When Two Worlds Collide (In Progress)
Rated M (mainly for language at times and adult dramatic issues) But story can fluctuate between this rating and T as sometimes it's more mild / I will post necessary warnings with chapters that merit them. This one is on the milder side.
Disclaimer: One Tree Hill and its characters belong to The WB and the show's writers and producers. This is being written entirely for enjoyment and only that. Oh and by the way, my username here is also Mara93. I have two accounts, though I may just combine them into one if possible.
Notes about this story: It starts off where season one was at the very start and then breaks off. In this story the teens are in high school. Jake is a few years older than the rest and repeating his senior year of high school. Lucas has been raised by his mom with the help of his Uncle Keith. Nathan has been raised by his mom and dad, Dan and Deb. Haley's parents are totally AU from the show. Jake's parents are made up. Peyton's parents are as on the show except her mom really did die and she was not adopted. Brooke's parents are made up. Whitey coaches The Ravens as he does on the show. Nikki's name is spelled Nicci in this story. She also goes by Nicole. She is very AU from the show. In this story Deb came home earlier than she did on the show and has formed a close bond with Karen. Haley has had no real interaction with Nathan and his friends…yet.
You will notice as you read, some differences in the characters from the show, some similarities.
Character Flaws: Out of all my stories, this one I have strived to write as normally and realistically as possible. This story was what the show's first episodes inspired me to create. You're not always going to like the characters, but I can hope you enjoy following them along their routes of growth and involvement with others. The title really gets to this story's heart. It is deeply about worlds colliding, the fallout, and the enrichment of lives based on that.
I originally posted this story at a while ago, but I recently edited parts of the story. It's mainly for grammar. I also have been working on it heavily lately. So because of that and a reader's recommendation, I decided to repost here, chapter by chapter, what's done so far and what's to come. If you are familiar with the story or would simply like to read it all to its updated parts, you can find the link to my website in my profile. There it's listed under the story's title for anyone to read. No membership is required.
But if you'd like to take your time in learning about this story, then here we go, chapter by chapter.
This story is one that will be filled with angst, mature/sensitive, disturbing matter at times, and drama. It will be balanced though too with humor, romance and fun.
Feedback is very much appreciated, but please know I always appreciate people just reading too. As I said this story deals with some serious issues and so it's not always easy to give feedback for such a story. I understand that.
Lastly, this story is dependent upon quite a bit of research. I will be referencing that as the story continues little by little.
Chapter One: A Shared Secret
Walking past two peculiar benches, she stopped after a bit and turned around to face them. It had always been a curiosity to her, how one was wooden and the other was made of stone. How one had decorative ornamentation around it and the other was splintered, the rusty paint peeling off…how one was smooth…and the other was rough.
It seemed such an anomaly, especially since the two benches were only a few feet from one another. So strange.
She turned away from the benches and headed further down, looking out at the water. Since she had been fourteen she had loved coming to this place. She still remembered the fight she had with her mother that day, not so much the details about it, because it hadn't been that important…just a simple disagreement between mother and daughter. No, it was not the actual fight that had been so memorable. What had been so memorable had been the place she had found as her retreat…her haven.
That day she had run out of the house and suddenly found herself here…at this place that included the grassy bank, the farther away pier…and those two queer looking benches. She hadn't known then. She hadn't realized how important this little spot would become to her…until she had sat down with her back against a tall oak tree…heard the water rushing by…felt the sun's glow on her skin…and experienced the peacefulness of this special place.
Brushing back a wave of her light brown hair, the color of it so much like specks of cinnamon, she brought her knees out in front of her as she sat down on the grassy bank that surrounded the shallower parts of the water. Shivering a bit, she pulled her denim jacket closer around her slim body.
That day it had been summer, and the heat had been taking over even nearby the pier. But now it was fall, and the definite chill that came with the season was there. Above and around her the trees leaves were changing color, producing stunning shades of orange, red and yellow.
