Brief summary:
The James' always spent their summer a beach house with the Scotts'. Their parents had been friends since college. The James family consisted of Lydia, Jimmy, Haley, and Lucas. The Scotts were Karen, Keith, Brooke, and Nathan. Brooke and Haley had both just turned 18 over the winter. Nathan and Lucas were now almost 20. They were only one grade apart. The girls were ready to be freshmen in college while the boys were about to be sophmores. They all loved going to the beach house for the entire summer up until last year. There was something about Nathan and Haley that no one knew about. In result Haley left halfway through last summer. Now it's time to go back up.
I'm not sure how long I'm going to make this story yet but I'll put in as much as possible.
Haley was sitting in her living room reading her newest book when her mother came home.
"Hey Hales." Lydia said closing the door behind her.
"Hi mom, how was work?" Haley asked looking up from her book.
"Long, your lucky you had the day off." Lydia said as she sat down on the chair near Haley. Haley's mom owned a cafe. Haley had worked at it ever since she was old enough. "Good book?"
"Yeah." Haley answered as she marked her page with a book mark.
"Are you all packed?" Lydia asked.
"For what?" Haley asked.
"For the cabin, how could you forget? We go every year." Lydia said watching her daughter carefully.
"Oh.." Haley said putting her book down. "I'm not going." Haley answered.
"What do you mean your not going?" Lydia asked.
"I was planning on taking a few summer classes at Tree Hill Community College to get ready for college." Haley tried to explain. Lydia just shook her head furiously.
"No, Haley we go to the cabin every year. I let you leave early last your because you said you absolutely needed to tutor for the summer school program." Lydia said. "You know you don't have a choice we go as a family. Your brothers coming too."
"I don't want to. I want to take classes." Haley lied. "I'm old enough to make my own decisions."
"Lucas is older and he's going." Lydia said standing up. "Go pack your bags we are leaving in the morning."
"I'm not going." Haley said firmly.
"Haley James, I don't know what the hell happened last year but your going this year." Lydia yelled.
"Nothing happened." Haley snapped.
"Your lying just like you lied about tutoring last year but I let it slide. This year your going. I want to spend time with you before college." Lydia said. Least year after being there for only a month Haley pleaded with her parents to let her leave. They finally agreed and she went home. She came back up for the weekend on Lucas' birthday after her parents pleaded with her. "It's our time together before you leave. Please Haley, for me." Lydia said, she was trying to make Haley feel bad and she knew it.
"What's going on in here?" Jimmy said coming out of the kitchen.
"Your daughters trying to get out of going to the cabin this year." Lydia said shaking her head. Just then Lucas walked through the front door.
"Oh no your going. We let you get away with leaving last year but this year you don't have a choice." Jimmy said.
"But daddy.." Haley whined.
"I don't want your excuses." Jimmy said shaking his head. "Like your mother said it's your last few months before you go to college, we want to spend time with you." Jimmy told her. "Your going end of discussion." Jimmy said leaving the room with Lydia following. Haley's parents were rarely ever strick with her. It surprised her that they were so against it. After her parents left the room Haley sat back on the couch and put her head in her hands taking a few deep breaths.
"Why don't you want to go?" Lucas asked sitting next to her. She jumped a little she didn't see or hear him come in.
"I want to take summer classes. I don't like going there anyway." Haley lied again. Lucas looked at her confused.
"That's a lie. You love it there ever since you were little. Every year you can't wait to go. Then last year something changed." Lucas said watching his sister carefully. She was fidgeting with her hands avoiding eye contact. "What happen last year Hales?" Lucas asked softly. Haley could feel the tears burning in her eyes she furiously blinked them away.
"Nothing happened." Haley lied.
"Suddenly after a month you wanted to leave. Then when you came back for my birthday you could barely look at Nathan. I know something happened there that neither one of you want to talk about. You two used to be such good friends. What happened?" Lucas asked again wrapping his arm around his sister.
"I don't want to talk about it." Haley said softly not looking up.
"When you do I'm here." Lucas told her softly as she nodded. "Come to the cabin Hales. Brooke would love to see you. She is one of your best friends, don't take this out on her."
"Okay." Haley said. "I'll try."
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me what happened?" Lucas asked. He wasn't trying to push her but she looked so deep in thought.
"I can't." Haley whispered shaking her head. Tears flooded in her eyes as she ran up to her room.
A half an hour later Haley was still curled up in a ball on her bed. She was sobbing uncontrollably still. She heard her door creek open she lifted her head just enought to see two of her best friends Peyton and Rachel coming in. She dropped her head back on her pillow as they came up to her bed. Each of them crawled onto each side of her and just hugged her.
"What are you guys doing here?" Haley whispered through her tears.
"Lucas called us." Peyton said. Haley just nodded.
