Thank you for the reviews! I'm happy to have you along for the ride. It's been really fun writing this, hope you enjoy!
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Chapter 19: A Tree Hill Raven always knows it's the quiet places you've come to fear the most.
Nathan Scott had imagined the day he'd see Haley James again. He'd always pictured it out of nowhere, like they'd both be walking down the streets of L.A., or catching a flight in Paris, or browsing through the New York Public Library – he usually imagined somewhere she'd love – and then poof, there they both were. He'd imagine watching her contort in surprise, trying to say something, and him never giving her the chance. He in some ways longed for the satisfaction of ruining something she loved, making a place taboo, filling her safe haven with ghosts, just like she'd done to him. It weighed on him more than it should ten years later. Moments of peace on the road late at night or a redeye cross-country, his mind always found its way back to the compact, compartmentalized box that was Haley James.
Well, compartmentalized, or so he thought, because it sure as hell feels like Pandora's box opening the second he walks through the door of the cocktail hour.
He doesn't pass her on the streets of L.A.
He doesn't see her catching a flight in Paris.
He doesn't lock eyes with her in between bookshelves in New York.
No, Nathan Scott sees Haley James about 500 yards from the spot she left him. She's perched at a bar table, her legs dangling from the stool, tucked away in a corner against the mahogany-paneled wall talking to… Lucas?
"Well that's interesting," Rachel coos, smirking at the sight. She moves passed Nathan to navigate to the bar. Nathan watches her pass, before turning his eyes back to the table, his feet stuck in place.
And just like that, no more Lucas. No more Haley. Poof.
"Nate, my man!" Tim exclaims, wrapped Nathan in a bone-crushing bear hug. "Didn't think you'd make it since you're all big time and what not!"
Nathan pushes his old roommate off, laughing. "Tim, just say I'm in the NBA."
"Nah, too easy," Tim laughs. "What's up man? Is it going to be a stormy night?"
Nathan rolls his eyes at Tim.
"Your Rain Storm body spray commercial!"
"Tim, I got it. I just don't necessarily need to hear it."
"Someone's grumpy," Tim says dejected. "Have anything to do with Haley James sneaking out the back?"
Nathan's eyes cut hard to Tim before he can even finish his sentence.
"She looked upset."
"Not my problem," Nathan mutters, yet his eyes drift to the back door that opens out to the patio.
"Go," Tim encourages.
"Stop."
"But she's –"
"Shut up, Tim!" Nathan says, much louder than he intended. The crowd around them looks on with interest.
"Same ol' Nate," Tim grumbles, walking away.
"Shit," Nathan curses to himself, wading through the crowd until he finds Lucas, Jake, and some old teammates.
"Well look what the cat dragged in," Jake jokes, pulling Nathan into a hug.
"Hey, I look better than your scrawny ass."
"You're not wrong," Jake laughs, tipping his drink in agreement. "How're things?"
"You're asking the NBA player how are things?" Lucas laughs.
"Sure," Jake shrugs. "It can't all be butterflies and rainbows, right?"
"It's not," Nathan laughs. "No one ever told me living the dream would be such a pain in my ass. Literally. I'm sore twenty-four seven."
"Oh but you have someone to rub you down, don't you?" Brooke chides, popping up behind the boys.
"Hi Brooke," Nathan says, rolling his eyes. "And no… not really."
"Well, if you ever need some help."
"Somehow, I don't think your husband would like that," Nathan retorts.
"No, he wouldn't," Lucas agrees with a pout.
"Don't be a baby," Brooke states, grabbing Lucas by the chin for a quick peck. "Mama is just looking out for her man. Your brother provides your paycheck you know."
"It's called commission," Lucas says, rolling his eyes. "I go to work every day."
"But I'm your favorite client, aren't I?" Nathan suggests.
"An agent never tells. I'd lose my bargaining power with you."
"What bargaining power?" Nathan and Jake joke.
"Can we move on to something else please!" Lucas cries.
"But you're so cute all riled up," Brooke teases. She links her arm with Lucas, resting her head on his shoulder. Nathan watches, a pang of sadness crossing his features for the briefest moment.
"I'm going to get some air," Nathan states.
"You OK?" Lucas asks.
"Long day." Nathan extends a fist out to Jake; they bump wrists. "Good to see you Jagelski."
"Nate, don't leave," Brooke states.
"Not leaving, just need to get out of this crowd. Lot of eyes," Nathan shrugs. "Don't worry about me. I'm not bailing."
"Mhm," Lucas isn't convinced.
"I'm not," Nathan says, starting to walk away before pausing to turn back. "Hey if you see Rachel, just –"
"Tell her nothing. We know the drill," Brooke says, rolling her eyes.
Nathan nods, leaving his friends. They watch him leave into the building's lobby.
"Well, he didn't go straight for the side door," Lucas notes.
"That boy is a heat seeking missile," Brooke laughs.
"What do you thinks going to happen?" Jake asks, taking a sip of his beer.
"If we're lucky, nothing," Brooke hopes.
"Well, I've never won the lottery," Lucas quips. Brooke bunches him in the shoulder.
"You did when you married me."
Jake stifles a laugh, "I think we should just let whatever happens, happens."
"Have you met us?"
…
Haley meanders down to the lake, a sense of comfort coming over her. She'd always iron out her problems here, a place of calm and quiet, where she could actually think. Not that thinking is necessarily the best thing for her to do right now, because thinking leads to memories and memories lead to him. And Nathan Scott was everywhere and the memories wouldn't stop.
Haley wasn't naïve. She knew coming to this reunion would be hard. She knew it'd be lonely. She knew it be filled with everything she'd left behind, everything she'd tried to forget. But Tree Hill was the most secure she'd ever felt, the safest, the happiest, and she owed herself those feelings one more time. So she came. But seeing Nathan, even just for a second, well, nothing could have prepared her for that.
