Ch 1- Stand Still, Look Pretty
Words couldn't explain the feeling she had every morning when she woke up. She prayed every night before she went to bed, she prayed to god asking him to end her misery! She couldn't take being here any longer. Haley set up out of bed and turned off her alarm clock and looked down at the small wallet sized photo setting on her dresser. It wasn't always like this. There was a time when she used to be happy. That was before her mother left! Now she was angry, bitter, and more than anything she was hurt. She was so fed up with life she couldn't even stand to look at herself anymore. Haley was thirteen years old when her mother left. When she walked out on their family Haley's entire world began to fall apart. Her father, Jimmy James, began to drink. It started out with Haley and him arguing. The arguing led to him hitting on her and then one night while Haley was sleeping he came into her room and forced her to have sex with him. Her entire world changed that night! It didn't just happen that one time, every night that her father got drunk he would beat her up, wait for her to go to sleep, then crawl into her bed and force her to have sex with him. She would hear him calling her, her mother's name. it made Haley sick to her stomach every single time she heard him mutter it.
As Haley walked into the school she had attended the past four years she thought about how she was almost out of Tree Hill. Senior year was almost over and she could leave this hell hole. Two weeks prior she had received confirmation that she got the scholarships and grants she needed to attend the University of North Carolina. Her plan was to pack up her things and leave when her father wasn't home. He would never know where she was and he would never be able to hurt her again. Haley opened her locker and set down her bag as she neatly placed all of her books inside and shut it back. She walked down the hall and into the tutoring center as fast as she could. As she walked into the tutoring center she was greeted by his amazing smile. She had met him almost four years ago. He was her best friend, he was her only friend. She met him when she began working for his mother in her small café. He would try to make small talk with her but she would blow him off. Haley had no reason to talk to any man, she hated all of them. They all wanted the same exact thing in her eyes. Somehow he had managed to break through her walls she had built up. He protected her and stood by her as a friend.
"Well hello beautiful!" He smiled as he winked at her.
"Hey bestest friend in the world holding coffee, one of those better be fore me!" She laughed at him.
He was the only person who had been able to make her laugh since her mother left. She found Mouth interesting and he didn't pick at her like all the other kids in school did. He had a kind heart and a gentle soul; she knew almost everything about him.
"So are you tutoring anyone this period?" He asked her softly.
"Nope I guess it's going to be a free period unless someone walks in!" She smiled at him.
"Let's hope not!"
She looked at him as he made the comment and let out a small laugh. Just like him she hoped no one could come in and that would leave the two of them to talk about whatever they wished.
Haley unlocked and opened her front door as silently as possible. She closed it being quite and began to tip toe through the house. Once she hit the stairs she was hoping her father was sleeping and wouldn't wake up tonight!
"Haley is that you?" He called through the living room
Her heart sunk into her stomach. She didn't feel like fighting with him tonight. Haley made her way back down the stairs and into the living. She was surprised when she was greeted by a smiling Jimmy James, and his boss Dan Scott.
"Take a seat Haley!" her dad greeted her cheerfully.
She was shocked. For the first time since her mother had left her, he wasn't drunk! She couldn't smell a drop of alcohol on his breath. Something was up, she could feel it in the bottom of her stomach. She felt sick!
"How are you Haley?" Dan Scott asked her nicely.
"I'm fine sir, how are you?" she asked politely back!
She got cold chills looking at the man. In her mind she was wondering how much money her father had received from this man to sleep with her. She could feel the tears stinging the back of her eyes. Begging to be released, but she wouldn't do it in front of them.
"I'm doing pretty good, I am waiting on my son to come home from college!" He announced to her. "His name is Nathan Scott. He is attending Duke University and will be graduating in two weeks!"
"Congratulations, what is his major?" She asked curiously.
"He is going to be a lawyer! He has worked very hard for this and will be coming home to work in the firm with your father and I!"
"That's great news. How old is your son if you don't mind me asking?"
"Nathan is 25 years old. He is an amazing guy, a hard worker, and I do believe he is going to be looking to settle down and have a family when he comes home!"
"Well that's nice to hear. I should really get to my room and get my homework done!" Haley announced standing up.
"SET DOWN!" Jimmy demanded her.
