Twelve

October 21, 2008

"I just can't believe this."

"What that he has a sister or that he didn't tell you?"

Haley glanced up at Peyton who was currently working on one of her paintings. The curly headed blonde was smiling at her knowingly and she glanced back down at her hands angrily. She started playing with her ring. It was a nervous habit of hers and it had been ever since she was younger. She hardly even noticed when she did it anymore.

Haley thought about Peyton's question. She had been so furious to find out that Nathan had a sister. They had been working together for over three years and he never mentioned any sister. Well, Nathan never really mentioned anything. He was so closed off and guarded about his past. He never shared anything and if you asked her it was unfair. He knew all about her family. He knew way more about her than she did about him but that wasn't even the point. In all the time they spent together he never once mentioned that he had a sister. This was so like him.

He was a self-centered prick.

Haley didn't know why she cared. In fact, she didn't. She didn't care at all. She just thought that maybe if you worked with someone as closely as they did then there wouldn't be any secrets. She was just angry that he never mentioned it and for some strange reason a little…hurt.

"Both," Haley whispered.

"He's a private guy," Peyton pointed out.

"Tell me about it."

"Maybe they're not close so he didn't feel the need to mention it."

Haley knew that Peyton was just trying to make her feel better. She glanced at Peyton doubtfully before shaking her head.

"Trust me, they're close. I saw the way they were acting around each other. Nathan even pulled his big brother act when Lucas went all goo-goo eyes on her. It literally made me sick to my stomach."

"What that he's protective of her?"

"No," Haley shook her head. "Not at all. It's just that…I don't know. He's really never showed…" she searched for the right words, "…I've just never seen him care about another human being before. Let's face it. The guy has a frozen heart. It was just really weird to see him care about someone else. I didn't expect that."

"It does seem weird," Peyton agreed with a giggle.

"And she seems so…"

"Weird and closed off like him?" Peyton wondered.

"Normal," Haley muttered honestly. "She's like the exact opposite of him."

Peyton quirked an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah, it was the funniest thing. She was really sweet and nice. She put Nathan in his place when he told Lucas to back off."

"I'll bet you loved that," Peyton grinned.

Haley nodded happily. "Oh yeah. I like her already. It's about time someone else puts him in his place. He's such an ass."

"He's not that bad."

Haley scowled at Peyton. She watched as Peyton chuckled before lifting up her hands in mock surrender. It bothered her a little that Nathan got along so well with all the people in her life. It was like he was a different person when he was around them. They didn't get to see the Nathan that she got to see. They didn't know what he was really like. Why was he nice to everyone but her? She knew that he hated her and she him, but they could at least act civilized. Nathan didn't seem to want that and when he was around pushing her buttons she didn't want that either. He somehow always brought out the worst in her and she hated it.

"So what does she look like?"

Haley thought about it for a second. When she first seen the bubbly brunette she couldn't help but think of how beautiful she was. In fact, Brooke was intimidatingly beautiful. Even from the few minutes that Brooke had stood before her she knew that the girl had a confidence about her that made her seem even more perfect. She didn't know why she didn't realize that Nathan and Brooke were related. They did look alike in so many ways.

"Beautiful," Haley answered.

"Doesn't surprise me."

Haley glared at Peyton.

"What?" Peyton laughed. "Haven't you seen Nate? He's sexy as hell."

"Whatever."

"He's got that whole bad boy dangerous look going on," Peyton added.

Haley rolled her eyes.

"Come on, don't be like that. Admit it. Even though he's the worlds biggest jerk and you hate him with a passion, he's still kind of sexy." Peyton grinned as Haley folded her arms across her chest. Haley glanced away from Peyton's teasing gaze.

"He looks ok," Haley muttered stubbornly.

"Yeah right," Peyton chuckled. "I've seen the way you look at him when you guys are working out at the gym and he doesn't have a shirt on. You think he's sexy, Hales. Admit it."

"Admit what?"

Haley glanced at her brother nervously as he walked into the room. "Nothing."

"Really what?" Julian repeated before placing a soft kiss on Peyton's cheek. Haley glanced at Peyton nervously for a little help. Julian would just die if he knew they were talking about one of his best friends like that. She was sure her brother would freak if he knew that Peyton thought that Nathan was sexy.

"Just girl stuff," Peyton smiled. "What are you doing home early? I thought that you and your dad were golfing the whole day?"

