Chapter Six "Discere Docendo"
'To Learn Through Teaching'

Haley was lounging around at the register of the music store while Chris did "inventory" in the back. His word for being a lazy ass. She was just about in the perfect daze mode when the door swung up, setting of a bell.

"So I was thinking, we should start a bathroom crying club. We both seem to be doing that a lot." She looked up at the voice, Peyton Sawyer stood before her, smiling and holding something in her hand.

"About that." Haley bit her lip looking down, "It was nice to feel like I had a friend for a while, but we're not alike Peyton. You have your friends and I have, Chris. It's just better if we don't do this. I'm sorry." She sighed.

Peyton looked taken aback, "Um okay. Well, I wanted you to have this." She thrust the paper into the girls unexpecting hands, "I'll see you around or whatever."

As she walked out Haley looked down at the drawing, it was a girl singing her heart out in the center surronded by images from the past two weeks. The most prodimenent being Peyton talking to her and her comforting Peyton. The others were of happy moments that Haley had forgotten.

"Crap." Haley swore under her breath, realizing how bad she had messed up. She had assumed Peyton was coming to tell her they couldn't be friends, she hadn't expected this.

She looked around and deciding her help wasn't really needed, ran out after Peyton. She caught her a block away. "Peyton wait!"

Peyton turned slowly, "Yeah?" She asked, hands on hips back in defensive mode.

"Uh, I'm sorry. I misjudged the situation and overreacted. I would like to be your fr-friend. I mean if that's what you want." She mumbled the last part, red creeping slowly up to her face.

Peyton grinned, "Yeah unless your gonna' go all psycho Haley on me again." She laughed then handed Haley a slip of paper, "Thats my number. Call me sometime, to hang out. Or whatever."

Haley smiled, "Or whatever."

Nathan was alone at the rivercourt, attempting to work on his jump shot, as if it needed any work. Ever since the whole accidental revealing of Brooke and Jake's not so secret hook-up, no one really wanted to see him. He laughed bitterly to himself, he was their god then suddenly some loser takes his place. Jake was wrong not him, he didn't understand the animosity towards him.

"What the hell is your problem man?" Lucas spat out, picking up the ball as it bounced throw the hoop, "You screwed up everything." He threw the ball back with all his force. Nathan caught it near his ear.

He dribbled it a couple of times and took a wild three pointer, it went in. "You like to act like you care so much about Peyton, but that's bull. You knew, everyone knew and nobody told her. Brooke was her best friend and Jake was her boyfriend, she had to know."

"It didn't have to be handled like that, it wasn't everyone at the tables business. You just made it more embarrasing for her Nate. Good going." He frowned, "And now I don't have a date, Brooke bailed."

Nathan laughed, "So that's what it's all about? You losing a date. Oh and guess what Luke, our who lives are somebody elses business. Everything we say, do or don't do is major news to our fellow classmates. It's sick." He picked up the forgotten ball and threw it into the river, "Thats what I think about all this, the lies, the stupid rumors, basketball. I'm so sick of everything."

Lucas shook his head, "You're a coward. You're afraid of what you've become because you're at the top of it all Nathan. Your their king, not me and definitely not Jake. We're just trying to live our lives, you put on a show."

Nathan lunged at him, throwing a fist into his nose, "That isn't true. I'm a good person." Lucas punched back until it was a full-fledged fight.

"Your a low-life Nathan, you always have been." Lucas was bleeding profusely, Nathan was obviously winning.

Nathan pulled back, "Screw you man. Your the one who ditched your best friend. Haley's gorgeous and you couldn't even see what was right infront of you." He laughed, "Your the head of it all because you started to believe the hype. You let yourself think you really were as good as they said."

Nathan and Lucas stood in a standstill, glaring at one another, daring the other to turn away. "I do miss her, it's not what you think it is." Lucas finally said, all the anger drained out of him, tiredness in it's place. He was tired of it all, his life, his role, his sport, everything.

"Well, I see her for what she really is and I like it." Nathan wiped his bleeding nose, "I'm going to ask her out, don't try to stand in the way."

Lucas threw his arms up, "Don't worry man, I won't. I haven't been Hales friend in a long long time." He sighed, mimicking Nathan's gesture, "It isn't my place."

Saturday night came and went, only half of Tree Hills teen royalty showing.

Brooke opted out, instead wearing her rather skimpy dress to a fraternity party were she managed to hook up with atleast five college boys. Quite an accomplishment for her. Rachel had tagged along, attempting to beat her record but failing miserably.

Lucas had also stayed home and read, something he hadn't done in a long time. He read every Steinbeck novel he could find, most he had thrown out. It felt good to be himself again.

Peyton had invited Haley over for some Ben & Jerrys and movies, Chris had of course tagged along. The two girls had become fast friends, their annoyance with Chris a common bond. But even his company they enjoyed, kind of.

Jake and Nikki had talked, finally. They ment outside the dance and left to a secluded area. Talking for hours about their impending arrival. Jake was thrilled, he loved kids. Just not with Nikki.

