Disclaimer- I do not own anything affiliated with One Tree Hill.
A/N- So, funny enough I had wrote this fic before I wrote, Torn; however, with this fic, I'm not that content with it. It has nothing with do with the violence or action genre, it's just an idea of the moment that I had to write. I'm not selling this fic well, huh? Anyways, if you like it reply, if not I won't mind for this one.
Summary- Overcoming a grudge and finding closure in an unexpected way.
--
Far From Whom We Were
--
Flashback:
"Alice!" Haley yelled at the top of her lungs after she watched her best friend get ran over a speeding car.
"Alice!"Haley yelled again running toward her; followed by grabbing her cell phone from her pocket to call the ambulance, and in a trembling tone Haley told them what had just happened.
Before her, bleeding on the ground laid her best friend since childhood. Alice had saved her from a speeding car after she helped Haley to her car after a party. It was Haley that was drunk; Alice was the designated driver.
"It's ok, Hun. They're on their way. Please, please don't die…" Haley cried franticly, walking side to side on the road. Swiftly, Haley threw up on the curve and her buzz from the alcohol was gone. The impact of the accident sobered her up.
Impatience killing Haley, she yelled for help on the street. No one heard her. Everyone was at the party and they were far from it. The party was located at a lone factory.
Haley sobbed further on the cold pavement next to her dead friend.
--
Present, Three Years Later:
"Tell me why we're going camping again?" Haley asked Brooke.
"Because going camping with friends is fun. Plus, we need a break from work. A couple days in the wild should reenergize us," Brooke answered while looking at the price tag of a pair of yellow shorts she was interested in. Haley sighed scanning her surrounding. Life had been so dull for her. She was 25 years old, working for a magazine label and worse of all— single.
"I don't want to go," Haley whined as she walked toward the bench aside the dressing room.
"What if I told you Lucas was going?" Broke smiled at the fact that she knew Haley had a crush on co-owner of Scott Vehicles in Tree Hill. Haley turned her head at Brooke's direction, slightly blushing at the thought of Lucas.
"Really?" Haley asked curiously, brushing some hair strands away from her face.
"Yeah, and I heard from Owen that he's bringing his cousin. Don't know his name, but he'll do for Peyton," Brooke replied while she grabbed more pieces of clothing to try on.
"But I thought Peyton was bringing, Chase."
"Rumor has it, she doesn't know quite yet. But other than that, it should be fun. So please Haley, will you come for at least me?" Brooke pouted like a child wanting a candy. Haley chuckled as she rose from the bench.
"Fine, but promise me this: you will not try any games or say embarrassing things to get Lucas and me together. Ok, Brooke?" Haley said firmly, crossing her arms together.
"Whatever," Brooke lied, but Haley knew as well it was a lie; Brooke was always the matchmaker…or at least she tried to be.
--
"No," Nathan answered.
"Nate, man, please?" Lucas asked while he followed behind Nathan to his car.
"Camping? How exciting," Nathan sarcastically said reaching for his car keys.
"There will be hot girls there," Owen shouted from behind Lucas. Nathan paused, turning around to meet his cousin and friend.
"How hot?" Nathan curiously asked while raising a brow.
"Well," Lucas paused trying to match someone to Haley's and Peyton's looks. He turned to Owen for help.
"One has a great rack and is cute. The other is feisty but she has a great body."
"They're both hot," Owen confirmed. Nathan thought deeper. Did he want to waste his week camping rather than working and getting laid? Then again he has worked a lot these last couple of months. He was manager of his uncle other automobile business in Charlotte.
"Fine, but this better be fun," Nathan answered firmly then stepped into his BMW, and drove away.
"Problem," Owen said. "Peyton said she was going to bring Chase, and don't you have a thing for, Haley?"
Lucas scratched his head, he forgot all about Chase.
"Then, we'll just tell Peyton not to bring, Chase. It's not like they're dating. They're only screwing each other."
"What about, Haley?"
"Nathan wont like her; she's not his type," Lucas said confidently. "He'll go for Peyton, though."
"Ok," Owen replied walking toward his car, not entirely convinced.
