(Disclaimer: I do not claim anything related to the characters, ideas, plots, etc. of the television series, One Tree Hill, as my own.)
--
"Hales, who was that?" Lucas shouted after his friend, as he approached the doorway.
"What's up, Luke," Chris greeted his girlfriend's long-time friend with broad grin.
Lucas caught a quick glimpse of Haley who mouthed a silent 'sorry', which wasn't necessary; it wasn't that he was totally against Chris. He just didn't think the two worked very well as a couple. When the two had started dating, of course, he was skeptical for it was Haley's first relationship and Chris was an older guy. He was a nice enough person and had never really hurt her in anyway. However, there was a lack of something that Lucas couldn't really put in his finger on. But, who was he to talk? He'd had his share of flings and nothing quite as serious as their relationship.
"Hey, Chris, long time no see,"
They slapped hands, obviously stating the formality in their friendship.
"Yeah, it's good to be back,"
"So, how long are you staying this time?"
He tried to convince himself that his question was innocent; that he was asking for Haley's sake, but then he would be lying. He hated that all she had to look forward to were winter and spring break, and the occasional weekend visits.
"Uh…"
Chris sensed some hostility in the question.
"I'm just glad you're here," Haley piped in.
She glared at Luke, who knew to interpret it as a be-nice-or-I'll-kill-you-later threat.
Her boyfriend smiled appreciatively before kindly asking,
"You don't mind if I steal her for the day… possibly the weekend, do you?"
"Actually, I was on my way out. Wait, you guys aren't trying to hang out here, are you?"
Haley rolled her eyes.
"Why, so you can bring Brooke back here?"
"Hah, the thought did cross my mind, but, I think you guys doing whatever it is that you do on the living room couch, while I'm out, and my parents walking in… it just wouldn't be a pretty sight,"
"Ew," Haley said.
"What's so 'ew' about whatever it is that we do?" Chris asked flirtatiously, turning to Haley.
"Ew," Lucas grimaced.
"How can you say 'ew'? You're the one that mentioned it!" Haley exclaimed.
"Ew. Why are you so angry?" Lucas teasingly asked.
"You're 'ew'!" Haley retorted.
"Why am I 'ew'?"
"Because you're the one visualizing whatever 'ew' stuff that we do that is none of your business,"
"Ew! You called it 'ew stuff'!"
Chris had left the conversation a while back and was now staring back and forth from the two friends.
"Oh my gosh, Lucas, grow up!"
"You're 'ew' session should be pretty hot now that I got her all passionate with fury," Lucas whispered pointedly to Chris.
Immediately, Haley heard his obnoxious comment and punched her best friend, square on the arm.
"Ow!" He yelped.
Haley grabbed Chris by the arm and the couple was out the front door in a matter of a nanosecond.
Pushing the screen door open, Lucas popped his head out, shouting, "Bye, Hales! Love ya!"
"Bye!" she yelled back snappishly.
"You guys have some of the weirdest fights," Chris quietly pointed out.
"Huh? That wasn't a fight. But, when we do fight, it is pretty weird,"
The two of them drove to the Keller residence, so that Chris could have dinner with his family, along with the accompaniment of his girlfriend. Now, the Keller's were good people, otherwise they wouldn't have raised someone like Chris—polite, sensitive, and overall, a good natured boy. Phillip and Lynne Keller were devout Christians, which had been a great part of his upbringing. On the other hand, Haley's religious status could be simply phrased as, 'At least I'm not an atheist', which was found dearly troublesome by his parents. They didn't jam their good ol' faith down her throat, but, they didn't hide the fact that they certainly did not approve. She always went to Chris' house with optimism, hoping that the timeframe from her previous visit to the current one would have some sort of progress. She wasn't surprised by their behavior towards her—to a certain extent, she believed they had a justified reason to question her relations to their eldest son (he had two younger siblings), but not because she didn't go to church.
Yet, here she was, about to step into the familiar brick home, with white siding and prominent royal blue shutters. She stared at the window shutters, sifting through her memories for something it reminded her of.
"Thanks for coming,"
Seeing Chris beaming from ear to ear broke her concentration on the home's windows.
"Anything to spend some time with you," she sweetly replied.
"Mom? Dad? I'm back!" Chris announced as the two entered, making way into the kitchen.
"Hi, Mrs. Keller," Haley said pleasantly.
"Hello, Haley,"
The older woman approached her son's girlfriend, embracing her for a quick hug.
Chris smile grew even bigger, if possible, observing the exchange.
"I'm disappointed in you, young lady. Just because Chris isn't here, doesn't mean you can't visit,"
Haley forced herself not to roll her eyes. The underlying tone in his mother's voice went unnoticed by all, but her. It was a mix between accusation and a spoonful of honey. At least her parents were blunt.
