Chapter 14 -
"Come on Haley, you are taking so long." Nathan yelled up to his date for the church picnic, she was getting ready in her farmhouse. The two of them had known each other for years, but weren't really close, they weren't dating, but they didn't hate each other either
"I'm coming.!" She called to him, she had been working really hard at making herself look better for when he came, but he had come early.
"Well hurry." He called back. "The guys will have already started the game." Nathan and his group of friends were all introduced to the sport of basketball by a kid who had just moved from the city, Jake. At this time it had not been a popular sport, but Jake's family had money and his father had a dirty court made for the kids in the town.
"Alright I'm here," Haley said as she appeared out the door. She came out. She was wearing a cute pink light summer dress. with a bow in her hair.
"You look.... fancy." Nathan said to her.
She didn't know what to make of that statement, did he mean it nicely or that she had overdone it. Haley didn't really care too much, she never really had a crush on Nathan, he was just the first boy to ask her. "Well let's go so you don't miss your game."
"Right." He replied. He went to help her into the buggy, but she was already into her seat. He shrugged it off, she was just another girl anyway, it wasn't like he was after her or anything.
They got to the picnic a few minutes later, Haley's house was not far from the town, Nathan lived a bit farther out that her so he had agreed to pick her up instead of just meeting there.
When they arrived and were out of the buggy Nathan went off to court to play a game with the guys.
"Hello Nathan, what took you so long?" Jake asked.
"Haley held me up, she was getting ready."
"Girls." Lucas, Nathan's brother, shook his head.
"Yep. I agree." Tim Smith, another friend said.
Haley sat down with her friends Peyton and Brooke and Megan at a blanket set out for them. "Hey." She said happily.
"I can't believe you came with Nathan Scott," sigh. They all said at the same time.
"Oh girls, he is just a guy."
"No, he is the guy." Peyton said.
"Well if you weren't so blind you would have seen that his friends are all into you guys, don't hold out for him, he's just a guy." Haley said.
"Well, his friends are sweet." Brooke said happily.
"Yeah, sweet and very handsome," Megan said with a smile, "But nothing like Nathan, oh Haley you are so lucky."
"sure, he comes to my house, yells at me to hurry up and then as soon as we get here he ditches me. Alright, you guys can be flattered."
"Well if you think he is that terrible, then why did you come with him?" They asked.
"Well I don't think he is terrible, he is a nice guy, but you know, he is just another guy. We aren't friends, we don't hate each other, but he is just kinda there. When there is a big group of us he is fun, but otherwise I could take him or leave him." Haley replied.
"Alright." The girls said after thinking about it.
"Nice shot Nathan." Tim said. "We win!" They decided to go take a break.
"Hey girls." They said as they came up to where Haley Peyton Brooke and Megan were.
"Hi." Haley said.
"Do you guys have any juice made for us?" Tim asked. Megan Brooke and Peyton stood up to get them some.
"We do, but you guys can get them yourselves." Haley said as she finally stood up. "Girls, let's go take a swim in the lake."
They looked at each other, the buys looked at them and waited for their juice. Haley started to walk, then she turned around to where the girls were standing. "Girls come on."
The finally followed. Haley looked at he guys gave them a sweet smile then continued walking.
The girls reached the pond.
"I don't want to get my dress wet." Peyton said, looking down at her light blue dress.
"We don't have to, we can just swim with our clothes off." Haley said happily.
"What about the boys, it would be so embarrassing if they came."
"They won't they are probably all mad at us for leaving them to get their own juice." Haley said as she untied the bow in her dress. Everyone pondered for a minute, then took their dresses off.
They all jumped in and began to splash around.
They were having a blast, when all of a sudden. "wohoo!" Yelled the guys as they all jumped in. The guys had thought the girls had gone to a different swimming place and they had done the same thing.
"What are you doing here?" Haley screamed.
"What are you doing here?" Nathan replied.
"Swimming, we were here first, you guys go." Haley yelled. All four of the girls sunk as low as they could into the water.
"No, we can't you go." Nathan replied.
"We can't you go."
"Why can't you?" Lucas asked.
"Because you will look." Megan replied.
"Megan shhhh!" Peyton hissed.
"well we aren't wearing anything either." Jake said.
"JAKE!" Tim yelled.
"Well it's true." he replied.
"We won't look." Brooke said honestly.
"I don't trust you." Nathan said.
"Well good for you, we won't." Haley said a little less honest. (a/n I wanted to kinda make Haley a little less reserved and i balanced it out with the rest of the girls being reserved).
Peyton immediately began to cry.
"Oh good job Scott." Haley yelled. She swam over to her and tried to comfort her.
"Wow Haley, a little too far out of the water were we?" Tim joked.
"Shut up." She replied.
"What is going on here?" Asked a voice from outside of the water.
"Dr. Andrew's." Haley yelled. "they won't let us get out of the water, we were here first and now they came over here without telling us."
He turned over to the guys. "why?" He asked.
"Because we didn't know they were in here without anything on. Now we both don't want to stay in, but they won't get out, they don't trust us." Nathan replied giving Haley a look.
"Boys, turn around." The doctor said. He stepped forward and let he girls get out without anyone watching.
The quickly got dressed and went back to the picnic.
The guys appeared back a few minutes later, they looked as if they had been given a stern talking to after the girls left.
After the picnic Haley and Nathan dreaded the ride home.
"Are you coming with me?" He asked.
"Are you offering?" She asked.
"Well yeah, if you want to, you don't have a long way to go, but it is getting late and your hair is still wet."
"OK." Haley got into the buggy again.
They drove out of the town, just they passed the sign on the other side of the street saying Welcome to Tree Hill. Haley saw her house.
"Thanks." She said as she stepped out of the buggy.
"Yep." He replied. She got right up to her house when he called to her again. "Haley?"
"Yeah?"
"Please don't tell your father about what happened at eh pond, he doesn't like me too much."
"Well don't tell your dad, he thinks I am too independent for a girl." She mocked.
"Deal."
"Deal." And Haley stepped inside.
Chapter 15 -
"Mother, father I'm going to school." Haley called as she ran out the front door.
"By Haley." They called to her as she ran off.
"Hello Haley." Nathan said as she almost ran into him.
"Oh, hi," she replied stopping instantly.
"You want some company?"
"Sure, why not." Haley replied.
They walked to the school together, they had just been there the day before for church, but they still hurried to meet their friends. When they got there Haley went to go meet her friends and Nathan went to go meet his group of guys.
"See Haley, I told you you like him." Brooke laughed.
"I do not, be quiet." Haley replied, completely honest.
"Sure." Megan said.
Just before Haley was about to argue the teacher Miss. Olsen rang the bell.
"Come on in children." She called.
Everyone ran toward the school. When they got inside they all dropped off their bonnets and hats.
"So did everyone have a nice day at the picnic yesterday?" Miss Olsen asked.
Haley glanced over at Nathan, he had done the same, but instantly they both looked the other way.
"Yes." The rest of the class called.
After she ahd the class settled Miss Olsen had the younger kids do addition problems on their slates, and teh older kids did harder math problems in their notebook.
Nathan passed a note to Lucas and they both began to snicker. Lucas poked Jake and pointed towards the girls sitting in front for Nathan and Tim, Megan and Brooke.
Haley didn't see right away what had happened, but when she took a second look she saw what they had done. Brooke's hair had been dipped in black ink and Nathan's fingers had black ink on it.
Haley stood up and walked over to them. She walked over to the otehr side of the classroom near the wall tapped Nathan on the shoulder and then when he looked toward her she punched him square in the face.
She grabbed Brooke's wrist lightly and took her out to the back where the water pump was.
Brooke was confused.
"OK, sorry Brooke, but Nathan put your hair in ink." Haley said.
"What?" Brooke asked very upset. She began to cry.
"Hey, no it's alright, it's alright, he is not a nice guy just forget about it." Haley said trying to get her to calm down.
"No, it isn't, he is so mean, why does he have to be so cute?" She asked.
"Cute?! after he does this to you, and I sacrifice my hand by punching him, you still think he is cute?"
"Well yeah." She said drying her eyes. "Just because he is a jerk doesn't mean he is not cute."
"Oh OK." Haley said. She went over to the door back to the classroom. When she opened it there stood Nathan Scott, he was covering his face with a hankerchief which was stained with blood.
"Miss Olsen wants to speak to you." He said with a smirk.
"Don't get blood on that beautiful shirt of yours." Haley said returning the smirk. She looked down at his shirt which was hanging loosely on him and had a few stains on it.
She stepped inside.
"Haley James, what was that about?" Her teacher asked sternly.
"I hit Nathan."
"I know that."
"I hit him because he dipped Brooke's hair in ink," Haley replied.
"What?" Miss Olsen asked.
"He dipped her hair in ink, then wrote a note to Lucas saying he had done it." Haley replied.
"Go get Mr. Scott." Miss Olsen replied.
"Nathan." Haley called out the door.
He walked in a few seconds later. Brooke also came in.
"Yes?" Nathan asked sweetly.
"Both of you have detentions after school, I will see you both after class."
Nathan and Haley were kept in class for an hour writing on the board. I will not cause trouble in school
"My hand is killing me." Haley exclaimed after they left.
"Well neither of us would have been in there if you hadn't hit me."
"No, well I wouldn't have been in there, I still would have told her that you put ink in her hair." Haley said. "But I was very glad actually that I hit you, other than that my hand has hurt all day it was a very good feeling."
"I guess."
"But why did you put ink in her hair?"
"To get attention." Nathan replied with a laugh.
"From who, the teacher? Brooke? Lucas?"
"You." Nathan replied.
"What?" Haley stopped dead in her tracks.
"I will explain later, meet me this sunday before church in the stables."
"Tell me now." Haley demanded.
"No."
"Then tell me tomorrow at school."
"I am going with my dad to the city until saturday." Nathan replied. "I'll see you sunday OK?"
She thought about it for a minute, "alright." She finally replied.
Haley spent the rest of the week mainly by herself, she was completely confused about what had happened on monday, but she still couldn't wait until sunday.
It was finally sunday, Haley got ready as fast as she could, "Mother, I am going to meet some friends this morning."