"Well, instead of getting my ass kicked the whole day. I just decided to let him kick my ass this morning. He was ok with it," Julian grinned.

"As long as he won, right?" Haley giggled.

Julian pointed at her. "Exactly."

"You would think that you would've gotten a little better over the years," Haley teased.

"What can I say," Julian grinned, "I like being consistent."

"Only you, my dear brother, would say that," Haley smiled at him.

Julian nodded before turning his attention to his fiancée. He grinned as he watched her work on her painting. Peyton was always in the zone when she worked on her art. The girl had serious talent. Haley had never seen anything like it. In fact, she was a little jealous. The most that she ever got to painting was finger painting in the second grade and even that had been a bad experience for her.

"You nervous about Saturday?" Julian questioned as he stood behind her before he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Peyton leaned into him before smiling. "Of course."

"It's going to be great. Don't be nervous," Haley stated as she glanced at the two.

"I can't help it."

"I can take your mind off of it," Julian offered as he kissed her neck.

Haley glanced away. "I'd rather you didn't at this particular moment."

"The girl has a point," Peyton giggled as she pulled away from him. "I mean, she is your sister and I really need to finish this."

"Later," Julian promised.

"I did not need to know that," Haley sighed in disgust.

"He's kidding," Peyton stated as she glared at him.

Julian held up his hands. "Ok, I take it back."

"If only I can erase the last few minutes from my mind."

"You'll live. What are you doing here anyway?" Julian wondered as he took a seat at the table across from her. He reached for the bottle of wine that she had opened and poured himself a glass.

"Did you know that Nate has a sister?"

"No," Julian shook his head. "Does he?"

Haley nodded. "Yep."

"Since when?"

"Since always I guess. He's just never mentioned her before."

"Weird."

"Really? This is weird that your closed off guarded friend didn't mention that he had a sister much less anything else from his past?"

"You're reading too much into this," Julian observed. "He's a private guy, Hales."

"I know but to not mention that he had a sister," Haley muttered with the shake of her head. Who does that, she wondered.

Julian held up the now empty bottle of wine. "This explains the wine."

"Please," Haley laughed. "We're not drinking because of him."

"Right," Julian drawled. "So what, he has a sister? Big deal. Why do you care so much anyway?"

"I don't," Haley insisted irritably. "Never mind the fact that we've been partners for over three years, I mean why would he mention that he has a sister?"

Peyton grinned. "Oh, she doesn't care."

"Not at all," Julian added with a grin.

"Let's talk about something else," Haley sighed before pushing her empty wine glass away. She didn't want to talk or think about him. She simply didn't care and she was done driving herself insane over the whole situation.

"So how many people are expected at the exhibit?" Julian questioned as he changed the subject.

"A lot," Haley smiled.

"She doesn't know that."

"Just wait and see."

"I'm sure it'll be a lot."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"It's the truth."

"You just want to get lucky tonight."

"I really wish that you guys wouldn't talk like that in front of me," Haley muttered in disgust as they both started laughing. She was going to be sick if she heard one more thing. They always did this to her. She didn't know why it surprised her anymore.

"Have you talked to Taylor lately?"

"No. You?"

"No."

"Mom told me that she was still in Milan."

"I'm sure we'll see her for Thanksgiving. It'll be here before you know it."

"Then she can tell us all about her fabulous life and rub it in our faces that we're not rich and famous like her," Haley snickered.

"I can't wait," Julian deadpanned.

Taylor always had a way of thinking that her life was so much better because she got out. She wasn't stuck here like they were. She was free to do whatever she wanted with whoever she wanted. It never really bothered Haley. In fact, when Taylor would go on and on about her fabulous life, she was never jealous. She was where she was meant to be and she helped people. Her life had meaning. She hoped her sister could say the same.

"You almost finished?"

"Not really," Peyton replied not looking at either of them.

"She'll be at it all night," Julian mumbled to her.

"Fun," Haley grimaced.

Julian grinned. "Want to go see a movie?"

"Always," Haley smiled before standing up. "You sure you don't want to come with us?"

"I have to finish this."

"Well, then we'll leave you to it. I'll call you on my way home." Julian kissed her before both of them left the room. They stood by the door placing on their jackets before they made their way out of the apartment.

"I'm picking the movie."

"You picked last time," Julian stated in annoyance.

"Did not."

"You so did," Julian insisted. "It was that sappy love movie."

"Your bride to be picked out that one," Haley grinned. "It's my turn to pick."

