Back with an update - glad some of you are enjoying the merge between past and present in this story, I wasn't sure how it was going to read but I'm enjoying writing the two versions of them. Lots coming up in the next two chapters in terms of what happened in the past. š
āChapter 5ā
May 2013
Haley tossed over in her scrambled sheets as she heard the ever so familiar rapping against her window. Rubbing her sleepy eyes she glanced at the clock reading 12:10. She knew it must be bad, the ravens had the semi-final of the championship tomorrow. This was the game before state - everything was resting on their shoulders.
Or clearly on the shoulders of a brunette boy she knew as Haley opened up the window without any question as Nathan climbed in.
It amused her how awkwardly he now clambered into her room given he was so much taller now. It was rather endearing watching his adolescent self revert to the smaller boy she knew all the same.
In seconds he had her enveloped her, his arms holding her tightly against him. They'd hugged a lot as kids maybe all the time but for her they were starting to feel different, his warmth which had always been comforting now felt oddly fuzzier. She couldn't explain it, she didn't even want to especially not after she'd tried to tell her sister about it, something Quinn would mock her about and then process to throw the 'hello hormones' tale in her face.
She was pretty sure if she did tell Nathan he'd never let her live it down for the rest of time.
No, there were some things for the sake of her pride he did not need to know about.
'I don't know if I can do it Hales.' His voice was raspy, raw with emotion no doubt from the confrontation he had to withstand when he got home tonight.
'You can, I know you can..' She promised him as she stepped out of his embrace. The worn look across his features pulled something in her heart.
There was never a person she despised more than his father. And to despise was a horrible emotion, she knew , her young heart had hoped for his redemption growing up but she was so far past that now seeing the hurt he was causing his son. The sad part about that was her heart was still young and she'd already given up. The emotional abuse was chipping away at Nathan's playful, silly heart and giving way to this shadow she would see befall on him sometimes, one that she sometimes feared would consume him entirely.
'It's not the game, it's all of it.' He said as his eyes met hers.
She didn't say anything as she pulled his hand along with her and peeled back the covers of her bed motioning for him to slip in.
He peeled off his track pants and hoodie leaving him in his t-shirt and boxers as he slid into the bed, Haley pulled the covers back over them as she slipped back in on her side and turned to face him.
'In a few short months you will be going to Duke where you can play basketball alongside Luke again and he won't be there to watch you every minute of every day, hell even every game - he won't be there to tear you down and if he even tries to come near you he'll have to deal with meā¦' She kidded then her heart lightening a little as he grinned at her.
'I'd like to see that, you take him down.'
'I would do it right this second if it meant you had some refuge.' Haley told him softly.
'I have refuge here Haley.' He promised her 'I always have.'
'You know there's things you can do Nathanā¦' She whispered quietly then not wanting to wake her parents next door.'
'What do you mean?'
'I know he has custody of you but it doesn't have to be like this, you can fight your case I was looking into this.' Haley reasoned. 'You can get a restraining order so he has to stay away from you, he wouldn't be able to just jump on you in the gym or anywhereā¦'
'What about my home?'
'You'd move back in with your mum, it would be your way-out Nathan.' Haley said softly.
He smiled heartily, his eyes meeting hers - there really was no limits on her kindness, or what she'd do for him. 'I justā¦I don't want to make things even messier for mum, he's finally left her alone and she's happy.'
'But what about you?' There was no missing the vexation in her tone.
'I'll be alright, in a few short months I'm gone from here Haley, I've made it this far...'
'Nathanā¦' She prodded.
'Haleyā¦' He said back in the same tone.
She rolled her eyes. 'Don't do that.' She scolded him. He just chuckled quietly, his features visibly relaxing.
'Maybe you've made it this far but the boy who climbed through my window a while ago looked about two seconds from falling apartā¦'
'That's why I came here.'
It was his refuge, she knew that. Had been since they were kids.
'Heyā¦' Nathan said as he noticed the sadness wash over her eyes. 'Haley it's ok.'
