SUMMARY: How do you fight to be with someone when the biggest obstacle standing between the two of you is them? Angsty Naley, AU to season 1 after Lucas joins the team.

Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me...

Hearts That Bleed

PROLOGUE

...Karen's Cafe...

Haley: " You know, it never ceases to amaze me..."

Lucas: "What's that?"

Haley: "That your mom and Deb Scott are best friends, considering – well, you know."

Lucas nods. "Yeah. She's a nice lady." He replies nonchalantly, putting up chairs on the tables as Haley cleans the counter.

Haley: "Who knows, maybe now that you've joined the team, you and Nathan might actually get along. You might even become friends."

Lucas looks up at her with a raised eyebrow.

She chuckles at the absurdity of her own words. "Yeah, you're probably right. Highly unlikely."

Lucas: " I don't know...He invited me to his party tonight." He casually informs her.

Now it's Haley's turn to stop what she's doing to look at him shocked. "Are you serious?"

Lucas: "Yep. Says he wants to welcome me to the team but I doubt he's sincere."

Haley: "Wow. So what are you going to do? Are you going to go?"

Lucas: "Uh, yeah, maybe. Come with me?"

Haley: "Yeah, of course Luke." She agrees, knowing he might need a friend.

He gives her a knowing smile. "Thanks."

He doesn't notice that she blushes.

...Later at the party...

Lucas and Haley walk into the Scott beach house, trying to avoid the dirty looks shot at them and ignoring the whispers they elicited with their unexpected entrances.

Haley:"Why do I feel like I just grew a second head?"

Lucas grabs two cups of beer and passes one to Haley.

Lucas:"I think we both did."

Jake walks over to them and tries to talk over the music."Hey, good to see you bro"

Lucas was glad to see a friendly face.

Lucas:"Hey" he says lifting his eyebrows, acknowledging him.

Jake looks over at Haley

Jake:"Hey, you're Haley right? I'm Jake"

Haley:"Hey, it's nice to meet you"

Jake smiles at her then looks over at Lucas. "Hey, don't worry, about the stares. It gets better."

Lucas clinks his cup to Jake's, appreciatively, saying 'cheers'.

Haley takes a sip from her cup and scans the room, spotting a crowd of people wooing and cheering which gains her attention.

Tree Hill High's elite were playing 'spin the bottle' and Tim's spin had landed on Peyton Sawyer, the atypically broody cheerleader. Haley chuckled when she noticed the annoyed expression on Peyton's face who rolls her eyes and tells him to hurry up so they can get it over with. She understands the sentiment.

Haley then turns to look at Lucas to make a comment but notices his intent gaze is fixated on the group so she looks back and forth between them and Lucas and senses his jealousy at the sight of the clearly awkward kiss.

Her own expression saddens as a result and she accidentally locks eyes with Nathan Scott, Tree Hill's resident bad boy. She stares for a moment but looks away quickly and uncomfortably when he winks at her and she notices him starting to make his way over to her.

She scratches the back of her neck uneasily and tries to look busy but her attempt to avoid him fails when she finds herself face-to-face to him.

An unsure frown appears on her face as he starts to address her and offers his hand for her to shake. "Hi, I'm Nathan Scott."

She crosses her arms and doesn't accept the shake. "I know. I'm Lucas' best friend."

That response earns her a smile as he chuckles at her response. "Well does Lucas' best friend have a name?"

Haley:"We've had the same classes since junior high" she retorts bemused. "Guess a hot-shot like you can't be bothered to remember names. It's a good thing; I'd save up every brain cell too if I were you."

Her spunk amuses him. He likes it. It's then that Nathan notices Lucas standing nearby talking to Jake.

Nathan:"Lucas, wasn't sure you'd make it" he says sounding half sincere.

Lucas:"That makes two of us. Nice place."

Nathan:"Yeah, and this is just the beach house. You should see the main house. Dan Scott goes all out."

Lucas' jaw twitches at the mention of his name. Nathan is inwardly pleased at the jab but covers.

Nathan:"Hey, follow me, I want to introduce you to some people. If you're going to be part of the team you should get to know the guys. It's my duty as captain to help you out" he says cockily.

Lucas shares an unsure look with Haley before they follow Nathan who has already started making his way to the group playing 'spin the bottle'.

Nathan:"Hey, guys!" he shouts over the music and gets their attention. "Cool your hormones for a sec."

He turns to Lucas and points out their teammates. "Lucas, meet Tim, Josh, Mike, Big Steve, Damien, Theresa, Bevin and you know Brooke—", Brooke grins at Lucas, remembering her little stunt in his car "and my girl, Peyton" he finishes as he leans down and captures her mouth in a drawn out tongue-clashing kiss to mark his territory. When he lifts himself back up he mischievously smiles and licks his lips to taunt Lucas.

Nathan:"Guys, this is Lucas" they nod at him. "And uh this is Lucas' best friend" he smirks as he puts emphasis on the last part, focusing on Haley.

Brooke speaks in recognition, holding a cup of beer. "You're Tutor Girl, right?"

Haley:"It's Haley. Haley James."

Tim:"Come join us, Haley. We're playing spin the bottle"

Haley:"I see that, but, uh, I'm good, no thanks"

Tim:"Come on, Tutor girl, let's have a little fun. Get your freak on."

Haley gives a fake smile. "You know, Tim, is it? While the prospect of swapping spit with 6 people at the same time is highly exciting and attractive, I'm going to have to pass, thanks."

Peyton smirks and gets up to go get herself another drink but stops and does a double-take, deciding to invite Haley. "Hey, you want a drink?" she asks, looking at her.