Leaning her head back against the thick tree trunk of that same tree she had found that day of the fight, she closed her eyes, feeling the autumn breeze as her mind reflected on other things…
Seeing his smiling face in her thoughts she wasn't even aware of the curve that came to her lips…at her unintended smile. He could do that to her. Her friend…her best friend…for so many years…
The guy…who she…
Opening her eyes and getting up suddenly she practically laughed at where her thoughts had taken her. Enough…he doesn't see you that way. He just thinks of you as a friend.
A friend…
And that's great. That's wonderful…that's…
Just…for just one time she'd like to be thought of as…
As more than just a friend.
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"Mmmmmph…"
Stretching with a grimace lining his chiseled features, he struggled to get his eyes open, finding himself in bed…with her.
But not his bed. No. Not even his house. Turning to look at the clock, he studied the time, noticing it was late morning. Time to go. He bent downward, from his side of the bed, searching for his clothes.
The blonde girl lying next to him, the one who owned the bed, stretched too now, yawning a bit. Lazily opening her eyes, his bare back came into view quickly. She moved forward, bringing her hands over the muscled skin. "Mmmmm…getting ready to leave?"
He picked up his clothes and sat up in the bed, putting his pants on under the covers. "Yeah…man I have a hangover."
She smiled, bringing her hands up around his neck, letting them settle to lie on his chest. "You drank too much at that party Babe. I told you last night to not fall into it so much."
He frowned, putting his shirt on now, not needing to be reminded of the reason for his slightly aching head. At least it wasn't too bad. It could be worse. "It's not like you were entirely sober either."
She squeezed him a bit on his shoulder, making him hiss quietly. Smiling, she kissed the area now gently. "Yeah, but I stopped when my head told me to. And Lady Brooke was driving anyway. Hmmm…do you think your parents are still out of town?"
He turned back to her now. She had to remind him. It was one of the reasons why he had gotten up finally. He wanted to get home before anyone else did. His dad would probably be making it back sometime around late afternoon from the airport. But his mom was supposed to be back a bit earlier. "Yeah…my dad's on his business trip, whatever… and my mom…" He laughed sarcastically. "Come on Peyton, when is she home?"
Peyton sat up more, bringing the cotton blanket of her bed up around her unclothed body. "Don't be so sarcastic Nathan. She's been home for a while now."
"Not the last couple of nights." He smiled now. "Which is good because then she doesn't know that her little boy isn't being a very good little boy." With one hand he brought his girlfriend's face to his, kissing her hungrily, his hands moving down the blanketed part of her body. Maybe he didn't have to be home THAT early.
She frowned, pushing his hands away. "Geesh, do you ever think of anything else?"
He chuckled dryly. Leave it to his 'loving' girlfriend to spoil the mood. Man, the girl went through so many damn mood swings that she drove him crazy sometimes. Home was looking better. "Who was it that was just touching me in some pretty suggestive ways?"
"It's just that sometimes I like to talk Nathan, okay?"
Much better. Besides, had to beat Mom. He got up off the bed, reaching for his letterman jacket that was lying discarded on a nearby chair. "Fine then…talk."
She brushed back her blonde curls with an annoyed hand. "Forget it."
How did he know that was how she was going to answer? He turned back to her with his own annoyance. "See…you say you want to talk and then you go and get all moody."
She reached for her t-shirt that was lying on the floor and started to put it on. "You're always so tensed up now. I swear the only time you act remotely relaxed is when we're having sex."
"Because it's the one time I don't have to think. It's just about doing…it."
"You are so crude sometimes."
He laughed, catching her by the waist before she could get up off the bed, barely noticing now how she was wearing her underwear and a t-shirt. "But you're crazy about me anyway."
She smirked at him. "Until something better comes around…anyway."
He frowned. "What…like my bastard brother?"
She turned to face him. "Why are you so jealous of him Nathan?"
He let go of her abruptly. "Don't make me laugh."
"I'm serious Nathan. This hating your brother thing has to end, the jokes and pranks…it's all so stupid."
He turned to her defiantly. "All he has to do is learn his place…and then it will stop. That's all I want."
