A/N: Not sure when the next update will be. Might not be for a few days, I've got a lot of work to catch up on. If you're ever curious just check out my Livejournal. I post updates there all the time:)

TOXIC

Chapter 15

Center of Gravity

Avoidance was the key to getting anything and everything out of your mind. At least that's what Nathan wanted to believe, when it came to any kind of thoughts of Haley James.

No clubbing, no cruising around town, no going to the gym, no nothing. That had been his strategy. It seemed like a logical assumption, which appeared to be working. For the first few days he just hung around the house, had people over to party, no big deal.

Then of course the boredom began to set in, and he knew if he had to spend one more minute of listening to his Dad bitch about him or Lucas, taste test another batch of his mother's disgusting sugar cookies, or even listen to his brother's mind numbing punk rock music he'd have to kill them all. Or maybe himself. Both options very unappealing.

Which was why when Jake had come over to his house earlier that night and begged him to go out with him, he'd finally relented. 

Because he thought he might have some actual fun, get his mind off of girls he can't have, or mistakes he'd made in the past, not watch his friend desert him the very second Peyton walked into the club.

Haley gliding in right behind her.

He also didn't think he'd care all that much when a blonde curly headed American Eagle wannabe came up to the bar and started blatantly flirting with her.

But he did.

Which for some reason pissed him off even more.

And so there he was, sitting at one of the corner tables inside of Ecstacy, half drunk off his ass, and very much annoyed. His glower prominent for everyone to see.

"Having fun," Jake asked, as he stopped by the table to take a swig of his beer.

Nathan finished off the last of his drink and plastered on a fake smile. "Yes Jake. Thank you for bringing me out. I've had oh so much fun," he stated loudly, waving around the empty bottle.

Jake set his own drink down and put his arm on top of Nathan's to stop the swinging, his voice lowered. "How many drinks have you had man?"

"Not enough," he declared, swiping Jake's beer off the table, and chugging it down as well.

"Are you–are you mad?"

"No this is my happy face. Can't you tell?"

"Did I miss something Nate. Cause I thought you wanted to come out tonight."

"Yeah and I thought you were gonna hang out with me instead of drooling all over Peyton Sawyer. Guess we were both wrong."

"Dude if you wanted to leave you could of just said so," Jake uttered, feeling a edge of guilt.

Nathan just rolled his eyes with disinterest and turned his attention back to the bar where Haley sat. The blonde wannabe closer to her this time. His hand slightly resting on her leg, as she laughed at some pretentious comment he'd made.

 Nathan gripped his bottle and squeezed it roughly. The fire inside of him, becoming more than he could handle. The unbelievable urge to tell that prick to stay away from her, beginning to seep into his alcohol induced mind. He knew he had to stay away though. She wasn't his business. She couldn't be.

"If you want, we can go," Jake offered, but Nathan rebuked his proposal.

"How bout I get another drink," he said getting up from his barstool. He made it halfway across the room before he felt a small hand grab his arm.

"Hey sexy. When did you get here," Theresa purred from behind him. Her closeness giving Nathan that all to familiar feeling of suffocation, and irritation.

"Before you did," he answered, turning around to face her.

"Want to dance?"

"No."

 Theresa flicked her tongue out an ran it across her lips, seductively ."Fine. Want to get me a drink then?"  

"Not particularly," he answered plainly.

This was not what she expected to hear from him."Well Jesus, Nathan, you're sure being a grade-A asshole tonight,"she whined.           

"Thanks. Now what do you want Theresa," Nathan ground out.

Theresa plastered on a plastic smile, and flipped her hair with the flick of her wrist. "Can't I just want to hang out with my boyfriend, without him thinking I have some ulterior motive," she asked, innocently batting her eyelashes at him.

Nathan pulled away from her ensnaring arms, in an attempt to get away. "Ex-boyfriend is what I am Theresa. And no, you can't. And whatever your motive is I don't care. Find some other yuppie to fawn over you, cause I'm done," he finished turning back towards the bar without giving her s second glance.

When he was almost to the bartender his eyes voluntarily flickered back over to Haley. The blonde wannabe only inches from her now. His mouth suspiciously close to hers. Which was the last thing to set Nathan off. He didn't even hesitate to think, instinctively moving forward.

"We need to talk," he muttered, coming in between Haley and the man she was with.

Haley looked up at him confused. She'd seen him when she'd walked in of course. He'd been the first thing her eyes had zeroed in on. Which made her whole plan of getting him out of her head even more difficult. Yet when Brad Shiftly, the same Brad who had called her only a little while before to study, she was happy for the reprieve. Even more so when he began flirting and buying drinks for her.

Nathan coming over to talk, didn't however, make sense.

"Excuse me," Haley asked him in annoyance.

"You. Me. Over there. I need to talk to you," Nathan continued, pointing to a quiet spot in the club.

She glanced between Nathan and Brad, at a total loss.

