Title: Return to Normal
Rating: PG-13 for tiny bit of language
Pairing: Lucas/ Haley but with a smidge of Haley/Nathan and Lucas/Peyton early on
Summary: Takes up after With Arms Outstretched. Haley and Nathan get involved in a cycle of drinking and parties after Nathan's steroid problem. Haley gets pulled out by her family and has to deal with the consequences of her actions and rebuilding her relationship with Lucas.
Note: This chapter is pretty long, but I want this plot to be as realistic as possible, so hang in there! Please review and comment, it makes my tiny little heart happy!
* * *
Chapter 4
* * *
Friday morning brought with it snow flurries and 20 degree temperatures. The streets and houses of Tree Hill were dusted with a covering of pristine white powder. Haley was clearing tables after the 10 AM rush was over. The only other people in the shop were a few regulars who liked to nestle into quiet corners of the diner with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. Haley had just begun loading the dishwasher when the chipper jingle of the bell over the door rang out.
"Hey" Peyton said as she walked in the door, giving Haley a cautious smile. She hadn't been close to Haley before this year, but recently she had been stopping by the café more and more often to chat.
"Hey yourself" Haley said with a warm smile. Peyton looked relieved and pulled on a grin of her own, slipping onto a stool by the counter.
"Coffee?" Haley offered, pulling out a mug.
"Do you even have to ask?" Peyton responded. Haley laughed and poured her a cup, which Peyton received into her cold hands.
"You know, you really should invest in mittens" Haley stated, as she noticed Peyton trying to heat her hands from the steam wafting off the coffee.
"They clash with the leather jacket" Peyton explained dryly, and Haley laughed again.
"You're in a good mood this morning, any particular reason?" Haley asked. She had finished her cleanup and quickly scanned the diner to see if a customer needed anything. Seeing none, she poured herself a cup of coffee and grabbed a muffin from the display tray. Peyton took a sip of her coffee, taking time to choose her words carefully.
"I think" Peyton began, "that I want to try and make things right with Lucas". She stopped and glanced at Haley, wanting to gauge her reaction. Haley's eyes had grown wide but she quickly recovered and found her voice.
"Wow, that's really good, I'm glad" Haley replied, grinning slightly. "But if you don't mind me asking, what brought on this sudden revelation?"
"I realized that the only reason I pushed Lucas away was because I was scared of opening up to someone" Peyton explained, her eyes pleading with Haley, asking her to understand. "Everyone I've ever cared about has ended up leaving and I just didn't want to open myself up if I was going to get hurt again. On the other hand, I know that Lucas is a good guy and he makes me feel...." She trailed off, not able to find the right word.
"Safe" Haley answered and Peyton glanced at her, nodding in agreement.
"Exactly. How did you know that's what I wanted to say?" Peyton asked, taking a sip of her coffee. Haley shrugged, glancing at her reflection in the murky depths of her coffee mug.
"Its how I have always felt with Lucas, he's been my best friend for ages and I trust him more than anyone else I know" She looked up at Peyton with a wry smile on her face. "And the fact that he beat up Kevin Woodrow for me in 3rd grade also helps". Peyton couldn't help but laugh at this and Haley joined her. They sat in silence for a few moments before Haley remembered something.
"You know, Lucas is going to the dance tomorrow night" Haley said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Really?" Peyton asked, gulping down the sip of coffee she had just taken. Haley nodded, grinning slightly as a plan began to form in her mind. She had promised Lucas she would go to the dance with him and Lucas had mentioned that Peyton would also be there. It was clear that the two of them needed to talk, but Lucas and Peyton both had serious angst issues and most likely wouldn't dare approach each other all night. However, if Haley orchestrated a meeting between the two of them, perhaps a slow dance, then they'd have to talk. Sure, Lucas would probably kill Haley if he found out, but anything was better than seeing him throw away a chance at something great. It was worth a shot, and she wasn't setting them up on a date or anything. No, it was just a harmless dance, just like Lucas had said. Haley set her coffee mug down and looked directly at Peyton, deciding that brutal honesty would be the best way to approach her idea.
