Authors Note HJS-NS-23-Wow here is the Christmas chapter. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! To those of you who don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays. Enjoy reading and don't forget to review.
Steffy 2106: Hey Guys! I wish you all Happy holidays. I hope that life will bring you everything you are wishing for. Take care.
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December 23, 2007 Tree Hill
After driving home yesterday the two boys were at the river court waiting for their friends to meet them so they could play some basketball but right now they were just standing around and talking.
"I'm so excited for the 26th I can't wait to ask Brooke to marry me. Mom and Dad are really happy about it too, which kind of surprised me since I thought mom would freak out and say we're too young. You know how she is" Lucas said rolling his eyes.
"You're so lucky to go to Pasadena and see Hales I miss her so much right now" Nate said grabbing the basketball from under the bleachers and throwing a three pointer.
"Uh Nate, yea I'm glad to see Haley I guess but I am more excited to see Brooke and propose to her" Lucas told his cousin.
Nathan nodded his head. He just saw Haley yesterday and was already missing her like crazy. Him and Luke drove everyone to the airport where he had to watch her get on the plane and away from him. "I wish I could see Hales again that would be the best Christmas present ever." He said remembering their night before she left. They had spent the night in the guy's room just laying there, making out and talking. "Hey Luke can I go to Pasadena with you and surprise Haley?" Nathan asked curiously. I have to see Hales I miss her too much.
"Let me call Jake quick and ask if he has room for you" Lucas said pulling out his cell phone and calling Jake. After about 5 minutes on the phone Lucas turned back to Nathan who was still shooting hoops. "Jake said he has some room for you." He left out that the reason why Jake said yes which was to make Haley happy and he knew that seeing Nathan would make her day.
Nathan was so happy to see Haley that he didn't care that he would have to visit his mom at the rehab center she was staying at tomorrow. He was going to spend Christmas with Lucas and his family and then Wednesday morning they had a very early flight to catch. The guy's friends finally came. Tim, Junk, Fergie, Mouth, and Dave were the first ones there. Mouth was the announcer as the rest of the guys played. After playing for a couple hours they decided to stop and Nathan headed straight to his phone to call Haley.
"Hi baby" He said into the phone and ignoring the other guys he walked off the court and away from everyone so they could talk in private.
"Hey Luke whose Nathan talking to?" Mouth asked while the other guys just looked confused looking at Nathan smiling.
"His girlfriend" Lucas replied knowing everyone was going to have questions. Nathan never had girlfriends he had hook ups. This was big news and the guy's faces were priceless. Disbelief was in all their faces.
"Wait Nathan has a girlfriend" Junk asked skepticism lacing his voice.
"Yea her name is Haley, she's Brookes sister. They have been dating since the 12th so not even 12 days, but they have liked each other since the first day at Duke. We're going to visit them on the 26th."
"Yo homey your hottie has a hottie sister that Nate is getting it on with?" Tim asked.
Lucas just wanted to slap Tim for that comment but refrained, he didn't want to cause Tim to lose any more brain cells.
"Tell us more about this girl" Fergie asked wanting to know more about the girl who he could see changed one of his best friends and defiantly for the better. All the guys were worried that Nathan would never get out of his player ways.
"Hey you guys ready to play?" Nathan asked interrupting before any of the guys could find out more about his mystery girl.
"Yea come on guys" Lucas said breaking into the two teams again, the guys spent the rest of the day playing ball.
25th of December: Pasadena, California.
Haley, Brooke and Lydia were on the living room. Brooke couldn't keep her eyes from the presents under the Christmas tree.
"Come on girls let's open the presents" said Lydia with a big smile sitting on the sofa. She was really happy to see her daughters getting along that well. When she hugged them both at the airport it was like her wildest dreams became a reality. It was just the best present she could have. Maybe Santa Claus does exist thought Lydia seeing her daughters sitting on the floor near the Tree.
They had spent last night listening to Christmas carols and putting up the Christmas tree while drinking eggnog. Lydia had to laugh at that, Haley use to hate eggnog but now loved it and always made them drink it while putting up the tree. Watching her daughters put up the ornaments had made her cry tears of happiness, she was so glad that Brooke was with them this year.