"What happened Hales?" Rachel asked.
"I have to go to the cabin this summer." Haley told them. "I don't know if I can do it. I tried so hard this year to forget and I cant. I tried and I tried and I can't" Haley exclaimed sobbing.
"I know honey." Peyton soothed. "It's not easy."
"How am I going to be able to go there?" Haley asked quietly.
"You just need to put on a brave face and act like it doesn't bother you." Rachel told her tucking Haley's hair behind her ear to get it out of her face. "Just like you did for Luke's birthday. And we will come visit you. We are only a phone call away." Rachel reminded her.
"Thanks you guys." Haley said trying to wipe her tears.
"Are you ever going to tell Lucas what happened?" Peyton asked her.
"I can't. It will ruin thier friendship." Haley told her shaking her head. Both girls nodded. "Thanks for coming."
"We're best friends that's what we are here for." Peyton told her honestly. Haley smiled and wiped more of her tears away. Peyton, Rachel, and Jake were the only ones that knew what happened that summer. Jake however was older and away at school. He was another one of her best friends.
The next morning Haley's mom woke her up around 8 to get ready to leave.
"Haley's it's time to get up." Lydia said as she peaked her head in Haley's room. Haley just groaned throwing the pillow over her head. "We are leaving in a half an hour.
"Great." Haley mumbled. She climbed out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She manged to get completely ready just in time to leave. Haley grabbed her large suitecase and bag and dragged it down the stairs nearly falling on the way.
"Ready?" Lydia asked cheerfully when Haley got downstairs.
"Yup." Haley said putting on a fake smile, she might as well practice. "As all every be." Haley gritted through her teeth.
"What was that?" Lydia asked.
"Nothing." Haley lied.
"Okay honey." Lydia said. "I know you don't want to go but it means a lot to me that your going."
"I know mom." Haley answered.
"Try to enjoy yourself." Lydia said as she saw Haley bit her lip and look down. She was clearly thinking about something.
"Jimmy, Lucas let's go!" Lydia said as Jimmy and Lucas made their way into the room.
"You want to ride with me?" Lucas asked.
"Sure." Haley said picking up her bags again. Then she noticed Lucas must have already put his bag in the car. "Luke." Haley said smiling innocently.
"Yeah?" Lucas asked turning around to look at her.
"Can you help me please." Haley said making a puppy dog face. Lucas rolled his eyes smiling at his sister.
"Give me the big one." Lucas said grabbing it from her as she willingly handed it over.
"Thanks, your the best." Haley said as they walked to the car.
"Okay kids, we will see you there." Jimmy called as he closed the trunk to his car.
"Drive safely." Lydia yelled before getting into the car. Lucas closed his trunk and glanced over at Haley.
"Come on, let's go." Lucas said as they both hopped in the car.
After a two hour drive they finally pulled up the cabin.
"We're finally here." Lucas said hopping out of the car. Haley didn't move she just stared up at the house. Suddenly Brooke came flying out the front door and ran into Lucas' arms. They had been dating for two years now. Everyone knew one day they'd get together. As they they kissed Haley decided it was now or never. She slowly opened the door and got out. When she shut the door Brooke looked up and her jaw dropped. Haley smiled and waved.
"Your here!" Brooke shrieked and ran at her full force pulling her in a bone crushing hug. Haley hugged her back just as tight.
"Hi Brooke." Haley said laughing.
"I missed you!" Brooke said squeezing her tighter. Haley smiled.
"I missed you too." Haley whispered back. She really did miss her. As they hugged Haley saw Nathan come out of the house and give Lucas a man hug. He hadn't noticed her yet. Brooke finally pulled back.
"Oh my god your hair!" Brooke said smiling. "It's blonde!" (Haley season 3) After last summer she decided she wanted a change. Her hair was always dark brown. (season 1) Nathan then glanced over causing them to make eye contact for a brief second before Haley turned her attention back to Brooke.
"Yeah." Haley said with a small laugh. "I needed a change. Do you like it?" Haley asked.
"I love it!" Brooke said hugging her once more. "I'm so glad you changed you mind about coming." Haley just nodded. Brooke then looped her arm through Haley's as Haley grabbed her bag. Brooke then dragged her up the driveway towards the boys. Haley tried to tell herself to take a few deep breaths but she stopped breathing when she got up there. "Look Haley came!" Brooke told Nathan excitedly.
"Hi Haley." Nathan said staring at her. Haley shoved her hands in her pockets.
"Nathan." Haley said courtly looking anywhere but at him. Brooke and Lucas watched them intently.
"You look good." Nathan commented. Haley continued to look everywhere but at him. "You changed your hair." Haley sighed.
"Brooke, let's go put our things away." Haley said pulling Brooke's hand as she just walked past him. Once inside the house she took a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" Brooke asked Haley.