"Look, Peyton, I really don't want to get involved in the whole situation between you and Brooke and Lucas. However I know that Lucas genuinely cares about you and it's obvious that you care about him." Haley paused for a moment, aware of a voice in her head shouting at her that this was a bad idea. She pushed it away and continued "So, I think I know a way to get the two of you talking again"
***
Lucas dropped his gym bag near the door to his room, shedding layers of t- shirts and his hoodie as he made his way to his bed. He collapsed onto the soft cotton quilt face first, all of his muscles sore and worn out. Basketball practice had been ruthless. Whitey seemed to think that the phrase 'practice makes perfect' had no limits. The team's first playoff game was in two weeks and it looked as though practices were going to get much worse, not better. Lucas knew that the biggest battle would be getting up off the bed and the quicker he did that, then the quicker he would take a shower and then get some sleep. Unfortunately, it seemed as though his legs weren't exactly listening to his brain anymore. He heard a soft knock on the door behind him and the sound of his door opening.
"Long practice?" Karen asked, glancing a Lucas's slumped over form. Lucas rolled over onto his back but still made no move to leave the bed.
"My legs aren't working" He explained and Karen nodded, a smile forming on her lips.
"I see that. Well dinner is going to be ready in a few minutes, maybe you'll be able to move by then." She responded and Lucas glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.
"You know, most mothers would be sympathetic of their children in this situation" He stated.
"Yes, well most mothers didn't spend the whole day catering a 4 year old girl's birthday party and her 20 friends" Karen said dryly.
"Point taken" Lucas replied with a grin.
"Shower and then come eat" Karen instructed. She turned around to leave but then stopped. "Haley called, she said she wanted to double check the time for tomorrow night" Karen gave Lucas a soft smile and then left the room. Lucas stared up at the ceiling of his room, gathering strength and then pushing off from the soft mattress with his elbows. Once he was on his feet he began walking towards his dresser, searching for any shirt that smelled better than the sweat soaked one he had on. He gathered a few other clothing items and walked out into the hallway, the smell of his mom's cooking drifting down the hallway. Shower, then food, he reminded himself as he made his way towards the bathroom and a hot shower.
***
"Hey Luke" Haley said absently into the phone, her eyes trained on her computer screen.
"I didn't even say hello yet, how did you know it was me?" Lucas asked, shifting in his computer chair. He was sitting in his room and trying to sort through his drawers and clean up a bit. He wasn't exactly the neatest guy in the world and his mom had been dropping hints that he needed to start picking up his room, otherwise she and her Dirt Devil would take matters into their own hands.
"Who else would be calling me on a Friday night?" She replied, scrolling down the list of junk mail her inbox that had accumulated and deleting without mercy.
"Are you implying that I don't have a social life?" Lucas asked, feigning hurt. He picked up a report card from sixth grade and grinned when he saw his C in science. Apparently he was chemistry challenged from birth.
"I'm not implying anything, I'm just pointing out your strong resemblance to Quasimodo" Haley responded airily.
"I do not have a hump!" Lucas said, his voice raising. Haley's laughter taunted him over the phone line and he decided to enact a little revenge. "Well I'll have you know I've got a hot date for tomorrow night" Lucas said, a sly smile slipping onto his face.
"Really? Anyone I know?" Haley replied, signing off the internet and curling up in her chair, drawing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them.
"Naw, she's too cool for the likes of you. But maybe I'll introduce you to her, if you're lucky" Lucas said coolly, keeping up the game.
"Oh, well you know I wouldn't want to cramp your style" Haley retorted and Lucas burst out laughing. Haley followed, and after a few moments she subsided to light giggles. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear she remembered what she had wanted to ask Lucas in the first place. "What time do you want to meet and where?"
