A/N: I've said multiple times how I am definitely going to finish this story because I promised myself that this would be the first FanFiction I ever complete. Clearly, I am losing motivation for that, seeing as how it's been more than a year since I've updated. However, I am up for the challenge if at least one person still wants it. If you somehow are still invested in this story then leave a review and I will try my hardest to update and be timelier about it. Though, if I don't receive any reviews, I will most likely discontinue this story. Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone that may be reading this. Thank you for sticking with me.
Also, if anyone is reading this and has read my other OTH oneshot, Fahrenheit, would you be interested in another follow up oneshot? I've been working on that for some time and would just like to know if I should continue and if anyone would be interested.
I knew there'd come a day, when all was said and done,
everything I was is everything but gone,
all my big mistakes are bouncing off your walls,
the bottles never break, the sun will never come,
so come on let me in, I will be the sun, I will wake you up, I am who I was,
Just open up your heart
Out on the Town- fun.
Nathan couldn't remember a time he'd felt worse than he did right now in his life. And, sure, the horrible hangover had something to do with it, but he really knew it was more about the naked, red-haired girl lying next to him, and most importantly the one in an apartment five minutes away. He groaned as he tried to recollect his thoughts and felt an unfamiliar hand hit his bare back.
All he currently knows is that he slept with Rachel and that him and Haley got into a massive fight that he's sure was mostly his fault. He was never pleasant when he was angry or drunk, and especially when the two were mixed.
"Hey, big guy." Nathan hears Rachel say in what he assumed was supposed to be an appealing way, but Nathan couldn't help but to feel sickened by the voice. Out of all of the girls that he could have drunkenly slept with, why did it have to be Rachel? Forget the fact that she made it her life mission to be Haley's number one enemy, he didn't even like her all that much before Haley even came to Tree Hill. He'd always purposely avoided her at parties to make sure he never ended up in bed with her, and he couldn't be more annoyed that he failed.
"Put some ice on it, Rachel." Nathan spit out, as he quickly sat up in his bed, putting on his boxers, trying to put as much distance as he could between himself and Rachel. The last thing that he wanted was for her to get the wrong idea and think that he actually had any interest at all in her.
"Wow, what's got your panties in a bunch?" Rachel asked, taking a moment to crawl up behind Nathan and slide her hands down his chest.
"Nevermind, I can think of a few things." She finished, whispering into his ear.
Nathan cringed at her attempts to seduce him again and quickly pulled away from her. The damage of last night had already been done, but he still didn't need a naked Rachel lying in his bed for a second longer as a reminder of what he'd done.
"Listen, Rachel, I'm not interested. Can you please just go home?" Nathan pleaded desperately, rubbing the front of his head.
The situation, hangover and rapid movements of pulling away from her were all making him feel sick-physically and emotionally. Rachel frowned, but complied, slipping on her clothes.
"That's not what it seemed like last night." Rachel reminded him, pulling her shirt over her head.
"Please, I don't even remember last night, I'm not interested in you Rachel, I never was and I never will be." Nathan explained, making sure he set her straight.
"Oh, please, we both know you'll be coming back for more. It'll take you forever to get back on Haley's good side, if at all, and if you do, do you really think that she's going to want you once she finds out that you slept with the enemy?" Rachel retorted.
Nathan shakes his head, knowing that Rachel is completely right and is only validating all of the fears that he thought already this morning, but denying them in front of her, not wanting to give her any satisfaction of knowing that she succeeded and really screwed up his life.
He squeezed his eyes tighter, trying desperately to remember what exactly he and Haley fought about last night, but failing. All that he remembers is one second he's playing beer pong and the next he's pissed beyond belief and leaving with Rachel. Everything else between is one huge blur.
"What did me and Haley fight about?" He asked, cautiously, not entirely sure if he really wanted to hear the answer.
Rachel snorted and rolled her eyes, "Yeah right, as if I'm going to make this situation any easier for you after the way you treated me this morning. But, I will admit, it was great to experience. Oh, what the hell, I only caught bits and pieces, but I'm pretty sure I heard you telling her to 'fuck off' and that she was desperate, but don't worry, I'm sure it didn't get any worse than that."
Rachel smirked, satisfied at the look on Nathan's face, and left, making her dramatic exit.
Nathan stood motionless in the place Rachel left him. He knew they argued and that it got pretty heated, but he never could have imagined just how bad it got. He doesn't remember yelling at her like that, or what would have even made him that angry with her. All he knew was that he needed to get his ass dressed and to her apartment as fast as he could so that he can try to explain and see where he stood with her at the moment. He doesn't even know how the fight ended; did he apologize at all to her last night? He doesn't think that he'd ever been this worried or nervous in his entire life.