'It's not ok. What he does is not ok and how you take it and I know you're taking it for your mum but it's not ok. I need you to be well Nathan and I need you here.' Haley said spiritedly as her eyes glazed over.
'I'm not going anywhere.' Nathan said as he took her hand under the quilt. 'Where's this coming from?'
'You don't see it do you?' Haley said softly. 'You're not invincible Nathan, I just worry all of this will crash down on you when you least expect itā¦'
'It's not going to.' He promised her but she feared it would be the first promise to her that he couldn't keep. 'It's going to be okay.' He said noticing Haley was working really hard to swallow the tears. 'Halesā¦' He prodded gently.
'I just need a minute.' She mumbled into the pillow as she turned her head down from his.
He smiled, funny how things changed. When she was a little girl she'd cry and wail in front of him, with her adolescence years came this soft demurely whenever she felt herself getting embarrassed or upset in front of someone when she didn't want to.
It was sweet but he'd come here almost in tears tonight. She had nothing to feel embarrassed about. 'Come here' He whispered to her as he held open his arms under the covers, she glanced up meekly from the pillow and his heart tugged as he noticed her glistened eyes. He pulled her into him then and held onto her. 'It's going to be okay Haley, there's no need to cry.'
October 2018
'You ok honey?'
Haley turned around noticing her dad grinning at her.
'Woah did I just loose years off my life in that hospital?' He teased her noticing her outfit.
'Oh you know I was never a cheerleader in school dad.' Haley mused.
'And it's a damn shame if you ask me..' The bubbly brunette said as she bounced out of Haley's en suite.
'Brooke Davis are you trying to put me back in that hospital?' Her dad joked smiling at the bubbly brunette. 'You know even after all this time it still scares me seeing you in my daughter's bedroom.' He teased as the girls laughed.
'Sorry Mr. James but stay standing ok we don't need to give this pretty lady anything more to cry about?'
'And whatever else would she be crying about?'
Haley gave Brooke a look.
'Nathan is back in town.' Brooke said easily ignoring Haley's so-called don't say anything look.
Haley crossed her eyes at her. Traitor.
'Nathan's back in town.' Her dad repeated before smiling at Haley. 'Ah it all makes sense now you've had your Nathan face on you since I came home for the hospital.'
'I did not. I do not have a Nathan face.' Haley admonished.
'You do honey..'
'You kind of do.' Brooke said, hands rested on hips with a smug smirk.
'Ughā¦.' Haley stormed into her ensuite to finish fixing her silly ravens stamp on her cheek. it may have been a few years but Brooke and her father ganging up to tease her, yea that would never change.
She smiled nevertheless hearing the familiar banter between Brooke and her father, things almost felt normal.
'You look hot tutor-girl..' Brooke commented as Haley stepped out of the bathroom.
Haley smiled. 'You know it's being an age since I've heard that nickname.'
'That's because we were apart which FYI I never want that to happen again, ever.' Brooke gave her blonde friend a pointed look.
Haley just smiled. Things felt good here, they may be messy, confusing and damn right hard but they also felt good.
'Maybe I can call you cheery tonight.' Brooke said.
'And you're tutor girl which by the way I never looked like that.' Haley teased as she glanced at Brooke's costume a fitted white shirt with a plait skirt and high boots, her hair in pigtails with sexy pink rimmed glasses.
'I totally love this idea of going as our high school opposites whoever invented it.'
'You invented it Brookeā¦' Haley mused.
'I know. I just wanted to hear you say it.'
The two girls laughed.
'Gosh I missed this, us getting ready together. It feels like we just became adults over night sometimes and forgot to just be twenty something year olds and have some fun.'
'Sometimes I wonder why we ever wanted to grow up.' Haley said as she sat herself down in front of her dresser and brushed out her hair.
Brooke gave her a sad smile as she watched her.
'You know Dan is back I town?' Haley said softly then. It came as no surprise to Brooke, she knew exactly where Haley's quiet mind had wondered too, maybe not Dan as such but something involving Nathan.
