Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill


Cause and Effect

Chapter Twelve

"Haley Bob!" Haley groaned at the sound of her mother's voice. It was six o'clock on a Friday morning, and Lydia James had decided to wake her daughter up with an early morning phone call. Haley had only answered her ringing cell phone after it woke her up for her peaceful sleep.

"Mom! What is so important that it couldn't wait for you to call me after I woke up?" Haley asked.

"Haley I am your mother do I have to have a reason to call you?"

"Yes!"

Lydia sighed, "You're on the cheerleading squad at Duke."

Haley's eyes widen and her heart stopped. Panic was understatement to what Haley was feeling. Fear, complete and utter fear that her parents would come up to Duke and demand she quit the squad.

"Mom, I am so sorry I didn't tell you or dad, but I just-"

"Haley me and your dad are so proud of you," Lydia said. "You have been nothing but a trooper all though your recovery and were proud that you can cheer without it threatening a relapse."

Guilt. Her parents were proud of her, for something that she defiantly wasn't doing. She wasn't in recovery anymore. It has been two weeks since Haley stopped her sessions with Dr. Lynn. In two weeks she had lost eight more pounds, and she was now only weighed ninety pounds. Between cheerleading and starving herself the weight came off easily.

"Really?" Haley asked hoping that that Lydia was lying and that she really wasn't proud of her.

"Yes really, Haley Bob. When your home for Thanksgiving you'll see just how proud we are of you. Me and your dad took down all the Clemson stuff in the living room and put all Duke stuff up," Lydia explained.

Haley frowned, for as long as she remembered the living room at her mom's, well parents'; house had been a shrine to Clemson University Football. Her brothers had decorated the room themselves when the family moved into the house when Haley was seven. The boys had picked out the paint on the walls, Clemson orange, and framed and hanged their favorite players' jerseys on the walls. The boys would also hang a recent football schedule on one of the walls too. Pictures of the family at games filled the walls of the living room, along with pictures of University's campus itself.

"Mom you really shouldn't have done that, the boys love that room," Haley said. She had loved that room, Haley had wanted to go to Clemson. It was the school she had grown up with, but too many people knew her there, knew about her eating disorder. So she chose Duke, and Haley was glad she did. She loved Duke, and if she had gone to Clemson she would of never had met Nathan.

"Sweetie, last time I checked the boys didn't live here anymore. Besides I am tired of that orange color anyway," Lydia joked.

"You even painted the living room? It's not blue is it?" Haley asked in shocked.

"No silly, I painted it a very light grey. But the walls are covered with Duke stuff, I have jerseys and pictures, and your acceptance letter is framed and hanged up on one of them! You need bring me a couple of pictures in your cheerleading uniform when you come home!" Lydia said.

Haley bit her lip, what was she suppose to say? She felt guilty that her mom had redecorated the living room for her, when in truth she wasn't in recovery anymore. "Of course, mom I'll bring you a couple of pictures," Haley managed to say.

"Good now, your coming home on Monday right for break?" Lydia asked.

"Yes, mom," Haley answered. Duke gave students the whole week of Thanksgiving off, but she wasn't leaving until Monday since there was a basketball game on Saturday. "I'm driving down on Monday morning, so I should be home after lunch."

"Great, all your siblings are coming home this year. Vivian's bringing the kids, Matt's bringing his wife whose pregnant, Drew, Todd and Taylor are still single, but Quinn has a boyfriend I think she said his name was Clay. Any way he's coming too, and your dad but he lives here so I guess you figured that," Lydia said.

"That's great mom, I'll see you then, bye mom," Haley replied.

"Bye Haley Bob," Lydia chirped as her daughter ended the phone call.

Haley sighed as she put her phone down and closed her eyes and the voice started whispering to her. This was going to be one long Thanksgiving break.


Nathan rubbed his temples as he leaned back into his living room couch. He, Brooke, Lucas, and Peyton had been discussing Haley for the past thirty minutes and they were getting no were. He had been hopeful after their date in the garden that he had overreacted, he was wrong. It had been two weeks and things and gotten worse. He didn't know what to do, so he enlisted the help of his friends but they were just as clueless as he was.

"I think Haley shouldn't be flying," Nathan said, earning confused looks from the three other people in living room. Peyton and Brooke were currently sitting on the couch across from him and Luke. "I've been reading some stories about eating disorders and stuff and apparently there have been a lot of cheerleaders who starved themselves just so they can get tossed in the air."