"So…." Said Haley taking a little box wrapped in pink paper. "I really hope you're going to like it". She added nervously. "If you don't I can still exchange it okay?" Said Haley who had been warned by everybody that Brooke was just a nightmare to buy for.
Brooke brushed off the comment and took the box. "Don't be silly Hales. I'm sure I'll love it! It comes from my lil'sis!" Added Brooke with a smile starting to unwrap her present.
She opened the box and took a silver bracelet from it. There was a silver heart hanging where Brooke could read « big sis ».
Brooke looked at Haley speechless with teary eyes." I…I… Oh my gosh Haley I just love it" said Brooke truthfully with a voice broken with emotion. She pulled her sister into a hug and hastily put the bracelet on.
Brooke took a big golden present and gave it to Haley. "I hope you like it Hales." She said still emotional. "You know I'm really into clothing." Added Brooke feeling guilty of the present she bought. She wanted to choose something more personal but she hesitated not knowing what to expect from Haley. I didn't even know I was going home with her, Brooke added to herself.
Haley opened the box and was happily surprised. Brooke bought her a beautiful Emerald green cashmere sweater. "Wow! It's beautiful I love it!" Said Haley taking the sweater off the box "but…but you shouldn't have." Said Haley knowing that it probably cost a fortune.
"I wanted to" Brooke told her smiling.
"Okay mom we bought you your gift together." Brooke handed Lydia a red envelope and when she opened it was for a full week at the most luxurious spa around.
"Thanks girls but…but the greatest present is seeing my two lovely daughters together and getting along." Lydia emotionally. Brooke quickly hugged her mum.
"I'm so sorry mom for being so distant in the past but don't worry it wont happen again" Brooke promised.
"Lets go make some hot chocolate and watch a movie" Haley said grabbing her sister's hand and pulling her into the kitchen. "Hey mom don't move we'll bring you a cup too," Haley added.
After getting the hot chocolate and marshmallows the three women sat on the couch and watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Haley couldn't help but think of Nathan and Thanksgiving while she watched it.
As soon as the credits rolled showing the movie was over the doorbell rang.
"It's probably Jake," said Lydia happily. "Haley could you get that". She added to her youngest daughter.
Haley opened the door and was surprised to find Jake alone. "Hey Jake…" She said looking around. "Where's Jenny?" She added a bit disappointed.
"Oh…" Said Jake a bit hurt by Haley's reaction. "Well…. She's at home right now. She's coming over for dinner tonight don't worry butmy parents wanted to play with her for a while". He sighed. "I'll bring her to you a bit later okay?" He smiled. "I want to give you your gift." He said showing her a bag.
"Ohhh Christmas present!" Said Haley smiling her eyes twinkling in giddiness. "Please come in".
"Can we go somewhere where we can be alone?" Asked Jake embarrassed.
"Well…Yeah I guess." Said Haley frowning while walking in the kitchen with Jake behind her.
Jake cleared his throat; he was a bit scared to give the present to Haley because he had put so much hope for reconciliation on it that he didn't want to lose that hope.
"I…Here you go" said Jake giving the bag to Haley.
Haley could see all the nervousness in Jake eyes, as well as sadness. She didn't want to be mad at him anymore because she missed him a lot more than she was ready to tell.
She opened the beautiful wrapping to find a gorgeous jewelry box inside. She opened it and saw the message Jake had engraved in it: « To Haley, my best friend, my sister Remember: The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost. Love you Jake. ».
Haley felt her heart break and looked at Jake with teary eyes.
"You…. You never lost me JJ". Said Haley with a voice broken with emotion. "I love you too." She added walking to him and pulling him into a hug. "I missed you so much". Haley said against his chest.
Jake looked into Haley eyes. "It won't happen again," said Jake seriously. "I won't hurt you again Haley. Please let's not fight like that ever again. I can't imagine my life without my baby girl." He added kissing her forehead.