He quickly threw on some pants and a shirt and began to exit his room and sprint down his stairs, when he hears the doorbell ring. Rolling his eyes and sighing, not wanting any distraction or anything to delay or stop him from going to see Haley, he reluctantly opens the front door.
Before Nathan gets the chance to even see the person on the other side of the door, he's knocked to the ground, rubbing his cheek where he'd just been hit.
"What the fuck?" He yelled, looking up for the first time and being met with Damien's furious gaze.
"What the fuck?" Nathan repeats, getting up from where he was knocked down onto the floor.
He can feel his anger bubbling inside of him. He's never hated Damien so much in his life, and it's not because he just punched him in the face.
Nathan knows why Damien's here. He knows why Damien looks like shit-why he looks incredibly pissed and infuriated, and like he hasn't slept at all last night. He knows exactly why Damien is at his house this early in the morning, with so much emotion, standing right across from his, his fists clenched, fire in his eyes and breathing heavily. It's all because of Haley and Nathan is unbearably jealous. Damien doesn't deserve her. Damien shouldn't be the one protecting her, and Nathan sure as hell shouldn't be the one that Haley needs protection from.
"You going to say something West, or just punch and glare?" Nathan asked, wanting to provoke him. He wants Damien to be angry. He wants him to hit him again, so he can swing back and he can get everything that he's feeling out. He hates feeling like this, like he's shit and not good for anything. He doesn't understand why he can only seem to be hurting all of the people that he's with.
Damien laughed bitterly. Hell yeah he had something to say to Nathan. He had a lot to say to Nathan but with his current state he had no idea where or how he should start.
"You know what, Nathan? It was a mistake coming here. I have nothing to say to you, being in your presence is nothing but a waste of time." Damien finally relented, turning his back and shaking his head.
"It's fine, Damien, you don't have to run away, I forgive you. You've been jealous of me your whole life, you just finally acted out on it." Nathan yelled to Damien's retreating figure.
Damien paused, taking a moment to decide whether he should go through with this fight or just continue on back to Haley, but in the end decided to turn back. He came here for Haley and to set Nathan straight. He was right when he said that Nathan wasn't worth his time, but he had to do this for Haley.
"I know that you never liked me, Nathan. You thought I was annoying, and no good, and you were right. I'm not the best person and I'm pretty selfish, but I care about Haley. She is my best friend, the only real friend I have. That's why I was happy she came here. I mean, the selfish side of me was pissed that I couldn't be the one Haley needed and that I was going to lose her, but the part that loves her was happy for her because even though she'd been fine the last five years, there was something missing, and we all knew that was you. But now, after coming to visit, and seeing the way things are between you two, and especially the way you treated her last night, I'm pissed. This is not what I wanted, this is not what she deserves." Damien yelled, angrier than he could ever remember himself being.
"Give it a rest, Damien, what do you know about her? I'm her best friend, okay, and I know I've been screwing up a lot since she came here, but, like you said, I'm still the one that she needs. I'm her best friend, not you, so stop pretending like you know her better than me." Nathan protested, denying Damien's argument.
"Are you kidding me? You're fucking delusional, Nathan. Get your head out of your ass for once, and look at what you did. You know, there was a time I was jealous of you. You were a good kid, you were going places, you were respectable, but I can't believe this worthless shit that you turned into. You're a loser, Nathan. Haley is the best person either of us know, and I am totally aware that she deserves to be with people better than me, but if I'm not good enough for her, then there is know way in hell you are. Just stay the hell away from her, stop being so goddam selfish, because I've never seen her be so miserable in my life and the only reason she's like this right now is because of you." Damien yelled, trying really hard to keep his raged fists by his side.
Nathan was about to retaliate when he felt a hand pushing on his chest and a person making their way in between Damien and himself.
"Leave, Damien." Lucas requested sternly, although glaring at his brother.
"You don't need to ask me twice." Damien muttered, throwing one more nasty look at Nathan before he stormed off.
Lucas stood in front of Nathan, shaking his head for sometime, unsure of where to start. His brother really got himself into a mess here and it was especially hard to face the situation when he wasn't even on his side. He hated to admit it, and he did care for Nathan more than he cared for Haley and, of course, Damien, but after experiencing Nathan last night at the party and just right now with Damien, he couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for him or to be on his side.
"What are you doing, man?" Lucas asked Nathan after Damien's car pulled out of their driveway. He didn't wait for a reply and walked back into his house, leaving Nathan alone at the door.
