Chapter Twelve-Protect Me
Haley James rubbed the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. She was to the point of ripping all of her hair out and then gouging out her eyes. Her brain was on total overload.
"Oh my God!" Haley yelled angrily throwing her pen down on her desk in her room. She put her head in her hands and groaned when her phone rang.
"Yeah?" Haley asked in an exhausted tone.
"Bad night sweetie?"
"Nathan….", Haley said drawing his name out. "I have been studying for this stupid AP Psych exam for like four hours and I'm still not remembering everything. God Nate what if I fail? I cannot fail! Princeton is never going to accept me if I fail this course and…."
"Hales", Nathan stated. "First of all you are not going to fail. Second of all Princeton would be stupid not to accept because of one class and if they don't it's their loss."
"But Nathan, I've worked so hard for this my entire life, I mean Princeton is my dream school Nate…I've worked my entire high school life for this and if I don't get in…"
"Haley, listen to me. You are the smartest person that I know, if Princeton is your dream school then go for it, you will get in. And even if you don't…life goes on."
Haley smiled on the other end of line. "Thanks babe."
"Alright, have a good night sweetie and don't stress k?"
"Okay. I love you Nate."
"I love you too."
Nathan hung up the phone and got up from his chair where he was watching a basketball game, grabbed his keys, and drove into the night.
An hour later Haley was still studying when her mom knocked on her bedroom door.
"Yeah?" Haley answered.
"I think someone left a gift for you", Mrs. James said handing Haley and white bag with a note attached.
Haley looked at it quizzically as Mrs. James left the room with a sly smile on her face.
Haley opened the note. It was short and brief.
Hales,
Here's something to cheer you up. I know its your favorite, so I made a little midnight trip. Don't study too hard babe.
Love,
Nate
Haley looked inside the bag. A mocha frappaccino, a blueberry scone and a whole bag of M&Ms. Nathan knew her way to well. Exactly what she'd been craving all night. She had the best fiancée in the whole world.
She looked at her buddy list as she sipped her mocha frap and clicked on the IM box.
(AN: Screen Names are as follows: Peyton- Tric-edOut(the club does exist but Karen doesn't own it and Peyton just works there), Haley- FutureMrsScott, Brooke-PrincessBrooke, Nathan- NatenHales23)
FutureMrsScott: Hey Peyt.
Tric-edOut: Hey Hales. Wuts up?
FutureMrsScott: N2M. Just studying for AP psych. U?
Tric-edOut: Same…that test is gonna be a btch.
FutureMrsScott: I know for real.
Tric-edOut would like to invite you to a Buddy Chat.
Haley clicked on Buddy Chat and entered the chat room with Peyton already in and Brooke arriving just a second later.
PrincessBrooke: Hey girlies.
FutureMrsScott: Hey….r u studying for pysch?
PrincessBrooke: Hell no….pulleeaassse. I'm gonna BS it.
Tric-edOut: HELLO? EARTH TO B. DAVIS….THIS IS OUR FINAL!
PrincessBrooke: Yeah I know…its not like I'm not going to get into college or anything…considering I got my early acceptance from UNC today!
FutureMrsScott: NO WAY!
PrincessBrooke: Yes!
Tric-edOut: R U SERIOUS! That's awesome B! OMG…you are going to UNC! That's awesome!
FutureMrsScott: Congrats:)
NatenHales23 has just entered the chat room.
Tric-edOut: Hey Nathan.
NatenHales23: Hey ladies. Whats happening?
FutureMrsScott: Hey baby. kiss
PrincessBrooke: Both of you out…
Tric-edOut: NOW;)
FutureMrsScott: Haha…j/k guys.
NatenHales: So wuts up for tomorrow? Friday night…no basketball game…I'm thinking party at the beach house?
PrincessBrooke: Hell yeah! Finally….a party worth going to!
Tric-edOut: Sounds good…you provide the house, I got the music and Haley…
FutureMrsScott: OHHHHH no you don't! NO WAY! No way am I singing.
