This time I won't apologize. I've been working on this chapter whenever I had time to do so. And between flying back from Romania and getting ready to fly to the USA... and for the past week hanging out with my best friend which I haven't seen for the past eleven months... I didn't really have the time.
The thing is, I didn't find it necessary to make time for eight individual people. Because, as far as I can tell... I don't have any more readers. I know there may be lurkers... hell... those eight aren't even a tenth of the amount of fanfiction users who get alerts. But how should I know if the rest of those signed up are actually faithful readers who just don't find it fit to write reviews or just people who have given up on this story a long time ago and are just too lazy to unsubscribe to this story?
I'm not blaming anyone... and I will continue to get chapters to you. But for the next few weeks I won't try and clear up five hours (and possibly more, because the Upperclassmen trip chapters take a hell of a lot of time to write) and take time that I could be hanging out with my best friend (who I won't see for two years once I'll be drafted into the Israeli army) if I don't have readers. The time to write fanfiction will be when I don't have anything else planned.
I love Naley... I love fanfiction... and I love writing. And like I said, I'll continue writing this fanfiction. But I won't clear up half a day to write if I don't have enough people who care for getting a new chapter.
So I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's about triple in length of my usual chapters. So here it is... sorry for the long author's note.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Truth, Bitter Truth
"Haley! Haley James!"
Haley felt someone shaking her, that being accompanied by Brooke's voice becoming clearer.
She opened her eyes and had to hold the frown that was threatening to overtake her features when she saw Brooke woke her up from where she wanted to stay forever.
"Finally," Brooke smiled. "You totally sleep like a dead person." She got up and dusted off her knees. "Now get up, roommate. We've got a beautiful day ahead of us. Chris Keller's waiting," she winked.
"What time is it?" Haley asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes noticing the rest of her roommates were either out of the room or already dressed, most looking towards her and Brooke.
"Like seven," Brooke shrugged. "If you don't get ready now, breakfast will be over before you set foot in that cafeteria."
Haley sighed and got up out of bed.
Nathan spotted Haley entering the cafeteria, accompanied by Brooke. Haley was still beautiful, even with a night of little sleep.
Everyone in the cafeteria was being so obnoxiously loud that he barely heard his cell phone ring. He grabbed the phone and once he saw who it was, excused himself from the room.
"Hey Bev," Nathan said, once safely outside of the cafeteria. "How are you doing?"
"Fine, fine. How about you? Seeing as you're surrounded by annoying little high schoolers minus one girly who is most likely driving you crazy?"
"What do you mean 'driving me crazy'?"
"So close yet so far away, right?"
"Something like that. But I assure you I'll survive," Nathan looked around. There were only few who were outside; most of the students having breakfast inside.
"I'm not so sure," Bevin smirked. "I think this is going to be incredibly hard for you. Plus, seeing her in The Jerk's arms? You're as good as dead."
"Thank you for your confidence. It's very nice of you," Nathan said sarcastically.
"I'm being honest. You like to act as if this is nothing but I know you're lying to yourself. It's going to kill you."
"There's no need to be dramatic, Bevin. It isn't a big deal. I promise I'll be fine."
"Sure, sure. We'll see… so are you having fun?"
"As much fun as a teacher can have being surrounded by a bunch of sixteen and seventeen year olds."
"Well, you did choose this job. It's what you have to do everyday, anyway."
"But now they're not students, they're horny teenagers," Nathan frowned. "But hey, I need to go, okay?"
"Yeah, of course. Just checking in… it's a good thing you're not dead yet, Nate."
"Thanks for your concern. I'll see you in two days."
"See ya."
Nathan hung up and looked towards the cafeteria. He was going to be fine, he always was.
"Do you want to go to the hot tubs with me?" Brooke offered as she and Haley walked towards the trash can with their empty plates.
"Are you kidding, Brooke? It's hot outside."
"It's for show," Brooke winked. "Come on, do this for me!"
Haley rolled her eyes. "I always do everything for you."
"Except make out with Chris Keller, right?"
"Whatever," the two threw away their plates. "Are you coming with me to change then?"
Brooke lifted her shirt revealing the top of a red bikini. "I'm dressed, so you better go fast."
"Gee, thanks Brooke." Haley began walking to the cafeteria doors.
"See you there, Hales," Brooke called after her, then smirked to herself. This was going to be amazing.
The truth was, Haley didn't really want to hang out with Brooke. She knew her other friends would be there, too. If only she could be with Brooke, and Brooke alone. Then it would be fine… but with Gabriella, Caitlin… and Emma? Well, soon enough Chris was going to get her and she'd be with her friends.
Haley looked in the side pocket of her duffle bag, where she'd placed her bathing suit. That's weird, she thought when she couldn't find it. Maybe she had the wrong side… but when she looked it wasn't there either.
She began looking through her duffle bag. Good thing no one was in the room to think she was insane for looking through her bag so frantically.
After she couldn't find it, Haley folded everything back into her bag the way it was before and made her way to the hot tubs.
"Brooke," Haley called once she saw her friend in her red bikini. "I'm sorry, I can't find it."
"The bathing suit, you mean?" Brooke smiled. "No problem," she grabbed Haley's hand and pulled her towards their cabin again.
"You have an extra one?" Haley asked confused as the two made their way back to where Haley had just come from.
"Something like that," Brooke pushed open the door.
"Brooke, that's my bag," she said once her friend began searching the bag she looked at a second ago. "I looked everywhere, and it's not in there."