"Never again". Haley replied still really emotional.
They were sharing an emotional moment when they heard a very loud scream coming from the living room.
"It's Brooke," said Haley scared of what had happened and ran to the living room with Jake behind her.
When Haley arrived the only thing she could see was the back of Brooke sitting beside the Christmas tree. She was moaning.
"What?!" Haley asked her mum who was sitting on the sofa. Haley could see that her mother was trying to contain her laugher.
At this moment Brooke turned around and stood up. She was showing the pair of pink socks in her hand. "Please tell me this is a joke!" Asked Brooke to nobody in particular. "Don't tell me that my boyfriend of almost five years just bought me this ugly pair of socks." Shouted Brooke in tears. "Please God tell me he is kidding me!!" She added angry.
Jake Haley and Lydia were doing their best to contain their laughs. They didn't want to give anything away to Brooke.
Brooke took her mobile off. "What time is it back to Tree Hill?" She asked to Haley.
"Who cares?!" She added not letting Haley the time to answer. "I hope I'm waking him up!! He is so dead!!" She added storming out of the living room and going up the stairs. "Lucas Eugene Scott you better answer your phone!" They could hear her yell.
When Haley heard Brooke slam her bedroom door she started to laugh closely followed by Jake and Lydia.
"Well…I'm going to give you kids some time" said Lydia smiling and kissing Jake. "I'm going to prepare some chocolate chip cookies to cheer up your sister." Lydia added still laughing since she was in on the proposal too.
"Anyway…." Said Haley laughing. "I almost forgot about your gift after the Brooke crisis" she added walking to the Christmas tree.
"You know she is kinda scary when she's mad." Said Jake pretending to be serious.
"Yeah!! I saw that! She is like a tiny Bruce lee!" Added Haley amused once again.
"It's family I guess." Said Jake winking. "You're quite scary too when you're mad."
"You better remember that!" Said Haley with a warning tone.
Haley took the guitar case, which was under the Christmas tree. She couldn't wrap it so she only putted a Red bow on it. "Well…I know it's not that good for the suspense" Said Haley laughing but here you go. "I hope you like it". Said Haley giving Jake the case.
She could see his eyes light up and immediately knew that she made the right choice. I would give anything to see Nathan's eyes when he opened my gift. She thought to herself feeling a bit guilty to be obsessing about him all the time. "It the exact replica of the one..."
"Carlos Santana owned!" Said Jake cutting her off. "Gosh Hales you didn't forget!" Said Jake remembering that day when he came back last summer. They watched a DVD of the Santana concert and Jake told her that he thought that Santana's guitar case was the most beautiful thing he ever saw.
"Of Course I didn't!" Said Haley in mock hurt. "How could I doofus? You're my overprotective crazy best friend but you're mine," added Haley pulling Jake into a bear hug.
Jake kissed Haley and went to say bye to Lydia in the kitchen. He decided not to bother Brooke who they could hear shouting from her bedroom.
"I'll be back with Jenny around 6 for dinner okay?" Said Jake to Haley. "I think she has a present for you" added Jake laughing. When he was at the mall he saw a cute little butterfly broach and decided to buy it for Haley too.
"Yeah okay" said Haley feeling good again because Jake and her were like they used to be." I can't wait to give her my present." She added with a smile imagining Jenny's cute little face when she'd see her Tinker bell outfit.
"Bye" Jake said walking out the door.
Oh I have to open what Nathan got me she thought happily to her self before dashing up the stairs and into her bedroom. After taking the silver package off her dresser she sat on her bed. Carefully unwrapping the gift she saw a long black velvet box. Setting it down next to her on the bed she got up and started to pace the room.
"Why am I so scared to open it? Its not like something is going to pop out at me or anything."She said out loud to herself. "Oh great now I am talking to myself, wow I wonder what Nathan would think of his girlfriend now. Hell I can't even open his present because I am too nervous to see what he got me. I am rambling out loud to myself. Maybe I should be put away? Okay I can do this. I can open the present he got me," She told herself before going back and sitting on the bed.
