Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Not at all, not even a little bit.
A/N: Sorry it took a week to update I have been flat out. I started a new job and have had heaps going on but have forced myself to sit down with my laptop and post. I want to thank everyone who reviewed. I love reading your thoughts they bring a smile to my face. I hope to spend some quality time writing this weekend as I have nearly finished writing this story, I don't know how many chapters will be in total but im thinking another ten or more, but that could change. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me and I hope you enjoy this chapter. By the way thanks to my beta!!! You rock!!!!
CHAPTER 7
Every half an hour Nathan and Haley switched who chose the radio station as they drove towards Charlotte in Nathan's SUV.
"I can't listen to anymore of your emo crap" Nathan switched the radio and 50 cent began to blare from the speakers.
"My time wasn't up" Haley complained as she tried to switch the radio back.
"Sorry" Nathan said putting his hand in front of the radio "My car, my music"
Haley pouted as Nathan turned up the volume and threw her a cheeky smile.
"How about we go without music? Haley tried to compromise
"Sorry can't drive without it" Nathan dismissed the idea.
"What about The Radio Game? Haley asked sitting up straighter
"The what? Nathan asked raising an eyebrow
"You know The Radio Game. It's like magic eight ball. You ask a question and then turn the dial, whatever song you land on, that's your answer."
"Alright I'll go first" Nathan said putting his hand back on the radio "What will I be doing this weekend?" Lady Gaga's "Just dance" filled the car. Nathan scowled as Haley cracked up laughing.
"You know I don't dance, I want a do-over" Nathan turned the dial again.
Haley giggled as she swatted his hand away.
"Sorry no do-overs"
The bus had arrived at the hotel, Whitey was checking everyone in while Keith and Keith were handing out the room assignments. Peyton took note of who was in what room as Brooke was busy scowling at Whitey and Rachel in turn. Whitey interrupted Keith and Karen to announce that everyone was to go to their rooms before meeting in the dining room for dinner in twenty minutes.
"Where's Nathan and Haley?" Karen asked realising they were absent.
"Ask Whitey" Brooke sniped
"Haley had to go to her locker and didn't make it to the bus and Nate took off looking for her, hopefully they're not too far behind us" Lucas explained putting a protective arm around Brooke.
"Maybe we should give them a call" Keith suggested
"Can't, we have both their cells" Lucas replied
"Not to mention their wallets and keys" Peyton added worriedly.
"I'm sure they aren't too far away, I'll give Haley's parents a call and see if they checked in with them. Why don't you kids head upstairs and get settled in, we'll see you for dinner." Karen said reassuringly before turning to leave, motioning for Keith to follow her.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Peyton's not gonna like that" Nathan roared with laughter. Haley had asked what would happen to her friend after high school and got "Drunk and fucked up" by Ryan Adams. Haley and Nathan had spent the last hour happily playing the radio game and were now almost at the hotel.
"This game is classic!" he chuckled to Haley as he slowed to make a turn.
They had asked questions about everyone with Haley breaking into hysterics when "Only Fooling Myself" had played in response to Nathan asking if he was the hottest guy in the world, and where would Mouth be in ten years garnered "Womanizer' by Britney Spears.
"Will Brooke have a successful fashion line?" Haley asked trying to stifle her own giggles. "Bring it on" by Lenny Kravitz began to play. "Sweet" she smiled. "Will Brooke be drunk with Peyton" Nathan grinned wickedly. "To the dawn" by Dawn Sidora began to play through the speakers as Nathan once again roared with laughter.
"What will happen between Brooke and Lucas" Haley asked turning the dial again and heard Katy Perry's "Waking up in Vegas".
"Should we warn them?" Nathan asked through his laughter.
"Should we warn them" Haley asked the radio before stopping and "Run" by Snow Patrol began to play.
"I guess not" Haley giggled
"Okay, Hales we're here, time for one last question,"
"Alright, What does Nate think about me?" she asked the radio. "Barenaked" played and Haley smirked at him.
"Undressing me in your mind Nate?"
"I think you should ask another question because that's a given" he winked.
"Fine, what do I really think about Nathan?" she asked as she turned the dial. Haley began to blush furiously as " I Wanna Sex you up" began blaring out of the speakers.
"I always knew you wanted me Hales?" Nathan smirked as Haley blushed red.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"PROTECT AND SERVE MY ASS" Brooke yelled throwing her phone on the floor.
"Whoa!" Lucas said walking over and bent down to retrieve her phone. "What the hell was that about?" he asked her.
