Chapter 2
Haley walked down the hallway trying to avoid everyone that she knew until she ran smack into Jake. "Hey Haley why are you in such a hurry?" Haley plastered on a smile and apologized to Jake. "Sorry Jake I just seem to be in a world of my own today. So you ready for the history test on Friday?"
"Actually I was wondering if you could help me study for the test. History is killing me and I have to get a C to play basketball. Is there anyway you could study with me tonight. I know it is last minute but you know that I wouldn't bother you with it unless I really needed help." Haley thought about it for a minute, a chance to occupy her time and not be so worked up over Lucas and Peyton. "Sure Jake, I'll meet you here after practice. I'll study in the library until you are done."
Lucas walked out of the locker room after practice and noticed Haley sitting on the bleachers. "Hales," Lucas called approaching her. "I'm glad you came by. I really think we should talk." Haley looked up a little nervous about having to have this conversation with Lucas. "Hey," she replied trying to find a way to dodge the topic of what's been bothering her recently. "I guess coach worked you guys pretty hard today, practice normally ends a little earlier." "We had to run a few extra laps. Nathan was being an ass," Lucas explained. "So what made you stop by? Not that I'm complaining. I've been trying to talk to you all day." "I guess I've just been busy," Haley said. "Are you sure that's all?" Lucas asked not believing that was the case. "Sure," Haley answered feeling a bit guilty for avoiding her best friend. After all, Lucas didn't realize he had done anything to hurt her. "Peyton said you jumped all over her when she offered to listen," Lucas prodded. At the mention of Peyton, Haley closed herself off again. There was no way she wanted to talk about Peyton with him. "I just didn't feel like talking to her," Haley responded.
At that moment Jake walked out of the locker room and approached the pair of friends. "Hey, sorry I kept you waiting," he apologized to Haley. "It's ok. Lucas mentioned you guys had to run extra laps," Haley replied happy Jake had arrived in time to save her from continuing the conversation with Lucas. "Are you ready to go?" Haley asked him. "Sure," Jake answered glancing towards Lucas wondering if he'd interrupted something. Lucas certainly seemed upset with his arrival. "What's going on?" Lucas asked not liking the feeling of being left out of the plans.
Jake turned to Lucas with a guilty look on his face. "Haley is going to help me pass the History test without her help I don't stand a chance." Lucas looked at Haley waiting for her to offer to help him with the test too. This test was thirty percent of their grade and Haley always helped him study. "Well come on Jake I'm starving let's go grab something to eat while we study." Lucas was about to just invite himself when Peyton headed over from cheerleading practice. "Hey guys, what is going on tonight?" Haley just grabbed Jake's arm and pulled him towards the exit. Jake muttered a quick goodbye and followed Haley out to his car.
After sitting down in the driver's seat he turned to Haley. "So you want to tell me what that was all about?" Haley just shrugged her shoulders, "I have no idea what you are talking about Jake. We need to study and I am hungry it is as simple as that." Jake started the car and headed to the Cafe to eat. Jake pulled the car into the parking lot and grabbed his backpack. Haley jerked her head up, "Why are we eating here?" Jake just smiled, "Either you tell me what is going on or we stay here. It is up to you."
Haley looked at Jake wondering which option would be most painful for her. She knew Lucas would probably head to the diner to grab something to eat. Especially if he thought that's where she and Jake would end up going. On the other hand, telling Jake exactly why she didn't want to talk to Lucas would be humiliating. She could always make something up. Then again Lucas always told her she was a terrible liar. But maybe Jake wouldn't be able to tell. He'd only known her for a very short time so maybe she would be able to talk her way out of it. "I just don't want to eat here on my day off," Haley replied lamely.
Ok...maybe I won't be able to talk my way out of it, she thought. "Are you sure it doesn't have something to do with this being Karen's? Maybe you're a little worried Lucas will show up," Jake replied. "I'm sure he'll be too busy with Peyton to track us down," Haley answered without thinking. "That's what's bothering you isn't it?" Jake asked sympathetically. "What? Peyton and Luke spending time together? No. I just meant if I were only trying to avoid Lucas coming here would be a good option. I doubt Peyton would want to come here." "She and Brooke usually hang out on the other side of town," Jake confirmed. "Exactly. So can we please go now?" Haley pleaded. Jake thought about pushing her for more answers but he didn't really want to push her into leaving. He wanted to be a friend to her but he wanted a chance at passing that test too. "Ok. We'll go. I don't think avoiding him is going to solve the problem though," Jake replied before starting the car again.
