Summary: Life changes some for the best, or the worst. Challenges, isolation to love. It's them against the world.

A/N- I know new story, but I had to write a Laley. And this is based off a request. This story will be angst and basically drama.

thanks- to all who commented, thanks.

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Haley woke up the next morning immediately remembering what had happened the night before. She sighed, turning her body to face Lucas. She watched him sleep, and couldn't help but smile. He appeared so peaceful.

"I hate when you do that" Lucas spoke in a sleepy tone.

So much for peaceful, Haley thought.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Haley innocently said, lifting the blanket away from her and stepping away from the bed.

"Whatever…Hales, do you-"

"It's on the nightstand beside you" Haley answered as she kept walking to the bathroom. Lucas opened his eyes and turned to the nightstand, chuckling.

"You know me so well, Hales" Lucas said, swallowing the aspirin then some water. Haley turned at the door frame to her bathroom, smiling.

" You know it" Haley answered then entered fully to the bathroom, to get ready to go to school.

i.e. Hell.

--

"Just by wearing sunglasses, doesn't mean others wont know you have a hangover" Haley critiqued her blond friend as they walked through the quad at Tree Hill High. Lucas chuckled, gripping the strap of his backpack tighter.

"They could think that. Or maybe I'm making a fashion statement" Lucas answered. Haley looked up at him confused yet amused.

"Lucas Scott is making a fashion statement? How much influence did Brooke contribute?" Haley joked but quickly regretting as Lucas' smile faded away at the name of Brooke.

"Sorry" Haley apologized in a low tone.

"Whatever, wearing sunglasses makes me cool" Lucas smirked, popping the collar of his jean jacket. Haley laughed as they reached their first destination.

"Hi Haley, Lucas" Nathan shyly greeted. Haley rolled her eyes, opening her locker while Lucas leaned against the locker next to her.

"You would think after the divorce they would change my locker location. Apparently the school system sucks at that too" Haley replied coldly. Nathan bowed ashamed.

"Haley, please let me-"

"Don't you have a hoe to meet? Oh wait, I meant your girlfriend?" Haley cut him off angered. How dare Nathan want to speak to her? She could never forgive him for what he did. Especially as of now that he was dating Rachel.

On Lucas' prospective his baby brother was beginning to annoy him. Didn't he get the hint, Haley wanted nothing to do with him.

Before Nathan could utter another word, Lucas intervened between them.

"She's telling you to shut the fuck up, dude" Lucas replied stepping a step closer to Nathan.

Nathan step behind, feeling intimidated by Lucas. Yes, he was afraid of his brother, especially to whom he has become. After Lucas quit the basketball team he became the new rebel of Tree Hill. Everyone feared him.

Looking away, Nathan took a quick glance at Haley who was shutting her locker. Not even paying attention at him.

"Bye" Nathan said rejected and departed away.

"You don't always have to protect me. I can handle him on my own" Haley spoke a minute after. Lucas turned around to face Haley.

"Didn't we have this conversation yesterday? Bottom line, you can cuss him off, slap him. But if he tries anything, I'm here to kick his pathetic ass" Lucas answered with a smirk. Haley chuckled, shaking her head.

"Technically a few hours ago-"

"Haley, it's way too early to be a smartass" Lucas replied swinging his arm over his shoulder as they walked to class. "Now, what we should be concentrating on is finding colleges far, far away from this crap called home. I was thinking we go to another country."

"You know, you're right. But another country? I don't think so…"Haley paused as their conversation stopped at the appearance of two: Brooke and Peyton.

For Haley it wasn't an issue, but for Lucas; he completely stopped the love triangle and Peyton relationship. He was no longer even friends with neither of them.

"Hey" Brooke said braking the silence. Both she and Peyton couldn't help but stare at Lucas. It's been awhile since he last spoke to them.

"Hey" Haley greeted feeling the thick tension surrounding them. Lucas didn't bother to slightly smile, he simply remained stern and swung his arm off Haley.

"I'll catch up with you later, Hales" Lucas said and continued to walk to his class.

"He's still-"

"An ass" Peyton answered sourly.

"I was going to say distant but that works" Brooke replied.

"Look," Haley began "his mind is set, he doesn't want to talk to either of you."

"How is it that you're ok with what he has transformed to?" Peyton asked confused.

"Because I know his pain" Haley replied then walked to her classroom, avoiding any further question Brooke or Peyton were to ask.

