Chapter Five: I tried a million times…

Author's annual Note:

Haha, well I'm not all that keen on this chapter but I got really stuck for ideas. Sorry for anybody who dose not like it but I wanted to post something up for you guys! Well, sorry I haven't updated in a few day's, the whether my end has been hell! Well leave your reviews as always here's the story ox

They say that there is a tragic day in everybody's lives which will stay with them forever. Not a day will go by, without the memories and feeling's flooding through them. Whether it be bereavement, heartbreak, danger or anything else… it changes you. Some take it better than other's, learning that they can't change what's already been done. Whilst other's look back in regret and guilt, blaming them for everything they could have done... should have done… but didn't…

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"Nathan?" The hall was full of thick smoke and the blazing fire leapt up around them. Haley scrambled around on her hands and knees searching for her husband. Cut's covered her arms from the shards of glass and bit's of ceiling tiles that cascaded around the hall. Tree Hill High, would never be the same again.

"Nathan? Brooke?" Please it's Haley!" She was sobbing desperately, partly from the smoke burning her eyes. Then she heard a cough a few meters away from her and Nathan's chocolate brown eye's came into view. He walked towards her, crouching down though. Their was a nasty burn to the side of his chest that was stinging terribly. Slipping his hand in Haley's he smiled at her reassuringly.

"Always-"Nathan started…

"And forever." Haley finished squeezed his hand tight as she looked at him lovingly. The girl couldn't believe how lucky she was.

Nathan and Haley realised they had been thrown back down the corridor when the explosion had gone off. So, crouching low and using bits of Nathan's jumper to cover their mouths, they went in search of the others. Haley was worried, mainly about Luke. He needed treatment urgently and the explosion – the explosion might have just finished him off.

As they reached the door, Nathan watched the students fleeing the classroom. Most covered in blood and tears. Nathan placed both his hands on Haley's shoulders and stared into her eyes seriously. He was doing this for her safety. So taking a deep breath he began,

"Haley, go with Bevin just get outta here ok? You don't need all this smoke in your system and I want you to be safe. Go t Karen; tell her everything's going to be fine, she need's to know about Luke!"

"But Nathan! I can't leave you!"

"Haley, just go! I'll be fine... Always?"

"And forever. I love you Nathan!" She replied, unsmiling as Bevin led her away.

"I love you to Haley, always and forever." Nathan watched her go, and then felt a hand on his shoulder. Nate spun round to find himself only inches away from his father's face. Nathan noticed the gun in his father's firm grasp with some silencer mechanism screwed onto it.

"Uh Nate, Keith- he's dead. One of those kid's, they shot him!" Dan Scott was certainly a good actor, what with all his lies. Nathan's mouth opened and closed like mindless fish as he tried to register that his uncle was dead. What was Karen to do with out Keith? Lucas
"We have to find Lucas… and Brooke? Have you got Brooke?"

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Brooke sat next to Lucas, shaking. Both were sat next to the door leading to the hallway. Luke had been awake a minute ago but now he wasn't, perhaps it was the shock of what the pair had seen? Or maybe… Imagined? Parts of her legs were burnt and she had a gash on her head that was bleeding. She glanced at Lucas' lifeless body. He looked even scrawnier than usual. The bottom sector of his shirt was snow crimson whilst part of his face was swollen from where Jimmy had hit him. But he was still the same chalky white colour as before. Brooke wasn't finding the fire creeping round them the scary part, instead the fact that her boyfriend was dying the scariest thought of all…

Brooke laced her fingers in his and stared at him adoringly. She brushed the blonde hair away from his eyes and stroked his hair softly.

"Lucas Scott, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know we're only in High School but I really don't care. God, I never thought I would be saying this. Luke you've changed me for the better, I'm the person I was meant to be and I have you to thank for that. I know you properly won't remember this but-…" She stopped talking when she felt something. Although it was very weak, he had definitely squeezed her hand in what was properly his last ounce of strength. She brushed a tear out of her eye and smiled at him. He defiantly made her happy.

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Nathan and Dan burst into the blazing room; memories of Dan Scott motors flooded the elder Scott's mind briefly, but escaped again. He'd gotten revenge that was all that mattered. Nathan could just make out the dead figure of Jimmy Edwards strewn across the floor. The gun was still in his hand and a pool of blood appeared around him. The kid just couldn't hack it. Then he spotted the pair, actually next to him. They were sat right next to the door and he had to admit they looked so good together. The petite dark headed beauty and her knight in not so shining armour. The scrawny, blonde headed Lucas Scott., his elder brother.

Nathan avoided the fire and managed to get close enough to the two, with Dan following behind closely.

"Ok, we gotta get you both outta here real quick. Brooke, you alright to walk?" Nathan asked her, Brooke nodded slowly, letting go of Lucas's hand and rising to her feet. Dan picked Lucas up in his hands. It was the second time he was doing this for his son, except this time. Lucas seemed a lot worse for wear. Nathan couldn't get over the site of his brother. The image would ever burn in the back of his mind. Half of Luke's face was an assortment of colours and Luke was bleeding so much it was going over Dan's shirt. Nate would do anything for him.

Dan gasped at the site of his son and began walking ridiculously fast with the two teens by his side the whole time. They were walking down the oh-so-familiar corridor leaving Keith's body behind. They'd go back for it once Lucas was out safe and sound. The door to the outside world came into view and the three walked out together.

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Haley rushed outside, her face black from the smoke. They were all checked for any guns and two of the shooter's were taken away from the school to somewhere else, most likely the police station. Haley was lead to a cushioned chair were a paramedic placed an oxygen mask over her to ease her breathing. She had inhaled a lot of smoke like the others. Peyton, Karen and Jake rushed towards her. Each looking equally worried.

"Oh Karen!" Haley burst out into floods of tears.

"Haley hunny, I'm glad you're ok! Lucas? Where is he?" Haley was hysterical and the paramedics were having trouble calming her down. The last thing she needed was to bring a panic attack upon her.

"Karen… I'm so sorry!"

'We all live in a house of fire. No fire department to call. No way out. Just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down… with us trapped, locked in it.'"