'Yea.' Brooke said as she pulled up her stockings.
'I know you and Luke have done a really good job not trying to pry or force each of our lives on each other I get that but Iā¦.' Haley began before she glanced at her friend wondering if she should even ask or go there tonight but these moments with Brooke were so few and far between for her, it felt like she needed to grab what she could get whenever she had the chance.
'What is it girlie?'
'Nathan and Danā¦.I mean I don't know how it could possibly be butā¦.is it worse?' Haley wondered.
Brooke just nodded softly and Haley sighed. 'Because he didn't go for the NBA?'
'Because of a lot of small things I guess.' Brooke countered.
Haley looked back into the mirror biting her lip to stop herself from telling Brooke to give her more than these vague yet semi-sufficient answers, and yet she knew she had no authority, Brooke and Lucas had been there for both of them so much she was in no place to ask more of her.
As if reading her thoughts Brooke spoke again. 'I know it feels like we're glossing over things Haley but its only because I know Nathan and I know youā¦' She said softly. 'I mean I practically grew up alongside your friendship and maybe Nathan isn't ready to admit it to himself yet but there are things I'm sure he'd want to tell you himself and I would like to give him that chance, I'd like to give both of you that chanceā¦' She admitted with a hesitant smile.
Haley caught her gaze forlongingly in the mirror.
'I know you might be thinking it's not possible and 4 years seems like a long time but sometimes it feels like yesterday you know?'
Haley nodded softly. It especially had lately.
'And maybe I am just saying all this because if he doesn't soften towards you before my wedding he is gonna get my heel in his ass.' Brooke gripped then and Haley giggled in appreciation, things were turning much too serious too fast and tonight was supposed to be about fun.
Hell they were due it.
'You two really do fight like brother and sister, it's really fitting you're marrying Luke.'
Brooke smiled. 'It is isn't it?' She mused rhetorically. 'Now girlie are we going up or down?' she said as she fiddled with Haley's hair in the mirror.
'I don't know, what do cheerleaders do?' Haley mused.
XXXXX
Haley was making her way towards the bar when she felt the tap on her shoulder. Turning she smiled widely when she noticed Peyton. 'Rock chick total clichĆ©ā¦' Haley mused as Peyton stood in front of her in a black leather skirt and band t-shirt.
'Says the cheerleaderā¦' Peyton mused as Haley rolled her eyes. 'Brooke decided we'd go as like our high school alter ego basically the complete opposite of who we were in high schoolā¦'
'In that case I'd be on your cheer squad.' Peyton said as they laughed.
'Hi Jakeā¦.' Haley said as he stepped around his girlfriend then.
'Haley long time no see, Peyton said she bumped into youā¦'
'Quite literally that first night we had drinks.' Peyton said as the girls laughed.
'Small town.' Haley smiled.
'Well it's nice to see you back here, you sticking around?'
'For now anyway.' Haley said.
'Thankfully, I need my allies in that school.' Peyton mused.
'You should join us.' Haley said. 'Brooke's got one of the circular tables at the back over there.'
'You guys being here long?'
'Long enough for Brooke to start playing really cringeworthy drinking games.' Haley mused.
Jake frowned, he knew all too well what them games entailed from high school.
Peyton smirked. 'Oh come on, it could be fun.'
'I'm getting some more drinks.' Haley said to them. 'You guys want anything?'
'We just filled up.' Jake said.
Haley smiled. 'I'll see you over there.' She said as she made her way to order a drink.
Haley sighed in relief as she took hold of her cranberry vodka and squirmed through everyone before finally catching a break in the crowd where in her sheer relief she hadn't noticed the sticky substance and slipped flat on her face.
She felt a pair of hands slip around her then lifting her seamlessly from the floor placing her on the stool. Haley glanced up confused at the tall batman figure just as he swiped his mask off and Nathan's smoky painted eyes were staring back at her.
'Wow.' She found herself saying as she openly gawked at him, she wasn't sure if the shock was over the fact he had picked her off the floor or the costume itself.
