Always Meant To Be

Always Meant To Be


Lucas Scott could not believe his twin brother was finally coming home after being gone for five years. Lucas had barely been able to suppress the shit eating grin that had wanted to grace his face, after his mother had informed him his brother was finally returning to Tree Hill.

Lucas had run to his room and had immediately taken his cell and had rung Charlie. Charlie had answered on the third ring. When he realised it was his brother, he had grinned into the phone and confirmed that yes he was returning home to Tree Hill.

He had explained to Lucas that he had left the band, as the lead singer was giving him shit. He explained he was sick of the jealousy and ill feelings that had been plaguing the band for the past year and a half.

Charlie hadn’t called in over six months due to work overtaking his time. Lucas said he understood, but was glad his brother would be returning. Charlie said he was glad to. That he had missed his family and their mother’s cooking. And of course he had missed Haley.

Lucas told his brother about how Nathan and Haley’s marriage was over, that they had divorced four months ago. Because Nathan and Peyton had cheated on him and her with each other, that Haley had caught them in the act in his and her bed.

Lucas had cringed and had to hold his cell away from his ear, as his brother all but roared, “HE FUCKING DID WHAT TO HER!” He added, “I cannot believe they would do something like that. I seriously thought Nathan and Peyton loved you and Hales. Your relationships seemed to be solid when I left Tree Hill for Boston.”

Lucas sighed and replied, “Yeah, so did me and Hales, apparently not.” He added, “On the upside, I and Hales are dating, have been for the last four months.”

Lucas trailed off when he heard his brother’s amused chuckles over the other end of the line. “What. What’s so funny Charlie?” Lucas asked defensively. Charlie had replied through his chuckles, “About fucking time, my very blind and idiotic twin.”

Lucas hissed defensively and asked, “What the hell is that supposed to mean, anyway?” Charlie moaned and replied, “Geez, could you possibly more dense? Ha and Hales once said I was the dense twin.”

He quickly added, when he heard the indignant spluttering from his twin. “What I mean to say is that I knew there was always something between the two of you ever since we were fifteen. You two were just far too blinded by Nathan, Peyton and Brooke.”

He continued on, “Hales got caught up in her music and her studies and eventually Nathan. You on the other hand, you got sidetracked by basket ball, popularity, cheerleaders, Brooke and finally Peyton. You both forgot what matter the most. That being each other, like it always had been before we entered high school.”

He went on, “I always knew that Hales married the wrong Scott brother. She was never meant for me, least of all Nathan. She should have always become Mrs Haley Scott. But her husbands name shouldn’t have been Nathan, but Lucas instead.”

He concluded sadly, “You honestly have no fucking idea how badly I had wanted to protest that she was marrying the wrong brother, when the priest asked if anyone knew of any reason why they shouldn’t have been married. I wanted to scream out, that yeah, I knew a reason. She was marrying the wrong brother.”

Lucas was stunned at hearing this. He asked quietly, “Why didn’t you then?” Charlie sighed as he replied, “Because if I had, I knew Hales would have never been able to forgive me for it. Never in a million years would I have intentionally hurt Hales. She’s like a second sister to me.”

He concluded, “Nor would have mom forgiven me, I would have ended up fighting with mom and leaving Tree Hill well before graduation, if I had. And you know it, Luke.”

Luke knew he was right. He quickly changed the subject, “Oh by the way, there is a new woman in town. She has two sons and is planning to take over as English teacher at the high school.”

He added, “Hales and Brooke and even mom seem to have already taken her under their wing. She’s barely been here a week and already she’s made friends with Hales and Brooke. Mom even seems fond of her.”

Of course Lucas wasn’t mentioning the fact, that the woman in question was Joey Potter, or the fact one of her sons happen to be his nephew and Charlie’s son. No, that was up to Charlie to find out for himself when he arrived.

Karen was so happy to learn she finally had a grandchild. She just never imagined the son to give her a grandchild first, would be the son she had fought with and had left home.

Joey had explained her son had not gone and done a runner on her, that he had no idea she had been pregnant when he had left. In fact she revealed she hadn’t known either, at least not until three and a half months later, that is.

She told Karen, Lucas and Haley, how they had met, that he had cheated on her friend Jen. She had them laughing, as she told them how she kept shooting him down, but he still kept coming back for more. He never gave up.

She also revealed how he had been so sweet to her, how he was able to read her like a book. She told them how she had sung with his band a couple of times before they went on tour and had hit the big time.

She also told them how he had been willing to give up on his dreams to stay with her. She told them that she turned down his invitation to go with him. And that he was to go and not give up his dreams for her.

