"BROOKE PEYTON WAKE YOUR ASSES UP. ITS THE FIRST DAY OF SENIOR YEAR. COME ON!"
"Shut up Haley. You're annoing. I don't like you" Brooke grumbled.
"Wow when did Bitch become Brooke?"
"Ughhh shut up."
"Okay Peyton I'm going to pull a you, wake up sleeping Bitchy."
"Why are you so preppy this morining?"
"We're Seniors ! This is our last year in Tree Hill High, then we're leaving this place for four years. Come on guys. Wake up."
That's when Brooke shot up from her spot on the floor. Her eyes were wide.
"Oh my God! We're SENIORS !"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you ! Why does no one ever lsiten to me."
"Shut up and come on we need to get ready." Brooke said pulling Haley out of the living room.
"Brooke wait, what about Peyton?"
"PEYTON SAWYER YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS UP AND MEET ME AND HALEY IN HALEY'S ROOM IN ONE MINUTE IF YOU'RE NOT THERE YOU WILL REGRET IT. I PROMISE YOU."
"I'm coming Brooke, geeze calm down." Peyton said.
Meanwhile the boys were down in the basement trying to get ready
"Ugh Nathan go upstairs and tell your girlfriend to shut up."
"I don't think so."
"Whyyyyyyyyyy."
"Because he's whipped."
"Am not...okay so I am, what's your point?"
Lucas just shrugged.
"I don't know. Come on guys we need to get ready. I wonder what the girls are wearing today..."
"Luke are you stupid man, they are absolutely wearing their cheerleading outfits."
"And how do you know that..."
"Luke they wear their cheerleading outfits the first day every year. Or have you not noticed. "
"Rightt. Rightt. Of course."
Jake and Nathan looked at eachother.
"Luke are you okay... you seem off today."
"Yeah I just had trouble sleeping last night."
"Are you sure thats it? I mean you know that the girls are like obssessed with wearing their cheerleading outfits, especially on the first day of school. Luke thats not like you to just forget something like that."
"I'm fine Nate."
"Obviously not."
"I'm fine Nate! Leave it alone."
"No Luke, what's wrong? We've been with you for everything, even when you found out you had HMC come on Luke, talk to us."
"I like Brooke.." He eventually whispered.
"And thats it..?"
"No Nate. I like her and I told her a week ago I would never like someone like her."
"Like her?"
"A whore."
"Luke.."
"I know its not true, I mean I know she's not a virgin, that's Haley's territory, but she's definately not a whore. But I mean I was piss ass drunk and she was making out with a guy and I got so jealous, and I've been trying to come up with ways to tell her that I'm sorry."
"Luke just tell her. Tell you that you like her, tell her that you know she's not a whore, and that you were piss ass drunk."
"Brooke isn't Haley Nate."
"No but Brooke also doesn't like extravagent gestures. She acts like a bitch and like she needs all these material things but she would just rather spend time with friends, and she wants simple things, like you coming up to her in a crowded room and pouring you're heart out saying how sorry you are. Something like what I did with Haley last year. Ya know, excpet simplier and word from your heart because you're amazing with words Luke."
"I don't know Nate."
"You know he's right Luke."
Luke looked up at the two guys.
"Wow, why are you guys acting like a bunch of girls?"
"Hi Hales. I love you too. My night was fine, thanks for asking."
Haley rolled her eyes as she walked down the stairs.
"Hi Nate. I love you." She said leaning up to kiss him. "Better?"
"Much."
"Anyway, Luke he was right. She's done nothing but talk about how she just wants you to randomly walk up to her and tell her how sorry you are. She's ready to forgive you. She knows that you didn't mean it. She gets that you were jealous, she gets jealous when she sees you with other girls. Luke just tell her you're sorry. She's been waiting for a while."
"Hales..."
"No Luke. Today at lunch. You better have you're speech ready, because she may be ready to forgive you but she's not gonna give in that easily."
"Are you sure Haley?"