"And what if you don't get it?"
He didn't even hesitate a moment before answering. "I always get what I want Peyton…always."
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Opening the door, she carried in her suitcase. "Hello…" She called out. Getting no answer she surmised that no one was home. Hmmm, that was kind of odd. Yes, her husband had his business trip… that made sense.
But what about…well, it seemed he wasn't home that often anyway, at least not when he should be.
Debra Scott grimaced. She wasn't caring much for her son's attitude of late. She had come back from her work with the organization weeks previous to a son who was arrogant and…unhappy.
Reaching for her purse, closing the door behind her, she took a piece of paper out…and just stared at it while standing in the entranceway.
A piece of paper.
Reading it now, her hands shaking…
She pushed away a wayward wisp of blonde hair.
And closed her eyes afterward…
One paper…just one paper…
Had started it all.
Hearing someone at the door, she hurriedly put the paper away, planting a wide smile on her face.
On the other side of the door, he hoped…hoped he was first. Maybe, just maybe he had beaten her. Cracking the door open he quickly realized…
Great, no such luck.
"Nathan…so are you just coming home now?"
Nathan Scott tugged at his jacket self consciously, walking slowly over to his mom, giving her a short kiss and barely noticing the blue skirt and blazer she was wearing, the attire something he was used to seeing his mom in often. "Yeah…sort of."
Feeling his small sign of affection, noticing how abruptly it ended, she was not smiling anymore as he pulled away. "Sort of? And what is that supposed to mean? Where were you Nathan?" She scrutinized him intensely, having no hard time in noticing just how tired he looked and how it appeared he had gotten dressed in a hurry.
He answered caustically, wishing she would just let it go so he could go upstairs and sleep off the last bit of his stupid hangover. "Just doing stuff that's no worse than what you and my father did when you were young too."
She frowned disapprovingly. "Look Nathan, I know I have been away for a while, but I told you weeks ago, after coming back from my work with the organization, that those days were over. I'm home to stay now."
"Yeah, that's why you went away again just days ago."
Deb ran a hand through her short blonde hair. "I had something I had to do.
He waved his hand at her dismissively. "Whatever."
Watching him start to walk away, she spoke quickly. "Don't you walk out on me Nathan."
He turned back to her from the bottom of the stairs. "Why Mom, so we can all bond?"
Turning away from her son, Deb said nothing else, hearing the footsteps as he did indeed walk out on her…up to his room.
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"Hey Mom…"
Karen smiled as she heard her handsome spiky blonde haired son come in, and felt his arms go around her. Turning to him, she embraced him back. "Hi Sweetie. Did you have a good time at the court?"
Lucas Scott smiled, happy to be home. Even though there was a hole, deep deep inside him, because of…
He felt so much of it vacate him when he was home…with his mom. In fact, it wasn't so much the pain he had that bothered him, it was more what she had gone through…everything she had had to sacrifice to raise him alone. Well, except for Uncle Keith. It still shocked Lucas sometimes to think how he was brothers with…with the man who had abandoned his mother.
Never would he think of him as his father. Never.
He was a stranger…and would always be that. Never anything else.
"Yeah, the guys and I had fun throwing the ball around and everything. It's a lot more fun than playing it with the Ravens."
Karen pushed back her dark brown curly hair, frowning. "Lucas, if you dislike it that much, then why do you do it? You don't have to play. You don't have to prove anything."
He smiled. Leave it to his mom to always be looking out for him. "Yeah, I know. And it's okay. I don't care about their stupid pranks and tricks anymore. I'm playing good now and they're just going to have to deal with it. Even Nathan."
At the mention of that name, Karen immediately thought of Dan Scott…and then his wife, Deb. Oh, Deb. Karen wasn't sure how it had happened, but somehow she and her ex boyfriend's wife had become very good friends in a very short time. They confided in each other so much and…well Deb had been pretty honest about Nathan's attitude. Though before Karen had wanted to believe that the boy was just a spoiled brat, now she saw him from Deb's side, and she was starting to think there was a lot more there. The ever ambitious Dan Scott was pushing his son to be more than…
Well, possibly more than he could be. And even though Karen had tried to convince Deb not to be too hard on herself, Deb's relationship with Nathan was much more different than her own with Lucas…very different.