Haley set down in her seat and nervously played with her hair. Her heart was going a mile a minute. If she didn't calm down soon they were going to have to take her to the hospital for a heart attack.
"Haley remember how I said Nathan was going to want to come home and start a family?" Dan Scott asked her.
Haley nodded her head and mumbled a yes sir.
"Well Haley, you see my wife and I we love each other very much and we were married with what you would call an arranged marriage. We believe that Nathan should be married the same way and in doing so we would pick his bride to be!"
"So what does this have to do with me?" Haley asked softly.
"Well Haley your father has made an agreement with me to let you marry Nathan!"
"WHAT" Haley laughed? "Are you serious, I am not even 18 years old yet. Your marrying me off? How much money did you pay him Mr. Scott?"
Jimmy James was across the room in seconds wrapping his hand around Haley's neck pinning her into the wall. He smacked her across the face causing her to let out a whimper. Haley was taken when Dan Scott immediately got up and pulled Jimmy James off of her and throwing him into the floor.
"Mr. James I don't know how you would handle things around here but, I will tell you this. If this young lady is going to be my son's bride you will never lay a finger on this child again! Do you understand me?" When Jimmy didn't answer Dan it pissed him off and Haley could tell by the fact that his face got redder. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"
Jimmy James nodded his head crawling back into his chair.
"I am so sorry Haley!" he whispered to her.
Haley set back down on the couch next to Dan Scott. She felt safe with him. She didn't want to marry his son but, she did feel safe. She wanted to leave with him at that moment.
"Now Haley, I know this may be a little much for you but, in the end you will be happy and very well taken care of. Nathan has a beautiful home that the two of you will be living in and you will even have your own car to drive. My wife and I didn't know each other when we became engaged either. We did end up falling in love though and I think that Nathan and you could be very happy together if you just gave him a chance okay!"
Haley nodded her head and smiled at him softly. This is not what she wanted but, it seemed as if she didn't really have a choice in the situation.
"What about school?" She asked.
"Well you will finish high school and then you will become a house wife! Being a Scott wife you will have no need for college or for a job!"
She felt like there was a plastic ball stuck in her throat stopping her from breathing. She tried but it just didn't come out. She tried once again and took in a deep breath. She sighed heavily and set back on the couch. This had been to much for her to handle all in one day. Here she was getting told not only did she have to marry a complete stranger, she was also being told she could not go to college and would have to stay home and be a so called house wife.
"Okay so when is this all taking place? When will I be meeting your son?"
"Tomorrow night you will be meeting Nathan, and he will propose to you and you will accept! After that we will start making wedding arrangements and it will go from there!" Dan told her.
"Okay so can I go to bed now. I just don't feel to good. I will see you tomorrow night Mr. Scott!" Haley whispered to him.
"Good night Haley!" he smiled back at her.
She set at the top of the stairs and listened as her father spoke with Dan. Dan kept making it very clear that if he found out he touch Haley again he would never be able to show his face again in Tree Hill. Her father told him he understood. Haley took herself to her room and laid in bed. She tried to fight back the tears but how could she? Everything she had dreamed of was snatched away from her in the blink of an eye! Haley could feel the sleep taking over her body so she relaxed her eyes and drifted away never wanting to come back.
The following night Haley and her father Jimmy James walked into a small Italian restaurant chosen by Dan Scott. As they walked closer to the table Dan and who Haley was assuming to be his son Nathan Scott stood up greeting them. Haley smiled softly as Dan Scott hugged her. This was the type of father she had always wanted. Someone who was caring, loving and would be there for her when she needed him the most. Dan pulled away from Haley slowly making sure to look her over. She could tell he was making sure her father had not put his hands on her again. Somehow Jimmy had managed to not drink again for the second night in a row.
"Haley, I would like you to meet my son… Nathan Scott this is Haley James!" Dan smiled.
Nathan took Haley's hand softly as she extended it out to him but instead of shaking her hand as she had intended Nathan bent his head down and placed a small kiss on her hand. He looked up abruptly as Haley slightly flinched. It wasn't something she had intended to do, it just happened! Worry spread across his face. For a second she was locked into his beautiful blue eyes. It was as if he could read her mind. Haley bit down on her lip as Nathan smiled at her softly and in his eyes she could see he was letting her know everything was going to be okay!
"It's a pleasure to meet you Nathan Scott!"
