Chapter one: And you're not something I deserve
"I would like you all to welcome Haley James back to Tree Hill." The teacher said as the door to the classroom opened and the familiar girl appeared. She walked in and sat down in the only empty seat, the one next to Lucas. Lucas sat in shock as the teacher spoke and his former best friend/girlfriend sat down beside him.
"Hi." She said twitching her hands and biting her lip.
"Hi." He answered, she looked the same as always except her hair. It was slightly shorter and had a really dark brown colour instead of the auburn colour it used to be. He also noticed she was wearing make-up and she looked like it had been years, she looked grown up and not like the 16 year old girl he used to know. He then focused his attention back toward the black board and so did Haley.
After the bell rung they rose and walked out into the corridor and toward their lockers without another word spoken between them they headed to next class. At lunch Haley walked into the cafeteria and got her food before sitting down at an empty table, not knowing if anyone wanted to speak to her ever again, especially Luke. It hurt that he might not want to see her but she deserved it, the way she had left she deserved anything. She had just picked up her things and left town without notice or explanation, not telling anyone where she went or when she was coming back.
Lucas entered the cafeteria with his brother and the rest of the basketball team and they sat down at their regular table eating and talking about the game the upcoming weekend. Lucas noticed Haley sitting alone and it hurt him to see her so lonely and sad. She didn't look like she belonged there anymore and she looked sad about not fitting in, it had to be the first time Haley James had cared what other people though about her.
Haley saw Lucas enter and she noticed him talking to his brother and the rest of the team-mates as he sat down at a table rather close to hers. She overheard them talking about an upcoming game and how they were going to get there and what they would do after they snuck out after "bedtime". Tim came up with the fabulous idea of going to a strip-club and nobody seemed to argue with him. This shocked Haley, Lucas in a strip-club? That did just not sound right to her, that was not the Lucas she knew but then again she was not the girl he used to know either.
Flashback
"I know you better than anyone Hales, what's wrong?" Lucas asked his best friend.
"Nothing Luke, it's just that I…" She trailed off, unable to go through with her confession.
"You just what? Tell me, you can tell me anything you know that right?"
"I know it's just… it's kinda personal okay?"
"What? You lost your virginity to some random guy?" He joked and she laughed.
"No stupid. I'm… I'm in love with someone okay? Happy now?" She said in an annoyed voice.
"Yeah I'm happy, happy for you that is." No I'm not, he thought.
"Well you can stop being happy for me since he doesn't feel the same way." She said.
"How do you know? Have you asked him?"
"No, not really. I just know."
"How can you just know? Take my advise and tell him, he'd be stupid to turn you down."
"Well he is kinda stupid most of the time, the rest of the time he's just goofy." She smiled.
"Soo, just tell him Hales. It'll be fine even if he turns you down you've always got me 'cause I'm not going anywhere."
"That's the problem I'm afraid you will after you find out who it is."
"What? As long as it's not Nathan I'm good." He joked and she made a face. "It's not him is it?" He asked nervously.
"No!"
"Then who…" He was cut off when her lips crashed on his. As soon as the shock left him he felt her pull away but he pulled her back and kissed her again. When breathing became a problem they pulled away and looked into each others eyes.
"You happy now Luke?"
"Yeah, I am." He said as his breathing returned to normal and bent in to give her another kiss.
End of flashback
She wiped a tear away as she remembered the love they once shared, the love she had to ruin by going away. She got up from her seat and left the cafeteria and left the school building, sitting on the grass she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a familiar number.
"Karen's café, Deb speaking." A voice answered.
"Hi, this is Haley James and I was wondering if Karen is around?" She asked.
"Yeah, hold on a minute." The woman said before yelling. "Karen! Haley James is on the phone." Soon she heard Karen's voice on the other end.
"Hi Haley, is it really you? It has been to long to speak on the phone like this, why don't you come by?"
"Hi Karen. Sure, I'll come by after school." She said with a smile.
"Great, I'll see you then. Bye hun." Karen said before hanging up.
Haley lay back on the grass smelling the spring air and the flowers. She did not notice that she was being watched until a shadow blocked the sun. She looked up only to find Lucas standing there.
"Hi." She said a bit to happy.
"Hi." He answered wondering how she could sound so normal, as if she never left at all. He sat down beside her.
"How've you been?" She asked knowing it sounded stupid.
"Good. I mean as good as I can considering you left." He said anger in his voice.
"Lucas, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you I just had to leave."
"Why? You could at least have said good bye, I think you owed me that much since you were my girlfriend for over a year." He spat at her.
"I'm sorry for that Lucas, I really am. I was scared and confused and my parents had just thrown me out and I had to leave at once, I didn't know what to tell you okay?" She said as she began to cry. Lucas heart broke all over again at her words and before he knew it he held her close, whispering into her hair.
"They
threw you out? Why? What happened?"
"We had a really bad fight
about…" She trailed off, she almost let it slip. She couldn't
be near him or she'd tell him everything and she just couldn't
let him know. She rose, quickly running toward the school just as the
bell rung, leaving Lucas behind with his own thoughts and questions.
