The party
Walking into the James' household Nathan was greeted by quite possibly the entire student body of Tree Hill High. The place was packed, as Nathan maneuvered around trying to find Haley. He had left that afternoon figuring the best thing was to let her be alone, but now he just wanted to find her and make sure she was okay.
Coming into the kitchen he found her making herself a Fuzzy Navel. "What are you doing, you never drink at parties?" Nathan asked confused. Glancing up Haley rolled her eyes, "Nathan, you sound like my father. Oh, wait, that's right I don't have a father anymore. Cheers," raising her glass Haley drank about half of the glass before disappearing into the crowded living room. 'Oh this is going to be an interesting night' Nathan thought as he tried following.
Glancing around he immediately spotted her talking to Mike Dyer, someone whom Nathan hated. "Yo, where you been man?" asked Lucas coming up behind Nathan. Turning Nathan looked at his best friend to see if Haley had told him about the letter. He could tell that she hadn't. "Yo, what's up Lucas?"
"So what are you doing, scoping out the babes? Which one do you have your sights on?" Lucas asked taking a swig of beer. Laughing Nathan responded, "So far nobody has caught my eye." Turning back Nathan didn't see Haley anymore. "Hey man I'll catch up with you later," Nathan said as he walked away from Luke without waiting for his response.
Nathan had circled back to the kitchen when he finally caught up with Haley. She was playing beer pong with Mike and apparently losing pretty badly based on her behavior. She had just slammed what looked to be about the sixth empty cup down when he came up beside her. "Haley, I think you've had enough to drink," Nathan whispered trying to pull her away from the table. Glancing up Haley blinked a few times trying to focus. Laughing Haley picked up another cup looked directly at Nathan and chugged it. "What are you doing Nate, stalking me? I'm having a good time before I have to crash down to reality." Stepping closer to Nathan she whispered, "I know you read the letter. So just leave me the hell alone for right now." Turning to walk away Nathan grabbed her arm, "You've had to much to drink and this is not a good way to feel better you'll just end up feeling worse," Nathan warned. Pulling out of his grasp Haley hissed, "Don't touch me. In fact, didn't I tell you this morning to just leave me the hell alone from now on?" Before Nathan could respond Brooke came into the kitchen declaring a game of I Never.
Sitting around the table were Haley, Brooke, Peyton, Jake, Mike, and a couple other kids getting ready to play. Nathan stood behind Peyton so that he could watch Haley. Filling up the shot glasses Brooke declared, "Ok, everybody knows the rules, the game is I Never. You say I never blah blah blah and if you've never done it then you're good if you have done it then you take a shot. So okay who wants to start?" Picking up her glass Haley responded, "I will." Thinking about it for a minute Haley looked at Nathan, "I never slept with more than two people in a night." Standing behind Peyton, Nathan gave Haley a death glare.
A couple of minutes later Haley had drank at least seven shots, Nathan had lost count because the barbs at him were starting to get even more personal. Swaying slightly Haley picked up her glass, "I never thought my parents wished I was just a stain on the mattress." With that she downed her shot and then picked up Brooke's, "I never wished death on myself," as she drank. "Um..Haley are you okay," Peyton asked grabbing her shot before Haley could take it. Blinking a few times Haley focused on Peyton, "Am I okay? Oh yeah, I'm just peachy. Besides the fact that my asshole parents decided to get a divorce, and my father is moving on to someone who I think is probably around my age, and my mother didn't even see fit to come home from Hawaii to tell us instead she has her maid write a letter. I'm just great. At least the good thing is that they can't be bothered to be here for my birthday," Haley was interrupted by Nathan pulling her off the bar stool. "Okay, I think you've had to much to drink. It's time to go before you say anything else." Letting herself be pulled away from the table Haley leaned against Nathan for support.
"Hey man, what do you think you're doing," came an angry voice from behind Nathan. Turning Nathan saw Mike coming towards them. "We were in the middle of a game."
"Well the games over so why don't you go prey on some other drunk girl cuz this one's off limits," Nathan replied tightening his grip on Haley. "Yeah, I don't think so," Mike responded as he tried pulling Haley away.
Leaning Haley against the wall Nathan turned to the half drunken idiot behind him. "Oh, you just did not try and make a grab after I told you to back off." "Yeah, so what if I did what are you going to do about?" Looking at him Nathan rolled his eyes as he decked Mike. Watching him hit the floor Nathan replied, "Yep, that's about all I'm going to do about it."
Turning around he found Haley on the floor. Kneeling down he started to pick her up. "Nathan, I'm going to be sick," Haley choked out. "Okay, just hold on." Picking her up Nathan managed to get upstairs to Haley's room and took her into the bathroom. Sitting her in front of the toilet, Nathan held Haley's hair back while she puked most of the contents of her stomach up. Grabbing a washcloth Nathan wiped her face when he figured she was done. "How, are you feeling?" Watching her head roll around, Nathan figured she was down for the night. Picking her up he headed for her bed. Setting her down he noticed the front of her shirt was soaked. "Haley? I have to change you, okay?"
Walking around her room he found a tank top and a pair of shorts in her wash basket. Coming back to the bed he noticed her eyes open. "Hales? Are you awake?" Sitting up Haley started shivering, "I'm cold. I want your shirt." Sitting next to her Nathan glanced down at his shirt, "I have your clothes here. " "No, I want yours," Haley replied pulling her shirt over her head. Before Nathan could make a move she had her bra on the floor as well. Standing quickly Nathan turned away, "Geez Hales," he muttered as he pulled his shirt over his head and threw it behind him.
Laughing Haley pulled his shirt over her head. "I'm covered now, you can look you big baby." Turning around he was greeted by the sight of Haley wiggling out of her jeans too. Sitting at the edge of the bed he wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't very well go back downstairs without his shirt. He didn't have to worry for long though, "Come lay up here with me." "Haley, you're drunk." Sitting up Haley looked at Nathan, "Nathan, haven't you ever heard that expression that people tell the truth when they're drunk?" "Yeah, I've heard it before but what does it have to do with us?"
Rolling her eyes, Haley responded, "Haven't you ever wondered why we hate each other so much?" Shaking his head Nathan answered, "Actually sometimes I do wonder why we can't just get along like normal people." Patting the bed next to her Haley responded, "Maybe, it's because I want you and you only to come lay next to me."