Chapter Ten: Does Justice Ever Find You
Haley had decided to run by Chris' apartment to pick up her last demo.

Knock-Knock

"Haley? What are you doing here?" Chris asked coming outside and closing the door behind him.

"Oh well sorry to drop by unannounced but I was just wondering if I could get my last demo?"

"Uh yea sure. Just hold on a minute." He said quickly then went inside and closed the door.

He's being even creepier then usual, Haley thought. He emerged a minute later with the demo.

"Here." He said handing it to her quickly. "Sorry I can't chat but I am very busy." He went back inside as Haley stood there confused.

"Uh thanks." She said sarcastically to herself as she walked away.

Over the next couple of weeks everyone noticed Lea had become more and more of a recluse. Instead of going to all the games and spending most of her time with Peyton, Haley, and Brooke she hadn't attending any games and never wanted to go anywhere with anyone. It seemed the only reason she left, wherever it was she was staying, was to come to school. Peyton and Brooke had told Haley their suspicions about Chris and in turn Haley had informed them of Chris' stranger behavior when she picked up the demo.

"Maybe we should tell the guys?" Brooke thought aloud.

"NO!" Peyton and Haley said simultaneously.

"Do you know what Nathan would do if he found out she was dating Chris again? Not only would be heart broken but he'd probably never talk to her again, not to mention what he'd do to Chris." Haley explained.

"What about Lucas? Maybe he could help." Brooke offered.

"No, too much of a chance he'd do something to Chris or tell Nathan." Peyton said.

"Well maybe we should just talk to her and see what exactly is going on." Haley suggested.

"Yea maybe her being all to herself isn't even about Chris." Brooke cheerfully stated. Both Haley and Peyton looked to her as if she'd made an obviously stupid comment. "What it's possible."

Nathan and Lucas spent Saturday afternoon at the river court playing one on one. After two games, which each had one once, they sat down on the bench facing the court.

"Did you ever ask her?" Lucas asked after Nathan sat down.

"Ask who what?" Nathan asked very confused.

"Lea. Did you say anything to her about you two?"

"No, I was going to but I haven't really seen much of her lately. In fact the only time I ever see her now is in history and she doesn't really talk to anyone and more just draws and writes in a notebook."

"You think maybe something is wrong?"

"Obviously but it doesn't look like she is willing to talk about it."

"What do you think it is?"

"That's the problem. I have no idea."

It had been one month since Chris' property had willingly returned to him, three weeks since he'd beaten her so bad she thought she'd die, and two weeks since she'd had finally given up and just done whatever he'd wanted.

Most of the bruises had healed. The only ones that remained now were on her wrists. Those were from his nightly need to prove his dominance over her.

She didn't cry anymore. It was her own fault for going back to him, for believing his lies, and for being stupid enough to actually think he'd changed.

Lea had also stopped talking to her friends. She had no excuse for her recent change in behavior, so instead of lying she just avoided them all together. She had no classes with Peyton, Haley, or Lucas but she was finding it increasingly hard to avoid Nathan and Brooke as she had English with Brooke and History with Nathan.

"Hey Lea." Nathan whispered after the teacher had turned his back to the students to write something on the board. She tried to pretend she didn't hear him over her iPod, which was only barely auditable. "Lea." He whispered a little louder this time. Quietly she turned her iPod up so she couldn't hear him. "Lea!" He whispered as loud as possible without the teacher hearing him. To make sure he had her attention this time he also hit her desk. She jumped.

"What!?" She whispered ripping the headphone from her ear.

"What is with you?!" He asked irritated.

"Nothing!" She said putting the headphone back in her ear, her way of signifying that the conversation was over. Nathan thought differently, this conversation was far from over. He reached over and took the iPod from her lap.

"There now you'll stop ignoring me. Something is wrong! I know you, so just tell me what it is." Nathan demanded. It was becoming harder for him to stay quiet.

"Why don't you mind your own business!" Lea said then raised her hand trying to get the teachers attention.

"I want this to be my business! It's about you and sucks for you but I care! I just want to help you. Lea, I love you!" Thankfully the teacher called on her so she wouldn't have to respond to his shocking revelation.

"Can I go to the bathroom, please?" She asked urgently, then got a pass and left.

Nathan sat dumbfounded. He hadn't expected to tell her he loved her, but most girls reactions to an 'I love you' from Nathan Scott wasn't to run away.

Lea didn't return to history, instead she cried in the bathroom for the last twenty minutes of second period, then went to third.

Third period, otherwise known as study hall, was as usual, uneventful. Lea's mind filled with thoughts of Nathan and his confession.

After the class had ended Lea was one of the last students to leave the classroom. She walked out of the classroom and directly into Nathan.

"We need to talk." Nathan said after a few seconds. She started to protest but a pleading look from his eyes made her stop.

"Alright. Can you give me a ride home? We can talk then." Lea suggested.

"Yea, come on." Nathan said walking to the student parking lot.

"I meant after school." Lea said as Nathan kept walking. "What about last period?"

"What about it?"

Brooke looked around the classroom for Lea. When the bell rang to start class and Lea still wasn't there she got worried. So after five minutes of trying to remember if Lea was even at school today she texted Peyton to ask her. About a minute later Brooke phone vibrated in her pocket.

Yea saw her leave with Nathan like 5 min ago

Brooke smiled. It was about time Hotshot and Barbie got back together.