Looking For Solid Ground

Hey y'all, sorry it's been so long, and I know this one is short, but I was in the middle of moving back up to school, so I was completely swamped. But now, I'm completely settled in, and ready to go, so expect the updates like regular. Thanks for y'alls reviews, and enjoy.



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"Hales?" Nathan asked hesitantly, walking up to her.



"Hey," she greeted.



"So, it's final," he said, the sadness apparent in his eyes.



"What is?"



"The divorce."



"But, we just filed, I don't understand."



Nathan shrugged, "I knew this is what you really wanted, so I pulled a few strings."



"Nathan," she sighed, feeling her eyes water. She pulled him into a hug. "You know I'll always love you, right?" she whispered in his ear.



"Always and forever," he whispered back, pulling away, quickly wiping his eyes.



"Look at me," she said, holding his hands in her own. "You are an amazing person, and I have no doubt that you are going to be a huge basketball star, not to mention you will be a great husband and father someday."



"I just wish it could have been today," he confided.



"Me too," Haley replied smally. "But hey, if ever you need anything...anything at all, even if it's a tutor," she laughed. "Don't be afraid to call. You know I'm here for you."



"The same goes for you," he smiled. "Some guy ever treats you like crap, I'll gladly kick their ass for you."



"Come here," she said, pulling him into a quick hug. "Ok," she pushed him away. "I've got to be able to get through my speech, and there's no way I'm going to be able to do that if I'm crying, so you better go get in line."



"Alright," he laughed. "Good luck."



"Thanks."





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"And now, giving the farewell address, the 2007 Tree Hill High valedictorian, HaleyJames," Principal Turner rushed her name out, but Haley couldn't help but beam.



She walked to the middle of the stage, standing in front of the podium. She looked out into the crowd, taking in all the faces of her classmates. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach. They must have been acrobatic butterflies the way they were making her stomach turn. Haley looked down at her speech that was waiting for her on the podium.



"Distinguished guests," she frowned, "parents," she felt her heart break, "and this year's graduation class," she smiled when her eyes fell on Brooke who was beaming with pride, a huge grin on her face.



"My best friend taught me a quote by William Shakespeare, about a year and a half ago, and it seems appropriate," she looked up at the crowd. Her pulse was skyrocketing. She knew her voice was starting to shake from the nerves.



"There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the sorrows of their life is bound in shallows and miseries," she froze. She couldn't do this. She felt as if her throat were closing up on her. Her eyes searched the crowd. She could see some of their panicked faces. Then, Haley's eyes met Brooke's, who wasn't panicked at all. She just beamed up at Haley, knowing that she could do this. Brooke held back the tears as she brought a finger up to her heart, making Haley smile.



"I can't do this," Haley's voice came out confidently. "Give the same old borrowing speech. It's not right. Not after everything this class has been through together. I bet that the majority of you didn't know that I was actually denied the right to stand up here and represent this class as valedictorian, despite the fact that I had the highest grade point average in the class. You see, some people didn't believe that I was the right person for the job. They look back on the past two years of my life with a scowl."



Haley felt a tear in her eye as she saw the ones flowing down Brooke's face, "I, however, look back on them with a smile. I've been through a lot. We've been through a lot. You see, I got married when I was sixteen and went on tour when I was seventeen. I then returned home, and after reuniting with my husband, became pregnant, but in an unfortunate accident, lost the baby. You see, some people view the past few years as bad ones. I see them as blessings."



"Two years ago, I was closed off and stuck to my own crowd. Now, I can honestly say, I know every single person in my graduating class. If I would have never gone through all of that, I wouldn't be able to say that. I wouldn't be able to honestly say, that I have some of the most amazing friends ever. I have found myself, thanks to all of you before me. I have grown, and I can now say that I am a person that I can be proud of, even if certain people aren't."



Silent tears were now falling down her cheeks, as she looked down at the people before her lovingly, "It's a sort of tradition for the valedictorian to thank all the distinguished guests that are in attendance today. I don't see why. I don't know any of them. Where have they been the last twelve years of our school life? Where were they when our school was torn apart in that unfortunate tragedy when two very special lives were taken? Where were they after the championship game, when I was lying in the hospital, fighting for my life? Most likely, celebrating the victory. No, I don't owe them any thank you's."



"But," she nodded. "I do owe a lot of other people thank you's. First, to Karen Rowe. Thank you for always being there for me. I see you as a second mom, and I know that beautiful baby girl that you're holding is so lucky, because she has the most amazing mother to raise her. To my best friend, Lucas Scott. Thank you for introducing me into "their" world. If it wasn't for that, I would have never met the loves of my life. I know, things are rocky right now, but you will always be my best friend and my favorite brother. To Peyton Sawyer, thank you for taking me under your wing, and helping me out. You've taught me a lot, and I know this is only the beginning of our friendship. To all my rivercourt boys. You have always looked out for me, as I have for you, and I just want to thank you guys so much, for all the amazing memories I have of growing up. To Nathan Scott, I love you. You know that. We've been through so much together, and you helped to make me the person I am today. I'm always here for you, and I can't wait to watch you on ESPN."



"And finally," she took a deep breath. "To Brooke Davis. You are the most amazing person I know. You are so strong and passionate and loving, and I feel so blessed to have you in my life. You took me in when I had no place to go. You gave me hope when I had none. You taught me how to love when I didn't believe in it. You are the best roommate slash friend slash just all around gift I could have ever asked for, so thank you."



The tears were now flowing from everyone's eyes.



"Thank all of you. We've done it. We've made it. The odds were stacked against us, but look at us now," she laughed, sniffing. "I love you guys, and I can't wait to see what amazing things all of you guys do with the rest of your lives. Good luck…and farewell."



Haley walked back to her seat to the echoing applause, smiling at the look on Principal Turner's face. He looked like he was about to have a heart-attack.





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Haley was lost in the crowd as graduates and parents merged, tears on everyone's faces as their class song was playing.



"Baby," Brooke smiled, finding her. She took Haley's face in her hands, smiling through her own tears. "That was so amazing. You were brilliant."



"Really?" Haley asked, nervously. "I don't think Turner was too happy."



"Screw Turner," Brooke laughed, pulling her into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "That had to be like the greatest graduation speech ever."



"Brooke," Haley giggled. "How many graduations have you actually been to?"



"Well, one, counting this one. But," she added, noticing the look on Haley's face. "That's because the speeches were so boring. But this one," she smiled, lovingly. "I would gladly attend this one a thousand more times to see you up there again."



Haley bit her lip as she looked up at her, nervously, her cheeks flushed from the compliment. Brooke felt her head spin. The girl was so unbelievably beautiful that she wished she could just stare at her forever. Unfortunately, they had a party to attend, and she had a feeling that they might get suspicious if both the class party girl and the valedictorian didn't attend the graduation party.