A/N: Hey guys thanks so much for the reviews…btw I forgot to mention that anonymous reviews are enabled now, so anyone can review…thanks to my cousin of course. But anyway thanks so much for the reviews, I'm glad you like the last chapter. Well hopefully you like this one too.
WARNING THIS CHAPTER IS RATED M FOR LANGUAGE!
"Hey Hales…mail!" Brooke yelled out.
"Who's it from?"Lydia smiled.
"Who do you think?"Brooke replied.
"Did you say mail?" Haley asked.
"Yes I sure did."Brooke said while handing her the letter. Haley smiled when she read the name.
"Aww I think our Haley-Bub is in love." Lydia giggled.
"MOM!" Haley yelled.
"What? I think it's cute."
"They are mom you should have seen them when we were leaving Tree Hill…"Brooke said getting cut off by Haley.
"Ow Haley what the heck?" Brooke rubbed her know sore arm.
"Oh sorry it slipped." Haley laughed. She went upstairs to her and Brooke's room and ripped the envelope open.
Hey Hales,
I got your letters. I miss you too, I wish you were here. Everything is so boring here without you. All I do is sit around or play basketball. Sometimes I wish your parents would have never split up so you could be here with me, but then again that is me being selfish. Hope you're having fun.
Love Nathan
Haley woke up from a dead sleep. What the hell?
"Hey Haley you alright?" Brooke asked from the door.
"Yea…what time is it?" Haley yawned.
"4:30…I couldn't sleep and went downstairs to get some water. I thought maybe I could check up on you. What are you doing up?"
"I just had like… the freakiest dream; except it wasn't a dream…it was more like seeing a part of the past."
"You mean like you're remembering old memories?"
"Well yea…in the dream we were back in New Jersey and you had given me one of Nathan's letters. And it was like I was redoing that whole thing again; opening the letter, reading it, and having the same feelings afterwards."
"Ok that's a freaky dream. Why don't you call lover boy and have him "protect" you?"
"Eww Brooke…Nathan's only my friend and I will not bother him at 4:30 in the morning."
"What it's not like he would mind."
"Good night Brooke"
"Fine fine I can take a hint…night."
Hmmm maybe I should call him. I mean it's not like I'm going to be able to get back to sleep. Haley picked up her phone and called Nathan's cell phone.
Ring Ring Ring
"Hello" Nathan answered half asleep.
"Hey Nate" Haley spoke in a cheery voice she was kind of regretting that she called him. He sounded so sleepy.
"Hales? Is everything ok?"Nathan asked worried as he shot up from his bed.
"Yes Nathan everything is fine. I'm sorry about waking you up."
"It's ok…what's on your mind?"
"How did you…"
"Must we go through this all of the time?"
"Oh yea I forgot you know me oh so well." She laughed.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing just a dream that woke me up and now I can't get back to sleep. So I thought maybe if I called you, you could help me go back to sleep."
"Oh geez thanks a lot Hales I didn't know I was that boring."Nathan laughed.
"Shut up you know what I mean."
"Ok like when we were younger?"
"Please!"
When they were younger and one of them couldn't get to sleep they would call each other no matter what the time and help the other get back to sleep.
"Ok…Picture yourself in your favorite place. A place where you have no fears, no worries, and no problems. It's just you and your favorite person. Away where ever you want it to be. Now just concentrate on that place." Nathan whispered into the phone. "Hales?" When Nathan didn't get an answer he went to hang up, "Night Hales."
Haley was currently at her locker joking around with Lucas.
"Dude that is so wrong on so many levels." Haley laughed.
"What its true, she wouldn't leave me alone she'd always come to the house and ask for me. I was gonna crack some day. So I just told her that I had a disease and she left."
"Exactly…why would you lie to her?"
"Cuz she wouldn't leave me alone. Haley you're telling me that if some psychotic red head came to you and started telling you they loved you, you wouldn't lie to get them away?"
"Yea probably…who was this girl anyway?"
"This senior named Rachel…she's trouble now. You do not want to fall under her rath."
"Seriously the girl goes here and there's no awkwardness between you two."
"Nahh we tolerate each other."
"Wow…"
"Yea"
"So where's Nathan?"