"I'm sorry. I've been busy with school and work. But, it's great to see you now,"
"Mom, where's my stuff? Y'all didn't decide to throw me out, did you?"
"Haha… you wish. Your father took all your bags upstairs on account of you rushing right out of here to get Haley, when you came home,"
'Blame game, anyone?' Haley thought inwardly.
She knew Mrs. Keller was intelligent by the way she chose her words and how she intonated them perfectly.
"Back so soon, son? Ms. Haley James, long time no see,"
Mr. Keller came strolling into the kitchen area and outreached his hand, giving her a firm handshake. The young girl always had a soft spot for him; probably due to his mild liking towards her, rather than outright disregard.
"How have you been, sir?"
"Oh, I've been wonderful. Chris' mother and I actually just returned from a church retreat at a camp in a nearby town. I got a little beaten up, but what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, huh?"
"Absolutely,"
Chris valued his girlfriend's constant respect with his family. He wasn't fully blind to his mother's indirect opposition with Haley, but never knew how to approach the problem, leaving it at that.
"Is it alright if Haley stays for dinner?" Chris asked his mom.
Chris' mother turned around, wearing a tight smile as she faced her son.
"Well, since it is your first night back, I assumed it would be just the family and I only made enough steaks for the five of us,"
By then, Mr. Keller and Haley had both stopped their light conversation, sensing tension in the air.
"Haley, you wouldn't mind if we had ourselves a family dinner, it being Chris' first night back, would you?"
Lynne turned her attention away from her son to his girlfriend. Haley, who hadn't really been listening to what had been verbally passed between mother and son, nodded her head in complete agreement.
"Um… no, I don't mind at all," she said hesitantly.
The features on her boyfriend's face darkened slightly, but just like she expected, he controlled his emotions, stuffing them back into wherever they came from. The young couple had discussed long ago that in any situation where it seemed his mother was against Haley or vice versa, his mother should win. She figured that it took away any reason for Lynne to believe that Chris would choose her over his own mother.
And like always, he would oblige.
"I'll walk you out," Chris said pathetically, as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Um, it was nice seeing you two, again," Haley said to both the Mr. and Mrs.
The two parents nodded and she could tell that while Phillip was a bit embarrassed, Lynne was pretty pleased with herself. The catty bitch had never grown up from high school and beyond, even though she sure did look the part.
They stood outside on his driveway, parting ways. He grazed her brow bone with a whisper of a kiss before unwillingly going back inside and she drove off, deciding that the café sounded like a better idea than home.
--
"Haley? You're not working a shift today, are you?"
Keith, Lucas' father, glanced at his wristwatch.
"When am I not working a shift?"
"Oh…" He stood behind the counter, slightly confused.
"I'm kidding, Keith. My only other option was home, so I decided I'd rather pick up another shift, instead," she said sarcastically.
"Or you can just hang out, if you like, Hales,"
"No way. Child labor laws are broken everywhere else, might as well take advantage!"
Mr. Roe gave Haley a fatherly-I-don't-think-that's-funny kind of expression with that soft, gentleness of his.
"I thought Chris was back,"
"Whoa, word travels way too fast in this town,"
"Lucas called before he went on his little date,"
"Ah. Well, Chris is at home. For some reason, I thought I'd try one more time with his evil parental units, no offense—"
"None taken,"
"And it backfired. Basically, I was dismissed from their highly valued 'family dinner',"
She fingered air quotes for emphasis.
The older man empathized with his surrogate daughter. She'd always been such a strong-willed girl, but when that wry humor was unleashed, he instantly knew she was covering up some other emotion.
It was Saturday night and the café was bustling with energy, but not so much that Gigi, a schoolmate and coworker of Haley's, couldn't handle it.
"I'll cover the register, if you like," Haley offered.
Without waiting for an answer, she made her way to the other side of the counter as fresh new customers entered the Keith & Karen's.
"Hey, Hales,"
Haley tried not to smile so brightly like she normally did when she saw Luke, for next to him was his date for the evening.
"Lucas," she replied properly with a small nod.
"So, Ms. Haley James, what plans do you have going on, tonight?" Brooke asked curiously, ignoring Haley's refusal to acknowledge her.
"Huh?"
"Well, I heard that somebody's boyfriend is in town and…"
"Oh my God, Luke, just announce it to the local news station, why don't you?"
Keith had been standing around, observing the whole scene play out, and let out a soft chuckle.
Lucas looked at her sheepishly.
"What?! At least it's good news… for you, anyway,"
"Anyway! I'm having a little get together at my house and you and Mr. Haley James are cordially invited," Brooke suddenly said, speaking over the two friends.
