The Mourning After

Chapter 6

Summary: Brooke has something to tell Lucas and the return of Haley. please review!! btw, how awsome was the premiere, J-Luke Scott totally stole the show, can't wait for Nathan to own up and shape up!

After the funeral, Nathan wondered the grounds and stopped when he reached a particular grave, Camilla Duhram, Whitey's wife. He looked at the headstone and thought of Whitey and how he felt when he lost her. Whitey managed to move on and devoted himself to the game. Maybe, he could do the same, but nothing at this moment seemed to affect him. Nothing seemed to matter but her. He wanted Haley, it was as simple as that.

"Hey stranger."

Nathan turned around and saw Peyton walking towards him.

"Hey there yourself… what're you doing here? I thought you would've left by now."

"My mom's buried over there. . . I figure I stopped by and say hi." Nathan nodded and looked back at the headstone.

"Is that weird?.. I mean talking to her when you know she's not."

"I'd like to think that she is." She said simply and he nodded and took her answer.

"This is Whitey's wife … I always thought of him as just a coach , you know, who lived to make me run suicides but he's a tougher man than I give him credit for."

"He comes here almost every day, I see him sometimes and we'd talk."

Peyton wondered how her friend was doing. She still cared for him deeply even though he treated her like a jerk when they were going out. But Haley managed to change him, in fact she changed everything at Tree Hill.

Even though she knew the answer, she still asked it. "I know this might be a stupid question.. but I'm going to ask anyways.. how are you Nathan?"

He looked at her for a moment, before tears started swelling in his eyes. She came up to him and hugged him.

"It's my fault Haley's not here.. it's my fault.."

"Shh.. Nathan.. don't do this to yourself." She said trying to comfort her friend.

"I miss her Peyton.. I miss her."

"I know.. I know." She said as he cried her shoulder.

Nathan pulled back and wiped the wetness from his eyes and looked down. "This is embarrassing."

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Nathan Scott." A familiar voice called out. Peyton and Nathan turned to see Mrs. Edwards standing there in front of them. "I'm sorry to bother you two… I just want to thank you again for coming to my son's funeral.. it really meant a lot to see all those people there even though my son did a horrible thing… and please thank your wife again. She stopped by before she left town, I know if it wasn't for her, no one would've came, but still it meant a lot."

"I will." Nathan said softly. "And Mrs. Edwards.. I'm sorry for your lost."

Mrs. Edwards turned to him and nodded and smiled before walking away.

"Come on, Nate, let me give you a ride home."

--

Haley James Scott woke up to the rays of sunshine coming through the window. She looked around, confused at first, but then she remembered where she was. She was at here sister's house in Honey Groove, Texas a small suburb 30 miles east of Dallas. The shooting just so happened to occur around the same time her sister Quinn gave birth to her first son, Tyler. The whole James clan were planning on going to Honey Groove anyways to welcome the latest member of their family. Haley herself planned a weekend trip to go out and see them once the baby was born. But once the shooting happened, her family were changing plans and were going to head back to Tree Hill. When Haley's family found out about the shooting, the worse had already passed. She insisted they stay in Honey Groove and keep their original plans. It would make a lot more sense for Haley to go there instead of having the whole clan go to Tree Hill. Haley pleaded with her doctors to release her. They reluctantly agreed, provided that she take it easy and they prescribed her some medication for her sore shoulder.

When Haley arrived in Texas, it was like a hectic to say the least. The house was packed but they insisted Haley take the guest room so that she can rest. Being with her family again was comforting to Haley. They were gracious that they didn't pry too much into her personal life. It was no secret that her and Nathan were having problems, to the extent her family didn't know, but she was glad nonetheless when they only grazed over that topic. She did laugh to herself when she remembered her brothers coming up to them and asking her if they can beat Nathan up. Even Taylor, who is usually a headache was not bad at all. But now the house was mostly quiet, all of her siblings and their families left already, leaving only Quinn, her husband, the baby and her parents. She knew it was only a matter of time before she had to leave too.

Haley got up and showered. She ate breakfast with her parents and then spent an "all girls" morning, with her mom and Quinn. They went to get their hair and nails done while the boys stayed home to baby sit. Haley went back to the house and entered her room. She looked at her phone and saw the missed calls, from some of her friends and of course Nathan. He has constantly called her but she never picked up, she actually put her phone on silent and ignored it the whole time she was here. Her friends had called her as well but she wasn't up for talking about her feelings. She flipped the phone opened and started to dial. She knew the funeral was today and wanted to know how it went.

--

Nathan entered his room and sat at the foot of his bed. He took of his blazer and loosened his tie. He kicked off his shoes and laid back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He sighed to himself as he saw that he hadn't received a phone call today.

"You look like shit little brother." He heard someone call from the doorway.

