by grace

"Hey, sweetie, thought I would call and tell you that I will have to work another shift," Haley yelled exhaustedly into her cell over the noise, talking once again to Nathan's answering service. "I should be home around one or two. I love you." She hung up and looked around the small storage room, looking for more strawberry syrup for the drinks.

She grabbed a bottle from the dirty shelf and headed out the door and into the noisy night club. Self-consciously pulling at her tiny silver uniform, she made her way back to the bar and saw with relief that Brooke was standing behind the counter.

"Hey babe," She greeted her best friend. Brooke's eyes shimmered brightly as she expertly fixed a cute guy his drink. She winked at Haley before sidling back over to the guy and handing him his drink with a flourish. The cute guy blinked stupidly and then grinned at Brooke, who's charm was already in high gear.

Haley shook her head and noticed Peyton approaching, also pulling at her uniform. But for another reason.

"I swear to God if another jackass 'accidentally' dumps his drink on me there will be a WWF smackdown in this club." Jerry, a short, bald man in his forties was sitting in what everyone called his "throne" in the back corner, watching Peyton with amused eyes. Peyton saw this and grimaced. "Jerry! I swear you are making us wear these fucking outfits for your own pleasure!" She called to him over the noise.

Haley laughed. "Careful, Pey, you might get us all kicked out."

Peyton shrugged. "Naw, see? He didn't even hear me. Watch this." She raised her hand in a sexy kind of wave at Jerry. "You are a filthy bastard and you had better pay me double shift tonight you dirty man-whore." She called to him. He waved back, a huge grin in place. "The man is deaf in one ear and doesn't listen with the other."

Haley grinned and grabbed a tray of drinks. "Whatever you say babe." She made her way through the pulsing crowd, holding her tray high and keeping her eyes straight forward, despite the cat calls, as almost a year of experience had taught her.

Peyton, Haley and Brooke had gotten jobs at Rain in an attempt to stay afloat with all of the expenses of college, and to pay for rent. Haley didn't need to worry about rent seeing as Nathan's parents were paying for him to stay there, but she wanted to feel like she was making her own money. Nathan was by playing basketball-he had already been offered a spot on two different teams. He had been spending a lot of time at practice lately, and Haley missed him. But she understood it was important to him, and was still very proud.

Besides, why would she want to be with her boyfriend when she could be serving iced drinks to sweaty frat boys who oogled her goodies?

Haley could think of about 200 good reasons, and she listed them in her head as she approached her table.

She brought the tray down at a table with a group of guys sitting around it, admiring her shinny outfit. "Hey everyone, I'm Haley and I will be your waitress." She said in a falsly bright, cheery voice. "These are the complimentary drinks offered tonight. Enjoy. I'll be back soon for orders." She turned swiftly on her heal and heard them comment on her.

She hated working here, she didn't know why she was still doing it. God knows if I didn't need the money to stay in college... she allowed herself to think before being ushered by the crowd to another table.

Only three more hours. She thought, a smile coming to her face. Then you can go be with your baby... Nathan had just gotten back from a game across state for basketball. It seemed like he had been doing a lot of that lately.
Only three more hours...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hello?" Haley called out into the dim apartment. Music was playing softly, and there was a bottle of champagne sitting on the coffee table with a ribbon around it's neck. Pink wine, she thought, picking up the bottle. How sweet, my favorite. He must have been planning a special night for the two of them, she thought guiltily, thinking of her extra shift.

"Baby?" She called out. She tossed her jacket on the couch and headed down the hallway, planning in her mind exactly how she was going to make up their missed night to Nathan. Her feet were soft against the carpet, soundless. She tip toed, heading for the bedroom they shared, hoping to surprise him.

But it was her that was surprised.

There was a soft giggle as she swung the door open, and then a gasp that either issued from Haley's mouth or the tall blonde on top of her boyfriend. Nathan looked up in complete surprise.

He was covered in sweat that gleamed over his toned body and Haley briefly glanced at him, and saw that he looked guilty. She then turned her attention to the blonde, who was straddling him. She had stopped when the door opened, and was now frantically trying to cover herself with the blankets strewn on the floor.

"Haley!" Nathan's face was pained in the candle light. HER candles. They were having sex in HER bedroom, by HER candlelight. These facts were barely registering with Haley's mind as she looked from the blonde to Nathan, her boyfriend of 4 years.

"You fucking WHORE!" She screamed, not really aware of what she was saying. The blonde jumped and stood, grabbing the sheets with her. The blonde looked Haley up and down.

"Who are you calling whore? Nathan who the hell is this? Why is this hooker here?"

"HOOKER?" Haley yelped, before realizing that she was still wearing her short uniform. She tugged at it and her cheeks blushed furiously.

Nathan just sat there, stunned, looking from one woman to the other.

"Who the hell is this?" She repeated, pointing at Haley.

Nathan gulped. "That's...uhh..." Haley waited for him to finish his sentence but the realized it wasn't coming. "I'm his fucking girlfriend. Or at least I was."

The blonde looked Haley up and down. Haley noted that the blonde was wearing one of Nathan's shirts Haley had bought him. She was also aware that there were tears of fury racing down her own face. "Who are you?"

The blonde opened her mouth and Haley held up her hand. "Wait, don't tell me. You're Jessica."

Jessica nodded slowly. "How-?"

"-did I know?" Haley's lips pursed as the love of her life cringed under her stare, her demeanor turning from embarrassed and upset to just plain pissed. "Your name was on the caller ID. You're a cheerleader, aren't you? Wow, Nathan, things never change, do they? You're still using me and doing a cheerleader behind my back. Isn't that funny." She said curtly, her eyes burning.

It was silent for a moment as these words rang true in her heart and she watched Nathan squirm. She walked up to him, memorizing the face that she knew she could never forget. He knew it was coming, but he only looked guiltily up at her. She looked him in the eyes. She slapped him as hard as she could, and spun on her heel, her face already wet with tears.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brooke answered her door on the third knock, dressed to kill in a silky red robe and her hair loose around her shoulders. "Hey sexy." She greeted. "I was expecting Paul, but I guess-" She stopped when she saw Haley's tear stained face. "What's wrong?"

She pulled the sobbing Haley inside and into the small living room. "Hales?" She prompted softly, guiding her to the living room her and Peyton shared.

"H-h-he...he..." Haley couldn't think straight. "Blonde...Jessica...candles...in my r-room..." Haley broke out in fresh sobs. Brooke's eyebrows furrowed as she watched Haley struggle. The pieces clicked in Brooke's mind and a sudden look of understanding came over her.

"Shhh...it's okay. Hold on, okay?" She got up for a minute. "Pey!" She called out. Peyton came down the stairs, looking curious. "What's going on?"

"Grab Hales some pjs, okay? She's staying here tonight."

"Why...what's going-"

"Come into the kitchen. I'll fill you in after I call Paul."

They dragged Haley up to Peyton's room and comforted her as good friends should. They did their best, but the pain was severe within Haley. They brushed her hair and whispered comforting words to her and eventually they fell asleep, hating Nathan with all of their hearts for what they did to Haley.

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okay guys thanks for reading now all you have to do is REVIEW! Please! This is my first fan fic so please go easy on me. It doesn't have to go on I can just leave it at this...although I did have an interesting spring break angle in mind...so REVIEW plz and tell me what you think...I'm up for suggestions! Oh, and sorry for the downer feeling to this chapter...I promise it gets better! (that is if you want me to continue) Thanks! Much luv...grace.

p.s. I might change the title so yeah look out for my name! thanx