Tree Hill Academy
Chapter 10: Take Me Back Tonight
Lucas walked up hurriedly to House 200 hoping to catch Anna in her room, before she went to dinner. He pulled open the door and walked quickly to the already familiar room number six. He knocked loudly twice before Haley opened the door with an annoyed look on her face. It promptly got softer as she saw Lucas.
"Hey," she smiled excitedly, "How was your day?"
Lucas gave a tight smile back. "It was ok," he managed to mumble out. He stood rigidly in the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Haley asked, "Come sit down. We can talk and then go to dinner."
Lucas sighed. She looked so happy to see him, and he knew they hadn't really talked much since the first day back. But all his mind could focus on was Anna. And how he had to talk to her and find out what was going on. "I actually came to see Anna," he said slowly.
Haley's face darkened like a cloud, and tears threatened to run down her face like rain. "Oh well she's not here," Haley said coldly.
Lucas sighed. "Don't be like that Haley."
"Like what?" she asked defensively. "Here I just assumed that my best friend who I haven't really gotten to hang out with so far wanted to talk to me. But of course he comes here to hang out with my roommate, and when she's not here, he's not even decent enough to pretend that he wants to see me."
Lucas looked away. "Yeah well it's not like you haven't made other friends. You've been hanging out with Brooke a lot," he spat.
Haley glared at him angrily. "Don't you dare put this on me, Lucas Scott. Don't you dare."
"Look I'm sorry Haley. Let's just forget it."
"Yeah whatever," she rolled her eyes.
"Hales, come on, what's going on with you?" Lucas asked sensing she was upset about something else.
"You want to know the truth? I don't like you and Anna together. I don't trust her and I don't think you're good together."
Hearing Haley rag on Anna after the episode with Felix last night broke Lucas's nerves in two, and he turned on her heatedly. "Well to be honest Hales, I don't really care what you think about Anna. Who I like really isn't your concern. And I'm getting enough from everybody else about it, so I don't really need it from you."
Haley narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"No, I'm not talking to you about it. You obviously don't care, and don't want us together. So save your little concerned act bullshit Haley."
"At least I'm honest! I thought friends could tell each other their opinions. So save your B.S about me not caring about you. Because I wouldn't say anything if I didn't. "
"Whatever Haley. I don't want to hear this. You know what, I'll just see you around," he said frustrated.
"No, you won't see me. Because the next time you do, I won't talk to you." She turned her back and sat down at her desk not once glancing back at him.
"Fine thanks a lot Hales," Lucas muttered sarcastically and turned away from the room.
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Lucas banged into his room feeling extremely frustrated. He and Haley had never fought like that. Everything just seemed to be so fucked up this year, and they weren't even through a week. Lucas groaned audibly and threw himself onto his bed muttering under his breath. Nathan turned from his desk, where he appeared to be actually working. That thought flew out of Lucas's head in an instant. After all it was Nathan.
"Rough day?" Nathan asked with a smirk.
Lucas gave him a look back. "How'd you guess," he said sarcastically.
Nathan sighed. "So what happened?"
"Oh well, I might as well tell you since you'll take my side."
Nathan laughed. "And why is that?"
"Because it's about Haley, who you hate."
Nathan nodded halfheartedly, but still not bothering to correct Lucas about how last night she had randomly showed up and he had actually thought she was kind of cool.
"She and I got into a fight."
"Are you shitting me? You and Haley are like best friend heaven."
"Well clearly not. Since she doesn't approve of the girl I like, which would be Anna."
"Dude, aren't they roommates."
"Yes," Lucas said bowing his head.
"That's hilarious," Nathan said laughing.
"I'm glad you think it's funny," Lucas muttered sarcasm rolling off his tongue.
Suddenly an idea dawned on Nathan, which sobered him up summarily. He immediately stopped laughing. "Do you, do you think Haley likes you?" he asked hesitantly.
"Not at all," Lucas snorted, "Why?"
"No reason," Nathan said diffusing the idea. He didn't know why, but he felt himself turning green with envy at the thought. What if Haley did like Lucas? His stomach churned thinking about it. He tried to wash it from his mind but the idea didn't seem to disappear.
"Nate, you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said shaking quickly before turning back to Lucas with his classic smirk. But somehow he knew it didn't quite feel right.
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Friday had finally arrived and with it the weekend and the end of the first week back. Brooke and Haley sat together outside on one of the benches under a shady tree. It was so strange to think that it only 5 days, they had practically become close friends. Brooke knew that some people thought it was weird that she associated with the smart girl who tutored people to make money, since she didn't have and unlimited credit card like most of the others on campus. But she didn't care. She liked Haley and that was that. The same went for Haley. She could remember loathing Brooke David before, but now she couldn't quite understand why.
Haley sighed as she turned the page of the book she was reading. Brooke looked up from the fashion magazine she was pawing through and raised her eyebrows at Haley. "Spill," she said dramatically.
"I got into a fight with Lucas about Anna last night," Haley said scrunching up her nose distastefully.
"Ooh yeah. Never a good idea to lecture the best friend about the person they like. I learned that the hard way with Peyton and Nathan."
"A little bit of warning would have been nice."
Brooke giggled. "Sorry tutor girl."
"At least I don't have to worry about who Jake likes," she mumbled, having already been informed by Brooke about the Jeyton situation, as she called it.
"This is true."
Before Haley could answer, the girls were interrupted by the arrival of Felix. He was wearing only a wife- beater and jeans, because of the late summer heat, and Brooke licked her lips as he came closer.
