Chapter 9

Secret No. 9: You can never judge a book by its cover. So sneak a peek at the inside flap, instead.

Three weeks later, Haley and Lucas were working on homework at his house.

"So, what do you want to do this weekend?" Haley asked. Between Lucas's basketball practice and Haley's tutoring and working at Karen's café, they hadn't been able to spend much time together lately.

"I don't know. You want to have a movie night?" Lucas proposed.

"Yeah, that'd be cool. We can do it at my house on Saturday."

"Sounds good," he replied. "So, how have things been? We haven't hung out like this in a week and a half."

"Pretty good. I've been busy with your mom at the café but other than that it's been great." That and I can't stop thinking about your brother, Haley thought guiltily. It was true. Despite the crap he pulled a few weeks ago, Nathan Scott was still on Haley's mind. He tried to get her attention a few other times after that but she wouldn't give him the time of day. She didn't want to betray Lucas.

"Is everything ok with the team?" she questioned. "They're not still bothering you are they?"

"No," he answered. But the look on his face said otherwise.

"Lucas, you do know that you're terrible at lying to me. Just tell me the truth," Haley urged in a soothing voice.

"Haley, you're such a mom," he laughed. She gave him a stern look. I'm trying to help him and the idiot can only laugh. Men!

"Ok," he laughed harder. "I'm sorry." Once the laughter finally subsided, he got serious. "I don't want you to worry but, I think it's getting worse." Uh oh. This can't be good.

"What are they doing?"

"They ruin my stuff, try to humiliate me as best they can, and now they're freezing me out during the actual games."

"I'm sorry, Lucas. I really am," Haley stated.

"I told you not to worry about it. There's nothing you can do anyway," he said. Actually, maybe there is.

The next day, Haley was called down to Principal Turner's office. When she walked into the room, she saw her mom.

"Mom, what's going on?" asked Haley. "If this is about me spilling those acidic chemicals on the science lab floor, it was a total accident. They just slipped…"

"Relax, Miss James. You're not in any kind of trouble," he assured her.

"Oh, then forget I just said that," she nervously laughed.

"So what is this about?" inquired Lydia politely.

"As you know, Mrs. James, Haley here is a very bright girl. Her placement tests came back above average," Principal Turner informed them. Duh, I've always done well in school. What's so important about this?

"That's great and all but I'm afraid I still don't understand," Lydia pushed further.

"We believe that Haley would gain more out of her high school education if she were moved up one grade. Her academics are impressive and she's been tutoring students in higher level classes than hers.
The decision is up to both of you in the end but we feel that it would be the best thing for her."

"So, you want me to skip a grade? As in, I'll be part of the junior class?" Haley clarified.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. What do you think, Haley?" Cool! I'll be able to graduate with Brooke!

"Yeah, definitely," she answered.

"Wait a minute," Lydia interrupted. "Haley, are sure you can handle this. After all, you're tutoring and working at the café, too. I'm not sure you'll have the time to get everything you need done. It's ok to stay where you are. There's no pressure."

"Your mother is right, Haley. You do not have to advance. Whatever you're comfortable with is up to you," the principal added.

"Mom, you know that I've always loved school. And besides, this is me we're talking about. I know I can do it. Plus, I really want to graduate with Brooke next year," Haley pleaded.

"If she does do this, how will she make up the work in those other classes?" asked Lydia.

"Since it still is early in the year, she hasn't missed much. Only her core curricular classes will be affected—like math, history, science and English. Also, all the grades she has obtained so far in those classes will be transferred to her new ones. Her electives will remain the same. She'll just pick up at the point the class is currently on."

Looking at Haley Lydia asked one last time, "You sure, Haley Bop?"

"Yeah, Mom. I want to do this." I might even be in some of Lucas's classes. This is awesome! I'm such a geek.

"Excellent. You can begin next period. I had the guidance counselor make you a new schedule just in case," he stated as he handed Haley her new schedule.

"Ew, I still have gym in the morning?" Haley groaned.

"Yes, they just moved you into the class for juniors. However, Coach Durham will be your new teacher." Just freaking great. Well, I guess you can't win them all. When everything was finished, Lydia and Haley shook hands with Principal Turner and left the office.

"See you at home, Mom," Haley said while hugging her goodbye.

"I'm really proud of you, Haley. Your father would have been too," Lydia commented softly as she pushed the hair out of Haley's face.

"Thanks, Mom," Haley replied. As she saw her mom leave, Haley took a deep breath. She could feel her eyes starting to water at the mention of her dad. The last thing she needed was to have a complete breakdown in the middle of the hallway. When she finally gained control of her emotions, Haley made her way to her new classroom and entered. Why did I have to come late? As if this isn't awkward enough? Now she was in front of an entire class full of strangers trying to get the teacher's attention.