"At the gym he had a meeting with Whitey about the game on Friday. Why do you care?" Lucas asked suspiciously.
"Oh no reason just wanted to thank him for something."
"What's that?"
"Well you sure did turn nosy…I swear it's because you're hanging around Brooke so much."
"What that's not true."
"Yea it is…" The bell rung cutting off Haley.
"See ya later Luke."
Lucas just gave a small wave and opened his locker. He had a free period now and wasn't sure what to do.
"Guess who?" Someone whispered putting her hands over his eyes.
"Umm…Brooke" Lucas grinned.
"You are correct and now for your reward."Brooke spun Lucas around and pushed him against the lockers kissing him hard on the lips.
"Wow I should guess right more often."Lucas laughed after he broke the kiss.
"So were you talking to Haley?"
"Yea, I was digging up dirt like you asked?"
"And?"
"She said I was being nosy. Do I really have to do this Brooke? I feel like I'm over stepping my boundaries."
"Well too bad. Did you talk with Nathan?"
"No I already told you how he feels; plus he's been in this really agitated mood lately."
"With you?"
"No he's the same with me but for some reason he said he was waiting for our dad to come back from his business trip. I asked him why, I mean why would he want him to come back right? But all he said was that he had some serious business to discuss with Dan. He looked really pissed if you ask me." Lucas explained closing his locker.
"Hmm that's weird… has he ever acted like that before around your dad?"
"No usually Nate just deals with it, but lately its seems like he has some newfound confidence or something. He's not taking Dan's bull anymore. That part I'm actually happy about. What scares me is the fact that he had this look in his eyes that looked like he wanted to beat the shit out of Dan. I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid."
"When's your dad coming back?"
"Friday…for the game. I mean it figures, Dan would never miss a game."
"I can't believe your mom hasn't said anything yet."
"I told you…she doesn't know. Dan puts up an act when ever she's around. I just hope it's not too late when she finds out."
Brooke was scared to ask what he meant by that. She knew since the summer that there have been some issues in the Scott household but she didn't know that it was this serious.
"I'm sorry Luke."
"For what?"
"Leaving you behind and making you go through all of this." Brooke looked down. Lucas lifted her chin so she could look at him.
"Brooke none of this is your fault…its Dan's."
"I know it just…maybe if I would have stood with my dad…"
"No, it would have never changed anything…Ok?"
"Yea, ok. Walk me to class?"
"Sure thing," Lucas replied as they started to walk. Brooke grinned and turned to Lucas.
"So back to Operation Naley…"
"That's all you have to worry about Nathan. Just make sure you and Lucas go over these plays and you should be great for Friday's game." Whitey finished.
"Ok, thanks Whitey." Nathan turned to leave.
"Nathan…Don't let him take it."
"Huh?"
"Dan. Don't let him take your talent or try to run your life. It's not worth it…just remember that."
"Yea."
Nathan was walking towards his locker when he felt someone poke him. He turned around to find his best friend smiling back at him.
"Hey I was looking for you earlier." Haley informed. The truth was Haley had been a little nervous to face him. First she almost kissed him and then she woke him up at an ungodly hour. Let's just say she was a little afraid of what was to come.
"Yea I had a meeting with Whitey."
"Yea I know Lucas told me. So where are we going today?"
"Actually I was thinking we could go to my mom's café, if that's fine with you?"
"Yea sure. I haven't seen Karen in a while."
"Ok cool see you after school at your locker?"
"Jupp see you then." Thank god he didn't mention anything.
Karen's Café
"Hey mom." Nathan greeted giving his mom a hug.
"Ahh my boy… I haven't seen you much lately," Karen said glancing at Haley, "and I think I know why." She smirked.
"Hi Karen!"Haley smiled.
"Haley always great to see you; why don't you two find a table and I will be with you in a moment."
"Ok" Haley stopped when Nathan wasn't following her. "Hey, you coming or not?"
"Uh yea just give me a sec." Nathan said and Haley nodded walking towards the table.
"Hey mom, do you mind if we talk?"
"Sure honey, what's on your mind?"
"Have you spoken with dad?"
"Uh yea he said that he was coming back home early so he could be at your game."