"Positive. Let's go. Nate you're with me. Peyton and Brooke already left so Luke and Jake you guys are together."
Nathan and Haley walked out and got into her car.
"Why do you always drive my car?"
"Because you're car is so freaking awesome."
"Typical guy."
"Aww you know you love me."
"Sometimes I wonder."
"Oh shut up."
By now they were at the school and standing by their lockers. The first bell just rung.
"So Nate what are we doing tonight?"
"I don't know, I figured we might go to Tric."
"Cool. I heard Chris Keller was going to be there."
"Yes, and that's so awesome."
"Don't be an ass Nate. He's not that bad of a guy."
"Says the girl who kissed him."
"HE kissed ME. How many times do I have to say I'm sorry."
"None anymore. I'm over hearing thoes words."
"Nate.."
"I have to go. I'm late for class." He said walking away.
"If you walk away, we're done."
"If I do recall, I said thoes words to you last year, when you almost went on tour with Chris Keller."
"The difference? I didn't mean them."
"And you think I did?"
"Didn't you? Honestly Nate, if I had left, when I came back would you forgive me and let me back in, or would we be done?"
She was met with silence.
"That's what I thought."
"I thought Bitch was Brooke, but apparently bitch decided to take the form of Haley this morning."
"Wow clever Nate."
"I thought so."
"What's your problem?"
"Nothing."
"Apparently not."
"God Haley."
"What Nate? Are you mad because Chris Keller's going to be at Tric? That's not my problem. I didn't say cool because he was going to be there, I said cool because I LIKE Tric. I was telling you that I heard he was going to be there so you would be prepared and noth think that I knew and didn't tell you. I guess you still don't trust me, and that kills me inside because I would never cheat on you or do anything to hurt you. But whatever. I'm done arguing. Call me when you're done being a jackass."
"Or how about I don't?"
"What are you saying Nate?"
"I'm saying I'm done with the whole Chris Keller thing, and you're done arguing with me about the whole Chris Keller thing..."
"So what Nate?"
"I guess we're done.."
"Like..we're breaking up?"
"Yeah, Haley we're breaking up."
"oh.."
"Hales..."
"Don't Nathan..."
"Don't what?"
"Call me Hales. Just don't. You better go." with that Haley walked away, not wanting to go to class she just walked aimlessly around the school until the bell rang for second period.
As Haley walked into her english class she saw Lucas and Brooke sitting with Nathan. Brooke had saved her a seat so she walked over.
"Brooke will you trade me seats?"
"Why Hales.." Brooke asked looking between Nate and Haley.
Brooke looked up and noticed the broken look on her friends face.
"Let's go over here Hales..." Brooke said leading her to the other side of the classroom.
All throughout class all Haley did was stare out the window. When the bell rang Brooke pulled Haley to the side of the hall.
"What the hell happended Haley? Did you and Nate have another fight?"
Haley just looked at Brooke before shrugging out of Brooke's arm and walking away.
"DON'T SHUT ME OUT HALEY! Please don't shut us out..not again..." Brooke said whispereing the last part.
The rest of the day up until lunch Haley was in the same comatose like state.
At lunch the three girls were the first to arrive at the table.
"Come on Haley..talk to us. Don't shut us out...not again. I don't think we could deal with that again Hales...please let us in."
Haley looked at her two friends, before looking away. It's not that she didn't want to tell them, she just couldn't find the words, let alone figure out out how to form them and make them come out of her mouth. Much like last time. Shortly after the guys arrived.
"Hey Haley...are you okay...?" Jake asked. Haley looked uo and looked right at Nathan. The only word she could remember how to say.
"Nathan..." She whimpered.
He just looked at her.
"Nathan...please... Nate..." Hot tears were streaming down her face.
"Don't cry Haley...please don't cry."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll never bring him up again..."
"Hales...it's not just because of Chris Keller..."
"Then what is it Nate? I've given you EVERYTHING."
