Hey guys, I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update. Blame it on photoshop, and the fact that I have decided that I love making banners. Anyway, here is the next chapter, and I hope you like it. It turned out to be one of my favorites so far. And if you do like it, leave me a review, it really motivates me to know what everyone thinks of the story. Alright, I'll quit talking and let ya'll read it. And as always, I do not own One Tree Hill or its characters, but oh how I wish I did….

Chapter 14 – Right Here

I know I've been mistaken
But just give me a break and see the changes that I've made
I've got some imperfections
But how can you collect them all and throw them in my face

The rhythmic bounce of the ball on the pavement never failed to ease his mind. Basketball was like that, therapy in a way. Here it all made sense, or it used to. Now, even basketball didn't make sense to him, and he hated that more than any other aspect of the disease he had inherited.

He sighed as he released, and watched as the ball sailed effortlessly through the air, and go perfectly through the hoop. He knew that any number of people would kill him if they saw him on the court, ball in hand, but right now, the ball was the only thing that was keeping him sane.

'If only it were that simple.' He thought as he watched another perfect shot glide through the hoop. He had come to the Rivercourt in hopes to get away, and escape everyone's sympathetic looks and worried glances. In the last week since he had returned to school, his mother had barely let him out of her sight, and Nathan was practically glued to his side at every moment. Lucas smiled slightly, as he thought about Nathan's constant worry-wart behavior. He swore that one night Nathan was going to actually try and tuck him into bed and sing him a lullaby. It did feel nice to have his brother back though, so he couldn't really complain about his over-protective behavior.

The only one that had treated him semi-normal was Brooke. When he looked into her eyes, he didn't see the pity he saw in others', instead he just saw understanding. But leave it to Brooke to constantly surprise him and understand. Things had gotten better between the two in the last week. They were still trying out their new friendship, and he hated to admit it, but he had missed her just being in his life. They were nowhere near as close to what they had been, but they had also managed to get past the awkwardness that had settled around them. The only time things got a little tense, was whenever Rachel was around, but he guessed that was just catty girl stuff.

He tried to block out all the thoughts of everything from his heart condition to his love life, and instead attempted to savor the few interrupted minutes he had with his first love, basketball.

He also tried to ignore the slight pain in his chest every time he let the ball fly through the air, and just concentrate on his game, or what little he had left of it. The chest pain was just another friendly reminder that everything was going to be different from now on.

He was so engrossed by his thoughts and the game that he didn't hear the car pull up, and didn't notice the person get out of the car and stomp onto the court. He did notice however, when he heard her scream his name.

"Lucas Eugene Scott! Put that ball down right now or so help me god I will kick your Broody ass!"

He nearly had a heart attack right there from her outburst, as the ball went flying wildly after she nearly scared the hell out of him. He knew that tone of voice and he knew that he was in trouble. She was probably the worst person to catch him playing, and he was not eager to face the blazing eyes of Brooke Davis, or her world famous temper for that matter.

Slowly turning around, he would have laughed at the sight of her if she didn't seriously look like she was going to kick his ass, just as she had promised. She was standing on the asphalt court tapping her foot, hands on her hips, sporting a look that would make even the most fearless man quiver in terror.

"Hi Brooke," he muttered weakly, a look of pure guilt spread across his face.

"Don't you "Hi Brooke" me, you jackass. What the hell are you doing out here alone playing basketball of all things," she yelled, trying to mask her concern for his health with the anger she felt towards him for putting himself in harms way again.

"I just am. It's none of your business." He spat, a little more harshly than intended.

"It is my business, Luke. Contrary to what you believe, I do care about you. Why else would I be standing in the middle of a basketball court screeching at the top of my lungs?" she asked, the tone in her voice not faltering.

"I just wanted to prove that I still had it, because I know that I have to give it up," He replied, much calmer this time, his face revealing how hard it was for him to have this thing taken away from him.

Her face instantly softened at his words, and she felt so bad for what he was going through. She had to remember that he wasn't just dealing with their falling out; he had so many other issues to deal with as well. And in typical Lucas fashion, he was keeping it all inside.

"Oh Luke" she replied as she wrapped her arms around him, and then took his hand and lead him over to the picnic table by the court.

He was silent for a few moments, and she just sat there noticing that their hands were still loosely entwined and he wasn't pulling away from her touch this time. She hoped he would open up eventually, but she had learned from past experience not to push him. So she just sat there with him until his voice kinda startled her when he finally did start talking again.

"You know, Keith gave me my first basketball when I was four. He used to take me here when I was little and show me how to play. I loved that when I was a little kid, it made me feel like I had a real dad, even if it was only for a few hours." Lucas said, talking more to himself than he was to her, but at least he was talking.

Brooke just stayed silent, knowing that he just needed to let out all of his thoughts. She was just glad that he had opened up to someone, and she was even more grateful that it was her. She really didn't think that he would let her get this close to him again, and she was glad that at least some of his walls were coming down.

"I love this game Brooke, just everything about it. When I play, everything else just melts away, and I'm just one with the ball. I'm at peace. Basketball has always been the one thing that has defined me. Without it, I'm not quite sure what to do anymore."