Haley plops down in the sand, leaning against the old boats. For a well-financed school, you'd think they'd get rid of these relics by now, but Haley welcomed the sight, just as she'd left it. Resting a moment, her heart races as she thinks back to her blue-eyed contact. He'd been taller, broader, a true presence. Not that he needed more of a presence, Haley thinks to herself. Somehow at seventeen, Nathan could fill a room with equal parts heart, mischief, and calm. A satisfying combo to those around him, or in her case, the most overwhelming feeling she'd ever encountered. And when he loved her? Well…
"Stop it, Haley!" She coaxes to herself. "Don't go there. It's done."
She bangs her head softly against the boat behind her in frustration. The echo of the canoe reminds her – the stash! If they hadn't moved the boats, could their little box of trinkets still be?
Haley stands up, pulling the boat up in hopes of seeing their metal tin. No such luck, but there was indeed a new plastic box. She takes it out, sitting back down with the box in her lap. She opens, smiling to find cheap vodka, even cheaper tequila, and Ho-Ho's.
"New kids, old tricks," Haley laughs, unscrewing the cap of the vodka. She knew she would regret it in the morning, but sitting alone with her demons was not in the cards tonight. She chases the burn with a Ho-Ho and laughs at her sorry sight.
"Ho-Ho's," a voice calls to her. "How fitting."
Haley stops, mid-chew to find Peyton approaching.
"Pey," she says, a little embarrassed. "You came? I thought you were gallivanting around Europe, living the artist life."
"I am," she replies. "But I actually show up for my friends."
Haley takes the hit. That one's fair.
"Well, your friends are all back at the hall, why are you slumming it with me?"
"I was walking up to check-in and saw you sneak out. Couldn't let you get away that easy," Peyton takes the tequila from the box in Haley's lap and takes a swig. She stares at Haley, taking in the woman before her. Beautiful as ever, spunky too, but a little sad, a little broken.
Peyton crouches down to be eye-level with Haley, it startles her, scared for what comes next.
"Why'd you do it?" Peyton asks.
Haley shakes her head, unable to answer. She couldn't. She can't. And if she did, Peyton's not the person she needs to say this to. Nathan deserves to know first.
"I can't talk to you about that," Haley states.
"You don't want to talk to me about that," Peyton corrects.
"No, I can't," Haley says. She picks at the other half of her Ho-Ho, bringing a fleck of chocolate to her lips.
"Fair enough," Peyton says, popping back up to a stand. "Then I can't talk to you."
"Peyton."
"I'm giving you a chance, and you're not taking it. I don't have time for bullshit friends."
"You of all people should know that life is complicated," Haley pleads.
"Life is complicated," Peyton says. "Loving your husband shouldn't be."
And there it was – the tears well to Haley's eyes.
"I'll see you later," she grumbles before stalking off.
Haley watches her go, totally defeated and letting the tears roll. It's not that Peyton was wrong. She was a bullshit friend. She was a bullshit wife. But, they don't know the whole story. That was her burden to bear, and it ate her up every day.
…
Nathan told himself he wasn't going to do it. He wouldn't go to the one place he knew he'd find her. He just needed some air, needed some space. Everyone at the reunion was eager to air his laundry or ride his coattails, and he didn't have it in him to be "on" tonight.
So he'd walked the campus, inspecting new buildings, visiting his old haunts, until, giving into nostalgia, he ended up at the basketball court, wedged between the two student dormitories. This was the place that made him who he was, on the court, as a man, as a partner. For a moment, his chest felt a little lighter than the weight he'd felt ever since he drove through the front gates.
But, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little disappointed there was no Haley in sight.
And just like that, as if he'd summoned her, Haley James comes trotting down the sloped hill to the court. He watches the slight pep in her step, her shoulders a little more relaxed than earlier. Not that he was noticing her bare shoulders. One thing was certain – she wasn't noticing him.
He watches as she finds her way to the old wooden swing. She doesn't get on, just stands with one hand on the rope, the other lightly brushing the grooves in the seat of the swing. She lifts her pointer finger to play with her bottom lip. A classic Haley deep-thought signal, Nathan thought to himself.
He takes her moment of reflection to make a quick exit undetected. He briskly walks off the court and into the darkness when he hears a fumble.
"Oh now you've done it," Nathan hears off in the distance, followed by a giggle. He turns to find Haley flat on her back beneath the swing as it sways above her. He waits in the darkness for her to get up, but she doesn't.
Haley lays beneath the swing, giggling to herself. She wasn't even drunk! Just a little tipsy and a whole lot of clumsy. She thinks back to the last time she'd fallen off this damn swing, her think spot. She'd just found out about Rachel's grudge for her…
…
11 Years Ago
Haley sat idly on the swing, thinking to herself about the conversation she'd just had with GiGi. She didn't understand why Rachel hated her. Haley wasn't prettier in her own eyes; she wasn't outgoing; guys didn't flock to her, nor did attention. So why on earth did Rachel have such a grudge against her?
That's when she felt it, her snap back to reality, as she looked down to find she was swinging extremely high. "What the…?"
Haley turned her neck to find someone pushing her, that is, right until she topped helplessly to the ground.
"Oh my god! Are you okay?" The tall boy with ever-so-handsome features asked.
"Ow, my head," Haley said, clutching her forehead before placing one of hands back behind her to lean on as she glanced up at the person. "Jeez Nathan, trying to kill me?"
…
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Nathan replies.
Wait… Nathan, Haley sits up from her spot on the ground to find Nathan towering over her. He grabs the rope of the swaying swing before it can hit her. Her heart warms at the small gesture.
"Hi."