S1 - What if Lucas had feelings for Haley?
Haley was lying in bed with her eyes wide open. The only sound she could hear was the sound of his steady breathing. Lulling her almost to sleep.
She turned her head so she could watch him sleeping peacefully. Softly she ran her hand through his thick short hair. She couldn't believe the young man beside her was her boyfriend.
She moved closer to him, his arm automatically wrapped around her small frame, bringing her closer to him, while she was tracing his strong features and smiled softly at the thought that he was hers. Hers only. She loved him. She loved him like she had never loved someone else.
She felt like she had loved him forever. She thought about their relationship. She would never admit it to him but he was the first guy that noticed her. Really noticed her. He was her first love, her only love.
She remembered when she was little and listening to a conversation between Karen and her mother, it was always the same. They talked about the future, how they thought she and Lucas would be perfect for each other. How they thought that she and Lucas would eventually notice their love for each other and marry when they were old enough. She had laughed at their silliness and joked about it with Luke later that day. Adults were so crazy sometimes. They were best friends.
And up to this day, she had thought he felt nothing more for her than that, than friendship.
The way he talked about Peyton or even Brooke. He had told her about his crushes on girls ever since primary school, when he liked Lisa Stewart, who had pushed Haley off of one of the swings, leaving a little scar on her left knee. So she didn't give it any other thought.
And Haley was happy to have found a guy she could only be friends with but that night everything had changed. She couldn't believe her ears when he told her earlier that day..
He had come by as usual and sat down on her bed, fiddling nervously with the hem of his shirt when she laughed and told him to tell her what was wrong. He began to look down but Haley insisted of knowing what was up and so he told her. He told her that it hurt him to see her with Nathan and Haley thought that it was because of the way Nathan had treated him, so she quickly jumped in to defend him. However the real reason he felt that way was something Haley couldn't believe.
Her best friend of more than ten years had told her that he was jealous. Jealous of Nathan for having her. Jealous because he was in love with her, in love with Haley James. Jealous because he had been in love with her since they were little kids. His eyes shone with hope as he told her, hoping a little that she felt that way to.
„Say something.", Lucas had pleaded but she shook her head, tears escaping her eyes.
Haley felt like a bucket of cold water had dropped over her head and for a moment she didn't know what to say. Seeing him so hurt broke her heart. She didn't want to hurt him.
„Luke…", she started. He moved closer to her, leaning in to kiss her soft lips, but she moved her face quickly, before their lips could touch, so he only reached her cheek.
„I am with Nathan.", she said softly.
„I know, Haley. But you guys have been barely dated two months. We have been best friends for more than ten years. Don't you feel it, Hales? Tell me that I am not the only one who is feeling this!"
He grabbed her hand and she looked at him with a blank stare.
He moved closer again, but Haley once again moved away, freeing herself from his grip.
„Lucas. I am with Nathan because I like him. I like being with him.", she stuttered.
„You don't like being with me?", he countered.
This was so hard. She really didn't want either of them to get hurt.
„Haley, I love you. I have always loved you."
Her breath stilled and she looked at the guy who had been her best friend for so many years.
There was it. The perfect love story. The perfect ending where the two best friends realized their love for each other…
„You're my best friend..", she cried softly. Moving closer to him to rest a hand on his cheek.
„And I love you, but I am not in love with you. I am in love with Nathan.", she whispered.
She realized it was the first she had said it outloud. She loved Nathan. She was in love with him.
It was the truth. She loved her best friend's brother.
„I am so sorry Luke." She wished she could heal him, a part of her wished she could have returned these feelings that didn't exist in her heart but her heart was already stolen. And it belonged to the raven haired boy with the boyish grin and amazing blue eyes.
Haley couldn't help but blame herself. Why had she not seen that coming? Had she been so blind?
Lucas then apologized too, promising her that nothing would change between them, that he would forget about his feelings for her so that they could be the best friends they always were.
She had starred at him stunned. She knew they were never going to be the same again.
He had left shortly after, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead and whispering another apology.
When he was gone, Haley had broken down and wished it wasn't like that.
She knew in a way that she had lost her best friend and it felt like a piece of herself was gone.
She had phoned Nathan when she calmed down a little, asking him to come over.
The second he heard her whimpering over the phone he jumped into his car and raced to her house, gathering her in his arms once he reached her, letting her soak his shirt with her tears before they even spoke a word. He kissed her tears away and ran his hand softly down her arm to comfort her. Once she stopped crying she looked up at him, not understanding how she deserved such an amazing guy. She kissed him softly on the lips. Lingering there for a moment before taking his hand and leaning into him.
„What's wrong Hales?", he didn't stop caressing her arm.
„Luke came by today. He came to tell me something."
„What did he tell you?" He sounded alarmed. He could, of course, tell that something was wrong.
„That he is in love with me. Has been for a long time…"
He stopped moving his fingers over her arm and Haley searched his eyes.
He looked scared. And he was. He was scared to loose her, scared that she would choose Lucas over him. Lucas was the nice guy. He was smart, modest and he wasn't wild like Nathan. He was the guy that was always there for Haley. He feared that she would realize Lucas was the safe choice.
„What about you?" He was never this scared in his life. Including the times he was with Dan.
Haley looked at him with wide eyes. She didn't know her boyfriend could look so frightened. He looked like a little boy, fearing the worst and all she wanted was to wrap her arms around him to stop him from feeling that way. She smiled softly at him and took his hands. Feeling the sparks and the butterflies. Butterflies that weren't there with Lucas. Sparks that only Nathan could make her feel.
„I told him I am with you." She kissed his knuckles and looked up again. „I told him that I am with you because I like being with you, because I love you."
Nathan couldn't believe his ears. Not only had she basically said that she didn't have any romantic feelings for his brother but she had also declared her love for him! He smiled widely and let go of her hands to grab her face gently but firmly.
„I love you, too, Haley James. So much"
And with that he kissed her with a passion and love like he never had kissed her before.
Haley felt the weight of it all leave her as soon as Nathan claimed her lips and she never felt more safe. Even when she wasn't fully healed because she knew she needed to make sure her and Lucas would be okay again, she could never regret being with Nathan. She loved him too much.
Nathan noticed how exhausted she looked, so he told her to lay with him, encircling her from behind, nuzzling his head into the crook of her head, telling her he loved her and that she and Lucas would be okay. He would make sure of it.
Haley smiled into the darkness. She was grateful how gentle he was with her.
She lay awake, hearing his breathing and feeling the soft pounding of his heart.
He may not know it, but he was her heaven. The one thing that gave her more comfort than anything.
She loved him and she would never let him go. He was hers. Hers only.