Season on the Brink

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and review this story. And to those of you who have offered your advice and opinions on how to make the story better, thank you a million times over. As a Naley fan, I sometimes neglect the details of the Brucas union, and your suggestions have really meant a lot to me. This chapter is actually pretty different than the original draft because of your critiques, and I love you guys for that. It means a lot to me!

------------

"You have got to be kidding me," Haley growled as her jalopy car refused to start. When her parents gave it to her just before leaving town on an RV excursion, she had been grateful. But every time it choked, sputtered, and died, she felt the need to call them and demand they return from their selfish little vacation away from their parental responsibilities.

Turning the key again, she pumped the gas pedal and prayed that some sort of miracle would befall her. "Just one little spark - that's all I'm asking," she pleaded.

"Need some help?"

Turning, Haley felt her heart sink. "Um, no," she shook her head and turned the key again. "I almost got it."

"Haley," Nathan spoke firmly, reaching out to take her hand. He pulled her to her feet and smiled when she scrunched her nose again. "Let me help you out."

With a huff, she steeled her courage and pulled her arm back from his grasp. The simple touch alone had sent shivers up her spine and she couldn't afford butterflies in her stomach at the moment. "You don't know anything about mechanics, Nathan," she reminded him, instinctively thinking about the time he had tried to change her oil when they were dating while digging through her purse for her cell phone.

He shrugged and nodded over his shoulder. "No, but I have a car that actually runs," he pointed out. "And I can give you a lift home. You can call Keith on the way," he said as though it were the obvious answer.

"Look, Nathan," she started, tucking her hair behind her ear and crossing her arms over her chest. "I appreciate the offer, but," she bit her lip and shook her head. "I can't. I'm sorry."

"I'm not asking you for dinner and a movie, Hales. Just offering you a lift." He raised an eyebrow and jingled his keys. "In a car that actually works."

With a sigh, she let her shoulders sag. She could wait for Keith to come fix the car, but she had a term paper to finish and couldn't afford to lose the time. "Alright," she agreed, swallowing her pride as Nathan held the door open for her. "Thanks," she whispered, staring at her hands as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Anytime, Hales," Nathan smiled softly, directing the car to the house he had spent so many nights in. Where had they gone wrong? He wasn't sure why she had broken his heart more than three months earlier, but he knew one thing with absolute certainty. He was going to get her back.

-------------------

"Hey, Lucas," Brooke greeted as Lucas exited the gym, his eyes searching the parking lot for Peyton.

"Brooke," he said, shaking his head at her presence. It wasn't like he could just walk away from her, but if Peyton rounded the corner of the building, hell was going to be unleashed. "What's up?"

She looked up at him and took a step closer. "You asked me the other night why I was coming to you for help when you had hurt me so badly." With a slight grimace, she put a hand on his arm. "And I know I told you it was because of the sleep deprivation and the stress, but the truth is sometimes things happen that are out of our control, right? Sometimes really terrible, horrible things happen to good people, don't they?" Her eyes searched his for answers that he couldn't give.

Nodding, Lucas found himself brushing her hair from her neck. "Brooke, I told you the other night," he started.

Shaking her head, she took a step back from him and squared her shoulders. "I called you because I need to believe that you're not the kind of evil son of a bitch who would really hurt me on purpose. I needed to believe that you are a good guy who made a really horrible mistake."

The sound of the car in the background didn't deter him as he stepped forward and laced his fingers with hers. "Brooke, I have always promised you that I will be there for you, no matter what," he whispered, brushing her neck with his thumb. "I may have had trouble showing it in the past, but I'm going to make it up to you, Pretty Girl," he added as he stepped toward the curb.

As she watched him sink into the passenger seat of her former best friend's car, Brooke raised an eyebrow. He had broken promises to her before. But she had to believe that this wasn't going to be one of those times.