Haley:"Yeah, sounds good."

Peyton:"All right, come on."

Tim looks Haley up and down as she leaves. "Damn, that girl's got a fine ass!"

Everyone around him laughs as the song that was playing comes to an end in time to let Tim's comment resonate the walls. Haley turns around and shoots him a glare and roll her eyes before continuing to walk away with Peyton. Tim wasn't the only one admiring Ms. James' behind though, a certain snotty Scott brother's interest was also piqued by her assets.

Far be it for Tim to quit while he's ahead though.

Tim:"I'd tap that" he says to his fellow teammates, earning a couple of high fives.

Lucas, who had been silently drinking his beer up until now, grabs Tim by the collar and holds him up by the neck.

Lucas:"Don't you ever let me catch you hear you talk about Haley like that again. You got it?"

Tim:"Relax, Dawg. The girl's hot. I didn't realise you two were a thing, you lucky shit."

Lucas tightens his hold on Tim's neck and holds him up higher, obstructing his breathing. "We're not" he hisses. "But I swear you so much as look at her funny, i'll beat you to death. She's off limits. Got it, Dim?"

He coughs and struggles to speak.

Lucas:"What was that? I can't hear you!"

Tim shakes his head "yes" in rapid motions until Lucas finally releases him and pushes him backwards, making him land on a sofa.

A part of Nathan was pissed that Lucas was roughing up his friend but he had to admit, he was mildly impressed, not thinking that the bastard had it in him.

Lucas looks around the room and sees Brooke, who was smiling flirtatiously at him, but he ignores her and heads outside to the porch.

Once there, he takes the opportunity to let out the breath he hadn't realised he was holding. He rethinks his decision to have come to the party and runs his hands through his hair in frustration. It's not soon after that Nathan comes out to join him.

Nathan:"Hey man, the guys and I are going to go for a drive, you want to come?"

Lucas:"I don't know, I think i'm just going to go home."

Nathan laughs "Come on man, don't be lame. The night is young. It's Friday. What, do you have homework to do or something?"

Lucas gives him a classic broody look as he thinks about the offer and although he remains sceptical about Nathan's newfound civility towards him, he decides to accept.

Lucas:"All right, lead the way."

"That's what i'm talking about" Nathan replies pleased and adds "Meet me around the back" before walking off.

...Out back...

Nathan is talking to the whole team, excluding Lucas and Jake.

Nathan: All right, listen guys, he's going to be out any minute. Remember, on my cue."

A couple of the guys looked uneasy, and one speaks out.

Mike:"Listen, man. I feel bad for the guy—"

Nathan interrupts quickly when he notices other team members nodding in agreement.

Nathan:"Look, you guys are the ones I feel sorry for. Me? I'm going to get my minutes. But you guys have been busting your tails since the junior leagues. Now you finally get your shot and Whitey gives the starting spot to this guy? It's not right. If you ask me, he shouldn't even be on the team."

Tim: "Homie, I'm down for whatever you got cookin'. I got your back." After the public humiliation Lucas had caused him earlier, he was happily willing to return the gesture.

Nathan:"We're gonna make him earn it. At least make him suffer like we did." Nathan stops when he notices Lucas approaching and clears his throat and alerts the teammates with his eyes.

Lucas walks up to them and a van pulls up behind him.

Tim: "Hey, Luke. Lets go, lets go! Get him in! Get him in!"

Two teammates run up behind Lucas as he turns toward the van. They grab him, bag his head, force him into the van and drive off.

Once at their destination, Nathan drives up to the van in his own car and two guys force Lucas out of the car, pulling the bag off his head in the meantime. Lucas struggles to get free but they push him into a nearby stream. Nathan walks up as Lucas stands up, very angry, and frees his hands.

Lucas looks angry enough o beat Nathan to a pulp as he stands still with closed fists in mud-soaked clothes.

Nathan: "Well, well. Now, see, normally this is when you become part of the team. We'd have a keg, tell some war stories… but you had to know that wasn't going to happen, right?"

Lucas:"You're going to pay for this" he fumes.

Nathan:"What are you going to do? Drown me with your tears?" That earns him some laughs from his teammates. "Look… these guys made a choice to back me. But we're going to be nice, and we're going to let you walk away. Just quit the team, man. Otherwise, it's going to get ugly. Let's get out of here."

He turns to leave and the guys follow suit but Lucas hurls himself at Nathan, turns him around and punches him to the floor. He gets a few more punches in until Damian and Tim grab a hold of him and hold him back, arms behind him, chest open and unprotected.

Nathan wipes away blood from his lip and grunts before he throws a few cheap shots back at Lucas while the boys keep him steadied.

Nathan:"You know, I was willing to play nice, but just for that, i'm going to teach you a lesson."

He turns to the team to address them. He tells them of their next plan and by the time he's done, they've got Lucas tied up to a tree like a scarecrow with a single letter written across his chest.

Nathan smirks in satisfaction. "A big ol' B for Bastard...that's what you are after all. Your own dad wishes you were a blood stain on the sheets. "

This strikes a cord in Lucas and he spits in Nathan's face as retaliation but the latter acts unaffected.

Nathan:"Quit the team, bro, or believe me, you ain't seen nothing yet." He starts walking away. "Oh, and, by the way, stay away from Peyton."

Tim: (mock) "Bye, Luke."

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AN: Hey Guys! Thanks for reading! So this was just a starter to the fic, hope you like it so far. Stay tuned for a major and unexpected twist in the next chapter that leaves both Nathan and Lucas astonished as hell! This is the big event that will change everything and makes both worlds clash...Please review to let me know your thoughts, it would really mean a lot!! Thanks :D