Author's Note: Thanks for the amazing reviews. I really hope you all like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or Foo Fighters (story title).
"Welcome to Tree Hill High School."
Peyton gestured to the school with a flourish. It was a large school made out of white brick. There was a sign in front announcing school events. Next to that was boulder with the number '23' painted on it.
"Wow," Haley said. "I guess Nathan is… popular," Haley said. When Nathan had practiced on the court in front of the house, Haley had noticed that his jersey number was '23.'
"You got that right," Brooke said with snort. "That Hot Shot of yours has quite the basketball talent."
"Of mine?" Haley asked, shocked.
"Yes, of yours," Brooke replied. "I know that you like him."
"Brooke, I've only known him for three days," Haley said. She could feel her cheeks getting redder by the second. She, Brooke, and Peyton had become fast friends. They had spent all of Sunday together—Brooke had insisted they go shopping.
"Leave the poor girl alone, B. Davis," Peyton said. "It's her first day at a new school—Tree Hill High School, no less. This is not going to be easy for her."
"Why?" Haley asked. "Is there something wrong with this school?" There was only two months of her senior year left, and she had suffered a terrible loss. She didn't need any trouble at a new school.
"No," Brooke said. "Don't listen to Peyton. There are just some people here that are… not that nice."
"Not nice at all," Peyton added.
"Yeah, like Rach-ho," Brooke said with a snort.
"I can name someone else who isn't that nice," Peyton muttered to Haley. Haley laughed softly. She didn't bother to ask who Rachel, (she assumed), was.
"Whatever," Brooke said with a wave of her hand. "We better head inside. You need a schedule, and Hot Shot and my Broody will be waiting to show you around the school."
"Broody?" Haley asked Peyton.
"She likes nicknames," Peyton replied. "Don't ask."
"So," Nathan said. "Let's see what you're taking." He held out his hand for Haley's schedule. Haley handed him the slip of paper, and he unfolded it and read it over.
"Damn," he said, handing the paper back to her. "All AP classes. You're exactly like Lucas."
"Nathan, don't be jealous," Lucas said. "Just because you can't take an AP class doesn't mean you have to be jealous."
"You know I take two AP classes," Nathan said. He took the schedule again and found the two AP classes he was taking. "We have the same classes at the same time. We also have the same lunch and gym. As for the rest, I think Lucas is in all of your AP classes. Jake is in your music class. Peyton and Brooke also have a few of your AP classes as well."
"That's good to know," Haley said. "Thanks. Where's our first class?"
"It's literature, and, lucky for you, you have it with me," Nathan said with a smirk.
"Aren't you cocky?" Haley said playfully.
"I try," Nathan replied.
Haley walked a little farther ahead of them, stopping at a bulletin board with advertisements for extra-curricular activities. Lucas leaned over to Nathan. "I see that Haley has started to come out of her shell," Lucas said.
"Yeah," Nathan said. "It's nice. It's only been three days, but, I don't know… she's a nice girl."
"I think that's good," Lucas said.
Haley hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their conversation, but they were in her hearing range. It was a little difficult to get along with Nathan—they didn't know each other well enough just yet. But so far, they seemed to get along well. But she couldn't deny the attraction she felt for him. She highly doubted that he felt anything towards her, but he made her feel a little more confident than before.
"You ready?" Nathan asked, coming up behind her.
Haley jumped a little. "God, Nathan," she said. "Don't do that."
"What?" Nathan asked with a smile. "Come up behind you?"
"Yes, that," Haley said with a smile. "I tend to be very jumpy."
"I'll remember that," Nathan said. He smiled back at Haley. He had an attraction to her, that was for sure. They didn't know each other well enough yet, but the attraction was still there. He placed his hand on the small of her back and pushed her forward into a classroom. "This is our literature room."
"Ah, Mr. Scott," the teacher said. "I see you have a new student with you."
"Yes," Nathan said. "This is Haley James."
"Hello, Miss. James," the teacher said. "I'm Mr. Bryant. You can take a seat in between Nathan and Lucas—you seem to know them pretty well."
"Thank you, Mr. Bryant," Haley said with a smile.
The class slowly began to fill. Students constantly greeted Nathan and Lucas, while Haley just sat between them, reading a book. A few moments before class started, however, someone with a high-pitched, slightly nasal voice said hello to Nathan.
"Who is this, Nathan?" Rachel asked.
"This is Haley," Nathan said. "Haley, this is Rachel." He sent Haley a look saying that he didn't really like Rachel much.
"Ah," Haley said. "I've heard about you." This must have been the "Rach-ho" Brooke had been talking about.
"Of course you have," Rachel replied. "Anyway, Nathan, there's a part at my house on Friday night. Hope to see you there." She winked and left, leaving the three friends to roll their eyes.
"She always ignores everyone that isn't Nathan," Lucas said. "Don't take it personally."
"I don't get it," Nathan said. "I've made it clear that I don't want anything to do with her, but she still keeps coming on to me."
"Maybe it was because of last year," Lucas said.
"What was last year?" Haley asked.
Nathan glared at Lucas. "Uh, nothing," he finally said. "It's nothing."
Haley bit her lip. It sure didn't seem like nothing.
"How was school?" Deb asked as Nathan and Haley walked in the house.
"It was good," Nathan asked.
"Haley?"
"It was nice. I think I'm going to like it in Tree Hill," Haley replied. She sat on a stool at the island, and Deb placed a plate of sliced apples with caramel dipping sauce on the side. "Thank you, Deb."
"How come you never do that for me, Mom?" Nathan pouted.
"Is your name Haley James?" Deb said.
"No…" Nathan said. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well… I just want Haley to feel comfortable."
Haley's face fell a little. She pushed back from the island and grabbed her bag. "I don't really feel hungry anymore," she said. She turned around and made her way upstairs.
"Nathan will you go check on Haley?" Deb asked as soon as Haley left the room.
Nathan nodded his head and walked up the stairs. He knocked on Haley's closed door and waited patiently. It was a few moments before the door opened.
"Haley?" Nathan asked. "Are you okay?"
Haley shrugged her shoulders. "I don't want to impose on you," she said.
"Haley, you're not imposing," Nathan said.
"Nathan…"
"Haley…" Nathan said in the same voice. He inched past Haley into her room. She had unpacked by now, and her new books littered the room. A few items of clothing were strewn across the floor, but the room was relatively clean. "Haley, you need to trust me when I say that you're not imposing. My parents wouldn't have taken you in if they didn't want to. Trust me." Haley raised an eyebrow at Nathan. "No! I didn't mean it like that! What I mean is, we want you here."
Haley still looked a little unsure. Nathan wrapped an arm around Haley's shoulder and pulled her close. "Don't worry about it. Now how about we go downstairs and eat those apple slices?"
Haley nodded her head. "Okay," she said.
And, with his arm still wrapped around her shoulders, Nathan and Haley made their way down the stairs.
Author's Note: This was a little bit of a filler chapter. I'm not really happy with this chapter, but I still hope that you all liked it. Review, please?
