' On The Turning Away '

Chapter Two Part Two

"Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it."

She can't help but feel guilty

She lets him take the blame constantly. She can see it in the way his sad eyes look at her sympathetically. She knows she shouldn't let him reprimand himself for all her problems. She knows she shouldn't let him believe he is causing her any ounce of sadness. She cant help it though. Something about the way he let his guilty conscious be painfully evident, reassured her. It reminded her he still cared. It relieved her that he still got that sorrowful scowl whenever he saw her unhappy or displeased. Then again part of can't stand the way he blames himself. It tells her he is completely clueless to what's going on. He uses himself as a reason, just to prove hes still tentative to her emotions. But she knows he isn't. If he were, he'd know not to blame himself. He'd know he wasn't one of her unfaced issues. He would just know. But he doesn't. He isn't the type too.

She isn't sure what to do with herself today. Karen had given her the day off to gather her thoughts. Thoughts that just kept drifting back to her friendship with Nathan. She could feel the thin thread their bond rested on tearing slowly. It pained her. Strangely enough though she can't help but imagine what her life would be like free from all the ties that came with Nathan Scott. She twists the silver band around her finger, quickly dismissing the thoughts. She knew well enough what life without Nathan Scott would be like. Miserable. He made far too much effort for her to give up on him now. He just needed someone to believe in him, she knew that, so she did. She brushes down the thin pleats in her green plaid mini-skirt, adjusting her heel in the pair of comfortable ' Uggs' Nathan had bought her. She smiles at the thought of his continuous spoiling. That's what he does though.

He spoils her.

He spoils her with materialistic things. Spoils her with love. Spoils her with heartache. The quaver of her despaired side echoed in her ears, her eyes shut tightly cursing her thoughts as she exited her home. She hates it when she thinks about his flaws. The way he can rip her apart with a simple glance. The way he can inspire her to break into hysterical sobs by stumbling through her window. The way his lips shine red with cherry lip gloss, when he returns to her after one of his sexual escapades. She tries to tell herself he has his own life. A life she wasn't included in. She tries to tell herself she has the best part of the deal. The real Nathan. She let's out a sardonic chuckle. She didn't know who the real Nathan was. Nathan didn't even know who he was.

There was a light breeze causing the branches in the trees to crackle softly. The wind blew through her highlighted hair, gently pressing against her sensitive. She breathed in deeply, trying to pull herself out of the flooding pool of thoughts about Nathan that had been slowly drowning her into oblivion. The sweet hum of her voice, soothes her nerves as she wraps her arms around herself tightly, embracing the rough material of her denim jacket. The door rings with a cooing jingle as she pushes the wooden door open. The familiar delicately aged brunette stares at her with surprised eyes, as she wonders into the comfortable surroundings of her work place.

" Haley" Karen breaths holding out a pot of coffee.

Haley smiles weakly running a hand through her hair. " Hey Karen"

" What are you doing here?" she asks curiously walking towards the counter placing down the pot. Haley follows her , tiredly shrugging her shoulders cluelessly.

" I was bored".

" You aren't working today Haley" Karen nodded assertively, Haley laughed softly, nodding lightly in understatement.

The entrance door's loud jingles filled up the café, as deep laughter followed. She recognizes the dumbfound laughs immediately, turning to look at the people who just walked in. His Nuggets jersey that she hated so much clung to him tightly due to the dripping perspiration running over his body. His hair was tousled about, a disheveled stare glazing over his face. He chuckled disinterestedly as Lucas continued his incoherent rant, while Tim made immature faces behind the blond's back. His eyes wander over to where she is standing. The bored gleam in his blue orbs suddenly spark with more excitement. He smiles at her. She grins at the exchange. Turning to talk to Karen, she knows he has already left his two companions to talk to her. She can tell by the way Lucas's voice raised to a louder octave. Then again she could always sense when Nate was near.

" Hey" his voice comes out tired and heavy.

She cocks her head to the side curiously, leaning against the counter. " Hey". They stand there in silence for a moment. She beings twirling the silver band around her finger again, as he begins to stare at the matching ring loosely encircling his thumb. She smiles inwardly. Their paused silence hadn't been this comfortable for awhile. The loud smack of Lucas's hand against Nathan's back snap them both out of their eased state, forcing them to turn their attention back to the babbling basketball player. Another sounding of the door opened erupted yet again. Haley closes her eyes growing weary over the obnoxious sound. She can feel Nathan suddenly tense, she can hear him shift quickly in his stance.

" Haley!"

She breaths out deeply. She wants to cry. Or run away. There was just no escaping the tormenting sight of envy that was her sister. Her brown eyes open wide as she glances at Nathan out of the corner of her eye. His non-chalant manner, was now masked with an air of want. He stares at the tall fair haired brunette with lusting eyes and passion. She scoffs. She despised Whitney. Atleast she attempted to. She hated to be part of the flock that simply strew themselves at her painfully flawless ways. Yet on the inside she was. She struggled with the over shadowing of her older sister. Her envied sister. Her perfect sister. The small grooves in Whitney's cheeks deepened as she smiled widely at the group of teens standing before her. Haley notes her compressed grin, that matched her perfectly conservative yet stylish clothing, which seemed to go in hand with the lightly curled ends of her honey brown hair.

" What are you doing here Whit?" she questions with a sigh, letting her eyes wander around the bare walls.

" I was wondering where you went" she said as a matter of factly, tilting her head to the side to as if it were the most obvious of things. Her eyes graze over Nathan's stiffened stance, she lets them avert back to haley, suddenly shifting them back onto Nathan.
" Nathan" she exclaims, reaching over to pull him into a hug. Haley shakes her head, as Whitney embraces him. Completely disregarding that he was covered in sweat and grime. Or frankly not really caring. Either or it seemed to tap at the younger James nerves.

" It's great to see you " Whitney emphasizes pulling away from him " It's so hard to believe you too are still friends"

" Why?" Haley snaps defensively. She can feel Nathan take a step closer to her resting his hand on her back to calm her.

" Because it's just amazing a friendship can last that long " she admires " And I really hope it can last threw the move"

Her face turns yellow upon hearing her sister's words. She can see the quizzical stare forming on Nathan's face as his eyes begin to frantically shift back and forth between her and Whitney. She didn't want this to happen. She had wanted to tell him herself. She can feel him start to panic. He wants to know what Whitney meant. But she just can't find the words to speak. Lucas's face has gone white now also. Haley winces at the pain and shock streaked all over their faces. She can see Nathan hesitate with his words. She knows he wants them to come out rationally.

" Move?" he queries with a shaky voice.

Whitney's eyes widen as she glances back at her. She closes her eyes shut tightly. The sting of tears burn at the inside of her eyelids as she fights away the stares pressed onto her tiny frame. She can't speak. She can't move. Her eyes flutter back open, in hope that the what had just occurred was a part of her confusing imagination playing some horrible trick on her mind. But it wasn't. They were still standing there. Waiting for her to say something. Anything. She coudln't though. She could barely see threw the blurring of her tears, her voice replaced by a nauseated lump.

" You didn't tell him?" Whitney blinks.

She shakes her head.

" Haley?" He whispers, she knows he cant be any louder, he might explode and do something insane.

" Nathan" she cries " I was going to tell you"

" Oh my god" Whitney whispers apologetically " I am so sorry."

" It's not your fault" Nathan cuts off, glancing back at Haley, before walking out of the café.

She can't help but feel guilty.