Haley walked down the hallway trying to avoid everyone that she knew until she ran smack into Jake. "Hey Haley why are you in such a hurry?" Haley plastered on a smile and apologized to Jake. "Sorry Jake I just seem to be in a world of my own today. So you ready for the history test on Friday?"
"Actually I was wondering if you could help me study for the test. History is killing me and I have to get a C to play basketball. Is there anyway you could study with me tonight. I know it is last minute but you know that I wouldn't bother you with it unless I really needed help." Haley thought about it for a minute, a chance to occupy her time and not be so worked up over Lucas and Peyton. "Sure Jake, I'll meet you here after practice. I'll study in the library until you are done."
Lucas walked out of the locker room after practice and noticed Haley sitting on the bleachers. "Hales," Lucas called approaching her. "I'm glad you came by. I really think we should talk." Haley looked up a little nervous about having to have this conversation with Lucas. "Hey," she replied trying to find a way to dodge the topic of what's been bothering her recently. "I guess coach worked you guys pretty hard today, practice normally ends a little earlier." "We had to run a few extra laps. Nathan was being an ass," Lucas explained. "So what made you stop by? Not that I'm complaining. I've been trying to talk to you all day." "I guess I've just been busy," Haley said. "Are you sure that's all?" Lucas asked not believing that was the case. "Sure," Haley answered feeling a bit guilty for avoiding her best friend. After all, Lucas didn't realize he had done anything to hurt her. "Peyton said you jumped all over her when she offered to listen," Lucas prodded. At the mention of Peyton, Haley closed herself off again. There was no way she wanted to talk about Peyton with him. "I just didn't feel like talking to her," Haley responded.
At that moment Jake walked out of the locker room and approached the pair of friends. "Hey, sorry I kept you waiting," he apologized to Haley. "It's ok. Lucas mentioned you guys had to run extra laps," Haley replied happy Jake had arrived in time to save her from continuing the conversation with Lucas. "Are you ready to go?" Haley asked him. "Sure," Jake answered glancing towards Lucas wondering if he'd interrupted something. Lucas certainly seemed upset with his arrival. "What's going on?" Lucas asked not liking the feeling of being left out of the plans.
Jake turned to Lucas with a guilty look on his face. "Haley is going to help me pass the History test without her help I don't stand a chance." Lucas looked at Haley waiting for her to offer to help him with the test too. This test was thirty percent of their grade and Haley always helped him study. "Well come on Jake I'm starving let's go grab something to eat while we study." Lucas was about to just invite himself when Peyton headed over from cheerleading practice. "Hey guys, what is going on tonight?" Haley just grabbed Jake's arm and pulled him towards the exit. Jake muttered a quick goodbye and followed Haley out to his car.
After sitting down in the driver's seat he turned to Haley. "So you want to tell me what that was all about?" Haley just shrugged her shoulders, "I have no idea what you are talking about Jake. We need to study and I am hungry it is as simple as that." Jake started the car and headed to the Cafe to eat. Jake pulled the car into the parking lot and grabbed his backpack. Haley jerked her head up, "Why are we eating here?" Jake just smiled, "Either you tell me what is going on or we stay here. It is up to you."
Haley looked at Jake wondering which option would be most painful for her. She knew Lucas would probably head to the diner to grab something to eat. Especially if he thought that's where she and Jake would end up going. On the other hand, telling Jake exactly why she didn't want to talk to Lucas would be humiliating. She could always make something up. Then again Lucas always told her she was a terrible liar. But maybe Jake wouldn't be able to tell. He'd only known her for a very short time so maybe she would be able to talk her way out of it. "I just don't want to eat here on my day off," Haley replied lamely.
Ok...maybe I won't be able to talk my way out of it, she thought. "Are you sure it doesn't have something to do with this being Karen's? Maybe you're a little worried Lucas will show up," Jake replied. "I'm sure he'll be too busy with Peyton to track us down," Haley answered without thinking. "That's what's bothering you isn't it?" Jake asked sympathetically. "What? Peyton and Luke spending time together? No. I just meant if I were only trying to avoid Lucas coming here would be a good option. I doubt Peyton would want to come here." "She and Brooke usually hang out on the other side of town," Jake confirmed. "Exactly. So can we please go now?" Haley pleaded. Jake thought about pushing her for more answers but he didn't really want to push her into leaving. He wanted to be a friend to her but he wanted a chance at passing that test too. "Ok. We'll go. I don't think avoiding him is going to solve the problem though," Jake replied before starting the car again.