"It is sunday, you can meet them tomorrow." Her mother called, but Haley was already out the door.
Haley ran down to the church as fast as she could without ruining her dress. She got to the stables and she couldn't find Nathan.
She felt someone touch her arm. Nathan pulled her over toward him.
"Nathan?" She asked.
"Yeah, shh." He said.
"I can't even see you." She said.
"Hold on." He replied.
Nathan grabbed a lamp sitting near the door then took a match and lit it and set it on a ledge near where Haley stood.
"So why are we here?" Haley asked.
"Because I wanted to see you alone." Nathan replied.
"Why?"
"Because I like you." Nathan replied.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"OK." She just stood there not knowing what to really say.
He leaned really close to her and kissed her. She had never been kissed before, Haley had always imagined that her first kiss would be special, this of course was special, but she always thought she would have her first kiss when she was in a more romantic setting.
"Nathan." Haley said.
"What?" He asked.
"This isn't really romantic at all." Haley said.
"No?" He asked. "What would make it romantic?"
"I don't know, but we are one stall away from animals. That isn't romantic."
"Well, well, I know." He said.
He grabbed Haley's arm and the lamp and walked really fast over to the back of the barn, "There are no animals here."
"Well I don't know it still isn't romantic."
"Just kiss me. And it will be a bit more romantic." He said.
"OK." She let him kiss her and it still didn't seem in any way romantic. "Nathan, it still isn't." She said.
"Well what on earth could make it romantic?" He said as he swung his arms up in the air. In the process he knocked the lamp off of the table.
"Nathan!" Haley screamed. "You lit the barn on fire."
The fire spread like mad, it caught onto the straw on the floor.
"Come here." Nathan reached his hand out to Haley as he climbed up the ladder to the loft. Haley followed as fast as she could.
Now they were in the top level of a burning building. The families who had been getting ready for church began to gather around and spread water over the place, Nathan and Haley watched as they lead the animals out.
"Nathan, what do we do?" Haley asked.
"I don't know." He said worried.
"But we are stuck up here." She screamed.
The fire began to spread over to the top level. Just then the roof started to collapse in. "Nathan!" Haley screamed.
"Oh my gosh, Dan, Nathan is up there!" Deb screamed from the ground.
There was a loud crash as the entire roof collapsed in. Nathan pushed Haley toward the door of the barn, and then he fell.
Chapter 16 -
Nathan woke a few days later in a bed in a hospital suite.
"Where am I?" Nathan asked.
"In the Hospital." A nurse said from beside his bed.
"Why?"
"You were in a fire. The roof of a burning barn you were in collapsed down on you, then you fell from the top level to the main floor." The nurse explained.
"And the girl, Haley, where is she?" Nathan asked sitting up as fast as he could. He had a sling on his arm and bandages all over him.
"She is not here. She suffered minor injuries, you may have saved her life when you pushed her from that window."
"Really?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, her worst injury was a cut on her forehead." The nurse replied. "She was only here for an hour."
"Oh." Nathan replied.
"Nathan!" His mother said as she ran into the room. Dan followed her.
"Hey mom, dad." He said.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine mom, I just want to go home."
Deb looked to the nurse.
"In a day or two." She said happily.
Nathan was home in two days and back in school two days after that. He wanted to go, his mom tried to stop him, but Nathan just kept telling her it was just a broken wrist
He came in late that morning and everyone turned to look at him when he walked in. Everyone except Haley, she had completely beaten herself up over it all. Nathan sat down next to Tim and everyone turned back to watch the teacher.
"Nathan, don't be late tomorrow or I will have to keep you after class."
"Alright ma'am."
He went to his work right away, he was dreading lunchtime, he had come through the front doors in the morning and avoided seeing the barn.
It was now lunch and he sat in his desk for as long as he could.
"Nathan?" the teacher asked as she turned around from cleaning the board.
"Yeah, I just don't want to go outside." Nathan replied.
"I understand, how are you?"
"I feel fine, but I know the whole town hates me and Haley is avoiding me, and so now I am confused." Nathan replied.
"Haley doesn't hate you, she has been obsessing about you all week, at least four times I've had to talk to her about getting her mind onto something else, she was so scared she would lose you, and she feels like it was all her fault about it."
"It wasn't"
"I know, but you need to be the one to tell her that, everyone else has tried."
"Thanks Miss. Olsen." He replied. Nathan walked outside and went to go find Haley.
He eventually found her, she was sitting by herself next to a tree near the old stables, the sight of the barn made him shiver, he hated that he had done it.
Haley was sitting with her head down and it looked like she had been crying.
"Hi." Nathan said.
"Hi," She said as she dried her eyes.
"I think we should talk."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because Miss Olsen told me that you have been beating yourself up for a week now."
"Well it was my fault I should have just not gone."
"Well I'm glad you did, I know it ended bad, but I don't really regret it, all I hate about it is that your head is cut. I am not sore and I don't care. It wasn't your fault at all."
"Yes it was."
"No it wasn't. I don't blame you and nobody else does, it is all OK, my dad said he was going to pay for it and it is all fine." Nathan said.
Haley burst into tears. "You don't know how happy I am that you are alright, I was so scared you weren't going to be OK, everyone was saying it was my fault and I wanted to die."
"Who said it was your fault?" Nathan asked.
"A bunch of people from school."
"Well I hate them all now." Nathan replied.
"Right, sure you do." Haley laughed.
"I do, I will prove it to you too."
"OK sure." She laughed.
"Anyway, there is something I need to do OK?"
"Alright." She replied. Haley got up and walked over to her group of friends.
"Hey." Brooke said.
"Hi guys."
"Nice to have you back." They joked. All four girls went to doing their regular daily things.
Nathan was back in time for class. He made a point to walk to teh front of the class. "Miss Olsen can I talk to the class?"
"Sure Nathan." She replied.
He took a deep breath. "OK anyone who said anything that hurt Haley in the last few days, I want to tell you all that you are all-"
"Nathan, sit down." Miss Olsen cut in.
He sighed and sat back down.
Haley looked back at him and smiled.
For the rest of the afternoon the older kids did literature work and the younger kids read short stories.
Nathan met Haley outside of the doors after school.
"Nathan you wanna play?" The guys asked.
"No I'm going to walk Haley home, besides, my mom would get really mad if I did with my arm like this."
Nathan walked a little way down the road and put his arm around Haley shoulder, she was a little suprised at first but she eventually leaned her head on his shoulder.
They reached Haley's house and she reluctantly went inside.
"Bye." She said sweetly.
"Bye." He said with his famous grin.
He held her hand until she was out of reach of it and she walked backwards a little ways.
She lost her balance and fell right onto her butt.
"Wow that was a little embarrassing," she said as he helped her up.
"But it was cute." Nathan replied.
She began to walk back toward the house, both were happy and they were really looking forward for the next day.
Chapter 17 -
"Haley, may I speak to you after school?" Miss. Olsen asked.
"Sure." Haley replied, it was about and hour before the end of the day and a man had been sitting in the room all day, no one knew why though.
Nathan gave her a look and she just shrugged her shoulders.
He passed a note to her
Haley,
do you want me to wait for you when you come home?
Nathan
She read it and replied.
Nate
No that's alright, I can walk myself afterward.
Haley
He read it and nodded to her.
After school Haley went to the teacher the older man got up off his chair near the back of the room and approached Haley and the teacher.
"Hello young lady." He said. "Haley James is it?"
"Yes. Nice to meet you Mr.-"
"Caldwell. I am from the Teachers Association of North Carolina."
"Oh, alright." Haley said confused.
"Mr. Caldwell is here to talk to you Haley, to see whether you would like to teach at a school in a nearby town, Cove City, I'm sure you've heard of it. Anyway, the teacher there got married and they are in need of a new one, are you interested?" Miss Olsen asked.
"Yes, but I am only fifteen."
"We know, but you are the area's top student and you are very reliable, I wanted to know if you were interested, you would have to take a standard test, we could even take it right now, or you may talk to your parents first, but ultimately the choice is yours."
"Sure, I can take it right now." Haley said. "I am not sure how well I will do, but I can."
They set her up to take the test, she found it to be actually really easy and she finished it pretty fast.
Mr. Caldwell took out the answer key and looked over Haley's test. "You did very well Miss James. You have scored the highest in four years. I am sure you will make a great teacher soon enough."
"Thank you sir, When will I be leaving?"
"As soon as possible, they have not had a teacher for two days already, and we need a person to fill the position as early as tomorrow."
"Would Monday be alright? I have a few affairs I would need to get in order."
"Monday is fine." he replied. "The town is nearby and you can make arrangements to come home on weekends."
"Thank you sir."
"We will have a teaching license made up for you as soon as possible, do you guys have a newspaper here?"
"Yes, it is the third building on the left of the general store." Miss Olsen replied.
"Why?" Haley asked.
"I can use it to write up the license." He replied. "I will come by your house probably Saturday and give it to you."
"That is fine Mr. Caldwell." Haley replied. "But now I should probably get home and make arrangements for coming home on weekends."
"That is fine Miss James, I will try and come by personally this weekend, but I can't promise anything."
"That is great." Haley replied.
Just as she began to walk out of the door Miss Olsen stopped her. "Oh, Haley, don't bother coming to class the rest of the week, as far as I know, you are not one of my students anymore."
She smiled and left the school.
Haley went outside the school to find the boys still playing basketball.
"Haley!" Nathan called. "What was all that about, you have been in there for over an hour."
"I'm a teacher Nathan!" She screamed happily.
"But you are fifteen."
"I know, but I have the highest grade in the area and they wanted me specifically, this is so great, I've always wanted to teach, i get to start on Monday in Cove City."
"Wait, you start right away?" He asked worried.
"Yeah, as soon as possible. The teacher got married and they want me."
"But I'll never see you anymore." He said, let down, he felt terrible, he wanted to feel good that Haley was getting to do what she wanted, but he didn't want to lose her ever.
"Of course you will silly, I am coming home every Friday. My dad just needs to come get me."
"Let me come get you." He offered. "I would love to."