Of course she made the connection. He was obsessed with batman as a boy.
But damn if the darkened eye make-up wasn't sinfully attractive in some way. She swallowed hard at the sight of his eyes piercing hers.
'Nice costume.' He said, his eyes were pursuing her innocently but it still had the hairs standing on her neck.
'Thanks.' Haley said feeling shy all of a sudden.
Everything about this felt different and yet familiar all at once.
'Cheerleader huh?' Nathan said.
Haley smiled. 'Yea guess I still haven't the gracious thing down.'
'Did you hurt yourself?'
Haley nodded. 'No I'm okay, besides the humiliation.'
'Speaking to a guy wearing a face full of make up.'
'I think it looks good.' Haley said easily as their eyes met. And it did. Sinfully good in fact. 'The costume looks goodā¦' She reiterated not sure why she felt the need to say that it was almost like they were strangers meeting in a bar for the first time feeding off each other's chemistry. She wondered if he could sense it or if she was losing her mind.
The latter was possible considering the emotional roller coaster she had an unlimited pass for lately in her life
Nathan just smiled and she felt her heart flutter at the familiarity of it all.
'Vodka and cranberry right?' Nathan said.
Haley simply nodded and he reached for her hand. Haley placed hers in his as she popped down from the stool giving him the nod she was ok, neither missing the familiar warmth that sparked between them as he pulled her with him between the crowd.
He slipped in behind the bar leaving a space for her at the corner away from the occupants all crowding towards the middle. She watched as he seamlessly filled the glass with a measure of vodka, tossed in the cranberry and garnished it with a few mint leaves before popping a straw in and passing it to her.
'What are you a fully-fledged barman now?' Haley asked in surprise still reeling from this whole exchange.
'Well he's definitely not an editor.' The brazen brunette said as she slinkered up beside Haley. 'And you are just his type.'
Haley's eyes widened just as Nathan called out. 'Lyns what the hell are you doing here?' He said as his jaw dropped, he came around the bar enveloping her in a tight hug while Haley squirmed rather uncomfortably. Lyns. Lyns. Girlfriend? Has to be a girlfriend, affectionate nickname not to mention the blooming gorgeous smile on his features.
Suddenly the familiar smile he gave her earlier in the night just seemed completely void.
'I'm sorry we haven't metā¦' The girl said kindly then as she pulled back from Nathan.
'Oh, eh Lyndsey this is Haleyā¦' Nathan began and the girl just looked between the pair rather startled before a wide smile formed on her features.
Then another look passed between Lyndsey and Nathan.
'Haley, hi it's nice to meet you.' She offered her hand which Haley took smiling kindly
Lyndsey just nudged Nathan in the side then. 'Sorry Haley, this is Lyndsey she'sā¦' He fumbled with his words obviously not dealing so well with his present and past lives colliding and Lyndsey stepped in. 'I'm his editorial manager or as I'm sure Nathan has described once or twice a pain in his assā¦'
It was clear Lyndsey knew something about them but what Haley didn't know. She took a large sip of her vodka. 'Editorial managerā¦wow that'sā¦'
'It's not as impressive as it sounds, my dad has been in the company for years.'
'Basically she got the role because of her surname.' Nathan smirked.
'No I didn't.' Lyndsey socked him on the arm.
'You do realise Clay told me that to ease my nerves about meeting youā¦'
'No I still think it was funny you were so nervous.'
Nathan rolled his eyes.
Funny how Haley felt like she was the one interrupting them now.
'I'm just gonna go back to the table..' She began.
'Brooke has everyone in a round of truth of dare..' Lyndsey said.
Haley cringed but not for that reason, so this girl knew Brooke. Suddenly she was feeling very out of place in her own life, the displacement had her seizing entirely.
Lyndsey watched her before looking back at Nathan with a pointed look.
He waited for itā¦
And
'She's beautiful.' Lyndsey said.
Bingo.
He just nodded as he took a sip of his drink.
