My Security
Chapter 24 2-1-08
There is always some madeness in love. But there is always some reason in madness. Fredrich Nietzsche
Peyton and Brooke rushed up the steps, hoping to gain entrance while Lucas was left to explain to the mob of onlookers why Nathan Scott had took off like a rocket and why an a robe clad Haley had thrown Lucas out buck naked. His clothes had been d tossed into the sea before she called him every name in the book on her way back to the cottage.
Over the next couple of days, Nathan refused any contact with Haley. They were both suffering and depressed. Haley knew she could fix this if he would just take the time to listen, but Nathan's pride and insecurities made him refuse. Hearing her say she wanted another man, seeing the lecherous look on Lucas face as he tried to seduce Haley had been too much for Nathan's sensitive heart. She was the one he trusted, the one that was always suppose to be there and she had betrayed him.
Almost two weeks later, Felix and Anna watched twenty minutes pass of their lunch hour without Nathan barely offering more than a couple monotone syllables or choice words for his ex-girlfriend any time she approached his table or anywhere else in the cafeteria or atrium if the ate outside, just like he had for the last four days. They had done their best to give him space, but he was becoming more and more agitated, withdrawn and bitter daily.
The siblings nudged each other when Haley finally joined Skills, Mouth and their girlfriends at a nearby table. Their close friends focus was no longer the Formica table top, but the simple beauty sneaking a glance at him as she took her seat. For a moment, the light was back in his navy eyes returned to a sky blue, but just as quickly, they filled with memories and pain becoming stormy yet again.
"coughSlut!cough" Nathan faked coughed loudly, his eyes looking directly at a teary eyed Haley.
Her head sunk to the table and her arms shielded her face. He knew she was crying, so he gave a vengeful smirk to his and her friends looks of disapproval. Nathan needed her to hurt as bad as he was. He felt like a fool for falling for her in the first place and to make matters worst, he was still madly in love with her.
"Maybe she.." Felix tried to defend.
"I know what I saw …… and heard!" Nathan cut. "It's Lucas she wants, so let him have her!"
"But…."
"But, what? We were going to be together forever, two teenagers? ….. She loves me?" He spoke sarcastically and harshly. "Love ain't shit and neither is Haley! I hate her and I'm going to make sure she hates me too!" He stormed off.
Saturday brought together most of Tree Hill high school students to do civic projects they signed up for weeks prior.
At Karen's, both Nathan and Haley's friends had volunteered to help serve so homeless mother's at a luncheon along with other students needing the community service credit.
The boys were bussing tables and the girls were taking orders for the special guest. Haley was hoping this would finally be her chance to sit Nathan down and talk things out. His anger towards her had cooled considerably. He even gave her a shy smile when she spoke upon entering the establishment.
With the help of his and her friends boosting her confidence over the first hour of their services, Haley decided to approach Nathan and asked him to take a walk with her after the luncheon. She was halfway there when the bell on door dinged and his eyes were diverted from the girl he so desperately wanted to forgive, kiss, hug and hold right now.
Lucas busted in, carrying a bouquet of wildflowers and a box of candy. With his long stride he reached Haley before she could get across the room to make right with the love of her life. She watched Nathan's happy expression change to pure hatred as he looked over her shoulder to the new patron. Turning, she was face with Lucas stuffing his gifts into her face.
"Haley, c'mon. Forgive me already." He begged, but she was busy looking in the other direction, only to find Nathan had completely disappeared. Returning to her ex-best friend, she shove the treats back at him with such fury, petals fell from the beautiful fresh flowers.
"Give up, Lucas." Haley's fist clinched and her jaw tightened. "I don't want anything from you, including your friendship!" She stalked off, near tears. Damn, she just couldn't seem to buy a break lately….ever.
Nathan hid out in the men's room, the sight of Lucas and Haley together for the first time since the incident at the beach cottage was just a little too much for his still raw wounds. It wasn't suppose to hurt this much. It never had when he broke up other women. It didn't mean anything. Now, he swore he was dying just a little bit more every day they had been apart.
Spending time with Helena had been some compensation. The girls unconditional love filled him, but alas the fix was still only temporary. The void in his heart was just too great for such a little girl, for a daughter when all he wanted was his lover, his woman, his Haley.
