said, jumping up. "Finally," she said rushing to the door. "Let's get the hell out of here".
"I want you to know—if you ever tell anyone I did this for you, I will castrate you," Madison said.
Jamie laughed, as he attempted to keep his breathing under control trying, and failing, to ignore the small room the two were confined in.
"Scouts honor," Jamie said, his breathing still heavy.
Madison sat her phone to the side as it began to play music began to play.
"You know I hate you for this" Madison said.
"You love me".
"I hate that I love you".
"Does that make me Ne-Yo and you Rihanna"?
Madison shot Jamie a look, but it only made him laugh, which is what she wanted. She didn't want him to have an anxiety attack, which was the only reason she was standing in front of him about to dance.
"Gon' and do the two-step then cowboy boogie
Grab your sweetheart and spin out with 'em".
With the music playing Jamie watched as his girlfriend, which just the thought of her calling her that once more made him smile, danced to the song she hated most in the world. She had professional training in dancing, in fact, she could do it for a living if she wanted to, but found herself stuck in an elevator doing nothing more than an internet challenge—that she despised.
No sooner than Madison began dancing the elevator's back up lights kicked off, and the main lights kicked on. She quit dancing as the elevator doors slowly opened.
The two rushed out the doors the second they opened, they ran so fast that Madison almost forgot her phone—almost, she was a teenager after all.
"Oh, thank God," Jamie said putting his hands on his hips taking a long and deep breath.
Madison stood behind, waiting for him to get control of himself, finally being in the large opening.
When Jamie turned around he didn't waste a second before wrapping an arm around Madison's waist and pulling her tightly into his body, kissing her.
The two kissed, and kissed, completely oblivious to the many people around them. Frankly, neither cared enough.
"Oh, my god" the two heard a familiar voice, and quit kissing long enough to see Lily walking hand in hand with Chuck. "Are you two back together"?
Jamie chuckled, despite everything, of course, she had to ask. "Yes".
"Oh, finally," Lily said throwing her hand over her heart. "There is hope for love after all".
"Oh, cheese and rice," Madison said pinching the bridge to her nose. "Are you serious"?
"Yes, it's like picking up a people magazine and finding out your favorite couple is back together ".
Jamie and Madison both glanced at each other, and couldn't help but laugh at Lily.
"Did you just get here"? Jamie asked, changing the subject.
"No, we stood outside for an hour and a half," Chuck told him.
"Electrics has been out".
"We know—let's go up and check on my dad," Lily said, with so much joy she was worried her facial bones would break from smiling.
Chuck and Lily walked over to the elevator, not accompanied by Madison and Jamie.
"We're taking the stairs".
Nathan and Lucas found their way back to the waiting room, at the same time as everyone else who had been caught up in their own predicament for the majority of the day.
Jamie and Madison came up from the stairwell, with Chuck and Lily who opted to walk with their best friends. Peyton, Brooke, and Haley came from the opposite direction out of the hallway, as Jake jumped up—thrilled by the sight of all the kids' parents that he had spent the day with.
"Any news on Keith"? Haley asked immediately upon seeing her husband.
"We got to see him—but they are taking him to his room to rest," Nathan told his wife. "He has had a long day".
"You got to see him"? Lily asked, turning to face her brother. "Does he know about me"?
Lucas looked down at his feet, once again feeling overwhelmed by the news he had to deliver.
"No," Lucas said shaking his head.
"I don't understand".
Lucas took Lily's hand and led her over to the nearest chair, surrounded by all their family and friends.
"Keith, remembers—his life, up until he and I were going to move away," Lucas told him. "It was before he ever got with mom. We explained to him about how he got here, but not much more—or any more. It was getting to be a lot on him, emotionally, and a little physically. It's a lot to absorb, even for someone as strong as Keith".
"So—he doesn't know he was with Karen—he doesn't remember that"? Haley asked, sitting down in a chair across from the siblings.
"No" Nathan answered.
"As much as I wish my mom was here I'm honestly glad she isn't here to witness this" Lucas said. "It would have broken her heart".
"Will he ever remembers—that was right around the time Nathan and I got married"?
"We knew there were risks going in, luckily he didn't wake up with a full case of amnesia," Nathan told his wife. "He is just missing the last six months to a year, the doctors don't know if he will ever regain those memories or not, they said to stay hopeful but not to expect anything".
"Something about how the brain isn't an exact science," Lucas told them.
"Where—where does that leave me"? Lily asked, her voice breaking as she spoke.