"What did I get myself into?"

Haley linked arms with him as she pulled him onto the sidewalk. "It won't be that sappy!"

"Oh goodie," Julian retorted.

"Smartass."

Haley laughed loudly when Julian grinned before shrugging. She was glad that Julian was hanging out with her tonight. She didn't want to be alone. This is exactly what she needed.

Nathan sat on his sofa as he watched his sister look out the window. It was weird having her here with him. They stayed up late talking last night and catching up. It had been a really long time. He had really missed her. Being around Brooke you couldn't help but be happy. She made everyone around her happy. It had always been that way even when they were younger. She was just a bright and positive person.

"It's been raining all day," Brooke complained with a pout.

Nathan sighed. "So you keep saying."

"But I hate the rain!"

"You certainly came to the wrong place," Nathan chuckled. It was always raining here. It had taken some getting used to when he first moved here. It was so different from home. Here it was cold and wet most of the time. Brooke was going to have to get used to it. He knew that she wasn't going to like that.

"But we were supposed to have fun today!"

"We can still have fun here," Nathan pointed out.

"At bachelor pad central? I think not," Brooke stated as she glanced around. "This place is seriously depressing. What do you do, sit in the dark all day long? Creepy."

"No," Nathan retorted. "And I like the place just fine."

Sure just about all the furniture was black and everything was plain and simple. That's how he liked it. Besides, this was his place and he didn't see anything wrong with it. In fact, he loved his apartment. It was like a safe haven for him here. It's not like he had anywhere else where he could just be himself. He didn't have to hide here.

"But I wanted to meet more of your friends."

"They're not my friends. They're just my co-workers," Nathan explained.

"Even Haley?"

"Especially her," Nathan hissed.

"Please," Brooke laughed as she rolled her eyes. "There's clearly sexual tension between the two of you. I saw they way you two were looking at each other."

Nathan glared at her before shaking his head. "Yeah, with hate and disdain."

"More like you two were ready to jump each other," Brooke giggled as her brother seemed to get angrier by the second. "You two were totally having eye sex!"

"Never…gonna happen," Nathan gritted out. "I can't stand her."

"Is that why she can call you Nathan but I can't?"

"What are you talking about?" Nathan sighed.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Last night she called you Nathan but Lucas called you Nate. What's the deal with that anyway? I mean, she doesn't know about us does she?"

"Of course not," Nathan stated angrily. "She has no clue and it's going to stay that way so stay away from her."

"That still doesn't answer my question."

"So she calls me Nathan. Big deal. It is my birth name."

"How does she know to call you Nathan?"

Brooke wasn't going to let this go. He knew that. Brooke had a way of holding onto things. She also had a way of finding things out and he couldn't let her get close to the people he worked with. She could slip up and tell them something about their past. He couldn't have that. It would ruin everything he had worked for since he got here and he just couldn't have that. Her being here wasn't a good idea but even then he knew that she wasn't going anywhere.

As he thought about her question, a certain memory flashed in his mind.

Nathan stood on the outside of the boxing ring with the rest of the guys as they watched the fight before them. He was still shocked as he watched her move around the ring like she had been boxing her whole life. He didn't know why it surprised him. They had been working together for over three months now. They had been training like crazy and spending so much time together that Nathan was ready to kill her.

She was so annoying. It didn't help matters that the girl was fucking good at every thing they did at work. All the big guys at the office just loved her and adored her. He hated it. She was a fucking brat if you asked him and she only got the job because of who her daddy was. He hated how everyone put her on this pedestal. It was fucking ridiculous.

Nathan watched as Tim took another swing at her and she ducked. Tim missed again and Nathan shook his head as he watched.

"Come on, Smith!"

"She's fast, Nate," Tim called out. "You try it."

"No thanks," Nathan muttered just as Haley punched Tim in the face. As much as he wanted to hit her, he wasn't going to. He listened as Julian and Lucas took bets from next to him. He rolled his eyes as Haley continued to kick Tim's ass. The guy should just give up. There was no way that he was going to beat her. With one last swing she sent Tim flying to the ground. This time Tim didn't get up.

"Pay up, Kevin," Julian grinned.

"Fuck."

"Easiest money I've ever made," Lucas smiled as he counted the money in his hands.

"Tell me about it."

"This is ridiculous," Nathan muttered. "She's a girl."

"He's never fought her before."

"That's why he's saying that," Lucas agreed.

