It seemed like that damn Science class went on forever. Haley was ready to peel out of that place as fast as possible. She could just feel people's eyes on her throughout the whole class, and it made her very uneasy. If it wasn't for Nathan sitting next to her, she'd feel like a total outcast.
Hearing the bell ring made Haley sigh with relief, packing up her books as quickly as she could and slinging her school bag over her shoulder. She grabbed her final textbook, which wouldn't fit into her school bag, off of her desk and held it in her arms. Damn school, damn heavy textbooks, damn overloaded work schedule. What was with her saying damn so many damn times? Damn, there she went again..
She stopped scolding herself and looked over at Nathan, who was standing across from her.
"You okay?" He asked, giving her a weird look.
"Uh yeah" She shook her head to clear her thoughts and then smiled. "Why?"
"You just look like you're in a daze or something."
Haley laughed slightly and shrugged her shoulders. "Just first day jitters I guess. To be honest, it's a little intimidating to be in here."
"Don't be intimidated. These shmucks will bow down to you once they know you're with me. So don't worry about them giving you trouble."
"Okay mister conceited." She scoffed and slapped him on the shoulder, walking out of the room with Nathan next to her. Taking her schedule out of her bag, Haley scanned the remainder of her classes. "Please tell me you have a free period next."
Nathan lifted his eyebrows amused. "I have a free period next."
"Wait, are you just saying that? Or do you really?"
"No, I really do." He laughed and stopped at his locker, emptying the remainder of books that were in his bag before shoving the actual bag in. "So how about I make myself useful and show you around."
"Hmm, I guess I could be seen with you." Haley laughed and grabbed onto his arm, pulling him in the direction of her locker. "First I need to empty some of this stuff out. I swear they actually want to make you suffer just because you're smart and are in advanced classes."
"Well if you weren't so smart then maybe you'd have no books to carry around, like me for instance."
Haley rolled her eyes and stopped in front of her locker, twisting the combination and opening the door. "You're smart, Nathan. You knew what you were doing in Science class."
"Yeah, that's the only class." He leaned up against the row of lockers behind him.
"If you ever need help with anything, I used to tutor." Haley finished what she was doing and they began walking once again.
Nathan raised an eyebrow "Yeah?"
"Mmmhmm. I was thinking of doing it here too. They do have a program for tutors, right?"
"Yeah." Nathan laughed and shook his head.
"What?"
"I just can't picture you tutoring, that's all."
"Well Scott, there's a lot of things you don't know about me." Haley said suggestively as she wiggled her eyebrows.
"Like what?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out." She smirked as they entered the main hallway. "Okay. So, show me around Mr. basketball superstar."
"So, I see Lucas talks about me a lot."
Haley immediately felt that weight being brought back to her shoulders. "Please don't bring that name up."
"Sorry." Nathan said apologetically. "You just knew that I was big with basketball so I assumed Lucas told you some things about me."
"Well yeah, he has." Haley knew she had to cut this conversation short before it went any further. "What's down there?" She quickly pointed to the end of the hallway.
Nathan knew she was trying to change the subject, but he just decided to roll with it anyway, "The gym..aka my second home." He sounded a bit disgruntled when he said it, like it wasn't exactly a place he wanted to be at all the time.
"Let's go check it out." She said quickly before he had a chance to protest. She grabbed Nathan's hand and pulled him down the hallway, through the huge gym doors.
Half of the players stopped dead in their tracks, staring at the disruption that caused them to get giddy. It was actually quite sickening.
Nathan noticed this, and quickly stepped in front of Haley. He knew Tim already had his eye on her. He didn't know who else would try to claim her. These guys were sneaky, and he had to constantly watch his back.
"Yo." Nathan smacked fists with Tim, who brought over the rest of the team.
"We were wondering where you were. It's not like you to be late." Tim looked over Nathan's shoulder at Haley, and smiled. "But now I know why. Aren't you going to introduce us all?"
"Uh yeah." Nathan turned to Haley. "This is Haley." All the guys smiled. Back off, losers. She's mine. Nathan kept thinking to himself in his mind, which made him chuckle a bit out loud. Luckily, nobody noticed. "This is Tim, Jake, Greg, Mark, Zach...some of the guys aren't here because they have class."
He didn't notice Lucas standing there, clenching the ball to the point where it was about to pop. All of the sudden, Lucas slammed the ball onto the ground and walked into the locker room, ripping the door open and slamming his fist into his locker.
"What the hell is his problem?" Tim asked, confused.
"Who knows." Although Nathan knew, he wasn't going to tell anybody about the current circumstance he and Haley were in regarding Lucas. Nobody but Nathan knew about Haley's ties to Lucas, and he wanted it to stay that way for a while.