"That's because you weren't looking for the right thing," she smirked pulling out a red bikini identical to her own, from one of the side pockets Haley didn't look through thoroughly.
"What is that?"
"This, my dearest friend, is the bathing suit I switched for yours while you were flirting with Chris Keller next to my car," Brooke grinned widely.
Haley's eyes grew wide. "You what?"
"I'll see you soon," Brooke slapped Haley's ass and then skipped out the door.
"I hate you!" Haley called after her and then stared at the red bathing suit lying on her bed.
This is just great. She wasn't a bikini kind of girl!
Haley turned around and noticed a girl sitting on the bed across the room from hers reading a book. She had brown or blonde highlights; Haley couldn't tell which her natural hair color was as there were so many highlights.
"Cat's Cradle," Haley smiled. "That's a really good book."
The girl looked up from the book and then back. "Yeah."
"Do you like it so far?"
"It's not bad," the girl shrugged not looking up again.
"I'm Haley," she introduced herself.
"I know. Jenny," the girl replied.
Haley remained silent for a second. "I used to finish a book a day," she giggled. "But I don't have time anymore with school, and friends, and Chris…"
"That sucks," the girl deadpanned.
"It kinda does. Sometimes I think they work us too hard in school," Haley smiled trying to make conversation.
"But I'm sure Chris takes up all that extra time, anyway," Jenny put the book on her lap and met Haley's gaze. "Right?"
"Just like any boyfriend would, I guess," Haley shrugged. Only I have two boyfriends to worry about.
"So I doubt you regret any of that lost time. What with making out with Chris Keller and all."
Haley smiled, "I suppose it's not too bad."
"So you were a fan girl before you met him," she kinked up an eyebrow.
"Not exactly," Haley replied, looking at the girl surprised at the comment. "I didn't really know him."
"But you knew of him."
"No, I actually didn't. I didn't know anybody."
"But you're glad you're going out with him now."
"Of course I am. He is Chris Keller, after all," Haley laughed.
"So you're a fan girl now."
What was up with this girl speaking in sentences and not questions? As if she knew Haley or something. "Uh, no. He's my boyfriend and I like him, that's all."
"Interesting."
"What?"
"So the two of you are equal in this relationship; not like he's better than you or anything. You know, seeing as he practically has a record deal already and he's a Senior."
"When we're together he's not that guy. He's just my boyfriend."
Jenny smiled. "Your boyfriend? And how exactly does Chris your boyfriend act?"
"Just like you'd expect Chris Keller to treat his girlfriend," Haley smiled back, doing so because the way this girl was doing it made her quite uneasy. "I'll see you later then. I have to go. It was nice talking to you."
Haley grabbed the red bathing suit and left the cabin. What a weird girl, she thought on the way to the bathroom to change.
The second Haley left the bathroom stall, wearing that piece of fabric that barely covered a thing, she began to feel self conscious. She didn't even want to see how she looked in it. That would only make it worse, she thought.
The only thing she needed now was the confidence to prance her body to the student body. Brooke was right, it was all about the show.
Haley looked in the bathroom mirror, fluffed her hair a bit and then took a deep breath. I guess it's show-time.
After putting her other clothes in her cabin – ignoring Jenny who was still there reading her book – Haley began walking towards where Brooke was.
It's all about the show, Haley reminded herself.
"I'm going to kill you," she said as soon as Brooke was in hearing distance.
Brooke turned around and pretended to gasp, "My, my, Haley James. Isn't someone the hottest girl in school? You're so right though, you should cover up… I can't stand next to you while you're looking all Angelina Jolie."
"You're just incredibly funny, Brooke," Haley looked around. Too many people were staring at her, she wasn't liking it one bit. "So now what?"
"Now we stand and look sexy or we go into the hot tub, whatever."
"Brooke! Do you know how hot it is?"
"No hotter than us, I guarantee," she winked.
"I swear, I'm going to kill you, Brooke," the two turned to see three other girls approaching them with identical red bikinis.
"Brooke, what did you do?" Haley whispered seeing the one girl she hated in the same outfit as hers.
"We're the fab five!" Brooke said, excitedly.
"How did you even swap theirs?" Haley asked, trying to keep annoyance out of the tone of her voice.
Brooke looked from her other three friends to Haley. "After I swapped yours, I found their bags in the huge pile and swapped theirs."
This is just great. She just loved looking like Emma's twin.
It wasn't that Caitlin and Gabriella were awful. But they were part of the popular crowed that she just wasn't associated with. And she liked it that way.
Well, her Senior friends weren't part of the popular crowed in the sense that Brooke's friends were. The Seniors didn't seem to be preoccupied with being popular. They just were.
"Hey James, Chris Keller not picking you up today?" Alex Mitchell asked her, one of the boy toys of the popular Junior girls. He was definitely one of the guys who loved the fact that he was popular, and wouldn't stop flaunting it.
He had never said a word to her before. But hey, she was Chris' girlfriend, it would be great for him to be able to snag her away from the most wanted and popular guy in school. It would do wonders for his reputation, so why the hell not?
"It's not like we have to be hanging out 24/7, right?" Haley answered. This guy was a douche.
"Yeah, I completely agree. I just hope you're not having an awful time with us Juniors," he said, letting his eyes skim her body before finding her eyes.
"I guess not. But you know you'd want to hang out with the Seniors if you could," she replied. Couldn't someone come and save her?
"Actually, I think the Junior girls have a lot to offer if you know what I mean," he smirked. "Aren't there any Junior guys you wouldn't mind being with?"