"Lucas, Basketball isn't all you are. You are so much more than that, and you need to see that. You're amazing with all the books you read and the music you listen to. All of that defines you as well and also what kind of friend you are. What kind of brother you are. Those things define you too." She could see how amazing he was, why couldn't he?

She could tell that he wasn't paying attention, his face had this far off look that extended way beyond his normal broody state.

"Ugh, I hate this. All of this!" He suddenly growled, frustrated with everything life had thrown at him, and started pacing.

"I hate that Dan was the one who passed this disease on to me, that this was the one thing he actually gave me. He hated me for most of my life, and then I inherit his heart condition, that is so unfair. I hate that everyone thinks that I am going to break, that everybody looks at me with pity in their eyes. It makes me feel weak. I just hate being weak," He choked out, barely able to hold onto his emotions.

He was silent once again, as he regained his composure and sat back down next to Brooke on the bench.

His voice was barely a whisper when he began to speak again.

"I have to have surgery."

Brooke could feel the terror run through her veins as she heard those words and struggled to keep the tears from spilling down her face. 'Surgery, he couldn't be that sick, could he?' All she wanted to do was hug him and never let him go again, afraid she wouldn't get to anymore.

"Surgery," she squeaked out. "Lucas, are you going to be okay? Why do you have to have it? When is it? Why didn't you tell me before? Why didn't someone tell me? Where are you having it? What did your mom say?" She rambled, her silent understanding going out the window as she began her normal nervous behavior.

Despite the seriousness of the conversation they were having, Lucas couldn't help but laugh at Brooke. He didn't think she was going to be able to stay quiet for too long, and decided he better try and answer her questions one by one.

"Brooke, slow down," He said as he grabbed her hand in an attempt to calm her down.

"Look, I haven't told anyone about it, not even Nathan. I don't want everyone to be even more worried about me than they already are. Please, Brooke don't tell anyone."

She was still trying to process the fact that something could happen to him, and she had missed her chance. Then she realized that she was the only person he planned on telling, and she was just glad that he was starting to trust her again little by little.

"When is it?"

"I have to have surgery in two weeks to correct the damage I did to my heart after my collapse. If they don't do it, then I run the risk of having a major heart attack."

"And if they do the surgery?"

"Then I should be able to live a normal life. I can't play basketball or any other sport competitively, but I may be able to play for fun." He tried to answer as calmly as possible. He wasn't going to let himself get upset, it would only upset the brunette beside him even more.

"Is it risky?"

He sighed before answering that specific question. It was a bit of a risky procedure, but like any other surgery, there were always risks, and something could always go wrong. But he didn't want to think about that, and he didn't want her to worry anymore than she already was.

"A little."

"Are you scared?"

He wanted to just say no, and pretend that he was fine, part of him just wanted to do what he always did and keep it all inside. But there she was, asking him questions that he would never honestly answer to anyone else, and all he could do was tell her the truth.

"Terrified." He answered as she leaned in closer and just hugged him, careful not to let him see the tears that were leaking out of her eyes. She just held him tighter as he continued to pour out his heart to her.

"I mean, I'm supposed to be looking at colleges, not figuring out which hospitals have the best surgeons. And I hate hospitals, and something could go wrong. And there is a slight possibility that they may not be able to repair all of the damage." And this time he couldn't hold back his emotions, and he let a tear run down his check.

Brooke leaned back to look him in the eye, and gently wiped the tear off of his face. It will be ok Luke. I'm here for you" she whispered.

He couldn't help but look into her eyes and see the truth in her words. Brooke was setting out to prove that she wasn't going anywhere this time, and she was doing a good job of it.

"I know." he whispered back, and hugged her with all of his might, not wanting to break the contact with her quite yet.

But you always find a way to keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if you chose to walk away I'd still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep you right here waiting

I've made a commitment
I'm willing to bleed for you
I needed fulfillment
I found what I need in you

Haley cringed as she walked up to the Scott residence. This house literally gave her the creeps, but she would risk it in order to talk to her husband. He was avoiding her at all costs, and she was going to put an end to this once and for all. She had a sinking feeling that this conversation was not going to be pleasant, but she had to get it out of the way. Maybe if Nathan could see that she was truly sorry, then he would begin to forgive her.

Haley knew that she loved him with all of her heart, but she also knew that she had hurt him, and now she had to accept the consequences, and hope to start slowly building a relationship with her husband again.

As she knocked on the door, she seriously contemplated turning around and forgetting her whole purpose for the trip.

She felt relief spread across her face as she saw Nathan open the door and not he-who-shall-not-be-named. This feeling was short lived, however, when she noticed that he was not happy to see her.

"Nathan don't shut the door in my face" she said as he made the movement to shut her out of his life both literally and figuratively. "Please, I really want to talk to you."

He reluctantly came outside to join her, hoping to avoid another confrontation, knowing that would not be the case. He was just tired of the whole situation, and he had been avoiding her as much as he could. He couldn't deny that he still loved her, and that he still wanted her, but he also couldn't deny that a part of him still hated her. And unfortunately that part was directly linked to his ego, and therefore resulted in that emotion being expressed.

