Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them.
AN/ Here is the next chapter. Glad you all liked the last chapter. I am not too sure how I feel about this one though. Thanks for all the reviews and all of the encouragement. Please don't forget to review for this chapter.
As always suggestions are welcome!
When they reached the river court, Haley, Brooke and Meredith took a seat on the bleachers as the guys started a game of one on one.
"Haley?" Meredith asked after a few minutes of silence
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to leave again?"
Haley looked away from the game and into the sad eyes of the little girl and answered honestly, "Yea, I am going to leave again"
"Why?"
"Because I have to get back to my school"
"Oh. Can you move your school here?"
Haley laughed at the comment, "No, I can't."
"Brooke?" Meredith asked. Brooke looked at the little girl knowing what her question would be
"I have to leave too, Missy"
"I don't want you guys to go"
"Oh, we know" Brooke said as she hugged the little girl, "But don't worry we will be back"
"Promise?"
"Promise" Haley answered putting her hand on Meredith's back
"Are my brothers leaving too?"
"Yea, they are leaving too, but they will be back too."
"Are Peyton and Theresa leaving too?"
"No, they will still be here and so will Skills and Jake" Brooke answered still hugging the young girl
"I don't like it when you all leave"
"We don't either" Haley answered looking out to the court and the game being played
"Let's go to the river court," Jake said standing from the couch as the talk show they had been watching ended
"Already?" Peyton asked
"Yea, We can shoot some hoops"
"Jake, you know I don't play basketball"
"Okay, then you can cheer me on as I shoot hoops"
Peyton laughed as Jake pulled her to her feet, "Let's go"
"Looks like some of your friends over there" Erica pointed out to Mouth as they walked along the docks
"Yea, sure does"
"I guess you would like to join them"
"Actually, we are all meeting here to watch the sunset. Why don't you join us?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yea, I know Haley would like to see you again"
"Okay" Erica said as she smiled. Mouth grabbed her hand and walked towards the court
"Nice shot" Lucas said as Nathan made a basket from the centerline
"Thanks. I guess I did learn something from watching you all these years" Nathan said
"At least you learned something from your older brother"
"Luke, you are only three months older"
"Three months is still three months," Lucas said laughing as he also made a shot from the center line
"They look good sitting over there," Nathan said looking towards the bleachers
"What do you mean?"
"Haley and Brooke with Meredith. Three very important people in our lives"
"Yea. I don't want to think about what is going to happen when Saturday comes"
"Yea, me neither"
"Have you and Haley talked about what you are going to do?"
"Nope, I guess that will be a conversation for Friday. What about you and Brooke?"
"We haven't either. I do know one thing. I would give up basketball if I have too"
"I don't think Brooke wants you to do that. Basketball has always been a dream of yours and mine for that matter. Just like teaching and fashion designing have been their dreams. I don't want Haley to give up her teaching job for me and I know you don't want Brooke to give up her fashion career for you. We just have to find a way to make it all work"
"When did you get so smart?" Lucas said laughing at his brother
"Hales is rubbing off on me" Nathan answered smiling as the game continued
"Hey guys" Mouth said as he and Erica approached the group hand in hand
"Hey Mouth" Brooke said, "Erica it is good to see you again"
"You too, Brooke. Hey Haley"
"Hey Erica." Haley said moving to hug Erica and breaking the hand connection between Mouth and Erica, "Have a seat and chat with us"
"Hi, I am Meredith" Meredith said sticking her hand out for Erica to shake
"Hi, Meredith. My name is Erica" Erica said shaking the young girl's little hand
"Those are my brothers, Lucas and Nathan," the young girl said pointing to the court
"I went to school with your brothers"
"Really?"
"Yup"
"She went to school with Jake, Peyton and everyone else too" Brooke said
"Cool" Meredith said with a smile on her face
"Hey Man. Didn't see you sitting over here," Nathan said to Mouth as the two brothers walked off the court
"Just got here"
"Erica, good to see you again" Lucas said taking a seat beside Brooke
"You too, Lucas"
"Erica, have you met our sister, Meredith?" Nathan asked sitting between Haley and Meredith
"Yes, we were just introduced. I didn't know that you guys have a sister"
"Yea and she has these two wrapped around her little finger," Mouth said
"She has you too, Mouth" Brooke said
The group laughed as Peyton and Jake walked towards them
The bell above the door of the café rang as it was opened and a tall man walked in
"John, Hey" Karen said as John James took a seat at the counter
"Hey Karen"
"What can I get you?"
"Coffee, please"
"Sure"
"Larry called me. Peyton said something about Andy being in here today" John continued talking as Karen sat a coffee cup in front of him filled with coffee, "What did he want?"
"He wanted to talk to Deb. He wanted to explain why he left and never came back"
"What was his excuse?"
"He claims that he was in a witness protection program for a testimony he gave against some Mafia person back in New Zealand"
"Do you believe him?"
"No, not for a second. I think he just left and wanted to use something else as an excuse"
"Did he say why he came back now?"
"He said he had heard about Keith and wanted to offer his sympathy. What I can't figure out is how he found out about Keith. It was not national news or anything"
"Did you ask him?"
"No, I was too shocked that he would actually show his face in this town again"
"Did he leave?"
