CH. 8
Haley woke in the Scott house. In Nathan's bed. Alone.
She rubbed her eyes, noticing the puffiness of them from the tears that had fallen from the night before. The night before. All of a sudden the memory of Nathan's words flooded her mind. "I love you...I love you..." Those words cut through her like cold steel. "Nathan?" She called out to him, looking throughout the empty room, "Nathan?" She sat up, rubbing her eyes once more, her voice rose "NATH-"
"What? What is it?" Nathan sat up from the make-shift bed he lye in on the floor.
Haley stopped when she saw his bare chest in front of her. She took a deep breath, "Nothing...I just didn't know where you were."
"I'm right here Hales..." His eyes burned through her, "I'm right here."
Those blue eyes. For a moment he was all she saw. Nathan rubbed his eyes and stood bearing even more of his chest. He was beautiful. Haley shook her head trying to rid her mind of the thoughts about to enter, "So what now?"
Nathan looked at her confused, "What do you mean?"
"What do we do now? What happens now?"
Nathan sighed, "We..." Nathan held back the hurt, "We act like we love each other."
Haley showed the glimpse of a sincere smile, sometime when she looked at him she forgot all the hurt and anger and she just saw...him. She rose from the bed and headed towards the bathroom, "I'm gonna take a shower."
Nathan looked at her and smiled, "I'll be right here."
She smiled back, not a smile of seduction or passion but the smile of security, "Promise?"
"I'd never lie to you." His voice was serious and Haley felt comfort in his loyalty.
She turned to go into the bathroom but quickly turned back to meet his eyes, her voice was soft "Nathan...I just wanted to say..."
Nathan said nothing just looked deep into her dark eyes.
She continued, "I've not always shown it but...Thank you..." Without giving him a chance to answer she smiled and closed the door.
Nathan stared at the door for a moment, his lips curled into a smile as he picked up the sheets and began to fold them, "I guess its true what they say...Tomorrow always is...another day."
"Dan...I don't understand..." Deb sobbed on the chair besides Dans' desk.
Dan sighed, "I can't even begin to explain it Deb...he married her..."
"The woman who killed are son?...Nathan wouldn't do that Dan! He wouldn't!" Deb was hysterical.
Dan ran over to her, "But he did...he did." Dan pulled Deb into his arms, "I promise you...are son's death will be revenged..."
"Hales?" Nathan walked up to the bathroom door, "We gotta go." He was met by silence. "Hales?" He slowly opened the door and found Haley crying by the bathtub. His instincs took over and he ran over to her, "Haley what's wrong?" He hand gently touched her shoulder. He noticed she was holding a picture of Lucas in her hand. He couldn't help the jealous rage that was about to be unleashed, "What the hell is this!?" His voice quickly rose.
Haley turned to him surprised, "Wh...What?" She whiped the tears from her eyes.
"This!?" He grabbed the picture from her hand, "I put my life on the line for you! I put my family's trust on the line...an-..and this is what I have to deal with!?"
"Nathan you don't under-"
Haley was unable to finish, "No! You don't understand! This isn't a game Haley! Unless you want you and everyone's lives around you to end...you'll start acting like my newly-loving wife! You got that!!!"
Haley looked confused and scared, "What are you talking about me and everyone I know..."
Nathan let out a cryptic laugh, "You think my family will stop at you!?...They'll use everything they can against me...meaning they'll use YOU against me!"
"What are you trying to say Nathan?"
Nathan ran to her grabbing her face in his hand, "After they're through with you...they'll move to Lucas..."
"Luc-"
"Then Peyton...and then Peyton's dad...what about Karen?"
Tears started running down her face, "They wouldn't."
"Oh trust me Haley...they would."
Nathan could feel her body shaking and a calm finally found them, he finally let go of the grip he had on her and backed away towards the door, he was about to walk out "I'm sorry Haley..." She noticed he was getting worked up, "I'm doing everything in my power to keep you alive...you have to meet me half way and understand this isn't just about you're life anymore...it's about everyone's lives...including mine..." He calmly closed the door leaving Haley in shock.
Nathan sat at the end of the pier looking towards the sky, "I have no idea what I'm doing..." He closed his eyes and visions of Haley entered. Her face...her beautiful face. "What have I done?...I've ruined her..."
Haley looked out the bedroom window and saw Nathan sitting on the pier, she as well looked towards the sky, "Please give me the strength to get through this..." Her thoughts were caught off guard by Keith walking into the room, "Mrs. Scott..."
Haley looked confused at first, it was the first time anyone had ever called her that and to her surprise she didn't mind it. "Yeah?"
"The driver is waiting for you downstairs."
Haley looked even more confused, "What? Why?"
Keith smiled making Haley feel uncomfortable, "The other Mrs. Scott would like to take you for a drive..."