"But Haley doesn't have an eating disorder," Peyton replied.

"We don't know that, she hasn't been eating and I am pretty sure that's a description of anorexia," Lucas countered,

Brooke shook her head, "Girls go on crazy diets all the time to get skinny, and they usually stop once they get to certain point."

"Look I may not be a girl, but it's pretty obvious to me that it's not some crazy diet. I think Haley might be anorexic. I've looked up all the signs, and she fits into almost every one," Nathan sighed.

The group was silent for a moment before Brooke spoke, "You think cheerleading is causing this?"

Nathan nodded, "That and a couple of other things."

"Brooke, if Haley really is anorexic you have to take away her flying position," Peyton advised. "Remember when we were on the middle school squad, an eighth grade cheerleader almost died because of her eating disorder."

"I remember, but Haley's gonna freak! What if she thinks she's getting her flying position taken away because she's too heavy or something?" Brooke asked.

"Doesn't Mark have a bad wrist?" Luke questioned.

Nathan raised an eyebrow, "Mark the guy that lifts Haley, he has a bad wrist?"

"Yeah, it's his right wrist too. When his wrist acts up he can't stunt Haley, it's so bad," Brooke replied.

"Just tell Mark about Haley, and get him to say his wrist is bothering him," Peyton suggested.

"That's only going to last a couple of weeks though," Luke observed.

Nathan frowned, "Maybe I should jut confront Haley. She'll listen to me."

"Nathan," Brooke began, "If Haley is really anorexic she's not going to listen to you. I've seen girls with eating disorders before they don't listen to anybody, and if confront them they'll think your their enemy."

"Brooke's right, confronting Haley is the last thing you need to do Nathan," Peyton said.

"So what am I suppose to do wait until she starves herself to death? I am just suppose to sit here and watch her become nothing but skins and bones! I can't do that!" Nathan shouted as he stood up from the couch.

"Nate, calm down," Luke placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We want to help Haley too, but this isn't something that can just happen overnight."

Nathan shook his head, "I know, it's just, it's Haley. I can't just wait, Luke. I am going to talk to her about this."

"Nathan that's not a good idea," Brooke began, "I'll make sure Haley doesn't fly if you don't confront her."

"Okay, Brooke. I have to go, I promised Haley I meet up with her before practice," Nathan announced before walking out of the apartment.

"He's going to confront her isn't he Luke," Brooke asked as soon as Nathan was out of the door.

Luke nodded, "Yeah he is."

"He's going to lose her, Luke," Brooke said solemnly.


Nathan knocked on Haley's dorm room door. He had thought about what Brooke had said, how confronting Haley wasn't a good idea, on the way. Nathan knew though that Haley would listen to him. She knew how much he loved her, and she would listen to him.

"Hey you," Haley said with a smiled as she opened the door.

Nathan frowned as he looked at Haley, she was wearing a tank top and gym shorts that revealed just how skinny she was. "Haley we need to talk."

The cheerleader's smile instantly fell, "Okay come in."

Nathan took a deep breath as he walked into Haley's room. He didn't bother sitting, instead he stood in the middle of the room; he stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets.

"Okay what do you need to talk to me about?" Haley asked after closing her door.

"How much do you weigh Haley?"

"Why is that any of your business?" Haley replied crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Haley, I haven't seen you eat a decent meal in weeks! I am worried, as your boyfriend that's kind of my right," Nathan said.

Haley rolled her eyes, "I think you need to stay out of my business."

"Just answer the question Haley!" Nathan demanded.

"No!" Haley snapped. "It's none of your business!"

"Yes it is! I love you so much; I am so worried about you! I am worried that you're so damn skinny and that you're not eating! Haley it's not healthy!" Nathan declared.

"If you love me you'll stay out of my business. It's my body Nathan I can whatever I want with it," Haley replied.

"Everyone is worried about you, Hales. Brooke is thinking about not even letting you fly, you're so damn skinny. It's obvious that your sick, Haley just let me help you," Nathan begged. "Just please let me help you Haley."

"What do mean I am not going to be a flyer?" Haley questioned.

Nathan sighed, "I talk to Brooke. She agreed with me, you're not healthy Haley. Cheerleading isn't helping you, I can though."

Haley gasped, "How dare you! You told Brooke not to let me fly anymore? Why in the world would you do something like that?"