"How is my house around 7?" Lucas asked. He crumpled up one of the sheets of paper he had found and tossed it towards the trashcan, making a basket easily. "Mom said I can borrow her car and we can drive over to the dance"
"Sounds good" Haley answered her eyes glancing out at the darkened street through her window. She wasn't about to tell Lucas of her plans for him and Peyton, however she couldn't help but hint that the evening would be surprising. "You know, this dance might turn out to be fun"
"What happened to dances being the epitome of bad high school social events?" Lucas asked, confused at her change in opinion. Haley had always detested school dances; she said they were simply an opportunity for the kids in their class to make fools of themselves while wearing uncomfortable clothing. Lucas agreed with her, though for different reasons. In sixth grade he had tried to approach Lisa Melborn, his first big crush, to ask for a dance. She had shrieked 'Freak' at him and then ran off to giggle with a bunch of her friends, leaving him looking like he biggest ass in the world. Thus, he had stayed as far as possible from social events of that sort, unwilling to repeat his bad experience.
"I've decided that I need to become more open minded, you know, broaden my horizons" Haley said quickly, realizing that Lucas becoming suspicious might be a bad idea and attempting to cover her tracks.
"Sure Hales, whatever you say" Lucas said, closing the desk drawers in front of him and gathering up any spare papers he had scattered about. "You haven't been reading any of your sister's Cosmo magazines again, have you?"
"Oh shut up, I'm just trying to be positive!" Haley replied, her eyes narrowing and wishing she could hit Lucas over the phone.
"I prefer you as bitingly sarcastic rather than eerily cheery" Lucas said, trying to ease her annoyance. "Okay, it's getting late and I still can't fully feel my arms and legs from practice"
"Aww, poor baby" Haley stated dryly, standing up from her chair and turning off her computer.
"Why does no one have any sympathy for me? You and my mom are both so cruel, I swear, I'm gonna need years of therapy for all this abuse" Lucas said, wincing slightly as he stood up from his chair and stretched out his sore muscles.
"It's tough love, you'll appreciate it some day" Haley replied. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, good night Luke"
"Night Hales" Lucas said. He hit the off button on the phone and placed it back in its cradle. Pulling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt he fell into bed, letting out a soft 'omph' when he hit the soft mattress.
***
Haley placed her phone back on its holder and walked into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and tugged her hair out of its ponytail, letting the long strands fall loose around her shoulders. Walking back into her room she changed into her pajamas, a comfy tank top and a pair of her older brothers old sweat pants. She slipped under the covers of her bed, wriggling down under the sheets until she felt her toes begin to warm up. She rested her head against the soft fabric of her pillow and watched the ceiling above her, thoughts running through her head.
***flashback***
School had been tiring that day, each class dragged on for hours and her tutoring session after school had been a bust when her student cancelled on her last minute. She had been standing in the deserted hallway after the final bell had rung, juggling books and papers between her locker and messenger bag. She finished gathering what she needed and was walking towards the exit, about to turn down the main hall when she heard voices. Actually, she had heard his voice. She had stayed hidden behind the corner of the wall and glanced around it, spotting Nathan standing down the hall, leaning against the door of a classroom. He wasn't alone though, no, a blond girl was with him and Haley had felt a lump rise up in her throat. She didn't know who the girl was, but obviously Nathan did. His hands were clinging to her waist and he kept leaning over to whisper something in her ear. The girl responded by laughing and leaning into Nathan, which made Haley recoil. She debated turning around and leaving the school through another exit, but the rational part of her reasoned that she shouldn't have to sneak around her own school. Steeling herself, Haley walked forward and around the corner, moving down the center of the hallway and keeping her eyes straight ahead. However Nathan didn't seem to accept her ignoring him and spoke up, baiting her.
