"Why didn't you tell me you signed up to get tutored?" Haley asked.
Nathan was a bit taken back from her question. "Um, I don't know." He shrugged. "I figured you'd find out eventually, right?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right," she replied dismissing her previous sentiments.
"So you ready to head back?" Nathan asked before standing up from his seat.
Haley nodded. "I just need to lock up."
"You guys up for a game of pool after lunch?" asked Tony as he slapped some deodorant under his arms. They were in the locker room, freshly showered from that day's work out. Nathan was drying his hair with a towel, Jake was almost done changing and Skills was still attempting to open his locker.
"Man, two summers I've been here and I still can't get these open!"
Jake laughed at his frustrated friend. He casually nudged Skills to the side and opened the locker with ease.
Skills shook his head in irritation at how easy it was for his friend to open it. "Thanks, man."
Jake nodded. "No problem. And I'm gonna have to pass on the game. I figure I can take Jenny off of Haley's hands tonight."
Nathan's ears perked up at the mention of his new tutor.
"How is baby girl anyways? Ya know after being back here and all." asked Skills.
Nathan kept his focus on getting dressed but couldn't help his curiosity.
Jake smiled. "She's doing good." He was happy to report that status.
Skills nodded. "Well just let her know we got her back."
"Will do."
Nathan wondered what could have happened that Skills got a protective tone to his words.
"Nathan."
"Huh," he looked to his left. Tony was giving him a weird look.
"I was calling your name, man."
"Oh, sorry. I must've spaced out. What's up?"
Tony gave him an amused look. "You up for a game of pool tonight?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Coming!" Haley opened the door to find her best friend leaning on the porch's front railing.
"It's about time." Jake pushed himself off the wooden railing. "What were you doing anyways?"
Haley rolled her eyes at her impatient friend. It had only taken her a few seconds to get the door after his first knock. "I was in the kitchen."
She noticed the way his eyes lit up at the mention of kitchen. "You make anything?"
Again, she rolled her eyes. "No. I was in there working."
"Oh that's right. You gotta make your own lesson plans." He proceeded to plop himself down on the living room couch and promptly put his feet up on the centered coffee table. "How's that coming along anyways? Anybody sign up for tutoring?"
Haley followed him to the couch but not until after kicking his feet off the table. "Yeah someone did."
"Really?" he asked shocked. "And do they actually need it or is it someone else trying to get in your pants?"
She gave him an unamused look.
"Sorry. I should've stopped myself."
Haley nodded in agreement with her arms crossed. "Yeah, you should've."
"Anyways, you still haven't answered my question. I need to know whether I should prepare myself for some ass kicking."
Haley rolled her eyes. "Please spare me the protective brother act. It's getting old Jake."
"I'll stop once you get a decent enough boyfriend, one that I pre-approve, who will then take care of that end for me. Or I'd at least get backup."
Haley glared at Jake. Despite his playful tone she knew he was serious. Last summer was a terrible time for her. She had had the misfortune of falling for someone who only wanted her body when she had given her heart. It's been a year now. It was a heartbreaking experience, but she's healed now, for the most part. That summer may have made her into a more cautious person, but she doesn't see that as a weakness. On the contrary, she views this new side of her as a strength. That next time she feels strongly towards someone she'll take the time to see if her feelings are reciprocated genuinely and sincerely.
"I doubt he's anything like Damien." His name left an awful aftertaste in her mouth.
"Yeah, well you never know. You can't always trust these guys."
"Well this guy hasn't given me a reason to mistrust him yet. So like a good person, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt."
Jake sent her an unconvinced look. "You sure that's a good idea?" Jake softened his look and tone. "Keeping your guard down is what got you hurt last time Hales."
She smiled tightly at her best friend. She loved him dearly but ever since she got her heart broken he's felt it necessary to baby her as if she was his daughter. "Jake, I appreciate the concern. But I'll be fine." She patted his knee before getting up from the couch.
"Wait, where are you going?" he asked, looking up at her.
She stopped to reply. "Kitchen. I have to finish."
"Well, will you at least tell me what the guy's name is?"
"Sorry, no can-do. Tutor-student confidentiality," she said as she walked on.
Jake watched as she left the room. "Well will you tell me where my daughter is? Or at least where the remote for the TV is?"
"Nice shot."
Nathan smiled smugly. "Thanks."
"You play a lot?" asked Tony as he readied himself for a shot.
"Sort of. There's a bar in Tree Hill with a good pool hall," replied Nathan while he chalked the tip of his pool stick.
Tony smiled knowingly. "Fake IDs?"
Nathan smirked. "Yeah."
Skills looked on impressed. "Wow. Who knew the white boy had it in him."
Nathan's smile faltered a bit. He had done a lot in his past he wasn't proud of. And it was this summer that he's been trying to make up for it. Which is why he voluntarily signed up for tutoring which came about after he had talked to Whitey about him considering turning down his offer from High Flyers.
"What are you yapping about, boy?" Whitey was at his desk when his best player walked in on the last day of school to say he was going to turn down the offer to go to High Flyers.