"I guess." Haley said dropping her bag. Brooke knew something happen the previous summer but Haley never told her what. Haley looked up to her mother also looking at her. Lydia looked like she was about to say something but Karen and Keith entered the room.
"Haley, you made it." Karen said giving her a hug.
"Hi Karen." Haley said returning the hug. "How are you?"
"I'm doing great. How are you?" Karen asked.
"I'm good." Haley said as she looked over and saw Nathan walk in she refused to look at him still.
"I see you changed your hair." Karen commented. "I love it."
"Thanks." Haley said with a smile.
"Hey kiddo." Keith said giving her a hug.
"Hi Keith." Haley replied.
"Do we get you for the whole summer this year?" Keith asked. Haley allowed her eyes to glance towards Nathan.
"I'm not sure." Haley finally said.
"She is Keith." Lydia said stepping in.
"Good." Keith said smiling.
"I need a drink." Haley said suddenly. "Excuse me." Haley made her way down the hall into the kitchen. She carefully grabbed a glass out of the cabinet. She then poured herself some water taking a sip. She didn't know how she was going to last two months here. She leaned down on the counter closing her eyes for a minute as she took a few deep breaths.
"Hales?" A voice said from behind her causing her to freeze. She knew that voice too well.
"Nathan, please go away." Haley said not turning around.
"Hales..please just talk to me for a minute." Nathan pleaded. "Hales." Haley whipped around.
"Don't call me Hales." Haley said sharply.
"I've always called you that." Nathan said taking a step closer to her. She then tried to step back but she was close to the counter.
"Only my friends call me that and as far as I'm concerned we aren't anymore." Haley said pushing herself off the counter and went to walk past him. Nathan reached out and grabbed her arm causing her to stop.
"Haley.." Nathan whispered but Haley just looked straight ahead at the door.
"Let me go Nathan." Haley said harshly as she ripped her arm away and walked out.
"I can't." Nathan whispered but she was already gone.
As soon as she walked out of the kitchen she was startled when she saw her mom standing to the right of the door.
"Hi mom." Haley said wondering if she heard the whole conversation. "What are you doing out here?"
"I came to check on you." Lydia told her watching her carefully. They both stopped talking for a minute as Nathan walked by them and back into the living room with everyone else. "What happened to you two? You used to be such good friends." Haley shrugged.
"Things change." Haley said turning to walk away from her mom.
"Haley." Her mother called making her stop. "I don't know what happened but I remember how close you guys were..don't throw that away."
"I didn't." Haley told her before turning around. "He did." Haley finished before walking away.
Haley was in her and Brooke's room unpacking her bags when Brooke came in.
"Hey." Brooke said going to sit on Haley's bed.
"Hey Brooke." Haley said as she put the last of her shirts away.
"So tell me tutorgirl, what else has changed since I last saw you?" Brooke asked. Haley smiled, this was their time to catch up. Haley made her way back over to her bed and took a seat next to Brooke. "I know the hair but what else?"
"That's about it." Haley answered. As she said this Lucas walked in the room with Nathan following behind him. Haley shifted uncomfortably on the bed.
"Hey girls." Lucas said sitting down next to Brooke. Nathan sat down on Brooke's bed. "What are you guys doing?"
"Catching up." Brooke said kissing his cheek. "Now Haley has to tell me what else is new with her."
"Did she tell you she's a cheerleader?" Lucas said laughing a little. Haley smiled and smacked him.
"Shut up Luke, I'm actually good ask Rachel and Peyton!" Haley exclaimed as Lucas laughed.
"Your a cheerleader!" Brooke shrieked. "That's great!" Brooke said smiling.
"I thought you hated cheering?" Nathan asked speaking up. She said she would never cheer no matter what.
"Things change." Haley said. "Things I used to like now I hate now and vice versa." Haley said giving him a pointed look. "So Brooke, where are you going to college."
"I'm going to Duke." Brooke said smiling at Lucas. Lucas had gone there since freshman year. "Guess what Luke, Nathan's transferring there!" Brooke told him excitedly. At Brooke's words Haley felt sick. Nathan had chosen to go to a community college for a year to improve his grades before he could go to Duke.
"Really dude that's great." Lucas said.
"I can't wait." Nathan agreed.
"What about you Hales, where are you going?" Brooke asked.
"Uh..I dunno." Haley answered. Lucas just rolled his eyes.
"She's going to Duke." Lucas answered for her. Nathan's head shot up as Brooke shrieked and pulled her into a hug.
"This is so great! Why didn't you say that to begin with?" Brooke asked.
"Because I'm not sure that's where I'm going yet." Haley answered.
"You were yesterday." Lucas commented. "What changed your mind?"
"I'm just not so sure it's a good idea anymore." Haley answered. Brooke just nodded.
