A/N: Hi There! Even though I was rather disappointed with the amount of reviews I got for chapter 3 (at least when compared to chapters 1 and 2), I am very thankful for everyone who did review! I love this chapter and I'm getting rather excited; something big is coming up very shortly!
If you're missing, I will run away
I'll build a path to you
If you're missing, I will run away
Because I find myself in you
The Runaway- Something Corporate
Flashback
"What are you wearing?"
"What does it look like?"
"It looks like a bikini."
"Well, it's more like a tankini, but yes. Is that a problem?"
"No, but isn't a tankini supposed to cover your stomach?" Nathan stated accusingly at his eleven year old best friend's choice of swimming attire.
"It does; it's like halfway."
"Well than it's not a tankini."
"Whatever." Haley said as she rolled her eyes and lay down on the beach towel she spread across the sand.
Even with her eyes closed because of the blinding sun, she still felt a pair of bright blue eyes staring at her, "What are you looking at?"
"You're stomach."
She paused and waited for an explanation that she never received, "Why?"
"You're freckles are weird."
"Thanks." Haley stated, clearly offended and more insecure as she attempted to pull down the top part of her bathing suit.
Nathan laughed in response and reached into his bag that was on the ground beside him and pulled out a pen. He stopped the movements of this friend trying to conceal her stomach and pushed the material back up so he could see the freckles that were so intriguing.
"What are you doing?" Haley squealed as she felt the tip of the pen tickle the soft skin of her stomach.
"Perfect." Haley heard her friend mumble after a minute, as he pulled out his phone and took a picture of the shape he just drew on her stomach and showed her.
"You're freckles look like a star." Nathan explained as Haley looked at the picture of a star that was currently on her skin.
"You played connect the dots with my freckles?" Haley questioned.
Nathan nodded in agreement, "You should get it tattooed; it's a masterpiece."
EndFlashback
"I'm sorry." Haley said as she sat next to Lucas who was seated on the ground at the River Court.
"Hey," He smiled when he recognized Haley and pulled the headphones out of his ears. "What's up?"
"I'm sorry." Haley repeated.
"Why?"
"For bashing Nathan. I didn't know he was your brother."
Lucas smiled in understanding. He knew that she certainly wasn't his biggest fan, which he understood. He knew how he could be.
"It's fine; I know he can be a jackass. Plus, I didn't tell you."
"Yeah, what is up with that? How come I don't know much about you?"
"How come I don't know much about you?" Lucas countered.
"Touché."
They both smiled, a silent agreement to move this conversation from the point where it currently was. Family wasn't a topic either of them wanted to discuss.
They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment before it was broke by the sound of a car pulling up.
Haley's face scrunched up in confusion as a girl she recognized only because she sat with Nathan at lunch came out of the car and sent a toothy grin in Lucas' direction.
"Hey Luke." She smiled.
"Hey, Brooke."
Haley watched as Lucas stood up and the two stood staring at each other. Growing more and more uncomfortable Haley excused herself, breaking the silence that was present ever since their initial greetings.
"Bye Haley," She began, mimicking their greetings, "I'm out. I'll catch up with you later, Luke."
She offered a smile to Brooke and walked away in the direction of the park she recently found in Tree Hill.
"Wait," She heard Brooke call to her, "I'll see you tonight, right? You're coming to the Raven's victory party?"
"Uhh, I don't thi—"
"Come on, Hales," Lucas interrupted, "It'll be fun. I'm taking Jake, I'll pick you up to."
Against her better judgment, Haley nodded and made her way to the only place she ever managed to find complete silence and serenity.
++++++++She Paints Me Blue++++++++
"Dammit." Haley muttered under her breath as she saw the person she hates more than anything walking through the park, heading in the general direction of her bench.
She didn't make too many movements; she acted casual. He's a monster, right? Maybe if she stays still he won't see her.
"Oh my, look what the cat dragged in. I never thought I'd see you again."
He took a seat next to her on the bench and she rolled her eyes. He didn't seem surprised enough.