With the continuous knocking of several his classmates, Nathan finally gave up and left his hiding place. Coming down the back hall, he caught a lurking Lucas slip into one of the storage rooms. Standing by the crack in the curtain, it was no surprise to see Haley already accompanied the facility. With the fury within rising, he prepared to confront the pair for a finally time, until he witness Haley's actions.
She was startled when Lucas crept up behind her and place his hands on her waist. The tiny female elbowed him hard before turning, kicking him in the shin and stamping on his foot before watching him curled up in agony on the floor.
"Do I have to get a restraining order, Lucas? I've warned you to keep out of my sight, don't call me, write me or even imagine me!" She shouted over him, her words breathy and her body shaking with anger. "What you did was unforgivable. You purposely made Nathan, think I wanted you when I've never wanted anyone but him. You took the only thing I've every really needed or wanted from me….Nathan!"
With some of his pain subsided, he sat up, ready to speak.
"Don't!" She barked. "You're only making things worst. I don't hate you, Luke." She said with a hint of pity until her eyes glowed again with fire. "But I can!"
Taking the things she had come to retrieve, she headed for the exit.
Nathan rushed to the janitor's closet and took up resident until he no longer heard footsteps. He didn't know what to think of what he had overheard. Did she mean it? Could she really be that upset with Lucas? It just wasn't in her nature to fake things. Maybe she saw him eavesdropping and put on a good show. He was confused more than ever. He just didn't know about anything anymore.
Sunday morning, Haley awoke bright and early. Her mind wouldn't rest, not with the boy who owned her soul a couple hundred miles away.
Haley knew Nathan was visiting his grandparents at their assisted living facility in Charlotte. Weeks ago, they had planned to make the trip together, leaving on Saturday so they could spend a night away.
Nathan had made the long drive in silence. He was still hung over from a party at Marcus Wilson's place. They had been playing a lot of basketball at the Rivercourt lately. Nathan's new friend was reckless and loved to party, exactly what Nathan thought he needed right now.
Thinking back to the previous night, his head ached. He tried to cover his raw pain by falling back into a negative trap.
Nathan smoked some weed with Tim before he got to the biggest party of the school year and was rather relaxed. That's until Lucas showed up.
Nathan had downed a couple of shots of vodka when the Sawyer kid was more than happy to inform him Haley had spent the afternoon hangout at his place.
No one could understand why Lucas was screwing with Nathan. It was common knowledge that Lucas had being found in Haley's bedroom was the reason they broke up. It was also common knowledge that Nathan had a short fuse and recently, Lucas was the first one to ignite it.
The tall, dark and handsome boy ignore Lucas as he show pictures of he and Haley to a couple of his friends from school. He made sure Nathan could hear him tell how much fun they had at these places and how they would get to hang out just as much when they both left for Princeton in March. Apparently, he forgot to edit some of the pictures he had cropped and his friends began to taunt him and call him a weirdo once they found out the picture had first been of Nathan and Haley.
Nathan glared at him from the cushy recliner across the room, taking another shot of the white liquor. He didn't need this shit right now and tried to brush it off. He almost ditched the whole thing to hang out with that little piece of heaven called Helena, Nikki wasn't going to let that happen. He shook it off, just another thing to add pity to his party.
Lucas made sure that Nathan heard him tell somebody, he had been late for the party because he had picked up Haley from her shift at the café and spent a little time at the beach house with her before coming there.
He knew how petty Lucas was. He joined in the conversation about the latest box office movie hit with Jake, Tim, Peyton and a few more people when Luke rudely interrupted with his own opinion.
"The graphics were cool, but the plot was lame."
Nathan looked straight past him when he continued to address them.
"Peyton, isn't it about time for you and Jake to head to our house so you can get felt up on our couch for a couple of hours before your curfew is up? "
"Still hiding behind it to watch us?" Jake gritted with a head shake.
"Thanks for the reminder, Jake!" Peyton swatted her boyfriend in disgust and turned to faced her brother with her arms crossed at her chest and her face tight with annoyance.
"And you would care why, Lucas?"