"I'll go talk to him." Jake said, turning away and entering the locker room. Haley was afraid of what Lucas would say about her..about Nathan. But now wasn't the time to worry about that.
"So Nate, you shootin some hoops this morning?" Tim looked hopeful.
"Nah, not this morning. I have to show Haley around. I'll see you at practice this afternoon." Nathan looked at Haley and smiled, but noticed she looked melancholy. He knew why. He took her hand and led her out of the gym.
Haley's eyes fell to the ground as she nervously stared at her hands. "I shouldn't have gone in there. I should have known he'd be in there."
"Why do you always blame yourself for what he does, Haley? Don't blame yourself for him being an asshole."
"Yeah, but it's my fault he's being like this." She looked up at Nathan with tears in her eyes. She and Lucas had gotten into fights before, but nothing like this. This was big. She just wondered if he was blowing it way out of proportion.
"Hey, he'll get over it." Nathan cupped her face in his hands and ran his thumbs over her cheeks, leaning down and kissing her softly.
The slam of a door broke them out of their almost-make out session. Haley jerked her head to the side and saw Lucas standing in the doorway, looking like a deer caught in headlights. As if it wasn't bad enough that he knew, he just had to walk in on them kissing. This was just perfect.
"Don't mind me." He snarled, giving the two the evil eye as he walked by.
"Lucas, wait!" Haley quickly looked over at Nathan and he nodded, knowing exactly where she was going. "Wait here." She whispered before running to catch up with Lucas.
"Not now, Haley." He said, without even turning to face her.
"Why won't you just talk to me? I'm trying to apologize."
Lucas turned around, causing Haley to stumble back a bit. "Apologize for what, huh? For kissing him? For fucking him after you knew our circumstances? I can't believe you'd actually try to apologize to me. Give me a break."
"You know what, Lucas? That's bullshit."
Lucas crossed his arms over his chest, amused. "Really..."
"We didn't have sex. You of all people should believe me when I say that."
"Why should I believe that? You slept over his house, came home in his clothes, and then practically had sex in his car."
"Because you left me there!" She clenched her fists in her pockets. It took everything in her not to reach up and punch him square in the nose. "This whole thing started because you got piss ass drunk and decided to go boink those two hoes!"
"Oh so what, now you're blaming this on me?"
"I always did blame it on you! You were the one who made me go to that damn party! But you know what? I'm glad I met Nathan. I like him, he likes me."
"Yeah, he likes to use you."
"You're so quick to judge, aren't you?" Haley asked incredulously, looking behind her shoulder to make sure Nathan couldn't hear their screaming. She was sure he could though..along with half of the student body. "Maybe if you could get your head out of your ass you'd see that he's a great guy."
"Whatever, Haley. I don't want to hear you lecture me. Go and be with Nathan....have a great life. But don't expect me in it ever again." Lucas turned and walked away, leaving Haley screaming after him.
"I cannot believe you!" She yelled, breaking down in tears. She sunk down to the ground, burying her head in her hands.
Nathan ran over and sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her and smoothing her hair with his hand. "Let it go, Haley." He whispered as she dug her nails into his shoulders.
"Why is he being like this?" She looked up at Nathan, mascara and tears running down her face. He couldn't stand to see her like this, and knowing that it was at the expense of Lucas made it that much more worse.
"Because he's a bastard." Haley sniffled and nodded her head. "Look, I'm sorry I'm causing all this trouble. If you don't want this anymore, we can stop it's-"
"No." She put her finger over his mouth to silence him. "I want this." She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. "I need you. And if I can't have you, then I'll be miserable."
For once, Nathan wasn't thinking about himself. He hated what he was about to say, although he knew he had to. "But Haley, Lucas is your best friend."
Haley shook her head. "I don't care. I mean, I do...but Nathan I don't know what it is. I can't stay away from you. As corny as it may sound."
Nathan smiled. "Even if it costs you your friendship?"
"It already has." She pressed her lips against his, letting her tongue explore his mouth. "I know it's hurting him. But I can't stop it."
She didn't know how she'd rather be with her best friend's brother. But she couldn't keep herself away from him. Every time she kissed him, she felt these butterflies in her stomach that made her want to get him in a janitor's closet and have her way with him. She knew she was hurting Lucas, she knew she was hurting him so much. But for some reason, she couldn't pry herself away from Nathan. It was like he had some kind of power over her, some kind of spell...and she loved it.
"I don't want you to lose your best friend because of me." He whispered.
"I need to be with you." She said lightly, resting her forehead on his.
"This is crazy."
Haley smiled. "So crazy that I trust it."