Tric-edOut: Come on Hales…you're really good!
FutureMrsScott: No!
PrincessBrooke: Haley you have an amazing voice, you have to use it.
NatenHales23: Yeah, come on baby.
FutureMrsScott: Fine.
Tric-edOut: YES! Spread it around school…party at Nate's tomorrow. Catcha on the flip side!
FutureMrsScott: Yeah I'm out too.
PrincessBrooke: Bye guys.
NatenHales23: Later.
The next morning the gang sat outside of Tree Hill High School sipping on coffees, as Peyton and Haley studied their AP Psychology notes.
Haley pulled a strand of her straight, brown hair behind her ear as Nathan rubbed her shoulders.
The bell rang.
"Okay", Peyton said putting her notebook into her corduroy messenger bag. "You ready Hales?"
Haley bit her lip as she slung her messenger bag over her shoulder. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Alright lets go", Peyton said.
"Good luck babe", Lucas said kissing Peyton on the lips lightly.
Nathan kissed Haley's forehead and let go of her hand as Peyton and Haley walked off into school.
Haley and Peyton sat at their desks as the teacher passed out the tests.
"Where the hell is Brooke?" Haley whispered to Peyton.
"I don't know!" Peyton whispered back. "But she better get her ass here and quick or else she's gonna fail this entire course!"
"I'M HERE! I'M HERE!" Brooke yelled sliding into the classroom as if on cue. She looked like she'd blindly rummaged through her closet without looking at what she had on. Brooke came in wearing a pair of ripped Abercrombie jeans that had become too short for her, a white cami with a coffee stain on the front, a fuzzy pink zip up hoodie on top with a yellow scrunchie pulling up her hair in a pony tail and two different shoes on her feet.
"Why Miss Davis I'm so glad that you decided to join us", Mr. Everhart, the AP Psychology teacher said as Brooke took her seat next to Peyton.
"B what's up with you?" Haley whispered.
"I'm just a lil bit tired from partying last night to celebrate my college acceptance!" She said throwing her hands up dramatically.
Haley and Peyton shook their heads and began their test.
Later that evening, after school had let out and cheerleading practice was over, Haley James arrived at her picturesque cottage home. Her parents were away for the weekend, visiting family in Charlotte.
Haley threw her keys down on the table next to the door and took her messenger bag off of her shoulder and set it down next to the door. She looked at the grandfather clock that stood near by, six o'clock. There was a message from her sister Ally on the machine reminding Haley about card she was supposed to send her Aunt Maggie for her birthday and one from Lucas asking what the Calculus homework was.
Haley trudged up the stair to her room and hopped in the shower. After scrubbing her hair with her new Herbal Essence shampoo and treating it with some "Silky Shine Serum" she blow-dried her hair and crisply straightened it, strategically placing her bangs to the side. She pulled on a pair of faded Abercrombie flares, a blue Hollister baby-tee with her Steve Madden clogs on her feet. She ran a brush through her hair one more time and pulled on her lime green and navy blue Puma zip-up hoodie. She grabbed her new Coach purse (a Christmas gift from Ally) and headed out the door.
She arrived at the beach house and the party was already in full swing. "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas was playing loudly throughout the house. Haley maneuvered her way through countless dancing people onto the deck outside and spotted Nathan and the gang immediately.
"Hey baby!" Nathan said spotting her and kissing her on the lips lightly. He put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against his chest.
"I'm gonna go get something to drink", Haley said.
"Okay."
"I'll be right back."
Haley went off to get a drink. As she sipped on her water her ankle began to throb. She'd twisted it during cheerleading practice earlier that day. She made her way to the stairs and went up to Nathan's room, knowing he always had Advil in his nightstand.
She left the door open and sat down on Nathan's bed and opened his nightstand taking out the container of Advil.
She heard the door shut and she flipped around.
"Hey Haley."
"Jason", Haley said standing up.