"Actually, I don't" He smirked. "I just wanted you to cover for me. I'm stay with Haley tonight. Tell mom, I spent to night at Skills or Mouths house."
Peyton and Jake looked at each other, looked back at Lucas, looked at each other again, back at Lucas and laughed in his face before heading for the stack of coats at the door since he was their ride. His sister, covering her complete embarrassment with her giggles. Damn, Lucas was bananas. She knew exactly what he was trying to do, screw with Nathan. She couldn't wait until her friend kicked her siblings ass.
From nowhere, Nathan punched Lucas square in the face, knocking him into and then over the back of the sofa in a humorous move that left Lucas with a busted lip and a huge knot on his forehead.
"Stop lying, Lucas. Haley doesn't want you anywhere near her! You better watch what you say about her! She doesn't sleep around!" He threatened while Luke tried to get the room to stop spinning so he could stand. Unfortunately, when he finally rose, Nathan socked him again. His body flung back against the leather sectional. "That's for breaking in Haley and my place and trying to take advantage of her, assclown!"
He staggered a little, the alcohol starting to weigh on his system as he chuckled. "Now, I know why my girl was asking you to take off my pajamas when I walked in." He smirked an adjusted his loose fitting jeans. "There no way you could fill them half as well as I can. I can't believe I ever worried about Haley wanting you?"
The remark had snickers filling the room.
Her turned around, taking the bottle of vodka Tim had been holding for him, gulping down a shot size before moving the container from his pink lips.
Peyton and Jake stopped watching the action and shuffled through the pile of jackets, knowing they needed to get Lucas out of there fast. But they weren't quick enough.
Lucas regained his equilibrium, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth across the back of his hand and stood up to Nathan.
"I hoped that made you feel better. Maybe it will keep you warm at night when Haley's sharing my bed at Princeton. Haley might be the shy type in public, but that girl is no angel between the sheets. Whew!"
Coolly, Nathan didn't even turn around. Instead, he let his left leg swing back and across until it caught Luke's and snatched his legs from underneath him.
In a flash, Luke's back hit the hardwood floor with a thud!.
Nathan was standing over him with his size 14 shoe in his throat. His nemesis wheezed and writhed in pain while Nathan smirked down at him.
"It's getting old, Luke. Haley isn't interested in you. Everyone knows she was only over your house earlier today to hangout with your sister and there's no way in hell she let you take her home. I bought my baby a car." He clarified, lifting his foot from the blond boys esophagus. "Now hurry up and get the hell out away from me or you'll be drinking all your food through a straw for months."
Marcus and Tim stepped up to make sure Lucas had a real opportunity to get away this time. They didn't need the police showing up to a house full of drunk teenagers. With blurred vision an a aching body, Lucas scampered to the upstairs bathroom to clean up.
By the time Haley arrived, the fight was over and the rivals were at separate ends of the huge house.
Haley had spent the evening with Taylor and Mr. James. They had dinner and a movie right after she got off work. They knew how down she had been since she and Nathan split and wanted to try and cheer her up. It was the most fun she had since before her break up with Nathan. They were really starting to feel like a family and Mr. James was turning out to be a terrific father.
She hadn't planned on coming to the party and wasn't sure how long she would hang around, but Karen had instructed her to give the keys to the café to Peyton, since she and Larry would be out late. Haley had closed the restaurant Saturday night, but wouldn't be working there the next day. Peyton had made sure that Nathan was at the party and missing Haley before she finally answered her telephone. Haley would have to drop the keys off at the party.
Meeting Haley in the hall after making sure Lucas was okay, Peyton took the key. She loved her brother. She just didn't like him. Peyton was beyond pissed at him, but refused tell Haley what he had done. She was hoping she would stick around and the news of his action would have her leave before she took off her coat. "Why didn't Luke just leave after the brawl?" Peyton thought. He was always making things difficult, trying to make others as miserable as he was. Well, she was going to wash her hands of him tonight. She grabbed her boyfriend and headed for an upstairs bedroom.
