Chapter 2

As Haley waited for them to begin, she sat in the chair replaying the conversation she had had with Brooke earlier.

"What was that about?" Brooke asked.

"Nothing. Just Nathan Scott being his usual asshole self," she replied. "He basically insulted me and then told me not to choke this morning."

"Choke on what?"

"The interview. Duh. What did you think I meant?" Brooke gave Haley a look and started laughing

"Not that," she answered with a wink.

"Are you talking about…never mind. You are so gross!" Haley exclaimed as she playfully hit her best friend on the arm.

"He's kind of cute," Brooke commented after a minute or two of silence.

"Who?" Haley asked confused.

"Nathan. He's got that whole tall, dark, and handsome thing going on."

"Oh my God, you did not just say that! He's repulsive."

"So you don't think he's hott at all?" Brooke challenged.

"I'm not talking about his looks. He's the most annoying person on the planet. What's there to like?"

"But I didn't ask about his personality. I asked about his looks," Brooke pointed out.

"I'm not even going to go there. Besides, you know that I have a major crush on Damien."

"He's cute, too. Not to mention the star of the basketball team. I think that you two would be the perfect couple."

"Like he'd ever notice me," Haley retorted.

"You are one of the most popular girls in school—aside from me. There is no way that he could not notice you," Brooke explained as she pulled into the school parking lot.

"And you didn't hear it from me, but I have it on good authority that he's going to ask you to the Centennial Ball this weekend!"

"What?" Haley asked shocked.

"Try to look surprised," Brooke stated as she got out of the car and got her stuff. Once reality set back in, Haley soon followed.

Ever since then, Haley could not get that smile off her face. Damien was the "it" guy at Tree Hill High. All the guys envied him while all the girls wanted to date him. Sure, Haley had talked to him a few times, but she wasn't sure if he actually had a thing for her. Haley wasn't like the other girls. She never really did anything crazy at parties or with guys. She did her homework, hung out with her friends, volunteered at the tutoring center, and worked on the Special Events Committee. Oh, and she was a cheerleader.

"One minute, Haley," a guy named Mouth informed her. All of a sudden she felt really nervous. That smile that had been on her face began to disappear as Nathan's words rang in her head. "Don't mess up. You wouldn't want to look like an incompetent idiot in front of the entire student body." Oh crap…

"Why are we here so early again?" Lucas asked.

"Haley's interview is on this morning," Nathan replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"So?"

"She's nervous. She'll probably mess up." Now Nathan wasn't usually a cruel person. But when it came to Haley, he couldn't stand when she riled him up like that. He didn't know what it was, but somehow she just always got to him.

"Hey guys," Peyton greeted. She then bent down to kiss Nathan. They had been dating since the beginning of sophomore year. Now that they are juniors, it was a little over a year ago. Nathan had never cared for another girl like the way he cared for Peyton.

She was the only girl he ever loved. Well, there was one other girl. But that was all in the past now.

"Hey Sawyer," Lucas responded using her last name. "You in on this, too?"

"What?" she asked.

"Nathan can't wait to watch Haley James embarrass herself in front of everyone."

"Oh, that is going to be sweet," she answered. "I can't stand that girl."

"Told you," Nathan stated to Lucas.

"I think she's nice. I've talked to her in some of my classes a few times. She's not like the other popular jerks in this school. She actually has a heart," Lucas defended.

"Whatever, she's just another blonde bimbo who buys into all this high school crap. It makes me sick," Peyton complained.

"She has a 4.0," Lucas laughed.

"So? Socially, she's a ditz."

"I agree," Nathan added. "Oh, it's on."

The entire class quieted down as the broadcast began. Some stories about the bake sale and pep rally flashed across the screen. A minute later, Gigi Salvary's interview with Haley began.

"What can the students of Tree Hill High expect at the Centennial Ball?" Gigi questioned.

"Well, we've booked it at this really great club called Eleganté. The place is huge and we're even thinking about maybe having a big screen TV present," Haley answered calmly.

She doesn't look freaked out at all, Nathan thought disappointed.

"What about music?" Gigi asked.

"We're not sure yet if we want to have a DJ or live entertainment. We might have the other students vote and see what they would want."

"Like we would waste our time and energy on this stupid event," Peyton muttered. "Maybe if we were brain dead."

The interview continued for another two minutes before it was time to wrap up.

"One more thing, Haley," Gigi said. Haley nodded for her to go on.

"Damien West would like to know if you'd be his date to the ball," Gigi announced as she winked at the camera. All the people in the class gasped at this shocking revelation.

"Oh please," Peyton whined. "Could this be any more lame?"

Haley looked as shocked as everyone else. She just sat there like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Haley," Gigi prodded.

"Oh, sorry," she stammered. "I thought I was hallucinating or something. Um…yes. I'll go with him."

"Great. Isn't that cute? Back to you Matt," Gigi said as the shot went to the main announcers.

