Chapter 7

She skipped English lit the next day. She couldn't be bothered to go back and face him. Well not face exactly, but she didn't want to be there all the same. She didn't want to go through the whole process of him picking on her like he seemed to do the previous day. She didn't want to assume but she'd be blind if she didn't notice that he had taken an instant dislike to her. Arguing with him just took too much energy and she couldn't be bothered to do it, it wasn't like she was gonna be here for long anyway.

So she skipped English and took the much delayed tour of the school. Before she could go anywhere though, she came upon the library. She hesitated before she stepped into the lobby. There she came upon the receptionist. Talk about your classic fictional character- she had the whole fictional librarian down to a T with her square rimmed glasses, hair in a tight bun, loose brown sweater and even the whole uni-brow thing. Harley just barely managed not to burst out in laughter when she pursed her lips and looked at her from beneath her glasses. She reminded her of the matron from a boarding school she once went to.

She passed by a couple of computer rooms and took the elevator to the top floor as directed by the map just outside the elevator door. Her eyes grew wide and her breath caught at what she saw as soon as she got out of the elevator. The huge long rows filled with stacks and stacks of books – they seemed to go on forever. She stepped in slowly on to the lush carpet that enveloped her feet swallowing any sound that might be made by her footsteps. She turned to her left passing the different isles of different kinds of books – the encyclopaedias, the geography books, the journals and the rest. She turned back and walked the other way, she was still so afraid to breathe, she couldn't believe what she was seeing, and she didn't even know where to start. Her hands just barely glazed the books, she was so afraid to touch them. She walked till the very last isle. Then she just stopped, stood still as if frozen in time and starred. Starred at the very many different kinds of literature novels, then there were the mysteries and the fiction. She couldn't believe it, she felt like a kid in a candy store after not having candy for at least five months. She ran her hands over as many of them as she could.

'Impressive isn't it?' said a voice behind her causing her to nearly jump out of her bones. She turned to face intense brown eyes staring at her. She had been so entranced by what she was seeing in front of her that she hadn't heard him come up behind her. He was pulling out a book and she couldn't help but notice the brown leather bracelet on his wrist and the thick silver band on his middle finger. Looking back up at his face she realised that she had seen him somewhere before, she just couldn't remember where.

'Aren't you supposed to be in English class?' he asked.

Bingo!

'I could ask you the same.'

He laughed, surprising her, she hadn't expected him to laugh but he did.

'Point taken. Name's A.J'

'Harley.' She steeled herself for the jokes or the stupid comments, but they didn't come. He offered his hand for her to shake, and she took it. He had a firm handshake, no surprises there

'You the new girl.' It wasn't a question, more like a statement.

'If I hear one more person say that I'm gonna scream.'

'Whoa now! We wouldn't t want that now would we?' he smirked

'No we wouldn't? He smiled at her as his gaze ran up and down her body. She tried not to squirm; she didn't like it when people looked at her like that. But with him it was different. When he looked at her like that she felt something, she wasn't sure what it was but it was something and she didn't want to think about it much. He starred at her and slowly advanced towards her, she backed up till her back was smack against the shelf. She couldn't look at him in the eye so she looked away. He moves his hands as if searching for a place to put them. She sucked in a quick breath not sure how to react to the whole situation.

'You read this one yet?' he asked bringing a book to her eye level. She frowned and looked up to find a gap in the neatly stacked books above her head. He had been reaching for a book!

'Hmm.' she said swallowing hard trying to get words past the lump in her throat. She didn't know whether she was disappointed or not.

'Yes or no?' he asked, a flicker of amusement passing through his eyes. He was laughing at her! Now she just felt mortified and embarrassed for feeling whatever it is she had been feeling.

'No' she said firmly passing a glance at the book and moved away from him.

'I've made you uncomfortable.' he observed from underneath his thick lashes.

'No!' she denied vehemently. He stared at her for a moment, searching for something, she just didn't know what.

'Good, cos that would have made things a bit weird when I asked you to come with me.' He didn't wait for her to say anything but took her hand and dragged her out of the library, ignoring the stares the librarian was shooting their way.

'Wait, where are we going, where are you taking me?' she was confused at the sudden turn of events. What the heck? What was it with people in this town; they didn't know how to leave well alone.

'Who cares?' he didn't stop, she had to go to keep up with him.

'I do...look will you stop?' she yanked her hand violently from his screeching him to a halt. This was crazy, this whole conversation was crazy, just like every other conversation she had had with every person in this backwater town.

'What the hell? You can't just drag me to heaven knows where. You don't even know me!'

'Erm, I hate to point it out, but you don't even know anybody here right now.'

He had a point but that was beside the point right now and she told him so.

'Then what is the point?' he waited patiently for her to speak, he was looking at her in this very patronising way. She frowned at him and he knew immediately that she was not pleased.

'For the record I don't do this with every girl I meet.' She scoffed at him. 'Look let's start over. I would like to show you around.'

'Why though?' she frowned at him. A.J winced. He had been asking himself that very question ever since he got here and started talking to her. Why the hell was he bothering? He normally didn't bother with anyone, matter of fact he never did.

'Look do you want me to show you around or not?' he had to get out of here. If she said no, he would leave and get out of here no questions asked.

Harley starred at him and considered a couple of things, there something in his eyes, a mystery and something else that piqued her curiosity, something that excited her.

'Sure, why not?' she gave him a sly smile and all of a sudden A.J wasn't so sure that this was a good idea, but before he could retract his statement she took his hand and he let out a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding.

Lucas ran out of class as soon as the bell rang for the end of the lit class. He needed to catch up with

Faith, ever since the previous day he couldn't get what she had said the previous day. She looked like she was in one hell of a hurry though, he couldn't keep up.