"I can say the same thing about you." Nathan retorted back.

"Don't worry, when she's ready.. Haley will call."

"I hope you're right Luke … I hope you're right."

Ring Ring

Lucas looked at his phone and saw the caller. "See what did I tell you?" Lucas said before answering the phone. Nathan immediately jumped up.

"Haley, I'm so glad you called."

"Hey Luke.. I'm sorry I haven't called, I just wanted some space."

"I understand Hales… how're you doing? How's the new baby?"

"I'm okay, shoulder is still a little sore but I'm on meds. The baby is sooo cute, he has his father's eyes and Quinn's nose.. he's so well behaved well considering he sleeps all the time… how was the funeral?"

"Sad.. but there was a good turnout thanks to you.. Mrs. Edwards seemed pleased."

"That's good, the last thing I would want is for the world to think that he was a monster."

"Agreed, so is all your family still there?"

"No, its just me, my parents and Quinn now."

"So I guess you're coming back to Tree Hill soon?" Lucas asked cautiously. By this point, Nathan had stood up next to Lucas, trying to hear what they were talking about. Lucas glared at him, warning him to stay away.

"I don't know…" She said hesitantly.

"You don't know?" Lucas repeated.

"What!?!" Nathan commented.

"Who's that?" Haley asked. "Was that Nathan?"

"Yeah.. umm.. I'm here with him."

"I have to go Lucas.. I'll talk to you when you're alone!" Haley said before hanging up. Lucas tried to call her back but she turned off her phone it went straight to voicemail.

"She's not coming back." Lucas heard his brother muttered.

--

Lucas was coming down the stairs when he heard the front door open.

"Hey Brooke, what're you doing here?"

"Peyton asked me to check in on Nathan, how is he?"

"I managed to calm him down and he's taking a nap, I was going to call you, I didn't see you leave the café."

"Yeah, I stepped out to get some air, plus I saw you with you friends .. Jimmy was one of the guys from the rivercourt, I know you guys must be going through a hard time right now."

"Thanks Brooke." Lucas responded, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Today has been rough.. I knew Jimmy.. he worked with me a few weeks last summer at the shop cuz he needed some cash.. it's just hard to think he isn't here anymore.

"I know." Brooke said, wrapping her arms around her.

"Oh.. so Haley called me today."

"Oh."

"She doesn't know if she's coming back."

"Wait, what!?"

"I don't know she didn't say anything else. She heard Nathan in the background and hung up on me."

"Oh my God, I can't believe this." Brooke released herself from Lucas and walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch. "Luke, there's something I need to tell you and I don't know if you'll like what I have to say."

"You're making me worried what is it?" Lucas asked sitting next to her.

She started to tell Lucas about her conversation with Rachel earlier. Lucas sat there intently as Brooke told him what Haley said to Jimmy the day of the shooting and how Haley could've avoided being shot. After she was done, Luke just sat there in silence for a moment.

"Hello, Luke.. are you still with me?"

"Oh yeah.. sorry.. look there's nothing going on, you know Rachel, she's just trying to stir up trouble."

"That's what I thought too at first but Luke, you don't understand . . ."

"I understand that it wasn't too long ago that you and Rachel were at each other's throats because of me and it's no secret she's a flirt, especially with Nathan."

"I would love nothing more than to agree with you and that this is just another pathetic attempt for Rachel to gain attention, I actually think she was telling the truth.. look, what does she have to gain by saying this? Haley saved her life, why would she say such things and it might sound a little weird but she actually sounded concern for Haley."

"Brooke.."

"Luke.. no you listen to me.. you maybe Haley's best friend but that doesn't mean she's told you everything."

"What're you talking about?"

"I've lived with her for the past couple of months.. she's a wreck Luke."

"I know she was having a hard time dealing with Nathan."

"She cries herself to sleep.. almost every night."

Lucas now stopped talking and listened to Brooke.

"At first she would let me in, and we would talk about things but after a while, it got a little repetitive saying that things will get better because they just kept getting worse and eventually Haley stopped talking to me about it. I tried to get her to open up to me every now and then but she didn't want to burden me with her problems with Nathan.. I tried but she wouldn't budge… I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear her crying… and sometimes she would get up in the middle of the night and come back shortly before I would wake up… one time I got worried and I followed her."

"Where'd she go?"

"The docks. She sat on one of the tables there and just stared out across the water. She doesn't know I followed her, I knew she would be embarrassed if she did.. . and then there was the last time I found her crying.. it was the night before the shooting.."

Flashback

Brooke raced back to the apartment. She was stuck in a meeting with Principal Turner and other faculty members over the release of the time capsule tape. She wanted to check up on Haley. She couldn't believe the things Nathan said on that tape.

