Haley James was one of a kind. She was the most blunt, down-to-earth yet surreal girl in Tree Hill. She wasn't at all like any of the other girls, her originality amazed Lucas, he never looked back and was ecstatic that she was his best friend.
They both were sitting on the grass, soaking in the sun on their last day in Tree hill, he watched her in amazement as she was trying to read an encyclopedia of a book and complete an exam paper for chemistry at the same time. He wasn't sure whether it was for pleasure or actually school work, knowing Haley it was probably more pleasure than business. He sat staring at her and thought of the first time they had met.
Flashback
"Right Sweetie, mommy's got to go to work, so she's going to leave you here so you can make some new friends." Said Karen as she kissed Lucas on the forehead and ran a hand thorough his hair.
Lucas looked up at his mom with tearful eyes "But I don't wanna mama!"
Karen came down to her knees and looked her son straight in the eye "I know you don't, but you've got to start school soon, and mommy can't always look after you, she needs money to pay the bills."
Lucas sniffed and looked at her thoughtfully "O.K mama, but what if I get a job that way I won't have to go to school and you won't have to work all the time."
Karen threw her head back and forced out a laugh, she pulled Lucas into a hug and whispered, "Kiddo you're only 4 so act it," she chuckled "I love you." She smiled as tears started welling up.
"I love you mama, but don't cry I won't be gone for long." Lucas blew his mother a kiss and Karen stood up glowing with pride as she took one last look at her son before she left.
Lucas watched his mom from the window as she disappeared into the distance. He turned around and looked at all of the other kids, to one side of the room were some kids colouring, the other side there were some kids playing with toys and making dinosaur noises. Lucas looked towards the mini library and noticed a small blonde girl with pigtails frantically searching through all the books. He walked over to her and said "Whatcha doin'?"
"Gawd this library does not have one decent book, I mean c'mon what's a kid gotta do to get a decent book around here, I mean Elmer: The Story of a Patchwork Elephant, fidgety fish, smiley shark, each peach pear plum, c'mon they're just mocking our intelligence, I mean where are all the good books Moby dick, Great expectations, Pride and Prejudice, ya know the classics...what do they take us for, four year olds!?." She said blowing her fringe out of her eyes and catching her breath.
"Erm...We are four year olds." Said Lucas looking at her in bewilderment.
"Who are you?" She said standing up at brushing the dust of her skirt.
"Lucas Scott... but you can call me Luke," he said putting out a hand and grinning.
"Hmmm...You're a boy." She said looking at him curiously.
"I believe so." He said putting his hand down.
"What are your intentions?"
"Huh!?"
"What do you want; it's so hard to find someone with intellect these days." She said shaking her head and huffing.
"I...Nothing..."He said screwing up his face in confusion.
"My mama told me never to trust a boy, because they only want one thing." She said as she started walking around Lucas in circles.
"What's that?" Lucas said following her with his eyes as she moved around.
"Don't act like you don't know Lucas Scott!" She said folding her arms and staring him straight in the eye.
Lucas shrugged "Ummm...books."
"Don't play dumb with me Scott, you want our lips but you can't take mine because I have made sure that mine are going to stay with me, I've seen you men try to take the lips off of women!"
"Lips?"
"Yes, then you try to take our hair, I've seen my daddy do it to my mama, obviously they didn't know I was there, but he tries to pull her hair off whilst he's pulling her lips off but my mama is a strong woman and she won't let him win!"
"Erm, I don't want your lips or your hair?" He said taking a step back "I just wanna be your friend." He said putting his hand back out to shake again.
"Oh, well I guess that's ok," she said smiling and shaking his hand, "one more thing I'm your friend and I will never be your girlfriend, my lips are staying with me, promise you won't try to take them!?"
"I promise," said Lucas without hesitation.
"Great, I'm Haley James… know where they stash the good books?!"
End of Flashback
Lucas chuckled as he looked at Haley scribbling frantically; he'd never known someone who loved school so much.
"What's so funny Luke?" Haley said without looking up.
"I just was thinking about the first time we met, that was what, 14 years ago, you thought I was going to take your lips."
Haley looked up and forced out a laugh "Yeh, I think my mom still thinks that I believe that, Wow, such a long time ago!"
"So much has changed ay, I mean you're off to Duke, and I'm all the way in Princeton, there hours away!"
"I know but you are visiting in holidays, so there are no excuses, and we will always phone one another and you are going to stay with me for my first week anyway."
"I am."
"You are."
"Well seeing as though we discussed that thoroughly, forget the essay Haley James, it's our last day let's be adventurous."