As expected. "Are you gonna be at the game?"
"Of course… I wouldn't miss it for the world."Karen smiled at her son. Nathan smiled back. Great now it will be hard for Dan to be an ass with mom there.
"Great!" Nathan exclaimed and walked towards the table Haley was at.
"So how was your day hot shot? You look exhausted." Haley commented.
"Uh ok I guess much better then tomorrow will be."Nathan answered tiredly.
"Why do you say that?"
"My dad's coming to the game."
"Oh…look Nathan maybe you should just steer clear of him for a while."
"Yea like that would work."
"I guess but remember I'm here if you need me. Oh and before I forget thank you so much. I just couldn't get to sleep last night after my dream."
"Yea well it was no problem. I remember having to do that a lot when we were younger. You were always having bad dreams." Nathan laughed.
"Haha so not funny…but yes I remember too. And you still know what to say to make me fall asleep."
"What can I say I have a good memory."
"Don't we all." Haley mumbled so Nathan wouldn't hear her, referring to the dream she had.
"Huh?"
"Uh nothing…so was it me or were Lucas and Brooke dodging us today. I swear every time we got within 3 feet of them they would always leave us alone saying… 'Oh don't mind us we were just leaving. Or…we'll leave you two alone. Seriously it was creepy." Haley laughed. Brooke and Lucas had put 'Operation Naley' to work and had been avoiding Nathan and Haley so they could have as much alone time as needed…well that's what Brooke thought they needed.
"Yea tell me about it." Nathan laughed along with her. At that moment they heard a car horn. Haley looked over and saw it was her dad.
"Listen I won't be able to see you until after the game tomorrow…I'm going to hang out with my dad because he's going to be gone for the weekend, so good luck. I have to go see ya." Haley got up and hugged Nathan.
"See ya Hales!"
Friday at the gym
"Nathan!" Dan yelled. It was the one of the first games of the seasons and of course Dan was here. Nathan turned to where he heard his name called. Great the devil is here. Nathan decided to go see what his dad wanted before he made a scene.
"What do you want dad?"
"Remember what we went over…go hard and bend your knees."Dan instructed.
"Whatever," Nathan mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Whitey blew his whistle and they all huddled around. "Alright boys this game is yours. Bear Creek has nothing this season. Just play hard and have fun, Ravens on three…one…two…three…Ravens!"
Haley stood in the stands with Brooke. She watched the boys play their hearts out. Nathan was on fire landing every shot he made. But Haley could see why Nathan was so pressured by Dan. He was off on the sidelines yelling at Lucas and Nathan. Telling them what to do and what they were doing wrong. He was worse than any coach she had seen and he wasn't even the coach.
Finally the game was over and the Ravens won 45-38. Nathan was in the locker room showering when he heard someone come in the locker room.
"Nathan, where the hell are you?!"
You have got to be kidding me! Nathan grabbed his towel, wrapped it around him and walked towards his locker. He started to get dressed; when he was done he grabbed his things and started to walk out of the gym when Dan finally found him.
"Nathan! Did you not here me call for you?" Dan stopped Nathan from walking out of the door.
"Listen dad I'm not doing this here." Nathan answered yanking his arm away from Dan and walking out of the locker room.
"Nathan you were great out there!" Haley yelled jumping up and hugging him.
"Thanks Hales! It means a lot to me that you came."Nathan grinned.
"Are you kidding me I wouldn't miss it…"Haley was cut off when someone cleared their throat.
"Well well…Haley James. I didn't think I'd catch you here. You know after are talk and all." Dan smirked.
"Uh yea…Nate I will let you go home and put your things away. Give me a call afterwards when you're gonna stop by ok?" Haley said feeling uncomfortable under Dan's gaze.
Nathan could sense Haley's discomfort and wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of Dan for it, but he saw his mother coming towards them.
"Yea I'll call you."Nathan said before hugging Haley goodbye.
"Nate you were wonderful tonight. I'm so proud of you." Karen kissed her son on the cheek.
"Thanks mom."
"So what are we all standing here for, let's go home. Lucas already told me he went to the party with Brooke so we can leave."
"Yea sure sweetheart."Dan smiled at his wife.