"Are you sure, you have other things you could do on a Friday afternoon."
"I would have other things to do, but taking a two hour ride with you every Friday would be a lot better." He replied showing his priceless smiles.
"I guess if you want to, my dad would love that more than driving out of his way all the time." Haley replied.
"I want to, do you want company home?" He asked.
"Yes please." Haley said in a cute way.
"Good." He grabbed her books from her and began to walk her home.
"So I'll come get you on Friday right?" Nathan asked as he dropped Haley off at the home she was staying at in Cove City.
"Yeah." She replied. It was followed by an awkward silence.
"So, don't go falling for any of these Cove City guys before I can win your heart again." Nathan joked.
"Who says you have won my heart?" She asked sweetly.
"Me. And your eyes say it."
"Do they?" She asked, the two moved closer together.
"Yes." Nathan replied, they were barely a foot away from each other now. "Every time I look in them when we are alone they look different then when there are other people around."
"That is very true you know."
"Yep, I know." Nathan said, he was not even inches away from her now. "Haley-"
"Just kiss me." She said, he did and they didn't break free for a few moments, until the family Haley was staying with came outside. "Hello everyone, I'm Haley James."
"Hello Haley, I'm Jillian, and this is my husband Thomas, and our daughter Elizabeth, one of your students tomorrow, our son Jeffery is out with a group of friends he should be back later." Jillian, a middle aged woman with dark hair and some Gray hairs peeking through.
"Oh, and this is Nathan, he will be coming to pick me up every Friday and dropping me off every Sunday." Haley said motioning toward Nathan.
"Hello Nathan," Jillian said.
Nathan went and grabbed Haley's bag, he carried it for her to the house.
"Nathan, would you like to stay for dinner?" Thomas asked.
"No sir, I should be getting home I have an hours drive left, I will see you guys Friday bye sweetheart." He began to walk toward the door, Haley followed him.
"I'll see you in five days." She said.
"I still wish you didn't have to be here, I wish you could be home in Tree Hill."
"I know Nate, but just think, with all the money I can save we can afford a lot more in the future."
"Isn't the man of the house supposed to be the one providing for the family." He asked.
"Not to me. I will help out as much as I can." She replied.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead and he walked out. She closed the door behind him and leaned her back against it. She looked toward the corner and saw the young girl, about ten, Elizabeth.
"Hey." Haley said.
"Hi." Elizabeth replied. "Are you going to be my teacher?"
"Yeah." Haley said.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"Do you love him?"
"You ask a lot of questions Elizabeth, you know that?"
"My mommy says that all the time."
"Well your mommy is a smart lady, let's go to dinner."
Elizabeth followed her.
Haley figured she was going to fit in just fine.
Chapter 18 -
"Hello class, my name is Miss James."
"Hello, Miss James." the class chimed.
"OK, I need a responsible student to tell me where this class left off on all of their assignments. Anyone?"
They all sat there.
"If you don't tell me I will choose a spot from wherever and tonight I will talk to your past teacher and find out where you are." Haley said sternly.
"Miss James." Said a boy in the back, he was about her age and he had a smirk on his face.
"Yes?" She asked.
"My name is Jeffery Edwards."
"I know, I am staying at your house, please get to your point." She said sternly, she didn't like the look on his face.
"How old are you?"
"That isn't really any of your business." Haley replied.
"You look like you are younger than me." He said, his group of friends around him all began to laugh.
"Please get to the point."
"Well how can you expect us to trust you as a teacher if you won't even give any information about yourself." Jeffery continued.
"My name is Haley James, I am from Tree Hill, I am fifteen, I am your teacher is there anything else?"
"I want a new teacher." He said. "I don't think a girl who is a year younger than me should be teaching us, boys do you agree?" The whole group of boys all nodded in agreement.
"Jeffery, you are staying after class." Haley said. "And for now, stand in the corner."
"Make me." He said. "You can't get me to do anything." He stood up and walked out of the classroom, his group of boys followed him.
"Sorry about my brother Miss James." Elizabeth said. "This morning he told everyone to treat you like that, and he threatened to hurt everyone if we didn't."
"Don't worry you guys, those boys will not be attending my class anymore." Haley replied. "So where are we in the books?"
"Here." Elizabeth said. "My brother took this a week ago, it is the entire lesson plan for the rest of the year I took it back yesterday."
"Thank you." Haley replied. "Please open your book to pages fifty eight and nine." The rest of the class went great.
The next morning the boys showed up for class. "None of you are invited back in my classroom. get out." Haley commanded to the group of them as they came in late.
"We go here, don't think that just because you are the teacher for now that you can tell us what to do." A boy said.
"What is your name?" Haley asked. he stood there silent
"Christopher Rogers. He's my brother" A girl, probably Elizabeth's age said.
"Thank you Carla. Now get out of my classroom." Haley yelled.
"Guys, let's get out of here, the less time we have to spend with this btch over here the better." Another boy said.
The rest of the week went like that, the boys would disrupt the class all morning, then for the rest of the class everything would go fine.
It was Friday afternoon, class was going to end in a little over an hour. A group of feet were heard at the back of the room. It was Jeffery, Christopher and their friends with Thomas.
"Hello Mr. Edwards, boys." Haley said the last word coldly.
"Miss James, what is this I hear from these boys that they aren't allowed to come to school?"
"Yes I told them that, on the first day, they stole a lesson plan, threatened the rest of the class including your daughter, told me I was too young to teach, when by the way I am here because I chose to, your kids wouldn't have a teacher at all if it wasn't for me, they all mouthed off to me, and the next day when they came back they came late, it was the same the rest of the week, I will not teach them if they are going to make trouble." Haley replied.
"Well you don't have a choice do you, the county says they go to school and they will go to school."
"No Mr. Edwards, I looked that up just in case of a situation like this with parents, and as long as they are sixteen they don't have to be at school."
"Well I am his parent and I say he stays in school."
Haley turned the the rest of the class. "Students, continue with this page, Mr. Edwards, Boys, let me see you outside." She stepped outside with the boys. "I am not going to argue in front of my younger students, but I also am not going to let these boys back in my class unless they start to follow the rules that have been set out by me."
"These rules are?"
"They come to class on time, they don't mouth off, they do their work, and if they do anything out of line they take punishment."
"Listen here Missy," The man said as he got right in Haley's face, she stood tall. "These boys are boys-"
"And I know boys their age and they don't act like that so if you please, would you back off and we can discuss this like civilized people."
"Are you saying I am not civilized?" He yelled angrily still right up in her face.
"I did not-" He grabbed her wrist. "Let go of me!" She yelled. He didn't listen.
"What the hell is going on here?" Yelled a voice behind Haley.
"Who are you?" Mr. Edwards asked, he was still clutching Haley's wrist.
"Her boyfriend, take your hands off of her."
"Nathan?" Haley turned her body as best as she could.
"Let go of her now!" Nathan yelled. The students were all crowded around the door of the school. He still held her arm so Nathan lunged at the man. As he did the entire group of guys all jumped in on him.
A group of men working down at the mill a few doors down ran up to break up the fight.
"Tom what is going on?" One guy asked after they pulled them apart.
"This boy lunged at me I don't even know who he is." He said innocently.
"You liar!" Haley yelled. The group of men all looked to the girl. "He came to my class to complain that his son wasn't in class, when I kicked him out until he follows my rules, we came outside to finish our talk and Mr. Edwards here grabbed my arm when I told him to back off from my face and Nathan came to stop him." Haley replied. She turned to the kids standing in the doorway. "Students, go home early today alright, have a good weekend." They all ducked back inside and grabbed their things then left the area and went home.
Haley talked it out with the adults there, Nathan watched pretty amazed at how grown up she really was. Haley worked things out to stay with another family. Elizabeth offered to drop her stuff at the Dalton farm. Haley thanked her.
"So how other than that was your week?" Nathan asked on the ride home.
"It went pretty good." She replied. "Are you sure your alright?" She asked, he had been beaten pretty hard by the guys back in Cove City.
"I am fine, how's your wrist."
"It will bruise but it is fine." Haley replied. She smiled and within a few minutes she had fallen asleep on his shoulder from her long day.
Nathan looked down on her and smiled, then continued home.
Chapter 19 -
Nathan and Haley were engaged. It had been over two years since the day at the school. It was kind of an ironic thing too, the watched their friends all fall in love with each other and they were all now married, Megan and Brooke even had kids.
Nathan and Haley now had a problem, they had been engaged for longer than any of their friends, but still hadn't gotten married.
On this night the two were sitting out by the river, it was a warm summer day. "Haley how long are we going to have to wait, I want to marry you."
"I want to marry you too, but you know I don't want to give up my job Nathan, and when girls get married they are expected to get rid of their jobs, how do you think I got this job in the first place, the other lady got married."
"I know Haley, and you know I would have no problem if you kept your job."
"I know, but people will talk." Haley replied. "I don't know what I want right now."
"You don't know what you want?" He asked angrily as he stood up. "You know, for the last year and a half I have watch you do what you love, and I have been happy to see you happy, but now I want to be happy. I love you and I am not askig you to stop doing what you love, all I want is for you to let me be happy too."
She sat there almost in tears, she hated to see him upset, but she was so confused. "Nathan-"
"No Haley, you won't even choose a date for the wedding, at least let us do that. Do you want a summer wedding, this summer, a autumn wedding, or one in the winter?"
"An autumn one, I love the look of the trees then." Haley finally replied.
"OK, so you want the wedding to be this fall, probably Octoberish?" She nodded lightly. "And outside?" She nodded again. "See was that so hard?" She shook her head.
"No."
He smiled and leaned in and kissed her.
"Look's like we all had the same idea." Brooke said with a laugh behind Nathan and Haley, she stood with Lucas and baby Gwen. With her was Megan standing with little Matthew and Tim. Peyton was also there with Jake, she was about seven months pregnant.
"We made plans earlier to meet here, we just didn't know you guys would be." Tim laughed.
"Well we ARE here." Nathan replied.
"And so are we, so we can join you can't we?" Peyton asked.