"The pleasure is all mine" he whispered to her.
Nathan smiled back as she blushed a little. The worry stayed on his mind, he had never met a girl who flinched just by a kiss on the hand. It wasn't that he was worried about the flinch; he was more worried about why she was flinching. He could tell just by the look in her eye that it wasn't going to be easy. She was a very beautiful girl. Her long chocolate waves came down to the edge of her shoulders and her skin was lightly tanned to match it. The yellow dress she wore looked amazing on her body. Beautiful wasn't the words for Haley James she was stunning in Nathan's eyes. Nathan pulled the chair out next to his for her and waited for her to set down. Once Haley was seated Nathan took his place next to her.
"So Nathan…" Haley said speaking first, "You're father tells me your about to graduate from Duke and work at the firm with him and my father!"
Her smile was beautiful; it took his breath away just looking at her. He nodded his head and smiled back at her.
"Yes I am! I don't really care to talk about me though; I would like to know about you. I hear you're about to graduate at Tree Hill High, I went to school there as well!"
"Yes I am. I will be graduating in less than a month and I also just learned that I am going to be the class valedictorian!"
"Oh well congratulations are in order!" He smiled at her softly.
The waitress appeared at that moment taking there orders and making her way back through the kitchen doors. Haley and Nathan both set in silence as their father's talked about work. Every so often they would catch one another looking at the other. She couldn't believe she was acting this way. Haley had never felt comfortable with any other guy other than her best friend Mouth. She hadn't even bothered to tell him yet. She knew it was going to break his heart! They had both planned on going to school together and getting as far away from Tree Hill as they could.
"So Nathan, are you an only child?" Haley asked him.
"No, I have 2 brothers who are both older than me!" Nathan replied.
He looked up catching Haley's eyes. She was so beautiful! Nathan had never found himself this intrigued by any girl before tonight.
"Would you like to dance?" Nathan asked her quietly.
Haley nodded her head yes. Nathan stood up from his seat, pulled out Haley's chair, and took her hand leading her to the dance floor. For a moment they set there dancing in silent. Every time she looked up he was staring back at her. His eyes were amazing, she was fixated by them and she never wanted to look away. Looking into Nathan's eyes made her feel safe; like everything was going to be okay for the first time in her life.
"Haley" he whispered causing her to look back up at him. "What are you so scared of?"
His question threw her off guard. Did her weakness show that much? He stood there for a moment as the song ended and looked at her deeply. She didn't know how to answer him! What was she supposed to tell him. Her eyes shifted to her father and quickly back to Nathan.
"I won't let him hurt you anymore Haley… I promise!"
Haley released herself from Nathan and they made their way back to the table. Setting down silence fell upon them both as they listened to their father's talk once again.
Haley quietly walked down the stairs making sure not to wake her father. Last night had been one of the most amazing nights in her entire life. She had never experienced anything like it. Haley had spent so many years hating men and she had found herself nervous being around Nathan. Every time she looked at him his eyes drew her in, it was like he was searching for answers and she knew every one of them. Haley thought for sure that Nathan would decide he didn't want to marry her and go on his way home. He knew something was wrong within her so called family; what person would want that on their shoulders. Haley closed the door behind her and looked up. She was startled at first but surprised as well. She had to be dreaming! Haley pinched herself and nothing changed.
"Good morning!" He smiled walking a little closer to her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked softly.
"Well I thought maybe I could take you to school, if that's okay with you?"
She was surprised. Any other man probably would have hit the door running last night but, not him! She didn't understand why he was still trying. His words rang over and over again in her head all night but, she didn't believe him.
I won't let him hurt you anymore Haley… I promise
She bit down on her bottom lip and looked him in the eyes. She had never felt this powerless before. It was like he was pulling all the strings when she was with him.
"Okay" she barely whispered.
Haley followed him down the sidewalk to his car. As they approached it Nathan opened Haley's door for her and waited for her to get in and buckle up before shutting it. As they made the way to Tree Hill High School the two of them set quietly. She didn't know what to say to him, he made her feel too nervous to speak. Nathan looked up at her for a brief moment taking her breath away.
He wasn't giving up! Nathan knew that's exactly what she wanted. He had told his father there was something seriously wrong between her and Jimmy. In return Dan told Nathan he believed he beat on her. It took Nathan back a little bit. He didn't understand why Jimmy would want to hit on Haley. For some reason Nathan knew there was more than that. He could tell by looking inside of her eyes that Haley was scared of the world.
