Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Hunger

A/N: Dan is a good guy in this fic. He was present throughout Lucas' life, and he and Karen remain friends.

"You didn't come here for my forgiveness." These words echoed in Nathan's mind throughout the next week. He stopped walking by this mysterious girl's house. After their last encounter, he felt that she wanted distance from him. His thoughts were always on her. He convinced himself that he only wanted clarification about what she had said the previous week, but deep down he knew that his day would be better if he could just see her again. Some days were easier; he had a lot of other things that were currently occupying his time.

"Nathan, sweetie, I need you to pick up some bread at the grocery today," Deb Scott called out from downstairs.

"Mom! Come on!"

"Nathan, just get the bread, it's not like you don't have the time." He heard her close the door behind her, get into her car, and drive to work. He sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair.

"However, since we're on the topic, is there any reason you skulk by my house every night?" He couldn't stop thinking about their very few and very brief encounters. There was something about her, and he yearned to know more. He shouldn't have snapped at her, but she hit a nerve. It was none of her business what he was doing down that way.

"Hey son," Dan Scott said entering Nathan's room. Nathan looked up.

"Hey Dad, what's up?"

"Do you think you could,"

Nathan interrupted. "Yeah."

"Thanks son," he turned to leave, but before he did Dan continued, "This really means a lot to me, and I want you to know that I wish things were different."

Nathan nodded. He knew his Dad, and he knew how he felt.

"Mom wants me to go get some groceries; do you want anything while I'm at the store?"

"Some flowers for your mom would be nice, don't you think?"

"Yeah, probably. What kind should I get?"

"Don't look at me," Dan laughed as he walked out of Nathan's room. Nathan grabbed the keys to his car off the nightstand. How was he supposed to pick out flowers? He decided he would just base it on color.

With bread in hand, Nathan looked extremely perplexed in the floral section. He looked at the red roses and thought, is that romance? Are they even supposed to be romantic? Well in that case are they coming from Dad, me, or both of us? He sighed deeply.

"You can't go wrong with lilies," a voice whispered behind him. He spun around and smiled.

"Yes, but there are six different types of lilies here, and as we know, I would manage to choose the one that means death and hate all in one.

"Hi," Haley said.

"Hi back," Nathan smiled. The two stood there for a moment, when Nathan finally spoke. "Looks like your doing a lot of shopping."

"Yeah, I guess I'm pretty hungry."

"So, do you know anything about flowers?"

"A little. When I was little my mom used to work in an organic flower store."

"Well I'm trying to pick out some flowers for my mom."

"That's really sweet..."

"You seem surprised," he mentioned, frowning slightly.

"No! No, it's just that we haven't really gotten off on the right foot."

"Well I did try to apologize for that last week."

"Oh that. Right." Nathan looked at her curiously. What did that mean? "Well I still have some shopping to do, so..."

"Wait... do you think we could start over?" Haley looked at him for a second and then said, "Calla Lilies mean beauty, and your mom would probably appreciate that." Nathan went to pick out a bouquet, but when he turned back for Haley's approval, she was already in another isle. Who is that girl?

Nathan took Haley's advice and purchased the calla lilies. As he was getting in his car, he noticed Haley walking across the parking lot, toting a couple of grocery bags. He was about to yell out to her, but he realized that amidst all of everything, he didn't know her name. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe that he hadn't bothered to figure out her name. He quickly got into his car and drove up to her.

"Do you need a ride?"

"No, thank you I'm fine," she replied sweetly.

"Are you sure? I mean I'm headed that way."

"I like walking, but thank you though."

"Please? I really don't want you to walk; you might drop your eggs! And then you'd have to walk all the way back to the store, and then they'd be out of eggs! Then what would you do? I mean I haven't seen any chickens around here in years!" We watched as Haley thought about it. Finally she said,

"Well I guess if there are no chickens..."

"Great!" Nathan hopped out and grabbed her grocery bags.

"No, wait I got it!" She tried to take her bags back but he had already put them in the car. He motioned for her to get into the vehicle. As soon as they were on their way, Nathan asked Haley what her name was. Haley just sat there silently. Nathan wondered why she was thinking about her name. After a few minutes she said,

"My name is Alena."

"Is that really your name? I mean it took you about five minutes to come up with it."

"I'm sorry I was trying to decide whether or not to tell you. I don't usually let people in."

"Well I think you have a nice name, so thanks for telling me." Before they knew it, they had reached Haley's house. She turned to open the door when Nathan stopped her.

"Alena, with the raven black hair, why is it that you were at that grocery store?" Haley stepped out of the car and opened the back door to get her groceries.

"I don't understand."

"Nothing, it's just that we passed three grocery stores that are a lot closer to you."

"They have better prices, that's all."

"Are you sure? Because I think it's because no one knows you at that store, so it makes it easier for you to use your fake ID and get alcohol."

Haley's eyes widened in fear.

"Thank you for the ride."

"Shit, no wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it a big deal. I mean we all have fake IDs, right?"

"How do you know I'm not 21?"

Nathan looked at her.

