There have been some major issues that have taken over my life. Some good, some bad; yet I have worked most of them out. Thanks to you all for being patient. I have finished writing this story so the chapters will be coming fast. The story should be completed in about two weeks, or less. Again, thank you so much. Enjoy! I would love to hear some reviews.
"Bevin! Stop." Brooke said sternly as she tried to calmly keep things in order.
"What? I did the turn like you said."
"Yes, you did….the wrong way!" Brooke finally gave in to her frustration. The gym quieted down, the girls on the squad looked down as if they had been scolded while the boy's varsity basketball team stopped their drills. Feeling embarrassed, Brooke took a deep breath before resuming to her coach duties. "Um, okay well I think we all need a rest. So take five- no take ten."
The girls nodded, afraid to say more, as they took a seat on the bleachers. Brooke shook her head as she gave another look at her phone; still no call. "Where is she?" Brooke whispered to herself as she crossed her arms over her chest. Looking around she watched the guys continue their drills on the court, wondering where the heck Peyton was. It was already hard not seeing her best friend with all the finals and work they both had going on, yet for Peyton to miss practice was just the icing on the cake.
Needing some fresh air, Brooke grabbed her sweater and headed outside. Stopping dead in her tracks she looked behind her before pushing the door open. Peyton sat in the middle of the quad drawing intensely in her notebook, her blonde curls drawing a curtain around her pale face. Brooke looked around the quad as she wrapped herself in her sweater. Walking closer, Brooke peered over her shoulder, interested in what Peyton was coming up with. On the white paper, done so perfectly with Peyton's black tip drawing pen was an image of a girl The girl was facing forward, stripped down to nothing but the two ribbons that covered her body. She was being pulled by one side that showed darkness as the other opposing side was bright and welcoming. Yet what took the portrait to a new level was the girls helpless face, how broken she was. Brooke looked away from the drawing and up at Peyton.
"That's a little depressing, don't you think?"
Peyton jumped up from the sound of Brookes voice. "Shit, you scared me!" Peyton said as she waited for her heart to calm down. Closing her notebook she slipped it back in her bag. "Practice already over?"
"No, but I'm surprised you remembered."
"Sorry, I just…I can't go in there yet." Peyton finally said as she looked back at the double doors.
Sitting down on the concrete strip that surrounded the plants. "Why?"
Turning to Brooke, she gave her friend a warm smile. Peyton was well aware of how distant she was being to not only Brooke, but everyone in general. But, she couldn't help it. Haley's situation had taken over Peyton's life, mainly with the fact that she was the only one that knew what exactly happened, and starting from last night, she knew exactly who did it. The burning hate for him filled her veins once again as she replayed last night over, the sound of Haley's weak voice saying his name.
"Something that will be dealt with soon, I just, I can't go in there now or else I will do something I shouldn't do. Can you understand that?"
Brooke nodded. "I can, but just promise not to let me stay in the dark for too long, can you understand that Sawyer?" Brooke said in her usual chipper voice. Peyton smiled back, giving her a hug.
"Well, I have to get back in there. I was a little wired and I might have yelled at some of the girls." The girls laughed as Brooke shrugged her shoulders. "See you inside."
Peyton waved her off as she watched Brooke go back inside the gyms double doors. Gathering her things and slinging her bag over her shoulder Peyton made her way to those same doors. She peered inside, her glance going from Brooke who was rounding the girls up to the guys on the floor. She shook her head, it was as easy as turning the knob and approaching him; before she could turn away Nathan stopped playing on the floor and glanced at the door, meeting her gaze. His face was tired and confused, yet in true Nathan style, he waved at her. Peyton waved back, yet in the mist of it, she couldn't help but hear her heart break from knowing what he would later have to find out.
Nathan Scott was going to have a rude awakening.
"Thanks for coming. See you tomorrow guys." Haley gave a farewell as she closed the door behind her last customers for the night.