Abandoned by Peyton, Haley felt self conscious as her peers eyed her in amusement or whispered to each other as she made her was around the party. She was looking gorgeous in sexy white boots, fitted white slacks and a forest green tunic, that had a v cut at the neck that displayed the perfect amount of cleavage and a big matching belt that cinched at her small waist. She was wearing a light body mist, Mr. James beauty company had just put out on the market. He had named it My Pumpkin in honor of her. Haley's natural beauty and strawberry vanilla scent had heads turning all through the house. Unfortunately, Lucas was quick to notice and rush to greet her.
"Before you say hello, Lucas….Goodbye!" She marched past him, not caring that his lip was busted and he looked like death warmed over.
He caught up quickly despite his pain and blocked her path.
"He broke up with you, Haley. He's over you. I'm the one that wants you. I'm all you've got?"
"Ummm…no thanks." She sassed, trying to make her way around him and down the steps to the huge basement.
The stage where Marcus parent's famous jazz band practiced when they were in town held ten teens, an equal amount of males and females. But the only person drawing Haley's attention was Nathan. She did notice Kelly was vying for his attention from the audience too, practically drooling.
"Alright! Listen up, people! I'm only gonna say it one more time! Everyone who wants to enter hook up and bring your asses up here! Don't come, if you're scared to stay! No punking out!" Marcus shouted over the noisy crowd as he pointed to large cowboy hat filled with money sitting on a guarded table. "The winner gets…this two hundred bucks and the damn hat." He had gathered from door at the donation they had accrued from the party guest. "and probably laid." He flirted with some girl named Abby that was in Haley's English class.
Everyone cheered and a couple of pairings joined the other contestants.
Haley didn't really know what was going on, having heard the end of the announcement, but her heart was racing a mile a minute and her soul filled with jealousy as some sophomore whispered in Nathan's ear and ran her fingers along his arm.
Stepping back, he raised a brow, threw his head back with a deep chuckle and heading for the end of the stage much to the flirting girls surprise.
Feed up with playing it safe, the tiny lass zipped through the mob gaining more and more courage as she grew closer to him, hoping to greet the boy that kept avoiding her.
She was so preoccupied , that she didn't see Lucas on her heels until she reached the entrance to the stage.
He slipped his arms through hers and started up the starts before she could protest only to be met by a much sober Nathan stage left. Fearfully, Luke shuffled to the right, away from Nathan only to place Haley directly in his path.
"What the hell are you doing up here, Haley?" The dark haired boy questioned rudely.
"I'm here to win the contest." Haley barked back before she could control herself. She didn't know what she saw in Nathan at this point and didn't care. She was so feed up with and frustrated with his cruel behavior. Her temper was getting the best of her for a change.
Lucas gave his arch enemy a nodded and gloated a grin as Haley dragged him over with the rest of the contestants.
They were all in a semi circle when Nathan returned, clutching Kelly's hand tightly as he stood in front of Haley this time.
"Fine. You want to play the game? ……….Beat me." He challenged.
Haley narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed at Kelly before leaning up and in to whisper seductively in his ear.
"You've been a bad boy lately. It's time I gave you a good spanking." She taunted, brushing her lips against his lobe as she moved back into her previous position.
Nathan was still frozen in his stance, his eye lids half closed with dreamy blue orbs beneath. Damn, she knew how to turn him on. Shaking his head and hearing Kelly call his name, he regained his composure.
Haley smirked at him confidently, still having no clue what she had gotten herself into when Lucas moved in closer, his arm brushing hers.
Seeing this, Nathan stormed down to the other end of the half circle, pulling Kelly with him.
Marcus walked center stage again, holding the microphone as he face the participants.
"Here's the rules to our big game of the night, courtesy of one Brooke Davis. It's called The Hottest Lead Up To A Kiss, guys."
Haley's eyes got wide and she stepped forward, hurrying to the stairs to back out, but Marcus got her attention.
"You didn't have a chance anyway, Haley." He dared and the crowd jeered while others booed her. He had seen the effect she had on Nathan when she made her way to the stage with that looser Lucas. This was going to fun.
She pivoted for a moment, but was still going to back out when she say just how happy Nathan was that she was quitting. No way, Jose! She pulled her lip gloss out, shined her lips, and puckered before heading back to the group with the toss of her light brown locks.