"Not really. I've always felt the guys in our grade were a little… underdeveloped," she smiled at him. "I'll talk to you later."
She grabbed Brooke's hand, "Hey, let's get in."
"Didn't you just say it was freakin' hot?" she turned away from talking to some other guy who began talking to her, Emma, Caitlin and Gabbi.
"It's all for show, no? It's sexier wet," she winked. She hated playing the whore, but she really needed to get her body out of display.
"Good point," Brooke smiled and led Haley to one of the hot tubs.
Ugh, weren't there better ways to get away from Junior jerks? The water really was burning, even worse than the weather.
She looked around and spotted Nathan standing far away from the crowed, looking straight at her.
"So what did Alex Mitchell talk to you about?"
Haley turned to Brooke, "Who the hell knows. I was too distracted with his eyes staring at my boobs the whole time."
Brooke giggled. "It's okay, he's allowed to do it. He's hot as hell. I wouldn't mind hooking up with him."
"Then why don't you? It's not like he's out of your league." Hell, Brooke Davis was exactly Alex's kind of girl.
"Because I went out with his best friend last year for like… three weeks. So not worth the missed opportunities. Alex and I could have been seriously hot," she looked over at him, biting her bottom lip.
"Don't you want to date a guy who isn't an ass?" Haley looked from Alex to Brooke.
"Depends if I'm looking for a relationship or just a guy from sex. With Alex it would be a physical thing," she cocked her head to the side. "I don't know if I can deal with a relationship now with all the AP English work." Brooke looked at Nathan who, thankfully, wasn't looking at them anymore. "I mean… Mr. Scott is fine. But he just gives so much work."
"It's an AP class, Brooke," Haley laughed. "What were you expecting?"
She shrugged. "I knew it was going to be hard. But I still have a right to complain."
"Wet and in a bikini? I don't think I can handle you anymore, Haley."
Haley turned around and looked above her. "Chris!" she squealed getting out of the hot tub and hugging her boyfriend.
"Way to get me wet," he chuckled checking his clothes before he turned to check out his girlfriend.
"But I'm hot so it's okay, right?" she grinned.
Chris smirked at her and then, in the midst of all the students, began making out with her, sliding his hand down her side, eventually resting on her ass.
She would have stopped the kiss and slapped him but instead she deepened the kiss just enough for it to be convincing to everyone else. Everything was for show. Nothing was genuine with this trip.
Nathan couldn't dare tell her she wasn't being convincing. And with so many spectators, this was bound to shut him up for a while... hopefully making him a little jealous of Chris. But who the hell was she kidding, Nathan wasn't the jealous type. He made that quite clear.
Haley broke the kiss after a convincing amount of time. She went on her toes. "So are you whisking me away?" she whispered in his ear.
"Away from loser world, you mean?" he smiled at her. "Come on, let's go."
He began pulling her towards the Senior cabins. "Detour," Haley said, pulling him towards her cabin. "I don't want to walk around naked."
"Believe me, everyone else wouldn't mind," he smirked but allowed her to take him to her room.
"If you wanted to date a slut, I'm sure the entire female population of the school wouldn't mind being that for you."
"I'll keep that in mind, thanks."
Haley pushed the door to her cabin open. "Hey Jenny," she smiled at the girl she had shared the conversation with earlier. "You know Chris Keller, right?" she grabbed a red tank top and a black skirt from her bag and pulled them over her bathing suit.
Jenny looked up at said guy.
"Nice to meet you," Chris smiled one of his undeniable smiles.
"Sure," she replied.
"I'll see you later," Haley grabbed Chris' hand and left the cabin.
"What's her deal?" he looked back at the cabin as the two continued walking. He wasn't used to girls in this school not giving in to his smiles.
"No idea," she shrugged. "Where is everyone else?"
"Chilling," he replied, as the two began making their way downhill. "Picking you up from your Junior losers isn't really an appealing task."
"I'm sorry I'm such a burden."
"We are, too," he winked at her.
After hanging out with her Seniors for two hours, and then going to the lunch buffet in the cafeteria, Haley walked down the hill to be with them for an hour before she had to be with her Junior class.
It wasn't too true what Chris said about nothing happening on this trip. The school had a lot of things planned for the upperclassmen. There were many activities, but her friends weren't interested in participating.
Many sports were featured on the schedule but she knew that they weren't going to be playing in any... except of course basketball. Narayan and Damien were pumped up to "kick some loser ass" and "show Haley once and for all that there will never be a Senior class like '08". Not that Haley needed any proving. She knew that the best Senior class will not be in the future but was in the past.
Haley pushed the door to cabin 47 open.
The black-haired girl straightened up from picking something from her bag. "Does she always have to be here?" she asked, annoyed.
Haley felt like she was interrupting something. She saw the smile on Lauren's lips disappear the second Haley stepped into the cabin. The only other person in the room was Aly who also seemed to be having a great time up until Lauren's comment.
"Learn to control what you say, Lauren. Haley can be here whenever she feels like it," Alyson walked to Haley, brushing by Lauren, and hugged her younger friend. "Come on, let's go," she grabbed her hand and walked out of the door. "That girl has some nerve."
Haley looked back to the cabin. Wasn't Alyson just having a great conversation with said girl? Or was that just for show, as well? "Are we going to the guys' cabin?"
"Yeah," Alyson turned to Haley and smiled, "watch out for the Pringles."
"What's wrong with your cabin?"
"Bitch is there," she answered, signaling towards her cabin.