Bolting the door shut, she walked tiredly to the counter, and took a seat on one of the chairs. She let herself rest her head on the counter enjoying the much needed break. Finally having a moment to rest she felt the ache from standing all day take over her feet, than the throbbing of her knees, and after the burn and soreness from the nightmare she hoped to forget. The night was here and the café was empty, she smiled. Secretly Haley enjoyed this time of day. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy working or being around people, she loved it, but lately being alone at the café just felt okay. No fear that someone would come through her door, no uneasy feeling of fellow peers or customers focusing on her image instead of what she said; though she enjoyed this amount of freedom from that life, something was missing.
As if God was answering her prayers a small tap on the window brought a smile to her face. Nathan held his face close to the window as he looked in, seeing Haley walk towards him he smiled as he waited patiently for her to open the door.
Undoing the bolt, she stepped aside as Nathan walked in looking around at the empty room.
"Cafes usually are filled with people, or is this a new modern thing?"
"Funny. We had to close early, some electrical problems." Haley pointed to one of the many outlets in the café. "Karen thought it would be best, you know, she didn't want it to start a fire and kill people." Haley said jokingly.
Nathan nodded as he followed her to the counter. She walked around and took her usual spot behind the counter as Nathan sat on one of the many chairs surrounding the island. Grabbing the dessert of the day she placed it in front of him and watched his eyebrow arch up and his lip curve.
"Chocolate cake it's the dessert of the day." She stated, as if he couldn't figure that out himself.
"Just plain chocolate cake?" He asked watching Haley shake her head up and down. "How does that earn it the dessert of the day?" He joked to himself.
Haley laughed softly causing Nathan to stop grabbing himself a slice as he took the moment to capture this now rarity. Haley's laughter echoed in his ears, the sound and image catching him off guard but providing such a flutter to his heart.
"God I missed that."
Haley ran her hand through her hair as she gave him a questionable look before smiling. "If you came by Karen's more than maybe you could get a piece or two."
"No, not that." He said looking down at the cake he placed on his plate. "Your laugh….your smile, I missed that." He told her honestly.
The rosy warmth of her blush crept on her cheeks as Nathan confessed something small yet meaningful. She knew he was hurting and Haley knew that waiting to tell him would only hurt him more; but she couldn't find it in her heart to shatter his world. Haley was still dealing with the fact she told Peyton, even if she could trust her, this was her problem; she should deal with it alone. Thinking of what she was keeping from him put a heavy weight on her heart.
"So," Nathan began breaking the silence as he picked up his fork, ready to dig in. "How was school today?"
"It was good; I had a test in Franklin's class but I'm not sure how I did."
Nathan chewed the moist chocolaty cake as he gave her a crazy look. "Seriously? It's just wrong to assume you didn't pass. Your Haley James, you succeeded in everything."
Feeling embarrassed she ducked her head down as she picked up a bottle of water from the small mini fridge under the counter. "Thanks." A sly smile took over Haley's lips as she placed the bottle in front of him. Turning around to grab the rag she called back. "By the way, it's Scott. You called me Haley's James."
Nathan smiled at her correction as he took another bite of the cake before washing it down with the drink Haley had given him. "Listen, I have to go over to Tim's tonight. We got paired up for this assignment in Economics and I just want to get it done with. Want to come along?"
"Oh." She said as she used the rag to wipe down the counter. "Economics, sounds boring, I think I will pass on that. I was actually thinking of going to Luke's for a bit."
Placing his fork down on his empty plate, Nathan pushed it aside. "Then I will meet you after we finish."
Haley grabbed the plate taking it to the back counter before returning to take the cake dish away. "Sounds good."
Nathan watched as she avoided eye contact with him, he knew something was up. He could sense what it was; they hadn't spent enough time with one another. The reasons varied, if it wasn't practice, it was work, if it wasn't that it was school, yet most of all, it had to do with both their behaviors. They were both trying to put the inner battle with the situation on hold but, being human, it became almost impossible.
