Chapter 39

-again thank you to all of you who have sent me reviews...they are all awesome...so here it goes...that last two chapters...they were so sad for me to write so i hope you guys like them...please continue to leave me comments...they're greatly appreciated...so without further ado...

Your subtleties
They strangle me
I can't explain myself at all.

They all gathered at Karen's Café after the ceremony. They took more pictures and just sat around and talked with each other. Today had been a magical day, and now they just wanted to let it all sink in.

"Hey there pretty girl" Lucas said sneeking up behind Brooke and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"why hello there" she smiled. But that really doesn't count she said and gave him a kiss on the lips. "there, much better." she smiled

"couldn't have said it better myself" he smiled back. He couldn't wait to go to Paris and then spend the rest of his life with her. "how are you feeling"

"not too bad. I'm starting to get a headache, but I'll be fine"

"are you sure. I mean if you want we can go home" he smiled

"no I'm good. I want to stay here with my friends" and gave him another kiss before heading over to where Peyton was sitting

And all the wants
And all the needs
All I don't want to need at all.

"Hey there B. Davis. Doesn't this all seem so surreal"

"very" Brooke said before plopping down next to her

"You seem very happy"

"I am. I mean Lucas and I are engaged and we're going to Paris in 2 weeks. Why wouldn't I be happy" she smiled looking down at her ring.

"you deserve to be happy Brooke."

"thanks P. Sawyer. And so do you. Where's Jake"

"he's over there with the boys" she laughed

"ahhh. The boys" Brooke smiled "do you remember freshmen year, when we thought every thing was black and white so to speak. I mean we basically ruled the school, including the boys. Lucas wasn't even in the picture then. It was just us against the world"

"uh-huh. The good old days" Peyton laughed "God we were so immature"

"I know. We were like prodigies of the Spice Girls or something" Brooke laughed. She missed those days. Not the person she used to be, just the fact that she didn't have a care in the world. She wasn't sick, she wasn't going to die, well because of cancer. But she couldn't say that that was where she wanted to stay forever, because then she wouldn't be as happy as she is now, with Lucas.

The two sat on the couch, reminiscing over their past, as they watched their boyfriends set up the stage. Tonight they were gonna have open mic night for anyone who wanted to sing or say anything.

The walls start breathing
My mind's unweaving
Maybe it's best you leave me alone.
A weight is lifted
On this evening
I give the final blow.

"Haley, Haley, Haley" the crowd shouted

"no, I cant" Haley said to Nathan

"oh come on. They want you Hales" he smiled at her, trying to convince her

"Oh alright" she sighed. She sat down at the piano and began playing the first song she ever played for anyone.

"I love the time and in between the calm inside me in the space where I can breathe I believe there is a distance I have wandered to touch upon the years of reaching out and reaching in holding out holding in I believe this is heaven to no one else but me and I'll defend it as long as I can be left here to linger in silence if I choose to would you try to understand"

Lucas and Jake walked over to Brooke and Peyton and sat down next to them. Lucas gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek before grabbing her hand.

"I know this love is passing time passing through like liquid I am drunk in my desire... but I love the way you smile at me I love the way your hands reach out and hold me near... I believe... I believe this is heaven to no one else but me and I'll defend it as long as I can be left here to linger in silence if I choose to would you try to understand"

Nathan began to form tears in his eyes, small enough though that no one would notice. Was it possible to love someone as much as he loved Haley. The way she had grown since the last time she played this song for him, it was unbelievable.

"Oh the quiet child awaits the day when she can break free the mold that clings like desperation Mother can't you see I've got to live my life the way I feel is right for me might not be right for you but it's right for me... I believe... I believe this is heaven to no one else but me and I'll defend it as long as I can be left here to linger in silence if I choose to would you try to understand it I would like to linger here in silence if I choose to would you understand it would you try to understand…"

When she had finished, they all clapped for her. Brooke had an awful feeling in her stomach. She just knew it was the time. She wanted to cry, reach out for someone to save her, but knew she couldn't. No one could save her. She clenched Lucas' hand harder before getting out of her seat and walking toward the stage.

When darkness turns to light,
It ends tonight
It ends tonight.

