Predator
Chapter One
Haley James was always the responsible one; she had a good head on her shoulders. She was number one in her freshman class at Tree Hill High, tutor extradonaire, class president and best friend to basketball stars Nathan and Lucas Scott. In short, she was the daughter everyone dreamed of having. She was the youngest of five and loved by her compassionate, if not seldom there parents. So no one expected to get the call, the day before sophomore year started, telling them that Haley James had been found brutally beaten and raped in an empty building, an hour from her home.
One Year Earlier
Haley scanned her buddy list, looking from someone, anyone, to talk to. No such luck. Nathan and Lucas were on a last minute school shopping trip with their mom Karen and no one else really struck her fancy. Her eyes rested on the tiny chat room button on the bottom of the screen; the forbidden button.
Her parents had always warned against entering a chat room, citing that you never knew who you were talking to. Being the person she was Haley had listened. Of course her parents were right, they were always right.
But she was bored, she had finished all her summer work in June, cleaned the house, went for a run, eaten lunch. There was nothing else to do. So she clicked it. Instantly a large screen popped up, words appearing frantically followed by a beep.
Grandmaster: hey tutorgrl. U new here?
Tutorgrl14: yeah, first time in a chat.
Devilchica23: cool, im hilary and that lsr is dustin – asl?
Tutorgrl14: uhh….14/f/nc, u guys?
Devilchica23: 17/f/fl and dust is 20/m/nc...nifty huh? Lol
Tutorgrl14: yeah, um i have to go…ttyl i guess?
Grandmaster: def. ;)
Haley clicked out of the screen, signing off quickly. Hilary and Dustin had seemed so real, they had talked to her like it was nothing; despite the age difference. Maybe a chat room wasn't such a good idea.
"Haley, you home?" Her oldest brother Mark called up the stairs, he was starting his senior year, the two oldest Quinn and Devilyn both were freshman at UNC.
"I'm home, in my room." She yelled back down; she shared a room with her sister Taylor who was a junior at THHS. The two were polar opposites, Taylor was the sultry wild sister and Haley was the predictable, sweet one.
"Hey you wanna' get something to eat with me and some of the guys from the team?" Mark asked as he entered the room, flopping down on the twin bed closest to the door, Taylors. He was a football player and was always with his fellow teammates.
Haley considered it, but knew Nathan and Luke would want to come over once they were done shopping. "Uh I just ate and I think Luke and Nate are coming over later. Thanks though." She responded, picking nervously at the sleeve of her sweatshirt. As ridiculous as it sounded she was afraid that her brother would somehow realize she had been in a chat room and bust her.
Mark gave her a suspicious look but said nothing, "Okay well I'm out, if Taylor gets home before I do, tell her mom said she needs to do the laundry."
Haley nodded in response then shut the door behind her brother, leaning against it briefly to catch her breath. That was a close one to be sure.
Once she heard his car pull out of the driveway she returned to her computer, going against her gut feeling and signing on to her screen name.
Instantly two instant message screens popped up.
Bballgodd23: hey hales, miss me? D
Grandmaster: hey sweetie, back so soon?
Haley closed out of one screen and focused her attention on the other, the screen name belonging to Nathan.
Tutorgrl14: hey nate, i didn't miss u, lsr . how was shopping w/ ur mom?
Bballgodd23: u no u did ; – just like i missed u. and shopping was hell.
Tutorgrl14: lol, nice. wanna' come over? like now
Bballgodd23: def.. seeya in a minute, maybe ill bring luke. sys :-D
Bballgodd23 has signed off.
Grandmaster: hey, u there? hhhheeeelllloooo!
Tutorgrl14: uh sorry about that. I was tlkn 2 a friend?
Grandmaster: a boyfriend? Lol
Tutorgrl14: no just a friend
Grandmaster: good
Tutorgrl14: uh i have 2 go, ttyl
Grandmaster: def. ttyl sexy
Haley signed off, shaken slightly. This guy had never seen her, had talked to her all of ten minutes and was already calling her sweetie and sexy and making sure she was single?
Then again he was an older guy, maybe that's just what older guys were like. No time to ponder that one though, Nathan and Luke lived right next door and within five minutes Nathan was sprawled across Haley's bed, eating a bag of chips.