++++++++She Paints Me Blue++++++++
Haley needed to get out of her apartment. She had indulged her sadness enough and just wanted some fresh air and clarity.
She threw her legs off of her bed and dragged herself out of her bedroom and into the adjacent living room. She paused for a moment in confusion when she saw that Damien wasn't in the room that she left him in last night. He wouldn't have left already, would he have? And without saying goodbye? She really couldn't deal with having two horrible best friends.
Her concern was washed away when she came upon a note that was left for her on the counter in the kitchen. It was Damien's messy handwriting, telling her that he went to take care of something. She rolled her eyes, pretty certain of what, or really who, it was that he was going to go take care of.
Although, she was honestly grateful. Damien had stepped up last night after he brought her home. She felt bad all these years for not really turning to him and considering him as good of a friend as Nathan ever was to her. He went above and beyond any expectations she had for him.
Haley quickly got dressed, and pursued her desire to clear her head with a nice walk outside. She just hoped that Tree Hill was a big enough town where she wouldn't have to run into anybody she didn't want to see.
After leisurely walking for about a half an hour, Haley found herself at Jake's house. He was always good to talk to in dire situations and he always knew just what to say, or what not to say, to make her feel better. Despite everything, she was lucky for the number of true friends she had in her life.
She knocked on the door, hoping that Jake was home, and was grateful once she saw the door begin to open. However, her smile faltered slightly when she saw that Peyton was standing on the other side.
"Hey, Haley! Come in." Peyton greeted, too enthusiastically for Haley's current mood.
Haley shook her head in protest, "No, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here, I don't want to interrupt…"
Haley was cut off by Peyton, "Interrupt us taking care of Jenny? No, really Haley, come in."
Haley smiled and reluctantly walked into the house. Sure, Peyton has always been really nice to her since she got here, and she considered her a friend, but not as good a friend as Jake. She wasn't really sure if she wanted to open up to her as well. Also, she knew that Jake supported her whenever she was fighting with Nathan, but she knew that Peyton was better friends with Nathan than Jake was. If she began to defend Nathan, Haley wasn't sure that she could handle it right now.
"Haley!" Jake said excitedly upon walking into the room and seeing Haley standing in his doorway. He didn't know the exact details of what transpired at the party last night, but he knew it was bad and he was glad to see that she at least wasn't bed ridden because of it.
Haley smiled at him in response. She took Jenny from his arms and smiled wider. Being with Jake and Jenny always had a way of making her feel safe and relaxed.
Haley took a seat with Jenny on her lap and looked up at the two other people in the room. She saw them exchanging looks and she rolled her eyes. People made things so complicated sometimes, if they wanted to know what happened then they should just come out and ask about it.
"Nathan was a jackass to me last night, okay? That's it. He told me to leave him alone, so Damien and I left and went back to my apartment." Haley explained and shrugged like it wasn't a big deal to her, which was the complete opposite of the truth for her.
Last night had been one of the worst nights of her life. She hadn't felt that miserable in a long time. She honestly did not know where all of Nathan's anger and hate came from. She didn't remember doing anything to get him that angry, and even if she had, he had absolutely no way to justify the degree to which he flipped out at her. But she wasn't about to tell Peyton or Jake any of that. She'd worked a lot of it out with Damien last night and she most definitely didn't want to put herself through that again.
"Haley, I know it's not really my place, but may I?" Peyton asked, receiving a slight, hesitant nod from Haley in response.
"Listen, I don't really know exactly what happened, but I gather that Nathan was a huge jackass last night, which honestly isn't really that surprising. The Nathan I've known for the last five years is the definition of jackass. But, I have seen him act differently since you got here. And, well, this really isn't my place, but I was talking with him and Brooke yesterday before the party and he hinted that he likes you more than a friend. I think the other guy with you got him jealous, and he was drunk, so he just flipped out." Peyton explained, growing nervous when she revealed her secret.
After Nathan left yesterday, Brooke told her that Nathan accidentally revealed his true feelings for Haley to her. She was surprised to say the least. The Nathan she knew didn't seem capable of being interested in a girl for more than five minutes; nonetheless harbor feelings for a girl that he hadn't even kissed before.
Haley let out a bitter laugh. She didn't really know Peyton and she definitely didn't want to hear her telling her lies just to try and make her feel better. She had thought for some time that maybe Nathan did have feelings for her. They had that moment at the party before he knew who she was, so he was clearly attracted to her, and they had almost kissed after he discovered who she was. But after last night, Haley knew that there was no way it was possible and that she'd just been imagining it the whole time.