The car ride home was silent and Nathan couldn't wait until it was over. As soon as Dan pulled up to the drive way Nathan jumped out of the car and straight to his room.
"What was that about?"Karen asked.
"I don't know." Dan answered.
Dan went inside after Karen. He waited for Nathan by the front door. Nathan came down the stairs about to take off to Haley's house until he was stopped by Dan.
"Where are you off to?"
"If you must know dad I'm going to Haley's."
"Oh Haley… I knew she couldn't stay away."
"Yea that reminds me…What the hell is wrong with you! I told you to stay the hell out of my personal life! You have no fucking right to tell Haley to stay away from me!"
"Nathan I'm doing it for you. It's for the best. She's holding you back."
"NO! Dad she's NOT holding me back! She's my best friend and if I want to spend time with her that's MY decision not YOURS! You really hurt her. She felt like she was the problem…but the problem is not her dad it's you! You just don't know when to stop do you. You say that you do it for me and Lucas but that's all of bunch lies. You're just doing it because you want to relive your glory days through us. You're a coward. Stay the fuck away from me!"
"Nathan? What the hell is going on here?" Karen came in from the kitchen.
"It's him mom…"
"Nathan…"Dan warned.
"He's been riding me and Lucas about basketball since Haley and Brooke left 4 years ago. He won't give us a break. All he does is pressure us…that's the reason why Lucas doesn't even talk to him anymore!"
"Nathan…"Dan continued to warn.
"Is that true Dan? Have you been pressuring our sons about that stupid game?"Karen asked calmly.
"Karen…"
"Oh and I didn't want to visit grandpa this summer…dad made me go so that grandpa Royal could train me for basketball all summer!" Nathan continued.
"What?" Karen asked in disbelief.
"Nathan I can't believe you would go this far! After all I've done for you, I helped you train, made you practice to make you better! I got you this far in your basketball career and you're gonna throw it all away for some whore!" Dan was cut off by Nathan's fist; colliding right with Dan's jaw.
"You ungrateful little shit!" Dan yelled punching Nathan in the stomach and then swung at his eye.
"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Karen yelled running towards Nathan to see his eye.
"Nathan?" Karen asked worriedly.
"Fucking bastard!" Nathan yelled before storming out of the house.
Nathan couldn't believe what just happened. He felt relieved to get that all off of his chest, but he felt guilty as well. He didn't want his mother to find out that way. The way she looked at him…it was too hard for Nathan to bear. So he went to the one place he knew he was always welcome…the James house.
Nathan knocked on the door and waited for someone to open up. He held his stomach as the door opened.
"Hey I thought you were gonna call…" Haley smiled but it faded away once he walked into the house. His eye was a nasty black and purplish color and was closed a bit. She looked to his stomach where she saw his arm protecting it. She couldn't help but to feel scared for him.
"Nathan? What happened?" Haley asked dragging him towards the kitchen. She sat him down on one of the stools and went to the freezer taking out a pack of ice. She went to put it by his eye but he flinched once it touched his skin.
"Ow! Careful that hurts." Nathan whined.
"Oh stop being such a baby and come here." Haley replied and put the ice on his eye gently.
"Now are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Do I have to?" Nathan pouted. Darn him for looking so cute all the time.
"Well since you just walked into my house with a black eye…yes you have to."
"Fine…can we at least go upstairs so I can lay down my stomach kind of hurts."
"Sure." Haley started walking towards the stairs but stopped once she heard Nathan wince. She turned to face him. His face was all scrunched up and he was gripping his stomach more forcefully. "Nathan?"She whispered.
"I'm fine Hales…I promise." He assured her and started to walk up the stairs slowly. Once he got to Haley's room he laid down.
"Now explain!" Haley demanded.
"I kind of got into it with Dan."
"Dan…as in your father, Dan? Nathan what the hell happened? Is he the one that hit you?" Haley asked worried.
"Hey slow down. Yes my father, Dan, and what happened was I called him out on all the shit he's done and let's just say that he didn't like that. And lastly yes he's the one that hit me."
"Oh my god Nathan he can go to jail for that…what set him off?"
"Me…I kept making him angry so when he questioned me about why I was drifting away from him and his precious practices I lost it."