"Mrs. Scott told you I came back?"
"Of course, dear. You always tell the people you love your secrets."
Ouch.
"How are you doing, Mr. Scott?"
"Not as good as your buddy Nathan. He's had a better life since we've left California. He's happier without you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is. So I think it would be in your best interest if you continued to stay behind in the shadows, where you belong, and don't talk to Nathan."
"Why do you care?"
"He doesn't need to mess up his game."
"Oh, so he's happier without me, but I'd mess up his game?" Haley accused with a raised eyebrow.
Dan chuckled lightly.
"You haven't changed a bit. Still feisty and disrespectful. Still probably desperately and pathetically in love with my son."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, you heard me. It was pathetic, Haley. Even for an eleven year old. Listen, he's got a good life now, so don't mess it up. You can pity yourself all you want for this unrequited love, but don't get Nathan involved."
Before Haley could object, he was gone. Dan Scott always got the last word in.
+++++++++++++She Paints Me Blue++++++++++++
"Why the hell am I here?" Haley asked out loud, though more to herself. She looked around the crowded beach house and was convinced that it was a scene taken straight out a movie. She'd never been to a high school party before and she knew she was out of her league.
"Come on, Haley, it's not that bad. And the second you want to leave just tell me and we'll go."
"Alright, let's go."
"Haley." Lucas protested and they made their way into the tight kitchen of the Scott's beach house.
"I was joking. Kind of."
"It really isn't that bad." Jake tried. Haley only smiled slightly in response and grabbed the red cup that Lucas was holding out to her.
"Hey, Broody."
Haley looked up to see the familiar girl that appeared to be hanging onto Lucas for dear life.
"Hey, Brooke."
"How could you be here for two minutes and not find me yet?" Brooke sulked.
Lucas laughed.
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I think I know how you can make it up to me." Brooke winked before sending a smile in Jake and Haley's direction and pulling Lucas off.
"When did that happen?" Haley asked Jake, clearly confused. She still hadn't gotten around to questioning Lucas about what happened in the River Court earlier in the day. She'd been friends with Jake and Lucas for two weeks now and she never heard Lucas mention a girlfriend before.
"I don't think it did happen yet." Jake shrugged before walking out of the kitchen, leaving Haley alone.
Great.
"Hey bitch."
Haley rolled her eyes as the fire haired girl with a current lack of clothing appeared in front of her.
"When does this end?"
Rachel smiled haughtily, "Aww, that's cute, you think it's going to end? When you stop taking all of Nathan's attention, I'll maybe consider lying off. A little. But you know, you did take him away for so long, plus you are just really annoying, that I don't think I will stop."
Haley paused, making sure that she was done before moving to walk passed her.
"This was fun and all, but I have better things to do."
Haley approached the back door of the beach house, hoping to get a break from the drunk people and the loud noise. What the hell did Rachel mean? She's taking all of Nathan's attention?
She didn't quite find the solace she was looking for as she slid the glass door that lead out to the porch. It was another group of partiers doing body shots. In fact, this was probably the last place she wanted to be.
Haley moved to go back inside of the beach house but stopped when she felt a tug on her arm.
"Where are you going?"
His breath so close to her neck and his body pressed up against hers sent chills throughout her. She quickly shook off the feeling; her best friend should not have this effect on her, and turned around to face him.
"Back inside. I don't have any interest in…" She finished with pointing to the cheerleader who was lying on a beer pong table while a boy sucked tequila out of her belly button.
"Oh yeah? Well I do."
She could clearly smell the beer in his breath and knew that that was what had caused him to do the following acts.
He grabbed her arm and pushed her down onto the beer pong table where the cheerleader was just before. He pushed her with force, but it wasn't rough; she knew if she fought she could have gotten out of his grasp, she doesn't know why she didn't.
He lifted the shirt off her head and she complied, instantly regretting it after when she realized she was putting on a show for other people around.
Nathan grabbed the tequila and sloppily poured it in her belly button, then proceeded to place the salt on her stomach, and finished with placing the lime wedge into her mouth.
