A/N: writers block SUCKS! I am sooooo sorry for making you wait for such a
crappy chapter but I didn't know what toe write. I swear, my next update
will be sooner, hopefully by Monday or maybe even Sunday or something. I
promise! And I hope you enjoy this chapter.
That very next day, Haley was stunned to find coke spilled into her locker yet again. She turned to see a smirking Nathan, along with Tim and Kyle. It didn't hurt her before, but now, it affected her like nothing else. She didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but she knew. She was slowly falling for him, and there seemed to be no turning back from these feelings. But let hell freeze over before he ever finds out. She, luckily, didn't keep any of her books in her locker. She took out the only thing in there, her lunch. Slowly picking it up, she pulled it out and shut her locker. She then threw it at Nathan's face.
"This is yours."
And walked away. As Tim and Kyle started to yell out 'slut' and 'whore', Nathan silently stood there. He wasn't sure why he did it, but he did it. She was right; he did control those two clowns. He told them to stop disturbing her locker. And he was the one that that told them to start doing it yet again.
It was anger that made him do it. It pissed him off that she was able to brush off their kiss, as though she felt nothing. And he knew she felt something, she was going to leave because of it. And that she kissed him back. But how could she possibly act like nothing was there?
"Hey, what's wrong?"
It was Gloria. He went to her the night before, after being rejected. Usually, he would be happier the next day, because she was damn good in bed. She had the experience. But it depressed him even more that while in compromising positions, all he could think about was Haley. Since when did a simpleton like her completely take over his mind?
"You know, just nerves for the play tomorrow night."
Gloria slid her arm around his waist, resting his arm on her shoulders.
"So that's what last night was for."
She knew he used her. She knew she meant nothing to him. Truthfully, he didn't mean all that much to her either. It was sex she was after, and as long as she got it, she was fine. She knew she was a slut, but it didn't matter. Why? Because, like mother, like daughter. Many people didn't know her mother was an 'escort'. And Gloria didn't see anything wrong in this. It seemed amazing to get paid to have sex with men. Why not get paid for something that was going to happen anyways?
Nathan looked down at her and for the first time, pitied her. He was forced to follow his father's footsteps, but she wanted to follow her mom's. Life was so funny for them. Maybe that was why each time Nathan suffered something, he turned to her. But he wanted to stop it.
He looked down the hall to see Samantha walking with Lucas. With much effort, Lucas was finally able to win her heart, and from what was seen, they seemed happy with one another. They were around each other all the time, and Luca surprised everyone by even attending mass with her once. But only once. Lucas said something about feeling this weight of guilt after going in there.
The funny thing about Samantha though, was that she was able to form a bond with Haley, even when almost all of her friends didn't. She also refused to be under anyone's power, and Nathan knew that. Now that he thought about it, what he did was wrong. And he needed Samantha's bond with Haley to help him explain that to her.
It was his reaction to do something mean like that. He would always cower away into evil tactics whenever he felt something didn't go his way. And Haley acting as though their kiss meant nothing was the thing that didn't go his way. By now, she should have fell on her knees, and by now, she would have been bored with her, throwing her off. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that she intrigued him too much for him to just brush off so quickly.
Haley walked to the bathroom and wiped away a few stray tears. She wouldn't cry, not at all. She was never the type that would bawl over a boy. So she didn't. She simply washed her hands and looked up at the mirror. There were no traces of tears on her face, not even the slightest tint of red. She went out and caught up with Peyton. As they walked to their first class, she felt someone's eyes on her. She quickly turned to see it was Nathan. Probably to plan yet another humiliating attack on her.
The day slowly dragged by, and their free period came, where Nathan and Haley would come and practice together. Nathan waited for fifteen minutes before figuring that she wasn't going to show up. And she didn't. After school, the costume rehearsal came to play. And it was the worst Mrs. Kerr had ever seen. The only chemistry between the two main characters was hatred. Or at least, from one side. Haley refused to rehearse the kissing scenes, and it was too late to change actors. Haley promised she would do it only for the play though. After their final rehearsal, Mrs. Kerr told her and Nathan to hold back after the rest of the cast had left. After the crowd had cleared, Mrs. Kerr put on an irritated voice and tried to relieve all of her frustration out on Haley.