Haley leaned to Nathan who was about to say no "Remember, pregnant," She laughed. "Don't forget what Brooke did when she was pregnant." The memory of Brooke kicking him really hard in his groin made him smile at teh group and let them sit down.
"So what were you two up to?" Peyton asked.
"We were making wedding plans." Haley said with a smile. The girls got all smiley and they got into a conversation about it.
The guys talked about that year's crop, Tim and Jake had the two biggest farms in the area. Jake had been head of his farm since he was fourteen when his dad had died, and Tim had become the head of the house when his dad died recently, Nathan and Lucas who really didn't care that much always pretended as if they did. And they knew that one of them would take over their dad's farm when he died so they decided they should listen a little more.
"I'm kind of tired Jake, can we go home?" Peyton asked sweetly.
"Yeah, I'm tired to." Brooke said to Lucas, "And she has been sleeping for two hours. She nodded towards Gwen who was sleeping next to Matthew.
Lucas and Jake nodded. After they got up and left Megan and Tim left too.
"It is getting late Nathan, we better go home too." She said as she stood up. "I'm sorry we didn't get much time to ourselves."
"Well I only care that me and you got to decide some things about out future."
"Oh Nathan, you know we have a lot more things to work out about our future." She laughed and he took her home.
After going home that night Nathan began to think about their future. He first thought about Haley and decided after they got married he would let her continue working. The he thought about the farm and he knew Lucas would take over that one, him and Brooke were living there now, Nathan figured he would end up the head of Haley's farm, which scared him a little, but she was worth it. At the same time he was more confused and worried than before, Haley had made him think a lot about his life and more than anything it scared him. He really had to make one decision and that was what he was going to do, the teacher here in Tree Hill was a man now and he wasn't going anywhere for a while, so Haley would be teacher where she was now, where did that leave him. Damn Haley for making me worry about this, why couldn't she have jsut let me be happy for a little while? He thought with a laugh, but the feeling still worried him inside. Chapter 20 -
"I can't believe you are finally getting married." Brooke said as he hoverred over her friend who was still asleep.
"Let me sleep." Haley replied groggily.
"Nope you are getting up, eating then you will get your hair done, then get your dress on." She was way too perky for early in the morning.
Haley sat up, she rubbed her eyes and went downstairs to eat.
"Nathan, come on, you have to calm down." Lucas said annoyed. "I didn't get up this early to watch you worry about every little thing in your life. I could be back home with my wife and daughter right now, and Brooke is pregnant again so I want to spend a lot of time with her. Last time father always had you and I doing errands and I want to be there for her as much as possible."
"Oh Lucas, can't my wedding day be about me for once it has been about you for the last year, your wonderful wedding, your beautiful daughter, and how your wife is the prettiest girl around, father leaving you the farm last month. Can't it just once be about me. Oh, and Haley is twice as beautiful as Brooke." Nathan yelled angrily, the two had been on bad terms since their father had taken ill and died a month and a half ago.
Lucas stepped back, a little surprised at how Nathan was acting. "I never said Haley was ugly," He replied.
"I never said you did, but don't go around bragging to the rest of the town how your wife is the greatest girl around."
"You know, jsut because dad left me the life that you wanted doesn't mean you have the right to insult me and my faimly."
"I am not insulting you or your family, I love Brooke, she is a great woman and baby Gwen is great, I just want you to realize that you can't tell other people who love their families that your's is the best, sooner or later someone is going to lash out at you much worse than I am now."
"You know is this the thanks I get for being there for my brother on his wedding day? I am going to go see if the ceremony is ready." Lucas stormed out of the room, Nathan collapsed into his chair and regretted everything he had just said. It had all come out wrong. He sighed then tried to forget about it so that he wouldn't have other things other than Haley on his mind.
Haley stood in front of her mirror, she was completely dressed and she looked stunning.
"Haley, it is so beautiful."
"I know, thanks for finding the dress Brooke."
"I know, I have the best sense of style." Brooke laughed. "Now lets get you down to the lake." Nathan and Haley had decided not to have a traditional one in the chapel.
Nathan had made it down to the chapel, guest were arriving.
"Lucas."
He turned to see his brother. "Hello." He replied.
"OK, here's the thing, I don't want us to hate each other, not ever, especially not today, I need my big brother at my wedding."
"You don't really think you can get rid of me that easy do you?" Nathan laughed and the two went to the arch and stood ready for Haley to come down the aisle.
Brooke and the girls came down first, finally it was Haley's turn, she breathed and as the guest stood up she began to walk down the aisle.
She reached the end and finally looked Nathan in the eyes. He mouthed those three words that had never meant more than tehy did today. She smiled and replied the same thing.
They went through the ceremony happily and with no mistakes, after the wedding tehy all went back to Haley's home for the reception.
"I can't believe you two were the last to get married, look at us, we all have kids while you two are just getting hitched." Peyton said with a laugh as she tried to keep the new baby Jason calm.
"Peyton, I love you, but if you refer to today as getting hitched again, i may have to hurt you." Haley joked.
"Got that." Peyton replied.
"OK everyone, my brother and new sister in law have some things to say to each other," Lucas said motioning to Haley and Nathan who were standing holding hands.
He stepped back and Haley turned to face Nathan. "OK, first I wanted to say thank you, more than anything this last year and a half I have known that you are the person for me because you have stuck by me for this long before I decided it was time to get married, Nathan, I am so happy and more than ever I know that when we stay here in Tree Hill that it is the right choice. For the rest of my life I am yours and I want you to know how much I love you." She rose up onto her toes and kissed his cheek.
"Haley, I want you to know that you mean enough to me that I would have waited for another hundred years before I gave up on us. I don't want you to give up all that you love and I want you to be happy, I love you more than anyone and I only want to see you happy, that makes me more happy than anything."
Haley began to tear up. "Nathan, you are the only thing now that can make me happy." She let him kiss her and the rest of the room cheered.
"And to all of you, we want to thank you so much for being here with us to share this day with us. You guys are amazing thank you." Haley added, they crowd cheered even louder.
Chapter 21 -
It was after the wedding party Nathan and Haley were taking a walk after all the guests had left.
"I love you a lot you know?" Nathan asked.
"Nathan, that's not something you confirm with me after we get married." She said.
"I know, but I do, I want everything for you, you are my favorite person in the world."
"You sound like you are trying to win my affection, but you already have it." Haley said with a laugh as sh pulled clsoer to him. "I'm cold."
"Do you want to go inside?" He asked.
"Well where? We never did decide it, we can go to your house, but your family will be home especially Lucas, we can go to my house, but my family is home and that would be strange. I don't know where to go."
"Why don't we spend the night at the inn, they never are full."
"True." Haley replied.
"And tomorrow morning when we take the coach to New York tomorrow for our honeymoon, we will be clsoer to the stop anyway right?"
"Yeah." She said, "But my things are all back at the reception."
"Mine too."
The next morning Nathan and Haley got on the coach and went to New York city. Their trip was cut short when Haley got word from her mother, that her father had become sick and they made it back home in time before he died.
In a twist of events all of Haley's brothers who had lives of their own had come back for the reading of the will hoping they would get something. All four of them had smaller plots of land miles away and they all wanted a piece of their father's large farm.
A lawyer from the city, and close friend to Haley's father, Darryl Taylor, had insisted on reading the will and being present jsut in case of any problems.
He went through all the small things first, most of which went to her mother, but a few things were divided between Haley's brothers. Haley didn't think she was going to get much out of the deal because the will had been written a little while before her and Nathan were actually married. But at the same time she wished she had been left some amount of money because her and Nathan would die before they spent another week in Lucas and Brooke's home.
"In the case of the entire estate and all the farm tools, I have decided to leave all of them as one unit, this unit will be left to my daughter Miss Haley James, after her marriage to Nathan Scott, if i am to die before that marriage the farm will be tended to by Haley and My wife. Also, Haley is to only accept the farm under the circumstances that my wife Heather is to stay and live with them for a long as she chooses."
The entire room went so silent you could hear a pin drop. Haley was overwhelmed, and what was written had not entirely sunk in, she turned to Nathan, who looked as shocked as her, he had always thought that Haley's father hated him because he was taking away his only daughter.
"That's preposterous!" Yelled Haley's oldest brother Harold.
"I am sorry sir?" Mr. Taylor asked.
"She is a girl, she cannot run the farm by herself."
"She will not be running it by herself Harold, Nathan will be there, as it states clearly in the will that they will take over all control of the farm." Haley's mother replied.
"You think he can run an entire farm, as a child he grew up with absolutely no chores around the farm at all, his father paid for people to help, do you think he is prepared to take care of our little sister and the home we lived in our entire lives?" The second oldest son Howard yelled.
"I think he can." Haley said angrily. "Acutally I know he can."
"He is not part of this family, he was not father's son," Haley's third brother, Henry replied.
"Now that is a funny statement Henry, who was it that was there at your father's side when he died, who came all the way from New York City to say goodbye to him, not you I would like to point out." Haley's mother came back to defending them.
"We have lives, farms to run back home, we did not have the time to come out here two weeks ago."
"But you sure had the time to rush back when the will was being read, funny how that works huh?" Nathan asked.
"You have no right to speak to me that way Mr. Scott."
"And you have no right to trespass on our property." Haley replied.
"Excuse me little sister?" Howard gave her a cold look.
"She is right you know, the will states this is her property, you must leave if she asks." It was Mr. Taylor who spoke up.
Nathan and Haley settled into the life pretty fast, after three months the farm was as successful as ever.
One day Nathan had to drive into the city to purchase one of the mills in the city, between the two of them, they chose to spend the money Nathan's father had left him on the mill, it would make them the richest family in the county.
"I'll be back in two weeks alright Haley?" He said with a smile.
"That's forever." Haley replied unhappily.
"I know, but after ward we will have a much better life, I will be able to take even better care of you." Nathan replied.
"Us, better care of us." Haley said with a huge grin.
"Us?" He questioned at first, then his face lit up. "Are you?"
"Yes, in about five months." Nathan Pulled Haley as close as he could and spun her around.
"I love you so much." He said. "Both of you."
"And I love you too." Haley hugged him one alst time and he hurried away, he wanted to get there and back as fast as he possibly could.
