Ah omg I know! It's been such a long time since I've last updated but please don't kill me! *hides behind a trash can in waiting for all the insults to fly* I don't really have an excuse for why I haven't been updating. I just didn't know how to continue the story. But I have a clear picture now and I'm back :) hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 7

Weeks passed, months passed, Christmas passed and Spring began to bloom. Still Haley and Nathan remained strangers. As promised Haley had gotten her car back from Nathan but even then it wasn't him that had delivered it. He had gotten one of his basketball goons to do it.

Haley had scowled a thank you before closing the door right in his face. She has hoped Nathan would've been the one to come over. She had been waiting and wanting and longing to talk to him. There was just so much to say. But it wasn't and yet again Haley was disappointed.

"Hales? You okay?" Lucas' concerned voice drifted into Haley's ear. She had been thinking about that night again. Though it was months ago, it remained fresh in Haley's mind. She could still remember how he tasted, that lingering feeling of happiness and his sweet breath tickling her lips as their tongue danced an intricate dance that no onewa knew but them.

"Huh? Oh yeah right, I'm okay."

Lucas threw Haley another concerned, worried look before shruggging and returning back to his lunch. It had been a rough few months for him too. First he injured his shoulder and had been forced off the Varsity basketball team to "recooperate". Then Karen had fallen off the ladder whilst redecorating and last but not least Brooke had broken up with him.

Haley knew that Lucas was struggling. His face said it all. Gently Haley laid a warm hand on Lucas' healthy shoulder. "Luke hey, it'll be alright," she whispered, "I know it seems hard right now and I'm not going to lie, it is. But I promise you Lukey, it'll be okay."

Lucas glanced up into Haley's warm brown eyes. They were so full of hope, so full of conviction that everything was going to be okay. He was just so confused. How was Haley so strong? Even after what has happened to her, how did she remain so strong?

She had been his rock. Always. She had always given him light, even when light for herself was dim. She had always shone. Even in the brightest of days Haley shone. And even in the darkest of nights, Haley shone.

There was nothing Lucas could say that would ever express to Haley just now thankful he was to have her in his life. Words couldn't bring justice to the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him.

So he didn't say anything. He laid his head on Haley's still outstretch arm and she knew. She knew that Lucas was grateful.

They stayed like that for a while, both sad, both wondering what they were doing wrong to be pushing away the people they wanted close the most.

Lucas went home that day, still feeling the weight crushing on his chest. He had gotten used to it. There wasn't really anything that anyone could do to lessen the load. Haley had tried, so had his mom. But really all they did was worsen the ache. He missed Brooke so much. He missed basketball and he missed feeling happy.

Mindlessly he entered his room through the side door and flopped down on his bed. Just then he heard a chair squeak as he jumped out onto the floor ready for battle. He came face to face with Peyton Sawyer, also known as Brooke's best friend. Her mass of curly blonde hair ringlets framed her heart shaped face perfectly and her lips were dusted with a perfect pink lipstick.

As usual she was in a band Tee and some skinny black jeans. The girl was rarely out of her band Tees and skinny jeans. The only other time Lucas had seen her in something else was when she was in her cheer costume. And that time when she had nothing on...

"Oh hey Peyt, what do you want?" he asked flatly. Peyton and him hadn't talked much after their break up. Associating yourseld with an ex was always a messy situation; one that Lucas preferred not to be involved in.

"Hey yourself gloomy," Peyton joked but when Lucas didn't laugh her smile faded and she coughed uncomfortably. Lucas had had a particularly bad day and was in absolutely no mood to be indulging anyone.

"Well I came to ask... What's going on between you and Brooke? You're both great friends of mine and you both seem really down and affected by this break up. Now trust me I know Brooke and she isn't one to be affected by just one boy," Peyton askied gently, plopping herself down on the bed beside Lucas.

Lucas stared at her blankly. "What do you mean what happened? She broke up with me. That's what happened. She told me she loved me and that I was the one and then she just broke up with me," Lucas replied, btterness and resentment spewing out of every word.

"Yikes well that doesn't sound too good does it? Well I promise you that she does love you but there are just some stuff... It's really not my place to say. You should talk to Brooke."

Lucas scoffed. "Yeah. What's the point. Since I mean nothing to her. Since I am so dispensable, how about I replace her too. I'm sure that there are a million girls that are just as good as Brooke Davis. It wouldn't be so hard to find."

Just then Lucas felt a pair of soft lips crashing down on his. His eyes bulged opened. The sweet taste of vanilla infiltrated his lips and every part of body screamed in shock.

And before he knew it, the lips pulled away and he was left staring into the blue eyes of his ex girlfriend who has just... Kissed him?

And that's all for chapter 7! I'll be updating real soon. Remember to review and favourite!