Disclaimer: The characters and plot do not belong to me
Haley sighed as she walked into the cafeteria. After her horrible encounter with Nathan that morning, the day had gone quite normally. People in her class were still whispering about her and looking at her while laughing, but she was getting used to it. She sat down at the table her and Brooke had sat at ever since she came back from the tour. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how much she owed Brooke. That girl had been nothing but short of an angel to her.
She snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed Lucas and Brooke walking towards her.
"Hey Brooke. Hey Luke."
Brooke plopped down beside her. "Hey tutorgirl, how has your day been since this morning?"
"Why, what happened this morning?" Luke asked.
"Um, nothing happened Luke and my day has been fine, just the usual ways it's been for the last few weeks."
Brooke did not look pleased. "Then it's not fine, people need to seriously find something new to gossip about. I know! I'll make up a rumor about Rachel! How could I have not thought about this before!"
Haley's eyes widened, "Oh my God, don't do that Brooke. Promise me you won't."
"Aw fine, I promise. You never let me have fun," Brooke said while playfully sticking her tongue out at Haley.
Haley smiled and then looked at Lucas. She realized when Brooke said she would help her; she only mentioned helping her Nathan and Peyton situation. She was on her own for Lucas. She decided to take the plunge.
"So, Luke, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight," Haley timidly asked.
"Uh, actually Brooke and I have a date tonight," he said, looking a little sheepish.
Brooke looked between the two and said, "We could always reschedule Broody."
"No, please don't do that. You guys have fun. We'll just hang out another day," Haley said quickly.
"Yeah, sure," Luke replied.
The bell rang signaling that lunch time was over.
"Tutorgirl, if you wait for me after cheerleading practice, I can drive you home so you don't have to take the bus."
"Thanks Tigger, that would be great. I'll just study in the library till you're done."
Haley looked at the clock on the library wall and started heading towards the gym to meet up with Brooke. She looked around and saw that most of the cheerleaders and basketball players had changed back into their regular clothes and were just chatting by the bleachers. She took a deep break and headed toward them. She looked around for Brooke but was met with an unwelcome scene that made her heart drop. Rachel, the leggy redhead, was hardcore flirting with Nathan. She kept touching his arm and giggling. He didn't seem to be flirting back but he was smirking slightly at what she was saying and that broke Haley's heart. She missed when he would smile at her; all he did now was sneer at her. She quickly looked away and searched for Brooke again. She saw her talking to Bevin and made her way towards them.
"Hey Haley!" Bevin said loudly. Although she was a bit of an airhead, Haley appreciated the fact that Bevin was nice to her. Unfortunately, Bevin's voice had gotten a lot of attention from everyone around them. Haley determinedly stared away from Nathan.
"You ready to go Hales?" Brooke asked.
"Yup, whenever you are." Haley said, still trying to make her eyes from straying to Nathan.
They left the gym and Haley couldn't help but wish she had let Brooke spread that rumor about Rachel.
After Brooke left on her date with Lucas, Haley felt bored out of her mind. She had gotten all her homework done in the library so she decided to watch a movie to try and distract herself from the creeping loneliness.
Half an hour into the movie, the doorbell rang. She quickly paused the movie and wondered who it could be since she didn't expect Brooke back so fast. To her surprise Peyton was on the other side of the door.
"Um, hey Peyton."
"Yeah, whatever. Brooke told me to come over whenever cause she has some stuff I need to pick up."
"Well, she's actually not here but come on in. I don't really know what you need from her."
Haley realized Brooke must of planned this so only she was home and Peyton would have to speak to her.
"Can I ask you a question Peyton?"
"I can't really stop you can I," Peyton said as she found what she was looking for and put it in her bag.
"Why do you hate me so much? I am so sorry for hurting Nathan but is that really why you're so angry with me or is there something else I did?"
Haley bit her lip as she waited for a response. Peyton stared at her for a few seconds before saying, "Look, I don't have to tell you anything, I don't owe you anything, so I'm just gonna be on my way."
She shouldered past Haley and left.
Haley shook her head in annoyance and locked the door before heading back to her movie. She was tired of Peyton's anger at her, mostly because she didn't even know what she did wrong. Tonight she was going to stop thinking about Peyton and Nathan and Rachel. She was going to eat some ice cream and enjoy her movie. She'd worry about everything else tomorrow.
I would love if people could review my story. It's my first one and I'm a little self conscious about it. It would really encourage me to continue this story. Even if there's something you don't like, let me know. Thank you!