She hesitated picking up the box before shaking her head and opening it. "Omgosh!" She shouted. She couldn't believe what she saw it was so beautiful. Seeing the card tucked neatly inside she started crying at his sweet words. "I'll take care of your heart Nathan as if I was my own I love you so much" she said picturing him in front of her. She quickly put the necklace on fumbling with the clip before she got it to catch. Grabbing her cell phone off her dresser she debated on whether or not to call him or text him. Deciding texting was probably better she quickly wrote him a little note. « Nate just opened your present and loved it, I'll take care of it as long as you want me to but take care of mine to. I love you. Haley. »
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When they heard the doorbell at 5:45 Haley literally ran to the door she was so excited to see Jenny.
She opened the door with a bright smile; Jenny was standing near Jake with a little green present in her hand.
"Hey my angel!" Said Haley kneeling to take her into her arms." I think Santa Claus left some presents for you here". She added leading Jenny to the Christmas Tree.
"I wove you Hawey". Said Jenny kissing Haley's cheek and giving her the present she had in her little hand.
"I love you too sweetie". Said Haley putting Jenny down. "Is it a present for me?" She asked to Jenny.
Jenny nodded. Jake was looking at them with emotion they were so close. Haley opened the present; it was a gorgeous light green Jade butterfly broach. This broach is so beautiful she thought to herself.
"Aww Jenny! What a beautiful present!" said Haley putting it on right away. "I'll always cherish it." She added sincerely hugging Jenny and looking at Jake. She mouthed him a thank you.
Haley had tears in her eyes. What a sweet intention!! She thought. I'm so lucky to have a friend like Jake.
Haley, Brooke and Lydia gave Jenny their presents. The little girl was so happy that she decided to eat dinner on her tinker bell costume. Once they were all sat Lydia started to make conversation. Haley was staring down every 2 minutes. In fact, she put her mobile in silent but she left it on her knees. She didn't hear from Nathan yet and it was worrying her. What if didn't like my present? Maybe I should have chosen something less personal or maybe something a bit more personal. He bought me diamonds!! And what did I choose? A crappy basketball! She added to herself shaking her head. Haley was so lost in her thought that she didn't her mother talking to her.
"Haley?" Said her mum frowning. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Said Haley surprised to be interrupted. "I…. Yeah I'm just fine". She added blushing. Come on!! Stop thinking about Nathan for an hour!! She ordered herself knowing that it wouldn't happen.
"So…." said Lydia with a smile looking at Haley. "I was saying that I already know everything about Lucas by now". She said winking at Brooke." What about you huh? Did you meet a nice boy back to Duke? Someone special in your heart?" Lydia added on an insisting tone.
Haley didn't reply for a couple of second. All eyes were directed on her. Haley finally shook her head negatively. "No Ma…. Nobody special into my life just yet." Said Haley without really thinking.
"Awww I'm sure you'll meet someone soon" said Lydia nicely.
Haley decided to change subject because she could not bear to see the disappointment in Brooke's eyes as well as the confusion in Jakes. It was like the diamond key she had under her sweater was burning her skin." I really like the subjects I chose for next semester " Said Haley keeping her eyes on her mother.
Jake was really confused and wasn't listening to them anymore. He felt a lump in his throat. Did she break up with Nathan? He's coming tomorrow! I hope I haven't made a huge mistake! He added to himself.
Haley was happy that the dinner finished on lighter subject as the weather in North Carolina. Jenny yawned so Haley decided to use that as a pretext to leave the table. She could feel Jake and Brookes glances on her and felt really uncomfortable.
"Jenny seems tired" said Haley standing up. "I'm going to put her on the sofa". She added taking her into her arms.
"You're tired baby." Said Haley kissing her as Jenny nodded.
Haley left for the living room without forgetting her cell phone. She sang Jenny to sleep with a silent night since it was Haley's favorite Christmas song. Once Haley made sure that the little girl was fast asleep she sat on the floor beside her and kept her eyes on the phone.