"Hey there Haley" He said just as she walked past him. She hesitated for a second, one half of her wanting to turn and face him but the other half wanting to sprint away. Nathan caught this slight stop and stepped forward, the blond girl moving with him until they were both in front of her, blocking the hall. "You know Gwen right? She's my new tutor, she's been helping me with, well, you know, my extra curricular activities" Nathan taunted, his blue eyes staring into Haley's brown ones, harsh and cruel. Haley held his gaze, her heart wrenching as she looked at his face and saw nothing left of the guy she had fallen in love with. When she had first met Nathan his sarcasm and jokes had always been sharp, but they never were meant to hurt her. Now he seemed to enjoy provoking any reaction in her.
"It's nice to meet you Gwen, a bit of advice, Nathan's a asshole, you're better off without him" Haley replied quickly, shifting her gaze to the girl's for a second but then zooming back in on Nathan. Haley shifted her grip on her bag, clenching the adjustable strap between her hands.
"Aww Haley that hurts, you know I still want us to be friends, just like you and Lucas." Nathan said, a smirk playing across his lips. He leaned forward, so his next phrase was whispered into her ear. "You know, friends with benefits"
Haley's hand flew out before she even had time to realize it. Nathan cursed and recoiled from her slap, and Gwen pulled him back and murmured soothingly too him. Haley watched him, anger coursing through her veins. She had known that Nathan had changed over the last month; it was the reason they had split in the first place. Yet his bullying was not something she was going to put up with, not anymore.
"Stay the hell away from me" Haley snapped at Nathan, her voice low and a trembling slightly on the last words. Feeling as if she'd snap if she stayed any longer Haley turned and walked towards the exit, forcing her steps to be even and pushing away the urge to run out of the building.
"Bitch" Nathan shouted at her, but his words didn't hold the cocky confidence from before. Haley kept walking until she got to the door. She pushed it open and walked out into the cold winter air, trying to calm herself down and forget about the incident.
***
Haley rolled over in bed, feeling her chest tighten as the memory played out in her mind. The anger she had felt when she saw Nathan was mixed with another emotion, loss. The fact was that Nathan was her first boyfriend and he had meant everything to her. It was the only thing that explained why she had gone along with his partying. Haley had always hated the boneheaded kids who got drunk every weekend and came to school hung over and threw away their lives. But she had seen and understood why Nathan had gotten into that very cycle. To say his family was screwed up would be an understatement. Dan and Deb both had serious issues with each other and they used Nathan as a tool in getting back at one another. Nathan ended up being ignored or taken for granted, both of which made him extremely frustrated. Haley had tried to be there for him, tried to be supportive and understanding. However the issues with his family weren't something she could solve. It ended up eating away at him and there was nothing Haley could do to stop it. She felt horrible and wanted to help him, but destroying her own life in the process wasn't right. It had taken her weeks to realize that and when she had tried to explain that to Nathan he saw it as being abandoned again.
Since they had broken up things had been rocky, to say the least. His friends all taunted and teased her at school, but Lucas made sure she got to class okay and she could handle most of the meat heads on her own. But seeing Nathan stroll down the hallways with his latest 2-second girlfriend on his arm tore her apart. Haley had actually connected with Nathan, beyond the all star basketball player bull he used with everyone else. All the growth he had accomplished was destroyed in a matter of days. And now he seemed to be heading on a path that led no where but down. Rumors at school of him and his friends getting caught drunk by the police and racing down Old Mill Road late at night caused Haley to worry about how far he'd fall before one of his parents noticed, or even cared.
Why didn't I tell Luke about what happened today, she wondered. The answer to her question surfaced quickly in her mind. I don't want him to do anything reckless. Lucas was extremely protective of her and she knew that if he heard Nathan was still harassing her he wouldn't have much control. If things had been tense between Nathan and Lucas before it was nothing compared to their animosity for one another now. Haley was thankful that Lucas cared about her, but she knew that his heart often got in the way of his head. It was why she loved him; he always worried about others before himself.