"Not everything.." He whispered, knowing that he was enetering uncharted waters.
"Yes I have...everything but my virginity and you know that's yours!"
"Do I?" It was like a slap in the face. Haley could actually feel her heart breaking.
"You should, I've never given you a reason not to trust me."
"Except for when you kissed Chris Keller."
"For the last time he kissed me. I pushed him off of me as soon as he did it. Why are you being so dense?"
"Haley we shouldn't do this now.."
"No Nate, We should. I'm sorry for whatever I did that made you not fucking trust me. Okay? I'm sorry. I'm sorry that even though I let my dream slip through my fingers for you that you still don't trust me."
"Haley..."
"No Nate, everyone asked why I didn't go on tour. I told them that it was because I didn't wanna go, that I was scared. But the truth? You all wanna know the truth? It's because Nathan told me that if I left we were done. Not temperarily, but for good. So I didn't leave. So I hope you're happy Nathan."
"Haley.."
"I'm sorry for saying that Chris Keller was going to be at Tric tonight making you think that I was happy he was going to be there Nate, because I'm not, I just wanted you to know since that you were wanting to go to Tric tonight. I'm sorry."
"Come here Haley.." Nathan said pulling the crying girl into his arms.
"I just want us to be okay again. I don't wanna feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Marry me."
"What..Nate..."
"Haley I'm sorry about EVERYTHING. I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop too, waiting for you to realize that you made a mistake staying with me. I'm sorry I screw up so much. And I can't promise you that I'll never screw up again but I can promise you that I want you to be my wife, for the rest of my life. So marry me."
"Okay. Okay. Yeah. I'll marry you Nate."
Haley leaned up to kiss him and he gladly kissed her back. After a few minuetes she pulled back enough to whisper in his ear and said,
"I hope you know I want a long engagement."
"I figured." he said chuckling.
They soon sat down at their table.
"Oh my gosh! Tutor girl! We need to start planning your wedding. I was thinking a summer wedding on the beach. What do you think?"
"Whoa Brooke slow down. We're going to have a long engagement. I don't wanna get married in high school, I don't even know if I wanna get married in college." Haley said.
"So what? Like a five year engagement?" Brooke snorted. "Should've just gotten her a promise ring then."
Haley jumped up, excited.
"That's it!" She exclaimed.
"What's it dork?" Lucas asked.
"A promise ring!"
"Wait...what?" Nathan said.
"Nate listen. I don't wanna get married in high school or go to college already married. But I do wanna marry you. Brooke is right, a five year engagement is ridiculus. If you got me a promise ring, then it's a promise that one day after college we will get married. So we don't have the pressure of being 'The Married Couple' that never gets invited to parties. This is a good thing Nate. I do wanna marry you, God do I wanna marry you. Just not now, and I reallhy don't want to have a five year enagement. That's crazy. But with a promise ring, it could work. It's like we're engaged, but we're not calling it that. Nate, hey look at me. I love you. And I do wanna marry you. This is going to work Nate. Just trust me."
"Ya know Nate, she's right." Jake said.
Nathan just got up and walked away.
"Nate!" Haley called.
He turned around.
"I have to go get you a ring."
Haley let out a sigh of relief.
"That can wait until after school, now get back over here."
Nathan luaghed as he walked back over to the table.
"So guys are we going to tric tonight?"
"But Nate...what about Chris?"
"Who cares? I have you Haley, forever and always. He won't change that. He may be the most annoying person to ever have walked the earth, topping Tim, but Hales you are mine and I know you aren't going to leave me. I trust you."
"That means a lot Nate. I love you."
"I love you too Hales. Never doubt that."
And there in that moment everything seemed so normal, although everything had changed. Change is a funny thing. It happens slowly, day by day. And when you look back at the end of the day, nothing has really changed. But by the end, everything is different. These six friends were about to experience something none of them had gone through before. A blast from the past. Someone comes back and reletionships are put to the test. And this seemingly perfect life is thrown out the window.