"Look, Whitey-"
"It's Coach Durham to you. School may no longer be in session but I better damn well still receive your respect."
"Sorry Coach," Nathan apologized.
"That's better. Now what were you saying? Something about not going to High Flyers? Now why would you do that son?" This time Whitey asked him in a softer tone after seeing Nathan's conflicted face.
"I just don't think I deserve the spot."
"Now unless you're telling me you bribed that committee to give you a spot, you better explain yourself."
Nathan sighed. "It's just after everything with my parents. Me emancipating and moving out. I don't think I should go. Plus I finally got away from Dan's hold over me and maybe letting basketball go will set me completely free of him."
Whitey stood from his seat behind the desk and made his way to face Nathan. "Now you listen to me and you listen good Nathan. You're a good player. No, a great player. And I've known you long enough to know that you already know that, just as much as your father does." Whitey noticed Nathan wince at the mention of his father. "Now what you don't often hear is this: you're a better player than him," Nathan looked at Whitey like he was crazy and attempted to interject but Whitey wouldn't let him. "Now let me finish first. Not only are you a better player Nate but you're a better teammate and a better person. And you will go to High Flyers because you did earn it. You hear me? You earned it. Not Dan. But you!"
Nathan gulped at the intensity of his coach's words. "Yeah, but-"
"No buts boy. Now you're going. The only catch is that you have to do better in school next year. No college team is going to want a straight D student. Promise me you'll try next year?"
Nathan nodded. "Yes sir. I promise."
"So you still go often?"
Nathan was brought out of his daze with Tony's question. "Uh, yeah. But just for pool. The drinking and party scene got a little too old for me."
Tony nodded in agreement while Skills looked on confused. "Well damn. What happened that turned you off from a good time?"
Nathan laughed at Skills words. "Nothing man. It was just all the same stupid shit going down. Every weekend, same people getting drunk, same hangover the next day and it starts all over the next week."
"Well next time I'll take you to a real party and show you how it's done. That's no way to live, man."
Nathan chuckled and nodded out of courtesy.
They went back to their game and continued playing for another round before heading back to Nathan and Jake's room. To their surprise, Jake was back and with him was Haley and Jenny.
"Hey guys," Haley greeted.
"Baby James!" Skills exclaimed. He reached for her and pulled her into a big bear hug. "How are ya baby girl?"
Haley giggled as he put her down. "Good, how are you?"
"Better now that I got to see my favorite platonic female friend."
Haley shook her head in amusement at the words he used to describe her. He had stated from their first meeting that she was cool, too cool for him to have a thing with since she'd seem like a better friend than anything. She didn't disagree. He was a great friend too.
Next Tony stuck his way in to give Haley a hug. "How are you Tony?"
"Great."
"And how's your sister doing?"
"Good. She made honor roll."
"Really? That's great! I knew she could do it."
"Yeah thanks to you. My family really appreciates what you did. Ya know? With all that helping."
Haley waved it off. "Really it's nothing Tony. It was all her, trust me."
"Well, still, thank you."
Nathan watched on as Haley continued conversing and catching up with Tony and Skills. He admired how attentive and caring of a friend she was.
"Hi Nathan."
He realized it was his turn for her to greet. "Hey."
"Do you mind if we talk? Outside?"
He nodded unsure. He didn't know what they could possibly have to talk about.
"So I thought we could discuss when you'd like to meet for tutoring sessions. I know on your application you want to go over math and history the most and I figure the sooner we start the better."
Oh that's right. She would want to talk about tutoring. "Oh, uh. Well whatever doesn't conflict with your other sessions." He noticed how her face fell a little.
"That actually won't be an issue seeing as you're my only student this summer."
"Really? Are you serious? No one else signed up to get tutored?"
Haley shook her head. "Nope. Turns out not everyone wants to spend their summer doing school work. Big surprise there."
"Right," Nathan chuckled softly.
Haley nodded. "Anyways, that means I'm free whenever."
"Okay, well how about mornings? 7 or 8 am. I'm usually up around that time since I'm used to morning practices from back home. Unless that's too early?"
"No that's fine. 8 will work. I'm also usually up by those times. We can meet out by the pond. There's this picnic table we could sit at."
Nathan nodded. "Sounds good. So should we head back in?" He asked pointing to his dorm's closed door.
"Actually before we do, is it okay if we tell Jake I'm tutoring you? It's just that he's basically my brother and I know its tutor-student confidentiality but he's kind of this overprotective freak that likes to know everything about me. But if you really don't want anyone or him to know I won't say a word."
Nathan was shocked. Both at her consideration towards making him feel comfortable about getting tutored and also by how fast she just spoke. "Uh, yeah that's fine. I mean he is my roommate after all."
Haley sighed in relief and instantly she felt more relaxed. "Oh my God thank you Nathan!" She unexpectedly threw her arms around his neck, surprising both him and her. She immediately let go after and followed by apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry! I'm kind of a hugger and I didn't even value or think about your space."
"It's fine. Really. Don't worry about it," he insisted.
"You sure?"
Nathan replied confidently, "Positive." After all, what guy would complain for getting a hug from a beautiful girl?
III.
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- R. xx