It's already 9:15 here, which means that it's 12:15 in Tree Hill. I knew it! He hated my present! She thought with tears in her eyes.
At that moment Jake, Brooke and Lydia joined her in the living room.
"I think I'm going to go," said Jake almost whispering pointing at Jenny.
Haley pretended to yawn. She wanted to be by herself to express her sadness over not hearing from Nathan. She stood up and hugged Jake. "Yeah you better go my sweet Angel needs her bed. I'm tired too anyway." She added giving him a sad smile.
Jake was about to go when Haley turned to Brooke and Lydia. "Well…good night. I'm so tired I can't even think straight anymore. I need a good nights sleep." She added with a yawn. "I'll see you in the morning." She added already walking up the stairs.
Haley carefully closed the door of her bedroom and sat on her bed. She sighed and started to think about Nathan and how it was a curse to love him how much she did because she knows deep down that it wouldn't last. Once you've got something you're so scared to loose it. She thought to herself. I'm not sure I'll be able to give him everything he needs. She added putting a hand on her scar.
Haley couldn't contain her sadness anymore and burst into tears as she tried to stay quiet. She didn't want to worry Lydia even more than she probably already was. Haley didn't hear Brooke walking in.
"I knew you weren't tired," said Brooke sitting on Haley's bed. "Tell what's going on?" She added trying to dry her sister's tears.
"Oh…". Said Haley brushing Brooke's comment off and trying to smile. "Don't worry about it…I'm just thinking about a lot of things. I'm always pretty emotional around Christmas and New years!" Not always, only since 2 years she thought to herself.
"Yeah….right" said Brooke nodding "and what about the « I don't have somebody special in my life »?! Did you forget about Nathan?" Asked Brooke trying to find Haley's glance. "I thought you loved him". She added confused.
"Of course I do!" Said Haley hurt by Brooke's doubts. "But…. I just don't know…maybe it's too early to talk about him. I mean we have been dating for two weeks now." She added blushing.
"And?" Asked Brooke smiling. "I know it's not your only reason Hales. You have maybe been dating for two weeks but you chased each other around for about 3 months. And you already lived and learned a lot of things together. Be honest lil'sis I'm not dumb you know…. Give me the real reason." Asked Brooke taking Haley's hand in her own.
Haley looked deep into Brooke's eyes. She could see actual sisterly love in them. This discovery made Haley decide to open her heart to her sister. "I…. You know mum is protective of me and she really fears that I would get hurt in anyway." Said Haley leaving out the part that her mum's worst fear did happen 2 years ago and since then she has tried to protect Haley of any kind of hurt. "She would be happy that I found someone I love as much as I love Nathan."
"So?" Said Brooke even more confused. "Mum is going to be happy then. I don't get you Hales."
"Yeah she will but…She won't be when Nathan breaks up with me." Added Haley sadly. I've got to be realistic. She added to herself.
"Huh? Why on earth would Nathan break up with you?" asked Brooke who didn't expect such a pessimistic comment from Haley. "Nathan loves you more than you think!" Said Brooke sure of herself because of the way that Nathan is always looking at Haley and because she knew him for so many years now.
"He loves me now." Said Haley with a voice broken with emotion. "He'll see pretty soon that I'm not for him. I've got too many issues, too many scars. I just can't give him what he wants." Sex thought Haley. She shook her head." Let's face it Brooke." She added looking deep into her sister eyes. "We don't play in the same league and he'll realize it sooner or later. He is going to leave me and I…I just can't blame him."
"No he won't Haley! Nathan is not just a stupid jock! He knows your inside and he loves you! Don't you know how beautiful you are both inside and outside?" Brooke sighed.
"I ...uh... I just want to go to sleep now. Can we finish this conversation in the morning please?" Haley begged.
"Yea. You want me to sleep with you?" Brooke asked wanting to be close to her sister tongight.
"If you don't mind" Haley sniffled.
Brooke went and put on a pair of pajamas while Haley did the same and then laid next to her sister. Don't worry he loves you Hales trust me I will figure out how to prove he isn't leaving you and that you deserve him. She thought to herself.