"I didn't want to show anybody up, but if you insist." She eyed Nathan and Kelly and shook her finger at Marcus before taking her place beside her ex-friend again as the room filled with claps and whistles. This was going to be a disaster, but there was no backing out now.
"Rule 1: Each couple has one minute to seduce your partner into a kiss. Rule 2: No touching with your hands…..Got that, Brooke?" He winked at the girl and she shot him a bird. "Rule 3: No stripping…..Evan and Jack in particular." He shook his head at the resident gay couple who looked thoroughly disappointed. "Rule 4: No simulated pornographic sex acts or video taping. I don't need my parents finding any underage sex tape debacles, people!" He glared as several of his classmates throughout the room, some blushed other shrugged and could care less. "Rule 5: Each couple draws from the bowl that Abby, my hot ass girl is holding. That determines which of you will do the seducing." He said, placing a kiss on Abby's lips as he swirled the pieces of paper in old fish bowl she was holding. "and Rule 6: Rules 1-5 must be followed with no exceptions." He pointed off everyone entering the contest and waited for a nod a yes of agreement from each. "Cool, Gary and Glenda, you're up first."
He took his girlfriends hand and walked to their seats on the right side of the stage While the twenty-two contestants line up on the other side and Glenda and Gary gave it a shot.
Five couples later and Nathan was starting to sweat. He definitely wasn't going do what some of the guys were doing to their partners to Kelly. He didn't want her doing that to him or kissing him period. But most of all, he didn't want Haley involved in activities like these with Lucas in any form of fashion. Hell, no!
He watched Lucas practically dance in his spot and gaze at Haley constantly during the wait. Fuck! Why did he have to be a jackass earlier. In hindsight, he had come to realization she was probably there to talk him when he asked her reasons for being on the stage, but he had opened his big mouth, inserted his foot and ticked her off.
Haley was so glad Nathan couldn't see her from his position a few couples back in line. She had to figure out a way of not doing that on stage with Lucas Sawyer and saving face. It would serve Nathan right if she made out with Lucas anyway. She was trying to apologize for the hundredth time and he just had to ruined it by being stubborn and not taking her back. The trouble was she would rather seduce a cobra than her platonic ex-friend. What the hell was she going to do?
Most girl in the room watched with baited breath when gorgeous linebacker Walker Stone hovered over his girlfriend lying on the stage while the guys mentally took notes. His lips gently kissed the inside of her jean covered knee after he told her how sexy her knees were, just like his prior tales of her pretty feet, and shapely calves, each confession sealed with a kiss for it's location.
However, Haley was so worried about being next, that she didn't see his work until Sallie was writhing underneath him as he peppered her naked collarbone with pop kisses that had his girlfriend crying out his name and squeals and claps filling the room. Looking over at Lucas, he winked and blow her a kiss. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she suddenly felt dizzy. Fanning herself with her hand, she scramble her brain for a wait out of this, but she was only drawing a blank.
Hearing the room boom with cheers, whistles and claps as the previous couple left the stage only brought her dilemma home. Her eyes focused on Marcus as he raised the microphone to his lips. She felt a hand lock with hers and held her breath.
Unbeknownst to his new partner and a humiliated Kelly, Nathan had swept past the two couples between he and Haley, shoved Lucas aside and slipped his hand into the love of his life's.
"Hey! You can't…" Lucas and Kelly tried to protest at the same time, only to be interrupted.
"Next up. Haley and….." Marcus had to hold back his laughter as Nathan gave Lucas a hard elbow that caused him to double over and started to lead Haley over to pick a paper slip out of the fish bowl. "Nathan!"
The party was in an uproar. This game was about to become a classic.
"You can't do that!" Lucas shouted.
"He just did." Marcus scoffed. "Nathan was holding Haley's hand when her turn came……… Better luck next time, Sawyer."
Kelly ran off the stage crying, while Lucas sat on the top step, plotting his revenge.
Haley finally came out of her daze when Abby held out the bowl and Nathan tapped her on the nose.
"You pick, Hales." He gave her a loving grin.
She did and showed it to both Abby and Marcus.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
Pamela