"You're anorexic Haley. You need help!"

"You're just jealous! You're jealous that I am this skinny! I don't need help, I am healthy."

Nathan couldn't believe that Haley thought she was healthy. Haley James who had a 4.0 GPA, thought starving herself was healthy. "I love you Haley, Always and Forever. You need help though, just let me help you."

"If you love me why did you go behind my back?" Haley spat.

"I care about you Haley, I always will," Nathan said.

Haley shook her head, "Well I don't love you. You betrayed me Nathan! How could you behind my back! You know how much I love flying and you get it taken away from me?"

"Haley only I did it because I love you."

"Well, I hate you. I hate you and all your friends! You and Brooke and the rest of them are just jealous of me!" Haley shouted.

The words stung, Haley had said she hated him. It didn't stop Nathan though from wanting to help her though. She could stand in front of him and tell him she hated him all day long, he would still try to help her. "Well, I love you Haley. I meant when I said always and forever. I'm always going to love you so you can tell me you hate me, but I am just going to love you forever. No matter what you say I am going to love you until the day I die, Hales."

"I hate you, if you can't see that I am just trying be perfect and if you can't support me I want you out of my life," Haley said.

"Haley you don't mean that," Nathan paused before adding," I am worried about you, you have an eating disorder."

"I always hated how you were so overprotective. I still do, just like I still hate you. Nathan no amount of sweet words can get you of this, you went behind my back. We are over," Haley declared.

Nathan's eyes widen. He was losing her. He couldn't lose her. "No Haley, we're not over. I love you and we are going to get through this."

"No, we are over. You can't go behind my back, and that sprout these lies about me being anorexic! I am healthy Nathan, and I think it's time for you to leave," Haley shot back.

"I am still going to be there for you Haley. You can push me away as much as you like, I am still going to love you."

"I hate you and I want you to get out of my room."

Nathan slowly backed away from Haley and towards the door "I love you Haley always and forever," he said before opening the door and walking out.

He didn't bother even holding back his tears. He had just lost the girl he loved to anorexia.


"I can't believe she didn't show up" Nathan said.

It was Saturday after the game and no one had seen Haley since her fight with Nathan. He and the gang had decided to hang out at his and Luke's apartment instead of going to the after party. No one was in the mood to celebrate the winning streak; they were all worried about their friend who was missing. Nathan had been walking around like a zombie since Friday and ended up shutting himself in his room. Lucas was worried that his brother wouldn't leave it, but an hour before the game Nathan walked out dressed and ready. But the blonde Scott brother could tell his little brother wasn't okay, he was far from it. He was heartbroken, and worried sick about Haley.

"Have you tried calling her?" Jake asked as he handed Nathan a well deserved can of beer.

"Of course!" Nathan yelled as Jake sat on one of the couches next to Peyton and his daughter. Jenny was currently sitting on the blonde artist's lap while she played a game on Jake's phone. Jake had brought his daughter with him and Peyton since they weren't going to a party. The little girl being there only made Nathan miss Haley more. His girlfriend loved kids, she loved Jenny.

"I had the whole team try to call her," Brooke added as she walked into living room from the kitchen carrying boxes of pizza. Lucas was behind her with the plates. The two set the food and plates down on the coffee table between the two brown couches.

"I got the whole basketball team to call her. Heck, I even got Coach K to call her," Nathan sighed. He had hoped that Haley would show up at the game, she hadn't though. She didn't respond to any phone calls or texts from anyone. Nathan himself probably had called her over a dozen times and sent her about a hundred text messages.

Luke raised an eyebrow, "You asked your coach to call your girlfriend for you?"

"I am desperate. And he only agreed to if I promise not to play like crap, which somehow I managed not to," Nathan explained. The team had won tonight; Nathan only wished Haley was there with him to celebrate. He missed her so much and he would give anything just to see her, or hear voice. His heart ached, and he felt so lost. He had lost the only girl that he had ever truly loved, and he no clue where she was or if she was okay. All Nathan wanted to know was that she was okay, that she was safe, that she wasn't alone; most of all Nathan wanted her back. He wanted to be able to hold her in his arms and know she was still there, that she was still the Haley had fallen in love.

"Maybe she's still at Duke, have you checked her dorm room?" Peyton asked.

Nathan's eyes widen as he shot up from his spot on the couch, "Peyton you're a genius!"

