Chapter 12
Summary: I think this would be a good time to fresh everyones memory. Last year, during senior prom, Nathan and Haley still didn't work things out but she suffered a miscarriage and decided to give what Nathan wanted and end the marriage, which according to state law would take a year. Haley went to Stanford and Nathan went to Duke. Nathan has been trying ever since to win Haley back. Now it's the start of summer after their first year of college. Desperate to get Haley back, Nathan moves to California to be with her.
--
"Are you okay?" Nathan asked as Haley continued to pace back and forth in the living room.
"No, I am not alright." She tried to say calmly. "I'm just trying to figure out why.. on God's green earth would you transfer from a top ranking university with a division one basketball team ..to attend some state college with second tier basketball team.. after I specifically told you last year to go to Duke!! And this is all for WHAT? For me? On top of that.. you steal all my stuff and knock me out of Stanford's dorming list, have you gone completely insane Nathan!!" This time she couldn't hide the anger in her voice.
"Haley.. relax.. you got it all wrong.. I did it for us."
"For us?!" Haley sat down on the couch and was about to tear. "Us, Nathan.. there is no us.. and now you just threw away you're future."
"I'd like to think that I'm taking it back." Nathan said, sitting down next to Haley. He took her hand in his. "You're my future, Haley."
"Nathan, don't." She said, trying to pull her hand out but his grip was too tight.
"All my life, I wanted to play at Duke and for a year I did and it was great, but it wasn't enough.. nothing was enough with out you.. the last time I felt truly happy.. truly alive was when I came here and was with you.. I knew then that I couldn't go on with out you Haley."
"You gave up your dream .. for us, when there is no more us, God Nathan what did you do?"
"I gave up on my dream last year when I pushed you away.. I was too stupid too realize it but now I know.. you're my dream Haley, ever since you came into my life, I wanted nothing else than to be with you, everything else can come second."
If Haley wasn't so pissed she might've been touch by his words and actions. Haley got up and left. "You just made the biggest mistake of your life." She said as she walked out.
--
"Lucas Eugene Scott !!! You better not have had anything to do with this." Haley practically screamed at her cell phone. People were starting to look at her as she made her way through campus.
"Haley, what're you talking about?"
"I'm talking about how your idiot of a brother transferred schools."
"What're you talking about?"
"He transferred to CSC… California State College on the other side of town."
"Wait what? Nathan is there? In California?"
"No, not here, living here. He got an apartment just outside Stanford and while I was conveniently gone with my family, he, being my idiot of a husband, was able to get my stuff out of storage, put it in his new apartment, and oh yeah unregistered me from the dorm rooms, which I just came back from and guess what, they have no more space available!! It's summer for crying out loud, what could they possibly be doing with all those empty dorms!!" Haley was beyond frustrated and Lucas was nearly speechless.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I knew Nathan was up to something but he didn't tell me."
"For your sakes Luke, you better be right .. and now I have no place to live and summer classes start in a couple of days and worse, Nathan threw away Duke."
"Haley, it's not that bad."
"Not that bad?! Did you just hear me?"
"Look, you're not homeless, I mean you said the apartment is just outside campus and you're stuff is already there and at least now it'll give you and Nathan a chance to work things out."
"Work things out?.. we're supposed to have our divorced finalized in a couple of months and we're supposed to work things out!"
"Haley, relax.. and you and I both know that he's not going to sign those papers."
"He's throwing away his whole future for this, I can't believe this."
"If you didn't know already Hales, to him you're his future."
Haley sighed in frustration. "More like his past." She mumbled.
They talked for a couple of more minutes before Lucas hung up and called up Nathan. This time, it was his turn to yell.
"Hello." Nathan said picking up the phone.
"ARE YOU COMPLETELY OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Lucas screamed.
"Yeah, a little bit, what's up?"
"I don't even know what to say, Nate, this is bad. But it's ok, the summer just started, we can still get you back to Duke."
"I'm not going back, at least not without Haley. I made up my mind Lucas."
"But CSC Nate, CSC! Their a division II team!"
"And?"
"And!? You went from a Blue Devil.. to whatever the hell their mascot is.. do they even have a mascot!?"
"You're over reacting.. I mean yeah it sucks I won't play for Duke anymore but whatever.. I mean I loved it, I did but I was six man, I got my minutes in but I wasn't a starter."
"Nathan, you were a freshmen .. it's what freshmen do.. they wait patiently until they're sophomores or juniors."
"Whatever man, at least this way I'm definitely starting."
"I can't believe you did this.. I could only imagine how your parents took it."
"Oh Dan is pissed, believe me, but my mom is happy for me, she's actually supporting me in all this."
"But Nate, are you sure?"
"I love her." He said honestly. "And besides" he added "this is all your fault."
"My fault!"
"If you hadn't join the team, I would've never met Haley."
"I have half a mind to go fly there and strangle you myself.. unless Haley beats me to it, she's pissed Nathan."
"I know, it's my fault that things got this way.. I have to try.. I didn't try last year and look where it got me."
"Nathan, I don't want your heart to be broken."
"Well it's a good thing it already is."
Lucas sighed. "As Haley's best friend, I am so mad with you .. but as your brother, I probably would've done the same." Lucas gave up in defeat, he was actually quite touched that his brother would be so selfless and give up everything to be with Haley.
"Thanks Luke."
"So the battle continues.."
"You know it, it's a long road ahead but I got all summer to get her back to me."
Remembering his conversation with Haley earlier and how she was adamant that she didn't want to get back with Nathan, "For you're sakes, I hope you do." Lucas said hesitantly.
--
A short time later, Nathan heard someone ringing and buzzed them in. A short while later, Haley came back to the apartment.
"You forgot these on your way out." Nathan said with a smile.
She took the keys from his hand and gave him a dirty look. She went straight to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. She came out after a minute and walked over to Nathan who was sitting on the couch.
"A one bedroom, real slick Nathan." She said standing in front of him.
"I would've gotten a two bedroom but they were out and it was short notice, but I don't expect you share a bed with me.. yet.. but you can take the bedroom, I'll just take the couch."
"No, you do not get to call the shots around here after what you just did. This is what's going to happen, since I can't find a place to live, I have no choice but to stay here but this is your place, do not think of this as my place or our place.. this is your place and you can have YOUR bedroom, I will take the couch… but the closet is mine."
"Ok."
"In August, I'm going back to Tree Hill to meet up with the rest of our friends and you're going with me."
"Really?" He said with a smile.
"Yes, so you can stay there .. you don't belong here Nathan." His mood changed and she added, "..and hopefully you'll realize that before it's too late, this is a temporary thing Nathan, don't let yourself get fooled that this will somehow magically get us back together."
Nathan just looked at her, biting his tongue. At least she's going to stay, Nathan thought to himself. Baby steps.
To Be Continued . . .
I wanted to put this out before I didn't have any more time this week. Reviews? Leave me some love.