"Hi, may I help you?" asked the teacher.

"Yeah, I was just transferred into this class," Haley answered while showing the woman her schedule.

"Oh yes, Haley! I was informed about you. Welcome, I'm Mrs. Sage. See me after class and I'll get you up to date on what we're working on," the teacher happily explained. Wow, is she perky. But at least she's not an old shrewd. There was nothing worse to Haley than an old, senile teacher who thought that she knew everything.

"As for now, you can take the empty seat next to Mr. Scott in the back."

"Excuse me?" Haley asked shocked. She looked to the back of the classroom and sure enough, there he was. Nathan Scott—smirk and all. This can't be happening.

"Just there dear," the teacher confirmed.

"Ok," Haley said as she tried to get over the initial shock. "Thanks." As she walked to the back of the room, it seemed as if all eyes were on her. Maybe that's because everyone is staring at me. But why does he have to, too? Those blue eyes really are gorgeous. Shut up, Haley! Just walk. After what felt like forever, Haley finally took her seat and got her stuff out for class.

"Now everyone, since we're getting more in depth with Romeo & Juliet, I want each one of you to choose a partner of the opposite sex. You're then going to translate what you think the characters are really saying to one another," explained Mrs. Sage. "Now find your partner." Haley didn't know what to do. It was bad enough that she didn't know any of the girls in the class, but now she had to find a strange guy to work with? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

"Hey Nathan," Haley heard a redhead call. "You want to be partners. I was thinking we could work on the scene just before they consummate their relationship. And whatever we don't get done, we can work on outside of class," she finished with a flirtatious wink.

"No, Nathan's my partner," a guy next to Nathan argued.

"Tim, you do realize that she said you have to work with someone of the opposite sex?" the girl pointed out annoyed. "And by that I mean a girl."

"Oh," he dumbly stated.

"Sorry guys but I already have a partner. Don't I, Haley?" Nathan said as he looked over to his left at her with a smile.

"Um…" Haley trailed off.

"Good. Let's get started." The redheaded girl, or Rachel as Haley heard, gave her a dirty look and then stomped away.

"Why did you do that?" Haley demanded. It came out a little less edgy than she would have liked.

"We both needed partners. Plus, it gives me an excuse to talk to you without you completely blowing me off," Nathan concluded.

"And why would you want to talk to me? I'm best friends with Lucas. You know, the brother you refuse to accept and instead torment," she stormed.

"So, I won't hold it against you." Why do hott guys always have to be such assholes? What a waste. And there was so much potential! Yes, Haley James was in fact admitting that she thought Nathan Scott was hott.

"You're a jerk," she then snapped once Nathan's words sunk in. "Lucas is a good guy. He never did anything to you." Haley couldn't stand the way Lucas was always being put down by others. He was her best friend and she'd be damned if she let anyone trash talk him in front of her. She then turned away from Nathan and began to read the scene they were assigned.

"Look, Haley…I'm sorry. Really," he stated a minute later as she gave him an incredulous look. "I just...I get worked up when he's around me."

"Why?" she prodded in a softer tone. For some reason, even if it was just for a second, Nathan seemed to have let his guard down. "You seem to have gotten the 'better' end of the deal. You have a father who cares for you and this whole school practically worships you. What more could you possibly want?"

"Let's just say, being Dan Scott's son is not all it's cracked up to be," he stated cryptically as he looked into her eyes. Oh boy, I'm in trouble. Are we having a moment? They stared at each other for another minute until they turned their attention back to the assignment.

"So what's up with this Shapespeare dude?" he asked trying to break up some of the tension. Ladies and gentlemen, the normal Nathan Scott has returned. Haley welcomed the change of atmosphere.
If she had stared into those ocean blue eyes any longer, she just might have turned into a puddle on the floor. They were that intense. At his comment, she started laughing.

"I think you mean Shakespeare," she corrected still laughing. Realizing his mistake, he also began to laugh.

"Whatever. So, what scene are we working on?"

"The balcony scene where Romeo first courts Juliet," she informed.

"Before we start, I just want to let you know that I suck at this stuff. I apologize in advance," he admitted.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm smart huh? Let me do the work while you sit there and look pretty," she joked as she began translating the words.

"That reminds me, I thought you were a sophomore. What are you doing in a junior class?" he questioned.

"They let me skip a grade. Apparently I wasn't being challenged enough in my other classes," she explained.

"Whoa, remind me to partner up with you more often," he muttered to himself. "Wait, you think I'm pretty?" he then commented with that boyish smirk on his face. But this time, it had a friendlier quality about it. "I knew you had a thing for me."

"Shut up, Scott, before I call your friend Tim back over here," she playfully threatened while rolling her eyes.

"So, what line are we on…"