Chapter 3
Like I need to defend my own innocence
So what, I did it, I admit it, and I'm pleading the 5th
One more anthem for the know it all
I won't be standing up for long I better learn how to crawl
Learn how to crawl
--Flat on the Floor Nickelback
I often dream. I dream of many things. From childish dreams such as playing with dolls and sitting on swings to horribly morbid ones such as my family getting into a huge accident and leaving me behind. All alone.
But one dream I have every so often is of a handsome prince coming to save me from my reality.
With the gift of impeccable timing, he shows up when I'm in agony from impending pain. He would then sweep me off my feet and make everything all right again with a thousand sweet kisses.
But life isn't a fairy tale.
No matter how much I pray, hope or want, I can't make this dream come true. I can't make it happen the way I want it to. If I could, none of this would be happening to me or anyone else for that matter.
Pain brings about heavy loads and questions. And it's not for everyone.
I hope to God that I'm strong enough to overcome this.
I hope I'm not everyone.
"Hey Haley?"
Broken away from her thoughts, the sullen girl looked up and smiled the plastered smile that had been coming so easily these past few days. "Peyton. Hey."
The blonde cheerleader let loose a wide smile, "I was wondering if you had any time to help me write an article."
Why couldn't anyone see that homework didn't matter to her anymore? That work does not matter? It was all so dull. Tedious. Boring. But...they can never know what she thought. She didn't want them to worry; even if the emotions were practically bursting from her chest. And so her reality lives on.
Haley's brows curved into a slight frown continuing her charade, "Article? For what?"
Peyton smiled sheepishly, "It's extra work since I can't go to the newspaper business this weekend."
The newspaper business? Haley wracked her brain for recollection of that assignment and briefly it fluttered across her mind. Oh right. They had to go to the newspapers office and write something on it ... something she couldn't recall at the moment. Things were getting more and more difficult to remember sometimes.
"So what do you say?"
Oh, Peyton was still there. For a moment there she had forgot. Haley turned her eyes up to look at her, blond curls, stylish clothing and everything else she wished she was. Peyton was utterly perfect. It was unexpectedly disconcerting. Pushing her seat back and standing, she steadied herself with a hand on the table and flashed a strained smile. "Sure. Why not?"
Haley didn't miss the grateful look that twinkled across the other girl's face.
"Great!" Peyton replied while readjusting her glamorous hand bag on her shoulder. "I just need you to help me proof read it, that's all."
"Anytime. That's what I'm here for."
The blonde hesitated at what Haley said, for it came with a bitter look on the tutor's face, though only for a split second. Peyton was about to ask if something was wrong before feeling the intensity of another presence in the room. Peyton already had two guesses on who it might be. And it didn't come as an utter surprise when she completed her 180 to find Nathan Scott standing there looking quite somber.
Peyton's smile was subtle as she excused herself from the room, noticing the unexpected tension that had just built up.
The brunette boy could only nod to acknowledge the cheerleader as she breezed passed him and he forced the emotions from earlier that morning further beneath his interior. He wasn't going to get mad before he could get an explanation.
Nathan dared not speak as Haley began to pack her bag wordlessly, effectively ignoring him but he did venture closer, trying to do his best not to scare her off.
It wasn't until he reached out with his fingers that Haley really noticed how close he had gotten and recoiled from his touch. At that the concern in Nathan's eyes only grew to be greater as he studied her.
She tried her very best to ignore the tingle that was sent up her arm from that single touch and continued with her packing all the while avoiding his gaze. She didn't want to explain to him anymore than she wanted to explain to anyone else what in the world was happening to her.
"Please ... tell me what's wrong."
Those words couldn't have come at a more crucial time and it tugged at her heartstrings as she glanced briefly up at the younger of the Scott brothers.
The concern in his eyes only further fueled her decision however. Why drag him into this too? This was her problem, not his. If he was concerned now, it would be so much worse if she really did ... die. As much as she didn't want to admit it, her decisions could hurt him or save him.
And she couldn't hurt him.
"Look Nathan," backpack was slung over her shoulder as she looked tersely up at the basketball star, "Sorry, but I don't feel whatever we have is working out much so I'm going to find you a new tutor. And you can go back to your superstar life."
A little smile was given to him as she made her way over to the door. "Oh yeah, almost forgot. Don't bother trying to find out what's 'wrong' with me, because I can tell you now, nothing's wrong. So you can just forget your hero complex about trying to save me from whatever is 'ailing' me okay?"
Gone, just like that. Nathan shook his head as his jaw clenched and his fists did the same. Damn her. If she thought he was going to give up this easily? Well she had another thing coming.
He wasn't some stupid jock that was just going to ignore all the signals she was sending. There was something wrong with her and he knew it. He just needed to find out what. And he knew exactly where to find the answers he was searching for. Lucas.
