AN: I am so sorry for not updating. I really hope you all like this one. It's pretty long, but ENJOY!
Chapter 21 Part 1: Hakuna Matata
The sun peeked through the moldy blind shades of the motel room. Slits of sunlight seeped into the room and lit the walls. I rolled around in the bed, only to find it empty. There was a note on the pillow.
Haley I got a call from my manager. He wants me to meet some sports executive to campaign that "Scott Brothers" idea. I miss you already. I just want to lay down next to you and your body... o the possibilities... Ok, I'm getting too caught up with myself now... We'll meet you at the Skiles Restaurant at 1 pm. I love you. Everything I said last night was true. I would give up everything for you Hales. I have something important to talk to you about after lunch. Maybe we could go to Central Park. I love you again. Love, Nathan PS: Don't ever show Lucas this note or I will never live down my sappiness.
A soft smile melted onto my face. The warm glow of happiness had spread through my blood. A feeling of sense and security gushed through me.
With a smile plastered onto my face, I washed up and got dressed. After I was done, somebody knocked the door. It was Lucas.
"Someone get lucky?" he greeted me.
"Hello to you too," I said.
"C'mon Hales. I have to stop over at my apartment."
"Fine, but one question. Why didn't you let your best bud stay over instead of paying such monstrous fees for this cheap shack?"
"Well, seeing how I do go to NYU and the apartment is kinda filled with male roommates, I thought I'd spare you the high testosterone levels."
"I like the way you think, Scott."
"Besides, you already deal with enough male hormones. The position for horny cocky ass has already been filled."
"Yep, by you."
"I was talking about a certain Scott named Nathan. If I was talking about me, I would've said something about capturing the essence of absolute unattainable perfection."
"Uh huh."
When we arrived at his apartment, I suddenly had an urge to go to the bathroom. I rushed to the bathroom and finished my business. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard a familiar voice. I leaned against the door and eavesdropped. Yeah, I know. It's none of my beeswax, but still... I am nosy.
"Peyton, what are you doing here?" Lucas said.
"Well, I had to um... I had to tell you something that is really important." Hmm... was she doing here.
"And it couldn't wait?"
"No, not really... I just thought I should tell you before—before you get really serious with Cheyenne."
"Ok shoot."
"I—I've had these feelings for you. They've always been there. They just haven't gone away. I think that we can have something."
"Ok well... umm... I guess I should just say it. I had feelings for you Peyton. Lots of feelings. But then I met Cheyenne. We click. Us, you and me, we don't."
"But—but what about all of the stuff you wrote about in your journal?"
"O the poetry? Wait—you read them?"
"After the locker incident, I found it."
"Well, what can I say? I was in high school. Young, naïve, stupid..."
"But what if we have something?"
"All we have is the past, Peyt. I guess what you're really looking for is closure."
"Lucas, I want you. Not closure."
I heard a bump in the background and I peeked through the keyhole. Peyton had Lucas pinned against the fridge. She leaned in forward, but was abruptly pushed back by Lucas.
"No Peyton. I have Cheyenne."
"She doesn't have to know..."
"Peyton, get off me. I don't want you. I don't think I ever did. It was lust in high school. And now it just doesn't seem worth it."
"Lucas, please..."
"No. I'm with Cheyenne. I can only give you your closure if you ever want it."
"Ugh! Fine! Be with Cheyenne!"
The sound of a door slamming echoed through the room. I heard Lucas let out a sigh. Slowly, I opened the door.
"Did you hear everything?" he asked me with his hands covering his face.
"Yeah..."
"Haley, I've wanted to hear her say those things since I left high school."
I sat there silently listening to his rant.
"And now that she finally said it, I just don't want to hear it. I finally found someone that is everything for me. And I think I—I love her... And Peyton just tries to squash it."
"But you chose who you want to be with, right?"
"Yeah."
"So don't worry, Scott. Peyton has just been harboring old feelings for long. She'll get over it."
"Well you know what they say," he said.
"What do they say?" I asked.
"Hakuna Matata," he said with a grin.
Good grief. Soon, he started to sing the lyrics and dance.
"Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze. It means no worries. For the rest of your days. It's our problem- free philosophy. Hakuna Matata!"