'Oh come on now is the time you pick to go quiet on me?'
'What do you want me to say?'
'You happen to leave out the fact that you're former best friend looks like that and she's totally your type.'
'No she's not.' Nathan denied.
'Petite, blonde and from what I'm betting quiet a great personality seen as she was your sidekickā¦.'
'Haley wasn't blonde when we were growing up.' Nathan quipped back.
Lyndsey just laughed. 'Nice try but that's a lame cop out and you know it. I stand by my theory even more now.'
'You're theory is a figment of all them romance novels you've spent way too much time editing.' Nathan brushed off with an eye roll.
'And when I'm proven right I'll realise I should have been writing them all along.' Lyndsey sing-songed
Nathan just shook his head grateful for the light-hearted reprieve, nonetheless.
'Speaking of editing, you've done all the work on my behalf.' Lyndsey noted pointedly. 'Aren't you supposed to be on a time out?'
'I need the distraction.' Nathan said without a second beat. 'So you're here because I'm actually doing the work?'
'I was concerned, I thought you weren't giving yourself a break.' Lyndsey said.
Nathan looked at her and she kept his challenging gaze for seconds before caving. 'Fine, I said I had be in North Caroline for work this weekend, Clay couldn't come with me to the wedding cause his European booty call turned up..'
Nathan chuckled as he brought the bottle to his lips. 'That Emily chick she's crazy.'
'Still chose her over me.' Lyndsey said.
'Well that's cause he was getting sex.' Nathan said.
'True.' Lyndsey said as she took a sip of her own beer.
'So do you not think Baker boy's sister's wedding would have been the perfect opportunity to you know rekindle things?'
'Rekindle what, that one kiss we had a long time ago before we both went off to college and he hasn't looked my way ever since?'
'Well he hasn't really had that opportunity and you haven't gave yourself that chance.' Nathan supplied easily.
'See that's why you're such a good editor.'
'And you're drunk.' Nathan noted as he went to take some of her beer tipping it into his own.
'I'm not drunk, I'm way on my way to merrily forgetting Baker boy every existed and you need to stop calling him that.' Lyndsey pointed out. 'If my one has a nickname your one needs a nickname too..'
'My whatā¦'
Lyndsey gave him a pointed look.
'That's totally different.' Nathan said.
'Really?'
'Yes, completely different scenario'sā¦'
'OH so you're telling me you're a stranger in a bar, everything else aside and you met that girl you wouldn't go for it?'
'Again totally different you're not making any senseā¦'
'Have you two ever kissed?'
Nathan rolled his eyes now realising they were getting to the drunken-Lyndsey stage of low attention span topic hopping.
'I already toldā¦.or I correct myself Brooke already told you our whole story..'
'But howā¦.' Lyndsey pondered.
'I'm not having this conversation with you tonight.' Nathan said as he stood up from his chair.
'I think you two should kiss tonight.' Lyndsey teased him.
'Do you want me to put you on the first flight home?'
XXXXX
Haley giggled as she watched Peyton and Mouth strutting it out to Burn, Baby, Burn on the dancefloor while herself and Brooke were lining up at the bar.
'Oh would have thought those two of anyone would hit it off?' Brooke mused as she ordered more drinks.
Haley shook her head. 'I know..'
The night had felt like some form of unintended reunion by the time Skills, Mouth and Jake had joined their table coupled with the new additions of Peyton and Lyndsey the gang had spent a lot of time filling the girls in on their days at Tree Hill high.
Nathan hadn't spoke to her for the rest of the night.
She felt the sting of that in front of everyone at that table.
It had been hard watching him joke around with Lyndsey, it was all hard.
Her fingers lingered nimbly over Jeremy's number before she placed her phone back in her purse. That wasn't fair either, to ring him to escape the disconnect she felt. That wasn't fair of him.
She just needed to keep dancing.
'I'm gonna go back out on the dancefloorā¦' Haley shouted across the music to Brooke.
She nodded cheerfully and Haley made her way out.