"Ms. James, I will not tolerate this nonsense any longer. I can't sit here and watch you possibly ruin everything everyone had worked so hardly on destroyed because of your childish behavior. Now, you either shape up or else I will have not other choice but to cancel this show and blame this entire incident on you."
For the first time, Haley finally let her frustration out on the drama teacher.
"This is not entirely my fault! How can you just sit there and blame everything that is your fault on me? I didn't ask to be Juliet in the first place. As a matter of fact, you placed me here saying I would do 'best for the role.' I know the only reason I have it is because Samantha asked you not to place her as Juliet. I know that if you had your way, I wouldn't even exist in your school. I understand some teachers favor some students over others, but what you are claiming to do now isn't right or justifiable."
"I hope, Ms. James, that you aren't implying something that is simply ridiculous. I am shocked and appalled by this sudden display of hatred towards me. I am a person of authority, and I deserve the proper respect. If you claims were true, then you would have never made it to the final cut. And trust me, their were many anxious and qualified actresses who also tried out, but I chose you because I knew you were an excellent actress. Now, I want you to stop accusing me of things that cannot be tried. And I want the both of you to work out whatever conflict that is going on between you both because we can't have any of that on the stage tomorrow. Do I have myself clear?"
"Yes Mrs. Kerr."
"I want this to be solved by tomorrow morning. So you both stay in the auditorium and lock up after you have both mutually agreed that the problem has been solved and whatever is going on will not interfere tomorrow night."
"Yes Mrs. Kerr."
Mrs. Kerr left, leaving behind a steamed Haley and a smirking Nathan.
"So now you have to talk to me."
Haley shot Nathan a glare and began to pack up her bag.
"Where do you think your going?"
"I happen to be going home. I don't want to deal with this or you so if you will excuse me."
Nathan was standing between her and her exit. He wasn't budging.
"Can you move?"
"We didn't work anything out."
"Let's act as though we did."
"That would be lying."
"What, the almighty Nathan never lies?"
"He doesn't when he doesn't feel like it."
"What the hell do you want Nathan?"
"For you to just admit that you like me?"
"You mean as a human being?"
"That would be a nice start."
"I'm sorry, but I just can't seem to be able to do that."
"Haley."
"Look Nathan, I don't know what sort of demented game your playing at, but I'm not going to buy any of it. I am not one of those people that are going to worship the ground you walk on. You only get respect if you earn it from me, and I really don't like you all that much right now."
Nathan tried to take a few steps closer to Haley, bust she pushed him away as far as possible.
"Get away from me Nathan."
"Haley, please can you just."
"Just what? Listen to your bullshit excuse about how you were having some sort of moment and you spilled coke into me locker. Or maybe you slipped right?"
"Look Haley, maybe what I did with your locker this morning was somewhat stupid and childish but."
"Move Nathan, or I'm going to miss the bus home."
"I'll take you home."
"I'd rather hitchhike and see if some drunken old fart is willing to rape and kill me before I step into your car."
As she tried to get pass the door, she finally gave up. It would be entirely hopeless for her to pass him. After all, he wasn't the star basketball player for nothing. He was able to follow every movement she made without hesitation.
"Ummm, please move away."
"Not until we sort things out."
"Sort out what? We already established the fact that you are an asshole and that I really hate you right now."
"So that means that you liked me at one point in time because you hate me now and not before."
"Since when did you get so analytical Nathan? And can you just leave me alone?"
"No."
"Fine, then we'll sort this out right now ok? After tomorrow night, or rather, this weekend, we can go back to acting as though we don't even exist on the same planet as one another. But till then, we'll be civil and act like we aren't going to jump each other's throats."
"But I don't hate you. I don't even dislike you that much."
"Oh, so you spill liquids into the lockers that belong to the people you like? Oh yeah, you make a lot of sense. Maybe in Nathanland, that is a justifiable reason to do something like that, but here, in the real world, that just doesn't make sense. Not even a little."
"Fine, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me ok? I was just angry."
"And why the hell was the great Nathan Scott angry?"
"Because you are possibly the most confusing human being in this world!"
"Well I am sorry that I didn't meet the Nathan standards of simple ok? I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you. Nothing goes into your head. The only person you ever consider is yourself, so please leave me alone. Don't you think you've bothered me enough?"
"But."