"If you hate her so much why are you rooming with her?" Haley asked, curiously.
Aly laughed. "You're funny, Hales." She pushed open the door to cabin 35. "Hello Gentlemen," she smiled to the seven other guys in the room. Some of which were on their way out once they found out their cabin would be the meeting place for the royalty of their grade.
She walked over to Narayan, sitting on him and kissing him lightly. "I kinda missed you."
Haley looked over at the two of them. They should have been what was considered the ultimate couple of the school; sexy, showy and popular. All eyes should have been on them. Yet, they weren't. It was her and Chris. And all because of Chris' status. But she was no Aly, she didn't know how to be the center of attention or how she was supposed to act.
"Come here, beautiful," Chris smirked at her. She smiled at him and did just that.
She gave him a peck once she sat on his bed. "Can't I just move in here with you?"
"Sure," he smiled and gave her another kiss.
"Now it's mine turn," Damien smirked. "Aly and Haley, I'll let you two fight it out." By this time the rest of Chris and Damien's cabin members were all gone.
"How about you get a permanent girl and leave us alone?" Alyson offered, winking at him. "Wouldn't that just help with your overwhelming jealousy?"
"Why would I want someone else when I've got the two of you at my disposal?" he returned her wink.
"At your disposal, eh?" she laughed. "You're too cocky for your own good, Damien."
Haley leaned against Chris. Was Alyson the only one who hated Lauren so much? Because Chris didn't seem to despise her… he just didn't want to talk about her. But why would Alyson hate her more than Chris if she cheated on him? Well, that's the impression that Haley got. It seemed as if there was some sort of cheating involved.
But it also seemed like no one wanted to talk about it. There was more of a story here than the gossip site of the school would offer. The only thing Brooke knew was that Chris broke up with Lauren around the time that he fell for Haley. And then Lauren distanced herself from the rest of them. But according to that fact, Lauren didn't come across as a whore.
What possible reason was there for Alyson to even hate Lauren, anyway?
The group relocated to the area among the Senior cabins and soon enough they were surrounded by other Seniors.
"I should be leaving soon to my Junior class," Haley looked at her watch, her head rested on Chris' legs.
"Or you can pretend to be a Senior and stay with us," Narayan offered with a smile.
"Umm, I think the entire Senior class already nicknamed me 'The Junior', so I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to get away with it," Haley replied. She had actually heard a few Seniors referring to her as 'The Junior' as she walked past them. It was kind of ridiculous. Yet not as ridiculous as some of the Senior girls referring to her as 'The Junior Whore'. Lauren was right about what she had said the night before.
It was funny once Haley thought about it… it's not like she was doing anything that would give her that nickname. But it was more the fact that obviously she had to do something whorish for a guy like Chris Keller to take an interest in her.
"Seniors '08," a 12-grade teacher Haley did not recognize spoke. "I hope you're ready to put those Juniors to shame."
"I guess that's my cue," Haley sat up and gave Chris a peck. "I'll see you guys later."
Just as she stood up, Chris grabbed her hand. "Stay." He looked her in the eye.
"Chris," she looked around at all the Seniors watching them. Ugh, she hated to make a show when it wasn't necessary. Nathan was in a safe distance away. There was no point to this. "It's the Senior meeting, I can't be here."
"You're an honorary Senior, babe," he smirked at her, pulling her hand.
"What?" she laughed. What the hell did that even mean?
"You're a Senior by association," Alyson smiled. "He's right, you should stay."
"Try telling that to your teacher," she whispered signaling towards the Senior teacher who had stopped speaking for this show. There was no way they would get their way with the teachers. They weren't that influential.
"I'm sorry Miss James, I have to ask you to leave," the teacher smiled politely at her.
"No problem, sir," she replied trying to walk away, not being able to because Chris was still holding her hand.
"Aw, come on, Mr. Hutton," Chris stood up, still holding her hand. "I don't think this is such an issue."
"Chris, this is unfair to the rest of your class," a woman, standing next to Mr. Hutton spoke.
"That's bullshit," he said. "I'm sure no one minds. Here, we'll have a vote."
"Chris, seriously," Haley whispered, uncomfortably. "This is not necessary. I don't mind going to my-"
"Everyone who doesn't mind for Haley to stay with us as an honorary Senior, raise your hand," he cut her off, raising his free left hand.
Just as expected, within thirty seconds, all of the hands around them were up. Everyone too intimidated by Chris Keller to vote otherwise.
"See?" Chris turned back to his teachers with a grin on his face, "I told you it wasn't an issue."
Chris sat down and signaled for Haley to sit on him. She looked from her boyfriend back to the teachers. She sighed. "Is it really okay for me to stay here?"
"Well, the class did vote, didn't they?" Mr. Hutton replied. "Sit down, please."
This was just great. Even the teachers were intimidated by him. She sat down next to Chris as opposed to on him. A dot of red in a sea of blue. Oh, how she wished she hadn't worn her grade's color.
Perhaps this wasn't such a bad thing. She did hate her grade. Yet she didn't want more hostility from the Senior class.
Haley ended up leaving ten to fifteen minutes earlier. Even Chris and his friends requested for her to do so.
A senior prank, no doubt.
"Where the hell have you been?" Brooke asked once she saw Haley coming up the hill. "Did they let you stay with the Seniors?"
"Yeah," Haley said, hugging Brooke.
"Damn you," Brooke punched Haley's shoulder lightly. "This is what you missed: nothing. Well, some Junior drama but nothing that would interest an honorary Senior."
