Fourth Chapter!! WOW!! I'm on a roll!!!
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Haley had congratulated Nathan at home that night, but had mentioned nothing Lucas had said. It had been days since the game and Nathan hadn't seen Dan either. Which, by the way, was both good and bad at the same time.
Nathan was now looking for Haley. It was close to lunch and Nathan wanted Haley to go eat with him. She seemed so distant, but Nathan knew why. It was those four words that she wanted to say, but just couldn't.
'I'm worried about you.'
Worried, that's all anyone ever was. Nathan didn't want them to worry, he could deal with this. Or so he said. Truthfully, Nathan couldn't handle Dan. He was worried about himself and he needed their help. But he knew better then to ask for help. He wouldn't let the ones he cared about get involved with Dan, especially not Haley. He was willing to act like a jerk to protect her, anything for Haley.
So, for now, Nathan would act as normal as possible. For days he had acted like nothing was wrong, and he would keep on doing it. He searched the hallways for Haley, but laughed at himself. Haley would be in the Tutor centre, he was sure of it. Brooke didn't call her Tutor-girl for nothing.
Nathan headed towards the Tutor centre quickly, hoping the bell wouldn't ring and students come rushing out of their classes at once. That would be chaotic. He reached the centre before the bell and walked in. Haley had finished her tutoring early and was sitting alone doing her homework.
His wife was such a nerd.
"Hey, Tutor-girl."
Haley smiled when she saw him, "Nathan!"
Just then the bell rang, and everyone in the tutor centre fled out into the hallway. Nathan waited until they were alone before he spoke again.
"Listen Haley," He began.
Haley frowned at his tone, "Nathan…"
"What?"
"I just…"
His face went hard, "What?"
"Nathan, I.."
His anger was rising, "What is it Haley?"
"I'm worried about you."
There were those words he didn't want to hear. They made him angry.
"I'm fine." He stated.
Haley's face became concerned, "I think you need help."
Nathan's anger had risen to an all time high. He slammed his fist against the table and cursed.
"If it wasn't for me, you'd be needing help!" He growled.
Haley was scared by his outburst, obviously. "What do you mean?"
"Stop trying to help me." He said quietly, "He'll go after you."
When Haley heard this her eyes went as wide as he had ever seen them.
He stared at her, all anger gone, "Are you alright?"
"I tried to help you." She stated.
His eyes widened, "What?"
"At the game, I showed him the video. I warned him that if he didn't stay away from you that I'd show it to the whole town."
Nathan was shocked, "You threatened Dan Scott's job as mayor?"
Nathan couldn't believe this, she had risked herself to protect him. But now she was in danger.
"Haley-" But he was cut off by the piercing sound of a gunshot in the hallway.
Haley screamed at the sound, and Nathan grabbed her and pulled her close.
"What was that?" Haley asked him, even though she knew.
He didn't answer, just wishing he hadn't heard that. It was a gun, for sure. There was a gun. What would he do?
"Nathan, what do we do?" She was staying close to him, scared.
Nathan Scott was never someone to just stand around and do nothing. He thought of all the people stuck in their classrooms, maybe not knowing about the danger. He ran to the wall, searching for something. When he spotted it, he pulled it. The fire alarm went off as the sprinklers began to spray water all over them.
"Nathan, can we go?"
He grabbed her hand and led her to the door, peering out into the hallway. There were books and bags left on the floor. Lockers were still open and the glass on the doors were cracked from the struggle of kids fleeing. But he saw no one.
He slowly advanced into the hallway, Haley holding his hand for dear life.
"Nate…"
Haley gasped when she heard the voice and Nathan went stiff. He turned quickly with wide eyes. The voice had been hoarse and pained. His eyes found the source of the voice, a body lay on the floor.
"Tim!" Nathan ran to his side, but held on to Haley.
"Nate, my side." He said, he was holding his hip, but the blood was still coming out.
Haley removed Tim's hand and peered at the wound. She quickly looked away.
"Who did this?" Nathan asked him, but Tim was staring at his side.
"Tim!" Nathan attempted to get his attention and Tim looked. "We have to move you."
He grabbed Nathan's arm in panic, "No man, you can't move me!"
"You'll be okay. We can't leave you in here with the shooter." Haley told him.
"Okay." Tim nodded.
Haley and Nathan help him up. Haley tried to keep his mind off the pain by talking to him.
"Tim, what happened?"
"I was talking to Luke in the hallway about the next game and suddenly, this guy came out with a gun."
"What guy?" Nathan pushed.