THE END
"Come on Haley, you are taking so long." Nathan yelled up to his date for the church picnic, she was getting ready in her farmhouse. The two of them had known each other for years, but weren't really close, they weren't dating, but they didn't hate each other either
"I'm coming.!" She called to him, she had been working really hard at making herself look better for when he came, but he had come early.
"Well hurry." He called back. "The guys will have already started the game." Nathan and his group of friends were all introduced to the sport of basketball by a kid who had just moved from the city, Jake. At this time it had not been a popular sport, but Jake's family had money and his father had a dirty court made for the kids in the town.
"Alright I'm here," Haley said as she appeared out the door. She came out. She was wearing a cute pink light summer dress. with a bow in her hair.
"You look.... fancy." Nathan said to her.
She didn't know what to make of that statement, did he mean it nicely or that she had overdone it. Haley didn't really care too much, she never really had a crush on Nathan, he was just the first boy to ask her. "Well let's go so you don't miss your game."
"Right." He replied. He went to help her into the buggy, but she was already into her seat. He shrugged it off, she was just another girl anyway, it wasn't like he was after her or anything.
They got to the picnic a few minutes later, Haley's house was not far from the town, Nathan lived a bit farther out that her so he had agreed to pick her up instead of just meeting there.
When they arrived and were out of the buggy Nathan went off to court to play a game with the guys.
"Hello Nathan, what took you so long?" Jake asked.
"Haley held me up, she was getting ready."
"Girls." Lucas, Nathan's brother, shook his head.
"Yep. I agree." Tim Smith, another friend said.
Haley sat down with her friends Peyton and Brooke and Megan at a blanket set out for them. "Hey." She said happily.
"I can't believe you came with Nathan Scott," sigh. They all said at the same time.
"Oh girls, he is just a guy."
"No, he is the guy." Peyton said.
"Well if you weren't so blind you would have seen that his friends are all into you guys, don't hold out for him, he's just a guy." Haley said.
"Well, his friends are sweet." Brooke said happily.
"Yeah, sweet and very handsome," Megan said with a smile, "But nothing like Nathan, oh Haley you are so lucky."
"sure, he comes to my house, yells at me to hurry up and then as soon as we get here he ditches me. Alright, you guys can be flattered."
"Well if you think he is that terrible, then why did you come with him?" They asked.
"Well I don't think he is terrible, he is a nice guy, but you know, he is just another guy. We aren't friends, we don't hate each other, but he is just kinda there. When there is a big group of us he is fun, but otherwise I could take him or leave him." Haley replied.
"Alright." The girls said after thinking about it.
"Nice shot Nathan." Tim said. "We win!" They decided to go take a break.
"Hey girls." They said as they came up to where Haley Peyton Brooke and Megan were.
"Hi." Haley said.
"Do you guys have any juice made for us?" Tim asked. Megan Brooke and Peyton stood up to get them some.
"We do, but you guys can get them yourselves." Haley said as she finally stood up. "Girls, let's go take a swim in the lake."
They looked at each other, the buys looked at them and waited for their juice. Haley started to walk, then she turned around to where the girls were standing. "Girls come on."
The finally followed. Haley looked at he guys gave them a sweet smile then continued walking.
The girls reached the pond.
"I don't want to get my dress wet." Peyton said, looking down at her light blue dress.
"We don't have to, we can just swim with our clothes off." Haley said happily.
"What about the boys, it would be so embarrassing if they came."
"They won't they are probably all mad at us for leaving them to get their own juice." Haley said as she untied the bow in her dress. Everyone pondered for a minute, then took their dresses off.
They all jumped in and began to splash around.
They were having a blast, when all of a sudden. "wohoo!" Yelled the guys as they all jumped in. The guys had thought the girls had gone to a different swimming place and they had done the same thing.
"What are you doing here?" Haley screamed.
"What are you doing here?" Nathan replied.
"Swimming, we were here first, you guys go." Haley yelled. All four of the girls sunk as low as they could into the water.
"No, we can't you go." Nathan replied.
"We can't you go."
"Why can't you?" Lucas asked.
"Because you will look." Megan replied.
"Megan shhhh!" Peyton hissed.
"well we aren't wearing anything either." Jake said.
"JAKE!" Tim yelled.
"Well it's true." he replied.
"We won't look." Brooke said honestly.
"I don't trust you." Nathan said.
"Well good for you, we won't." Haley said a little less honest. (a/n I wanted to kinda make Haley a little less reserved and i balanced it out with the rest of the girls being reserved).
Peyton immediately began to cry.
"Oh good job Scott." Haley yelled. She swam over to her and tried to comfort her.
"Wow Haley, a little too far out of the water were we?" Tim joked.
"Shut up." She replied.
"What is going on here?" Asked a voice from outside of the water.
"Dr. Andrew's." Haley yelled. "they won't let us get out of the water, we were here first and now they came over here without telling us."
He turned over to the guys. "why?" He asked.
"Because we didn't know they were in here without anything on. Now we both don't want to stay in, but they won't get out, they don't trust us." Nathan replied giving Haley a look.
"Boys, turn around." The doctor said. He stepped forward and let he girls get out without anyone watching.
The quickly got dressed and went back to the picnic.
The guys appeared back a few minutes later, they looked as if they had been given a stern talking to after the girls left.
After the picnic Haley and Nathan dreaded the ride home.
"Are you coming with me?" He asked.
"Are you offering?" She asked.
"Well yeah, if you want to, you don't have a long way to go, but it is getting late and your hair is still wet."
"OK." Haley got into the buggy again.
They drove out of the town, just they passed the sign on the other side of the street saying Welcome to Tree Hill. Haley saw her house.
"Thanks." She said as she stepped out of the buggy.
"Yep." He replied. She got right up to her house when he called to her again. "Haley?"
"Yeah?"
"Please don't tell your father about what happened at eh pond, he doesn't like me too much."
"Well don't tell your dad, he thinks I am too independent for a girl." She mocked.
"Deal."
"Deal." And Haley stepped inside.
Chapter 15 -
"Mother, father I'm going to school." Haley called as she ran out the front door.
"By Haley." They called to her as she ran off.
"Hello Haley." Nathan said as she almost ran into him.
"Oh, hi," she replied stopping instantly.
"You want some company?"
"Sure, why not." Haley replied.
They walked to the school together, they had just been there the day before for church, but they still hurried to meet their friends. When they got there Haley went to go meet her friends and Nathan went to go meet his group of guys.
"See Haley, I told you you like him." Brooke laughed.
"I do not, be quiet." Haley replied, completely honest.
"Sure." Megan said.
Just before Haley was about to argue the teacher Miss. Olsen rang the bell.
"Come on in children." She called.
Everyone ran toward the school. When they got inside they all dropped off their bonnets and hats.
"So did everyone have a nice day at the picnic yesterday?" Miss Olsen asked.
Haley glanced over at Nathan, he had done the same, but instantly they both looked the other way.
"Yes." The rest of the class called.
After she ahd the class settled Miss Olsen had the younger kids do addition problems on their slates, and teh older kids did harder math problems in their notebook.
Nathan passed a note to Lucas and they both began to snicker. Lucas poked Jake and pointed towards the girls sitting in front for Nathan and Tim, Megan and Brooke.
Haley didn't see right away what had happened, but when she took a second look she saw what they had done. Brooke's hair had been dipped in black ink and Nathan's fingers had black ink on it.
Haley stood up and walked over to them. She walked over to the otehr side of the classroom near the wall tapped Nathan on the shoulder and then when he looked toward her she punched him square in the face.
She grabbed Brooke's wrist lightly and took her out to the back where the water pump was.
Brooke was confused.
"OK, sorry Brooke, but Nathan put your hair in ink." Haley said.
"What?" Brooke asked very upset. She began to cry.
"Hey, no it's alright, it's alright, he is not a nice guy just forget about it." Haley said trying to get her to calm down.
"No, it isn't, he is so mean, why does he have to be so cute?" She asked.
"Cute?! after he does this to you, and I sacrifice my hand by punching him, you still think he is cute?"
"Well yeah." She said drying her eyes. "Just because he is a jerk doesn't mean he is not cute."
"Oh OK." Haley said. She went over to the door back to the classroom. When she opened it there stood Nathan Scott, he was covering his face with a hankerchief which was stained with blood.
"Miss Olsen wants to speak to you." He said with a smirk.
"Don't get blood on that beautiful shirt of yours." Haley said returning the smirk. She looked down at his shirt which was hanging loosely on him and had a few stains on it.
She stepped inside.
"Haley James, what was that about?" Her teacher asked sternly.
"I hit Nathan."
"I know that."
"I hit him because he dipped Brooke's hair in ink," Haley replied.
"What?" Miss Olsen asked.
"He dipped her hair in ink, then wrote a note to Lucas saying he had done it." Haley replied.
"Go get Mr. Scott." Miss Olsen replied.
"Nathan." Haley called out the door.
He walked in a few seconds later. Brooke also came in.
"Yes?" Nathan asked sweetly.
"Both of you have detentions after school, I will see you both after class."
Nathan and Haley were kept in class for an hour writing on the board. I will not cause trouble in school
"My hand is killing me." Haley exclaimed after they left.
"Well neither of us would have been in there if you hadn't hit me."
"No, well I wouldn't have been in there, I still would have told her that you put ink in her hair." Haley said. "But I was very glad actually that I hit you, other than that my hand has hurt all day it was a very good feeling."
"I guess."
"But why did you put ink in her hair?"
"To get attention." Nathan replied with a laugh.
"From who, the teacher? Brooke? Lucas?"
"You." Nathan replied.
"What?" Haley stopped dead in her tracks.
"I will explain later, meet me this sunday before church in the stables."
"Tell me now." Haley demanded.
"No."
"Then tell me tomorrow at school."
"I am going with my dad to the city until saturday." Nathan replied. "I'll see you sunday OK?"
She thought about it for a minute, "alright." She finally replied.
Haley spent the rest of the week mainly by herself, she was completely confused about what had happened on monday, but she still couldn't wait until sunday.
It was finally sunday, Haley got ready as fast as she could, "Mother, I am going to meet some friends this morning."