"Haley do you know this guy," Brad cut in before she could say another word.

Nathan's attention diverted for the moment from her to him. He turned straight to Brad, his eyes stone cold. His trade mark smirk in place. "Yeah we're old childhood buddies. Go way back. Come on Haley," Nathan latched his hand on to hers, and began to pull her forward, when she refused to move.

"I'm sorry. What's your name again," Brad asked with more gall this time.

"Nathan. Nathan Scott."

"You here alone," Brad asked with a simper as he stood exceptionably close to Haley's side.

"Is that any of your business," Nathan replied, his jaw starting to involuntarily twitch.

"I simply ask, because you seem to have a great deal of interest in talking with Miss James here. When I thought I clearly saw you with that lanky brunette over there," Brad claimed, pointing to Theresa's figure.

"Well you were wrong," Nathan tried his most to be cordial while he could feel his blood begin to boil.

"You sure? Cause I saw your hands all over her a minute ago?"

Nathan's temper flared. He knew this jerk was referring to his little encounter with Theresa throwing herself at him. He knew the entire act could of been interpreted differently from far away. And this guy was using that fact to his advantage. Another reason Nathan wanted him nowhere near Haley.

At this point Nathan knew he needed to talk to Haley or leave, otherwise things were going to get ugly fast. When he looked down at her though, her eyes were filled with unbidden anger. He attempted to say something to her but was cut off once again.

"So where exactly did you matriculate from Nathan Scott," Brad asked with a fair amount of insolence.

"Bayview, actually. And you," Nathan responded in the same. Both the men faced each other head on. Haley unsure of what to say or do, to calm the storm she was sure was going to come.

"Newport."

"Well that's fascinating ____"

"Brad."

"That's fascinating Br-ad. Now if you'll excuse me and Haley for just a second," Nathan began to pull her forward again.

"I'm fine right where I am Nathan. If you have something to say then just say it," she protested, finally yanking her arm away.

Nathan tried to think of something substantial in his alcohol induced state. The only rational, plausible thought that kept repeating itself in his head was that she should be with him. A statement he didn't want to believe and couldn't say. His head hurt.

Haley and Brad watched him earnestly, as he stood there silent. Giving up she grabbed hold of Brad's hand, trying to pull him with her through the club.

"I don't think you should go with him," Nathan yelled to her, before she got to far.

Haley stepped away from Brad and came right up in front of Nathan's face. There bodies only inches apart. His breath cool against her skin.

 "Well I don't really care what you think Nathan. You're not my keeper," she whispered harshly, enough for only the both of them to hear.

"So you're dumping for hair model now," Nathan waved his arm forward dramtically.

Haley's eyes widened as she leaned closer. "Are you bent? We are not together Nathan. There is no you and me. By your own choice, remember!"

She moved back towards Brad when Nathan grabbed her arm, yanking her back harder than he'd intended. Brad quickly moved to help her get her balance back, daring Nathan to make another move.

"I think you should walk away. Right now. Me and Haley are just trying to have some fun. No distractions, no boy-toys" he said snidely.

"Guess that means you're out then" Nathan retorted, getting up in front of him.

Brad didn't back down, like Nathan had expected, which caught him off guard.

Brad was by no means a tall man, Nathan could tell. But he did look strong, something Nathan himself could in no way compete with in his current state, which made Brad appear all that more intimidating. Any other time Nathan would of been up to the challenge, but there were to many obstacles in his way. And if anything, he was smart enough to know when he was backed into a corner.

"Look man I don't want to fight you."

"No he just wants to fight me," Haley broke in between them.

"No I just want to talk to you.....Five minutes, that's all."

Haley looked back to Brad reluctantly, knowing that if she didn't adhere to Nathan's request, he'd just find another way to get to her.

Passing by Nathan, she walked into the hallway by the bathrooms, the music a little more subdued. She stopped before him, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Speak," she ordered.

Nathan took a calming breath, still unsure of why he felt it was so important for him to do this, when he was practically stumbly to just walk.

"Don't go back out there with him."

"Why not?"

"Because he's just playing you Haley. To get you into bed. Everyone can spot guys like him from a mile away. You know the real cocky, overly confident, arrogant jackasses that think they're God's gift to women. He's no good for you."

Haley scoffed, shaking her head back and forth until she broke out into a laugh.

"What," Nathan looked at her with angry confusion.

"Don't you get it? You are that guy Nathan. You have no room to judge."

He narrowed his eyes at her. Holding back the outburst he could feel within him. "Fine. Whatever. Let him use you then. I don't care."

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm using him," Haley glared, and watched as Nathan's face fell. The hard mask he held for the rest of the world quickly returning, a moment later.

"Well I hope you're happy with yourself when you wake up next to him in the morning."

"That's not really your concern now is it?"

"You're right. It's not," he replied, shrugging his shoulders, and brushing past her.

Haley spun around and watched him dart out the club. Leaving a smiling Brad there to console her.