"Whatever." Nathan rolled his eyes.

"Get in the ring then."

"Yeah, fight her for yourself and see."

"No way," Nathan shook his head repeatedly as they laughed at him.

"Damn it, Baby James! Next time I'm not taking it easy on you," Tim teased.

"Easy?" Julian laughed. "Easy my ass. You looked like you were trying pretty hard, Smith."

"You scared, Nate?" Haley questioned.

Nathan glared at her. "You wish."

"Then I don't see the problem, I mean, unless you're too scared," Haley taunted.

"I think she just called you out," Lucas chuckled. He could hear the guys all around the ring laughing loudly. He clenched his fists before ducking between the ropes and walking into the ring. A few of the guys cheered before they started taking bets. He reached Tim before helping the guy up. Tim stood up a second later and took off his gloves before pushing them in Nathan's hands.

"Good luck," Tim muttered before rushing out of the ring.

Nathan watched him go before placing the gloves on. How hard could this be? The girl was tiny.

"You can still back out," Haley told him.

"I'm not afraid of a girl," Nathan gritted out as he hit the gloves together.

"You're the one that's about to lose in front of all the guys we work with," Haley shrugged.

"You think you're all that," Nathan muttered in disgust. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Nathan was so ready to hit her as hard as he could. His mind was so focused on it that he ignored Lucas announcing the match and the bell ringing. They started moving in a slow circle and he waited for his chance to hit her as hard as he could. He had so much frustration built up since they started working together that he couldn't wait to get it out.

He had come here thinking that he would be fighting one of the guys but this was even better. He wanted to hit her. He wanted to hurt her. He wasn't afraid of her. He wasn't afraid of anything. She didn't know him at all. The life he lived, the things he seen, there was nothing that he couldn't deal with.

Haley started swinging and he moved out of the way. He wasn't some chump like Tim. He wasn't just going to let her hit him. He could tell that she was getting frustrated ten minutes later when she still hadn't hit him once.

"What are you waiting for, Nate?" Lucas called out. "Take a swing. She can take it."

"Better than most," one of the other guys chuckled.

"Listen to them," Haley panted as she took another swing. She missed again. This time he had the perfect position to hit her. He was just about to when their eyes locked. He knew in that moment that he couldn't do it. He couldn't hit her. Not just her but any girl. It just wasn't right to him. She was way smaller than him and yeah she could hold her own but he had a powerful right hook. He had hurt more than a few guys with it over the years. It just didn't seem right to hit her, no matter how badly he wanted to.

It was only then that her glove slammed into his face and he flew down on the matt. He heard all the guys cheering and laughing around him. He laid there wondering how she had got that hit in. The voices around him seemed to be getting further and further away and he knew that it was late and most of the guys were ready to go home. It wasn't that he couldn't get up. He could. She hadn't hit him that hard. He was just in shock that she had hit him at all.

"I told you, Nate," Lucas called out. "Give me my money."

"You bet on her?" Nathan hissed out as he glanced at Lucas.

"Of course," Lucas grinned before counting his money.

"Sorry, dude," Julian shrugged as he stuffed his money into his pocket. "Maybe, next time."

"I told you she was fast. Very nice, Baby James." Tim grinned while holding a bag of ice to his right eye.

Nathan drowned everyone out as he calmed himself. What the hell just happened?

He closed his eyes before sitting up and looking around. It was just the two of them now and she was resting in the corner as she dried herself off with a towel.

"Why didn't you swing even once?" Haley wondered. "You don't have to be scared to hit me, Nate. I can take it."

She had hit him. Even when his plan was to just get away from her she had hit him. He really couldn't believe it and yet as he watched her he wasn't surprised. The girl had been annoyingly perfect at everything. He hated it but also he had admired her a little. In that moment he realized that as much as he hated her, he respected her as well. Where he came from, respect was earned, and she had certainly earned hers. He didn't like her at all, but he respected her a little.

"Nate?"

"Call me Nathan."

"Why?"

Nathan pushed his anger aside. "I like it better." He hoped that she wouldn't question it further.

"Fine, Nathan."

"I will say this, you certainly hit hard for such a little person," Nathan stated with a soft smile.

"I'm not little!"

"Small, petite, take your pick, sweetheart."

Haley rolled her eyes. "I'm staring to think that we'll never get along."

"Fine by me," Nathan smirked. "I don't like you anyway."