--
"I talked to my boyfriend and Lucas' cousin is in," Brooke said joining her friends for a girl's night in.
"Did you find out his name?" Haley asked.
"Um, it's Noah, Nick- something with an N. Who cares, now we're all set."
"But who's he bringing?" Peyton asked biting on her meal.
"No one," Brooke spoke fast.
"Well, that will suck. He'll be by himself."
"Um, Sweetie. Guess who he's paired out with?" Haley said with a wide smile. Peyton stared at her friends shocked.
"You got to be kidding me; it's a week blind date?" Peyton asked in a loud tone.
"Surprise…" Brooke smiled innocently.
"No fair. I told you I wanted to bring, Chase," Peyton whined.
"But I thought you two were fighting. Think about it, won't it be refreshing to be with someone else for a change? Please Peyton, from what Owen told me, he's not bad looking and he has money," Brooke answered.
"But we'll be out in the woods, what's he going to be buying me there?" Peyton asked.
"Affection by the way he acts?" Haley guessed.
"Hahaha. He better be at least decent looking," Peyton answered still annoyed.
"He will- is! Trust me," Brooke smiled hoping Owen was not lying.
--
"Brooke…you're an hour early. I'm not done packing quite yet," Haley said surprised while Brooke walked into her apartment carrying a large bag.
"I know, but I was curious to see what you have packed," Brooke said observing the clothes in Haley's suitcase.
"Why?"
"Oh, just curious…no, no, no, no, and ewww. Haley what the hell is this?" Brooke asked repulsed at a shirt.
"A shirt," Haley answered flat out obvious.
"No, you are not taking this."
"Why can't I?" Haley protest.
"Do you want to impress Lucas or not?" Brooke asked opening her large pink bag.
"You promised me you wouldn't meddle," Haley said, leaning against her door.
"I lied. Now, this is what you will be taking: these cute tanks and these shorts followed by these Bermuda shorts. By the way, do you have a bathing suit?" Brooke asked. Haley sighed, knowing it was too good to be true if Brooke didn't meddle.
"Swim suit? It's camping, not the beach" Haley said.
"Well, it was going to be a surprise but on the last day of camping, we'll hike to a mountain top where you can jump off the cliff onto the water. It's really fun and exciting," Brooke said.
"Have you jumped off it before?" Haley curiously asked.
"No, plus there is this story behind it. I don't know, ask Owen; he's into that type of shit," Brooke said folding the new clothes into Haley's suitcase.
"Well, I have these swim suits," Haley answered as she walked to her drawer. Once Brooke saw them, she snatched the navy blue with white swirls.
"This one is cute," Brooke replied, but Haley thought other wise.
"No, I just bought that one for inspiration-"
"Inspiration for what?"
"Be in better shape than I am now. Now, this one is better" Haley said but Brooke placed it in the suitcase and zipped it up quickly.
"Nonsense, you don't need to get in better shape. You're hot as it is. Lucas will go gaga. Now, let's go eat because I am hungry," Brooke said taking Haley's hand, leading them both out of Haley's apartment.
--
"Are we there yet?" Haley nagged. They have been on the road for several hours and she was bored out of her mind.
"Say that one more time and I swear Haley, I will throw you out of this car," Brooke replied annoyed as well.
"Sorry…So why didn't Peyton join us again?" Haley asked.
"Work kept her overtime. But she said she would join us not so long after we get there," Brooke answered.
"Are the guys at least there?" Haley asked while she played with a strand of her short brown hair.
"They should be arriving pretty soon and we should be there within an hour if the dumbass ahead of me doesn't go any faster!" Brooke complained then honked her horn. "Come on idiot, we're in the free way! Go faster!"
--
"We're here!" Haley yelled while she stepped out of Brooke's car as fast as she could. Five hours on the road is ridiculous.
"Hey, you guys made it," Owen said as he walked over to his girlfriend to give her a quick kiss.
"Get a room," Haley joked.
"We will, but I say more tent than room," Brooke answered as Haley squinted her nose is disgust.
"Ew, I did not need to know that. Now, where are the other guys?"