"You're right. I'm sorry. Are you 21? I just assumed I guess that since you knew my name, we must go to the same high school."

"Nathan, have you ever seen me at your high school?" Haley closed the door to his car, and went inside her house. Nathan had never seen her at school. Although it seemed highly improbable that she was 21. Nathan looked at his watch and realized that it was getting late. He got out of his car and quickly walked three houses down from Haley's. He knocked on the door and waited. A scruffy man opened the door slowly, nodded, and then disappeared. Nathan waited patiently for the man to return. When he did, Nathan handed over the money and stuffed his purchase into his pocket. There was no need for a thank you, no need for pleasantries. This was supply and demand. Nathan stepped off the porch and headed back to his car when he saw Haley looking directly at him. She was wearing and unreadable expression. He knew she had seen him.

"Nath,"

"Alena, what did you mean when you told me that I didn't come here for forgiveness the other night?"

"Check your pocket," she said turning to go back to her house.

"Hey! Don't you judge me!" he yelled back. Haley stopped.

"The other night, you didn't come for my forgiveness; you came for your own forgiveness. You need to forgive yourself for whatever it is that you've done. I've seen you; I know that you carry the weight of the world."

"How could you possibly know that?"

"That doesn't matter. Why don't you just take your purchase and go on home."

"Alena, that's not fair. You have no right to judge me."

"Just like you didn't judge me for having alcohol?"

"Trust me, I didn't judge. Besides, if you want the truth, it's for my dad."

"What's for you dad?"

"The marijuana."

"Is he mean? Did he threaten you if you didn't get the drugs?" she asked with a concerned look on her face.

"No it's not like that. He's got cancer. I know a guy, well obviously you know that now."

"Well it's starting to make sense now."

"What is?"

"You." Haley gave him a sad smile and went inside, leaving a confused Nathan standing on the street.

"Hey Alena!" Nathan called out to Haley. Haley turned back. "Would you like to go out sometime?" Haley looked as if she was thinking it over, and then shook her head sadly and retreated into her house. Nathan's shoulders drooped in defeat. Was he ever going to get to know this girl?

That was close. I ask too many questions. Haley put the groceries away. She thought of Nathan and smiled slightly. She knew he was troubled, but he also seemed complex, more so than she used to think he was. She wanted to get to know him. No Haley, no. Just stop. No more thinking like that. She finished putting the groceries away, and then looking at her watch, she realized how early it was. Nathan driving her home had given her an extra hour. She had no idea how to occupy her time. She decided to shower.

Haley stood in the bathroom looking at herself in the mirror. She could hear the water warming up in the background. She looked at her eyes and frowned. She looked at her black hair and scowled sharply. She looked sick. Her hair was stringy, her eyes were pale with dark circles, and her body was scrawny. She looked in the mirror and wanted to cry. She shut her eyes tightly to stop the tears from coming. She smiled slightly when the mirror started to fog up and she could no longer see herself. Stepping into the shower, she didn't react at all to the scalding hot water that scorched her skin. At least she felt something. Pain was better than numbness. She leaned into the water, and rested her weary head against the shower wall.

Flashback

"Hey Haley James!" A female voice giggled in her ear. Haley spun around.

"Brooke Davis, you almost made me mess up my lipstick!" She turned back to her locker mirror in order to finish applying the bright coral lipstick she had just purchased.

"So Haley James with the awesome lipstick, I hear a rumor going around. Or maybe I started the rumor myself? Hmm, I can never remember."

"What are we going to do with you?" Haley quickly ran a brush through her long golden locks.

"Love me, hug me, mug me... anyhow...the rumor! So I hear you have a thing for a certain basketball player." Haley froze.

"Brooke Davis, please tell me that this rumor doesn't exist."

"So it is true!"

"No! Well maybe..."

"Le Gasp! Finally! Haley James it's about time. I honestly thought I would have to sleep with every man and then there would be no one left. Although I've gotta say that your choice in men...is less than desirable. I mean eww, basketball freaks? Even I wouldn't go there."

"Shut up Brooke," Haley said softly.

"Well who is it? I'm going to assume it's either Lucas or Nathan."

"Maybe it's none of your business," she whispered quickly as all of her other friends started to swarm.

"Whatevs Haley James."

Haley melted under the heat of the water. It wasn't often that she felt such peace. She turned the water off and grabbed a towel. When she looked at the clock, all the peace drained from her body. How fast an hour passes by. She quickly towel dried her hair and went to prepare dinner. She wanted to see Nathan; there was no denying that anymore, but it was impossible. She wanted to go out for dinner. That was most impossible though, and she knew he wasn't the kind of guy who could understand. Although she knew this, she secretly prayed that she was wrong. God, if it's at all possible. Could you please help me? I know I ask for the same thing every time, but I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to withstand all this crap I'm being put through. Please help me. Every night Haley prayed to be someone else, to have a different life, she prayed for anything that could help. While making dinner, she finally admitted to herself that Nathan could be that person.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! One of Haley's secrets is going to be revealed in the next chapter! Feel free to leave input, guess, assumption, dislikes, etc! Reviews are great and they help me a lot and encourage me!!