She turned back to her son now with a sign of hope in her eyes. "Maybe he'll stop."
Lucas laughed dryly at his mom's comment. "Yeah…right Mom!"
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"Hey…Honey, you okay?"
Deb, now wearing her nightgown and ready to go to bed, turned to her husband, feeling his arms go around her caringly as she stood in the middle of their bedroom later that night. He had come home late afternoon and though he had greeted his wife warmly, Deb still couldn't get over the problems dealing with their son. She knew her husband didn't see much to worry about. But she found his going out at all hours of the night, sleeping at other peoples' houses, and being pushed to focus so entirely on basketball, entirely disturbing. "Yes…yes I'm fine. I just…I'm not happy with Nathan's attitude. You know he wasn't even home last night, I don't think. When I saw him walk in to the house earlier today he looked tired, and his clothes looked like they had hastily been put on."
Dan, also wearing bed attire, frowned, feeling already that this conversation was heading in a negative direction. "Well, he was probably with his girlfriend."
"And you approve of that?"
"Look Deb, you and I both end up going away at times. We can't keep an alarm on him. He's going to do things that we might not approve of when we're away, but as long as…What's important is that he keeps up his practice and maintains his game."
She immediately moved away from him, turning on her husband angrily. "His game…is that all you care about Dan Scott? His game? My God, he's not some trophy. He is our son! Karen has such a good relationship with her son, your son, Lucas…and yet she has done it all alone."
He turned away. "Oh don't talk to me about Karen…and her saintly son."
"Your son too, if you would just acknowledge the truth." Deb retorted quickly, and almost just as quickly faltered, suddenly feeling…
Seeing his wife in…in pain? Dan reached for her quickly. "Deb…"
Looking up into concerned eyes, Deb pushed her husband's hands away, feeling the weakness leaving her body. "I'm fine. I'm just…I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."
Not saying anything, but still watching her carefully, Dan let her go.
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"So, you excited about tonight's game?" Walking alongside Lucas now down the crowded hallway, wearing blue jeans with a striped sweater, Haley James smiled at her friend. It was Friday and Tree Hill High was getting ready for another basketball game, the signs announcing it plastered down every hallway.
Lucas, who was also wearing jeans, but with a blue sweat shirt, tried to look convincing. Truth was, he liked playing, really did, but those games…sometimes they just weren't what he would call fun. Not when you were playing with a team that hated you, all except one anyway. At least he had Jake on his side. "Yeah…I guess. You going to come?"
"I don't know. I might be working tonight."
"Ah, come on Hales. My mom'll give you the night off if you ask."
"But she'll want to go to the game too, I'm sure."
"Yeah, so she will just find someone else to take over. I'd like you to be there."
His admission made her feel warm inside. She smiled. "Okay…then I will."
He smiled back. "Good." Then he dialed his locker combination and opened it up…hearing her yell of disgust as he did so. Grimacing, he took in the soggy mess. It seemed the pranks and jokes weren't over…and that this time they had decided to make the interior of his locker look like the pier…and smell like it too. "Great…soggy textbooks…and drenched binder…" Lucas muttered as he removed the wet items.
Across the way Nathan Scott was laughing with his friends.
Frowning, Haley turned away from her friend and furiously made her way over to the laughing Scott.
Caught off guard, and certainly not ready for an attack by a girl who he was much bigger than, Nathan gasped as he felt himself pushed backward, nearly hitting the wall. "What the…"
"You JERK! You idiot asshole! You are such an imbecile for acting this way…for doing all these stupid pranks…on your own brother! What is wrong with you?"
Simply staring at the girl he had seen with his…uh…so-called brother so many times…Nathan frowned. What was wrong with him? What was wrong with her? Pushing him against a wall…the girl had some nerve.
