2. In the Distance Fading
Haley is greeted by the glorious sensation of her skull feeling as if it had been directly bashed in by a steel base-ball bat. Memories from the previous night pour into her conscience, and deter her from her migraine. She recalls how breathtaking it had been, and she finds herself wishing it hadn't ended.
Eradicating herself from her recollections, she crawls out of the bed and quickly withdraws clothes from her suitcase. The apartment smells, amazingly, of bacon and Haley would be damned if she'd miss Brooke Davis actually cooking.
"Am I dying or something?" Haley grins. "I never knew you could cook. Or rise before noon on a weekend."
"Yes, well I have many hidden talents," Brooke turns to her and returns the grin, "Tutor Girl."
"We're going to really have to come up with a new nickname..."
"Agreed, since you'll be living here for a while and all," And Brooke says it without any conviction. "Honestly, my parents don't give a damn as to what I do here."
The words sink into Haley and she feels light headed and happy. Being with Brooke seems like one of the better occurrences that have happened to her lately, and now living with her makes Haley feel more secure.
"Thanks Brooke, you don't know how much this means to me. Especially, while I'm in the midst of trying to pick up things with Nathan. You're an amazing friend." Attempting to lighten the conversation, she adds, "And I'll be sure to keep you in line—Brooke Davis, prepare to experience homework. Scary."
"Oh please, Haley. I was the one that brought you home last night, if I so do recall," Brooke rolls her eyes in mock annoyance and flips the bacon. It sizzles.
"Well, last night was an exception to everything. I was totally trying to rebel against my Tutor Girl stereotype," Haley laughs and Brooke does too.
"See? I'm contagious. I've got you attached to the nickname."
"Exactly why I was trying to rid myself of it last night."
Brooke whips out scrambled eggs, adding it to the cooked bacon, and toast on their plates. Haley wonders how many people have actually experienced her cooking and finds it incredibly endearing.
"Brooke, I think you've won my heart with this breakfast." And it wasn't much of an exaggeration either.
"Maybe I should apply for perfect, slutty housewife of the year award."
"You wouldn't be slutty if you were mine," Haley says it quite naturally. The conversation had already turned ludicrous, but when she contemplates the statement for a moment it makes her heart quiver. Haley cannot make out why, though, because she knows it's just banter.
It's not until she looks into her coffee mug and remembers that Nathan prefers his black, that she feels an onset of guilt. She knows that instead of messing around with Brooke, she should be adamantly pursing her husband. Haley touches her wedding ring, assuring that it is still there and half-hoping it isn't.
The band shines with the light from the morning sun.
It's a cloudy day, and Nathan feels that it suits his anger. He's tearing up his new Nike's on the river court. When he stops dribbling for a moment, he feels the silver chain press against his chest. The weight of the ring is heavier than its ever been, gnawing at his mind and heart.
He's gotten word that Haley's back in Tree Hill, and he doesn't know how to deal with it. Hell, he hasn't known how to deal with any of it. Part of him knows that Haley was following her dreams with the tour, and he shouldn't stop that. But it seemed like he had no place in her dreams.
The concrete was solid and made sense, unlike his marriage which seemed to be fading far from what it once was.
It took four baskets, until a certain squinty-eyed brother approached him.
"Nathan, can I talk to you?"
"You already are," Nathan says, knowing he can't avoid this little pep-talk that Lucas is about to give. He starts slamming the ball harder than before, acting pissed off when he knows that he actually needs some kind of advice.
"Haley's back. And I know you're pissed at her, but you know that she came back to Tree Hill, now, for you," Lucas is confident in what he's saying entirely, because he believes he knows Haley more than anyone else.
"I get all of that, Luke, but it doesn't really make it any easier on me." Nathan wipes his forehead on his shoulder. "Just, let's play."
"Okay, but promise me you'll come to TRIC tonight. There's this concert and I know Haley will be there." He's staring Nate down, who refuses to return glances. "Give her a chance."
"Sure, why the Hell not?" He spits at Lucas.
It's the river court, and their game is intense. Nathan hasn't always been playing here, but he's come to understand it the way Lucas does; no pressure.
His love for the game drives him to beat Lucas and he determines, by the end of it, that he doesn't want to hurt Haley like she hurt him. But has this feeling in his gut that he probably will.
He already feels like a hypocritical asshole, but isn't that a park of the Dan Scott gene?
"This is way too damn beautiful for you not to buy," Brooke's voice is brimming with exciting. "Beats those nasty old ponchos by a hundred-thousand miles."
Haley looks at herself in the mirror and ponders what she has gotten herself into, by shopping with Brooke. She has never tried on so many clothes in her life, let alone so many outfits which were either excessively low-cut, or tight, or too short, or see-through, or had some feature to make her look like a man's wet dream.
But this time she sort of agrees with Brooke, because it is a gorgeous dress.
"I really like it, too. But honestly, no article of clothing is more reliable than a poncho."
"Oh please, Haley. You can tutor in a dress, too."
"Hopefully not this dress," Haley is tempted to rip it off her body and run far, far away from the store when she reads the price tag. "It's two-hundred eighty dollars. That's a lot of money."
"Not when you're winning back your man. Considering this my gift to you." Brooke quickly digs out her credit card. "Really, I want to help if I can."
"Thanks, Brooke, but you really don't have to...You've already done so much for me." Then Brooke grabs her by the shoulders and Haley is glad no one else is near the dressing room, because she's starting to feel flushed and maybe embarrassed.
"Haley, listen to me. I want to do this for you. You are gonna put it on, we're gonna go to TRIC tonight, and you will get back your man." She sounds so sure of herself, that Haley nods in response, even though she can hardly think about the latter part of the plan being true. Really, she's getting distracted now with Brooke gripping her so closely.
"Good, now let's find some shoes."