A glance at her clock showed Haley that it was nearing 1 AM. With a sigh she snuggled deeper into her pile of blankets, determined to get some sleep. Tomorrow night was going to be fun, she promised herself that much. Lucas deserved to be happy and Haley knew that Peyton cared about him a lot. Haley just hoped that Lucas wouldn't be too mad when he found out about her plan to get him and Peyton talking again. After all, what are friends for if not to play matchmaker?
Rating: PG-13 for tiny bit of language
Pairing: Lucas/ Haley but with a smidge of Haley/Nathan and Lucas/Peyton early on
Summary: Takes up after With Arms Outstretched. Haley and Nathan get involved in a cycle of drinking and parties after Nathan's steroid problem. Haley gets pulled out by her family and has to deal with the consequences of her actions and rebuilding her relationship with Lucas.
Note: This chapter is pretty long, but I want this plot to be as realistic as possible, so hang in there! Please review and comment, it makes my tiny little heart happy!
* * *
Chapter 4
* * *
Friday morning brought with it snow flurries and 20 degree temperatures. The streets and houses of Tree Hill were dusted with a covering of pristine white powder. Haley was clearing tables after the 10 AM rush was over. The only other people in the shop were a few regulars who liked to nestle into quiet corners of the diner with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. Haley had just begun loading the dishwasher when the chipper jingle of the bell over the door rang out.
"Hey" Peyton said as she walked in the door, giving Haley a cautious smile. She hadn't been close to Haley before this year, but recently she had been stopping by the café more and more often to chat.
"Hey yourself" Haley said with a warm smile. Peyton looked relieved and pulled on a grin of her own, slipping onto a stool by the counter.
"Coffee?" Haley offered, pulling out a mug.
"Do you even have to ask?" Peyton responded. Haley laughed and poured her a cup, which Peyton received into her cold hands.
"You know, you really should invest in mittens" Haley stated, as she noticed Peyton trying to heat her hands from the steam wafting off the coffee.
"They clash with the leather jacket" Peyton explained dryly, and Haley laughed again.
"You're in a good mood this morning, any particular reason?" Haley asked. She had finished her cleanup and quickly scanned the diner to see if a customer needed anything. Seeing none, she poured herself a cup of coffee and grabbed a muffin from the display tray. Peyton took a sip of her coffee, taking time to choose her words carefully.
"I think" Peyton began, "that I want to try and make things right with Lucas". She stopped and glanced at Haley, wanting to gauge her reaction. Haley's eyes had grown wide but she quickly recovered and found her voice.
"Wow, that's really good, I'm glad" Haley replied, grinning slightly. "But if you don't mind me asking, what brought on this sudden revelation?"
"I realized that the only reason I pushed Lucas away was because I was scared of opening up to someone" Peyton explained, her eyes pleading with Haley, asking her to understand. "Everyone I've ever cared about has ended up leaving and I just didn't want to open myself up if I was going to get hurt again. On the other hand, I know that Lucas is a good guy and he makes me feel...." She trailed off, not able to find the right word.
"Safe" Haley answered and Peyton glanced at her, nodding in agreement.
"Exactly. How did you know that's what I wanted to say?" Peyton asked, taking a sip of her coffee. Haley shrugged, glancing at her reflection in the murky depths of her coffee mug.
"Its how I have always felt with Lucas, he's been my best friend for ages and I trust him more than anyone else I know" She looked up at Peyton with a wry smile on her face. "And the fact that he beat up Kevin Woodrow for me in 3rd grade also helps". Peyton couldn't help but laugh at this and Haley joined her. They sat in silence for a few moments before Haley remembered something.
"You know, Lucas is going to the dance tomorrow night" Haley said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Really?" Peyton asked, gulping down the sip of coffee she had just taken. Haley nodded, grinning slightly as a plan began to form in her mind. She had promised Lucas she would go to the dance with him and Lucas had mentioned that Peyton would also be there. It was clear that the two of them needed to talk, but Lucas and Peyton both had serious angst issues and most likely wouldn't dare approach each other all night. However, if Haley orchestrated a meeting between the two of them, perhaps a slow dance, then they'd have to talk. Sure, Lucas would probably kill Haley if he found out, but anything was better than seeing him throw away a chance at something great. It was worth a shot, and she wasn't setting them up on a date or anything. No, it was just a harmless dance, just like Lucas had said. Haley set her coffee mug down and looked directly at Peyton, deciding that brutal honesty would be the best way to approach her idea.