"If you need me, just call. Doesn't matter if I'm still at Tim's or….anything, I'm here." He said earnestly.
Meeting his gaze before returning back to her cleaning, she smiled. "I know thanks." Picking up the bucket of dishes she gathered, she rested it on her hip. "So you want anything else? We still have some leftover chicken and pasta." Haley motioned to the back as she headed in that direction.
Leaning back in the chair he made a face, yet Haley knew what that face meant.
"Let me just wrap them to go. We can eat at home."
"Okay." Nathan smiled as he watched Haley head back in the kitchen. He couldn't help but be a man and look at her butt as she left the room. God, he couldn't get enough of her. But he knew this incident was making things harder, not only for her, but for him. He tried so hard not to think of himself, but the ache in his heart only gave him daily reminders. Nathan watched through the kitchen opening as Haley quickly moved her way from one side to the other, grabbing the leftovers to take home. Nathan was so lost in this image of Haley that the tapping at the door was completely inaudible to him. It wasn't until the tapping turned into banging that Nathan frowned and glanced behind him. Behind the locked café doors was a few of the guys from the team; Brandon, Steven, Tim, Leo, and Ronny.
The guys waved him over, wanting to come in. Nathan looked behind him seeing Haley was still busy, and then made his way to the door.
Opening the door, Nathan leaned against it, crossing his arms as he nodded to the guys.
"Hey, what are you all doing here?"
"Hungry." The guys all laughed at Brandon's remark. Nathan grinned at the remark but didn't budge back for them to enter.
"Sorry, café is closed. Karen's orders- knowing Haley she won't budge for anyone."
Leo peered in the back, getting a look at Haley before Nathan took notice and stood in his way. "Well, it appears that you don't count. Awesome having a wife on the inside, huh?" He joked.
"Okay, enough. Do you want to shoot some hoops?" Tim asked.
"Ugh," Nathan thought about it. "Not today. I'll be by later, just going to take Hales to Luke's first."
Tim nodded as a few of the guys decided to head off to the river court early, leaving Tim and Ronny behind. Nathan tilted his head to the side as Tim stepped closer to Nathan, a secret at the tip of his tongue.
"Listen, Nate, I don't want to start anything but…the word around school is that Haley got into…a mix up."
"What kind of mix up exactly?" Nathan asked his jaw clenching. He could feel the muscles in his body tighten with even the idea of the school murmuring about his and Haley's personal life.
Tim saw the heat in Nathans eyes, the look alone gave him a shudder before he quickly got himself together. "Just that she was hanging with a group of guys and she was being flirty, but when she didn't put out like she talked about-" Tim stuffed his hands in his pockets almost afraid to continue. "They went off on her and-"
"That's completely untrue!" Nathan roared between his clenched jaw. "None of that would ever happen; ever! She told me what happened, and I believe her. That is between us not the goddam school." Nathan made stated as he did his best to be firm yet quiet enough so Haley would hear.
"I'm sorry Nate, didn't mean to get you worked up. This is just what some of the guys have heard." Tim tried to make better.
"Well pass this on," Nathan stepped closer, closing the door behind him. "If I hear anymore of you guys talking about this or anything related to it, you'll look worse than what any group of guys could do." The sound of his voice and structure of his body made it clear.
Tim nodded, looking down before taking a step back. "Yeah, will do. See you later."
He stood on the steps to the café watching the last of the guys walk down the street to the river court. As soon as they were out of sight Nathan headed back in, ready more than anything to just go home. Opening the door, Nathan walked straight in running into Haley. He caught her, stilling him more than her, as she stood there with two boxes in hand. Nathan didn't have to ask, he knew. He didn't have to guess, he knew. Haley had heard everything. Nathan kicked himself mentally again, he couldn't even protect her from gossip.
Putting on a smile she motioned to the door. "Ready?"