"The doctors suggested one thing at a time, kind of easing him into what he is forgetting and what he missed," Nathan told his cousin. "Tonight, they don't think Keith could handle any more news—they are actually pretty upset with us for telling him what we told him".
"What did they say"?
"Not a whole hell of a lot once Deb started in on them," Lucas said chuckling.
"The point is Lily—he will learn about you, we aren't hiding you from him but you have to think of his health. He just woke up and found out he has been in a coma for seventeen years and that his brother shot him, he didn't even remember that—you should have seen his face" Nathan said shaking his head. "Dan and Keith were never close but still—".
"That was his brother," Brooke said. "I don't have any brothers or sisters, but—it's unimaginable what he is feeling".
"Luckily enough he isn't feeling too much right now," Lucas said. "He is sedated".
"The tests they didn't get to run today, they are going to run tomorrow but they do want to give him a few days before we dump anything else on him," Lucas told everyone. "He needs it".
Lily looked down, as she felt a tear stroll down her cheek. "I was really looking forward to meeting him".
"And you will," Peyton told her former sister in law. "This doesn't mean you don't get to meet him, but your dad needs time to absorb everything. The last thing we want to do is overload him and send him back into a coma. Right"?
"No, I don't want that—it just sucks," Lily said. "This is something I used to dream about but thought would never happen, now he is here and awake and I still don't have a dad".
"You have a dad" Lucas promised her. "You have one of the best in the world, and once he knows he will show you himself".
Lily smiled. "I also have the best brother".
Lucas wrapped one arm around his baby sister hugging her, tightly.
"Can we go home now"? Lydia asked yawning.
They all looked at the kids, each one looking more exhausted than the other.
"Of course, princess" Nathan said scooping his daughter up high, ignoring how heavy she had become as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah, boys—let's go," Brooke said waving her hand for them to follow.
Lily didn't want to go, she wanted to stay, it wasn't that late in the evening, at least to a teenager it wasn't. But, she knew at this moment there was no point for her there, which was heartbreaking so she stood up, putting her hand in Chuck's and followed the large group outside.
Via stairs.
Because Jamie and Madison refused to step on to the elevator and once everyone realized why no one questioned it and joined them.
"Wait—So you two are back together"? Lucas asked as the large group stepped outside.
"Yes," Jamie answered, for what already felt like the thousandth time.
"Well, are you sure that the right call"?
Jamie froze, forcing the whole group to come to a stop to stare at his uncle, one eyebrow cocked by the confusion.
"What"? Jamie asked. "Are you serious"?
"Luke, I thought you liked me," Madison said.
"Of course I like you—I just think you two should take another... I don't a week and think about this rationally it's a big decision. You know"?
The more Lucas talked the more Nathan laughed until he finally said: "no you heard them, they are back together".
"Damn it," Lucas said pulling his wallet before handing Nathan a couple of large bills. "There is your money".
"What's going on here"? Jamie asked, even more, confused—until it finally clicked. "Wait—did you two bet on how long it would take us to get back together"?
"Of course not," Nathan told his son. "We all did, except Jake and he just didn't know you well enough. So, pay up".
Jamie watched as his mother and his god-mother handed money to Nathan, still unable to believe it.
"Where's my cut"? Peyton asked walking over to Nathan.
"I don't believe this" Jamie said. "I had gone through my first break up and you were all making money off of it"?
"We didn't make any money," Haley said rolling her eyes. "I would have if you two had waited until Thursday".
"Your dad and I were pros of breaking up and getting back together, in high school. It was pretty easy to predict" Peyton said as Nathan handed her half of the money in her hand. "Jake, Sawyer—want to go grab a bite"?
"Can we get ice cream"? Sawyer asked.
"Anything you want a baby girl," Peyton told her daughter.
"You know, you all might have been friends too long," Jake told the group laughing. "You just bet on a couple of a teenagers love life".
"Which I was fluent in, you think I would have won," Brooke said rolling her eyes, in a huff.
"What exactly was your bet"? Madison asked her guardian.
"Tuesday".
"No one thought our break up would stick"? Jamie asked, not sure if he should feel insulted or not.
"God, no" Lily told him. "You two are like Tree Hill's very own Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes".
"This is ridiculous".
"I agree," Haley told her son. "If you had waited until Friday I wouldn't have to listen to your father gloat all night".
"All night"? Nathan asked lightly laughing. "No, I get bragging rights for weeks—you have always been smarter than me, it's nice to know I am better at something... like relationships than you".
"Oh, shut up, Nathan," Haley said as she began to walk towards their car.