"Stupid Tree Hill Police won't go and look for Haley and Nathan for another 24 hours" she threw her hands in the air. "So I called Daddy and asked him to make his officers do it, I mean he is the mayor after all and do you know what he said? He said that they couldn't tie up police resources and that they would turn up! Turn up! Haley and Nathan are only missing without a trace! I mean can you believe him, his own son could be anywhere murdered or worse and he can't spare the resources! I mean they could've been abducted by aliens or tied up by a serial killer for all he knows! And to think he ran his mayoral campaign on a platform of "Family Values"! Family values my ass, he wouldn't know a family value if it jumped up and bit him on th." Brooke's rant was cut off by Lucas's lips crashing down on hers. Lucas pulled back and looked into her eyes for a reaction. Brooke stood stunned for a second before fleeing through the lobby.
Brooke ran away from Lucas through the lobby and hid behind a large plastic tree near the swag bag table. Catching her breath she quickly checked that he hadn't followed her.
"I always knew you were plastic". Brooke cursed before turning around and coming face to face with Claire Young.
"Are you sure about that, from your fake blonde hair and awful attempt at a boob job, I would've assumed you're the one changing their name to Barbie" Brooke said stepping out from behind the tree.
"I can assure you there is nothing fake about me, you on the other hand are as fake as the plastic tree your hiding behind" Claire flicked her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "What were you doing behind there anyway? Looking for the dignity that you're going to lose when I crush you this weekend?"
"Not likely" Brooke retorted.
Claire continued with a self satisfied smile, "I have it in the bag this year. I choreographed and picked the music myself. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two."
"Maybe you should act like that tree and leave, since it's going to be us crushing you this weekend" Haley interjected. Brooke spun around and squealed when she saw Haley and Nathan.
"We'll see about that, good to see you again Holly" Claire sniped then smiled
"Hi Nathan"
"Keep dreaming, and it's Ha-ley" she sniped right back
"See you at the game tomorrow if you show up" Claire began to walk away.
"When we show up, oh and Claire your flies open" Brooke sneered.
Claire looked down and blushed before fixing herself and stalking off.
"I'm so glad you're here I was so worried!" Brooke threw her arms around both Haley and Nathan.
""I told you I'd be right behind you" Nathan said shaking his head at his sister.
"What the hell happened?" she asked pulling back.
"Rachel locked me in the Tutorcentre. We'll explain later" Haley answered
"I knew that bitch had something to do with it" Brooke huffed.
"Where is everyone else" Nathan asked looking around the lobby.
"Everyone went to their rooms, but should be heading down to dinner in about…now" Brooke answered looking down at her watch.
"Let's go I'm starved" Nathan said.
Everyone was just beginning to take their seats when Nathan, Haley and Brooke entered the dining room.
"Nathan, Haley! What happened? Are you alright?" Karen asked
"It's a long story" Haley answered giving her a hug
"We're fine, just hungry" Nathan added
"C'mon lets eat. By the way Haley, I tried to call your parents to find out where you were but there wasn't anyone at home, I left a message so you might want to talk them before they check their messages" Karen said.
"It's fine, they went to visit Quinn and won't be back until Monday"
"Well ok then, but maybe you should give them a call anyway."
"Let's leave the kids alone and eat" Keith winked at Haley and manouvered Karen to the chair next to Whitey at the other end of the table. Haley sat down between Brooke and Nathan who was deep in conversation with Lucas and Jake sitting opposite them at the long table. Haley noticed Brooke was steadfastly ignoring Lucas who kept glancing at her and sighing when she didn't look up.
"So are you going to tell us what happened to you guys?" Peyton asked interrupting her thoughts. Haley looked down the table at Rachel who was talking to Ashley.
"Rachel locked me in the tutorcentre, Nate came looking for me and we missed the bus so Nate drove us here" she explained.
"But we have his keys" Jake looked confused
"I keep a spare set in my gym locker" he ripped his roll in half and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Apparently with your manners" Brooke scolded him.
"So what did we miss?" Haley asked sipping her water.
"Only Brooke pacing a line into the aisle of the bus making Whitey lose what little hair he had left, oh and curfew was shortened by an hour thanks to Tim and his hipflask" Peyton answered then slapped Tim on the back of the head.
