Chapter 15
2 weeks later
Life in One Tree Hill had seemed to go back to the way it was before Lucas Scott joined the basketball team. Haley and Lucas were as close as ever, but there was still something off and Lucas couldn't quite put his finger on it. Each day Haley seemed to confide in Jake as much as she did Lucas and that was really started to annoy Lucas.
Haley entered the school to find Brooke standing at her locker talking to Lucas. "Sure Brooke I'll be there." Lucas turned to Haley and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "So how was your weekend Hales, I didn't see much of you?" "Well Friday I worked at the cafe and then on Saturday I watched Jenny for Jake. Jake had a big paper due and I told him that I would keep Jenny while he got it done. So what's with you and Brooke?"
Lucas just rolled his eyes and lead them in the direction of their Econ class. "She is haivng a party on Saturday and she invited me to it. One of the many obligations of being a basketball player I guess. Want to be tourtered through it with me?"
Haley just laughed, "I would rather have my teeth pulled, I think I'll pass. But you have fun."
Haley sat down and before Lucas could try to convince her to change her mind Jake sat down and started to thank Haley again for watching Jenny. After class Lucas had to stop by the coach's office to get a paper signed excusing him from classes for the tournament coming up. Haley walked with Jake to thier English class. "So Haley do you want to tell me what has you in this bad mood?" Haley just shrugged her shoulders, "It is just hard Jake. Why can't I just tell him? Everytime I think that I am ready to tell him something gets in the way, or better yet someone." Jake looked at her questionably, "Peyton is causing problems again?" "No this time it is Brooke. Lucas wants me to hang out with him at some party of Brooke's and I said no. I always feel out of place all the other girls look so perfect and then there is my little miss average Haley."
Jake just laughed, "How about we have my sister Alissa take you to the mall and help you pick out an outfit for this party and maybe you won't feel so average. I'll even go with you in case the night doesn't go as planned." "I don't know Jake. Do you really think that is where we should have that conversation?"
"I think that there will be a ready excuse for as long as you're looking for one," Jake answered. "It's time you pull everything together and be honest about how you feel. Lucas isn't stupid. He knows that even though you talk there's still something you're holding back and it's only a matter of time before he calls you on it."
"You're right. I know you're right. I just can't help but be scared. The past few weeks have been like old times between Lucas and I. I just don't want to ruin everything by throwing my crazy feelings on him,"Haley answered looking around nervously.
"You're feelings are not crazy. Lucas is lucky to have you care about him so much and I'm sure he'll realize that if you ever open up to him," Jake said trying to reassure her. "If that's the case then why doesn't he see how I feel already and why doesn't he seem to feel the sameway?" Haley asked convinced that telling Lucas she had more than friendly feelings for him was the biggest mistake she could make.
"Guys need things spelled out for them," Jake answered as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We ignore all of the signs from others and from ourselves until we have no choice but to see them. You need to make Lucas open his eyes and the best way to do that is to be honest with him about how you feel," Jake told her.
"You make it sound so easy," Haley replied. Just the thought of confessing her feelings was making her stomach revolt. She couldn't imagine how she would feel if she actually managed to string a couple words together in order to let Lucas know how she felt.
"It's anything but easy," Jake replied honestly, "but nothing that is worth anything is ever easy."
"Ok," Haley said. "I'll go to the party and I'll tell Lucas how I feel," she finished feeling suddenly empowered. She just hoped the strength lasted until the party and she didn't end up making a fool of herself in front of the entire school.
2 weeks later
Life in One Tree Hill had seemed to go back to the way it was before Lucas Scott joined the basketball team. Haley and Lucas were as close as ever, but there was still something off and Lucas couldn't quite put his finger on it. Each day Haley seemed to confide in Jake as much as she did Lucas and that was really started to annoy Lucas.
Haley entered the school to find Brooke standing at her locker talking to Lucas. "Sure Brooke I'll be there." Lucas turned to Haley and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "So how was your weekend Hales, I didn't see much of you?" "Well Friday I worked at the cafe and then on Saturday I watched Jenny for Jake. Jake had a big paper due and I told him that I would keep Jenny while he got it done. So what's with you and Brooke?"
Lucas just rolled his eyes and lead them in the direction of their Econ class. "She is haivng a party on Saturday and she invited me to it. One of the many obligations of being a basketball player I guess. Want to be tourtered through it with me?"
Haley just laughed, "I would rather have my teeth pulled, I think I'll pass. But you have fun."
Haley sat down and before Lucas could try to convince her to change her mind Jake sat down and started to thank Haley again for watching Jenny. After class Lucas had to stop by the coach's office to get a paper signed excusing him from classes for the tournament coming up. Haley walked with Jake to thier English class. "So Haley do you want to tell me what has you in this bad mood?" Haley just shrugged her shoulders, "It is just hard Jake. Why can't I just tell him? Everytime I think that I am ready to tell him something gets in the way, or better yet someone." Jake looked at her questionably, "Peyton is causing problems again?" "No this time it is Brooke. Lucas wants me to hang out with him at some party of Brooke's and I said no. I always feel out of place all the other girls look so perfect and then there is my little miss average Haley."
Jake just laughed, "How about we have my sister Alissa take you to the mall and help you pick out an outfit for this party and maybe you won't feel so average. I'll even go with you in case the night doesn't go as planned." "I don't know Jake. Do you really think that is where we should have that conversation?"
"I think that there will be a ready excuse for as long as you're looking for one," Jake answered. "It's time you pull everything together and be honest about how you feel. Lucas isn't stupid. He knows that even though you talk there's still something you're holding back and it's only a matter of time before he calls you on it."
"You're right. I know you're right. I just can't help but be scared. The past few weeks have been like old times between Lucas and I. I just don't want to ruin everything by throwing my crazy feelings on him,"Haley answered looking around nervously.
"You're feelings are not crazy. Lucas is lucky to have you care about him so much and I'm sure he'll realize that if you ever open up to him," Jake said trying to reassure her. "If that's the case then why doesn't he see how I feel already and why doesn't he seem to feel the sameway?" Haley asked convinced that telling Lucas she had more than friendly feelings for him was the biggest mistake she could make.
"Guys need things spelled out for them," Jake answered as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We ignore all of the signs from others and from ourselves until we have no choice but to see them. You need to make Lucas open his eyes and the best way to do that is to be honest with him about how you feel," Jake told her.
"You make it sound so easy," Haley replied. Just the thought of confessing her feelings was making her stomach revolt. She couldn't imagine how she would feel if she actually managed to string a couple words together in order to let Lucas know how she felt.
"It's anything but easy," Jake replied honestly, "but nothing that is worth anything is ever easy."
"Ok," Haley said. "I'll go to the party and I'll tell Lucas how I feel," she finished feeling suddenly empowered. She just hoped the strength lasted until the party and she didn't end up making a fool of herself in front of the entire school.