Summer Lovin' ---- Disclaimer: Do not own the rights to One Tree Hill or the Gilmore Girls. ---
Authours Note: Anyway, we just wanted to thank the people that reviewed the chapter "the Call" since it was just posted a minute ago and we would just like to give a shout out to; Jaqi, Majit and that's my dog. You guys make writing fun! ;D
Anyway, we hope you enjoy.
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The storm had only gotten worse. Haley thought it would have passed them but unfortunately it hit as soon as she was but five minutes behind the wheel of Brooke's car.
The rain came down in heavy drops that seemed to hit the car like a thousands fists beating at once. Usually she loved storms, the lightning, the thunder, the way everything seemed so still and peaceful after it passed, but not that night.
Haley peered over to look at Lucas.
He was in bad shape, he had his head cradled in his hands and he was almost giggling, probably at her driving. She hated driving a stick; actually she just hated driving and only did it on the rare occasions. Like driving home your drugged best friend.
Haley bunny-hopped to the set of lights that had flicked to red and pulled up the hand brake.
'Alright what are you laughing at?' She pinched his arm and it made him laugh a little harder. 'I hate driving Luke. I hardly ever do it, you know that, so stop laughing at me.'
The chuckling was still there but he managed to look up at her. She knew drugs did things to people but at that moment he looked like a completely different to the person she had known all her life. There was something different in his eyes.
'I'm sorry Haley.' He said her seriously but broke out in another grin. 'I just can't believe you call this driving. After tonight I though I would never find anything more hilarious then me flaying around the court trying to look like I know how to play basketball, but I was mistaken.'
The light flicked green and it was lucky. She would have belted him in the shoulder if she didn't have to get the damn beetle moving.
Her thoughts were on him. That morning Haley would have thought they would have been on Nathan like they always seemed to be lately but they weren't, and she couldn't help it. That fact there made her worry.
'You know how to play basketball,' She said with a deep look into his shinning eyes 'you were off tonight because-' She was stopped mid-sentence when he interrupted.
'I'm not on drugs,' He said turning serious. Haley could perfectly picture who would do something like this to Luke, Nathan's basketball buddies. They hadn't taken to Lucas yet and would do just about anything to make his life a living hell. He probably didn't even know anything about it. Sometimes she wondered if it was worth it.
Haley looked at him again and though it was dangerous, with her driving skills, she put a hand to his forehead and let it run through his short blond hair.
If Haley didn't know better she could have sworn he was effected by the gesture, he seemed to stiffen from the light touch.
'It's okay Luke. We'll get through this together.'
He sighed running a hand through his own hair.
'You're a nice girl Haley and that's the only reason I'm admitting to this,' He made her pull along the side of the road by gently pulling the wheel until they came to a stop. 'the truth is I'm not your Luke. I'm not this great guy everyone seems to love. I'm Tristan DuGrey, the ultimate arrogant, pigheaded asshole. And I just didn't just pluck that description from my ass, I get it daily from the hoards of people that I piss off.'
She swallowed. He looked so sad and even sincere, which was impossible.
'No.'
'Yes.'
She shook her head. 'No Luke.'
'It's actually Tristan.' He answered stubbornly.
'Stop it. All you have done tonight is make me think about you. I've been so worried about your behaviour that I have felt sick most of the night. And if this is what the drugs are making you see then you have to put it down to you not thinking clearly because you are not any of those things you say you are. You're a great person Luke. I see it everyday and I saw it at the court tonight. A person who is any of those things you said you were would not have done what you did.' She reached over and grabbed his hand. It was surprisingly warm while it tightened around hers. 'Okay? And this alter identity of yours seems okay too, you know, a little aggressive but okay too.'
She widened her smile at him and he just stared at her. It was a disconcerting stare that seemed to want to go deeper then her looks, instead searching for her soul.
Haley tried not to think about the flutters in her stomach or the way he stayed silent, she just wanted to get back to the distraction of driving.
'Okay.' He finally replied releasing some of the tension that flooded through her body.
Nodding she grabbed the steering wheel. 'Okay now help me stop this thing from bunny hopping. It's embarrassing.'
'Who taught you how to drive?' He said watching her fumble with the gears.
She stared at him. 'You!'
'Well I didn't do a very good job.' He replied with a smirk.
Haley smiled finally at ease. 'Shut up. It was a choice between you, Taylor or man, my parents. I would have had a nervous breakdown if it were a blood relation. Don't you remember us sneaking out to the middle of nowhere and teaching me? Not that you were allowed too but it was the only way I would ever get it.'
'Well I think the assessor must have fancied you because I don't know how it's possible for someone to get their license when they drive this bad. Hop out and I'll drive.'
Haley was horrified. In his condition, driving?
'No way hero. Your just going to have to bear this awful driving. The rain may be getting worse and the car is starting to sway from the wind but you are just going to have to plant your ass on the passenger seat and get used to it.'
Lucas grinned. She sometimes forgot how nice that smile was. It could light up the dark side of the moon it was that sweet.
'If we survive this storm and your driving I'm going to teach you.' He promised.
Haley rolled her eyes and laughed. 'I told you, you already have.'
She could feel his eyes on her. It made her uneasy again. 'No. I haven't.'
Trust Lucas to be self-deprecating when he's drugged.
'Fine. Deal. Okay you can teach me how to really drive. Just tell me if I'm in third.'
'Your in fifth. Hence the reason why you cut out.'
The car was having a rest, remaining stagnant on the deserted road.
'How did I get in fifth?' This was not good. Trust her to be stuck driving Brooke's car by the end of the night.
'I'll tell you,' He said leaning closer like it was a secret 'You moved the gear stick into fifth.'
'Didn't I say shut up already? I'm going to do this.' Haley said getting annoyed with the car and his picking on her. Her driving was bad but it wasn't as appalling as he made out.
She started the car again and it wouldn't move.
'You have to take the car out of neutral.' He said after watching her fiddling around with the pedals.
'I know that.' Maybe appalling was the word. It was all the stress of that night catching up on her; she convinced herself.
She was totally going to regret doing what she was planning to do but Haley was starting to get frightened by the way the storm was getting worse, not better. Even the heater was fighting hard to keep them warm. They needed to get indoors soon. She turned her head to look at him.
'What I'm about to say is completely irresponsible and completely insane but I think I might take you up on your driving offer.'
Before she could ask twice he shifted up from his seat and half standing moved so he slid expertly behind her in the driving seat, pushing up against her. She squealed from his quick and unexpected actions and fought to get herself untangled from his body so she could move into the passenger seat.
Once she had found the seat she fought to control her breathing. Lack of exercise was her excuse. 'You could have just used the doors.'
'And get wet?'
He started the car and moved them slowly onto the road before tearing down the street like they weren't in the worst kind of weather possible.
'See? Easy. And I'm not drugged, do you think a person on drugs could have reflexes like these?'
He handled the car expertly, like he was sitting in a top-of-the-range sports car, not a small bug.
She sat against the door and watched him. Something strange was going on. Drugs had to be the only explanation for his strange behaviour. Either that or he had recently stumbled upon a split personality that he didn't seem to like too much.
Named Tristan DuGrey. Well at least he picked a pretty name.
Either way it really didn't explain his behaviour towards her.