"It's been so long since I've been back to this school." He told her.
"Bad memories or good ones!" She asked.
"A little bit of both!" Nathan admitted to her. "I played basketball; actually you see that big blue rock with the number 23 painted on it!" He smiled at her as Haley glanced over and shook her head yes. "That rock used to be plain and boring. It was painted with my jersey number when I won the state championship my senior year!"
"I didn't know you even played basketball that's pretty cool. I absolutely hate gym class!" Haley admitted to him. "I'm probably going to fail it if I don't learn to make the basketball into the goal!" she told him.
Nathan just stared at her trying not to laugh. He didn't want to make fun of her and get her mad at him. This situation was too hilarious. He burst into laughing fits and Haley just stared at him. She couldn't figure out what was so funny!
"Haley, do you know anything about basketball?" He asked her. Haley shook her head no. "Haley in soccer you make a goal, in basketball you shoot a hoop or make a basket!" Nathan laughed a little more.
"Oh" she blushed laughing a little with him. "Thank you for driving me to school Nathan. I will see you soon I assume." She laughed.
"What time do you get out of school?" He asked her softly brushing a stray hair out of her face.
Haley breathed in quickly. He was touching her again. It wasn't the feeling she would get when her father would touch her; this was different. He sent a warm sensation all through her body. Haley felt safe being with him!
"Well we have a half day today so ill be out about twelve thirty" she whispered to him. "You don't have to pick me up Nathan, I can walk home!"
"I want to pick you up! I plan on taking you a few places." He told her.
"Okay so… I guess I will see you then!" She smiled.
Nathan leaned in and kissed Haley on the cheek. She closed her eyes trying not to flinch. To Haley's amazement her breathing steadied and the warm feeling returned this time a little stronger. Nathan pulled away and smiled at her. Haley whispered a soft goodbye and opened the car door. She could see Mouth waiting on the bench for her. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he realized it was Haley getting out of the car. Forgetting about Nathan, Haley walked to Mouth quickly as he stood up.
"Who is that?" He asked her.
"I'll explain later" She smiled at him.
Nathan watched her as she walked inside of the school with the tall boy he would have referred to as a nerd when he was in high school. Nathan found himself getting jealous as he watched the two laugh and smile at each other walking together. He drove off from the school. Nathan didn't even know what he was doing. From the moment his father had told him he set up an arranged marriage Nathan had been furious. His anger washed away the moment he met Haley James. It was as if he was under a spell and couldn't feel a little bit happier being around her. Nathan pulled into Karen's Café in Tree Hill and hurried out of his car making his way inside. The doorbell rang as he entered the café. He watched as she made her way from the back of the café and into the dining area.
"Nathan, hey baby what are you doing home, you don't graduate for another two weeks!"
"Hello mom" he smiled at her. "I actually was here meeting with dad last night and decided to stay at the beach house."
"Oh what business did your father have with you last night?" She said looking into his eyes knowing why.
"Mom… It's okay. I am not mad at you!"
"Nathan… You're father and I want the best for you. I think that being in school and going straight to work is going to be a busy time for you after you graduate. I don't want you to be with a girl who is going to want to marry you just for your money. I haven't met this girl yet but, your father says she is not only a beautiful girl but, she is smart and that's something you need."
"Well dad is right she is smart and beautiful. Its different though mom I don't even know how to explain it!" Nathan sighed heavily as he set down. "Something isn't right. I can look in her eyes and all I see is a scared little girl!"
"What do you mean?" She set down asking him.
"Mom… I know her father hits on her but, I don't know if that's all of it! I think something else is going on and if she continues to live with her father I will never get her to open up to me. All of my classes are done, I have taken all of my finals so I was thinking of staying in Tree Hill till graduation and maybe I could just move Haley in with me now!"
"Nathan I don't think that's a good idea!" His mother said sternly.
"Mom…"
"Why don't you both stay with your father and I?" She offered.
Nathan nodded his head and leaned in kissing his mother on the cheek.
"I love you mom" he whispered to her.
"I love you too Nathan… are you leaving so soon?"
"Well I am going to go run a few errands and then I am going to pick Haley up from school at twelve thirty!"