"How do you know that's what they called it?" Haley questioned, surprised.
"What else would they call it?" Brooke rolled her eyes. "We need to get ready for paintball, though. Ugh, can you believe it? They won't let us sit out. We need to get all gross and disgusting."
"Sorry?" Haley laughed. Paintball wasn't such a bad idea. The only thing that was a little weird, was how the school was going to get around having five hundred students playing paintball at once. She had to leave before the Seniors discussed the paintballing so she knew nothing about it. "How is this going to work anyway? The paintball," she asked Brooke.
"The line between our cabins and their cabins is the dividing line… you can't cross it. But if you do, and you're shot you have to go to the jail. It's like a lame capture-the-flags thing only even lamer. For the most part, we shoot from across the lines though, we can do that."
"What's the point of even crossing the line?" Haley asked confused.
"To get the red or blue flag," Brooke rolled her eyes. "Ugh, all this and to get dirty afterward. So not fun."
"The sacrifices you make, Brooke," Haley laughed, as the two began walking towards their cabin.
"This is going to be so bad," Haley told Brooke, wearing a white shirt that they were requested to bring from their homes, as well as a pair of pants they cared nothing about. Haley made sure the goggles were covering her eyes. "I mean, we're going to get this beautiful place very dirty."
"You're such a nerd. It's us that you have to worry about. We're the victims here. Not this stupid camp," Brooke huffed in frustration. "Plus, we look like such nerds with these goggles."
Haley looked to Brooke and laughed.
"What?" Brooke looked at her friend, annoyed. "I'm going to shoot you," she pointed her gun towards Haley. "Not another word."
"I didn't say anything," Haley held her hands up defensively and grinned.
"On the count of three we are starting the 2007 Paintball Game," a certain teacher said over the speakers. "I hope everybody's ready. For every paint stain on a cabin we will deduct points from the team responsible."
"There's your answer Miss James," Brooke stuck her tongue at Haley.
"One…"
"As if anyone's going to care about these stupid rules, anyway."
"Two…"
"Who knows, the Seniors are all about blowing us out of the water and the Juniors want to make it somewhat close."
"THREE!"
"Are you going to cross the line?" Haley asked Brooke, keeping an eye out for any Seniors who would try to cross it.
"Hell, no. I'm staying here and doing nothing," Brooke lowered her gun. "Getting attacked by a bunch of blue paint? No thank you."
"But hot Senior guys will be holding those guns," Haley winked at her through the goggles.
Out of the corner of her eye, Haley saw two Seniors crossing the lines and attempted to shoot at them. "Brooke! Help me."
"As if," Brooke made a face and held up her gun, aiming.
They were shot down by none other than Alex Mitchell. "Need some help, ladies?" He smirked at them. "Go to jail," he told the two Seniors and asked another Junior to take them there.
"This school sucks so badly," Brooke said as a reply.
"Do you guys want to cross the line?" he asked them.
"Haley does," Brooke signaled to her friend.
Alex looked towards Haley. "What do you say, James? You want to go?"
"Umm, I don't know. I guess."
"Come on, then," he began walking towards the line.
"Do you mind if I go, Brooke?"
"The Senior territory is so your territory. I'll go find Emma," she waved to her. "I'll see ya later."
"Here, I'll cross from in-front and while they're trying to shoot at me you go from behind. I'm quick enough to distract them. Save some people from jail before trying to get the flag," he smiled. "You think you can do that?"
"No," Haley laughed. "But I can try. Don't kill me if I find myself in jail within the next few seconds."
"No worries," he winked at her. "I'll save you."
He advanced towards the line, signaling for her to walk further.
"TIME OUT!" someone spoke from the speakers.
Haley looked around as some of the Seniors looked towards the speakers yet continued walking closer to the line, not breaking eye contact from the speakers.
"Two important messages before anyone can continue…" the voice continued.
Haley looked towards the Seniors and smiled when she saw Chris. "Hey," she whispered to him. He smiled back.
"Number one: Seniors '08… we are legendary. Number two: Juniors '09, you better watch out. GO FOR IT!"
It took a split second, looking from the speakers to where Chris was to realize he was standing just in-front of her. "Hey," he smiled at her and then smashed an egg against her arm.
"CHRIS!" she screamed, as she began hearing the rest of the screams going around the camp.
"I love you, Haley!" she heard and then felt another egg going down her back.
She turned around. "I'm going to kill you, Aly!" Haley laughed as she began running after her friend and tried shooting as many paintballs as she could before they all ran out.
Before long, her gun was completely empty and she was covered with blue paint and broken eggs. Why did she have to have so many Senior friends?
This was all like a one-sided food fight. The Seniors prepared well for this, and the Juniors only had so much paint.
"Chris, I'm absolutely disgusting," Haley complained and then put her arms around his neck and pressed her entire disgusting body against his. "Here, you can have some," she smiled, smearing her arm against his.
"That's very considerate of you," he chuckled, looking around. Narayan and Alyson were on the grass, kissing each other and laughing. Chris looked back to Haley and kissed her lightly.
"How long have you had this planned out?" Haley asked, curiously.
"Forever ago," Chris answered her. "Around the time that we were told when the upperclassmen trip would happen. We did have to get all those eggs ready."
"Did the class of '07 do anything last year?"
"No," he laughed. "But they were lame, anyway."
"And the teachers let you do it?"
"Pretty much," Chris smiled, going in for a second kiss.