"Look, Peyton, I really don't want to get involved in the whole situation between you and Brooke and Lucas. However I know that Lucas genuinely cares about you and it's obvious that you care about him." Haley paused for a moment, aware of a voice in her head shouting at her that this was a bad idea. She pushed it away and continued "So, I think I know a way to get the two of you talking again"
***
Lucas dropped his gym bag near the door to his room, shedding layers of t- shirts and his hoodie as he made his way to his bed. He collapsed onto the soft cotton quilt face first, all of his muscles sore and worn out. Basketball practice had been ruthless. Whitey seemed to think that the phrase 'practice makes perfect' had no limits. The team's first playoff game was in two weeks and it looked as though practices were going to get much worse, not better. Lucas knew that the biggest battle would be getting up off the bed and the quicker he did that, then the quicker he would take a shower and then get some sleep. Unfortunately, it seemed as though his legs weren't exactly listening to his brain anymore. He heard a soft knock on the door behind him and the sound of his door opening.
"Long practice?" Karen asked, glancing a Lucas's slumped over form. Lucas rolled over onto his back but still made no move to leave the bed.
"My legs aren't working" He explained and Karen nodded, a smile forming on her lips.
"I see that. Well dinner is going to be ready in a few minutes, maybe you'll be able to move by then." She responded and Lucas glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.
"You know, most mothers would be sympathetic of their children in this situation" He stated.
"Yes, well most mothers didn't spend the whole day catering a 4 year old girl's birthday party and her 20 friends" Karen said dryly.
"Point taken" Lucas replied with a grin.
"Shower and then come eat" Karen instructed. She turned around to leave but then stopped. "Haley called, she said she wanted to double check the time for tomorrow night" Karen gave Lucas a soft smile and then left the room. Lucas stared up at the ceiling of his room, gathering strength and then pushing off from the soft mattress with his elbows. Once he was on his feet he began walking towards his dresser, searching for any shirt that smelled better than the sweat soaked one he had on. He gathered a few other clothing items and walked out into the hallway, the smell of his mom's cooking drifting down the hallway. Shower, then food, he reminded himself as he made his way towards the bathroom and a hot shower.
***
"Hey Luke" Haley said absently into the phone, her eyes trained on her computer screen.
"I didn't even say hello yet, how did you know it was me?" Lucas asked, shifting in his computer chair. He was sitting in his room and trying to sort through his drawers and clean up a bit. He wasn't exactly the neatest guy in the world and his mom had been dropping hints that he needed to start picking up his room, otherwise she and her Dirt Devil would take matters into their own hands.
"Who else would be calling me on a Friday night?" She replied, scrolling down the list of junk mail her inbox that had accumulated and deleting without mercy.
"Are you implying that I don't have a social life?" Lucas asked, feigning hurt. He picked up a report card from sixth grade and grinned when he saw his C in science. Apparently he was chemistry challenged from birth.
"I'm not implying anything, I'm just pointing out your strong resemblance to Quasimodo" Haley responded airily.
"I do not have a hump!" Lucas said, his voice raising. Haley's laughter taunted him over the phone line and he decided to enact a little revenge. "Well I'll have you know I've got a hot date for tomorrow night" Lucas said, a sly smile slipping onto his face.
"Really? Anyone I know?" Haley replied, signing off the internet and curling up in her chair, drawing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them.
"Naw, she's too cool for the likes of you. But maybe I'll introduce you to her, if you're lucky" Lucas said coolly, keeping up the game.
