Knocking on the doorframe to alert her of his presence, Lucas stepped into the Tutor Center to pick up his best friend.
"You almost ready to go Hales?"
Bent over her work, scribbling furiously to finish her assignment, she smiled when she heard the knocking, knowing it was Lucas. He always came by after basketball practice to pick her up so they could walk home together. It had become a sort of tradition for the past year.
"Almost done…..just one second….aaand done!" Shoving her books and spiral into her bag and putting it over her shoulder, she greeted her best friend with a grin and walked out the door he was holding open for her. Lucas was always so considerate.
"How'd tutoring go today?" Lucas asked as they walked down the hall.
"It was great! This one girl finally understood a concept I've been trying to teach her for weeks. And how was basketball?"
"All right I suppose."
"Nathan still being a jerk to you?"
"Yeah, but it's nothing I can't handle."
"I'm sorry it's not so good for you Lucas. I hate that something you love is being ruined for you."
"Thanks Hales, but it's not that bad. I still love the game, I just hate practice."
Ever since Lucas joined the basketball team at Tree Hill High, he had been bullied and tormented by Nathan, his half-brother, and Nathan's friends.
"Nathan sure does seem to take after his father. I'm glad you don't though." Haley spotted the dark-haired teenager talking with his best friend Tim outside the school. When he saw Lucas, he said something to Tim, causing them both to look in their direction. After another comment was made, they both broke into laughter, smirking in Lucas's direction.
Haley glared at them, then glanced up at Lucas to see his reaction. The scowl he now wore told it all.
"I swear Hales, I try to not let it get to me, I really do. But it just….every time….and, I just can't stand it."
Seeing how torn up her best friend was broke Haley's heart. Looping her arm through his, she sent one last glare behind her towards Nathan.
"Let's not waste anymore time on that jerk. He's not going to ruin our day. You up for a little mini-golf? Or afraid you're gonna get beat by a girl….again?"
The scowl disappeared instantly, replaced by a genuine smile.
"You're on Hales."
Haley could always bring back his smile.
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"Hey, who's that girl that's always hanging around Lucas?"
Momentarily confused by the abrupt change of topic, Tim finally realized who Nathan was staring at and turned around just in time to see the enemy and a brunette walk by.
"Oh her, that's Haley."
Despite being a little on the dumb side, Tim always seemed to know who everyone was.
"So, like I said…." Realizing that Nathan was not paying attention anymore, Tim trailed off. "Dude, Nathan?"
"So is she like his girlfriend or something?" The girl wasn't bad looking at all, and he was becoming amused at the glares she kept throwing his way as she and Lucas kept walking.
"Nah, I think they're just friends. Why you askin' man? Are you seriously interested in her?"
Finally looking back at Tim, he laughed, causing Tim to join in.
"Of course not Tim. Who do you think I am? I'm just thinking about what it would do to Lucas if I started messing with her."
"Sweet man. Good idea. Get to the girl first, and maybe get a lil' action too. Sounds like a good plan."
Looking back at her retreating figure, Nathan just smirked. 'Oh, this was going to be too much fun.'
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"I love this part!" Haley paused to listen to the scene before she burst into giggles and laughter. After Haley beat him at mini-golf for the fourth time this week, they went to Lucas's house to watch a movie. And of course, Haley picked Bridget Jones….again.
Although it was a pretty funny movie, Lucas found himself completely ignoring it. Instead, his attention was drawn to his best friend. He found himself aware of her every little movement, and was thankful Haley was too engrossed in the movie to notice his added attention.
He loved the way she smiled when she knew a good part was coming up. And how she snuggled herself deep among the pillows on the couch. How she'd already had two bags of popcorn, and kept eyeing the kitchen to decide whether she wanted another one. And especially her laugh. God, did he love her laugh.
Lucas realized a few months ago that Haley might have become something more to him than just his best friend. And it had him scared shitless. At first he was confused by the way he started to notice things about her. Little things at first – how she looked especially pretty one day when she left her hair down, how her smile was contagious, how she was always completely herself. But this slowly developed into how she always smelled so good, how her beautiful eyes lit up when she was talking about things she loved and was passionate about, until he even started to get this warm, tingling feeling deep within him whenever she was around.
He had been in denial about this change of events for a while, but a few months ago he came to terms with what he had discovered: He was in love with his best friend.
And he didn't know what the heck he was going to do about it.
…………………………………………………………………………………………...
Haley smiled dreamily as she doodled on her spiral in the Tutor Center, waiting for a student to come ask for help. Sighing, she turned to look out the window. Yesterday with Lucas had been so much fun. It shouldn't have been any different – they always spent that much time together – but something had changed.
After the movie, Karen came home from work and had asked Haley to stay for dinner. The three of them – plus Keith, who came by after work – had laughed and had a great time together around the dinner table. At one point, Haley found herself wishing it could always be this way. She already saw Karen as more of a mother anyways, and Haley's thoughts kept wandering towards wishing she could have Karen as a mother-in-law. And that would mean…
Marrying Lucas.
Picking up her pen once more, Haley began drawing little hearts. She was in love with her best friend. She had realized it at least a year ago, on the night when Lucas held her close as she sobbed her eyes out. She had just turned 16 and had been asked out by this guy she had had a crush on forever. On the third date, when he found out she wouldn't sleep with him, he dumped her. And she had really liked the guy. Lucas found her crying on the floor of the café that night, had held her close, and had called her perfect. He had said that if that guy couldn't see how great she was, then he didn't deserve her.
Haley had always remembered those words, and when she looked up at Lucas through her tears that night, she realized who the right guy for her was.
It had hurt Haley when Lucas went out with other girls, though she of course never showed it. She always pretended to be happy for him when he told her about this girl or that one. But it had felt like her heart was breaking every time. He didn't love her the way she loved him. And there wasn't much she could do about it.
Checking her watch, she figured that no one else was going to show up today, but as she was packing up her things, she heard someone walk into the room.
"Are you Haley James?" A masculine voice questioned.
Setting her books back on the table, she turned to greet the person, but stopped mid-sentence.
"Yes, I am. What can I help you…"
Nathan Scott was standing in the Tutor Center.