"What do you want Haley?" he asked, his tone guarded.

"I want you to talk to me. Yell, scream, whatever, just don't shut me out Nathan, please," she was basically pleading with him, and one look in her eyes, and he realized that they had to try and talk this out sometime.

Sighing, he walked to the table on the deck and sat down, trying to keep his temper in check. Hurting her on purpose wasn't working, so he guessed it was his turn to lay it out on the line, whether or not she was ready to hear it.

"I don't want the annulment. I know you didn't sign it, so I ripped it up."

Her hopes soared for a second, but his next words brought her right back down.

"I want a divorce."

"Nathan," she cried.

"Look, our marriage happened, and I won't pretend that it didn't but right now I can't be married to you. We have a year, if we don't work it out then we get the divorce."

"Nathan, I don't want a divorce, I just want us to be together again."

"I don't know if that can happen, Haley," he said, trying to hide just how much this was hurting him.

"Nathan, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left, it was a mistake, but I am trying to make it up to you, I'm trying to prove that you were always in my heart, that there was no one else."

"What about Chris?" He spat, the name alone making him want to pound on the skinny little punk.

"He wasn't in my heart, Chris was just a confused kiss, something that I regretted instantly. He was just a big mistake," she choked.

"Then why did you take off your ring and tell me that it was all happening too fast?"

Haley didn't have an answer to give him, and the tears just wouldn't stop coming. The truth was she had been scared, and she had run away, and she didn't know how to fix all the problems so she just continued to run, to block it all out.

"Because I didn't deserve to wear it," she answered finally, pulling the ring out from under her shirt, revealing the memento to him.

He was stunned that she had done the exact same thing as he had with her wedding ring, but he wasn't ready to admit to her that he hadn't quite given up either.

"But I loved you, I still love you, I just want another chance Nathan please, let me prove to you that you are it for me."

"Haley, those are all just words. Do you even realize what you put me through. Do you realize what your leaving really did to me. You were all I had, and you walked away. You were my wife, not just another girlfriend, but my wife. You promised me forever and you left the first opportunity that you had. Do you realize how much that hurt, and what that did to me. You broke my heart. You realize you made a mistake, well good for you, but I don't know if I can let you in again. Not like that. I made you my whole world, and you ripped that world apart with one decision."

"Nathan" she sobbed.

"No let me finish"

He knew he was hurting her, but she had to know, she had to understand exactly what she had reduced him to, and how much power he had let her have over his life. Because if she knew, then maybe she could understand why this wasn't as easy as a simple "I'm sorry."

"I was a mess; I nearly died for crying out loud." He yelled his tone more emotional than he wanted it to be.

She winced at his words, but just let him continue.

"The day I hit the wall, I couldn't see anything but the pain that you caused me. All I could see was our life together, and nothing else, nothing else mattered to me. I hit rock, bottom, and had to slowly pull myself back up. I had to do that by myself, Haley, no one was there to help me. And you know what, I did. I could finally go on without you, it hurt like hell, but I was making it." He paused.

"Then you came back, and ripped my world apart again. Haley I just don't know if I have anymore left for you to rip to pieces."

"Nathan, I'm sorry. I mean it. I'm so sorry. Its more than words," she cried. "If I could take away my love for music, and my talent in order to just be happy with you, I would do it in a heartbeat. I would take back every single moment on that tour just to be with you. What I did was horrible, but we were so young, we still are, and I made the biggest mistake of my life. You are more important to me than anything else and I will do anything I can to prove that to you."

He wanted so badly to believe her, so badly to go back to her, and make the last six months into a distant memory, but he couldn't do it. Not just yet, he still hadn't recovered from the last time yet, and he couldn't let her back in until he stopped hating her for leaving in the first place.

"I can't. Haley I can't let you back in right now. I don't know if I want to." He said, trying still to ignore the tightening in his chest as she saw her sob, and place a hand over the ring on her neck.

"Do you think you will ever love me again?" She whispered, afraid that she had actually completely destroyed the best thing she ever had.

"Damn it Haley, its not that I don't love you. I love you too damn much sometimes, and that's why it hurts so bad, that's why I just can't let you back in yet." He yelled in frustration as he banged his hands on the table. This was all too much, he couldn't believe he had actually told her everything he felt while she was gone.

"Will you ever be able to?" Her voice was still laced with emotion, and the tears were still spilling out of her eyes. But she had to know the answer, she had to know if there was any hope. At least he admitted that he still loved her, but having him admit that he could not trust her, made her wish with all of her heart that things were different.

"I'm not sure," he said as he turned and walked away. That was all he could do, he couldn't sit there any longer and see her tears.

"Always and Forever," she replied to his slowly retreating figure. "I meant it Nathan, I always will."

And he couldn't help but think that maybe someday, they would get back to always and forever. Someday, but not today.

Why can't you just forgive me
I don't want to relive all the mistakes I've made along the way
But I always find a way to keep you right here waiting
I always find the words to say to keep you right here waiting

Hope you liked it. The song used in the title was from Staind, 'Right Here.' Now tell me what you think.