Hey Guys!
So... this is the last chapter. Yeah... I know t here was no warning for this at all or anything but, I figured that this would be a reasonable place to leave it and as well, it gives it good space for a sequal if I do decide to make one at any time... so here you go, I hope you guys like this one... it's not huge and dramatic or anything, it's more simple and... fitting maybe? haha I don't know but here it is...
For one last time: Disclaimer: I Do not own One Tree Hill... or any of that stuff:)
Michelley P.
Chapter Twenty Nine: Growing Up
Brooke sat on th edge of her bed and stared at the floor. She didn't understand how she could be so much older, yet feel as though all of her highschool drama was surfacing again. But she knew there was more at stake this time. There was Michael. And Erica. It was only now hitting her that every choice she made for the rest of her life would effect them. But she didn't want to cave this time. She was tired of being the forgiving one, and she was too tired to try again.
Back in his house, Lucas waited patiently for the kids to get home from work. He didn't know what he was supposed to do now but he did know that they were doing something wrong. He could see this in the way the kids didn't smile anymore. He could see it in how they were forcing their five year old children to act more like adults than they were. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right.
"So they didn't make up?" Haley asked in disbelief as she paced around the kitchen. It had been hours since Brooke went to her room and they hadn't heard from her since.
"I guess not." Nathan shrugged, not really wanting to get into anyone else's business. He looked up at Haley as he sat on the stool. Her eyes were beginning to brim with tears, and she looked more angry than he had ever seen her. But most of all, she looked as though what Brooke and Lucas were going through was hurting her more than anyone else. "Haley... I know they're our friends and everything. But why is this hurting you so much?" Nathan asked. He dropped the newspaper her was reading on the table and walked over to her, stopping her from pacing.
She stared at him, wondering if she was truly being selfish by making this about her, or if her motives were logical. "Because this isn't fair!" She started.
"I know!" Nathan smiled. "But Haley, everyone goes through stuff like this. They'll be fine." He pulled her in and hugged her, but she pulled back to explain more.
"No! That's not what I meant." She yelled. Finally the anger poured from her eyes, and she couldn't care less if Brooke heard her upstairs or not. "If you and I were in this situation. And Natalie was here, I'd make it all right, just to keep her happy." Nathan's expression fell when he understood what she was talking about. Then it hit him that this was the first time she talked about Natalie in awhile.
"I know... so would I." He nodded in agreement.
"Nathan. They are taking complete advantage of their kids. They should NOT be bargaining chips. They decisions they make should revolve around those two. What is wrong with them?" Haley's voice became lighter as she thought of how differently she's handle this if it were her, and her daughter was alive.
"Maybe they need to hear this themselves." Nathan suggested. Haley gave him a look of surprise. He had never before wanted to interfere with anyone else's life. "If they're not going to do it for the kids' sakes, we will. I'll take Lucas." he smiled. He kissed Haley forehead and grabbed his jacket, disappearing out the door.
Haley knocked gently on Brooke's door and then opened it. Brooke was now sleeping soundly on the bed Haley had made up for her. Haley shook her head at how immature they were all being. It wasn't that she didn't want Brooke staying with her, but the accommodations didn't include Michael, and that just wasn't right.
"Brooke... what the hell are you doing?" Haley spat out angrily. Brooke's eyes shot open and she glanced up at Haley.
"Mmm, sleeping?" She answered. She sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"Not that. I can see you're sleeping. I mean with Lucas." Haley stood in the room in front of Brooke with her hands on her hips.
"Haley... what do you people expect from me?" Brooke whined.
"You're being selfish and immature." Haley snapped again. Brooke raised her eyebrows at her and bit her lip.
"Have I outlived my welcome?" Brooke asked with annoyance.
"No!" Haley sighed and dropped her hands from her hips. "It's not that Brooke, I love having you here. But we're not in highschool anymore Brooke and you guys are not teenagers anymore." She tried to calm herself down by speaking in a smaller voice, but she could feel her frustration growing inside of her again.
"I know that Haley. Dammit! What is your problem?" Brooke tried to defend herself. She groaned and pulled a blanket over her lap and to her chin. Haley reached over and ripped th blanket off of her.
"Get of your ass and get this shit with Lucas settled out." Haley ordered her.
"No! When he's ready to admit that he wants me there, then I'll be ready to make things better." Brooke explained. Haley rolled her eyes and threw her hands into the air.
"Brooke, sometimes life doesn't turn out like you'd want it to. And sometimes it really just sucks. And back when we were teenagers, what you're saying would have made sense. But there are two kids involved here and I really don't think you guys are handling this situation in their best interests." Haley explained as calmly as she could. Brooke knew she was right, but she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Who was she kidding? Haley was always right.