His eyes came together now in cold sarcasm as he finally answered her, advancing on her steadily. "What's wrong…couldn't find any more colorful names to call me? Who do I think I am? Who do you think you are pushing around someone who's practically twice your size?"
Recovered now from his shock at Haley's defense of him, Lucas moved toward his brother, pulling Haley away from him. "Haley, don't even bother with him. It's not worth it."
Nathan smirked at Lucas. "Oh but come on Dear Brother, she's just defending you. Kind of cute…watching poor pitiful Lucas being protected by his little girlfriend."
"Shut up."
Nathan's eyebrows rose at that comment. The girl was annoying and rude and…
"Come on Haley. Let's get out of here. We don't need to deal with these losers." Lucas reached for his friend's hand and started to walk away with her, down the hallway.
"What a weird chick, huh Nate?"
"Nate…"
Still staring after her as she walked away, Nathan finally spoke. "Yeah…weird."
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Walking past the two benches that were so different from each other with barely a glance, he headed toward the pier, feeling the slight autumn morning breeze. It was a good thing he was wearing jeans, a sweater, and his letterman jacket, because it looked like it wasn't going to get too warm today. The breeze, even early in the morning was chilly, and the sun wasn't even powerful enough to keep the coldness away.
Stepping across the rickety planks, he sat down on the wooden pier, letting his longs legs stretch out in front of him. The game last night had been good…
Well, sort of. Whitey had yelled at him for hogging the ball…for not passing it to…
Damn, why had he done it? Why had Whitey had to go and ask that loser brother of his to play with them? Couldn't he see that Lucas was only bringing the team down? So he could make a basket once in a while…big deal. It didn't mean he was a good player. It didn't mean he had to steal his spotlight. Now with the other Scott there he was having to play extra hard so he could please dear old dad.
Man, he wish his father would just let up once in a while and he wished…
Thinking of some of the things he had said to his mother the other day, he immediately felt guilty…especially remembering how she had turned away. Damn, he didn't mean to hurt her. It was just…why couldn't she see that it had hurt him…how she had always been away for so long…
And now she just expected him to welcome her back happily with open arms when she insisted on pestering him about his wayward ways…no…it's not that easy Mom. You can't just come back home and think everything's going to be all rosy.
It was one area where he was jealous of his brother. Remembering the hug he had seen between him and his mom after Lucas had won the final point of the game, Nathan frowned. Maybe he hadn't had a father growing up, but boy, his mom sure seemed to have made up for that.
Nathan liked teasing with his friends that Lucas was a Mama's boy, but inwardly he envied him. And Keith…it looked like Lucas got along with him well too. Nathan felt he barely even knew the guy…and he was supposed to be his uncle.
Then there was Peyton…who…well everything with her was great…right? Yeah, other than that stupid fascination with Lucas and her sometimes annoying dark periods, everything was…fine. He guessed.
Lucas…it always seemed to go back to Lucas. Why couldn't he just stay away…Why…
Remembering being a kid, playing with Lucas before he even knew he was his brother, Nathan couldn't forget…how he had felt a special kinship with him right away. They had played one game together…happily. But it wasn't just that. Every move they had made on the court complimented the other. It had been pure synchronicity.
And then…
Then Dan had found them. Had seen them playing together.
And Nathan found out Lucas's last name.
Found out he was his brother.
Found out that they were supposed to hate each other.
And he had found this place…this retreat away from the rest of the world…
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Getting up from the tree she had been sitting underneath, her tree, she heard a noise that made her wonder where it was coming from. It was the weekend and she had once again come to her special place to get away from it all, to be alone with her thoughts.
So why was she suddenly getting the feeling she wasn't so alone?
Moving down further, she decided to investigate.
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This rickety old wooden pier…more like a tiny little dock actually, that even seemed to wobble in some places as the water hit it. The planks had holes in between where the wood was starting to rot, that if you didn't watch out and were small enough, you could end up getting your foot stuck…or even worse…fall through. But it hadn't mattered to him that day when he had been filled of such upset after learning the truth about his…for a short time friend…Lucas.