Jason moved closer to her as Haley moved back.
"Why are you here?" Haley asked him.
"Because of you."
"Jason, you should leave…"
"I love you Haley. I always have and I always will. Forget about Nathan. We were in love Hales…"
"Once", Haley said moving towards the door. "We were once, but not anymore. I love Nathan."
"You think you do."
"No I know I do."
Jason grabbed Haley's arm.
"Let go of me!" Haley yelled.
"I love you Haley and you love me."
"GET OFF OF ME!"
"HEY!" Nathan yelled throwing open the door. "You. Get. The. Hell. Off. Of. My. Fiance. NOW."
Jason let go of Haley's arm.
"Get out of here Haley", Nathan said staring at Jason harshly.
"Nate…"
"Haley, I mean it."
Haley exited the room and ran to find Lucas.
"LUKE!" Haley yelled spotting him and running towards him. He was with Brooke and Tim and Peyton.
"Haley, what's wrong?" Lucas asked seeing the look on Haley's face.
"J…Jason was coming onto me and Nathan came in…Luke its gonna be bad…I don't know wh…"
Before she was finished Tim rushed off, with Lucas wobbling on his crutches not far behind.
"I told you before…and I'll tell you again. Stay away from Haley."
"And what if I don't?"
"I will make you very sorry you ever so much as looked at Haley."
"Really? I'd like to see you try golden boy. Haley was lookin' fine tonight…I gotta get me some of that." Jason said.
Nathan clenched his fists and without having to say anything he took a swing at Jason, and an all-out brawl began.
It was moments later when Lucas and Tim burst through the door, just in time to see Nathan being thrown up against the wall and him pushing Jason into the other. Lucas and Tim immediately rushed into the room. Lucas grabbed Nathan, steadying himself and his one bad leg on the dresser and Tim grabbed Jason.
Nathan struggled against Lucas's grip. "GET OFF OF ME MAN!"
"NATHAN!" Haley yelled standing in the doorway.
Nathan's angry eyes shot over to Haley and they immediately softened when he saw the glazed look of tears forming in her eyes. He unclenched his fists as Lucas let go of him.
"Jason, get out", Haley said quietly but sternly.
"Haley…"
"Get out", Haley demanded with anger in her eyes.
Tim let go of Jason and he walked towards the door.
"Never, ever come near me again", Haley said as he walked by. "Don't call me, don't email me, if you see me in the hall don't come near me. I never want to see you again."
Jason walked out the door, as Lucas and Tim made sure he got out of the house.
Haley shut the door behind her. She heard Lucas and Tim telling everyone to leave. Nathan sat down on the bed, wincing in pain.
There was blood running from his nose, his lip was split and bleeding, both of his eyes were black and blue and there was a large bruise on the side of his face. Haley lifted up his shirt to examine his stomach. There were bruises all over his rib cage area.
"Take your shirt off while I get the med kit", Haley said walking into the bathroom.
She came out a few moments later and put a washcloth in hot water. She wiped the blood of Nathan's face and put the cold pack on his eye. She bandaged his minor cuts and scrapes with band-aids and pressed a cool washcloth on his ribs.
Nathan held the cold pack on his eye and looked at Haley. Her features were solemn and her eyes were filled with worry.
"Haley", Nathan said softly and then winced because of the pain in his lip.
"Shhhhh…" Haley said.
"He hurt you?" Nathan managed to say.
"No, sweetie", Haley said lying down next to him and wrapping her arms around him. "He didn't."
"I'll never let him touch you again", Nathan said. "I promise you that."
"I know."
"I didn't protect you tonight Haley. I didn't protect you when I should have. God Hales, what if I can't protect you when we're married? What if something happens and…"
"Nathan", Haley said softly. "You have protected me more than anyone in this past year. When we got stranded on that island, you protected me through everything we went through. Now it's my turn to protect you." She said as she pulled the comforter over them both.
AN: What'd you think? Leave me a review! Next chapter should be up soon.