'Hey baby..'
Hands gripped her waist hard as he pulled her back against him.
Haley squirmed away as she turned around.
The tall, beefy guy was perusing her like she was a piece of meat. Haley folded her arm across herself.
'Come here..' He said stepping into her space
'I have a boyfriend..' Haley said stepping back.
He smirked. 'And he's not on your tight piece of ass tonightā¦'
'Excuse me..' Haley shot out at his vulgar language.
He boxed her in against the pillar then. 'I said you've a ..'
'Get off meā¦' Haley pushed him but he stayed right where he was, his breath hot on her neck. 'Come onā¦'
'HEY!...' In seconds he had pulled the guy off her and shoved him in the chest.
'Oh let me guess you're the pretty boyfriend..' The guy just laughed before Nathan punched him square in the jaw.
'You jackassā¦' The guy recovered and pummelled Nathan to the ground.
'Heyā¦' Lucas shouted as he pulled the guy off him and began to go for him.
Owen pulled Lucas back before facing the beefy guy. 'You, out of here now or we will throw you out.'
'I started nothing manā¦Jesus.'
'Out.' He roared.
Lucas wiped his bloody lip before glancing back at Karen's livid face.
XXXXX
Haley grimaced as she waited outside the dressing rooms at Tric. Karen was eating them alive.
'What the hell is wrong with you two?' She said pacing in front of the two brothers, one holding a towel to his bloody lip while the other held an ice pack over his swelled hand.
'I mean your costumes are starting to fit the part because you both acted like a pair of children out there.'
'Mumā¦' Nathan began.
'Don't mum me Nathan.' She said crossing her hands over his hips.
Lucas and Nathan shared a weary look realising how pissed she actually was.
'You both tell me why I had to be called out to a brawl in my venue only to see its my two sons in the middle of it?'
When neither spoke up she continued on without a beat.
Haley cringed from the other side.
'Lucas you're wedding is in 2 months what if you had been injured? And Nathan, you're here on a time out I don't think that entails getting into bar brawls does it?'
Nathan winced at her words, he knew Haley was outside. He didn't need her knowing he was on a 'time out.' He couldn't say anything to his mum now, she was so blinded by disappointed and anger with them there was no telling what she would say in the heat of the moment.
'It was because of Haley.' Lucas said then.
Nathan shot him a death glare and he just mouthed. 'What do you expect me to say?'
Nathan rolled his eyes.
Karen just shook her head as she watched the pair of them. 'All this because of Haley?'
'Some guy was being pushy with her so I pulled him off I didn't hit him I just pulled him of her but then he said something to me and I just ended up hitting himā¦' Nathan said failingly.
'I only stepped in to pull him off Nathan..'
'And somehow you ended up throwing punches too?' Karen said sarcastically.
Lucas shrugged.
'You boys know I've an underage's night tomorrow night, some of which whose siblings heck even parents are here tonight..'
'Mum it won't affect business..' Lucas implied.
'You better hope it doesn.t' Karen said. 'Cause you're both working it tomorrow.'
'What?' Both brothers shot out.
'Mum I have plans with Brooke..'
'I was already helping out tonightā¦' Nathan said.
'Keep complaining and you can work the rest of tonight too.'
Neither of the boys said anything then.
Karen just smiled at them before walking out of there.
'Why you'd jump in man? I had it under control.'
'Yea it looked like it with you flat on your ass.' Lucas said.
Nathan just glared at him.
'What?' Lucas said. 'It's the truth. You know the way you went for that guy I thought you were going to go for Haley yourself..' Lucas said winding him up a little.
It didn't take much. 'You think this is fucking funny?' Nathan snapped at him.
'A little. Come on man you kept your distance from her all night and then you step right on in..'
'What the hell was I supposed to do he was being a dick to her?'
'Yea well so were you when you think about it...' Lucas didn't even get to finish his sentence as Nathan went to grab him.
'Are you guys really that stupid?' Haley shouted at them as she stepped into the changing room where they about to pummel each other this time.