"Haley James," she heard a voice from behind her. "May I have a minute?"
She turned around to see Mrs. Moore, the assistant Principal. "Yeah, sure."
Mrs. Moore turned around and began walking away from the many students standing in the area. Haley waved goodbye to Chris and followed silently.
After walking wordlessly for a few minutes, the two arrived to a place isolated enough from students, Mrs. Moore turned around to face Haley. "I heard you were absent from the Junior meeting today."
"Umm, yeah. I was with the Seniors." Was she going to get in trouble for this? She had teacher permission to stay.
"With all due respect, Miss James, just because you're dating Chris Keller doesn't give you the right to abandon your grade."
"Mr. Hutton said it was fine if I stayed," Haley said in frustration. This wasn't even her fault! If Mr. Hutton had a problem with her staying all he had to do was say so. She was about to utter these very words when Mrs. Moore spoke.
"Mr. Hutton was put in a very uncomfortable position because of the popular support you have from the Senior class. That's why I ask of you to refrain from abusing this support to disregard the rules of this trip. You are a Junior, and you must be with your Junior class when requested." What the hell was up with this bitch? "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," Haley answered angrily. She was on the verge of tears. Haley was never one to get into trouble. And now, the assistant Principal herself came to lecture her.
"Good. I'll see you around, Miss James," Mrs. Moore turned to leave.
"What's that about?" Nathan asked Mouth, still looking through the window at Mrs. Moore and Haley once Mr. McFadden entered their room.
"The nerve of some of these students," he said as a reply. "It's unbelievable."
"What did she do?" he looked away from Haley for a second.
"The whole 'I'm dating Chris Keller and everyone loves me now' is getting to her head," Mouth looked through his suitcase. "She guilted the entire Senior class into letting her stay with them during the Senior meeting instead of going to the Junior meeting."
"Yeah, I noticed she was missing," Nathan looked back to Haley, she looked very angry and broken at the same time. "But I doubt Haley has it in her to guilt the entire Senior class."
"Either that or she got her boyfriend to do it for her. Either way she thinks she's above everyone now."
It really took everything in him for Nathan not to hit Mouth. Referring to Haley as this girl who only wanted to control everyone around her to get whatever the hell she wanted. That wasn't Haley at all. It was Chris Keller, Nathan was sure of it.
After taking a quick shower, Haley began walking towards her cabin. Keep her out of your mind, she told herself holding on to her towel and dirty clothes.
Now all she had to do was stay in her cabin for the next half hour and talk to her roommates in this 'getting to know each other' session. Finally she'd have a chance to meet some normal Juniors. No more Emma Wrights or Alex Mitchells.
Just as she was about to swing the door to her cabin open, Haley heard the voices from inside as the door was not closed all the way.
"… She talked to me in the morning and wouldn't stop flaunting her relationship with Chris. Then as if that wasn't enough she brought him to the cabin to show how great he was to her."
"Absolutely hideous. She's worse than Brooke Davis. Brooke's just a slut, but Haley rubs it in your face."
"She's just such a whore."
"Yeah, she thinks she's all that because she's dating Chris Keller."
"Whatever: she's a nobody. I don't even get why he's dating her."
"Because she's a slut that gives it away. Why else would he want her?"
"Is she actually having sex with him?"
"Who the hell knows? If she hasn't hit home she's at least on third base."
Haley didn't want to hear anymore. And she sure as hell wasn't going to go in there alone. Brooke wasn't in there to protect her.
She dropped her things on the cabin's balcony and began searching for Brooke, walking to the hot tubs where Brooke has most likely gone back to.
Those girls didn't even know her! Who were they to say such hurtful things about her? So what if she was dating Chris? It's not like they knew anything about her relationship with him. And all those girls seemed so nice before. And who the hell did that Jenny girl think she was? She wasn't flaunting her relationship with Chris!
"Brooke!" she called once she saw her friend.
"Hey girly," Brooke smiled amidst her friends.
"Aren't we supposed to be in our cabins now?" Please come with me, I don't want to be with them alone.
"Oh, that was now? Oops," she laughed. "I guess now it's too late, right? I mean dinner's soon."
Haley looked at her watch. "I guess you're right." Thank goodness, she didn't have to be with those girls now.
"So are we going?" Brooke asked linking her arm around Haley's as many people began leaving their cabins and walking towards the cafeteria.
By the time dinner was over, it was completely dark outside.
Brooke and Haley walked towards their cabin, Haley taking the clothes and towel she left outside of the cabin.
"The egg thing was so completely disgusting," Brooke complained, as the two walked inside.
"I thought it was pretty funny," Haley smiled.
"Of course you did, they're your Seniors."
Haley looked around the cabin at the other two girls that were already there. Which were they? The girls that called her a whore or the ones that said she was a worthless slut?
She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. U no u mis us. Were bhind cabin 50 nxt 2 the river.
"Is it okay if I leave, Brooke?" Haley looked up at her friend.
"I'm so used to you abandoning me. Go for it," Brooke smiled. "Just remember that curfew is in ten minutes… if you care."
Just as Haley pulled the door to go out, Jenny pushed it open from the other side. She would have loved to slap her, but instead she went around her and began making her way to Chris.
When she finally spotted her friends, she heard Aly's voice louder than the others. "N-n-now that that don't kill me can only make me stronger!"
"Haley, join us," Damien laughed, signaling her over.
"Here, drink some," Alyson handed her a water bottle.
After taking a sip, Haley nearly spit it out. "Ew, that's disgusting. What is it?"