"It is sunday, you can meet them tomorrow." Her mother called, but Haley was already out the door.
Haley ran down to the church as fast as she could without ruining her dress. She got to the stables and she couldn't find Nathan.
She felt someone touch her arm. Nathan pulled her over toward him.
"Nathan?" She asked.
"Yeah, shh." He said.
"I can't even see you." She said.
"Hold on." He replied.
Nathan grabbed a lamp sitting near the door then took a match and lit it and set it on a ledge near where Haley stood.
"So why are we here?" Haley asked.
"Because I wanted to see you alone." Nathan replied.
"Why?"
"Because I like you." Nathan replied.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"OK." She just stood there not knowing what to really say.
He leaned really close to her and kissed her. She had never been kissed before, Haley had always imagined that her first kiss would be special, this of course was special, but she always thought she would have her first kiss when she was in a more romantic setting.
"Nathan." Haley said.
"What?" He asked.
"This isn't really romantic at all." Haley said.
"No?" He asked. "What would make it romantic?"
"I don't know, but we are one stall away from animals. That isn't romantic."
"Well, well, I know." He said.
He grabbed Haley's arm and the lamp and walked really fast over to the back of the barn, "There are no animals here."
"Well I don't know it still isn't romantic."
"Just kiss me. And it will be a bit more romantic." He said.
"OK." She let him kiss her and it still didn't seem in any way romantic. "Nathan, it still isn't." She said.
"Well what on earth could make it romantic?" He said as he swung his arms up in the air. In the process he knocked the lamp off of the table.
"Nathan!" Haley screamed. "You lit the barn on fire."
The fire spread like mad, it caught onto the straw on the floor.
"Come here." Nathan reached his hand out to Haley as he climbed up the ladder to the loft. Haley followed as fast as she could.
Now they were in the top level of a burning building. The families who had been getting ready for church began to gather around and spread water over the place, Nathan and Haley watched as they lead the animals out.
"Nathan, what do we do?" Haley asked.
"I don't know." He said worried.
"But we are stuck up here." She screamed.
The fire began to spread over to the top level. Just then the roof started to collapse in. "Nathan!" Haley screamed.
"Oh my gosh, Dan, Nathan is up there!" Deb screamed from the ground.
There was a loud crash as the entire roof collapsed in. Nathan pushed Haley toward the door of the barn, and then he fell.
Chapter 16 -
Nathan woke a few days later in a bed in a hospital suite.
"Where am I?" Nathan asked.
"In the Hospital." A nurse said from beside his bed.
"Why?"
"You were in a fire. The roof of a burning barn you were in collapsed down on you, then you fell from the top level to the main floor." The nurse explained.
"And the girl, Haley, where is she?" Nathan asked sitting up as fast as he could. He had a sling on his arm and bandages all over him.
"She is not here. She suffered minor injuries, you may have saved her life when you pushed her from that window."
"Really?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, her worst injury was a cut on her forehead." The nurse replied. "She was only here for an hour."
"Oh." Nathan replied.
"Nathan!" His mother said as she ran into the room. Dan followed her.
"Hey mom, dad." He said.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine mom, I just want to go home."
Deb looked to the nurse.
"In a day or two." She said happily.
Nathan was home in two days and back in school two days after that. He wanted to go, his mom tried to stop him, but Nathan just kept telling her it was just a broken wrist
He came in late that morning and everyone turned to look at him when he walked in. Everyone except Haley, she had completely beaten herself up over it all. Nathan sat down next to Tim and everyone turned back to watch the teacher.
"Nathan, don't be late tomorrow or I will have to keep you after class."
"Alright ma'am."
He went to his work right away, he was dreading lunchtime, he had come through the front doors in the morning and avoided seeing the barn.
It was now lunch and he sat in his desk for as long as he could.
"Nathan?" the teacher asked as she turned around from cleaning the board.
"Yeah, I just don't want to go outside." Nathan replied.
"I understand, how are you?"
"I feel fine, but I know the whole town hates me and Haley is avoiding me, and so now I am confused." Nathan replied.
"Haley doesn't hate you, she has been obsessing about you all week, at least four times I've had to talk to her about getting her mind onto something else, she was so scared she would lose you, and she feels like it was all her fault about it."
"It wasn't"
"I know, but you need to be the one to tell her that, everyone else has tried."
"Thanks Miss. Olsen." He replied. Nathan walked outside and went to go find Haley.
He eventually found her, she was sitting by herself next to a tree near the old stables, the sight of the barn made him shiver, he hated that he had done it.
Haley was sitting with her head down and it looked like she had been crying.
"Hi." Nathan said.
"Hi," She said as she dried her eyes.
"I think we should talk."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because Miss Olsen told me that you have been beating yourself up for a week now."
"Well it was my fault I should have just not gone."
"Well I'm glad you did, I know it ended bad, but I don't really regret it, all I hate about it is that your head is cut. I am not sore and I don't care. It wasn't your fault at all."
"Yes it was."
"No it wasn't. I don't blame you and nobody else does, it is all OK, my dad said he was going to pay for it and it is all fine." Nathan said.
Haley burst into tears. "You don't know how happy I am that you are alright, I was so scared you weren't going to be OK, everyone was saying it was my fault and I wanted to die."
"Who said it was your fault?" Nathan asked.
"A bunch of people from school."
"Well I hate them all now." Nathan replied.
"Right, sure you do." Haley laughed.
"I do, I will prove it to you too."
"OK sure." She laughed.
"Anyway, there is something I need to do OK?"
"Alright." She replied. Haley got up and walked over to her group of friends.
"Hey." Brooke said.
"Hi guys."
"Nice to have you back." They joked. All four girls went to doing their regular daily things.
Nathan was back in time for class. He made a point to walk to teh front of the class. "Miss Olsen can I talk to the class?"
"Sure Nathan." She replied.
He took a deep breath. "OK anyone who said anything that hurt Haley in the last few days, I want to tell you all that you are all-"
"Nathan, sit down." Miss Olsen cut in.
He sighed and sat back down.
Haley looked back at him and smiled.
For the rest of the afternoon the older kids did literature work and the younger kids read short stories.
Nathan met Haley outside of the doors after school.
"Nathan you wanna play?" The guys asked.
"No I'm going to walk Haley home, besides, my mom would get really mad if I did with my arm like this."
Nathan walked a little way down the road and put his arm around Haley shoulder, she was a little suprised at first but she eventually leaned her head on his shoulder.
They reached Haley's house and she reluctantly went inside.
"Bye." She said sweetly.
"Bye." He said with his famous grin.
He held her hand until she was out of reach of it and she walked backwards a little ways.
She lost her balance and fell right onto her butt.
"Wow that was a little embarrassing," she said as he helped her up.
"But it was cute." Nathan replied.
She began to walk back toward the house, both were happy and they were really looking forward for the next day.
Chapter 17 -
"Haley, may I speak to you after school?" Miss. Olsen asked.
"Sure." Haley replied, it was about and hour before the end of the day and a man had been sitting in the room all day, no one knew why though.
Nathan gave her a look and she just shrugged her shoulders.
He passed a note to her
Haley,
do you want me to wait for you when you come home?
Nathan
She read it and replied.
Nate
No that's alright, I can walk myself afterward.
Haley
He read it and nodded to her.
After school Haley went to the teacher the older man got up off his chair near the back of the room and approached Haley and the teacher.
"Hello young lady." He said. "Haley James is it?"
"Yes. Nice to meet you Mr.-"
"Caldwell. I am from the Teachers Association of North Carolina."
"Oh, alright." Haley said confused.
"Mr. Caldwell is here to talk to you Haley, to see whether you would like to teach at a school in a nearby town, Cove City, I'm sure you've heard of it. Anyway, the teacher there got married and they are in need of a new one, are you interested?" Miss Olsen asked.
"Yes, but I am only fifteen."
"We know, but you are the area's top student and you are very reliable, I wanted to know if you were interested, you would have to take a standard test, we could even take it right now, or you may talk to your parents first, but ultimately the choice is yours."
"Sure, I can take it right now." Haley said. "I am not sure how well I will do, but I can."
They set her up to take the test, she found it to be actually really easy and she finished it pretty fast.
Mr. Caldwell took out the answer key and looked over Haley's test. "You did very well Miss James. You have scored the highest in four years. I am sure you will make a great teacher soon enough."
"Thank you sir, When will I be leaving?"
"As soon as possible, they have not had a teacher for two days already, and we need a person to fill the position as early as tomorrow."
"Would Monday be alright? I have a few affairs I would need to get in order."
"Monday is fine." he replied. "The town is nearby and you can make arrangements to come home on weekends."
"Thank you sir."
"We will have a teaching license made up for you as soon as possible, do you guys have a newspaper here?"
"Yes, it is the third building on the left of the general store." Miss Olsen replied.
"Why?" Haley asked.
"I can use it to write up the license." He replied. "I will come by your house probably Saturday and give it to you."
"That is fine Mr. Caldwell." Haley replied. "But now I should probably get home and make arrangements for coming home on weekends."
"That is fine Miss James, I will try and come by personally this weekend, but I can't promise anything."
"That is great." Haley replied.
Just as she began to walk out of the door Miss Olsen stopped her. "Oh, Haley, don't bother coming to class the rest of the week, as far as I know, you are not one of my students anymore."
She smiled and left the school.
Haley went outside the school to find the boys still playing basketball.
"Haley!" Nathan called. "What was all that about, you have been in there for over an hour."
"I'm a teacher Nathan!" She screamed happily.
"But you are fifteen."
"I know, but I have the highest grade in the area and they wanted me specifically, this is so great, I've always wanted to teach, i get to start on Monday in Cove City."
"Wait, you start right away?" He asked worried.
"Yeah, as soon as possible. The teacher got married and they want me."
"But I'll never see you anymore." He said, let down, he felt terrible, he wanted to feel good that Haley was getting to do what she wanted, but he didn't want to lose her ever.
"Of course you will silly, I am coming home every Friday. My dad just needs to come get me."
"Let me come get you." He offered. "I would love to."
"Are you sure, you have other things you could do on a Friday afternoon."