"Ugh you pick, can you please try not to get grease all over comforter?" Haley snatched the bag away from him.
He pouted, giving her his best puppy dog look. "That wasn't a nice thing to do to your best friend." He whined.
As usual she gave in; the look got her every time. "Fine, fine. Just please no messes."
He gave her an as if look then returned to his food. "So Hales, excited for tomorrow? I mean first year of high school and everything."
She nodded, "I guess. I hope the classes are more challenging then eighth grade." She sat next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Sometimes I wonder why I'm friends with you." He commented, following with a laugh. The two were nothing alike.
"Excuse me?" She whacked him with a pillow, "Sorry my whole life isn't about basketball and chasing girls." She stuck her tongue out at him, victory.
He got a dreamy look on his face, making Haley want to gag. "Just one girl; Brooke Davis." He sighed deeply, "God is she banging."
Haley grunted in disgust, "Oh please. She's so fake Nathan." She got up, doing her best Brooke impression, "Let's have sex then go shopping, kay?" She deadpanned, getting Brooke's voice perfect.
Nathan shook his head, a look of mild amusement on his face, "Jealous Hales?"
"As if." She rolled her eyes, glaring at him.
"Really, because it sounds like it." He grinned, loving getting the best of her. He had a talent for it too.
"And this is exactly why I like Lucas so much better then you." She teased, "Where is my bestest friend in the entire world anyways?"
Nathan grimaced briefly then responded in his usual cocky manner, "With his other girlfriend. You know, about 5'5, blonde curly hair, brown eyes, nice body, goes by the name of Peyton?"
"Oh yeah, did I mention Lucas also has better taste in girls then you?" She commented, hoping to get back at him for the little jib.
"So you like Peyton, but you're jealous of Brooke? I feel touched Hales, really." He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back down next to him.
From downstairs the heard the faint humming of a motorcycle, no doubt Taylor and her boyfriend.
"Great, just what I need, Tornado Taylor." Haley groaned shoving Nathan away; she stood quickly, booting him off her bed.
"Ow what was that for?" He rubbed the side of his head which had hit her night table on the way to the floor.
Haley helped him up, "All I need is for Taylor to find the two of us on my bed and run to my parents."
"Doesn't Taylor have sex with her boyfriend all the time?"
"Yeah, but she'll still feel no remorse in turning me in. That's just how Taylor is."
"How am I?" A snide voice questioned as Taylor entered the room, her boyfriend Chris Keller behind her, his motorcycle helmet in his arms.
"Nothing, we were just leaving actually." Haley dragged Nathan out of the room and down the stairs, "Lets go to your house."
"Good idea."
"I know I'm full of them. Actually I'm a certifiable genius." Haley smirked.
"Okay genius, lets not inflate the ego too much." Nathan returned as the two made their way over to the Scott residence.
Welcome to Tree Hill High School – Home of the Ravens the banner on the front of the school proudly displayed. Underneath it was masses of sophisticated looking upperclassmen, gossiping and partaking in less then kosher acts.
Haley looked down at her own clothes, a denim skirt to her knees, black flip-flops and a lavender button down. Maybe Taylor was right, she did look pretty conservative.
"Nervous Hales?" Lucas asked from behind her, obviously trying to mask his own fear by pointing out hers.
She turned to the blonde hair boy wearing a 'Keith Scott Body Shop' sweatshirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. He was gorgeous, Haley would admit it, but more like a brother.
"Hey guys." The rather cheery voice of Lucas' girlfriend Peyton Sawyer called from the top of the stairs. She was generally a kind-hearted, slightly pessimistic person who immersed herself in dark art and music, but today she fit in surprisingly well. Dressed in a fitted pair of corduroys and a tight white sweater she looked like she belonged.
"See you at lunch Hales." Lucas promised, high-fiving his friend before joining his girlfriend, leaving Haley all alone.
She took her first step towards the building, shaking slightly.
"A little nervous are we?" An arm slung around her shoulder, "I gotcha' Hales."
She giggled quietly, "Oh thanks Nathan, you're my hero." The two began walking together, "Why aren't you with Brooke?"