Tim shook his head, "I don't know, man. I've never seen him before. He was old."
"What happened next?" Haley continued.
"Luke say him and I didn't. He got out of the way and tried to pull me away."
"Lucas is okay?" Haley asked and Tim nodded.
"The guy was aiming for Lucas and me. He was aiming for my chest, but Lucas got me partly out of the way."
"And?" Nathan pushed.
Tim made a face as they began pulling him up. "Luke threw a book at the guys face. He ran off and Luke told me he was going to get me a medic."
As Tim's legs extended, he howled in pain. They started to carry him towards the exit, but Tim was limping horribly and was obviously in a lot of pain.
Nathan heard the click of the gun first and tackled Haley and Tim to the ground.
Haley felt Nathan jump on top of her and Tim was pulled down too. She also heard the shot. Her heart was beating so fast as she panicked. She turned around to see Nathan. She gasped when she saw the blood running down his face.
"It's okay, Hales," he assured her, wiping the blood, "I just the floor."
She was relieved that the bullet hadn't hit him, but her heart sank when she heard the footsteps. Nathan got off of her and stood to face the shooter. He didn't recognize him, he had never seen him before. He recognized the blood on the man's face, good hit Lucas.
"Nathan…" Haley whispered, pressed up to his back. Tim was sitting on the ground behind Haley.
The man put the gun up to Nathan's head. "You're a stupid kid, you know I'll shoot you."
Haley felt tears in her eyes when she saw the gun on Nathan's forehead. He could feel the cold metal on his forehead. He was scared, very scared. The gun was so close to blowing his head in, but he stood in front of it. Why? Because he was the only thing between the gun and Haley. If he bought some time, then someone would come and help them.
This guy could kill Nathan at any moment, but Nathan would do anything to protect Haley. He stared the gun down, trying not too look scared. He began to shake, but he had a plan. All he had to do was buy some time.
"But I'm not one of your targets." Nathan stated.
The gunman frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I know you were paid to kill these kids."
He laughed, "So what if I was?"
"I'm not on the list. And I'm sure the person who's paying you won't be happy if you kill me."
Haley hugged Nathan's back tightly, her tears wetting the back of his shirt. She could feel him shaking and she knew he was scared. She was scared. Not for her, but for him. Nathan couldn't die, he wouldn't.
Nathan felt her tears on his back and he knew she needed comfort. He put his hand back to her and she grabbed it.
"Why do you think he would care if you die?"
"My name is Nathan Scott." He stated.
The gunman's eyes went wide when he heard the name, "Scott?"
Nathan nodded and the gun dropped from his head.
"Now Nathan, move out of the way so I can shoot your friends."
As the man raised his gun to point it towards Haley, Nathan hit it. The gun flew out of his hands and skidded on the ground in the hallway. Nathan shoved the man and dived for the gun. He picked it up and aimed it at the man. But the man had moved and was now holding Haley in front of him.
"Shoot, boy." He said, but Nathan dropped the gun. Who couldn't do it, even if he didn't shoot, he couldn't point a gun anywhere near Haley.
Haley heard the man reach for his back, pulling something out of his belt. She heard the click of metal, but before she could react, she heard Tim.
"He's got a gun!" He yelled at Nathan. The man pulled the gun out and shot. Nathan jumped out of the way and shot at the man's leg. He hit it without being close to putting Haley in danger.
The man shot again at Nathan and the bullet hit. Haley screamed, fighting against the gunman to get to her husband.
"Nathan!" She yelled.
The man grabbed Haley and laughed, but was silenced by another gunshot. It hit him in the other leg and he screamed. His anger rose and he ran forward to hit Nathan. Haley pulled him away from Nathan, but he smacked her away. She fell back and hit her head off the wall.
The gunman grabbed the gun Nathan held and laughed, "You thought you could stop me, kid?"
The sound of a police siren was heard and the gunman cursed. He put both the guns in his belt and took off towards the back door of the school.
Haley's head was pounding and she was falling in and out of consciousness. She turned her head to Nathan and was surprised to see him walking towards her. He collapsed beside her and brushed his hand on her cheek.
She looked at the blood that was coming from his shoulder and the tears fell down her face. She fell unconscious with him watching her.
Nathan lifted himself off the ground and walked towards the door. He was going to find a medic for Haley and Tim, he had to. Even though he had been shot in the shoulder, the pain wasn't that bad. Not compared to the pain of his father paying someone to kill his friends. But as he walked, he realized something. He had to stop him.
Dan Scott had to be stopped.
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Chapter 4 done!!!