"If you don't move away right now, I'm going to kick you were the sun don't shine ok?"
Finally realizing his defeat, he let her out. This was going to be a lot harder than her thought.
That very next day, Haley was stunned to find coke spilled into her locker yet again. She turned to see a smirking Nathan, along with Tim and Kyle. It didn't hurt her before, but now, it affected her like nothing else. She didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but she knew. She was slowly falling for him, and there seemed to be no turning back from these feelings. But let hell freeze over before he ever finds out. She, luckily, didn't keep any of her books in her locker. She took out the only thing in there, her lunch. Slowly picking it up, she pulled it out and shut her locker. She then threw it at Nathan's face.
"This is yours."
And walked away. As Tim and Kyle started to yell out 'slut' and 'whore', Nathan silently stood there. He wasn't sure why he did it, but he did it. She was right; he did control those two clowns. He told them to stop disturbing her locker. And he was the one that that told them to start doing it yet again.
It was anger that made him do it. It pissed him off that she was able to brush off their kiss, as though she felt nothing. And he knew she felt something, she was going to leave because of it. And that she kissed him back. But how could she possibly act like nothing was there?
"Hey, what's wrong?"
It was Gloria. He went to her the night before, after being rejected. Usually, he would be happier the next day, because she was damn good in bed. She had the experience. But it depressed him even more that while in compromising positions, all he could think about was Haley. Since when did a simpleton like her completely take over his mind?
"You know, just nerves for the play tomorrow night."
Gloria slid her arm around his waist, resting his arm on her shoulders.
"So that's what last night was for."
She knew he used her. She knew she meant nothing to him. Truthfully, he didn't mean all that much to her either. It was sex she was after, and as long as she got it, she was fine. She knew she was a slut, but it didn't matter. Why? Because, like mother, like daughter. Many people didn't know her mother was an 'escort'. And Gloria didn't see anything wrong in this. It seemed amazing to get paid to have sex with men. Why not get paid for something that was going to happen anyways?
Nathan looked down at her and for the first time, pitied her. He was forced to follow his father's footsteps, but she wanted to follow her mom's. Life was so funny for them. Maybe that was why each time Nathan suffered something, he turned to her. But he wanted to stop it.
He looked down the hall to see Samantha walking with Lucas. With much effort, Lucas was finally able to win her heart, and from what was seen, they seemed happy with one another. They were around each other all the time, and Luca surprised everyone by even attending mass with her once. But only once. Lucas said something about feeling this weight of guilt after going in there.
The funny thing about Samantha though, was that she was able to form a bond with Haley, even when almost all of her friends didn't. She also refused to be under anyone's power, and Nathan knew that. Now that he thought about it, what he did was wrong. And he needed Samantha's bond with Haley to help him explain that to her.
It was his reaction to do something mean like that. He would always cower away into evil tactics whenever he felt something didn't go his way. And Haley acting as though their kiss meant nothing was the thing that didn't go his way. By now, she should have fell on her knees, and by now, she would have been bored with her, throwing her off. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that she intrigued him too much for him to just brush off so quickly.
Haley walked to the bathroom and wiped away a few stray tears. She wouldn't cry, not at all. She was never the type that would bawl over a boy. So she didn't. She simply washed her hands and looked up at the mirror. There were no traces of tears on her face, not even the slightest tint of red. She went out and caught up with Peyton. As they walked to their first class, she felt someone's eyes on her. She quickly turned to see it was Nathan. Probably to plan yet another humiliating attack on her.
The day slowly dragged by, and their free period came, where Nathan and Haley would come and practice together. Nathan waited for fifteen minutes before figuring that she wasn't going to show up. And she didn't. After school, the costume rehearsal came to play. And it was the worst Mrs. Kerr had ever seen. The only chemistry between the two main characters was hatred. Or at least, from one side. Haley refused to rehearse the kissing scenes, and it was too late to change actors. Haley promised she would do it only for the play though. After their final rehearsal, Mrs. Kerr told her and Nathan to hold back after the rest of the cast had left. After the crowd had cleared, Mrs. Kerr put on an irritated voice and tried to relieve all of her frustration out on Haley.
"Ms. James, I will not tolerate this nonsense any longer. I can't sit here and watch you possibly ruin everything everyone had worked so hardly on destroyed because of your childish behavior. Now, you either shape up or else I will have not other choice but to cancel this show and blame this entire incident on you."
