Author's Note: Hey! Sorry it took me soooooo long to update! I've just been really busy with school and sports and stuff so it took me longer than I expected. But here it finally is! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I hope you like it!
Chapter Seven- Not Again
As the weeks passed and the weather changed from summer to fall, the gang settled into their normal daily routine. The girls went to cheerleading practice everyday after school and on Fridays cheered at the Ravens football games and the guys came to watch them cheer. November began and the guys had begun basketball practice to prepare for the winter season and Nathan had permanently moved into the beach house in order to get away from his father's constant nagging.
After the incident over the summer, Deb had left Dan and was now staying at one of the rooms above Karen's Café. Nathan was going to stay with his mom, but there wasn't enough room so he decided to stay at the beach house. He had offered his mother more than once the option of moving into the beach house with him, but she said it had too many memories of the times she shared with Dan and it was too hard to be there. Nathan understood, so everyday after practice he would stop by the café and visit with his mom.
Homecoming was about a week away and the school was so hyped up for the football game even though losing was more than inevitable. At practices after school, the girls had been making banners and posters hyping up everyone for the game. And to top it off Haley and Nathan had been nominated for homecoming king and queen. Since the beginning of the school year when everyone found out they were engaged, they had become the hottest and most steady couple at Tree Hill High.
"Hey baby", Haley said as the bell rang signaling the end of the day on Friday. She had her cheerleading uniform on and her brown hair was pulled up into a high, curly ponytail and 'Ravens' was written across her cheek. It was a game night so all the cheerleaders had to wear their uniforms to school.
"Hey", Nathan said giving Haley a quick kiss on the lips.
"You coming to the game tonight?" Haley asked. "Watch me cheer?"
"Most definitely", Nathan said. "After practice Luke, Jake, Tim and I are going to come."
"Cool, who is watching Jenny?" Haley asked as they began to walk to the locker rooms.
"Jake let Nicki and her mom have her for the weekend", Nathan replied.
"I'm so glad that Nicki and Jake were able to come to an agreement about Jenny", Haley said. "She needs her mom and her dad."
"Yeah", Nathan said as they neared the locker rooms. "And it's all thanks to you. You were the one who convinced Nicki to give Jenny back to Jake that night."
"I just did what I thought was best for Jenny", Haley said with a smile.
Nathan smiled at her. "You're gonna be a great mom someday Hales."
Haley laughed. "Hence the word someday. Let's graduate and get married first Nate. And I'd preferably like to get through college first as well!"
Nathan laughed. "I'll see you later babe."
After the football game that night it was still fairly early, so the gang decided to head to the river court. The Ravens football team had lost, as usual, if only their football team was half as good as the basketball team… The guys were going to teach the girls how to play basketball and they were meeting Skills and Mouth and some of the other guys there.
"Wait a second", Brooke said stopping in her tracks as they walked onto the court. "We can't play in our uniforms! We just got these this year and there is no way I'm screwing this one up! We need basketball clothes."
"Well you can't go back to your place", Lucas said. "That would take too long."
"Well, Luke your house is just around the corner", Jake said. "Don't you have some old shorts and beater tops they could wear or something?"
Luke sighed and threw the basketball he was holding to Skills. "I guess. Come on girls."
Fifteen minutes later Luke was heading back to the court with his arm securely around Peyton's waist and other two girls following close behind.
"Whoa", Tim whistled as the girls came near. "Wow."
Brooke wore a pair of Lucas' old, red, mesh basketball shorts that were tied as tight as they could go and came down to her knees with a form fitting beater top. Haley and Peyton wore the same thing except Haley had blue shorts and Peyton had green.
"Haha", Brooke said slapping Tim in the chest as she passed him. "Come on, let's play", she said with a wink.
A half an hour later the girls had learned the basics of the game and they were now playing a girls vs. guys game that the guys were getting extremely cocky about.
"Come on girls", Nathan taunted. "You could just give up now you know and not have to face the embarrassment."
Haley glared at Nathan and Nathan's laugh immediately stopped and face became serious. He knew that look. Haley, Peyton and Brooke huddled in the middle of the court discussing their game plan.