"I would have other things to do, but taking a two hour ride with you every Friday would be a lot better." He replied showing his priceless smiles.
"I guess if you want to, my dad would love that more than driving out of his way all the time." Haley replied.
"I want to, do you want company home?" He asked.
"Yes please." Haley said in a cute way.
"Good." He grabbed her books from her and began to walk her home.
"So I'll come get you on Friday right?" Nathan asked as he dropped Haley off at the home she was staying at in Cove City.
"Yeah." She replied. It was followed by an awkward silence.
"So, don't go falling for any of these Cove City guys before I can win your heart again." Nathan joked.
"Who says you have won my heart?" She asked sweetly.
"Me. And your eyes say it."
"Do they?" She asked, the two moved closer together.
"Yes." Nathan replied, they were barely a foot away from each other now. "Every time I look in them when we are alone they look different then when there are other people around."
"That is very true you know."
"Yep, I know." Nathan said, he was not even inches away from her now. "Haley-"
"Just kiss me." She said, he did and they didn't break free for a few moments, until the family Haley was staying with came outside. "Hello everyone, I'm Haley James."
"Hello Haley, I'm Jillian, and this is my husband Thomas, and our daughter Elizabeth, one of your students tomorrow, our son Jeffery is out with a group of friends he should be back later." Jillian, a middle aged woman with dark hair and some Gray hairs peeking through.
"Oh, and this is Nathan, he will be coming to pick me up every Friday and dropping me off every Sunday." Haley said motioning toward Nathan.
"Hello Nathan," Jillian said.
Nathan went and grabbed Haley's bag, he carried it for her to the house.
"Nathan, would you like to stay for dinner?" Thomas asked.
"No sir, I should be getting home I have an hours drive left, I will see you guys Friday bye sweetheart." He began to walk toward the door, Haley followed him.
"I'll see you in five days." She said.
"I still wish you didn't have to be here, I wish you could be home in Tree Hill."
"I know Nate, but just think, with all the money I can save we can afford a lot more in the future."
"Isn't the man of the house supposed to be the one providing for the family." He asked.
"Not to me. I will help out as much as I can." She replied.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead and he walked out. She closed the door behind him and leaned her back against it. She looked toward the corner and saw the young girl, about ten, Elizabeth.
"Hey." Haley said.
"Hi." Elizabeth replied. "Are you going to be my teacher?"
"Yeah." Haley said.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"Do you love him?"
"You ask a lot of questions Elizabeth, you know that?"
"My mommy says that all the time."
"Well your mommy is a smart lady, let's go to dinner."
Elizabeth followed her.
Haley figured she was going to fit in just fine.
Chapter 18 -
"Hello class, my name is Miss James."
"Hello, Miss James." the class chimed.
"OK, I need a responsible student to tell me where this class left off on all of their assignments. Anyone?"
They all sat there.
"If you don't tell me I will choose a spot from wherever and tonight I will talk to your past teacher and find out where you are." Haley said sternly.
"Miss James." Said a boy in the back, he was about her age and he had a smirk on his face.
"Yes?" She asked.
"My name is Jeffery Edwards."
"I know, I am staying at your house, please get to your point." She said sternly, she didn't like the look on his face.
"How old are you?"
"That isn't really any of your business." Haley replied.
"You look like you are younger than me." He said, his group of friends around him all began to laugh.
"Please get to the point."
"Well how can you expect us to trust you as a teacher if you won't even give any information about yourself." Jeffery continued.
"My name is Haley James, I am from Tree Hill, I am fifteen, I am your teacher is there anything else?"
"I want a new teacher." He said. "I don't think a girl who is a year younger than me should be teaching us, boys do you agree?" The whole group of boys all nodded in agreement.
"Jeffery, you are staying after class." Haley said. "And for now, stand in the corner."
"Make me." He said. "You can't get me to do anything." He stood up and walked out of the classroom, his group of boys followed him.
"Sorry about my brother Miss James." Elizabeth said. "This morning he told everyone to treat you like that, and he threatened to hurt everyone if we didn't."
"Don't worry you guys, those boys will not be attending my class anymore." Haley replied. "So where are we in the books?"
"Here." Elizabeth said. "My brother took this a week ago, it is the entire lesson plan for the rest of the year I took it back yesterday."
"Thank you." Haley replied. "Please open your book to pages fifty eight and nine." The rest of the class went great.
The next morning the boys showed up for class. "None of you are invited back in my classroom. get out." Haley commanded to the group of them as they came in late.
"We go here, don't think that just because you are the teacher for now that you can tell us what to do." A boy said.
"What is your name?" Haley asked. he stood there silent
"Christopher Rogers. He's my brother" A girl, probably Elizabeth's age said.
"Thank you Carla. Now get out of my classroom." Haley yelled.
"Guys, let's get out of here, the less time we have to spend with this btch over here the better." Another boy said.
The rest of the week went like that, the boys would disrupt the class all morning, then for the rest of the class everything would go fine.
It was Friday afternoon, class was going to end in a little over an hour. A group of feet were heard at the back of the room. It was Jeffery, Christopher and their friends with Thomas.
"Hello Mr. Edwards, boys." Haley said the last word coldly.
"Miss James, what is this I hear from these boys that they aren't allowed to come to school?"
"Yes I told them that, on the first day, they stole a lesson plan, threatened the rest of the class including your daughter, told me I was too young to teach, when by the way I am here because I chose to, your kids wouldn't have a teacher at all if it wasn't for me, they all mouthed off to me, and the next day when they came back they came late, it was the same the rest of the week, I will not teach them if they are going to make trouble." Haley replied.
"Well you don't have a choice do you, the county says they go to school and they will go to school."
"No Mr. Edwards, I looked that up just in case of a situation like this with parents, and as long as they are sixteen they don't have to be at school."
"Well I am his parent and I say he stays in school."
Haley turned the the rest of the class. "Students, continue with this page, Mr. Edwards, Boys, let me see you outside." She stepped outside with the boys. "I am not going to argue in front of my younger students, but I also am not going to let these boys back in my class unless they start to follow the rules that have been set out by me."
"These rules are?"
"They come to class on time, they don't mouth off, they do their work, and if they do anything out of line they take punishment."
"Listen here Missy," The man said as he got right in Haley's face, she stood tall. "These boys are boys-"
"And I know boys their age and they don't act like that so if you please, would you back off and we can discuss this like civilized people."
"Are you saying I am not civilized?" He yelled angrily still right up in her face.
"I did not-" He grabbed her wrist. "Let go of me!" She yelled. He didn't listen.
"What the hell is going on here?" Yelled a voice behind Haley.
"Who are you?" Mr. Edwards asked, he was still clutching Haley's wrist.
"Her boyfriend, take your hands off of her."
"Nathan?" Haley turned her body as best as she could.
"Let go of her now!" Nathan yelled. The students were all crowded around the door of the school. He still held her arm so Nathan lunged at the man. As he did the entire group of guys all jumped in on him.
A group of men working down at the mill a few doors down ran up to break up the fight.
"Tom what is going on?" One guy asked after they pulled them apart.
"This boy lunged at me I don't even know who he is." He said innocently.
"You liar!" Haley yelled. The group of men all looked to the girl. "He came to my class to complain that his son wasn't in class, when I kicked him out until he follows my rules, we came outside to finish our talk and Mr. Edwards here grabbed my arm when I told him to back off from my face and Nathan came to stop him." Haley replied. She turned to the kids standing in the doorway. "Students, go home early today alright, have a good weekend." They all ducked back inside and grabbed their things then left the area and went home.
Haley talked it out with the adults there, Nathan watched pretty amazed at how grown up she really was. Haley worked things out to stay with another family. Elizabeth offered to drop her stuff at the Dalton farm. Haley thanked her.
"So how other than that was your week?" Nathan asked on the ride home.
"It went pretty good." She replied. "Are you sure your alright?" She asked, he had been beaten pretty hard by the guys back in Cove City.
"I am fine, how's your wrist."
"It will bruise but it is fine." Haley replied. She smiled and within a few minutes she had fallen asleep on his shoulder from her long day.
Nathan looked down on her and smiled, then continued home.
Chapter 19 -
Nathan and Haley were engaged. It had been over two years since the day at the school. It was kind of an ironic thing too, the watched their friends all fall in love with each other and they were all now married, Megan and Brooke even had kids.
Nathan and Haley now had a problem, they had been engaged for longer than any of their friends, but still hadn't gotten married.
On this night the two were sitting out by the river, it was a warm summer day. "Haley how long are we going to have to wait, I want to marry you."
"I want to marry you too, but you know I don't want to give up my job Nathan, and when girls get married they are expected to get rid of their jobs, how do you think I got this job in the first place, the other lady got married."
"I know Haley, and you know I would have no problem if you kept your job."
"I know, but people will talk." Haley replied. "I don't know what I want right now."
"You don't know what you want?" He asked angrily as he stood up. "You know, for the last year and a half I have watch you do what you love, and I have been happy to see you happy, but now I want to be happy. I love you and I am not askig you to stop doing what you love, all I want is for you to let me be happy too."
She sat there almost in tears, she hated to see him upset, but she was so confused. "Nathan-"
"No Haley, you won't even choose a date for the wedding, at least let us do that. Do you want a summer wedding, this summer, a autumn wedding, or one in the winter?"
"An autumn one, I love the look of the trees then." Haley finally replied.
"OK, so you want the wedding to be this fall, probably Octoberish?" She nodded lightly. "And outside?" She nodded again. "See was that so hard?" She shook her head.
"No."
He smiled and leaned in and kissed her.
"Look's like we all had the same idea." Brooke said with a laugh behind Nathan and Haley, she stood with Lucas and baby Gwen. With her was Megan standing with little Matthew and Tim. Peyton was also there with Jake, she was about seven months pregnant.
"We made plans earlier to meet here, we just didn't know you guys would be." Tim laughed.
"Well we ARE here." Nathan replied.
"And so are we, so we can join you can't we?" Peyton asked.
Haley leaned to Nathan who was about to say no "Remember, pregnant," She laughed. "Don't forget what Brooke did when she was pregnant." The memory of Brooke kicking him really hard in his groin made him smile at teh group and let them sit down.
