When You Need Me I Will Be There

Chapter 3

Meanwhile, Nathan had seen her leave with tears in her eyes and that shattered his heart into a million pieces. But, what was he going to do, tell Lucas about Rory tutoring him and that he was in love with her. He knew Lucas was none the wiser about the subject. And he needed him to stay that way; if he wanted him and Rory a chance at this working for them. As soon as he made his final shot he turned to Lucas.

"Hey man, I've gotta go see you tonight at the game."

"Sure, Nate see you then".

Lucas had noticed that Nathan was acting strangely ever since Mr. Winters had told him if he wanted any hope on the basketball team and passing his algebra class, he better get some tutoring help. Since then, he had been more secretive than ever. Lucas had asked Haley if she knew who his tutor was, but she avoided the question every time he asked. Lucas knew if it was Haley, she would tell him. The other thing he found strange was that Rory was always gone these days. He knew Rory worked at the tutoring center as well, but he found it a little to weird that she would be assigned to Nathan. Her strong areas were writing and speech. She was good at math, but he still found it strange. He thought about it a moment longer and figured he'd ask Rory later, right now he had to keep practicing for tonight's game.

Nathan was looking for Rory and had yet to find her; it was starting to worry him. He had known Rory for years as a friend of Lucas', but they really didn't get to help him. He had looked everywhere he could think of the tutoring center, office, and library. As he turned the corner to look in the library one more time, he ran into Brooke.

"Whoa, Nate slow down what's wrong?"

"Brooke, you haven't seen Rory have you?"

"No, not lately. Why?"

"I can't seem to find her. I've looked everywhere I could think of for her."

"What's going on? Why would she disappear like this?"

"I know why. I just need to find her, help me, please."

"Of course, she's my friend too, if there something wrong, we need to find her."

"I just hope she's ok."

"You check all her usual spots again and I'll check all the bathrooms, she's probably there."

"Call me if you find her."

"I will and you do the same."

Then, they split once more to find her Brooke checked the bathrooms closest to the gym because that made logical sense to her. She entered and checked under all the stalls; finally when she reached the last one and bent down to check, she found Rory's shoes underneath.

"Rory?"

She got no reply; all she heard was sobbing. So, again she tried.

"Rory, it's Brooke please open up. I'm worried about you."

Slowly, she heard the stall door unlatch and open what Brooke saw next made her heart go out to her. She had tearstains on her cheeks plus tears were still running down her face.

"Rory, what happened you're worrying me plus Nathan looking everywhere for you?"

Rory didn't say anything; she just latched onto Brooke and continued to cry.

"Shhh Rory, whatever it is it will workout I promise."

"No, it can't it just won't."

"What won't workout?"

"Finally going after what I want. I thought it could, but it can't. Not without hurting the person I care about most. Why can't I find happiness, Brooke, why?"

"You will, I promise you will."

"Why is my life such a mess? Why can't I get a break with my life?"

"Rory, tell me maybe I can help with whatever it is."

"If I tell, you have to promise not to tell a soul."

"I promise."

"Nathan told me he loves me and wants to try being a couple, but I can't hurt Lucas. But… I love him, too."

"Oh Rory, you need to talk to him."

"I tried, but he wouldn't even look at me more then a second in the gym."

"Was Lucas there?"

"Yeah."

"That's why he didn't, he didn't want to make Lucas upset. You need to talk to him, let's get out of here and you talk ok?"

"Okay."

"Rory, I'm gonna call Nathan and tell him to met us in the courtyard."

"Okay."

Brooke got out her cell phone and dialed Nathan's number. He picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"Nate, it's Brooke, I found her. She wants to talk, so met us in the courtyard in five minutes."

"Sure, I'll be there."

Nathan was just relieved that she was found, safe, and wanted to talk. So, he headed to the courtyard. While still in the bathroom, Brooke was talking to Rory.

"I promise I'll be there with you the whole time. I won't leave in less you want me too."

"Thank you Brooke, really thank you."

"Rory, I wanted to apologize. I know we were friends for a long time up in until eighth grade when we took our different paths. But, from now on, I promise to put our friendship back on track."

"I'd like that."

"Come on, Nathan's probably already waiting for us."

"Alright."

As they entered the courtyard, Rory spotted Nathan under the tree where they would have their sessions sometimes. She slowly walked over to where he was. She could tell that Nathan was nervous and in all honesty, so was she.

Nathan just wanted to know what her answer was Rory stopped in front of him. Nathan was the first to speak.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Are you ok?"

"I guess I am."

"We need to talk."

"Yeah we do."

"Rory, I'm sorry about what happened in the gym, I really am."

"I am too, really."

"So, have you decided what you want?"

"Yes, I want us, I want happiness."

"I'm so glad to hear you say that because that's what I want too."

Nathan leaned down and kissed her. Brooke was watching from a distance away, she was so happy for them. She walked up to them.

"Everything worked out?"

"Yeah." they replied in unison.

"I'm glad."

Rory was looking in Nathan's eyes when she spoke. "So, how's this going to work because Lucas and Haley, they can never find out; at least not yet."

"I agree, he would kill me our relationship is already rocky."

"I know."

Brooke finally spoke up after watching them talk. "I could be your go between in until you want Lucas to know."

Rory and Nathan turned to her waiting to see what was going on in that mind of hers.

"Rory, you're his tutor, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, this should be pretty easy. Just add a few more sessions, then you could meet at the bluffs and spend time together and you could also join the cheerleading squad, which might make it hard because of Lucas, but we'll figure it out. Away games, you can room with Peyton and me."

Nathan looked at Rory to see what she thought.

"It might work; you just couldn't room with Lucas."

"Yeah."

"So do we have a plan? Plus, we need another girl Rachel, she just moved away. so it's perfect."

"Okay." they said in unison.

So, a plan was set up on how Rory and Nathan could be a couple.