"Okay", Peyton said. "Here's the plan…"
"What can they be talking about?" Tim whispered to the guys as the girls giggled in a circle.
"Who knows?" Nathan replied. "We are talking about OUR girls here."
A few seconds later the girls approached the guys. "Okay, let's play."
Fifteen minutes later the score was 17 to 2, the guys leading. The girls knew they were in trouble so they put their plan into effect.
Nathan passes the ball to Lucas and just as Lucas was to shoot for a three-pointer Peyton tackled him, wrapping her arms around his waist while Brooke stole the ball.
"Oh foul!" Lucas yelled. "That was so a foul!"
"Please", Brooke said as the shot the ball and it went into the hoop. "This is OUR game and anything goes."
This continued for another half an hour, the girls tackling the guys and committing fouls all over the place. At the end of the game, the score was 30-22, the guys had won.
"We told you", Nathan said cockily.
"Yeah, but you guys only won by eight points, Mr. All-State, Player of the Year, hot-shot." Haley said with a smirk on her face.
Nathan smiled at his girlfriend laced his arms around her slim waist.
"Well, I gotta get back", Haley said. "My parents are calling from Tulsa tonight and if I'm not there they'll probably flip, so see ya guys later." She said as her and Nathan walked off.
Soon everyone else had left the courts and only the small stadium lights surrounding the court were lit, leaving the memories of a great night.
"Okay, what do you think about this one?" Brooke asked stepping out the dressing room and spinning around once.
"Ooohhh", Haley cooed. "I like that one, it looks really good on you Brooke." Brooke was sporting a wine red, floor-length halter dress, with a low v-neck in the front and a slit up the side to her mid-thigh.
The girls had all cut class the next Friday and were going shopping for Homecoming dresses and getting the full-spa treatment, including manicures, pedicures, massages and facials, and they were getting their hair done for the big night.
Brooke twisted around to look at the price tag attached to the waist of the dress and shrugged. Her parents were rich so it was okay if the dress was a little overpriced.
"Okay Hales your turn", Peyton said as Haley took a handful of dresses into the dressing room.
A few minutes later Haley came out of the dressing room tentatively in a long, white, strapless dress that had a beaded bodice and a beautiful lace trim.
"Haley you look gorgeous!" Brooke said.
"Haley, that's the one!" Peyton gushed.
Haley twirled around. She felt like a princess in this dress. She glanced down at the price tag and her face fell.
"Forget it", Haley said. "It's way too much."
"But Hales you have to get that one!" Brooke said.
"There is no way I can afford this!" Haley said.
Brooke bit her lip and whispered something to Peyton, who nodded.
"Okay get dressed", Peyton said shooing Haley into the dressing room. "Hand us the dress."
A few seconds later Haley tossed the dress over the top of the dressing area and Peyton caught it.
"Give us your purse", Brooke said.
Haley rolled her eyes and tossed her purse over as well as to amuse them.
A few minutes later Haley was done getting dressed and exited the dressing room to see Brooke and Peyton waiting for her with a dress bag in their hands.
"Here is your dress madam", Brooke said handing Haley the bag.
"But…how did you guys…"
"Let's just say we took care of it", Peyton said with a smile.
"Oh my God you guys", Haley said pulling her friends into a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! I'll pay you back I promise!"
"Don't worry about it Hales", Brooke said. "Tonight is gonna be your night. You deserve it."
A few hours later the girls were walking up the steps into Karen's Café in their homecoming dresses, getting ready to meet the guys. The sun was setting and the wind was picking up and the girls were trying desperately to get inside without ruining their hair.
Haley had on the Cinderella dress and her hair was done simply. It was soft, spiral curled with rhinestone clips holding pieces back at her ears. She had dangly diamond earrings that her parents had gotten her for her sixteenth birthday and her diamond and sapphire engagement ring.
Peyton wore a gorgeous, black, floor length dress. It had v-neck in the front and then a v-neck in the back (a/n- think Kate Hudson in How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, that dress she wore to that party thing, except black) with her hair in a beautiful up-do, with stray curls framing her face. She wore her mother's silver charm bracelet and the diamond necklace that Lucas had given her for her birthday.