"Haley!" Brooke called out. She went inside the bedroom and found Haley trying unsuccessfully to stop crying. "Aww Haley." Brooke said, wrapping her arms around her friend.

"I was the biggest mistake of his life." Haley cried out.

"He was mad and upset at the time, he didn't mean it."

"Yes he did."

"No, I don't believe that."

"I ran into him in the hallway and you know what he said… 'I'm sorry.. you weren't supposed to see that' …I don't know how much more I can go on like this Brooke.. I can't live without him.. I know it's sad and pathetic but it's true."

"Haley.. you are not sad and pathetic.. I'm sure in a few days this'll all blow over."

"Brooke, he hates me .. he doesn't want me .. I don't even know why I bother anymore.."

"Haley . .he doesn't hate you. . he's just still being stupid and stubborn.. you know how those Scott boys are .. and look he said you weren't supposed to see that.. he was just venting.."

"It's been months Brooke and he still hasn't forgiven me.. what am I supposed to do?"

Brooke stood up. "You my dear need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and take some charge… I say let's call Peyton and call and an emergency shopping trip."

"How is shopping supposed to me make me feel better?"

"Oh that's to make ME feel better .. in case you forgot, my boobs were plastered all over the place today.."

"Oh Brooke, I totally forgot.. I'm so sorry about that."

"Well, we can't do anything about that anymore, besides I spoke to Peyton earlier, I think we have a way to turn this bad situation into a good one, which is what you should do Haley… I say just corner boytoy, force an actually conversation between the two of you.."

"I can come by and see him tomorrow morning.. I'll cook him some breakfast.. we'll eat family style!"

"There you go tutorgirl."

"No, it won't work.. he'll kick me out of the house.. I know him well enough by now."

"Honey, you'll never know if you don't try."

"I've been trying Brooke.. I think I know… but whatever .. he's hurt me so many times now, what's one more right?"

"Aww Haley, don't think like that."

"I have to Brooke.. cuz if I come in with expectations then.. (holding back her tears) then yeah.. but like I said, I don't know if I can go on like this.. I need him, I can't picture my life without him." Tears rolling down her face.

"Aww Haley, come here."

"No.. no it's okay Brooke." Haley sucked it up and dried off her eyes. "There's been too many tears shed already.. you go and have your shopping trip, I think I'm just going to hang out here and catch up on some work."

"No, I can't leave you like this."

"I've been like this for months .. another afternoon won't change anything, besides you had a bad day today too.. I know you.. you need this.. so go out, have fun, buy something pretty.. I'll make us some dinner when you come back and don't worry I promise I won't sulk while you're away."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

--

"Now tell me Luke, if you can honestly say for sure that you didn't think some part of Haley didn't want to die that day."

"I .. I just can't believe it.. she wouldn't.. would she?.." Lucas responded after a moment of silence.

Little did they know, that Nathan was upstairs the whole time listening to their whole conversation. Nathan swallowed hard, he knew the answer to Lucas' question, he knew that Haley wanted to die that day. It was a feeling all too familiar with him. He quietly went back to his room and lied down in the darkness.

--

Haley's parents just dropped her off at the airport. She carried with her a small duffel bag and a large empty suitcase. Her should was still sore but she took some medicine for the pain and something else to help her sleep on the plane. Her parents offered to come with her but Haley needed to this on her own. She would pack whatever she could and the rest would be shipped to Texas. She knew the day would come when it would be time for her to say goodbye to Tree Hill. She had expected it to be after graduation but if there's anything she learned, it's to expect the unexpected. The time had come for Haley to say goodbye to her town, her home, her friends and especially those she loved.

To Be Continued . . .

Note: Thank you all for the reviews. What I originally intended to be a story with only a few chapters has turned into something more. It's funny how a story can take a life of it's own. Sorry for the deception, I wrestled with the idea of making you guys think Haley was dead for two chapters instead of finding out at the end of the last chapter. I hope that when you do go back and re-read the previous chapters, you'll see that I used terms like she's not here or she's gone, which would inherently implied death but I hope you can see the double meaning in those words. The deception was intent but to Nathan, with her gone she is sort of dead. She's not there and not answering his calls and he feels it was all his fault. I hope the flashbacks aren't too confusing, if you notice I sometimes would write a scene which was from a previous chapter and incorporate it into a different chapter. For example, last chapter we had Nathan and Peyton at the cemetery, in this chapter, I copied and pasted the same scene but extended it with Mrs. Edwards talking to them, likewise, the end of last chapter saw Lucas coming into Nathan's room, where I copied and pasted that scene as well and added to it with Haley calling. I hope this little explanation will help those who told me they were a little confused. The story is not so much linear as it is overlapping between chapters. I've planted little seeds here and there through out the chapters and you'll start to see them sprout if you haven't noticed so already. So stick around, it's going to be interesting the next few chapters. Please review !!!