"Hey guys" she said into the microphone. "so I wanted to come up here and talk about this year, our senior year. I wanted to say how meaningful it had been, full of drama none the less. The friendships we had formed. The love we have felt. I wanted to say all this, but then something hit me. We are all leaving and there's nothing we can do about it. It just happens. So tonight, I want to say thanks. Thanks to my friends who have been there for me. You don't know how special you truly are. Jake, thanks for coming home to Peyton. She really missed you man." she smiled as the crowd chuckled. "Nathan, well, what can I say. We kind of made a mess of Tree Hill didn't we" again more laughing "but I couldn't have asked for a better accomplice. Somehow you know what to say to make someone feel better and I thank you for that. Take care of Haley as long as you can. You guys deserve each other." Haley and Nathan looked at each other and smiled. "Haley" Brooke began to cry "you have been there so much for me this year. I don't know how to thank you. I messed up pretty bad, but somehow, you still forgave me. You are a very talented person Haley James Scott and I wish you the best with the years to come. I love you." Haley mouthed thank you and Brooke smiled. "Peyton. Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer. What the hell do I say to you? You have seen me at my worst, literally. We have shared some tough times together, including fighting over the same boy for 2 years. We have lasted 2 dead moms, 3 absentee parents, a few car crashes, and I couldn't have asked for a better friend. Even when I wanted nothing to do with you, you fought back, because you knew that this friendship wasn't something to let go. And I soon realized that. P. Sawyer, you're my dearest friend. And I love you so much" Brooke had begun to cry even harder. "and finally, Lucas Scott, my soul mate, although it didn't always seem that way. We have definetly been through a lot. From pregnancy scares to love triangles, it sure has been eventful. But, I love you all the same. You have allowed me to open my heart to someone, even if it hurt sometimes. You are the most sweetest and loving guy I know, and I'm so glad you've let me love you back. Even when I treat you crappy" she smiled through the tears "I love you so much, with all my heart and soul." she continued to cry "so thank you guys. Thank you for putting up with me through the years, and allowing me to change into the person I've become. You have all made me better in different ways, and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people" she smiled and slowly walked off the stage. Everyone began clapping. Haley and Peyton had already been crying. They ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug they've ever known.

A falling star
Least I fall alone.
I can't explain what you can't explain.
You're finding things that you didn't know
I look at you with such disdain

Soon after, the party began to die down. Soon, the six of them were the last to remain. They were still sitting next to each other, talking. Brooke around at all her friends. It was time, she could feel it. She began crying.

"What's wrong" Lucas asked

"Can we go" she asked, knowing she didn't want it to happen with all of them there.

"sure" he said, giving her a weak smile. She said her GOOD-BYES to everyone, giving each of them the hug of their life. She didn't want to let them go, but she had to. By the time she left, she was bawling.

"Brooke, what's wrong. Are you feeling okay"

The walls start breathing
My mind's unweaving
Maybe it's best you leave me alone.
A weight is lifted
On this evening
I give the final blow.

"Lets just get home Lucas" she said staring at her ring the entire time. She didn't want to leave him. She didn't want to die.

They got into the house and went straight to the bedroom where Brooke sat down on the bed.

"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked going into the bathroom and getting her a wet cloth for her head.

"Can you just hold me, and tell me its going to be ok" she cried

"of course" he said running toward her

They layed there for a while, Brooke crying the whole time.

When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Just a little insight won't make this right
It's too late to fight
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.

"Lucas I can feel it"

"Feel what"

"death"

"what?"

"Its happening Luke, I can just feel it. I thought I could be strong when this day came, but I cant be. I don't want to die Luke, I don't want to leave you. I don't want to leave my friends."

"Brooke calm down" he tried to say, while he began crying himself. She couldn't leave him now. They had so much left to do together. They were gonna get married and grow old together. They were gonna go to Paris, where Brooke wanted to go so badly. "You cant leave me yet Brooke."

"I know" she cried. "but I feel it…I feel cold Luke" she said, now finding it hard to breathe as she continued to bawl.

"Brooke" he cried into her. This couldn't be happening, not like this. They had just graduated high school, there was so much left to do.

"I love you Lucas" she spit out

"I love you so much pretty girl" he cried kissing her and then giving her a kiss on her forehead. They lied there, together, him holding her, her holding onto him for dear life. She wanted to stay with him forever, in his arms.

Now I'm on my own side
It's better than being on your side
It's my fault when you're blind
It's better that I see it through your eyes

Lucas had fallen asleep at some point, not even realizing it. When he woke up, he gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek, she didn't stir. He looked over at her and then noticed that she wasn't breathing anymore. He began to bawl. "No" he cried "I only closed my eyes for a second. Please don't leave me Brooke. Please" it was too late. Brooke had left him. He held her body close to him, feeling the coldness she had felt earlier. This just wasn't possible. He cried into her, not wanting to let her go for the world.

All these thoughts locked inside
Now you're the first to know

When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Just a little insight won't make this right
It's too late to fight
It ends tonight,