"Sorry to bother you girls, but Brooke can we talk?"
"Sure," she smiled coyly, "I'll be right back tutor girl."
"Take your time, Tigger," Haley trilled knowingly.
Felix led Brooke to one of the sides of her house and put his arm out on the structure a millimeter away from where her body was leaning. "So," he smirked and leaned in as if to kiss her.
Brooke brought a finger to his lips and grinned up at him. "Hold on their boytoy," she said huskily, "I think we need to set some terms."
Felix smiled knowingly. "Whatever you want baby."
Brooke's lips curled up. "Well I'm thinking friends with benefits."
"I could go for that," Felix said licking his lips.
"But I designate the times."
Felix groaned, "Are you serious?'"
"As a heart attack. Take it or leave it."
Felix looked down at the gorgeous girl in front of him. Her chocolate hair was parted and her green eyes flashed seductively up at him. "I say yes," he murmured against her ear.
"I was hoping you would."
"So can I kiss you now?" he asked impatiently.
"You better."
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Nathan sat in Tim's room waiting for his friend to pick an outfit that would "impress the ladies" even though Nathan knew that whatever Tim wore, it would do no such thing. As it was Friday night, there was a party in the student union. Typically, the administration had no idea that it would coincidentally be occurring at the same time as their planned one to celebrate being back for the hundredth time.
"So Nate man, now that you cut the leash with Peyton, which hottie you moving onto next?"
Nathan rolled his eyes. "I don't know. Why, are you into someone?"
"Please, all the girls love the Tim."
Nathan snorted. "Yeah maybe in a parallel universe."
Tim passed over the insult without a second thought. Probably because he didn't understand it. "Dude what are you wearing?"
"This," Nathan said gesturing to his clothes.
Tim looked it over with intense scrutiny. "Are you sure?"
"Don't be such a girl. I look fine."
"Ok man, but come on. Tell me who are you getting with now? Is it Rachel? Cuz man she is totally smoking. And Brooke too, man."
Nathan blanched. "I'm not going to hook up with my ex-girlfriend's best friend two days after we broke up."
"Whatever man. Rachel's still available."
"Rachel's a slut," Nathan said casting her off.
"Yeah but didn't you guys do the dirty deed freshmen year?"
"Ok first off, who says that? And second, yeah so I already know what she's like." Nathan grimaced remembering that random night. He should never have gone near her. After that she had some dumb cockamamie idea that he wanted to be with her. As if.
"So who then?" Tim prodded eagerly.
"I don't know," Nathan replied frustrated. No one really appealed to him anymore. They all seemed so whorish and vapid, and he didn't want anything to do with them. And for that he could most certainly blame Haley James.
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Lucas walked around the party in a trance feeling alone and friendless. Jake had bailed not feeling up to it. Nathan was busy drinking and flirting. And then there was Haley. He saw her and wished he could talk to her, but she seemed to be having a good time talking to Brooke, Mouth and Felix. Well if she wanted to cavort with the enemy then that was just fine with Lucas. He knew she didn't really know what Felix had done, but he let the figment percolate in his mind. His thoughts were disrupted when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and saw Anna in front of him biting her lip nervously.
"Hey," he said smiling and pulling her into a hug.
"Hi," she replied quietly.
"I'm so glad to see you. I really wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry about what happened with your brother, but I really do like you."
"I know and because of that, I have to ask a favor."
"Anything."
Anna smiled sadly but it dimmed quickly. "Leave me alone."
"What?" Lucas asked confused and hurt.
"If you really like me, you'll let me be. I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry." She turned and quickly disappeared leaving with a desolate boy behind her.
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Peyton lay on her bed staring up at her ceiling and the shadows that were etched across. She had begged out of the party and for once Brooke didn't try to convince her. She just wanted to be alone, and not have to deal with all the prying eyes, since the break-up was clearly public. More importantly, she knew Jake wouldn't be there, so there was no point. He was too busy avoiding her. She sighed and closed her eyes and pictured the night of the lock-in. She smiled at how caring he had been and then the kiss. It had been amazing. Like there was only a few seconds left to live. Her thoughts roamed over the few times they had shared. There weren't many but they all either made her smile, and of course the last one made her cry. Peyton was so consumed with her thoughts that she didn't hear the door open and close softly. She slowly opened her eyes, after awhile, blinking away the tears. And then she saw him. Almost as if she had conjured him up by just remembering him.
"Hey," she said softly surprised.
"Hey yourself," he smiled swiftly moving closer to her bedside.
"What are you doing here?" she found herself asking even though there was no where else she wanted him to be.
"I missed you," he said simply.
"I missed you too Jake," she said the tears falling now. "Look I know what I did was unforgivable, but"
"Shh," he interrupted taking her hand in his as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "I forgive you."
"But how?"
"Well a little birdie told me that all I had to do was unmake your decision for you. So here I am."
"Does the bird happen to be named Brooke?"
Jake shrugged a mischievous glance in his eyes. "Who cares who it was as long as it worked?"
"Did it?" Peyton asked bracing herself for his answer.
"Yes," he replied tenderly and kissed her hand, before slowly moving his face to hers and pressing their lips together. First it was slow and tender but it quickly turned passionate and heated. Jake pulled away when breathing became an issue. "I want to be with you Peyton."
"I've waited so long to hear you say that," she said tears filling her eyes again. Jake brushed them away and smiled at her before pulling her towards him and kissing her again.