Nathan couldn't believe it. That wasn't supposed to happen! She was supposed to mess up and be humiliated. Not get a date. And for some reason, he felt a little pang in his stomach. It's just indigestion from those pancakes, he convinced himself.

The beginning of the day had just gone horribly wrong.

By lunch, Haley was still astonished. Never in a million years did she think something like that would happen to her.

"So, do you hate me?" Damien asked as he sat down beside her.

"Of course not. That was really sweet. I was just surprised," Haley said.

"Why?"

"Because I wasn't sure if you even liked me that way."

"Haley, you're hott and popular. How could I not notice you?" I think that was a good compliment. Right?

"Um, thanks."

"I have to go. The team's waiting for me. I'll call you later," he said as he gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Ok," Haley replied.

"Did I just see Damien West kiss you?" Brooke said excitedly as she and the other girls came up to the table.

"Yeah," Haley answered with a smile.

"Who?" the new girl Rachael just asked.

"Damien West. He's the most popular and hottest guy in school. And Haley just landed him," Brooke squealed.

"Nice," Rachael commented. "So when are you hooking up?"

"What do you mean?"

"Please tell me you're not always this dense. If he's the number one guy at school, then he's used to girls giving it to him. Which means you're probably in for a treat since he's so experienced."

"I'm not…I mean I won't…" Haley tried to explain.

"Haley's not like that," Brooke clarified. "Nor should she have to be."

"She will be. If you want to keep him around," the redhead predicted.

"Maybe that's how they do things in your world. But here, we have some dignity." The entire squad looked at Brooke. She wasn't exactly known for her self control with guys.

"At least Haley does," Brooke added.

Haley was definitely feeling insecure about this whole conversation. Usually the popular girls were known as easy. Haley, however, was not like that. Even though she hangs out with the "in" crowd, she doesn't act like them. Her parents had raised her with morals. And she planned on sticking to them.

"Whoa, look at the time. I have to go speak with Principal Turner about the ball. I'm going to try to convince him to lend us more money from the bake sale," Haley explained. She also wanted to leave the table. I am not up for the whole sex talk thing right now. She then gathered her stuff and quickly left.

"Any minute now," Fergie stated.

"Why are we up on the roof?" Peyton asked as she sat on Nathan's lap.

"Yeah, it's really hot today. And I'm wearing black," Anna (Peyton's best friend) complained.

"Just wait for it," Nathan said.

"Oh my God," Lucas laughed. "You didn't?"

"Oh yeah, Dogg. We did," Skills confirmed. As all the "elite" students ate their lunches in the quad, the school's sprinkler system came on. Dark blue water sprayed out soaking all the people around them. The group of friends could hear the cheerleaders' screams from their spot above. They just sat up there and enjoyed the show.

"That is freakin' awesome," Peyton complimented them. "Who's idea was it?"

"Nathan's," Mouth answered. "But we helped him last night."

Peyton continued to laugh as she pulled Nathan in for a kiss.

"I think I'm gonna puke," Lucas chuckled as he clutched his stomach. They were all laughing their asses off at the sight before them. The cheerleaders were screaming,

the jocks were slipping and knocking into each other on the grass, and the rest of the student body looked like a bunch of monkeys at the zoo.

"Look at Brooke Davis. She's using Bevin as a shield," Anna pointed.

"I don't know why. She looks hott wet," Lucas commented.

"Please, she's a total skank," Peyton scoffed.

"She's still hott," Mouth agreed.

"Men," Peyton exclaimed as she rolled her eyes.

Twenty minutes later, Fergie, Nathan, Mouth, and Skills were in Principal Turner's office.

"Sprinklers," Principal Turner stated. "You guys."

"Sprinklers," Fergie shrugged.

"You got it," the principal confirmed.

"Us guys?" Skills questioned innocently.

"Right. Now what do you have to say for yourselves?"

"It was school spirit, sir," Nathan lied with a smile.

"School spirit?

"The water was dark blue. Go Ravens!" Nathan explained.

"I see. You've all got detention for a week. And your parents will be notified."

"Oh God," Mouth moaned.

"Not you Marvin," Principal Turner stated. "I know you're a good kid. It's only these juvenile delinquents."

"Marvin?" the other guys questioned together.

"What, you thought Mouth was my real name?"

"Enough, you can all get out of my office now. Where's that damn Tylenol?"

As Nathan was walking back to class, he felt someone grab him from the side and pull him into the AV closet. Before he could respond, Peyton was kissing him all over.

"How much trouble did you get in?" she asked against his lips.

"Only detention for a week," Nathan informed her.

"Too bad. I thought we could hang out after school."

"And do what?" Nathan questioned as he kissed her neck.

"Stuff," she replied coyly.

"Or we could do it now?" he suggested.

"I like the way you think," she stated as they went at it some more. Maybe this day wasn't so bad after all.