"Oh, well you know I wouldn't want to cramp your style" Haley retorted and Lucas burst out laughing. Haley followed, and after a few moments she subsided to light giggles. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear she remembered what she had wanted to ask Lucas in the first place. "What time do you want to meet and where?"
"How is my house around 7?" Lucas asked. He crumpled up one of the sheets of paper he had found and tossed it towards the trashcan, making a basket easily. "Mom said I can borrow her car and we can drive over to the dance"
"Sounds good" Haley answered her eyes glancing out at the darkened street through her window. She wasn't about to tell Lucas of her plans for him and Peyton, however she couldn't help but hint that the evening would be surprising. "You know, this dance might turn out to be fun"
"What happened to dances being the epitome of bad high school social events?" Lucas asked, confused at her change in opinion. Haley had always detested school dances; she said they were simply an opportunity for the kids in their class to make fools of themselves while wearing uncomfortable clothing. Lucas agreed with her, though for different reasons. In sixth grade he had tried to approach Lisa Melborn, his first big crush, to ask for a dance. She had shrieked 'Freak' at him and then ran off to giggle with a bunch of her friends, leaving him looking like he biggest ass in the world. Thus, he had stayed as far as possible from social events of that sort, unwilling to repeat his bad experience.
"I've decided that I need to become more open minded, you know, broaden my horizons" Haley said quickly, realizing that Lucas becoming suspicious might be a bad idea and attempting to cover her tracks.
"Sure Hales, whatever you say" Lucas said, closing the desk drawers in front of him and gathering up any spare papers he had scattered about. "You haven't been reading any of your sister's Cosmo magazines again, have you?"
"Oh shut up, I'm just trying to be positive!" Haley replied, her eyes narrowing and wishing she could hit Lucas over the phone.
"I prefer you as bitingly sarcastic rather than eerily cheery" Lucas said, trying to ease her annoyance. "Okay, it's getting late and I still can't fully feel my arms and legs from practice"
"Aww, poor baby" Haley stated dryly, standing up from her chair and turning off her computer.
"Why does no one have any sympathy for me? You and my mom are both so cruel, I swear, I'm gonna need years of therapy for all this abuse" Lucas said, wincing slightly as he stood up from his chair and stretched out his sore muscles.
"It's tough love, you'll appreciate it some day" Haley replied. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, good night Luke"
"Night Hales" Lucas said. He hit the off button on the phone and placed it back in its cradle. Pulling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt he fell into bed, letting out a soft 'omph' when he hit the soft mattress.
***
Haley placed her phone back on its holder and walked into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and tugged her hair out of its ponytail, letting the long strands fall loose around her shoulders. Walking back into her room she changed into her pajamas, a comfy tank top and a pair of her older brothers old sweat pants. She slipped under the covers of her bed, wriggling down under the sheets until she felt her toes begin to warm up. She rested her head against the soft fabric of her pillow and watched the ceiling above her, thoughts running through her head.
***flashback***
School had been tiring that day, each class dragged on for hours and her tutoring session after school had been a bust when her student cancelled on her last minute. She had been standing in the deserted hallway after the final bell had rung, juggling books and papers between her locker and messenger bag. She finished gathering what she needed and was walking towards the exit, about to turn down the main hall when she heard voices. Actually, she had heard his voice. She had stayed hidden behind the corner of the wall and glanced around it, spotting Nathan standing down the hall, leaning against the door of a classroom. He wasn't alone though, no, a blond girl was with him and Haley had felt a lump rise up in her throat. She didn't know who the girl was, but obviously Nathan did. His hands were clinging to her waist and he kept leaning over to whisper something in her ear. The girl responded by laughing and leaning into Nathan, which made Haley recoil. She debated turning around and leaving the school through another exit, but the rational part of her reasoned that she shouldn't have to sneak around her own school. Steeling herself, Haley walked forward and around the corner, moving down the center of the hallway and keeping her eyes straight ahead. However Nathan didn't seem to accept her ignoring him and spoke up, baiting her.