Keith's eyebrows raised and caught quick eye contact with his son's date. Both Lucas and Haley looked in the direction of where Brooke had looked.
"Oh… uh… hi, Dad,"
The mischievous grin on the brunette's face diminished to a nervous smirk.
"I didn't hear a thing," Keith lied as he escaped the uncomfortable situation to an awaiting table of patrons.
The expression on Brooke's face relaxed before she continued on.
"You up for it… or are you too chicken shit?" She friendly challenged.
Haley was not amused and gave Lucas a very annoyed look.
"Brooke, I appreciate the offer, but I'm just not interested,"
Brooke sneakily made her way next to Haley, lacing her arm through hers much like she had on that odd day at school.
"C'mon, I'm inviting you because I want to, but if you tell anyone, I'll have to kill ya… besides, maybe ol' Nate boy will leave you alone... after you introduce him to your boyfriend, that is,"
She whispered the last bit about Nathan into Haley's ear.
Haley's nerves twitched with anxiety and fear. What was the always mysterious Brooke Davis trying to imply? She was fully aware of Nathan's flirtatious ways, but in no way did she feel threatened by him. Either way, she didn't need Brooke having something to hang over her head, especially with the weird circumstances of her having a boyfriend, and her ex-best friend's boyfriend tendencies to slut himself around. Drama, drama, drama!
"I'll be there around 10," Haley muttered as her best friend looked on with bright eyes.
"Haley James! Living the wild life!"
Lucas announced, ecstatic that she'd made the effort to hang out with him and some of his friends. They really weren't all that bad.
"Don't push it, bud,"
Haley headed for the exit as Brooke clasped her hands, trying to hold back excitement. It may have been too soon, but she was determined on squeezing her way in between the inseparable pair of friends, even if it meant her having to befriend both of them. She knew exactly what she wanted, more so who she wanted, and nothing was going to stop her now. Who knew? Haley might even grow on her a little bit.
Plus, it might turn out in her best friend's favor if Haley brought her college hubby to the party. Nathan might get the clue to stop bothering Haley and stop being such a jackass to Peyton. Overall, she was convinced that it was a win-win situation.
"Don't forget to bring your lover boy!" Brooke shouted after her.
"So, what was that about?" Lucas asked observably.
"Can't a girl just get to know a guy's best friend?"
He examined her in that broody way of his, narrowing his eyes.
With a sigh, he explained, "I just don't want Haley feeling uncomfortable,"
"What? With your friends?"
"You know who I'm talking about, Brooke,"
Brooke opened her mouth to say something before Lucas gently interrupted.
"I'm not holding it against you because… well, to be honest, I like you,"
"I like you, too," she said slowly with a small amount of bashfulness.
God, what Peyton would do to see the way her brave best friend was acting over some boy, right now. Ironically, that boy wasn't about to let that happen.
"Haley's my best friend, always has been. I get overprotective of her because I've seen her hurt and I'll do anything to prevent it,"
"I understand. And that's why I want to get to know her. She's obviously very important to you… so, I thought I might just take the initiative…"
Lucas leaned across the counter and rather forwardly, placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek. Then, he searched her hazel brown eyes for a reaction.
Brooke's cheeks were starting to grow warm, which threw her off. Since when did a peck on the cheek faze her? Behind her, someone was clearing their throat for attention and judging by Lucas' expression, it was better not to turn around.
"Not to… uh… ruin the moment, but I know your mom would hate to think we were giving our patrons a free show," Keith said, trying to sound stern.
Lucas knew that his dad was busting his chops.
"And that's our cue to leave," Lucas sighed.
"Nice to meet you… kind of, Mr. Roe," Brooke softly said, before returning to Luke's side.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again," he replied warmly.
"Bye, Dad,"
"Luke? I know I don't need to tell you, but I'm going to—no sleepovers tonight, okay?"
Again, Brooke tried to hide her embarrassment. Normally, she'd have some haughty comeback, even to an adult, but no, not this time. She was really starting to creep herself out.
--
Haley stepped out of the shower, feeling somewhat rejuvenated from her earlier run-ins with the Keller's. They just knew how to get to her, some days—Mrs. Keller in particular. This party of Brooke's would probably get her mind off of it. She saw a couple of missed calls from her cell phone: all from Chris.
"Haley! Where have you been?" Chris answered.
"Um… in the shower," she said blankly.
"Oh… sorry, I just got worried,"
"It's okay… hey, Chris?"
"What's up?"
"My friend… actually, one of Lucas' friends are having a small get together at her house… do you want to go?"
"Yeah, sure… you sure it's okay if I come?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah… she told me to bring you,"
"Cool… what time?"
"Can you come get me in like forty-five minutes?"
"Definitely. See you soon, beautiful,"
"Alright, I'll see you,"