Nathan shrugged, "I dunno', didn't feel like it?" He replied, his voice lacking interest in the subject at hand.
"Did your girlfriend get a boyfriend?" Haley asked knowingly. Brooke Davis was not one to wait; she had probably gotten sick of Nathan already.
"Actually for your information she didn't. She wanted to give me a ride but I said no, I promised my best friend I'd go with her." He smiled triumphantly.
"Oh is that so Mr. Scott?" Haley joked, looking at the slip of paper that held her locker number and combination along with schedule. "Well then be a gentleman and help me find my first class, US history."
"With Ackerson?" Nathan questioned, looking down at his own schedule.
"The one and only."
"Me too!" He responded slightly too gleefully, receiving a strange look from a few upperclassmen.
"Yeah, yeah gay pride America, mind keeping it down?" Haley hissed, not wanting to be embarrassed on the first day.
Nathan crossed his arms over his chest, setting her with his best angry look. "I'm not gay, I was just excited."
"Oh I bet you were. Now let's get to class."
The two took off down the hallway, lost in their own world.
The rest of the morning passed fairly well for Haley; Nathan, Peyton or Lucas being in all of her classes. All four had biology together, unfortunately with Brooke. Haley tried not to let this bother her, but couldn't feel slightly smug when Nathan picked her as his lab partner.
Lunch rolled around and Haley was the first at the table they had pre-agreed upon, seeing as she always brown bagged it on the first day.
Peyton was the first one to join her, an apple and sketchpad in hand, sometimes Haley wondered if she was really okay.
Lucas sat down shortly after, a slice of pizza on his tray and a book in his other hand, he kissed Peyton quickly then returned to "The Grapes of Wraith" by John Steinbeck, his latest read.
"The life of the party is here." The three bristled at the voice, having hoped they would've been able to escape this part of the first day back.
Haley, always the nicest one spoke up first, "Hey Tim. How's your day going?" She moved over to make room for him.
The teenage boy sat down, slinging his arm around Haley while winking at Peyton. He fancied himself a ladies man and was convinced all the girls in grade nine were in love with him, not to mention upperclassmen.
"Pretty good; I can't keep the ladies away. First period I had study hall, the gods really love me. Anyways, this hot junior Taylor or something was totally hitting on me." Tim grinned, proud of himself.
Lucas choked on his food, "Taylor, as in Taylor James? Blonde, blue eyes, body of – "Peyton slapped him, giving him a warning look. Lucas' school boy crush was well known to all.
"Uh yeah, you guys know her?" Tim was never the brightest crayon in the box. Obviously he didn't realize that Haley and Taylor were related.
"That would be Haley's sister. You know, our friend Haley James, Dim?" Nathan smacked Tim lightly in the back of the head. Tim was Nathan's lackey; he did everything and anything Nathan requested.
Tim looked at Haley indecorously, "Hales, that hottie is your sister? Daaaayyyuuummmm." He licked his lips, "I see where you get it from."
"Shut-up Tim." The group scolded in unison, Tim looked down at his hands. He was used to it by now.
The rest of lunch passed fairly well, the whole group agreeing that ninth grade wasn't much different then middle school.
After school, Haley signed up for tutoring then bide farewell to Lucas, Nathan and Peyton who were signing up for basketball and cheerleading respectively.
As usual neither of the James' parents were home, Taylor was making out with Chris on the couch and Mark was at football practice. Haley was more then used to their "routine".
She swiped the money on the counter, promising herself she would remember to order pizza when Mark got home.
Once upstairs she started up the computer, signing on instantly to her buddy list. She wasn't sure why considering all her friends would be still involved with their after school activities.
Still, something told her too.
Grandmaster: hey sweetie, how was school?
Tutorgrl14: good, high school wasn't as bad as i thought.
Grandmaster: goood, haley rite?
Tutorgrl14: yeah and ur dustin?
Grandmaster: nah, i just tell the chat ppl that, my names dan
Tutorgrl14: okay dan
She spent the rest of the night, or at least until Mark got home, talking to "grandmaster". It felt good to know someone finally cared about her whereabouts, her life. Maybe she and Dan could be friends.