--

After half of her classes were over, it was lunch. As usual, Haley and Lucas sat outside, enjoying their meal.

"So, what did-"

"I reminded them you want nothing to do with them" Haley responded.

"Good."

"How are your classes?" Haley asked changing subject.

"Boring, yours?" Lucas asked.

"Same…at least you finally have your sunglasses off" Haley chuckled.

"Yeah. So you want to skip cheerleading practice and come smoke a joint with me and the guys?" Lucas asked. Haley gave him a look.

"You know I don't do that crap. And neither should you, it's bad" Haley answered. Lucas rolled his eyes.

"We'll be at Fergie's place if you want to come. And beside, why the hell are you still a cheerleader? You should quit" Lucas said, beginning to gather his stuff.

"Unlike someone, Brooke is my friend and might as well stick to it. Beside, it looks good on my transcript" Haley answered.

"You're such a nerd" Lucas teased.

Haley stuck out her tongue as her defense.

"Wow, so mature Haley" Lucas continued to tease while Haley blushed, munching on her brownie.

"Yeah, but you still love me" Haley replied right after swallowing her food.

"True, but now I got to get going" Lucas said.

"You're not going to your other classes?" Haley asked.

"Art and French? I dont think so, they're a waist of time. So see you later?"

"Maybe. Je ne sais pas" Haley answered watching him stand from the metal picnic seat.

"What?" Lucas asked confused.

"I'll call you" Haley replied not wanting to explain the French response.

"Later" Lucas said then departed away.

"Later" Haley answered watching him walk away. Thought then noticed a scene was quickly to occur. It seemed a freshmen ran into Lucas. She laughed as son as Lucas shoved the scrawny boy to the nearest trash can, cussing him out. Before Haley would of stopped Lucas and helped the freshmen, but now, she couldn't care less. It was actually amusing when she saw Lucas beat up another dumbass. Haley knew it was his way of letting go of his hurt. Anger these days were their solution toward everything.

--

"Ok girls, one more time!" Brooke shouted out to her squad. Haley groaned annoyed. After all her classes, our of nowhere she became annoyed, with anyone. And it was helping that the squad was pathetic today. None of them could complete the routine right. She could understand Brooke's frustration.

"Come on ladies, pick up the speed. All of you suck today!" Haley shouted, clapping her hands too.

"Don't you mean yourself?" Rachel commented. "If you really want to help, why don't you start by loosing a little weight. No one like cows as cheerleaders."

Haley made her hands into fist, walking closer to Rachel. She wasn't annoyed anymore, she was infuriated.

"Not as much as they don't love walking STD's in the team. So do us all a favor and drop dead" Haley answered pissed off.

"Fuck you James" Rachel rudely replied.

"Since you like to fuck, why don't you run along and do that with my leftover. He's a bunch of shit, isn't he?" Haley said loud enough to have the whole basketball team in the heated argument.

"Girls! In your places!" Brooke screamed, walking between Rachel and Haley. "Rachel back in your spot. And Haley, I don't need you telling my squad what to do. That's what I'm here for."

Hell no, Haley thought. She was helping Brooke get the squad in control but to say otherwise boiled Haley up even more.

"Screw you Brooke!" Haley shouted out walking to her bag on the bleachers.

"What did you just say?" Brooke asked speechless.

"I said screw you. I'm here trying to help, but you contradict me. Lucas was right, I don't need this shit of Go Team bullshit. I quit" Haley said swinging the strap around her shoulder, proceeding to walk away.

"Haley, you cant do that. You're my friend. You cant quit" Brooke protested.

"No, you're not my friend. A real friend would of defended me right now and been there for me for the last couple of months, but what have you done? Used me. Use me to know about Lucas' daily activist. That's all you or Peyton want me for! So screw both of you!" Haley shouted having the squad and the basketball team watch her storm out of the gym.

--

"Well, well, well looks who's here everyone" Fergie yelled out as Haley entered his house. "Haley James."

"I thought you weren't coming" almost high Lucas asked.

"You were right. Cheerleading isn't nothing but a load of crap. I quit. I'm done. I'm pissed" Haley said sitting beside Lucas.

Lucas chuckled, placing his arm over Haley's shoulder.

"Well, I know what will make you happy…here" Lucas said handing Haley the blunt. Haley held it and stared at it for awhile. What the hell, she thought. She needed to get away from reality for awhile.

--

Reviews would be appreciated.