"How innocent does a person have to be to not recognize the taste of vodka?" Alyson said, whispering the last word.
That's against the rules, Haley wanted to say. "I don't like to drink," she handed Aly back the bottle.
"We're not going to get drunk, Hales. Don't worry. We're not idiots," Alyson put an arm around the younger girl. "We just need to break the rules to feel fulfilled by the end of this trip." She gave Damien the water bottle. He took it and took a swig.
"Don't worry about her. She has high tolerance, and we won't let her have more," Chris winked at Haley and gave her a kiss. Thankfully, his mouth didn't taste of that god-forbidden acidic drink. But she was sure he was going to drink a little before they put the bottle away.
"You guys are no fun," Alyson pouted and then kissed Narayan, who had just drunk.
"What if we get caught?" Haley asked. She couldn't have this on her permanent record.
"We won't. You have nothing to worry about," Damien assured her. "The check-up is at one and by then we'll already be in bed."
"What stupid curfews," Narayan complained.
"I think we should jump into the river, guys," Chris suggested.
"But that's… not allowed," Alyson smiled. "Okay."
Damien took off his shirt and threw it to the floor. "Skinny dipping, anyone?" he said, grinning.
"You know I'm up for that," Narayan smiled looking his girlfriend up and down, then moving his gaze to Haley.
"See, usually I wouldn't mind but I don't want to do anything I'd regret tomorrow. You know, since I'm drunk and all," Alyson took off her shirt, kissing Narayan sensually.
"You're not drunk, Aly," Damien frowned.
She laughed, pulling away from Narayan. "But seeing as half of you have already seen me naked, what would be the fun of even going skinny dipping?"
"Because I wasn't one of those lucky two," Damien answered.
Haley looked to Chris. Was Alyson hinting at something?
"Are we going in, or what?" Chris took off his shirt and pants. "Are you coming in, Hales?"
"I-I don't know." She watched as Chris and Damien jumped into the river.
Alyson giggled when she felt Narayan pulling down her jeans.
Before the minute was up, all four of them were in the water. The guys stripped down to their briefs or boxers, and Alyson with her bra and underwear.
"Come on, Hales," Aly told Haley, one of her hands around Narayan's neck.
"This is so wrong," Haley shook her head.
"And it's so like wearing a bathing suit," she replied. "You were wearing a bathing suit earlier today. What's the dif?"
"You're not meant to go swimming in underwear?" Haley offered.
"Get in here," Chris signaled, floating on his back yet still watching Haley.
"That or you drink the remaining of the vodka," Damien signaled towards the vodka-filled water bottle.
Haley looked at the half-full bottle. "Yeah, right."
"You gotta live up to your reputation, Haley," Alyson winked at her.
Haley looked at them. With a sigh, Haley looked away as she began taking off her shirt and then her jeans.
"Someone's putting me to shame," Alyson laughed after whistling.
Haley quickly jumped into the water, not giving them a chance to look at her much longer.
"Happy?" Haley asked when she got to the surface of the water. "Now can you all shut up so no one comes?"
"No need for words, anymore. Right?" Chris asked, grabbing Haley and kissing her deeply.
"Chris! I can barely breathe as it is," she pushed him away.
"So what do you say about the skinny dipping?" Damien asked, again.
"Depends on what you say to my foot in your mouth," Alyson shot back.
"Fine, as long as we get to have sex afterwards."
"My cabin or yours?" she went on with their new game.
"Right here," Damien smirked.
Alyson laughed. "Too crowded."
"You're right. And we have to be quiet. I don't think you'd be able to stay that silent with what I have planed."
"I think the problem would be with you, Damy baby. I can hold my own."
"Do you want to check?"
"I wouldn't risk it if I were you."
Haley looked back to Narayan. He really seemed not to mind any of this. Was she reading too much into Damien and Alyson again? Maybe it didn't matter to Narayan because he had Alyson, and Damien only had his imagination.
But still, it would annoy her if Nathan would speak like that to Bevin."Damien, would you unhook me?" Alyson asked seductively, moving her hair to the front and pressing herself against Narayan.
"With pleasure," Damien swam closer to Alyson.
"Are they always like this?" Haley looked away from the trio and into Chris' eyes, holding tightly onto him.
"You mean Alyson and Damien or just Alyson?" Chris whispered back.
"All three of them, I guess."
"Harmless flirting is part of Aly. It's not like she can help it," Chris chuckled. "And you know Damien, sex is embedded in his mind."
"But how can Narayan not care?"
"Because he's the one that's having sex with Alyson, not Damien," Chris smiled. "They're all a bunch of whores, anyway."
Haley bit her lip, looking back to the threesome. Alyson was teasing Damien by keeping her upper part underwater and kissing Narayan every once in a while, continuing to make flirty comments.
"I don't like her like this," Haley admitted to Chris. "I thought she was different."
"Don't judge her because she likes to joke around every once in a while. You know, she's under a lot of pressure this year."
"With Julliard?"
"Not only," Chris looked at Alyson, making sure that she was too caught up with her two boy toys to hear. "See, both her parents went to Columbia University. So that's been their dream for her ever since she was born, basically. But then she started to act. So her parents won't mind her not going to Columbia if she gets into Julliard-"
"But if she doesn't then they expect her to go to Columbia," Haley completed.
"And she doesn't know if she would get in."
"Are her grades not high enough?"
"No, they are. But you know how Ivies are, they act in mysterious ways," Chris frowned, looking back to Alyson.