"That's all?" Haley asked knowing that there was more involved.
"I kind of hit him first."Nathan looked away not sure how Haley would react to that.
"WHAT?! Nathan are you crazy? He could press charges on you." Haley started to cry at the thought of her best friend and secret love in an orange jumpsuit behind bars.
Nathan looked up and saw Haley crying. He moved over to her and started to wipe the tears away. "Haley please don't cry. I know what I did was stupid but I had a good reason."
"Nathan what possible reason could there be?"Haley looked up to his eyes hoping there was a good reason.
"He insulted you. He…he called you a whore and how you're never going to help me with anything in life and I couldn't take it anymore…so I punched him right in the mouth."
Haley started to cry harder now, not because of the horrible things Dan said but because Nathan wasn't lying when he said he'd always protect her.
"Haley I couldn't just stand there and hear the awful things he said. Because none of them are true…I can't sit around and watch as the world hurts you. That's something I will never be able to do."Nathan whispered lifting her chin so he could look at her beautiful eyes.
Haley could hardly breathe. She couldn't take him saying these sweet things about her and defending her all in one night. So she reacted the only way that could register in her mind. She moved closer to Nathan and crashed her lips to his.
Nathan couldn't believe in the turn of events. Once he knew what was going on he kissed her back with all the passion he had for her. Neither one of them breaking the kiss. It soon began to get heated; Nathan laid them down and covered Haley's body with his own. When air became an issue Nathan broke the kiss but began kissing down the column of her neck. Haley's head was in such a haze at the moment the only thing that left her mouth were soft moans.
"Nathan…"She moaned. Nathan thought it was like music to his ears. He returned to her lips not wanting to stop but resisted and looked up to her eyes.
"I've wanted you to do that for so long…"Nathan revealed to Haley.
"Really?"Haley smiled.
"Yea…"Nathan said capturing her lips in yet another fiery kiss. They were so wrapped in each other that they didn't hear the front door open or close, the footsteps coming up the stairs, or the bedroom door opening.
"OMFG! Yay! Naley's together!" Brooke squealed from the door with a shocked Lucas behind her.
Nathan and Haley sprung apart as soon as they heard her voice; looking embarrassed and fluster…and a tad bit upset at having being interrupted.
"Oh my god when did this happen? How did this happen? How long has it been going on? Wait! This better have just happened now…because I swear if I wasted my time with Operation Naley I will kick both of your asses." Brooke interrogated. "Leave it to Brooke to go from happy to pissed off." Haley thought.
"What?"Both Nathan and Haley asked confused.
"Ah, never mind…I'm so happy. So…when did this…"Brooke stopped short after taking in Nathan's appearance. "Oh my…what happen to you?" Brooke said running towards Nathan and moving his face towards the light to get a better look. Brooke motioned for a quiet Lucas to come see his brother. Once Lucas took in his brother's face and was showed the big bruise on Nathan's stomach his faced turned hard. He looked as if he was going to beat the shit out of someone. Lucas was always protective of Nathan and seeing him like this…pissed him off and he just wanted the name of the punk who did this so he could take care of him.
Lucas looked straight into Nathan's eyes, "Who did this?"
Nathan was afraid to tell Lucas. Lucas already had problems with Dan and he didn't want him to do something stupid like he did earlier.
"I said who did this?"Lucas asked again impatiently.
"Dan…" that was all Nathan said before Lucas turned around and headed for the door. Luckily Brooke caught him on time and sat him down on a nearby chair and tried to calm him down.
Mean while at the Scott House
"I want you out of this house right now." Karen spoke calmly.
"Karen…that was all a bunch of lies, he was just upset."Dan tried to lie.
"Don't you dare try to lie to my face Dan! Because the two punches you threw to MY son weren't. You crossed the line! I don't want you anywhere near them. Do you hear me? You come anywhere near my sons again and god damn it I promise I will bury you!" Karen yelled.
"Karen…"
"Dan, as far as I'm concerned this marriage is over! Now get the hell out of my house!" And with that he left the house.
A/N: Well there's chapter 10 I hope you liked it! Personally it's my favorite, but I would love to hear what you think about it. PLEASE REVIEW!