"What will become of you, Lucas?"
"I'll become a famous Broadway guy."
"I was thinking more along the lines of registering in an asylum. C'mon slugger, let's go before you break out the Disney tunes."
"Under the sea. Under the sea. Darling it's better. Down where it's wetter. Take it from meeeeeeeeee—"
"Lucas Scott! If you don't shut the hell up, I will clunk you with a hard object that will be guaranteed to give you a big red bump!"
"Fine, but next time on, if you ever want to hear the catchy tunes from Disney movies, I won't sing."
"Is that a promise?"
"Just get in the car, James."
When we arrived at the restaurant to have lunch with Daryl and Nathan, I only saw Daryl. He wore a suit and was talking on the cell phone. His eyes fell on me and I could tell he was checking me out. I felt nervous. Why? I don't know.
He looked successful, very successful. And not bad to look at—no Haley, don't go there...
He flipped his cell phone off and came over to greet us.
"Hey Lucas, Haley..." he said.
"C'mon guys, we should get to the table," Lucas said.
When we reached the table, Daryl pulled back my seat and waited for me to sit.
"Thank you," I said meekly.
"O there is an extra seat," Daryl said looking at an empty seat.
"Lucas, did you tell him that there was going to be another person?" I questioned him while furrowing my eyebrows. Argh Lucas is so stupid.
"Must have slipped my mind," he said while looking at the menu.
"Who's eating with us?" asked Daryl.
"Nathan," I said.
"Nathan, as in Nathan Scott?" he questioned.
"Yeah, but—"
"Nathan is going to be here and you guys didn't feel it fit to tell me. You both know that we hated each other. So tell me the truth. Why?"
"Well, me and him are kinda... dating."
"You're dating that jacka$$!"
"Calm down, Daryl. It'll be ok," I assured him.
"Ok?!? How the hell will it be ok? You knew the past and yet you are standing in front of me telling me that it'll be ok," he retorted.
"Please Daryl. Do it for me. I really care about him. We have worked out our differences and are together, so please," I begged.
"Ugh! Fine James, but I'm not making any promises," he concluded.
"That's all I'm asking for," I beamed.
Just then I saw Nathan walk in. He turned his face towards us and his eyes locked onto mine. He just looked into my eyes. It made me heart melt. He looked at me, when most guys just looked at my assets. Slowly, he walked over to us and took his seat next to me.
His hand crept up on my leg and I stifled a giggle. He then turned his attention to Daryl and his smile turned into a scowl. Both looked intensely at each other, their eyes shadowed fiery hatred. It was obvious that they hated each other, but I didn't know why.
What I did know was that this lunch was going to be a bloodbath.
But you know what they say. Hakuna matata...
Chapter 21 Part 2: The Good Ol' Days
"So..." I said awkwardly once everyone had been seated. I could feel the thick tension in the room. Nathan glared at Daryl. I glared at Lucas. That pig didn't tell Daryl, thus making this lunch even more painful.
"What are you having?" Lucas asked me completely oblivious to the tension.
"I'll go with the honeyed duck. What about you guys?" I asked the three guys looking at me. Wow, talk about déjà vu.
FLASHBACK
I was sitting at Karen's café doing my homework. It was getting late, but Karen invited me and Daryl to eat at the café for dinner. Deb had became Karen's partner and worked there, too. So there was me, Daryl, Lucas, Karen, and Deb sitting down peacefully eating a pleasant meal.
In walked Nathan. He had to talk to Deb, so afterwards she invited him for dessert.
He sat on the opposite of me. All three guys looked at me. Daryl, because his hand was on my thigh. Nathan, because he didn't like Daryl touching me. Lucas, because he wanted to eat my apple pie.
END OF FLASHBACK
Here we were, three years later and it is happening again. History just keeps on repeating over and over and over again.
So all three guys were looking at me. Nathan, because his hand was on my thigh. Daryl, because he didn't like Nathan touching me. Lucas, because he wanted to drink my margarita.
Déjà vu.
"Hmm... I'm not so sure honey. I may go with the lasagna," replied Nathan. I looked uneasily at his face and saw a smirk played on his lips. Emphasis was placed on the word "honey", which was dripping in sappy sweetness.