As for Nathan, he had taken Bevin as promised. And despite her constant offers of less then proper actions, they had a good time. Nathan felt for Bevin, being not so smart and a running joke, so he made sure she had a fairy tale night.

By Monday, tales of the hook-ups and break-ups from saturday were running rampant, the reality of the fact that their usual gossip targets hadn't shown irrelevant.

Instead of meeting the rest of the gang at the quad, Nathan waited at Haley's locker. A single white rose in hand. Cliche true, but he was really trying.

She spotted him from all the way down the hall and started to turn and go in the opposite direction, but stopped herself. Peyton had told her to let loose a little and that was what she planned on doing. The confidence her new friend had given her helped too.

"Hi Nathan." She greeted quietly, her face a steady shade of pink. Nathan had to hold back the laughter, he thought she looked cute.

Nathan handed her the rose quickly then said, "Listen Haley I know me and you aren't exactly friends, infact you brushed me off when I attempted to talk, but I like you. I mean, I like the idea of you. I was wondering, would it be possible to take you out to dinner, say, friday? If not that's okay too, but I'd really appriecate it." He looked down, Nathan never got embarrased infront of girls. They got embarrased infront of him.

"You and I." She corrected, blushing even more. "Um, by that I ment yes. I think I could go out with you. But one thing, just tell me, this isn't a joke is it?"

Nathan looked at her with concern, did she really think he would do that to her? "No, it's not a joke. Everything I said was true, I swear." He smiled at her then without thinking pecked her quickly on the cheek, "See you later Hales."

Nathan didn't know it but he left a very happy girl; the happiest she had been in a long time.

Peyton bypassed her former friends despite their pleas to "please sit down". She realized she didn't need fake friends or parttime friends. Besides Haley was sitting alone and no friend of hers would ever sit alone.

"Hey Haley." She said, sitting down and taking out her sketchpad. She drew as Haley did homework, neither really speaking.

Haley finally looked up from her work, biting her lip. "So um, Nathan asked me out today. I said yes, was that a bad idea?" She was nervous at Peyton's reaction to a mention of her former friend. She didn't want to opposite her.

Peyton looked up grinning, "Haley that's great. Just; be careful okay? Nathan is a good guy, but he slips up sometimes. Guard your heart." Haley nodded and returned the smile; now she felt really good.

"So you and Chris really hit it off." She joked, Peyton and Chris had been at each others throats the entire night. Neither missing an opportunity to make a joke at the others expense.

Peyton nodded, rolling her eyes. "Yeah what's up his ass anyways?" She laughed, "He's like twenty-one right? And he acts like a five year old."

"He doesn't like to share me. Chris is a very possesive guy. He's the type of kid that wouldn't share his toys with the other kids in daycare." The two shared a laughing, the analogy fitting perfectly.

Peyton got a bigger grin on her face at the approaching form of Nathan. "Well he better get used to it because it seems like he'll have to share you a lot more."

"What, why?" Haley asked, turning to see whatever had made Peyton grin. She turned back quickly, her face bright red. "What is he doing here? What do I say? How is my hair? Do I look alright?"

Peyton laughed, "Calm down Hales. You look great and you'll do awesome. Don't be so worried." She waved quickly at Nathan as he sat, "Hey Nathan." Then went back to her sketch, leaving the two to talk.

"So Haley, how's your day been going?" He asked, staring into her eyes. It gave her a strange feeling in her stomach, what some would describe as butterflies.

She blushed redder, she hated doing that. "It was, uh, good. How are you?" She scolded herself for her lame reply. Nathan was going to think she was a complete and total loser.

"Okay. The usual. So, do you like chinese or indian?" He asked, flipping open his notebook and scratching something on the blank page.

"Uh, indian I guess. Just nothing too sweet. Unless it's chocolate." She rambled, biting her tongue to stop herself.

"Good, I like indian too." He stood, "Talk to you later." He winked then walked off, closing his notebook in satisfaction.

The week passed in a blur for Haley. Peyton and her seemed attached at the hip throughout the week. No one expected that. Nathan also kept randomly appearing to ask her silly questions, that Haley wasn't sure were revelant, but she liked the attention.

Finally friday arrived, Haley was a basket of nerves. Peyton had promised to come over after school to help her get ready but that didn't help during the day when she couldn't pay attention in class.

She wasn't the only one. Lucas was torn between his current crush Brooke and his friend Peyton. He had yet to talk to either since the 'situation' and was instead focusing on his game.

But this was the friday he promised to drive Peyton to the docks to see her dad. Although she could've gotten there without him, it was symbol of her trusting him. He wasn't sure she would still want him around.

He semi-stalked her throughout the day. He wanted to approach her but she was always either drawing or with Haley. Not exactly the person who wanted to see him at present.

At last he cornered her after school, "Peyton!" He called to her and was happy when she began to make her way over to him.

"Yeah Luke?" She asked, dropping her bag infront of her locker and leaning against it to get a better look at him, "Whats up?"

"Do you still want me to take you tonight?" He asked, his hands uncomfortably in his pocket.

She nodded, "Yeah."