Coming Home

Chapter 17, Hanging Onto Believing

Lucas and I have been together for a little over two and a half months now. Although I'm still paying for the apartment, I often spend my nights at Lucas's house. I got a job at a thrift store to keep paying for the apartment. I've made many friends here. Im glad Haley and I are close. She's got Nathan, and they are both happy. Brooke is still having those nonofficial relationships, I really hope that she grows out of those. Peyton and Jake are together. I'll see her walking with him and pushing Jenny in the stroller sometimes.

Today, Lucas and Kieth are going to get Karen from the airport. We decorated the house a little, and hung up a sign we colored that said "welcome home." I miss her being around. She's such a sweet soul and I'm really proud of her for going but, I'm glad she's coming back. I need her as an adult figure in my life, as a woman. Don't get me wrong, Keith is great. Really great but, he's a guy. Him and Luc can be immature together at times. Speaking of, Keith's going to propose. He didn't tell anybody but me. I helped him decide on the ring. It's beautiful, and perfect for Karen.

I baked a few sweets for us to eat. I grabbed the vanilla ice cream from the freezer and set it on the counter. I grabbed some bowls and spoons. Then I got the lava cake out of the oven and put it on the stove, so I could turn it off. I set everything up, it was cute. I was happy with what Karen would come home to.
All of a sudden I hear Lucas and Haley yelling.

She must've said something because he replied back, "you don't have any room to yell at me. Nathan says a few nice things and you forgive him for all the crap he's done."
I walk in as Haley shouts back. "That's not fair. You would never accuse me of something like that. I don't like who you are becoming. Next time you see me don't talk to me."
"FINE."
"FINE!" *SLAM"* Haley walks out the door.
"You okay?" I ask after he throws something down.
"NO, IM NOT OKAY. CLEARLY."
That was a little harsh. I look down at the floor, "sorry.." I let out.
"Haley is my BEST FRIEND. I'm not supposed to fight with her. When I do, I get upset. Just leave me alone okay?"
Tears brim in my eyes, Lucas has never talked to methis angrily. My voice cracks as I get out and say, "please just be safe when you go." I turn to leave the room when Lucas grabs me by the arm. "Hey, I'm sorry. I just hate it when her and I fight."
I blink and a tear rolls down my cheek. He cups my face and wipes it off. "I'm sorry beautiful. Please forgive me?" He asks with puppy dog eyes. Awh, who could say no to that face? I nod my head. He kisses my and then our foreheads touch as we gaze into each other's eyes. His hands still in my face, mine wrapped around his wrists.
Keith walks in, "Lucas it's time to go."
I kiss him, "Be careful handsome."
"Can't wait to see your beautiful face as soon as I get back."
I kiss him one my time. I then look back at Keith, "go get your girl."
He gets the biggest smile and Lucas turns around and gives me a confused look. I smack his butt as a signal for him to get out of the door and he laughs. Little did I know that there was a possibility that that could've been the last time I saw Lucas. 