Haley instantly relaxed her very tense body when she felt Nathan's hands being placed on her waist to hold her down and his head ducked down to her stomach.
He started licking his way up and down, being sure to take every morsel of salt that was lined on her body off. When he was done, he made his way down to her belly button, dipping his tongue in, more times than Haley knew was necessary. He finally made his way up to her mouth, pulling the lime wedge out of her mouth, their lips ever so slightly grazing across each other.
Haley could feel her heart beating heavy in her chest and made movements to pick up her shirt when Nathan pushed her back down and poured more tequila in her naval. She knew that she shouldn't have obliged but she did.
She could feel his hot lips on her stomach again before she even felt that salt being placed there. He ate away at her stomach hungrily, taking in every inch of skin he found.
Haley faintly heard the people whistling in the background but she didn't, couldn't, pay them much attention.
Nathan once again found his way to her belly button and teasingly drank the liquid from her. He dipped his tongue into her belly button and licking around the edge before devouring the warm liquid from her. He let him hands roam the rest of her body. He unnecessarily and, out of routine for regular body shots, kissed his way up her body to her mouth, sucking on her neck and the cleavage that was offered from her lack of a shirt.
He finally met her mouth and took the lemon wedge out before disposing of it immediately, not even bothering to suck the lime juice out. He instantly put his mouth back down to hers, before Haley pulled back, grabbed her shirt and ran.
She guesses she ran for a good five minutes before stopping to catch her breath. It was also hard to run considering she couldn't see because of the tears threatening to pour out of her eyes.
What the hell just happened?
She knew that she didn't want to stop, and clearly neither did Nathan, but she couldn't continue. It hit her heard that that was Nathan. Her best friend. Even though she knew her feelings for him were more than platonic, his weren't. She knew he'd be disgusted if he knew who she really was.
"Are you alright?" Peyton asked as she saw the clearly distraught girl sitting on the beach.
Haley jumped at first, unaware that there was another person with her before smiling.
"Not really."
"Me either." Peyton said while sitting down next to the girl that she knew Nathan had some sort of a weird connection with.
"I'm Peyton."
"Haley."
"It's nice to meet you, Haley," Peyton smiled, "Listen, I'm sorry if Nathan came on a little to strong before, he just-"
"No," Haley interrupted harshly. She could not talk about this right now, "It's fine."
"Alright," Peyton said, unconvinced, but moved on anyway, "That actually isn't why I came to speak with you anyway. No offense."
Haley laughed lightly before looking at the pretty girl next to her, "What's up?"
"That boy you're always hanging out with. What's his deal?" She asked cautiously.
Haley raised her eyebrow, "Who? Jake?"
"Yeah."
"Well, what do you mean 'what's his deal'?"
"I, I don't know. Never mind, forget I said anything."
"He's a great guy. He's always there when I need him," Haley recalled her first time meeting him; "I appreciate all he's done for me since I've gotten here. Not many people have been so nice."
"Do you like him?"
"What?"
"I, I'm sorry. I know I'm way out of line, I just…"
"You like him," Haley figured out, "So what, I see you in school all the time and I'm only good to talk to once you need me to be your pimp?"
"Uh, no, I'm sorry, I-"
"I was joking. I'll talk to him. Discreetly, of course Wouldn't want to blow your cover."
Peyton smiled before standing, "You know you're pretty cool, Haley, it was nice talking to you." She paused momentarily before continuing, "Do you want me to help you out too? Talk to him, I mean. Nathan."
"No. But you could if I wanted you to? I mean, you're close with him?"
"Not really. I mean, yeah, I could talk to him for you but that's because you're a girl that likes him; girls, parties, school and basketball is pretty much how deep our conversations get. He's a pretty reserved guy."
Haley nodded, showing that she understood. Deb was right.
He had no one and he needed her.
A/N: And it's done! I'm so sorry that it took me forever to update but junior year of high school is busy!
Thank you so much for reading and for reviewing which I know all you lovely readers will do!
-Megan AKA ToBecomeAClown