"They're getting wood for the camp fire," Owen replied. "Ok, the green tent is yours and Peyton's."
"Which one is ours?" Brooke smiled impatiently. Owen chuckled, leading Brooke to their tent.
"This red one here," Owen unzipped it. Couple seconds later another car parked aside Brooke's; it was Peyton's, and she wasn't alone.
"Hey Peyton… Chase?" Haley said unsure once she saw him. Peyton walked over to Haley, signaling to not make a fuss.
"Haley, hey," Peyton said.
"Why is Chase here?" Brooke asked upset.
"He wanted to come after all-"
"Is that a problem?" Chase asked interfering.
"No it's not," Brooke faked a smile. "It was just sudden."
"What about Nathan?" Owen whispered to Brooke.
"Well Hun, you're in for a scene," Brooke replied, and then lead Owen inside their tent.
"Great," Haley sighed out.
"What?" Peyton asked leaning against the car with Haley.
"You and I are supposed to share tents, but now what?" Haley asked not loving the idea of sharing tents with a couple.
"Chase and I can sleep in my car-"
"I don't want to be alone!" Haley protested.
"Bump with, Lucas; I sure he wouldn't mind kicking out his cousin out for you," Peyton teased. Haley chuckled slightly embarrassed.
"Where is he anyways?" Chase intervened to their conversation while he snapped the top of a beer.
"With his cousin getting wood," Haley answered automatically as she stared at the bottle.
"Want one? Packed a bunch, incase the trip becomes a disaster," Chase replied.
"No. I don't drink," Haley answered uncomfortably looking away.
"Oh come one, just a sip-"
"Chase!" Peyton said in an aggressive tone while staring at him to cut it out.
"What!? Just telling her to…" Haley walked away to the other side of their camp ground ignoring the constant bickering of Chase and Peyton. While she walked further, Haley felt a weird knot in her stomach, but couldn't quite know what it was, until-
"Haley!" Lucas yelled. Haley turned around and hugged dearly to Lucas.
"Luke! I'm so happy you invited me," Haley replied, letting go of Lucas' embrace.
"I'm glad you came," Lucas smiled happily, then began to walk with her to camp ground. "Oh, there is someone I would like you to meet. He's my cousin-"
"Nathan?" Haley said completely surprised. It had been two years since she last saw him.
"Haley," Nathan said in a cold voice, which answered her question; he still hates her.
"You two know each other?" Lucas asked not aware of the tension between Haley and Nathan.
"You can say that," Haley said indifferent. She walked past Nathan staring at him as he continued to stare at her; hatred was filled in their eyes. Hatred towards the past they wished had never happened.
Flashback:
"Haley! How is she?" Nathan anxiously asked. Haley tried to control herself, trying not to burst further out in tears.
"She's in the emergency room. They don't know if she has a chance. I'm sorry, Nathan," Haley looked down ashamed in tears.
"But what happened? How did this happen?" Nathan asked unsure why his girlfriend Alice was ran over by a car. "Answer me, Haley."
Sniffing, Haley looked up at Nathan's worried eyes. It was her fault.
"We lied to you. We didn't go see a movie; we went to a party instead. She said she was going to stay sober while I could drink. So I did. Then hours past and it was time for us to leave, so she tried getting me to walk, but I kept stumbling until we got on the middle of the street where my shoe fell off. I went to get it and Alice was ready to drive, but I was taking forever to get to the car, and next thing I knew she pushed me away from the speeding car that ran over her. I'm sorry Nathan, I didn't know this would happen, I-"
"Who's here for Alice Cullman?"
"I am. I'm her boyfriend," Nathan replied.
"Sorry. I need close family," the doctor answered. Haley turned to him.
"I'm her sister. Is she ok?" Haley asked trembling in fear that the worse had occurred.
The doctor looked down; his facial expression wasn't what she had hoped for.
"I'm sorry. She didn't make it," he answered and swiftly left to the next patience's family.
"No…" Haley managed to whisper out before she fell apart in tears. Nathan froze not being able to feel anything until he also relapsed in tears. His girlfriend of three years had just died, and he didn't get a chance to say goodbye.