Nathan shoved Lucas back on the couch as he distance himself from him.
Lucas stood up then throwing the bloody paper towel into the bin as he wiped his lip.
'How do I look?'
'Like an ass.' Haley said.
He squinted with that silly smirk on his face.
'I'll let you to make up.' He said giving Nathan a look.
'I swear I'llā¦' Nathan mumbled under his breath as Lucas walked out of the room.
'He's just trying to rile you up.' Haley said. It was working. Nathan's jaw was locked tight, she could see he was working overtime to remain calm. His knuckles looked bloody and sore.
Haley walked over to the dresser in the room rummaging around for a bit.
She came back over with the little green box as she knelt in front of him. 'You know you two used to do this all the time in high school, your poor mum she'd be as angry as she was before..'
'I remember..' Nathan said hoarsely as he watched her. He winced a little as she rubbed the ointment onto his grazed knuckles.
'Are you okay?' Haley said softly.
'Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?'
Haley just shrugged. 'I'm fine. He was just being a dick.'
'Like me?' Nathan said knowing she'd heard Luke's earlier words.
Haley just shook her head signalling no. 'Why'd you do it?'
'What?'
'Get involved. It's pretty clear you were keeping your distance I get thatā¦.I just didn't expect you to..'
'I'm not going to stand by while someone hurts you, I was never that guy.' Nathan said without missing a beat.
'I know that.' Haley said softly as she continued dab at the cuts on his knuckle. Their eyes met.
He swallowed hard.
'This is justā¦.' Nathan said moving his eyes away from hers at a loss for words. 'It's all feels a little too familiar.' He admitted softly.
Neither of them said anything for a while as she continued dabbing at his cuts.
'Is it like it was with us?' Haley said softly then, her expansive brown eyes meeting his. He frowned, not understanding.
'Lyndsey..' She prodded gently.
'It's not like that. I'm not looking to replaceā¦.I couldn't.' Nathan admitted.
'It feels like there are so many new people in our livesā¦' Haley pondered softly.
'You have Jeremyā¦' Nathan said quietly.
'Yea.' Haley agreed softly as she held his gaze, unwavering. 'I thought it would be the big things that I'd miss but it's all the tiny details that areā¦..' Haley's words fell away as she realised Nathan need not know of her pain, after all she had caused a lot of it and it wouldn't help their situation now.
He glanced away. He didn't know what to way, wondering how this could still feel so raw between them after all of this time.
'I should head back out thereā¦' Nathan mumbled.
'Yeahā¦sureā¦' Haley said as she stood back up.
'Thanks forā¦' Nathan said rather awkwardly showing up his hand.
Haley just nodded with a hesitant smile as she turned away from him to place the first aid kit back. She found it was getting harder and harder to look into his blue eyes and yet see the same void there that currently was filling her heart.
'Haleyā¦' He called out to her and no matter how hard it felt she couldn't stop herself from turning towards him.
'It's not like I'm keeping my distance to hurt youā¦this is justā¦'
'Too familiar..' Haley repeated his earlier words with a sad sigh.
'Something like that.' He said.
He couldn't even look at her now.
It hurt all the same.
XXXXX
'Noā¦no ..no' Haley warned as she watched Brooke go towards the fridge where she absolutely knew there was a bottle of wine cooling waiting for the inevitable 2am recollection of the night just passed.
Brooke just gave Haley an are you kidding me look to which Haley stood one hand poised on her hip attempting to be serious despite her wobbly form.
Peyton was just amused.
'Fine.' Brooke relented sourly as she dug into the freezer for the ice-cream instead.
'You'll thank me in the morning.' Haley quipped as she slid onto the stool at the counter beside Peyton.
'Remind me how I got here again.'
Brooke giggled. 'You were in need of girl bonding.'
'Yikes I am drunk. I hate girl bonding.'
The three of them laughed.
Haley watched as Brooke heaped a spoonful of ice-crema into her mouth looking Haley's way.