"It's okay, babe—I'll tutor you".
Jamie couldn't lie, that was pretty funny.
The rest of the adults all headed towards their vehicles with their kids, leaving the four teenagers alone.
"If you tell me you two bet on us too—I'm clocking Chuck," Jamie said looking at them.
"It's a good thing I don't come from a wealthy family like everyone else," Chuck said gratefully that he was broke. "Oh, I kind of drove your motorcycle here".
"You did what"? Jamie snapped.
"It's a long story—".
"He did it for me" Lily interjected. "So, that I could get to the hospital with the electric pole down traffic was backed up—".
"You're going to have wait until my parents leave to drive that thing out of here," Jamie told Chuck running his fingers through his hair, nervously. "My mom would pass out if she knew I had that"
"How did you even get it without your parents"? Lily asked.
"Money"?
"I meant don't you have to have a parent sign something"?
"I have people," Jamie told her.
The four watched as Nathan and Haley's car drove out of the parking garage followed by Lucas, Peyton and Jake, and then Brooke.
"I'll go put that back in moms shed," Chuck said as he took Lily's hand and the two walked away leaving the couple alone.
"How long until you have to be home"? Jamie asked wrapping his arms around Madison's waist.
"A few hours," she said with a small smile. "Did you want to do something"?
"I have a few ideas".
"Oh, yeah"?
"They all include you naked in the back of my Tahoe".
And Madison couldn't help but laugh "me suena bien".
Author's note : I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, when it came to the girls I had a little difficulty writing it. I had a few things I wanted to come across, but as I wrote it some of it just felt like it didn't make the world of sense. But I hope I did well with it.
I'm not entirely sure this is how Peyton would react, but it's how she's going to react in this story, but she is so happy with Jake that she she just wants everyone else to be happy. She has come to terms with the fact that it should have been Brooke and Lucas all along.
Brooke has not. But, right now she does have a difficult time seeing her self with anybody. As you could probably tell from this chapter. She has a lot on her plate right now without adding Luke to it. Her husband died, she is raising two boys by herself, she now has a teenage girl, she is thinking of adopting Madison, and She is trying to start a new fashion line. There's so much going on in her life, it's very difficult for her to think of starting up any relationship right now but you will get to see that progress, slowly.
Jamie and Madison are back together, once I come up with the storyline that they would be trapped in the elevator I came up with the idea of him being claustrophobic due to the car accident he was in on the bridge. He went through so much as a child and they showed a little trauma with it but nothing like how I would envision a child of his age dealing with it.
Keith was the most difficult to write, because waking up and dealing with what he is dealing with would be a lot for anybody, and I wanted to describe it and write it very well. I always saw Keith as the hero and the stronger of the two Scott brothers, But him waking up and finding out what he is finding out would be a lot for anybody and I hope I wrote that well, when I come up with the Keith storyline I have been so nervous to write him into the story. I knew that's where the story was going but I was very anxious about it.
Lucas of course has so much on his shoulders, he always does. But, Lily is finally starting to warm back up to her brother.
Speaking of Lily she didn't get to meet her dad in this chapter and maybe not even the next chapter, I'm not entirely for sure, but she will get to meet him of course. My heart just kind of broke for her that she did in this chapter like she wanted. But, you didn't get to see how much Andre cares for her and Chuck. Unlike any other teenage boy he just push them closer together.
Haley telling Nathan to "shut up" was all in good humor, this chapter was such a heavy chapter that I wanted to bring a little humor towards the end to it.
I'm not entirely sure if the hospital storyline was actually possible, I have been stuck in a hospital for almost 2 weeks and that's how I came up with this particular storyline, but but this is fanfiction after all. By the way riding a storyline about claustrophobia, being stuck in rooms in a hospital actually being in the hospital is not a good idea. LOL.
I seen a comment about Madison, being Latino, and that is actually going to be part of her story. Which, I cannot wait to tell. She has always known that she is Latino... But thought she came from a different part of the world, she is going to want to find out who she is. So you will get to see her learn about her true heritage. I'm not sure if the actress who played Madison Was Latino or not, but I chose to write her in my story as Latino, someone that I could relate to. I was born and raised in America, but my roots are much farther south. I know very little Spanish, I'm actually trying to teach it to myself now because I wasn't raised by my biological parents.
Another comment asking about who is going to use the tempered condoms, I will say this no plans to get any of the teenagers pregnant anytime soon.
Now that I have rambled on for far too long I would like to thank you once again for continuing to read my story and commenting. It means the absolute world to me.