"Don't you have a girl friend to do that kind of stuff with?" Haley said snatching her books back off him.
"Yeh, but she said she wanted to spend some time with her friends during the day, I get her for the evening." Luke said grinning smugly.
"Ew, Luke, too much info for my liking," she said closing her books.
"Hales," Luke said slowly, as he lay on the grass and put his hands under his head.
"What?" She said stuffing her books into her bag.
"You know, you haven't said bye to..."
"Luke, don't ruin it!"
"But..."
"Please." She said pulling the grass out in frustration.
Luke sat up "You know if this was Peyton and I, you wouldn't stop there."
"I know, but it's different, Daniel was different, he doesn't want to know me anymore"
"I'm sure he knows you would never hurt him on purpose, just go find him and explain, it's not like it was your fault..."
"I know but...."
"C'mon go find Daniel and sort it out..."
"But it's not like he's bothered, I mean I've tried calling him..."
"Hales, you've been avoiding each other like the plague."
"I guess."
"Yes, go find him...go!" Luke said dragging her up.
"Fine, but..."
"Haley James no excuses get your ass to Daniel NOW!"
"Fiiiine." Haley dragged herself around school trying to look for Daniel when she bumped into the person she was dreading the most.
"Come back for more have we."
"Uh!" Haley scoffed, "Who do you think you are? Why is it my life you want to destroy, can't you find anyone else's life to ruin, I'm sure there are plenty of girls who would love to waste their time with you, what makes you think I am the tiniest bit interested in you, your an obnoxious low life who is the world's most inconsiderate jackass EVER and yet you can't take a hint, stay away from me and Daniel. "
"Yeh, your right. The ladies love me what can I say, but you know you can't resist it either," He said walking closer towards her.
"Stay away from me." She said taking a few steps back and realising that there were no more steps to take as she was backed up against a wall.
He moved closer and put one hand on the wall leaning in on Haley "It looks as if you can't stay away from me though." He started stroking her hair with the other hand.
Haley looked at him in disgust.
"Nate," Haley recognised the voice and pushed Nathan away from her "Oh, didn't realise you were erm busy, I'll come back later," Daniel stormed off in the opposite direction as anger was bubbling up inside of him.
"No wait Daniel; it's not what it looks like." Haley said calling after him, she grabbed Nathan by the collar, looked him straight in the eye with spite and whispered "I hate you Nathan Scott!"
"Love you too baby, I'm guessing Danni boy has no idea it was me who sent him up to check on tutor girl and Jake making out in the library." He said winking and blowing a kiss.
"ARGHH!" Haley screamed as she pushed him away and ran after Daniel.
"DANIEL...DANIEL ... WAIT!" Haley said stopping to catch her breath as she grabbed him by the arm. "Listen please," she pleaded.
"What there's more, I think I've seen enough don't you, first Jake now Nathan, what's gotten into you, it's not like you at all, I'm guessing I must be getting boring."
"What! No! I'm sorry o.k., I'm sorry that you think I'm turning into this promiscuous girl, but I'm not, I care about you, I do, it's just Nathan has something against me, his life long mission seems to be to make my life a misery, and he wants to break us up, I promise you Jake kissed me and in case you hadn't noticed Nathan had me backed up against the wall." Haley looked up into his beautiful dark brown eyes and took him by arms. "I'm sorry, if you know me like you think you do, you'd know I wouldn't do this on purpose, I don't want it to end like this, I don't want it to end at all."
Daniel stared back into her mesmerising chocolate eyes and said "Do you love me?"
"What?" Haley said confused.
"It's simple do you love me?"
Haley stared at him wondering where all this was coming from "Of course."
"Then why don't you ever say it, I say it all the time, you never seem to, I love you Haley James."
"I know."
"See you can't even say it now," Daniel said forcing out a laugh.
"Where's all this coming from? I've been with you for two years, isn't that saying something."
"Haley, you've never let me all the way in, you always put up these barriers when it feels like I'm getting close to you."
Haley looked down in shame "But…"
"No. See you can't even say it now."
"You need me to say it to believe it."
"YES!" He said throwing up his arms in frustration.
"Daniel, what's gotten into you?" Haley whispered.
"I don't know, maybe it's the fact that all these new men have come along!"
"Dan…" She was cut off as Daniel grabbed her by the waist and kissed her, he moved back searching her tear filled eyes for an answer, he sighed.
"I'm sorry Haley; I can't go through this, not again." He walked off in the opposite direction leaving a broken hearted Haley feeling empty as her world came crashing down.