"Nathan, why don't you bring her by the café when you pick her up. I would love to meet her."
Nathan nodded his head yes and walked out the door. She found herself worrying about him way to much these days. She knew it was a mother's duty to worry about their kids but, she found herself worrying more than she should. Nathan always had always been the heartbreaker, the player, and now it seemed as if the tables had turned. Karen Scott had never believed Nathan would settle down and find a family without being drove into it by a gold digger or a whore. Someone who would trap him into marrying her for his money and then take it all as she left. Her and Dan had both decided an arranged marriage was best for Nathan just as it was for Luke and Jake her other two sons. Jake was her oldest! He was 27 years old and they had married him to a beautiful girl from Chapel Hill named Peyton. Karen had not been so sure about Peyton at first but, once she got to know her a little better she began to love her as her own daughter. Lucas her middle child was 26. Finding him a bride wasn't as easy. She had been found in New York City on a trip. Dan had been away on business. Once he spoke of an arranged marriage Brooke's father offered her up. He was a wealthy man as well. He didn't want to take care of Brooke any longer and pushed her off onto the first thing that came along. Karen fell in love with Brooke instantly. She was sad and lonely a little bit. Once she was in Tree Hill Brooke changed. She was happier and found love in Lucas. They hated each other at first but, for some reason Brooke kept trying with Lucas and it showed Karen that she would never give up. Brooke wasn't a quitter and that won Karen over. At the end of the day all she really wanted to see was her boys happy and have a family who loved them. Nathan was a little different. Dan had always been harder on him growing up because he felt Nathan didn't belong. Karen hated seeing Nathan treated the way he was but, sometimes she wasn't around to do anything about it. Looking back she wondered where Nathan would be if his real mother had decided to keep him.
Karen walked quickly through the house and moved to the front door. She opened it to reveal a tall skinny blonde who looked to be with child. Karen stared at her for a moment and could see she was crying.
"Can I help you?" Karen asked the lady.
"Dan Scott… I need to speak to Dan Scott!" The lady demanded.
Karen turned around and called out Dan's name as she began to shake. It was freezing outside. Dan came rushing down the hall and stopped dead in his tracks as he reached the door. Karen could see fear all over his face. Something about the look on his face made her sick to her stomach. She looked back at the lady standing on the steps and then back to Dan. This must be her. The girl he was in love with before her.
"What are you doing here?" He asked her.
"Dan… Please… help me… please… I need help I am having your baby!"
Dan looked down to Karen and could see the hurt in her eyes. Karen looked away from him and back to the pregnant woman.
"Come in" Karen whispered walking back into the house. "Please be quite my children are asleep!"
"You have children" the blonde whispered.
"Two boys… Jake and Lucas!" Karen told her as she ushered them both into the living room. "I will be quick with this and you can say what you wish do you understand?" Karen asked her. The Blonde nodded her head.
"I'm Karen Scott, Dan's wife!" She told her.
"Im Deb" the lady whispered.
"Okay Deb, so now that we know you are pregnant by my husband I would like to know what your intentions are! I mean if you believe my husband is going to leave me and our children for you, well you are wrong!"
"No I just want help. I need to get out of this town. I don't want to be the laughing stock of this town! Some things are better left untold and if I get away no one will ever have to know about this!"
"How much do you want?" Karen asked her.
"You are not giving her money!" Dan butted in.
"Shut up! I think you have done enough in this matter!" Karen bit at him."This should be enough!"
Karen wrote a check and handed it over to Deb. Deb looked over it and at the bottom Karen had wrote. It you need anything come to me!
Deb nodded her head yes and Karen led her to the door.
Karen never thought almost a yr later that Deb would be dropping Nathan off to her at the café and leaving him behind as well as the town. She had found a job in a night club in New York City. Nathan was nothing but a problem in Debs eyes. It didn't matter if Nathan was her real son or not, she loved him all the same! Of course Nathan knew she wasn't his real mom but, he didn't care about that. Karen had raised him and to him she was the only mom he would ever need. Her family was important to her. Eventually her and Dan worked through their problems and things changed in the family. She found herself loving him again and he found himself growing fond of Nathan. A smile formed on her mouth. All she had left to do now was make sure Nathan was going to finally be happy for the first time in his life.