Good Lord, this is going to be another wondrous game of ping pong staring Nathan Scott and Daryl Waters.
"I think I may have the spicy mandarin shrimps, because I like things a little hot," said Daryl while looking at my lips.
Gee, that's just great. Nathan is overcompensating with sugary sweetness and Daryl is getting horny. It's like they reversed the roles.
"I think I may have the teriyaki chicken. I have always like chicken," Lucas said still completely oblivious.
"But come to think of it, I may go with the lemon chicken. That's always good. Or wait, I could try the maple chicken. It's supposed to be sweet. Or there is the mango chicken. I hear they sauté the chicken in mangos. I personally prefer chick—" Lucas continued, but I cut him off.
"Ok enough with the chicken!" I blurted out with fiery eyes. Ok, I'm mad at him. I was mad at him in the beginning, but this whole chicken thing just doubled my anger. Then it tripled because he is acting like he is blind and doesn't see the beginning of the Nathan/Daryl WWIII.
"I—I think I'll just go with the teriyaki..." stuttered Lucas.
Just then a waiter came by and ordered our food. I could tell he was checking me out. So did Nathan; thus, making him possessively wrap his arms around my waist which I had no objection to whatsoever. Daryl just smirked at the jealous Nathan.
Once the waiter had left, we began the awkward conversation.
"So, how's it like in Boston?" asked Daryl turning his full attention to me.
"It's good," said Nathan who interrupted me. I just bit me lip to stop me from laughing. This was so high school-like.
"I wasn't talking to you," Daryl said coldly.
"Well I was talking to you," Nathan said with a fake ex-pression of calmness. I could tell the anger was just bubbling inside.
"Really? I always though you were a dumb jock with a speech impediment," Daryl replied.
Nathan's face lost its calmness and was replaced with boiling anger. I knew I had to bring in the white flag.
"So Daryl, how is life going for ya?" I asked him.
"So nice of you to ask. I am doing very well. Stanford has done wonders and I guess it's only the beginning. I am working in the computer field now. It's quite interesting. Who knows, I may become the next Bill Gates," Daryl replied.
"Well I'm so glad it's working out," I told him.
"The next Bill Gates? What did he divorce his wife and announce his homosexuality?" Nathan asked with an air of interest and satisfaction.
"No, you must be mixed up," Daryl said acting like he's superior.
"Sorry about that. I just assumed when you said that you'd be the next Bill Gates, that he must have declared something of that sort. My bad," Nathan replied.
"Don't assume or you make an ass out of yourself," Daryl said while chugging down his merlot.
"Dude, bro then you gots to stop assuming," cut in Lucas who obviously had downed a few drinks.
"Still the same bro I remember. O you remember our booze trip to Mexico?" asked Daryl.
"Hell yeah, those were the good ol' days," Lucas said.
"Yeah, well remember when we spent 5 days at the cabin?" Nathan asked me. I knew where he was going with this...
"Uh huh. The 4 amazing hours in the hot tub? How could I forget?" I said nonchalantly. Hey, I might as well play both sides in this war.
"Now those were the good ol' days," said Nathan.
"Haley, remember that day we skipped school and went to Las Vegas?" cut in Daryl.
"Yeah, that hotel was nice," I said while reminiscing
"I especially liked the bed... and the Jacuzzi... and the elevator... now those were the good ol' days," said Daryl.
"You have a problem, man?" Nathan asked Daryl, the anger getting the better of him.
"Yeah and it's you," Daryl replied.
"Why don't you just let it go? I won, you lost. Not a hard concept," Nathan said.
"No, you didn't win and I didn't lose. Don't you realize that once Haley is done using you for whatever she wants, she'll discard you like white trash," Daryl said while getting out of his seat.
"And what makes you think that she hasn't already done that to you?" Nathan asked him.
"Well, look at me and look at you. I was there for her throughout high school. You were fcuking some chick. I worked hard to get someplace great. You, you are probably barely passing school. I am successful. You aren't. I've made a good name for myself by volunteering and giving back to the community. You, you just made yourself seem like the black sheep, the piece of gum stuck to a shoe, the trailer trash. You and I know you'll never amount to anything. So just give up already," Daryl said while his eyes looked at Nathan with a superior complexity.