For the first time, Haley finally let her frustration out on the drama teacher.
"This is not entirely my fault! How can you just sit there and blame everything that is your fault on me? I didn't ask to be Juliet in the first place. As a matter of fact, you placed me here saying I would do 'best for the role.' I know the only reason I have it is because Samantha asked you not to place her as Juliet. I know that if you had your way, I wouldn't even exist in your school. I understand some teachers favor some students over others, but what you are claiming to do now isn't right or justifiable."
"I hope, Ms. James, that you aren't implying something that is simply ridiculous. I am shocked and appalled by this sudden display of hatred towards me. I am a person of authority, and I deserve the proper respect. If you claims were true, then you would have never made it to the final cut. And trust me, their were many anxious and qualified actresses who also tried out, but I chose you because I knew you were an excellent actress. Now, I want you to stop accusing me of things that cannot be tried. And I want the both of you to work out whatever conflict that is going on between you both because we can't have any of that on the stage tomorrow. Do I have myself clear?"
"Yes Mrs. Kerr."
"I want this to be solved by tomorrow morning. So you both stay in the auditorium and lock up after you have both mutually agreed that the problem has been solved and whatever is going on will not interfere tomorrow night."
"Yes Mrs. Kerr."
Mrs. Kerr left, leaving behind a steamed Haley and a smirking Nathan.
"So now you have to talk to me."
Haley shot Nathan a glare and began to pack up her bag.
"Where do you think your going?"
"I happen to be going home. I don't want to deal with this or you so if you will excuse me."
Nathan was standing between her and her exit. He wasn't budging.
"Can you move?"
"We didn't work anything out."
"Let's act as though we did."
"That would be lying."
"What, the almighty Nathan never lies?"
"He doesn't when he doesn't feel like it."
"What the hell do you want Nathan?"
"For you to just admit that you like me?"
"You mean as a human being?"
"That would be a nice start."
"I'm sorry, but I just can't seem to be able to do that."
"Haley."
"Look Nathan, I don't know what sort of demented game your playing at, but I'm not going to buy any of it. I am not one of those people that are going to worship the ground you walk on. You only get respect if you earn it from me, and I really don't like you all that much right now."
Nathan tried to take a few steps closer to Haley, bust she pushed him away as far as possible.
"Get away from me Nathan."
"Haley, please can you just."
"Just what? Listen to your bullshit excuse about how you were having some sort of moment and you spilled coke into me locker. Or maybe you slipped right?"
"Look Haley, maybe what I did with your locker this morning was somewhat stupid and childish but."
"Move Nathan, or I'm going to miss the bus home."
"I'll take you home."
"I'd rather hitchhike and see if some drunken old fart is willing to rape and kill me before I step into your car."
As she tried to get pass the door, she finally gave up. It would be entirely hopeless for her to pass him. After all, he wasn't the star basketball player for nothing. He was able to follow every movement she made without hesitation.
"Ummm, please move away."
"Not until we sort things out."
"Sort out what? We already established the fact that you are an asshole and that I really hate you right now."
"So that means that you liked me at one point in time because you hate me now and not before."
"Since when did you get so analytical Nathan? And can you just leave me alone?"
"No."
"Fine, then we'll sort this out right now ok? After tomorrow night, or rather, this weekend, we can go back to acting as though we don't even exist on the same planet as one another. But till then, we'll be civil and act like we aren't going to jump each other's throats."
"But I don't hate you. I don't even dislike you that much."
"Oh, so you spill liquids into the lockers that belong to the people you like? Oh yeah, you make a lot of sense. Maybe in Nathanland, that is a justifiable reason to do something like that, but here, in the real world, that just doesn't make sense. Not even a little."
"Fine, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me ok? I was just angry."
"And why the hell was the great Nathan Scott angry?"
"Because you are possibly the most confusing human being in this world!"
"Well I am sorry that I didn't meet the Nathan standards of simple ok? I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you. Nothing goes into your head. The only person you ever consider is yourself, so please leave me alone. Don't you think you've bothered me enough?"
"But."
"If you don't move away right now, I'm going to kick you were the sun don't shine ok?"
Finally realizing his defeat, he let her out. This was going to be a lot harder than her thought.