It hadn't mattered when he had learned that he couldn't like his own brother…that he was meant to be his enemy…that he should always feel superior to him…that he should look down upon him.
No, that day, all that had mattered was that he get away from his pushy domineering never accepting father's attitude…that he not have to deal with his so many times vacant mother…that he not have to think about what would happen if he really could accept Lucas as his brother.
That day he had only wanted to be alone with his thoughts and this rickety wooden pier…this tiny little antiquated dock had been his one place to release it all…to escape from everything.
It was his secret and his alone. No one knew about this place and that was the way he wanted it to always be. This was his place…
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Coming out of the shadow of the trees, she just stared at first. Was that…wait…no…it couldn't be…and then…
He turned around, seeing her.
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He had heard a sound, a rustling in the grass, and then turned to see…
"You…what the hell are you doing here?"
Eyes…cold accusing eyes held her from that dock…and she faltered for a moment before finally answering with resolve. "What do you mean, what am I doing here? It's a public place, isn't it? Just because you're Nathan Scott doesn't mean you own everything in town."
He frowned, getting up now, and slowly walking towards where she was standing. Where Haley James was standing…the girl who had defended Lucas…heck…she was practically attached to the guy's arm from what he had seen…always tagging along with him. He laughed shortly. "Are you always this irritating or do you just get this way with certain people?"
"More like certain jerks." She started backing up a bit, noticing how he hadn't stopped walking forward, even though now he was getting much closer to her, so close that she could see those piercing eyes of his much more.
"That's right. You think I'm a jerk…and an imbecile…and a…wait…asshole…right?" He continued walking, now almost within touching distance.
And she kept backing up, trying not to look intimidated, but feeling a bit shaky. "Yes."
He laughed, a laugh full of richness. "Yes…ah come on…Haley…right…Haley…James…can't you come up with something better?"
She gasped in surprise. She had backed up straight into a tree and now she could feel the rough trunk against her back, even with her denim jacket on. "Why don't you just leave?"
"Why don't you just leave?"
She hated now that she had to raise her chin, but his head was up so much higher than hers, and she didn't want to look away. She didn't want to appear scared…even if she was…a little…and…
"I happen to like this place." She finally answered courageously.
"I happen to like this place too." He had noticed it, even if she had tried to hide it, her bit of nervousness, and he played on it now, deliberately blocking her view of anything else as he intentionally stepped into her personal space, towering over her smaller form.
Haley didn't know what else to say. The most intense eyes were staring into hers, a color that she still couldn't quite get. Were they brown…more blue…or was it hazel? She wasn't sure. And that face…the hard lines in it…
With a slight brushing effect something fell upon her, but still looking up into his eyes…at his face…she hadn't been ready…and shuddered.
Seeing it…seeing the object fall down into her hair, Nathan watched in fascination. But then hearing her shudder, watching her suddenly shake, he was struck by her vulnerability. Yes, she was tough…she had shown just how tough that day in the hallway when she had nearly attacked him…but now…those soft waves of hair…the fine cheekbones…the small mouth that could let out an explosion of words…and those eyes…those eyes that were looking up right into his now…that looked almost fearful…
Haley shuddered, and as his hand came out, tried to back up even more, feeling the hard unyielding trunk pressed upon her back unforgivingly.
"Hey…" He softly whispered.
And she felt some of it leave…felt a calmness replace it.
Seeing her fear slowly start to leave her face, Nathan gently moved his hand into her hair, picking out the object that had first made her gasp.
Seeing him holding out to her a leaf…a harmless leaf…Haley didn't say anything as he held it out to her one last time…and then with a slight curious smile…
Walked away…up the bank…past the curious benches…through the trees…
Until he was out of sight…
And gone.
It wasn't until then she noticed it…
The leaf now lying on the ground near her booted feet.
Kneeling down in the grass she picked it up…
Holding it against her face.
To be continued…
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