'Will you stop?' he said when he finally caught up with her.

'Oh hey Luc.' She didn't slow down any though.

'Where is the fire?' she just smiled at him. 'faith!' he pulled her by the shoulders causing her to stop and face him.

'Are you okay?' he asked concern written all over his face. Seeing him like this reminded her of the past.

'Yeah I'm okay. I just need to find my friend Harley. She didn't turn up for class.

'Okay.' He let her go. Although he wanted to, he didn't press the subject any further. He knew they had to talk. He didn't t like the way they had left things the day before. They were friends and they had to talk about this, sooner or later.

'Do you need any help?'

'No. I'm aiyte thanks.' She cast him a small smile that barely reached his eyes. She smiled back at her sadly. 'I gotta go.' She said suddenly and turned and walked away.

'Hey Faith!' he called after her. She paused mid-step but didn't turn to face him.

'There is a game today at the river court, you wanna come?'

'Might do.' With that she was gone. Lucas frowned, it was as if she couldn't get away from him fast enough, if it weren't for yesterday he might have thought that maybe he was imagining things.

'Hey Scott, why the frown?' he felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips before he could he even turn to figure out who it was. He'd know that voice anywhere.

'Sawyer.'

'Oh now I know something must be weighing heavily on your mind, you never call me Sawyer.' She had a point, only Nathan called her Sawyer.

'You know me too well.' He joked.

'Of course, did you ever doubt it?' she tilted her head to the side, her curls tumbling down her shoulders. 'So what's up with you and Brooke now, what did you two fight about this time.' He just chuckled, what could he say to that? He and Brooke had been fighting a lot lately.

'It's not like that.' Then he went on to explain all about Faith, how she was acing weird.

'Dude, give her time. She's only been back a couple of days, sides from what you said, you guys haven't seen each other in years.'

'Yeah and it's like she doesn't want to hang out with me now that she has a new best friend.' Peyton actually laughed out loud this time. Lucas Scott was actually pouting, he sounded like a six year old child who'd just been denied his favourite desert.

'Well to be fair Luc, you also have Haylie, matter of fact you have a whole load of friends now. If I'm correct it used to be just the two of you. Now she must feel like she doesn't fit into your world anymore.'

'But that's ridiculous.' but he knew she was right. Faith herself had said just that yesterday.

'Maybe, maybe not.' But by the way she was smiling, she knew she had him.

'Maybe not what?' Brooke said cheerfully next to them.

'I'll see you later.' Peyton left. Lucas sighed. Things were still a bit awkward between the two of them. Sure they had talked and even laughed a little, Peyton's walls had gone up and they looked like they were nowhere near coming down.

'Right!' Brooke watched her go sadly. She would have been a fool to think that a day or two could sort out hers and Peyton's problems. She knew it would take ages. She turned to face another person who she still yet had to apologise to.

'Luc...' she started but he shook his head to stop her.

'Not now Brooke, I have to go.'

'But...' the rest of her sentence was swallowed by the sound of his retreating footsteps. She swallowed hard and tried to fight the tears that were threatening to take a cruise down her cheeks. Everything was so messed up, all because she couldn't get over the past. What she wanted now more than anything was to make things right again.

Faith had looked everywhere. She had searched the entire school, well just the places she remembered from back then. And she had found nothing. The last place she looked, well she wasn't really looking, and she was just passing through on her way out. The only thing that drew her to the room was the fact that when she looked through the small window there was an old movie playing at the back ground. Breakfast at Tiffany's if she wasn't mistaken. She went in, just out of curiosity, and then she saw her, sat two rows from the front and passing a bag of Haribos to some guy. Was she for real, she had been looking for her the best of her lunch hour and here she was in the school theatre watching a cheesy movie with some guy?

'Hmm-hmm!' she cleared her throat when she got to their rows causing them to look at her.

'Oh hey Faye, what are you doing here?' she smiled at her broadly.

'Gee, I don't know, maybe looking for you?' she said sarcastically folding her arms across her chest.

'Shh!' the guy next to Harley frowned at them causing Faith to frown back at him.

'Don't you shush me!' she said sternly. 'who is he?' she whispered to Harley.

'Later, now watch the movie.' Faith huffed and sat back in her chair. She had been concerned about her yet Mrs here was sat here with Mr Eat me up right now! Having the time of her life. Speaking of which she turned her head slowly and looked at him. She'd just taken a glimpse at him before and she'd though him really hot. But now that she had the advantage of looking at him unobserved he looked absolutely gorgeously fine!

'You seen everything?' she nearly jumped out of her seat at being caught, by the object of her gaze for that matter!

'Not nearly enough!' she held her head up high and chose to ignore Harley's look of amusement.

'Can you two ever quiet for even a moment?' he asked them mock irritation in his face, just as the movie credits were going up.

'With the right incentive, maybe.' Faith fluttered her eyelashes and spoke huskily with a mock English accent. Harley couldn't help it, she laughed out loud. He tried to hide his smile but he failed miserably and it broke out, wide and gorgeous.

'Faith, A.J – A.J, Faith.' Harley made the introductions.

'Pleasure to meet you.' A.J said politely.

'Oh believe me, the pleasure is all mine.' Faith said huskily giving him her hand to kiss like in the Victorian ages. After briefly looking at her strangely he obliged

'Okay then!' Harley broke the trance between them forcing them t o look at her. 'Can we go now?' she didn't wait for them but simply walked out.

a/n I dont own oth or any of the characters, except for Harley and Riley and other characters to come. i got the inspiration for A.J from another fellow writer. hope you liked this chapter r&r please please review, i'd really like to know what you think