"Same here," Haley hissed. "I don't know why we have to work together."

"Maybe you could talk to your daddy, princess."

"Don't call me that! I hate it."

"I know!"

"So she calls you Nathan because she hit you in some stupid boxing match."

"It isn't about that. I just…it was the day that she earned my respect. That doesn't mean that I have to like her," Nathan pointed out.

"Men," Brooke muttered.

"Whatever. It's not even a big deal. I don't even notice it anymore. It's just a name, Brooke. Would you like me to call you Brooklyn?"

She glared at him. "You know I hate that name!"

"Just like I hate being called Nate," Nathan smirked. "See how that works? At least you like your name. I'm stuck with one that I hate and everyone calls me it constantly. I'm around her more than anyone else. I think it's ok that she doesn't call me that."

"You mean, because you hate her?" Brooke retorted.

"Now you're catching on," Nathan smirked before taking a swig of his beer. He did hate her. The sooner Brooke realized that the better. They didn't belong here with these people. He didn't need Brooke getting any crazy ideas in her head. He knew his sister and knew the way she thought. He didn't need her getting attached to these people. It would only hurt her in the end. They didn't belong here and no matter what façade they put on, they would never fit in.

"Can we please get out of this apartment before my head explodes?"

"Fine," Nathan sighed. "I need something stronger than this anyway." He finished off his beer quickly.

"So this is where you hang out?"

Nathan glanced around the bar before nodding. "Pretty much."

"Any brawls?" Brooke chuckled as she took another look at the place.

"A few."

"Let me guess? You started most of them."

"A few," Nathan nodded before smiling.

Brooke shook her head in disappointment.

"What?" Nathan questioned. "They were asking for it."

"I bet they were," Brooke muttered.

"They were," Nathan insisted.

"Right," Brooke sighed. "Do you think any of your friends will come in tonight?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Let it go, Brooke."

"But Lucas and Haley seemed nice."

"Just let it go," Nathan sighed. "You can have fun with your favorite brother."

"Fun with you?" Brooke teased with a smile. "Please."

"I'm fun," Nathan disagreed. "I'm even letting you win this game."

"But I just want to get to know your friends."

"They're not –"

"Well, look who just walked in. It's your friend…I'm sorry co-worker…Haley," Brooke grinned happily before looking at her brother.

Nathan glanced at the door and sure enough Haley walked inside the bar alone. For once he was thankful for the crowd tonight. He prayed that Haley wouldn't notice the two of them in the back of the bar playing pool. When Haley walked up to the bar and ordered a drink he smiled. She'd probably just have a drink and leave.

"Well, shouldn't we go say hello?"

Nathan glanced at Brooke quickly. "No we shouldn't. Why would we?"

"Um, I don't know. Maybe because you've been working with the girl for the past three years. Honestly, Nathan, is part of your job to be monumental jerk?"

"Ha-ha," Nathan retorted. "What part of stay away from her didn't you get?"

"Fine," Brooke sighed. "But if she comes over here then I'm talking to her."

"Fine," Nathan muttered under his breath. "Can we please resume the game?"

Brooke rolled her eyes before taking her shot. Nathan stood back against the wall as he watched his sister miss yet another shot. It didn't surprise him when Brooke went to take another shot.

His eyes couldn't help but travel up to the bar where he had seen Haley last. He watched as the bartender handed her a beer with a huge goofy ass smile on his face. Then his fists tightened around his pool stick when the bartender refused to take her money for the drink. He rolled his eyes when Haley walked away and not only the bartender but a few guys at the bar glanced at her ass.

"She seems popular," Brooke noted. "Not that I'm surprised. She's gorgeous."

Nathan jumped slightly at the sound of Brooke's voice from beside him. He glanced at Brooke for a second before looking at Haley again.

"She doesn't notice it."

"Notice what?" Brooke questioned.

"All of it," Nathan muttered distractedly. "The way guys look at her…she doesn't realize it."

They both watched as Haley stood in front of the old jukebox at the front of the bar. It was seconds later when she walked away and Matchbox Twenty's "Push" came on. Nathan had forgotten all about Brooke standing next to him until he heard her sigh. He shook his head softly trying to clear his mind before glancing at his sister.

"What?" Nathan muttered.

"She looks so sad," Brooke said softly. "Maybe we –"

Nathan reached for Brooke's arm and held her back. "Don't…just don't. Don't get involved with these people. It's for the best. Trust me."