She explained that she had been attending Worthington College in Boston at the time. That she was very dedicated to her studies. That was why she stayed behind, while he left to go on tour with his band.

Karen asked her if she had been in love with her son. Joey had smiled sadly and told her what she had told Jen and Dawson. That she had been halfway in love with him, that she believed she could have easily fallen completely love with him, if he hadn’t left or if she had gone with him.

Lucas had eyed Joey and had been surprised. She was not Charlie’s usual type. He had never gone for girls that had not only beauty on their side, but intelligence and self respect and interiority, as well.

She reminded him lot of Haley. Both girls were smart, beautiful, compassionate and genuine. In other words, Joey Potter was Charlie’s Haley, except they hadn’t known each other since they were toddlers.

Lucas already adored his nephew even after only a couple of days knowing him. He was a spit of Charlie, which meant he was also a spit of his uncle Lucas as well.

Karen was evidently in love with her grandson. She had even taken a shine to Damien, regardless of the fact he was not her grandson. She knew all about what Pacey had done to Joey.

Joey explained how Pacey never liked Charlie, all because Charlie had a way of pushing his buttons. And of course he had obviously enjoyed doing it. Plus Pacey didn’t like the fact Charlie had cheated on Jen, their friend.

Lucas laughed and commented that yes that sounded like his twin brother alright. That Charlie always had the knack of getting under someone’s skin with amazing ease. And that he always enjoyed watching which button earned which reaction.

Haley and Karen had half moaned and half laughed. Haley had commented that she couldn’t believe Charlie still did that. She figured he’d grown out of that less then thrilling habit.

Karen had laughed and told the woman that was like a daughter to her, that Charlie wouldn’t have been Charlie if he didn’t do that. It was a part of who her son was. It had been apart of his personality since he was very young.

Lucas shook his head as he snapped out of his thoughts, when Charlie called out to him asking, “Are you still there bro?” Lucas cleared his throat and replied, “Yeah sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment there. What were you saying?”

Charlie sighed and said, “I was asking if she was good looking.” Lucas chuckled and replied, “Oh yeah, she’s good looking alright. She reminds me a lot of Hales in fact. Both women are beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and genuine. I believe you would really like her.”

Charlie chuckled weakly, before replying, “I don’t know about that. My love and sex life hasn’t been what it once was. Probably ever since I joined the band and we went international.”

Lucas asked why, already having had an inkling of why that was, but wanted to hear his brother admit it out loud, what he already knew. “Why do you think that was then?”

Charlie sighed wearily and replied, “It’s not like the women weren’t there and more then willing. Because believe me bro, they were definitely there and extremely willing.”

Lucas chuckled and rolled his eyes knowingly, before asking Charlie to go on. “Right, go on. If they were so willing, why did you not get any satisfaction from any of them?”

Charlie let out a heavy sigh, which Lucas instantly caught onto. “Because they weren’t her, they never ever could be her. None of them, she was one in a million” was Charlie’s reply.

Lucas asked, “Who’s her?” Charlie replied in a reluctant tone of voice. “Joey, Joey beautiful Potter of Worthington College, that’s who.” He added, “Christ bro, I really, really did like her. I could have really fallen in love with her. I know from the very first time I heard her sing, that she was the one.”

Lucas beamed in delight, knowing Joey felt the same way about his brother. He said, “I’m sure it’ll work out in the end.” Charlie sighed and replied, “No bro, what are the chances of me ever seeing her again?”

Lucas could hear the genuine pain in his twins voice as he added bitterly, “She probably graduated with honours and is now probably married to some son of a bitch, who doesn’t deserve to be in her presence. She probably shit out a couple of kids for him as well.”

Charlie had to stifle the mad urge to not burst out in laughter. ‘If only you knew twin brother dearest, if only you knew what I know’ He spoke out loud, “I’m sure it will work itself out. Anyway I’ve got to get going. I’ve got a date with Hales.”

Charlie perked up at hearing this. He said, “Good luck bro. Take care of her and never take her for granted. Always treat her right. Never let her go. You’ll never realise how precious she is, not until she is truly gone.”

Lucas felt his breath catch in his throat, as he realised his brother wasn’t just taking about him and Hales, but himself and Joey as well. He really hoped those two got it together, not only because they had a son together, but because they loved each other, whether the other was aware of it or not.

Charlie wished him good luck again, before telling him that he would see him in at four tomorrow morning. They made arrangements for Lucas to meet him at the air port when his plane landed. With that agreed upon, Charlie hung up.

Lucas sighed as he went to get ready for his date with Haley. He would tell her about Charlie coming home the next morning. But above all, tonight was the night. He had a feeling that he and Haley would make love for the first time that night. He planned on telling her that he was in love with her.