"How was I supposed to know he would look up right then?" Tim whined
"What did you expect? Waving it around the back of the bus screaming that 'we are gonna get fucked up tonight'" Jake said leaning past Peyton to slap him as well. Everyone just shook their heads at the sheepish look on Tim's face.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dinner was over and the girls had skipped dessert, dragging Haley upstairs to grill her about what had happened at school and on the drive with Nathan. The guys were sitting around the table chatting as they finished eating. Nathan was making his way back to the table after using the restroom when he was cornered by Rachel.
"So what happened to you tonight?" she asked him.
"Hales got locked in the tutorcentre, you wouldn't know anything about that would you?" he asked accusingly.
"Of course not, why would I?" she said innocently. He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry if Haley thinks I had anything to do with that, but I swear I wasn't anywhere near the tutorcentre, you can ask anyone. I was on the bus long before Whitey's ten minutes were up. I mean it Nathan, I want us to be friends. Maybe we could start tonight?" she asked taking a step closer.
"What are you playing at Rachel?" he said crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm not playing at anything, meet me at the indoor pool after curfew and I'll prove it" she winked before striding out of the restaurant. Nathan watched her leave and shook his head before heading back to the table.
"What was that about Nate?" Lucas asked him curiously.
"I think Rachel's trying to play games with me" he answered
"Naked twister?" Jake asked with a chuckle
"I took her more for a topless pictionary kind of girl" Lucas guffawed
"Or maybe strip monopoly, you know all that scheming" Mouth put in.
"No way its non chastity cluedo" Lucas cracked up
"It was the stripper in the kitchen with the fluffy handcuffs!" Everyone laughed.
"How do you kill someone with fluffy handcuffs?" Tim asked confused. Everyone groaned and Jake slapped him on the back of the head.
"So what did Stripzilla say this time?" Jake asked
"She said she wants to be friends and asked me to meet her at the pool after curfew" he answered looking between his friends.
"I guess she is more of a marco pole dancer kind of girl" Lucas looked thoughtful.
"So Rachel wants to have a pool party huh?" Tim asked
"I don't think that's exactly what she had in mind" Skills shook his head.
"Tim you're a genius" Nathan grinned.
"I've been telling you that forever, wait what?" he asked increduously.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Alright Girly, Spill! Why do you think it was Rachel who locked you in the Tutorcentre?" Peyton asked flopping down with Haley on her bed.
"Maybe because she's a heinous bitch and wants to kiss Nathan, even if he doesn't want her to, or is expecting her to, I mean who does she think she is going around planting her lips wherever she pleases!" Brooke ranted. Haley and Peyton raised their eyebrows at her.
"Sorry dialling back" Brooke sunk back against her headboard.
"I went to get my flashdrive from my locker" Haley began to explain "and I noticed the door to the Tutorcentre was open. It should have been locked as there wasn't any sessions scheduled today. So I went to check it out, and the door was closed behind me".
"So how does Rachel fit in?" Peyton asked
"I got locked in from outside and the only way that can happen is with a key. Rachel just happens to be the only person at the school at the time with keys besides me."
"Why does Rachel have keys to the tutorcentre?" Peyton looked puzzled.
"She registered as a tutor at the start of the schoolyear, but quit after a week. Every tutor is given a set of keys to the learning centre, I gave them to her myself, and I'm pretty sure I never got them back. I was kind of busy when she told me she was quitting, so I think I just signed the form dismissing her and didn't ask for the keys back." Haley explained.
"But if this gets out I'll lose my job, I mean I basically gave her full access to the learning centre, luckily they only keep past exam papers in there." Haley ran her hand through her hair.
"She was so pissed off on the bus I knew she had something to do with you being AWOL" Brooke seethed.
"She probably locked you in so you'd miss the bus and the classic and she could try and get her claws into Nate" Peyton mused "HAH! Talk about backfire. Not only did you make it to Charlotte, you also made it after 2 hours of alonetime with Nathan" she giggled.
"No wonder she looked so irritated" Brooke laughed. The girls were interrupted by a knock on the door. Haley checked the peephole.
"It's Bevin" she called to the girls as she opened the door.
Rachel snuck into the indoor pool with the key she had managed to steal from the night manager. She turned on the pool lights and was checking the temperature with her foot when she heard the door behind her. She spun around with a huge smile which automatically turned into a scowl when she realised who had joined her.
"What do you want Tim?' she asked annoyed.
"I'm here for the party!" he said with a grin.
"What party? There is no." she was cut off when the door opened and a bunch of cheerleaders and basketball players entered, running and dive-bombing into the pool soaking Rachel who was wearing nothing but a small silk robe.
"What the hell is going on Tim!" she screeched.
