Title: A Rather Large Bump in the Road

Author: othnaleyfan101

Summary: After realizing all that she wants is found back where she came from, Haley faces the task of confronting her fears in Tree Hill. After leaving the tour, her fears are exactly what she returns to. But who will be there to face them with her, especially when she discovers some shocking news?

Story Disclaimer: I AM IN NO WAY ASSOCIATED WITH ONE TREE HILL OR ANYTHING INVOLVED WITH/RELATING TO THE SHOW. I OWN NOTHING. THE ONLY THING THAT IS MINE IS THE STORY.

Chapter Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN JACK'S MANNEQUIN OR THE LYRICS TO THE SONG 'KILL THE MESSENGER' THAT I HAVE USED THROUGHOUT THIS CHAPTER.

Author's Note: This is just a short-ish fic I put together a while ago. Having already written the first two chapters, I decided to finish it and post it. It will be maybe three or so chapters. I'm not sure at the moment. For those of you who read my other stories, I have not abandoned "The Best Intentions". I have hit a temporary roadblock, not writers block because I have fantastic ideas for this story and I am just having trouble finding the time to write them in the best possible way. I am really trying to get it out as soon as possible. I have about half of the next chapter written and I will work on it as soon as possible. However, I am thinking on rewriting the whole story, so I can make it better and your opinions would be appreciated.

Timeline: Takes place after/at-the-end-of season 2 when Haley turns up on the Scott House doorstep. She has come back from the tour after only eight weeks, meaning that she has come back in time for finals and the end of junior year. She was supposed to be on tour for twelve weeks (three months) and therefore has come back after two months. Junior year will be ending in about one month. There will be touches of Brucas, and Peyton will be in it too; unsure as to whether or not Peyton's storyline, aka Ellie being her mom, will be mentioned or included in this fic.

NALEY STORY AND FOCUSES ON HALEY, MAINLY.

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Chapter 2: THE REPERCUSSIONS OF OUR ACTIONS

Sunlight streamed through the windows of Lucas Scott's bedroom, causing Haley to stir in her best friend's arms. It was a comfort she had not enjoyed for many months, but feeling his strong arms tighten around her as she stirred, it was one she did not want to forget again. Silently lying next to him, his breathing quiet, Haley watched her brother-in-law, but firstly and more importantly her best friend, sleep. It made her feel just a little bit better knowing that Lucas still loved her, despite the mistakes she had made, even if Nathan didn't. Even if Peyton or Brooke, or Mouth or even Skills didn't welcome her back with open arms, at least Lucas' arms would still be tightly wrapped around her shoulders.

It was back to the way it was before Lucas joined the team; before she dated, and then married, Nathan, before the whole Chris fiasco and before she had left on tour. The tour - where she had wanted to realize her potential and live out a dream; only to realize the dream she wanted to live out, was back where she had begun. Life was funny like that sometimes, and as Haley sat musing the thought of how ironic it was that she only realized what she really wanted was when she no longer had it, it hit her.

Nathan was right. If you want to go, you should go but if you do, we're done. It had finally hit her; and it had hit her full force. They were done. He had proved that last night, by showing her no kindness, even though she knew she didn't deserve it. They were no longer Nathan and Haley, no longer Haley and Nathan, no longer Naley. They were no more. Now there was only a Haley, and then there was a Nathan; and it was all her fault.

Feeling physically dirty knowing that her own selfish actions had ended her marriage, Haley carefully untangled herself from her best friend's embrace and made her way into the bathroom. Carefully bypassing Karen's bedroom, not wanting to disturb the kind woman whom Haley thought of as a second mom, she made her way into the bathroom and closed and locked the bedroom door behind her.

Turning on the hot water tap, subconsciously forgetting to also turn on the cold water tap, she shed herself of her jeans and white tank top before stepping into the boiling, scorching hot water. She did not even flinch as the water touched her soft skin, nor did she move away from the spray. If anything, she moved closer.

Haley James would never have harmed herself for she was kind and therefore knew no pain or heartache. But Haley James-Scott, it seemed, would; for that could be the only way to describe what she was doing to herself at that very moment. Standing under the boiling hot water as she scrubbed her skin so hard it almost bled, allowing the spray of liquid to burn her raw skin was self-punishment; even if she would not admit that was what she was doing.

As her soft skin finally broke and scarlet red blood poured from the wound of her left hand, near her ring finger to be precise, Haley fell to the floor in the shower. However, she did not cry; merely nursed her bleeding hand to her chest as the hot water continued to pour over her.