He nodded as he held the door open. "Yes."
It was just a little after eight yet the lights and noise at Luke's was still full of energy. After Haley arrived Peyton and Brooke along with a few other friends from school arrived, making it a full house. Though having confided in Peyton, Haley avoided her like the plague. Haley kept close to Luke, almost as if he left the room she would be hounded by the rest of the guests. Besides Nathan, he was a person she could feel safe with; he was her best friend, someone she could trust, and someone who also didn't know what was happening. Though Luke did try to ask, get to the bottom of it, Haley felt it easier to lie to him.
Rachel and Mouth sat on the living room floor playing a game of Life, it being a childish way for Rachel to teach mouth about life lessons. Brooke and Peyton sat in the Kitchen eating another serving of Chinese that the gang ordered earlier while skimming through magazines. The rest of the guys; Lucas, Haley, Nathan, and Skillz sat on the couch watching a movie.
The change in Nathan was noticeable, though he played it off as if nothing was happening. Even sitting beside him right now Haley could sense it, though he sat a good two feet away the emotions he was possessing was radiating off his body. Looking to her left once more, she leaned in hesitantly.
"You okay?" She asked for the hundredth time it seemed.
"Yeah, fine.
"You don't seem like it."
Haley knew she was pushing it, but she couldn't help it. How she hated herself for wanting to tell someone but shutting everyone off. Now, that Nathan was going through this- she couldn't let it be, even when he wanted to shut her out.
"Well, I am." Nathan retorted, not even bothering to remove his eyes from the movie.
She couldn't drop it. "Nathan tell me. Ever since you came back you just-"
In a flash Nathan was up from the couch, his face angry but only to cover the hurt he was in. Haley flinched slightly, from the memory it brought back for her, and Nathan releasing this anger and side to Haley, which was a first.
"Damn it Haley! I said I'm fine!"
Haley looked around, knowing all eyes were on them even more. "Why are you getting mad at me?"
"I'm just sick of you wanting me to open up so much, yet when I try to get an inch inside your mind you go all remote on me! Can't work like that." He spilled out.
Her eyes went down, the truth hitting her hard. Knowing she was causing this towards him hurt her even more than her rape encounter. For a moment she wondered, here Nathan and her were falling apart by this mess- what was happening to his world? Was he thinking about what he did, what he's doing? Or was life better than ever for him?
Nathan watched Haley curl back into the ball that took him days to help her get out of. Great. Glancing up he saw every set of eyes on him; waiting for his next move. Grabbing his jacket Nathan stormed down the hall and to the kitchen door, slamming it behind him. The house was quiet. No one moved from where they sat, afraid of what the next move or word would cause out of anyone. Quietly, almost as if her life depended on it, Haley got up from the couch. She could feel the tears waiting to break free already blurring her vision. Putting her coat back on, she turned the door knob and slipped into the night leaving everyone in shock of what just happened.
Luke looked around before getting everyone back into the normality of what they were doing. The game resumed, the movie took off, and everyone went back to forgetting the incident. Luke shook his head, not understanding what was going on. Taking the empty glasses off the coffee table he walked to the bathroom where Brooke at just excused herself to the bathroom, leaving Peyton at the table.
Placing the cups in the sink, he turned around and faced her. Her face was battling something, yet Luke couldn't figure out what.
"You okay Sawyer?"
She looked up, dazed. "Yeah, just….what happened."
Luke widened his eyes as he replayed the moment in his head. "Right, I don't get it. It's just taking a turn for the worse. That's why you don't get married in high school." Luke joked.
When Peyton didn't laugh Luke looked around before taking a seat at the table.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Taking a deep breath, she stood up, motioning to his room. In silence, he followed her, scared of this new Peyton. They both entered Luke's room, the bed still unmade from the morning. Peyton took a seat on the disheveled covers as Luke closed the door behind them. This was it, she couldn't hold it in.
"Luke, there's something I need to tell you."