"The café, yes, but he told Nathan that he would be around for a few days"
"Nathan saw him?"
"Yea, he left when Peyton and Jake got here and then came back"
"What did Nathan say?"
"He was furious with him. I don't blame him"
"Something doesn't fit right with all of this."
"What do you mean?"
"Why didn't he come back for now? Like when Deb died and how did he find out about Keith?"
"I don't know. I got enough stuff to worry about without adding why Andy Hargrove showed up twenty years too late"
"Yea, you are right. Thanks for the coffee, Karen" John said as he stood and pulled a couple of dollars from his pocket
"John, keep your money" Karen said
"Put it in Meredith's bank" John said as he smiled and walked towards the café door
"Tell Lydia I said Hi" Karen said before John opened the door
"I will and don't worry, Karen. I will figure out why he really came back," John said before walking out the door and letting it close behind him.
"Hey guys. We didn't think anyone was going to be here yet," Jake said as he and Peyton sat down on the bleachers
"Yea, Lucas and I need to blow off some steam" Nathan said
"Everything okay?" Peyton asked
"Andy came back" Lucas said looking towards his childhood friend.
"Oh. Erica, it is good to see you again," Peyton said avoiding the subject of Andy
"Good to see you too. Hi Jake"
"Hey Erica"
"So, what have you been up to?" Peyton asked
"I just finished getting my law degree"
"That's great. Where do you plan on practicing?" Haley asked
"I am not sure yet. I was thinking about New York, maybe"
"New York, huh?" Brooke said nudging Mouth
Erica laughed as Mouth turned and gave Brooke a look, "Yea, I am still not sure yet though. So, what is new with the rest of you?"
"Here's the lowdown" Brooke said as the rest of the group looked at her, "Lucas and Nathan are basketball stars, Haley is a teacher, Jake is a cop, Peyton is an artist, Skills works at Keith's shop, Theresa is an accountant, Mouth works on websites and I work in fashion designing" Brooke said taking a breath, "Jake and Peyton are getting married and if Skills ever decides to ask Theresa, they will be too"
"Hey you forgot me?" Meredith said
"Oh, sorry. Meredith goes to Tree Hill elementary"
"Did you get all that?" Nathan asked laughing
"I think" Erica said, "Theresa is an accountant?"
"Yea, no one saw that one coming" Lucas said, "She is pretty good at it too"
"Who is pretty good at what?" Theresa said as she and Skills approached the group
"Where have you two been hiding all day?" Peyton asked
"Home" Skills answered as they sat down, "Hey Meredith"
"Skills" Meredith said as she moved to sit in his lap
"Erica, it is good to see you again. Did you guys have fun on your date?" Theresa asked
"Date?" Erica asked
"Theresa, I told you it was just two friends have lunch" Mouth said
"Yea, sure" Brooke said
"Speaking of that, good job on operation Mouth" Jake said as he looked towards Brooke
"Thank you. Theresa helped"
"Operation Mouth?" Erica asked
"I will explain it to you later" Mouth said as his face began to turn red
"How about a game before the sunset?" Lucas asked
"Sounds good" Nathan said as he, Jake, and Lucas took the court
"Come here little one" Theresa said pulling Meredith into her lap so that Skills could join the game
"Haley, did you survive shopping with Brooke?" Peyton asked as the remaining group turned around to talk with one another except Mouth who avoided the girl talk by concentrating on the game in front of him.
"Yea. It wasn't that bad. I got an outfit for Friday night"
"What did your mom and dad say?" Theresa asked Peyton
"They were really happy. Jake told them that we were adding a new addition to the family and Dad thought he was talking about another friend. I wish I had a camera so I could have taken a picture of the grin that he had on his face. He is going to spoil this child rotten"
"Are you pregnant, Peyton?" Erica asked
"Yea, Brooke forgot that part in her lowdown"
"Well, I figured you might want to share that news" Brooke said
"Congratulations! When are you due?" Erica asked
"May 16th"
"When are you guys getting married?"
"We were going to get married in April. We haven't talked about the wedding yet, whether or not we are going to move it up or anything"
"I think you should have a Christmas wedding" Brooke said
"That is like two months away. I don't think I can plan a wedding that fast"
"Sure you can. We will all help you" Theresa said
"I know you can, but Haley and Brooke are going to be in other states"
"Yea, but we have the Internet and phones and if we have to we can fly home" Haley said
"Guys, I don't know"
"At least think about it, Peyt" Brooke said
"Okay, I will"
"Look Theresa the sun is going down" Meredith said drawing the group attention
"Sure is. Let's go join the guys on the court"
"Okay" Meredith said jumping out of Theresa's lap and running towards Nathan
"You guys coming?" Theresa said as she walked off the bleachers
"Yea" Haley said as she, Brooke and Theresa followed
"Come watch the sunset with me?" Mouth asked Erica
"I would love too," Erica said following Mouth off the bleachers
Fifteen minutes later the group was sitting on the concrete of the court in pairs. Brooke and Lucas sat beside Nathan and Haley with Meredith between them. Theresa and Skills sat beside Peyton and Jake and Mouth and Erica sat on the end. They all watched as the sun began to fall behind the river and watched as another day became night. Another day was coming to an end.