Chapter 15: Love Hath Fury
"Hey babe..." Haley greeted her boyfriend as he reached her. Classes had just ended and Haley was fixing her stuff in the locker. Nathan comes up to her with a serious expression on his face, "Hales, we 'gotta talk." Haley followed him to the car park and climbed up Nathan's Expedition.
As soon as she climbed in, she turned to look at Nathan who was running his hands up and down the steering wheel. She realized he couldn't look at her and this made her a little anxious. "Nathan, what's wrong?" she bravely asked as she looked sternly at him. Inside, she could feel her heart beating fast. The look on Nathan's face told her something has gone wrong. Worse, she had a feeling it had something to do with them.
Nathan took a deep breath. Mustering all the courage inside, he turned to look at Haley. He had a grave expression on his face as he spoke up, "Hales, we're a couple of weeks from graduation and we'll be going to college very soon. You know how much pro ball means to me, right?"
Haley just nodded while looking quite puzzled. "I know he has wanted to be an NBA player all his life, but what's this got to do with us?" she thought.
Nathan took yet another deep sigh before he went on, "Hales, I 'wanna take my basketball seriously. I mean, I really 'wanna prepare for the NBA draft in these coming years."
Haley smiled at him softly, "I know, Nate. Basketball means a lot to you. I would really understand if we don't get to spend as much time together."
Nathan looks down all of a sudden, "That's not quite it, Haley. You know how you've told me to always look into the future? You know, have a good idea where you're going then determine how to get there. Well...I did just that."
Haley slowly started to realize what Nathan was trying to get to. In her mind, she did all she could to push the horrible thought away. She prayed with all her might that Nathan wasn't about to do what she thinks he's about to do. Her face turned quite stern as she urged Nathan to speak some more, "Go on."
Nathan could only wish he was holding a glass of whisky right now, he really needed it bad. He didn't think this was going to be this hard. He suddenly heard a voice inside his head, "You can choose not to go on. No one has to get hurt." At some point, he nearly followed his voice. In the end, however, he felt the need to go on with his plan. "I love you, Haley but I think, I need some time apart....with you."
Haley's once understanding eyes widened with fury, "I don't get it Nathan, why?"
This time, Nathan put his head down. He knows that looking into Haley eyes will cause him even more guilt, although he probably deserved that. Sternly, he replied, "I need this Haley...for me...and my basketball career. Agents have advised me that it's better to go into the NBA Draft a bachelor. I'm more marketable that way."
Haley glared at him and gave him a haughty laugh as she threw her hands up in the air, "I get it Scott! You want the rest of the world to know that Nathan Scott is a single and available, hoping that Victoria's Secret models would notice you and ask you to guest in their photo shoots! Damn it Nathan, let me give you a little FYI. Being a bachelor does not assure you anything in the NBA Draft! You don't have to use that as an excuse, you know? Just say you want to flirt around in college, I would totally get it! You disgust me and I don't ever 'wanna see you again!" By the time she finished, tears were streaming down Haley's cheeks. She got out of Nathan's car and shut the door angrily.
Nathan had a very remorseful expression on his face as he drove his way to school. To that day, he still hated what he did. He loves basketball, he knows that for sure. Things just got quite complicated when Haley walked into his life. He once admitted that he got scared when he realized he was falling for her. Still, he couldn't stop himself...she was always on his mind. "I thought I'd be okay but all I am is miserable," he thought as kept his eyes on the road, although his mind was elsewhere.
Lucas was seated beside him, his thought seem to be drifting elsewhere as well. After awhile he turned to his brother who had an unusual gloomy expression on his face. "Hey...you okay?" he asked although he already knew that something wasn't right.
Nathan just sighed, "Just had a little trouble with Haley yesterday."
Lucas nodded, "You guys fought again?"
Nathan shook his head, "You know what...I'm not sure if we fought, but she stormed out on me."
Lucas just shrugged, "I guess I don't know what to make of that too."
They were silent again for awhile when Nathan spoke up. "How about you? You look like something's not right too."
Lucas just gave a wry laugh, "Well...whatever chance me and Peyton have is completely gone."
Nathan turned to glance at his brother, "What do you mean? You guys were doing pretty well together last Saturday."
Lucas looked at him with a sad expression on his face, "Well...not anymore."
Nathan just nodded as he turned to face the road, "This sucks."
Lucas laughed, "Oh yeah...you got that right!"
They went separate ways when they reached school. "See you at practice," said Lucas as he started to go his way.
"Yeah, see you!" called out Nathan as he started walking to his class.
"Hey Nathan," greeted a girl from behind.
Nathan curiously turned around to see who it was. He was surprised to see the girl he tried to avoid yesterday. She was grinning at him flirtatiously, but he wasn't falling for it. "Um...hey, do I know you?" he greeted while making a mental note that he'd take off the moment he gets a chance to.
The girl just giggles as she continues to stare at him, "I'm Chelsea. I'm with the cheerleading squad."
"Great, just what I need...Haley never really liked cheerleaders...now I can see why," he thought as he gave her a wry smile. "Well...um, I guess I better go," he said as he turned his back on her and started to walk away.
"To your girlfriend? I saw you with her yesterday," called out Chelsea as she looked on with frustration.
Nathan turned to face her, "Yeah, I 'gotta go meet up...with my girlfriend." With that, he hurriedly took off before Chelsea could say another word. "I sure wish I could call her that," he sadly thought as he continued to go his way.
Peyton kept scanning the hallways as she leaned by her locker door. "Where could he be?" she asked herself as played with her car keys. She needed to see him...she needed to explain. She felt really bad with what she did yesterday. "I just hope he listens this time," she silently hoped as she continued to look for him from the crowd.