"Please, Peyton, I don't need to hear that. Listen, I appreciate you letting me come in, but I just need to be alone right now." Haley said hurriedly, trying to get up and out the door before someone could stop her.
"Haley, I wasn't just saying it, I'm serious. Maybe I shouldn't have said it, but he told Brooke who told me. I think he's just confused about you. He really cares about you, and…" Peyton started before being interrupted by a teary eyed Haley.
"I'll see you guys later." Haley replied before running out the door.
She tried her hardest to keep the tears from falling when she walked outside. How could Peyton say that stuff to her? There is no way that it is true, not after last night. If you even only slightly cared about someone, then there's no way you could treat him or her the way Nathan treated Haley last night. His words were dripping with hate and spite. There was no care at all.
Haley didn't really know where she was going. The town was still relatively unfamiliar to her and she couldn't really see because her tears were clouding her vision, but she kept walking anyway.
After a few minutes of walking down the street she still hadn't cleared her mind, but the tears finally stopped. She had cried so much in the last twelve hours that she figures she dried herself clean.
Suddenly, Haley heard a car honking on the street and pulling up next to her. She didn't recognize the car and reluctantly stopped in her path, waiting for the person to roll down the window. However, instead of the highly tinted windows going down, she watched as the person parked the car at the side of the road and opened the driver's side door. Haley rolled her eyes and turned to walk again when she saw that the driver was an annoying red head that she currently hated more than anyone else she'd ever met.
"Haley, wait." Rachel requested, quickening her pace to catch up with Haley, who very hesitantly turned.
Rachel suppressed a smirk as she watched Haley turn to her with a raised eyebrow and her hands on her hips. She could tell that Haley had been crying and she couldn't wait to further upset the girl by letting her in on what her previous night had consisted of.
"I was just worried about you. I saw you leave the party early last night. Is everything okay?" Rachel feigned concern.
"Rachel, you know very well what happened, I am not in the mood for your games." Haley tiredly replied.
"I'm not playing any games, Haley, I'm genuinely concerned. I mean, I know that if the boy I had feelings for told me that I was desperate and then had hot sex with the hottest girl in school, I'd be really upset too."
Haley's face faltered for a moment, just enough for Rachel to catch it and smirk. Of course, Haley already knew what happened last night, but knowing that Rachel had gotten just what she wanted was an extremely unpleasant and unsettling thought for her right now.
Just as Haley was about to respond to Rachel and tell her that she didn't care what Nathan did and leave the uncomfortable situation, the main source of all her problems came running into them from around the corner.
When she looked at Nathan's face, it looked like he had seen a ghost. He was paler than she had ever seen him, especially when he noticed that Rachel was there too. He looked miserable, and Haley was happy to see that last nights events have seemed to taken its toll on him as well. He deserved to be just as miserable as she was after everything that he said and did to her last night.
"Haley…" Nathan started, but trailed off.
He was not expecting to run into her. After Damien left his house and Lucas refused to talk to him, he decided to go out for a run, hoping to blow off some steam. He needed some time to cool down and collect his thoughts so that he could try to approach Haley and apologize to her later on in the day. He has no intentions of literally running into her, especially her with Rachel, while he was out. Nathan hadn't prepared himself enough to talk to her, and Rachel being there really threw him off guard as well.
Haley looked up at him expectedly, but he just continued to stare back at her, having no idea what to say and where to begin.
Rachel stayed long enough to watch the awkward, despondent and incredibly quiet scene play out in front of her. She smirked, watching as the two supposed best friends continued to stare at each other silently, before turning back to her car and pulling away, satisfied with her work.
"I'm sorry." He muttered pathetically.
Haley scoffed silently, tears finding their way back into her eyes. Although she'd never say it, she was somewhat glad that she just ran into Nathan. She was hoping he'd apologize and, though she knew she wouldn't be able to forgive him right away, they'd be able to get on track again. But right now, it didn't look like Nathan cared too much. He was barely trying to salvage their friendship. She could tell that he looked sorry, but he didn't seem to be trying too hard. It seemed like he was truly sorry because he knew that he had hurt her, but not sorry for what he had said. He was apologetic because he knew he should be, but he wasn't putting effort into his apology. She thought after last night, he'd be desperate to even get her to talk, but the Nathan in front of her didn't even know how to deal with this situation.
For the first time since she got to Tree Hill, Haley took a look at the boy in front of her who had been her rock up until she was eleven and truly didn't recognize the man that was looking back at her. So she left and he didn't try to stop her.