He then walked out of the restaurant. Nathan followed. Lucas and I trailed along outside, while the rest of the restaurant watched.
"I'll never give up. I may not be the fcuking image of perfection, but I'm what I am for a reason. And Haley is with me for that reason," Nathan yelled at him.
"She'll get over you and then she'll come to me. You and I both know that," Daryl bit back.
They were etching closer and closer together. Their fists were bunched up and I knew they were ready for a brawl.
"Stop it both of you! Daryl, I told you I love him, so just leave it alone. Nathan, just calm down," I tried to rationalize.
Men. They have no sense of good judgment. You can't live with them; you can't get rid of them...
"Haley, when are you going to open you eyes? Can't you see that we're perfect? Are you that blind?" Daryl asked bewildered at Haley's choice.
"No, I can see clearly and I know that we aren't perfect. It's just an illusion and you have to go figure that out," I said.
"Haley, just dump his ass already," Daryl came closer to me. Then he whispered softly in my ear "we are meant to be."
Nathan saw this and charged at Daryl. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I glimpsed at Nathan and saw the sheer rage in his startling blue eyes. Jealousy reeked of him. I could sense that nothing was going to stop him now.
"You bastard," Nathan exclaimed. They were attacking each other with punches flying all over the place. They were sprawled out on the ground and kicking each other.
Lucas then intervened which wasn't good. Poor idiot. He ended up with a black eye.
"STOP!" I screamed. All three fighting guys stopped and looked at me. They froze mid air. Nathan with his fist in Daryl's jaw, Daryl with his foot in Nathan's stomach, Lucas with his head stuck underneath Daryl and Nathan.
"God! I told you both that I chose who I have chosen because I did. And get off Lucas, I think he's blacking out," I said.
They finally noticed Lucas and got off of him. His eyes were swirling around in his head and he passed out.
Daryl got some ammonia and twirled it under Lucas' nose. He woke up with big bulging eyes and fear stricken.
"Wha—what happened?" he said.
"You got sat on top of by those idiots," I said as I rubbed his head. He seemed wiped out.
"I'm tired Haley..." Lucas whined. He's such a baby.
"C'mon, I'll take you home. We'll leave these maniacs to figure something out. They obviously don't rationalize well," I said to Lucas while making sure that Nathan and Daryl had heard me perfectly clear.
I looked up at them while holding Lucas. They both looked ashamed.
"You two, go pay the check and talk. I won't fix either of your faces until you make amends. I'm sick and tired of this constant feud between you two," I said sternly.
They nodded their heads and headed into the restaurant. I walked away with Lucas semi-leaning against me, semi-hobbling. We walked on the concrete path that led towards Lucas' car.
"You are a mess Luke," I laughed lightly.
"Hey, no laughing at the cripple," he said while clutching his eye.
"Alright buddy, I'll take you home and get you cleaned up. We'll have to disinfect too."
"No! Don't disinfect!"
"Has anyone told you that you're an adult size baby."
"Please Hales... I'll do anything."
"Nope. Whatever shall your mother say if she sees this big puffy eye and finds that it's oozing out puss?"
"She'll say that it looks very becoming."
"Uh huh, somehow I doubt that. Let's go lil Lukie. You have a date with Ms. Hydrogen Peroxide."
"No, not the hydrogen peroxide!"
"Would you prefer Ms. Alcohol?"
"Like liquor alcohol?"
"No, like disinfectant alcohol."
"Fine, but promise to give me the real liquor afterwards."
"Deal."
"C'mon last one to the car is a rotten egg."
"Hey, no fair! You cheater!"
I ran after him, but he was already getting into the car. Like I said before, Lucas is a kid. Hands down, I'm also a kid at heart. I just don't advertise like Luke does.
This is when I'm glad I'm friends with him. He always makes the worst situations no longer worse. I know why he jumped in today and it wasn't just for fun. He did it to stop the fight and because I needed help. Help to stop my ex-boyfriend and my boyfriend from devouring each other.
But let's not worry about that. Everything will work out. It always does. At least, it usually does...
Let's just think back to the old distant days of happy childhood. Damn, they were the true good ol' days.