"Oh are there any boys in your life Haley?" Brooke asked grinning.
"No." Haley said bluntly.
"Aw why?" Brooke asked sympathetically as Haley shrugged. "No good boys in Tree Hill?"
"Not really."Haley answered.
"We will just have to find you a boyfriend this summer!" Brooke exclaimed. She loved playing match maker. Just then Lydia stuck her head in.
"Haley has boys asking her out all the time but she turns them all down." Lydia said. "I can't figure out why maybe you can Brooke."
"Mom!" Haley shrieked as Lydia grinned.
"She's gorgeous and she doesn't even know it." Lydia added. "Okay well I'll let you kids talk." Haley wanted to kill her mother at the moment. She looked up and saw Nathan watching her.
"Why don't you go out with any of them?" Brooke asked.
"I-I-" Haley stuttered out. "I don't want to." Haley said finally. Lucas decided to take the heat off his sister.
"So Nate what about you? Any lucky ladies?" Lucas asked. Nathan was always known as a player.
"He probably as a couple." Haley muttered but they all heard her.
"I'm not seeing anyone." Nathan answered looking pointedly at Haley.
"Yeah right." Haley scoffed.
"I'm really not Hales." Nathan said. Brooke and Lucas looked between them.
"Stop calling me Hales." Haley snapped. "Didn't we already have this conversation we aren't friends anymore! Only my friends can call my Hales. And we are not friends anymore."
"Your still my friend." Nathan told her as she rolled her eyes.
"Your not mine." Haley said.
"Is that all you got? We aren't friends. You can't talk to me when I try to talk to you. All you do it ignore more or have snide remarks. Grow up and say something!" Nathan said frustrated.
"I'm leaving." Haley said getting up walking to the door.
"That's right run away again." Nathan snapped. "That's what your good at."
"I hate you!" Haley yelled. "I really do!" Haley said as tears brimmed in her eyes.
"Enough!" Brooke yelled jumping up. "I don't know what the hell happened to you two but this is ridiculous. Whatever it was made Haley leave last time! You guys use to be so close and now you can't be in the same room. I wish everyone could have fun like we used to. Haley, I know you don't hate him. You two could never hate each other. Work out whatever the hell your problem is and fast! I don't want Haley leaving again this year." Brooke yelled.
"I'm sorry Brooke, that won't happen." Haley said rushing out of the room. She ran downstairs and through the living room. All the parents were sitting there when she ran by.
"Haley what's wrong?" Lydia called after her but she ignored it and kept running out the back door. "I'll go talk to her." Lydia said getting up going onto the back porch. "Hales.." Lydia said sitting next to her. "We heard yelling..what happened?"
"I really don't want to talk about it mom." Haley said wipping her tears. "I wish I never came here." Haley said standing up and taking off down the beach. Once down the beach Haley sat down in the sand. She cried about what happened and about how their friendship used to be. This time last year she was having the time of her life.
Flashback:
Exactly one year ago. Lucas and Haley were just pulling into the driveway and Haley was wicked excited to get there. Summer at this house was her favorite time especially here with the Scotts. The car was barely in park before Haley jumped out. Brooke and Nathan were already outside.
"Brooke!" Haley said running to hug her.
"Haley!" Brooke said excitedly. "I missed you!" Brooke said.
"I saw you two weeks ago, at my house.." Haley said laughing as Brooke gave her a pointed look. "I missed you too."
"Good." Brooke said before turning her attention to Lucas. "I need to go see my boyfriend." Brooke said running off. Haley turned to Nathan and smiled.
"Hi." Haley said.
"Get over here and give me a hug!" Nathan said as Haley smiled and hugged him. Nathan gently lifted her off the ground and swung her around in a circle as she laughed. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." Haley said as he let her down. They then glanced at Brooke and Lucas.
"Do those two ever come up for air?" Nathan teased as Haley gently smacked him.
"They haven't seen each other in a couple weeks." Haley defended them. "Like you not like that on a nightly basis at a party."
"Hey! It's not my fault the ladies love me." Nathan said smirking.
"Righttt." Haley said laughing.
"Your number one don't worry." Nathan joked wrapping his arm around her.
"In your dreams Nate." Haley said with a smile.
"So who's in for the best summer ever!" Brooke squealed as everyone nodded. "Yay! Come on Luke."
"She's excited." Haley commented.
"You know they are going to spend the whole summer with each other right." Nathan said.
"I know." Haley said laughing. "I guess your stuck with me."
"Dammit." Nathan said looking disappointed as Haley's jaw dropped. "I'm just kidding who better to spend it with than one of my best friends."
"You better believe it." Haley said smiling. "We are going to have the best summer."
"I can't wait." Nathan agreed.
End of Flashback.
Author's note: What do you think? Reviews please.