Season 3: Junior Year

Episode 16: Breathe In, Breathe Out

AN: This takes place a few days after the last episode.. enjoy :] Disclaimer: Don't own OTH, or characters except the ones you don't know from the show.

Breathe in, breathe out

Tell me all of your doubt

And everybody bleeds this way

Just the same

Breathe in, breathe out

Move on and break down

If everyone goes away

I would stay

-Matt Kearney

Of all the songs in the entire world, Peyton couldn't get this one song out of her head. It was kind of ridiculous how she was bleeding on the hallway floor, but yet, the song kept playing over and over in her head. She let out a humorless laugh as she put a hand on her stomach. What if she didn't survive? Or worse, she lost the baby? She took a shaky breath and decided that couldn't happen, wouldn't happen.

The students were supposed to be eating lunch by now.. too bad lunch wasn't in the cards right now. Peyton's stomach grumbled and she let out a small sob. She wanted her baby to be okay. She wanted the shooter out of the school. Most of all, she wanted Lucas. She wanted him to hold her and tell her that it was going to be okay… even when she could clearly see by the bodies surrounding her that everything wasn't going to be okay for a while.

She looked to her right. He used to sit by her in English, his body was on the floor of THH.

"Peyton."

It was whispered and she barely heard it, but she heard the voice. Peyton looked up from the body and gasped.

"Lucas!"

He let out a sigh a relief and quickly put her face in his hands.

"Thank God you're alright.." He whispered.

She shook her head and whispered, "My leg, Luke. I've been shot."

5 hours earlier

Peyton

Peyton groaned as she got up. She hated school with a deep dark passion. She quickly ran to the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach. Oh the joys of morning sickness.

Eventually, Peyton was able to get up off the floor and wash her face. She quickly brushed her teeth and went to her closet. Unfortunately, her expanding stomach was making it hard for her to wear her normal emo-like t-shirts. Peyton flipped through the clothes but stopped at one. It was one of Lucas' old shirts that she had secretly stolen from him when they had only just begun dating. She smiled to herself and thought maybe today is the day. Although Lucas' words had been hurtful, Peyton (with a little nudging from Brooke) had learned that he didn't actually mean what he said.

She had thought about moving back to the apartment for a while, but always seemed too scared to talk to Lucas about it. Peyton pulled the shirt from the hanger and said, "Today's the day."

She even mustered up the courage to send Lucas a quick text before getting dressed.

Haley

"Haley James, if you don't get your ass out of bed you're going to be late for school!"

Haley groaned, completely ignoring her older sister, Taylor, and snuggled into her pillow. She hadn't been to school in over a week, due to her father's… death. Haley shut her eyes tightly. It was still painful to think that the last time she had seen her father, she had blown him off to go to some stupid basketball game. Nothing made sense anymore without her father. Especially Nathan and his illness, Haley swallowed hard. Nathan. She hadn't even spoken to him in over four days. He probably thought she hated him by now.

Haley heard her door open and someone jump onto the bed.

"Haley James! You are going to school today or so help me.." Taylor said and pulled back the covers.

"Taylor, just go away. I don't feel good."

"Haley, we're all not feeling good, but you're about to be a senior and I won't let you stay hidden in this room for the rest of your life." Quinn piped in.

Okay, so if she was honest with herself, she hadn't been to school in two weeks.

Haley sighed, "Fine."

Taylor literally pulled Haley up out of the bed when Haley didn't make a move to get up.

"There ya go. Now get some clothes on that boney ass and meet me downstairs in twenty." Taylor said and hopped off the bed.

Quinn gave Haley a small hug, "We all deal with grief in different ways, Hales. You just need to move on. Dad would want that."

Haley just nodded, feeling numb and not feeling the need to argue.

"You already did all of your assignments, right?" Quinn questioned.

Haley sighed and snapped, "Yeah, Quinn. I did all of my homework. As always."

Quinn gave her a sad look and said, "Okay. I'll see you when I pick you up from school."

"I bet I can get Nathan to give me a ride." Haley said and got up off the bed.

Quinn sighed, "Okay. Bye Hales."

Haley said nothing as her sister walked out of her bedroom. Haley let out a few tears and hugged her bear closer to her chest.

Lucas

He woke up just like he had for the past couple of months. Alone. He stretched and looked at the empty space beside him. He clenched his jaw. What had possessed him to say those things to Peyton? She could have been sleeping right next to him, but no. He had to screw it up like he always did. He groaned and sat up, glancing at the clock. Usually by this time, he'd have to beg Peyton to wake up.

"Screw it. Today is the day I'm getting Peyton back." Lucas said to himself.

He quickly got off the bed and went to the bathroom. He took a quick shower then got dressed. Lucas' phone vibrated just as he left his house. He opened his phone and saw a text. From Peyton.

Hey, hubby, we need to talk.

He grinned happily and sent her a reply before starting his car. Damn, could his day get any better?

Nathan

It was only seven freaking thirty, but Nathan was already having the worst day ever. The housekeeper had accidently shrunk his favorite t-shirt, the only clean one left, forcing him to wear the same shirt he had been wearing for a couple of days. Not to mention the fact that he felt like he was going to puke whenever he took a breath. Yeah, worst day ever.

"Nathan! Get your ass in the kitchen." Dan yelled.

Nathan growled to himself. Great, just freaking great. Dan probably wanted to plan a full weekend of nonstop basketball training.

"Woop-freaking-iee." Nathan said sarcastically and pushed himself off the bed.

His head was spinning by the time he made it to the kitchen.

"What the hell is this?" Dan snapped and pushed a piece of paper right in front of Nathan's face.

Nathan took a step back to let his eyes focus on the paper. Tree Hill Memorial Hospital. Oh, Shit. It was a medical bill.

"It's a bill for the hospital. Ya know I got in a car accident a few months back." Nathan supplied, hoping it would be enough.

"Nathan, that was months ago. This bill has yesterdays date on it."

Apparently not.

"Tell me what's going on, Nathan." Dan glared.

Nathan's vision started to fade as he said, "Dad… I—"

He cut himself off when he passed out. Oh yeah, awesome start to the day.

Brooke

Knock, knock, knock. There was an annoying sound and it was disrupting her sleep. Brooke groaned and turned over. Knock, knock, knock, KNOCK.

"Seriously?" Brooke exclaimed and huffed as she threw back the covers.

She stormed to the door and yelled, "I don't know who the hell you think you are but—"

"Good morning to you, too, Sis."

Brooke gasped, "Ohmygod!"

She quickly pulled the young girl with bright brown eyes and short brown into a hug.

"I can't believe you're here!" Brooke exclaimed.

"Me either. Dad finally went through on his threat for me to return to Tree Hill so here I am." The girl said and frowned.

Brooke frowned, "What? Have you not missed your older, charming, hotter older sister?"

The girl laughed and pouted, "No, but I miss New York."

Brooke laughed and pulled her in for another hug, "I'm so glad you're here, Jess!"

"Yeah, yeah." Jess mumbled.

Ever wonder how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life-altering? Is it four years, like high school? One year? An eight-week walking tour? Can your life change in a month, or a week, or a single day? We're always in a hurry to grow up, to go places, to get ahead... but when you're young, one hour can change everything.

AN: don't own that ending quote, btw. Review, please!