Suddenly, she caught sight of him. "Here goes," she thought as she took a deep breath.
Lucas has just walked into the building. He was carrying his backpack as he continued to walk along the hallway with his head down. "Please don't let this day get any worse," he said to himself as he continued to walk. What happened with Peyton was still fresh in his memory. The more he recalled it, the more it hurt.
Peyton realized there was no time to waste. She immediately rushed over to him. When she was finally near, she realized she didn't know what to say. "Um...hey Lucas," she began as she stood in front of him.
Lucas stopped in his tracks and looked up. The last thing he wanted to see was Peyton. "I have nothing to say to you, Peyton," he said gently with a serious expression on his face. His eyes showed how hurt he really is.
Peyton looked at him with an apologetic expression on her face, "But I do..." She paused and let out a heavy sigh, "Look Luke...yesterday...what I said...that came out all wrong."
Lucas faced him squarely, "Yeah...but it still meant nothing."
Peyton found herself speechless as she got lost in Lucas' eyes. "Lucas...I..."she stammered as she realized how close she was to losing him.
Lucas suddenly cut her off, "Look Peyton..." He let out a heavy sigh before he went on, "Just forget it. Besides, I know you'd rather be with Sean."
Peyton suddenly looked at him with disbelief, "But Sean and I..."
Lucas looked at her intently. "Make a great couple, "he said as he finished her sentence. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sean making his way towards them. Turning to Peyton, he gave her a weak smile, "I guess I'll leave you two alone."
Confused, Peyton looked to where Lucas' eyes were pointing. There, she saw Sean waving at her. Before she could say anything, Lucas was gone and Sean was right next to her. "Uh, hey Sean," greeted Peyton as cheerily as she can, although she'd rather not see him at the moment.
Sean grinned at her, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything with you and Lucas. Hey, we still on for Thursday night?"
Peyton suddenly remembered her date with Sean, "Thursday night?"
Sean nodded as he laughed, "Yeah Peyton, have you forgotten?"
Peyton shook her head as she laughed, "No, I didn't." "The guys are playing on Thursday night," she thought. She's supposed to watch the game with Haley and Brooke. "Then again...I doubt if he would want to see me there," she told herself.
"So, can you make it?" asked Sean, interrupting Peyton's thoughts.
Peyton looked at him uneasily as she nodded, "Sure...Thursday night!"
Brooke looked out the window from the living of the apartment she shares with Peyton and Haley. She was the only one there. The other two girls had already gone to class. Somehow, she felt unable to do anything when she woke up. She was anxious...she sensed that trouble was ahead. Worse, she didn't know how to escape it. She didn't want to go to school. She wanted to avoid Jake and Jenny for the moment. She's not sure if she did the right thing. "What if I just get them into trouble?" she sadly thought as she continued to look out.
Suddenly, the door bell rang and interrupted her thoughts. Knowing there was no one else to answer the door, she put on her robe and walked downstairs. As she opened the door, she was surprised to see Ethan standing outside. He had a serious expression on his face as he looked intently at Brooke, "Can I come in?"
Brooke just nodded as she opened the door further to let him in.
Once they were in the living room, the two sat facing each other in silence. Finally, Brooke decided to speak up, "Why did you do it?"
Ethan turned to face her, "I love you..."
When Nikki and Carmen asked her if she knew where Jenny is, Brooke firmly answered she had no idea. Only Ethan knew that she was lying. Still, he went along and supported her. As they rode back though, Ethan remained completely silent and Brooke knew he didn't feel good about what they did. Now they sat facing each other, not knowing what to do. Brooke let out a heavy sigh before speaking up, "It was a...good thing...what you did."
Ethan faced him with a somewhat hurt expression on his face, "You think? Then why have I been feeling like I've betrayed my family, Brooke?"
Tears started flowing from Brooke's eyes, "I did it for Jake, Ethan."
Ethan looked at her intently with a grave expression on his face, "I did it for you...Look Brooke, I love you so much but...I just can't deal with us right now....I feel so torn between you and my family." He looked out briefly and took a deep breath. "I have to go," he firmly said as he stood up.
Brooke didn't know what to do or say. She just stared after him as he made his way to the door. As soon as the door closed, she started to cry harder. "What have I done?" she asked herself as she hugged her knees and continued to cry. As she looked around the room, her eyes fell on a picture on display. Jenny and her were smiling widely, while holding an ice cream cone. "I guess this is for you, sweetie," Brooke said softly as she continued to look at the picture.
"I suppose some ball would do me good," Nathan thought later in the day as he made his way to practice. He has wanted to see Haley all day but he hasn't even managed to catch a glimpse of her. As he continued walking, he paused as he saw Haley walking towards him with her head down. She was reading a paper in her hand so she didn't notice that he was around too.
Nathan took a deep breath as he hurriedly walked towards her, "Uh...Hales," he called out as he got nearer.
Haley looked up and saw Nathan walking over. She didn't like how they ended things yesterday. All she really wants is for them to be good friends. "Um...hey Nate," she greeted as he stopped in front of her.
Nathan nervously runs a hand through his hair as he began, "Hales...I'm sorry about yesterday."
Haley gave him a sly smile, "Um...I didn't mean to get all...nasty on you back there."
"I didn't mean to force the issue on us getting back as we were," Nathan explained as he looked intently at her.
Haley nodded, "Just forget about it,"
Nathan looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face, "Did you mean forget about us?"
Haley looked at him with a serious expression on his face, "Look Nathan...there's no us...not anymore."
Nathan looked at her in disbelief and fury, "I can't believe this!"
Haley looked furious herself, "I can't believe you dumped me for NBA!"
With that, she stormed off, leaving Nathan looking on in shock.
