I couldn't help myself as I paced back and forth against the carpet present in my room. My mother had told me days ago that both Haley and Lydia James would be coming to stay with us. Haley Anne James my once childhood friend. The girl who up until eleven years of age remained a constant in my life. She was also the girl who was taken away and moved to California by her mother Lydia and her mothers new found husband Carl six years ago. It pained me terribly when she left and of course I was happy in knowing we would see eachother again. But something is troubling me. My mom tells me they are staying here while they find a new place to live. It seems Carl wasn't all what was expected and Lydia divorced him months ago. From what my mom has told me they thought it was best to come back to Tree Hill where Haley could reunite with her old friends and Lydia could help manage my mothers cafe and night club. It seems like the most resonable and logical thing. But like I said something is still troubling me terribly. The way my mom speaks of Haley and Lydia its like there is some great sadness there. I feel there is more than what I have knowledge of and that concerns me greatly. As I ponder just what it could be that is kept secret I hear the knock patter against our front door and I quickly make way to answer. I can feel my mom behind me waiting in anticipation as I slowly reveal our visitors. I see her and she looks amazing. Her hair much lighter than i remembered and now instead of wearing it in a low pony tail I watch as it flows naturally in the wind. So many things differ about her. I notice all of this in the first seconds of seeing her stand there. The make-up she's wearing is a bit darker. Her long sleeve shirt a bit baggy and oversized. Her eyes a bit lost and unfocused. I hear her gasp in suprise at me. Had she noticed I was checking her out? My cheeks grow hot with embarasment and I remain silent as I reach for Lydias bag. Mumbling a quick hello as not to be rude I then gesture for them to follow me inside. I then make way aside my mother and smile at the greeting the two friends share. Their eyes both filled with tears as they cling to one another. Words of love tossed back and forth. I clear my throat trying not to get choked up myself. Really I'm starting to act like a chick. Skillz is right I have been hanging out with Brooke and Peyton far to much. Shaking off that thought I focus back in on the scene before me only when I hear Lydias concerned vocals call out.
"Haley dear are you alright?" My eyes instantly find their way to her and I notice a displeased frown present. It looks as if any moment she will burst into tears. Immediatly I move forward wanting to hold her in my arms by my mom stops me in the process. Her words whisper out and I nodd understanding.
"Just let her be Luke. You can talk to her in a minute." I stand there clenching my jaw but stay beside my mother. She's right Lydia can take care of her for right now. It suprises me how after all these years I feel the need in protecting my Haley. After all no matter how long the time she is still my girl, my best friend.
"Honey what's wrong?" Lydias voice is so weak as I watch her move a hand to comfort Haley. Her reaction was something I never saw coming. A look of fear immediatly crossing her chocolate brown eyes before she closed them down tightly and flinched herself backward. I shared a look with my mom almost questioning her to explain just what was going on. Haley seemed so broken. As well did her mother. I knew for sure there was more to the situation than I knew. It scared me to say the least that something could be harming them both so severely. Before I can register what happens next I hear Haley say she needs some air and makes a dash for the exit. None of us try and stop her. As once her best friend I know in times of pain Haley needs moments alone. She needs time to think things through and then she will return. I move closer to Lydia who is now in the arms of my mother and I let my hand drape over her small form. Lydia was like a second mother to me. She always treated me as if I was a son and was such a wonderful woman. I just couldn't understand what had shaken these once happy beings into these scared and fragile people that stood before me. Whatever it was. And whatever it may be I promise I will protect Haley with every fiber I have in me. Reaching for my jacket mom doesnt even ask where I'm off to. She knows where I am going. Maybe Haley needed some time. Maybe she needed to heal for a moment. But I wasn't going to let her do it alone. I wanted her to know I'd be there. I'd always be there.
Walking up the side step to my front door I sigh in exhaust in seeing the sight of her. I had been searching for what seemed to be hours. Checking all the places in which we once called our own hoping she would be there. Coming up short repeatedly I just decided maybe Haley didn't want to be found. So yep here I am back at point place looking at my main conquest. She has her head resting in her hands and I can make out the sound of her soft voice singing lightly to whatever tune that is playing in her head. Trying not to rile a scare up in her I give a small cough in making my presence known. Immediatly she raises her eyes to mine before nodding me over. I still am amazed at how different she seems to be. Of course several years can change a person but this is just beyond understandment. Setting myself beside her I toy with the rip in my jeans before speaking.
"So I been looking for you. Where did you take off to?"
"I ran into Skillz at the rivercourt." Nodding I listened silently as she continued. "We talked for a bit."
The way she spoke her words. It wasn't in a harsh tone but they definetly were telling me something. She was displeased. But I just couldn't understand why. I was only in her prensence for minutes really. Could I have done something to upset her so soon?
"It was really nice. I mean we both have changed a lot but it felt right you know? It's like we picked up exactly where we left off." My eyes focused downward to her wrist. Her fingers gently tugging at the three yellow bands that resided there. Cocking my head I pondered over the situation. Replayed what happened earlier and the way she was acting now. Snapping those rubber bands and chewing insestantly on her bottom lip. There were so many things I wanted to ask her. Too many questions I had. But I knew now wasn't the time. Scooting myself closer to her I brought my arm around her waist. It was the first contact we had made since she arrived and it felt nice. Before I could grown to enjoy it though she was up quicker than ever. Her nose scrunched and a face full of discontempt.
"What the hell was that?" Her vocals screeched as she stood in front of me, arms crossed.
"Wh...I...What was what?" Pulling at the collar of my t-shirt I swallowed sharply.
"You...God Lucas you can't just do that." I didn't understand why she was so angry. What had I done wrong? Placing an arm around her was honestly that dreadful?
"I can't be close to my best friend? We haven't exchanged any sort of affection since you arrived and the first time I even try you.."
"Exactly Luke the first time." Throwing her hands up in the air and then letting them dramatically crash to her sides she begins pacing back and forth. Her eyes glisten with persperation and I curse to myself for making her cry yet again.
"You know seeing Skillz at the river court after all these years." Shaking her head and letting more tears fall from her delicate face she choked out. "It took my breath away. I didn't realize how much I had truly missed him these past years." Running her hands through her hair I step forward wanting to bring her any sort of comfort but she holds up a hand stopping my actions. "For the last six years I've thought about what it would be like. What I would say to you when I saw you again. How I would feel when I looked into your crystal blue eyes. I dreamed so many nights wanting to grasp what it could be like to be held by you. Not a day went by when I didn't imagine your voice in my head. Your hand tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear. The smell of your detergent. When Carl would bea...yell at my mom, when they would argue I would run off to my room and reach for your old sweatshirt. I'd throw it over my head and breathe in the scent. I'd cling to it tightly pretending I was back at your house. Your arms hugging to me perfectly." I watched as her voice broke with each continuing word. Her tears drowning her face. "Every day...every damn day Luke I talked to you. Maybe not actually but in my mind, in words on paper, I told you everything." She stepped over to me. My heart breaking as her lips quivered in sadness. Reaching for my hand I let her take a hold of it. Looking me in the eyes she whispered fearfully. "I missed Skillz Lucas. I missed him a lot. But you, you I didn't just miss. You I needed. God I needed you so much. You'll never understand it." Looking to the sky she held my hand all the more tighter. "I thought that when I got here you would see how much I needed you. How much I still need you." Dropping my hand she stepped away from me once again. Stepping up the stairs that lead to the front door she called. "But what I needed you didn't even offer. Hell you couldn't even look me in the eye when saying hello."