A/N: Is a AU Naley. Love the Naley. If you like please r and r... oh and
Disclaimer: forgot this in Prologue... sorry. Don't own One Tree Hill, James, Joy or anyone else... wouldn't mind owning James and Chad though :P
Chapter one
I walked around my small New York flat, in my work out shorts and tank top, my hair pulled back into a messy bun and sneakers on my feet. I grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and took a big drink. I know, heat and guzzling water don't mix but oh well, I'm hot and thirsty. I'd just gotten sat down when the doorbell rang. I jumped up, hoping it was Holly, and wasn't too happy to see that it was Katie, my other best friend, crying at my doorstep.
"Jesus Katie, what happened?"
"I found these in Jacobs car. I was cleaning it, and found them" Katie exclaimed through tears, holding up a pair of women's panties as she walked through the door.
"So you decided to hold onto them because..." I asked, trailing off my question, moving my hand in a rolling motion so she can finish the sentence, dodging my head because she came close to touching me with them.
"Because I.. I... I have no idea." She said, dropping the panties onto the floor and walking to the couch and putting her head in her hands as she sobbed.
"Ew." I said, pushing then away with my foot and grabbing some disinfectant wipes and walking to her. I removed her hands from her face and wiped them down, hey don't know what germs the chick who wore those things had. "Honey, it's probably nothing." I said as i finished cleaning her hands and she put them in her lap. I know, i don't believe in love and that all men cheat but I'm trying to have the benefit of the doubt for Katie.
"Probably nothing? Come on Haley. You were right, men cheat and they lie and they just plain... suck." She said then sat back and slumped slightly.
I set the wipes down on the table and sat back, hugging her to me, "Katie, sweetie, I'm sure theres a reasonable explanation for..."
"Yeah, I'm sure there is. I mean, she must have taken them off because she's claustrophobic And then they had sex because she needs to stay active to stay alive!" Katie said angrily.
I coughed to cover a laugh," Uh huh. Okay, well Holly will be here soon, we're having a girls weekend, so why don't you stay? I mean, we'll have fun, like in high school. Caleb is going out of town, which is why she's staying here. He doesn't want her alone."
"Men suck. Okay I'll stay, i don't really wanna go home anyway."
"Okay one, that wasn't random at all, two, Good, and three, only most men do suck."
Katie looked up at me confused.
"Honey it's New York. the 'female population' over runs the city. Most men do suck and most men like it." I said, laughing a bit, standing and going to the door when i heard a knock, as she laughed and wiped her eyes.
"Holly, about time. Katie found panties in Jacobs truck."
"Oh, poor thing. I'm just so glad Caleb's not like that."
"Right."
"What?" Holly asked looking at me.
"Nothing." I said shutting the door, smiling brightly at her.
That day we did everything we wanted. We went shopping, because that is the best therapy for a broken heart. Then we had dinner, went to a play, then a club then came back home. I like Jacob. He paid for it all. Katie wanted revenge, she wanted to do it her way, and that was to spend his money. Which was fine by me, 'cause i got free meal.
By the time we got back we were tired, but no tired enough to stay up for an hour and a half talking.
"So, where'd Caleb go anyway Hols?" Katie asked from beside me on the bed.
"Um, back home. His aunt's ex boyfriends uncles sister passed away."
"And you believed that story?" I asked sitting up, no covers over me, pulling a leg up to my chest. "His aunt's, ex boyfriends, uncles, sister?"
"Yes, because contrary to popular belief, not all men cheat Hales."
"Right, sweetie, he's cheating."
"No, he's not Hales. I know him."
"For what, three months?"
"A year."
"And that counts for something. Honey he is probably back there banging his old girlfriends right, not giving a second thought to you okay?" I said letting out a small laugh.
Katie laughed from beside me.
"he's not!" Holly said, then laid back down on the futon. I laughed and laid back down.
Holly was silent for a second, then spoke. "You really think he's cheating?" She said, her voice sounding slightly insecure.
I groaned, not meaning to make her feel that way. "Sweet, " I Stated, sitting back up, "I don't know. Maybe i mean, he could actually be there for, you know, the funeral, but he might just be pulling your leg."
Holly let out a breath, "No, no, he loves me. He.."
"Love doesn't exist. Theres lust and like and that's it. Theres no such things as love or making love, theres lust and sex, pure and raw. No cloud nine, no walking on air." I said, motioning with my hands.
"What about marriage?" Holly asked.
"It don't change nothing but your last name, or his depending on how you roll."
"Okay, so you don't believe in love, so no one else is supposed to?"
"Why don't you believe in love?" Katie asked, never really having got why.
"Because like i said. It's doesn't exist. They either leave, cheat and hit. No love in any of that. "
Holly snorted, "Now tell us the real reason."
I glared at her slightly then looked at the clock, "Because no ones ever given me a reason to."
Holly let out a laugh, "One of these day's Hales, you'll meet someone and fall in love and then, you'll leave me alone."
"Hols,I'm not gonna fall in love, ever. And I'm not saying anything to disprove anything but i think he's cheating. What the signs that i told you?"
Holly sighed, "Do we have to do this now?"
Katie rolled over, "I'm not, I'm tired."
"Fine you sleep. Yes Holly, tell me some."
"Ugh, fine. Um, working late, breaking plans last minute because something work related came up, um making up stories, wearing stuff and bringing home stuff that i.. don't.. like..." She trailed off. "Hales, he might cheating. Last night be brought home wine for us to drink, i don't drink."
"I told you. That means something."
"He's wearing tightie whites. He hates them."
"That can mean... Hell, i ain't got nothing. Look, when he comes back, we'll follow him i guess, see what's going on. I'll prove to you, he's cheating."
"And if he's not, then you're screwed if he finds out you're... well, we're following him. Look, i have to go to sleep, i have to get up in three and a half hours to go to work, I'll see you in the morning."
During that week, Katie found a apartment and moved out of Jacobs place, who tried telling her that the underwear was his cousins. Right. And Holly and i hung out, a lot, doing nothing mostly, but her arguing that he wasn't cheating, she cleared her head of any doubts after our talk and has been trying to convince me that he's not cheating. I know better, but if I'm wrong, then, guess who's in trouble? If you guessed me... you're probably right and wrong at the same time. If I'm wrong, you're right about me being in trouble because Holly will never talk to me again, but Holly will be in trouble too, she'll lose her boyfriend... so you're both really. Good job.
We'll see what we find out when Caleb comes home.