"What would you know about be-" Brooke stopped and bit her lip in regret. She knew she was really starting to cross the line here.
" About being a mother?" Haley raised her eyebrows at Brooke. Brooke was surprised with Haley's reaction, she seemed calm and secure. "I may not have had Natalie for long, but I still know what it's like to feel like you need to protect your child with every fiber of your being." Haley whispered to Brooke coldly.
"I know... I'm sorry." Brooke nodded sadly.
"Don't apologize to me." Haley answered her. Brooke stood up and stared around the room.
"I understand what you're saying Haley. I've been thinking about that all day. And I miss Michael so much. But, if I screwed up this much already, maybe he's better off without me." Brooke admitted how she was feeling, letting out a deep heartfelt sigh.
"Don't be stupid. You raised Michael on your own for the first five years of his life. He needs you and you and Lucas need to push your personal feelings aside long enough to make him happy." Haley then hugged her in a small way to say she was sorry for yelling and pushing her around.
"Thank you." Brooke whispered to her. She pulled back and pouted. "I feel kind of dumb though. I mean, I needed you to tell me to do this. What if I wouldn't have been able to see this on my own?" Brooke worried.
" You would've." Haley smiled. "I just gave you a head start." She hugged Brooke and then watched as she raced down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and stared up to the top where Haley was then standing.
"You're going to be a really great mom." Brooke smiled. Haley didn't answer, but smiled back thoughtfully. Then she closed her eyes and listen to the sound of the door slamming shut. She crooked her eyebrow again at the sound of it opening again. "Can I borrow your car?" Brooke grinned. Nathan walked up the stairs behind her and handed her the keys. She smiled thankfully as Haley laughed.
"It's all your's." He smirked. She gave him a quick hug and then disappeared again.
"You talked to Lucas?" Haley asked him hopefully. He nodded and then walked up the stairs to meet her halfway.
"Yeah... but it didn't take much. I think they knew what a big mistake they were making before we even told them." Nathan smiled. He leaned over and kissed Haley then wrapped his arms around her waist from the step below her. Even being lower on the stairs, he was still eye level with her, even a little higher than that.
Brooke rushed up Lucas's front walk to find him rushing out of his own door. They both stopped in their tracks in front of each other. They had gotten this far, to go find each other, but hadn't really decided what they'd say next. A few blocks down, a school bus full of kids was approaching. Brooke stepped forward and hugged Lucas, letting out a heavy sigh of relief as he returned her hug. Brooke's car key's jingled against Lucas's back, and his against her waist. Pulling back, Brooke smiled.
"I'm ready to start this over." She whispered. The school bus finally stopped behind them and two small kids climbed off. They slowly made their way to their parents. "I mean, it's not going to be like before... not yet but, we need to be a family." She breathed. She bent down and picked Michael happily into her arms as he hugged her.
Lucas smiled brightly as he picked up Erica. "I was about to say the same to you." He grinned. He leaned over and kissed her temple tenderly. "But there's a lot that we still need to talk about, and work out." He nodded. She agreed with him and watched as the two kids smiled brighter than she had seen them smile in a long time.
"Mommy are you going to come home now?" Michael asked her hopefully. Brooke looked over at Lucas and shrugged.
"I don't know... that's up to your father." She smiled. Lucas shook his head and smiled back.
"Of course..." He simply whispered. The two kids smiled happily and exchanged hugs with their parents. Everything was finally as it should be.
I used to get away with so much
Now I can't get away
I even thought that it was simple
To say the things I wanted to say
And you told me
Everything I wanted to hear
And you sold me
Now I don't know how I should feel
I should know me
And baby you would think I'd know better, oh ohh, yeah
I'm finding my way back to you
And everything I used to be
And waiting is all that I can do
Until you find your way back to me
What if I said what I was thinking
What if that says too much
When everybody's got a reason
I feel like giving up
And you told me
Everything I wanted to hear
And you sold me
Now I don't know how I should feel
I should know me
And baby you would think I'd know better… oh woo
And I'm finding my way back to you
And everything I used to be
And waiting is all that I can do
Until you find your way back to me
Until you find your way back to me
Oh until you find your way back to me
I used to get away with so much
I'm finding my way back to you
And everything I used to be
And waiting is all that I can doUntil you find your way back to me… yeah… ho whoo oh… yeah… oh
And waiting is all that I can do
Until you find your way back to me… oh
I used to get away with so much
There you go... not really sure what I thought of it myself... but what did you guys think? wanna leave one last review? pretty please? Thanks!
Michelley P.