Brooke looked gorgeous as well, her wine-red dress flowing to the floor. Her dark hair was twisted up into a French Twist with rhinestone clips. She wore a silver heart bracelet that Tim had given her for her sixteenth birthday and small tear-drop diamond necklace with dangly diamond and ruby earrings.
They entered the café and saw the guys standing there in their tuxes.
"Wow", Nathan said approaching Haley. "You look so beautiful." He said slipping a corsage on her wrist.
"You don't look so bad yourself handsome", Haley said pinning Nathan's boutonniere on his jacket while Deb was snapping pictures of them crazily.
"Wow!" Lucas said taking Peyton's hand and twirling her around. "You look amazing." He said as he slipped her corsage on her wrist and she pinned his boutonniere.
Brooke and Tim went through the same corsage and boutonniere pinning ritual while Karen and Deb snapped pictures wildly.
"Okay, everyone get together for pictures", Karen and Deb cooed with teary eyes.
"Mom…" Lucas complained.
"If I want a picture of my baby before he goes off to his senior homecoming then damn it I'm going to have one!" Karen yelled.
Lucas immediately positioned himself by Peyton and the group posed for a picture. The group picture was followed by pictures of just the guys, just the girls, Nathan and Haley, Lucas and Peyton, Brooke and Tim and Lucas and Haley.
After the picture frenzy, the kids headed off to homecoming. They arrived at Tree Hill High School just in time for them to make their grand entrance. They spent the night dancing and laughing with each other and their friends and having a great time. Lucas danced with Haley, while Nathan and Peyton danced together and them Tim and Haley, and Peyton and Tim, and Brooke and Lucas and Brooke and Nathan. Haley and Nathan got king and queen as predicted and shared a romantic spotlight dance.
In the middle of Haley and Nathan's spotlight dance thunder cracked loudly and everyone in the gym jumped a little. Rain pounded harshly onto the building and lightning streaked through the sky. Haley looked worriedly at Brooke and Peyton. Everyone in the gym seemed to be a little on edge.
"Ummm attention everyone!" The principal yelled into the microphone. "The National Weather Advisory has just initiated a severe hurricane warning for Tree Hill and other parts of North Carolina. No one is to leave this gym until we get word that it is safe. I would advise you to get a hold of your parents and tell them that you'll be here awhile. Get comfortable kids…it's gonna be a long night."
Haley gripped Nathan's hand tightly remembering the horror they went through last summer on the island and looked at him with fear in her eyes.
Peyton snuggled closer to Lucas and he put his arms tightly around her. After last summer, no one wanted to experience any kind of storm again.
Two hours later the storm had only gotten worse. The lights were on in the gym but flickering and the staff had brought out cots, pillows, blankets, first aid kits, food and flashlights for the kids. The gang slumped against the wall covered in blankets and sipping on coffee and hot chocolate. Groups of teens in formal wear were scattered around the gym talking quietly or sleeping. A group of guys were throwing a football around and some others had found a set of cards.
Haley leaned on Nathan's chest and yawned.
"This totally sucks", Brooke said wrapping a blanket around her shoulders and snuggling against Tim.
"I know talk about a horrible homecoming!" Haley added. "As if it could get any worse?"
Suddenly the lights went out and a tree broke through one of the windows in the gym, sending glass in every direction. Screams echoed throughout the gym while the administration tried to get everyone to safety.
"I just had to say that!" Haley yelled.
"We gotta get outta here", Lucas yelled holding tightly to Peyton.
Suddenly the roof started to creak and a beam broke from the ceiling.
"It's gonna crash!" yelled a student.
Haley looked up to see boards coming down on top of her.
"HALEY!" Nathan screamed as he dove on top of her, shielding her from the beams that fell. And then…everything went black.
Author's Note: Hey all! Hope you enjoyed it. I sorta had writer's block in this chapter, so sorry if it's a little weird. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up because I have all this school stuff with finals and this huge research paper so I'll try as hard as I can to not take as long this time. :) Please review.
Next chapter spoilers:
-the aftermath of the hurricane
-Nathan and Haley struggle to get better in the hospital
-Brooke and Tim look for everyone
-And where are Peyton and Lucas????