And 3ā¦.2ā¦..1ā¦
'So what was that with Nathan going all batman to the rescue on you earlier?'
Haley didn't know how Brooke managed to even hold it in this long. The girl had been itching to grill her the moment Lucas came back into the club with a busted lip and told her that Nathan and Haley were still in the dressing room alone.
'He justā¦' Haley began digging her own spoonful of ice-cream. 'Honestly, I don't know what that was...'
'Ok I know you said that you didn't but you guys totally kissed or somethingā¦'
'I told you we didn't.' Haley said simply. A look passed between the girls that Peyton noticed. 'Ok what does she know?' Peyton said jabbing her spoon towards the brunette.
'Everything.' Brooke teased.
'So unfair.' Peyton pouted.
'We didn't kiss.' Haley confessed again.
'They actually didn't.' Brooke reiterated.
'So no lip locks, no feelingsā¦what happened? He keep some huge secret from you or something?'
'That story is definitely a bottle of chardonnay kinda night.' Brooke said.
'We are not opening that bottle Brooke Davis, we aren't' Haley said giving her a look.
'Fine I relent, it's only a matter of time before I figure out all this history of this little town anyway.' Peyton said as she dug into the ice-cream herself. 'It's so full of secrets.'
'Speaking of what's not a secret you see what Erica was wearing tonight?' Brooke said amused.
'Or not wearing.' Haley said sarcastically.
'She's after Nathan.' Brooke said highly amused by the whole thing. 'She wouldn't let up.'
'I thought he and Lyndsey were quite close.' Peyton said. 'Have they hooked up?'
'Not for my lack of trying.' Brooke said. 'Turns out Lyndsey is hung up on this totally gorgeous guy might I addā¦.'
'Does Lucas know you think this?' Haley wondered.
'Hey, she's the girl that hit on Lucas.' Brooke reasoned.
'She hit on him?' Haley said wide-eyed. 'How is she still here?' She joked as she ended up digging a spoon in to the ice cream herself, oh what the hell the ranging mix of emotions she was feeling sufficed the need for ice-cream even if it was past 2am.
'She hit on him to make said guy jealous and as that is a total Brooke Davis thing to do I may have took a liking to her.'
'She seems cool.' Haley said.
'She is, you two would get on if Nathan would get out of your way.' She mused.
'He's not in my way, we're not in each other's way.'
This time both girls gave Haley a look. 'We're not.'
'Says miss I'm not coming back to the house if he's here.' Brooke mused taking another spoonful of ice-ream.
'Yea there's a thing called space Brooke which we're giving each other right now.'
'After a whole 4 years of it?'
Haley just shook her head dropping the spoon into the tub as she moved off the chair.
'Haleyā¦' Brooke said. 'Haley wait, I didn't meanā¦'
'I didn't mean it like that, this is just hard on everyone, it's all hard.' Brooke sighed this time jabbing the ice cream in a rather vindictive manner.
'Don't take it out on the ice-cream. 'Peyton teased.
Brooke just sighed dropping the spoon.
'Did you ever think they'd end up together?' Peyton prodded softly.
'If it was going to happen to anyone it would have been then. If you knew them together Peytonā¦.you just wouldn't believe howā¦.'
'How it is nowā¦.'
Brooke nodded before pushing off the stool. 'I need to go talk to her.'
'Will both go, it looks like I'm staying anyway.' Peyton said with a shake of her head, it literally felt like shed gone back to high school in the last 24 hours with all the drama.
'You okay foxy?' Peyton said as she slipped into the room where Haley was laid across the bed pulling wilts from her pompoms.
Haley just nodded quietly.
'You were right Brooke, it had been 4 years of space and most of that's on me. I swear I close my eyes some nights and I can still remember it exactly..'
'What's that?' Peyton said as they both sat on the bed beside her.
'She's right, it has been space for 4 years and most of that's on me. I swear I close my eyes some nights and I can still remember it exactly..'
'What's that?'
'The moment everything changedā¦' Haley said as she began to recount the very tale.