"No wonder she's like this," Haley followed Chris' gaze to their friend.
"Do you two want a piece of the action?" Alyson asked them when she noticed they were looking at her. "Although you do look quite comfortable by yourselves."
"I think Narayan and Damien are about all that you can handle," Chris smiled at her. "But thanks for the invite."
"Oh shove it," she rolled her eyes. "I would tell you and Haley to go get a room but they're all occupied. Fifty plus rooms in this damn camp and no empty ones."
And in this manner they remained for the next hour. Teasing each other, poking fun at one another and remaining in that river half clothed.
It was only when they began getting cold that they said their goodbyes and parted; the five of them forgetting that there was a curfew until they were on their way to their respective cabins.
On the way up the hill, Haley spotted a silhouette looking out at the camp from the beginning of the walking trail up the mountain. She froze in her place wishing the teacher did not spot her. How would she explain being out so late? Or worse, why she was wet. Maybe her breath still smelled of the vodka she drunk earlier that night.
She began walking up the hill again, silently. Standing in one place wouldn't help her with anything.
But when she got close enough, she stopped being scared. There was no need anymore. Nathan wouldn't rat her out.
"Having fun?" he asked when she began making her way up the mountain trail to where he was standing.
"Night duty?" she asked in response, standing beside him.
"Just reflecting," he answered, looking towards her. He took in her wet apparel but said nothing.
Haley nodded and looked out at the camp. Who knew that it could look so nice? She could see everything from where she was standing; the cafeteria, the fifty three cabins and even the river. So Nathan did see them,
"Haley, I need to tell you something," Nathan said after the silence, not looking at her still. "It's about something I said yesterday."
"Okay?" she looked at him, though he refused to meet her gaze.
"It's just that I wasn't telling the truth and I want you to know what really happened… at prom."
Haley's breath caught in her throat. He was going to tell her about this part of his past. He was going to tell her what really happened back then. This wasn't going to be from someone else's perspective, but of his own.
"Look, I'm not proud of who I was in high school. I want you to know that before I start this story." Nathan sighed. "See, I was going out with this girl for a few weeks before prom. We weren't involved romantically before I asked her out. But we were officially a couple once I asked her to prom."
Spare me the details I already know, she wanted to say, but instead remained silent.
"When Prom night came around, we took a limo with some of our friends. We got there and everything was going as expected: We danced, we talked, and just hung out. All in all, it was a great prom. Then it was time for the Prom Queen and King to be announced. She was saying all night that she knew it was going to be me, and it would be perfectly okay with her if I had to dance with someone else, as long as I didn't ditch her for the Prom Queen."
Nathan looked down at his hands. "When she and I won, we had to do the whole cheesy first dance thing. God, she was beautiful," he remembered. "Before long, everyone else joined in and I offered to get her a drink."
He didn't come back to the dance floor, Haley, she remembered Lucas telling her. She held her breath.
"She was pretty and she was smart," he went on. "But I couldn't be falling for her. It was only a matter of weeks before we'd be separated for good. I couldn't let myself." He sighed, "'Hey Nate,' she said from behind me. 'Pretty boring for a night that's supposed to be our last big party with all our friends before we graduate'," he recalled word for word. "And right then, Rachel Gatina was my solution. Just meaningless sex to get the girl that really mattered out of my mind." He finally looked at Haley. "So I left."
Rachel Gatina? Nathan was going to cheat on her with that redhead bimbo? That was all that she could think about.
"Haley, I swear I'm not like that. I haven't been that way since my first year at college."
"It's fine," she heard herself saying. "It's who you were not who you are." Haley exhaled slowly. "If she really mattered why did you cheat on her?"
"She didn't matter. She could have mattered, but I didn't give her the chance. I didn't want to. I can't give justifications for my actions, then. I just saw myself falling and held on to whatever straws I could of who I used to be. And I guess I might have led her on. And maybe it was unfair of me to do that when I knew that she liked me more than I liked her. But I was a stupid kid. I didn't know what I was doing."
"Stupid doesn't quite cut it," Haley said. "Sorry," she looked up at Nathan.
This was just wonderful! At least now she knew the exact way dream Nathan was going to break her heart. Why did she even have to live through this pain? It seemed completely unnecessary.
"Just forget about it, Nathan. I'm glad that you told me. And don't worry, I won't judge you for it," Haley looked towards the cabins before she took Nathan's hand in hers.
"You know this is hard for me," she whispered, looking at their hands, interlaced. "I know you think it's easy by the way I put on the show, but just know that if it weren't for the sake of our relationship, I wouldn't dream of dating Chris."
Nathan looked into her eyes which were cast downwards, and nodded. "And you know I wouldn't ask you to do it if it weren't crucial for us."
She nodded, too. "Kiss me," she looked up at him.
"Haley," Nathan said, looking down towards the cabins. "This is going to put us at risk. We'll lose everything we've worked so hard for. All it takes is one student or teacher out there looking without us knowing and-"
"No one's looking," she assured him. There was absolute silence. Besides, from far away, who could even see who those two silhouettes were? "I just need to get his taste out of my mouth. I'll go through tomorrow without a word of complaint if you do. I promise."
Nathan looked one last time to the cabins and then into Haley's eyes. He knew this was hard for her, and he knew that he was asking a hell of a lot. But some things just had to be done.
He caressed his cheek with his free hand. May she never know any pain, he thought. Nathan closed the gap between them and kissed her gently.
May he never hurt her the way he has so many others throughout his life.
A/N: Please review.