"Whoa, little brother. If Haley is back at her dorm, how are you going to know?" Luke asked.

Nathan smirked, "If Haley doesn't answer the door, I know she keeps her spare key taped on the top of her door sill."

"So you are going to barge in and make her even more mad?" Brooke questioned.

"At least if she's there I'll know she's okay. And if she's not maybe I could figure out where she went at least," Nathan said "I am going, I'll be back in a little while."

"Fine," Luke grumbled, "I am going with you though little brother."

Nathan shook his head, "Okay let's go."

Duke's campus was still filled with crazy fans as two brothers walked to Haley's dorm. Luckily Nathan had a ball cap, and people didn't seem to notice the star basketball player walking across campus. The team hadn't lost a game yet, and the campus after and before the game was filled with Duke Fans celebrating the winning streak.

"So do you really think she's still here?" Luke asked as he and Nathan entered Haley's dorm building.

"I don't know. I just hope, I haven't lost her," Nathan said as they walked to Haley's door.

"So should we knock are should we just break in?" Lucas asked.

Nathan rolled his eyes. He reached up the door sill and grabbed the key, "If she's in there she's not going to answer or even let us in," Nathan replied before unlocking the door.

"She's not here," Luke announced as they walked in.

Nathan began looking around the room, Haley's books were gone and so was her laptop. Some of her clothes were gone out of her closet and so was her pillow off her bed. "She's somewhere though."

"But where?"

Nathan simply shrugged as he sat down in Haley's desk chair. He has not utter clue where she would go, where she could be. He looked at the desk it was usually cluttered with books and papers but it was now cleared off. He sighed and began looking through the desk's drawers opening he might find something, a receipt for bus ticket, a printout of directions. Lucas too, started to look around the room hoping to find something that would give them an idea as to where Haley was.

Suddenly something caught Lucas's eye. It was Haley's garbage can, there was nothing in it besides one single piece of crumbled up paper. Lucas instantly pulled it out and a flatten it out.

Nathan,

I went to Honey Groove a little early. I'll be back, so don't come looking for me.

-Haley

"Nathan, she went to Honey Groove," Luke said as he handed his little brother the paper. He Luke watched as his brother read the papers, his little brother's eyes were filled with relief. "You haven't lost her Nate, she cares about you still. She wrote you a note."

"Luke she threw it away. I've lost Haley," Nathan said before tears started rolling down his face.

Lucas Scott had never seen his little brother cry before; crying was just something Nathan Scott did not do. Yet, here in he was sitting in a desk chair crying over a girl. It wasn't just any girl though, Lucas knew that Nathan loved Haley, he just never realized how much. Lucas did know he was going to do everything he could to help his brother get his girlfriend back. Nathan just wasn't himself without Haley, she was Nathan's other half.

"Nate, you'll get her back everything is going to be okay," Luke promised as he patted Nathan's back.

"I don't think this is one of my messes you can clean up Lucas. I am the one whose trying to the save the day, and the be the hero. I suck at it too," Nathan replied. Lucas had always been the one Nathan called when he was trouble since junior year of high school. His older brother had always been the responsible one, the good guy and Lucas made it looked so easy. Nathan was learning just how hard it was to be that person.

Luke nodded, "You can't fix Haley, Nathan. You're just going to have to wait for Haley to ask for help."

"What if she doesn't Luke?"

"I don't know, Nathan, but it's the only thing you can do."

"She could die from this, Luke."

His brother was quiet. The truth was that no one liked to think about the impending death of anyone, especially a friend or a loved. Now Nathan was having to deal with something that his brother couldn't help with. The only person that could stop it was Haley. Her own life was her hands.

"Nathan, I hate to say it but you can't make Haley better," Lucas began. "She's the only person that can stop this, you just have to wait for her to come around."

Nathan nodded. He would wait for Haley to ask for help, he only hoped that she would see what she was doing to herself soon. He loved her; she was the only girl he had ever loved. He was just afraid that he was going to lose her in more ways than one. He read the horror stories about anorexia online. She could die from it, and there was nothing he could do to help her but sit here and wait. Nathan only hoped she didn't wait until it was too late.


Author's Note- Sorry for the longer wait than usual! I hope you that you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for continuing to support this story and keep an eye out for the next chapter. Any comments/reviews/questions are welcomed. Thanks again- Bedazzlement