Hello all, I'm sorry I haven't updated lately, but I've been really busy. I also didn't know if anyone was reading this, so if you are please let me know.

Chapter Four

Things in Common

September 9th 2005

Friday had finally arrived and the last day of the first week of school was upon them. School had not yet begun, and students were slowing pouring into the school. Haley, who was always early for school, arrived with thirty minutes to spare. Today was one of the few days she did not have early morning tutoring sessions, so she was actually at school much later than usual. Though most of the school, including much of the staff, chose to arrive right as the first bell rang, she was still there early. She enjoyed getting to school before everyone else. She never understood why, nor did any of her friends who all fell into the last minute category, because she spent most of her early time without anything to do.

When Nathan and her had started dating, and he would give her a ride to school, he always complained, and could never comprehend the reason for getting to school so early. It made sense to him when he had an early morning practice, or when they actually did have a tutoring session, but 'just because' used to bewilder him. She never had a justified excuse though, and would always respond with some excuse about having things to do and people to talk to, when in all honesty she just liked to be early. Over the time that they had been together, he had given up complaining and questioning her about it, and came to take it as just one of her quirks. He even came to enjoy the fact that their 'morning greetings' to each other were not stopped by someone complaining about too much PDA.

That was why is was so surprising for Haley, as she walked hand in hand with Nathan through the empty halls as they did everyday, to find someone standing at her locker. That someone was Emma.

Haley stopped a few feet away before speaking, "Emma, is that you?"

Emma turned around, brushing away the strands of blonde hair that fell in front her face and answered shyly, "Oh hey Haley... and Nathan" adding the last part in a mumble.

"What are you doing here so early?" Haley pondered, "and at my locker"

"Umm, I don't know really, I guess it just didn't take me as long to get here as I expected. I knew you got here early everyday, so I came to your locker, I guess hoping to find you so I wouldn't have to hang out alone. I hope that's okay"

"Oh yeah that's fine, I just wasn't expecting to see anyone this early, since there's no practice today" Haley answered trying to lighten up the saddened look that had just appeared on Emma's face. "How long have you been here for alone anyways"

"Oh, not that long, maybe 10 minutes" Emma replied sheepishly "but I had some teachers to talk to"

"I hate to interrupt" Nathan spoke "But I'm going to go see if Whitey is here, I wanted to talk to him. I'll catch you later Haley, bye Emma"

"Wait Nathan" Haley said as she grabbed Nathan's arm before he walked off "Listen Emma, I'll talk to you later okay, but I was actually heading towards the gym anyways, so I've got to go. I'll see you in English though okay"

"Yah okay" Emma replied Sadly "See you in English".

After they were out of Emma's hearing range, Haley spoke up "Why did you say you had to talk to Whitey, you know he's not here yet?"

"I was just trying to give you guys some time, I didn't want to be a part of any 'girl talk'" Nathan responded

"Girl Talk? We were talking about what time she got to school, that hardly constitutes as Girl Talk"

"Okay fine, I was uncomfortable, you know I hate small talk." He admitted "Besides, she looked really lonely, like she needed a friend, and you two seem to have a lot in common, so I was being generous, and was going to let her share you for a bit, "he added teasingly.

"Well wasn't that sweet of you, but when did you suddenly own me?" she responded jokingly as she playfully punched him in the arm.

"You know I didn't mean it that way. I just mean I was trying to be nice, letting you hang out with her this morning, even though we ritually spend the morning by your locker, if you know what I mean"

"Oh, I know what you mean" she said kissing him lightly and leading him down another more deserted hallway "But what makes you think I don't want to spend my morning with you?" She asked before stopping and leaning against another locker, and kissing him again "I happen to like our little ritual"

"well I'm glad" he responded as he moved in towards her and kissed her back

They were interrupted by the sound of a herd of people heading towards them.

"Looks like the buses have arrived" Nathan sighed, as if defeated.

"Don't worry, there's still lunchtime" Haley said in reference to another of their rituals. At lunch sometimes, they would go to the dock, where they used to have their tutoring sessions, and have lunch by the water.

"I'm holding you to that"

"Hey what did you mean when you said that Emma and I had a lot in common, I mean we, especially you, don't know much about her yet. She barely talks at all in front of many people. How does she remind you of me?" Haley wondered.

"I don't know really, she just does." He said "she was at school early too, I don't know many other people who willingly come to school early, just because"

"So shes punctual, are you saying that's a bad thing?" she joked

"No, no, its other stuff to though"

"Like what?"

"Well...She wears her hair like you do – almost everyday so far, that's kinda weird actually, it's like she watches you do your hair, than does it the exact same. "

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know, just like today, you wear yours in that half up half down thingy and so does she, yesterday you both had a ponytail with a flower in your hair, the day before that was the same as well."

"That's probably just a coincidence, I mean everyone does their hair the same. Since when do you notice girls hair anyway?" she teased.

"Oh please, listening to you, Brooke and Peyton all the time, I think I am liked trained to notice these things"

"Oh whatever, we aren't that bad"

."I seem to remember a twenty minute long discussion yesterday that poses otherwise"

"What are you talking about"

"Oh how did it go again...'Peyton does my Hair look okay?' ' Yah just pull this piece down in front, it will frame your face better.' And then there was 'Oh My God, did you see Paige Steven's hair yet, I cant believe she dyed it that colour, it totally does not match her skin tone' "He mimicked

"Please, like basketball talk is any better, don't get me started on having to listen to you Luke and the guys talking. We all have our burdens to carry in that area"

"Okay, your right"

"That's better" she responded before kissing him once more and taking his hand and leading through the halls.

"Where are we going?" he asked

"To class"

"But it hasn't started yet!"

"Did you not just here the bell ring"

"The bell just rang?"

" I think you need your ears checked, now come on, I don't want to be late"

They arrived in class on time and found their seats untaken. What was strange was that Emma's seat was still empty as well. Haley thought it strange that one would come to school that early but still have a hard time getting to class that early, especially since she was the first one in class everyday so far. But seconds later Emma walked in the door. She looked upset; Her eyes were red and cross looking. She came and took her seat behind Haley, flashing her a forced smile as she walked by.

Hope you liked this chapter, once again, please review!