I wait awhile for Karen, Lucas, and Keith to get back. I couldn't wait to see him again, I was going to tell him I love him for the first time tonight. I was excited to see Karen with a ring on her finger. As well as the biggest smiles on her and Keith's faces. However, after a while of waiting I knew something is wrong. Tonight was supposed to be perfect, and something has happened. Then the phone rings, my heart drops down to my stomach. *click* I answer the phone.
"Kierston, it's Haley," she seems upset.
"Oh hey, what's up?"
"Kierston.." This confirms it. Something is most certainly wrong. I start to tremble.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Lucas.. There was an accident." I start grabbing my keys as soon as I hear his name.
"Oh my god is he hurt? What about Keith?"
"Keith is getting examined. Lucas is hurt pretty bad."
"Are you with him?" I put my phone on speaker as I start to drive my car.
"No. I don't think he'd want to see me."
"Hales, he needs you. He immediately felt horrible. Not just guilty but hating that you guys fought."
"I'll come by later. I just need time."
"You really should. Where's Karen?" I ask as I turn the corner, about seven more minutes until I get to the hospital.
"She's there. She took a cab."
"How'd she find out?"
"Keith called her."
My heart drops, she found out her only child had been hurt by a phone call.
"I wish I would've known, I would've told her as I picked her up."
"Yeah.." Haley gets quiet.
"Haley... I know this is going to sound super selfish of me. I'm sorry in advance but I need you to stay on the phone of me. I know your hurting but I'm driving," I almost fall apart and my voice starts to shake. "I'm about to lose it, I cant do that while driving. Stay, please?"
"Alright fine."
"Do you want to talk about the fight?"
She took a minute to reply: "I told him that I didn't like who he was becoming. How horrible is that?"
"You didn't mean it. He knows that hales. When you come to the hospital you'll show it. I'm pulling in the parking lot now. I'll see you later?" I say questioningly.
"Yes. Now I'm gonna go think."
"You're fine. I hope you can forgive yourself hales."
"Yep, me too." Man, that fight really hurt her. I lock my car and sprint through the main doors. I ask where Lucas Scott is. "Lucas is in surgery, his family and friends are in the living room." By now, I'm bawling. I don't want to wait on an elevator so I sprint up the stairs and almost fall. I catch myself and make it to the waiting area. Then I see Karen and Keith. My eyes are all red and puffy, my cheeks are stained from the tears. "Kierston," Karen says. I just pull her into a big huge. It's like one of those moments a daughter would have with her mother. She just holds me and pats my back. I pull away. "I missed you."
"Awh sweetheart, I missed you too."
I take my sleeves and pull them down to my thumb to wipe off my face. "We weren't supposed to meet up like this..."
"I know honey, I know."
Then I look at Keith. At first with anger, and then guilt. He already must feel horrible. I hug him too. "He's going to be okay."
He looks at me, "if he isn't I'd never forgive myself."
Karen and I have him sad smiles. Then the doctor pulls Karen out to talk to her.
"What happened?" I ask Keith kindly.
"I don't really know. I think I turned at a red light, we got crashed into. Dan got him out."
"WHAT?"
"Crazy right. I was the horrible Scott brother."
"Keith stop, you know that's not true."
"It is. I screwed up big time."
Karen comes walking up. "He's out of surgery."
We all walk to his room. I don't go in yet, I give Karen and Keith time. Then I hear slight arguing. Then I hear alcohol. Are you serious? That's what caused the accident. Keith comes walking out and I walk in, pretending like I didn't hear it.
"Karen, you can go to sleep. I'll stay with him."
"Okay, thank you sweetheart."

After I see she's in a deep sleep, I grab Lucas's hand. "Hey handsome, it's me. I hope that you can hear me, because if the roles were reversed all I'd need is to hear your voice. I really miss you. And Haley, oh my. She has put so much weight on her shoulders. You have to wake up, for her sake and Karen's. Keith won't ever forgive himself. I can't have our last conversation be what it was. There's so much you have to know. Lucas, please." I hold his hand in-between both of mine. I kiss his hand and hold it to my forehead as the tears fall.

Nathan walks in, "oh sorry Kierston. I can wait." He goes to walk back out.
"No, Nathan you're fine. I was just.."
"I know," he gives me a sad smile.
"I'll give you a minute," I say wiping off my face.

I go to the restroom and then come back. I look in the window of the door and see Nathan move his hand closer towards Lucas. I look away. I can't bare the thought that there's a possibility they can't improve their relationship. The possibility of not becoming at least semi close. I turn around and go to open the door, but Nathan is already pulling it from the other side. Which causes me to stumble a little bit.
"Hey be careful," he grabs my arm. "Lucas is awake."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, go."
I hug Nathan. "Thank you." I don't know why I said thank you but, I was just really happy he was okay. After Karen and him talk for a minute I walk over to him. "Hey handsome." I kiss him on the forehead and sit beside him on the bed. He puts his hand on my thigh and I put my hand on his.
"I missed you beautiful."
Hearing his voice is such a beautiful thing. I start bawling. "Lucas, I'm so glad you're okay. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I just. If you would've left, I wouldn't have ever been able to forgive you."
"Hey, don't cry. Forgive me though. For what?"

"For making me fall in love with you."

(A/N: so this last scenario is definitely inspired by greys anatomy, have to give credit where it's due. Anyway, thank you so much for reading! I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile, I've had a busy week. But remember, your feedback is always appreciated and is definitely an encouragement. Again, thank you!)