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Nathan Scott rolled over onto the right side of the bed, subconsciously expecting to come into contact with the warm, soft body of his wife. However, just like the last two months, his expectations were wrong and instead his arm felt the material of the cool sheets. He had to learn that this was what his life was now. No more Haley beside him as he slept; just the cotton sheets and his illusion of her and their life together. Relishing in that illusion for a few more minutes, he allowed himself to believe that everything that had happened in the last two months were really a dream and he would open his eyes and Haley would be staring back at him, with sleepy eyes and a beautiful smile.

But as he opened his eyes, he yet again had to be reminded of the fact that his thoughts were just an illusion and this was his life now.

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Sliding back the shower curtain and grabbing a towel, Haley wrapped the soft material around her emotionally and physically exhausted body and trudged over to the mirror. Her reflection was not something she wanted to see, but in order to move forward and be prepared to face her other fears, she had to face her first fear; being at peace with herself.

It had not been an easy task, but as she had sat on the bottom of the shower she had come to realize that; yes, she had left for the tour and yes, she could not take that back, no matter how much she wished she could. So for now, she had to forgive herself in order to focus on getting Nathan to forgive her. With her new found courage about the steps she must take, she finally raised her head to look at her reflection.

Tired and withdrawn eyes were what Haley was met with, along with smudged mascara and a gaunt face. She had lost weight while on tour; the pressures of performing and worrying about Nathan and her marriage having taken their toll on her already petite, small body. Bandaging her wounded hand, she grabbed her clothes from the bathroom floor before slipping back into her jeans and pulling the white tank top back over her head.

Creeping back down the hallway into Lucas' bedroom, Haley made her way over to his wardrobe. Rummaging around in the drawers as quietly as possible so as not to wake her sleeping friend, Haley began softly humming.

Oh my god, this hurts like hell
I had that dream again where
I was lost for good in outer space
Tell me, doctor, how to shake
A waking nightmare that is only
Worse when I am sleeping

Finding what she was looking for, Haley grabbed Lucas' 'Keith Scott Body Shop' hoodie and pulled it over head, covering her thin tank top, while the lyrics she had just been singing continued to swirl through her mind. How she wished that this was only a dream and when she woke up, she would be in her husband's arms and everything would be okay.

Kill the messenger
I swear it's not me

It's just someone I used to know
And get to church cause you're a good girl
And I never told you that
And all I need from you
Could be the thing that
Leaves us both up here forever
I'm gonna send a little rain your way

But she knew that it was not a dream and everything was not okay; no matter how hard she wished it was. Walking over to the still sleeping Lucas, she brushed the hair away from his forehead before planting a soft, friendly kiss there.

"Thank you"

She picked up her bag and then she was gone.

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"Yes, I understand that the apartment is no longer in my name." Whatever my name may be at the moment.

"Yes, I also understand that it is no longer being vacated by myself or my husband." Trust me, I know.

"Yes, I understand all of that. I just need to see it, make sure none of my belongings have been left behind." The only thing left there is my entire life.

"Yes, I'm only asking for a few minutes. Thank you."

After finishing up her call with her former landlord, pleading with him to let her have just a few minutes in the apartment, Haley slid into her new car. Correction - the car she had just acquired this morning, since it could not be called new and it had been hers only a few months ago. Between the small amount of money she had earned while touring and the money her parents had deposited in her account for some unknown reason, she had been able to afford the beat up old Honda she and Nathan had owned only mere months ago, before he had sold it. Now, he drove around in a Mustang just like he had prior to his emancipation and she made it around in a car that was just deemed 'roadworthy', but for now, it would have to do.

Pulling up to the apartment complex that was her former home, she trudged up the stairs. Unlocking the door with the key she had obtained from the landlord, who happened to live a few apartment doors down, a small gasp emitted from her lips. There in front of her, was her; the portrait Peyton had painted as part of a wedding gift that doubled as a decoration at her wedding reception. Except now, it was covered in ghastly pink paint.

"Oh Nathan" she whispered, barely even hearing her own voice. It was as if his pain could be felt, was only being contained by the four walls of the room. It was making her physically sick; putting pressure on her lungs and making it hard to breathe.

Knowing she had to get out of the apartment before she burst into tears, yet again, Haley walked towards the painting and took it of the wall. Tucking it under her arm, she walked out of the door and closed it behind her, finally feeling as though she could breathe.

It's not so easy, caving in
I walked by your apartment twice today
Well you were gone at work
And all the colors got so dull
It's not as cold out here
But come quickly, I am losing feeling