"So what were you two up to?" Peyton asked.
"We were making wedding plans." Haley said with a smile. The girls got all smiley and they got into a conversation about it.
The guys talked about that year's crop, Tim and Jake had the two biggest farms in the area. Jake had been head of his farm since he was fourteen when his dad had died, and Tim had become the head of the house when his dad died recently, Nathan and Lucas who really didn't care that much always pretended as if they did. And they knew that one of them would take over their dad's farm when he died so they decided they should listen a little more.
"I'm kind of tired Jake, can we go home?" Peyton asked sweetly.
"Yeah, I'm tired to." Brooke said to Lucas, "And she has been sleeping for two hours. She nodded towards Gwen who was sleeping next to Matthew.
Lucas and Jake nodded. After they got up and left Megan and Tim left too.
"It is getting late Nathan, we better go home too." She said as she stood up. "I'm sorry we didn't get much time to ourselves."
"Well I only care that me and you got to decide some things about out future."
"Oh Nathan, you know we have a lot more things to work out about our future." She laughed and he took her home.
After going home that night Nathan began to think about their future. He first thought about Haley and decided after they got married he would let her continue working. The he thought about the farm and he knew Lucas would take over that one, him and Brooke were living there now, Nathan figured he would end up the head of Haley's farm, which scared him a little, but she was worth it. At the same time he was more confused and worried than before, Haley had made him think a lot about his life and more than anything it scared him. He really had to make one decision and that was what he was going to do, the teacher here in Tree Hill was a man now and he wasn't going anywhere for a while, so Haley would be teacher where she was now, where did that leave him. Damn Haley for making me worry about this, why couldn't she have jsut let me be happy for a little while? He thought with a laugh, but the feeling still worried him inside. Chapter 20 -
"I can't believe you are finally getting married." Brooke said as he hoverred over her friend who was still asleep.
"Let me sleep." Haley replied groggily.
"Nope you are getting up, eating then you will get your hair done, then get your dress on." She was way too perky for early in the morning.
Haley sat up, she rubbed her eyes and went downstairs to eat.
"Nathan, come on, you have to calm down." Lucas said annoyed. "I didn't get up this early to watch you worry about every little thing in your life. I could be back home with my wife and daughter right now, and Brooke is pregnant again so I want to spend a lot of time with her. Last time father always had you and I doing errands and I want to be there for her as much as possible."
"Oh Lucas, can't my wedding day be about me for once it has been about you for the last year, your wonderful wedding, your beautiful daughter, and how your wife is the prettiest girl around, father leaving you the farm last month. Can't it just once be about me. Oh, and Haley is twice as beautiful as Brooke." Nathan yelled angrily, the two had been on bad terms since their father had taken ill and died a month and a half ago.
Lucas stepped back, a little surprised at how Nathan was acting. "I never said Haley was ugly," He replied.
"I never said you did, but don't go around bragging to the rest of the town how your wife is the greatest girl around."
"You know, jsut because dad left me the life that you wanted doesn't mean you have the right to insult me and my faimly."
"I am not insulting you or your family, I love Brooke, she is a great woman and baby Gwen is great, I just want you to realize that you can't tell other people who love their families that your's is the best, sooner or later someone is going to lash out at you much worse than I am now."
"You know is this the thanks I get for being there for my brother on his wedding day? I am going to go see if the ceremony is ready." Lucas stormed out of the room, Nathan collapsed into his chair and regretted everything he had just said. It had all come out wrong. He sighed then tried to forget about it so that he wouldn't have other things other than Haley on his mind.
Haley stood in front of her mirror, she was completely dressed and she looked stunning.
"Haley, it is so beautiful."
"I know, thanks for finding the dress Brooke."
"I know, I have the best sense of style." Brooke laughed. "Now lets get you down to the lake." Nathan and Haley had decided not to have a traditional one in the chapel.
Nathan had made it down to the chapel, guest were arriving.
"Lucas."
He turned to see his brother. "Hello." He replied.
"OK, here's the thing, I don't want us to hate each other, not ever, especially not today, I need my big brother at my wedding."
"You don't really think you can get rid of me that easy do you?" Nathan laughed and the two went to the arch and stood ready for Haley to come down the aisle.
Brooke and the girls came down first, finally it was Haley's turn, she breathed and as the guest stood up she began to walk down the aisle.
She reached the end and finally looked Nathan in the eyes. He mouthed those three words that had never meant more than tehy did today. She smiled and replied the same thing.
They went through the ceremony happily and with no mistakes, after the wedding tehy all went back to Haley's home for the reception.
"I can't believe you two were the last to get married, look at us, we all have kids while you two are just getting hitched." Peyton said with a laugh as she tried to keep the new baby Jason calm.
"Peyton, I love you, but if you refer to today as getting hitched again, i may have to hurt you." Haley joked.
"Got that." Peyton replied.
"OK everyone, my brother and new sister in law have some things to say to each other," Lucas said motioning to Haley and Nathan who were standing holding hands.
He stepped back and Haley turned to face Nathan. "OK, first I wanted to say thank you, more than anything this last year and a half I have known that you are the person for me because you have stuck by me for this long before I decided it was time to get married, Nathan, I am so happy and more than ever I know that when we stay here in Tree Hill that it is the right choice. For the rest of my life I am yours and I want you to know how much I love you." She rose up onto her toes and kissed his cheek.
"Haley, I want you to know that you mean enough to me that I would have waited for another hundred years before I gave up on us. I don't want you to give up all that you love and I want you to be happy, I love you more than anyone and I only want to see you happy, that makes me more happy than anything."
Haley began to tear up. "Nathan, you are the only thing now that can make me happy." She let him kiss her and the rest of the room cheered.
"And to all of you, we want to thank you so much for being here with us to share this day with us. You guys are amazing thank you." Haley added, they crowd cheered even louder.
Chapter 21 -
It was after the wedding party Nathan and Haley were taking a walk after all the guests had left.
"I love you a lot you know?" Nathan asked.
"Nathan, that's not something you confirm with me after we get married." She said.
"I know, but I do, I want everything for you, you are my favorite person in the world."
"You sound like you are trying to win my affection, but you already have it." Haley said with a laugh as sh pulled clsoer to him. "I'm cold."
"Do you want to go inside?" He asked.
"Well where? We never did decide it, we can go to your house, but your family will be home especially Lucas, we can go to my house, but my family is home and that would be strange. I don't know where to go."
"Why don't we spend the night at the inn, they never are full."
"True." Haley replied.
"And tomorrow morning when we take the coach to New York tomorrow for our honeymoon, we will be clsoer to the stop anyway right?"
"Yeah." She said, "But my things are all back at the reception."
"Mine too."
The next morning Nathan and Haley got on the coach and went to New York city. Their trip was cut short when Haley got word from her mother, that her father had become sick and they made it back home in time before he died.
In a twist of events all of Haley's brothers who had lives of their own had come back for the reading of the will hoping they would get something. All four of them had smaller plots of land miles away and they all wanted a piece of their father's large farm.
A lawyer from the city, and close friend to Haley's father, Darryl Taylor, had insisted on reading the will and being present jsut in case of any problems.
He went through all the small things first, most of which went to her mother, but a few things were divided between Haley's brothers. Haley didn't think she was going to get much out of the deal because the will had been written a little while before her and Nathan were actually married. But at the same time she wished she had been left some amount of money because her and Nathan would die before they spent another week in Lucas and Brooke's home.
"In the case of the entire estate and all the farm tools, I have decided to leave all of them as one unit, this unit will be left to my daughter Miss Haley James, after her marriage to Nathan Scott, if i am to die before that marriage the farm will be tended to by Haley and My wife. Also, Haley is to only accept the farm under the circumstances that my wife Heather is to stay and live with them for a long as she chooses."
The entire room went so silent you could hear a pin drop. Haley was overwhelmed, and what was written had not entirely sunk in, she turned to Nathan, who looked as shocked as her, he had always thought that Haley's father hated him because he was taking away his only daughter.
"That's preposterous!" Yelled Haley's oldest brother Harold.
"I am sorry sir?" Mr. Taylor asked.
"She is a girl, she cannot run the farm by herself."
"She will not be running it by herself Harold, Nathan will be there, as it states clearly in the will that they will take over all control of the farm." Haley's mother replied.
"You think he can run an entire farm, as a child he grew up with absolutely no chores around the farm at all, his father paid for people to help, do you think he is prepared to take care of our little sister and the home we lived in our entire lives?" The second oldest son Howard yelled.
"I think he can." Haley said angrily. "Acutally I know he can."
"He is not part of this family, he was not father's son," Haley's third brother, Henry replied.
"Now that is a funny statement Henry, who was it that was there at your father's side when he died, who came all the way from New York City to say goodbye to him, not you I would like to point out." Haley's mother came back to defending them.
"We have lives, farms to run back home, we did not have the time to come out here two weeks ago."
"But you sure had the time to rush back when the will was being read, funny how that works huh?" Nathan asked.
"You have no right to speak to me that way Mr. Scott."
"And you have no right to trespass on our property." Haley replied.
"Excuse me little sister?" Howard gave her a cold look.
"She is right you know, the will states this is her property, you must leave if she asks." It was Mr. Taylor who spoke up.
Nathan and Haley settled into the life pretty fast, after three months the farm was as successful as ever.
One day Nathan had to drive into the city to purchase one of the mills in the city, between the two of them, they chose to spend the money Nathan's father had left him on the mill, it would make them the richest family in the county.
"I'll be back in two weeks alright Haley?" He said with a smile.
"That's forever." Haley replied unhappily.
"I know, but after ward we will have a much better life, I will be able to take even better care of you." Nathan replied.
"Us, better care of us." Haley said with a huge grin.
"Us?" He questioned at first, then his face lit up. "Are you?"
"Yes, in about five months." Nathan Pulled Haley as close as he could and spun her around.
"I love you so much." He said. "Both of you."
"And I love you too." Haley hugged him one alst time and he hurried away, he wanted to get there and back as fast as he possibly could.
THE END