"Hey there Haley" He said just as she walked past him. She hesitated for a second, one half of her wanting to turn and face him but the other half wanting to sprint away. Nathan caught this slight stop and stepped forward, the blond girl moving with him until they were both in front of her, blocking the hall. "You know Gwen right? She's my new tutor, she's been helping me with, well, you know, my extra curricular activities" Nathan taunted, his blue eyes staring into Haley's brown ones, harsh and cruel. Haley held his gaze, her heart wrenching as she looked at his face and saw nothing left of the guy she had fallen in love with. When she had first met Nathan his sarcasm and jokes had always been sharp, but they never were meant to hurt her. Now he seemed to enjoy provoking any reaction in her.
"It's nice to meet you Gwen, a bit of advice, Nathan's a asshole, you're better off without him" Haley replied quickly, shifting her gaze to the girl's for a second but then zooming back in on Nathan. Haley shifted her grip on her bag, clenching the adjustable strap between her hands.
"Aww Haley that hurts, you know I still want us to be friends, just like you and Lucas." Nathan said, a smirk playing across his lips. He leaned forward, so his next phrase was whispered into her ear. "You know, friends with benefits"
Haley's hand flew out before she even had time to realize it. Nathan cursed and recoiled from her slap, and Gwen pulled him back and murmured soothingly too him. Haley watched him, anger coursing through her veins. She had known that Nathan had changed over the last month; it was the reason they had split in the first place. Yet his bullying was not something she was going to put up with, not anymore.
"Stay the hell away from me" Haley snapped at Nathan, her voice low and a trembling slightly on the last words. Feeling as if she'd snap if she stayed any longer Haley turned and walked towards the exit, forcing her steps to be even and pushing away the urge to run out of the building.
"Bitch" Nathan shouted at her, but his words didn't hold the cocky confidence from before. Haley kept walking until she got to the door. She pushed it open and walked out into the cold winter air, trying to calm herself down and forget about the incident.
***
Haley rolled over in bed, feeling her chest tighten as the memory played out in her mind. The anger she had felt when she saw Nathan was mixed with another emotion, loss. The fact was that Nathan was her first boyfriend and he had meant everything to her. It was the only thing that explained why she had gone along with his partying. Haley had always hated the boneheaded kids who got drunk every weekend and came to school hung over and threw away their lives. But she had seen and understood why Nathan had gotten into that very cycle. To say his family was screwed up would be an understatement. Dan and Deb both had serious issues with each other and they used Nathan as a tool in getting back at one another. Nathan ended up being ignored or taken for granted, both of which made him extremely frustrated. Haley had tried to be there for him, tried to be supportive and understanding. However the issues with his family weren't something she could solve. It ended up eating away at him and there was nothing Haley could do to stop it. She felt horrible and wanted to help him, but destroying her own life in the process wasn't right. It had taken her weeks to realize that and when she had tried to explain that to Nathan he saw it as being abandoned again.
Since they had broken up things had been rocky, to say the least. His friends all taunted and teased her at school, but Lucas made sure she got to class okay and she could handle most of the meat heads on her own. But seeing Nathan stroll down the hallways with his latest 2-second girlfriend on his arm tore her apart. Haley had actually connected with Nathan, beyond the all star basketball player bull he used with everyone else. All the growth he had accomplished was destroyed in a matter of days. And now he seemed to be heading on a path that led no where but down. Rumors at school of him and his friends getting caught drunk by the police and racing down Old Mill Road late at night caused Haley to worry about how far he'd fall before one of his parents noticed, or even cared.
Why didn't I tell Luke about what happened today, she wondered. The answer to her question surfaced quickly in her mind. I don't want him to do anything reckless. Lucas was extremely protective of her and she knew that if he heard Nathan was still harassing her he wouldn't have much control. If things had been tense between Nathan and Lucas before it was nothing compared to their animosity for one another now. Haley was thankful that Lucas cared about her, but she knew that his heart often got in the way of his head. It was why she loved him; he always worried about others before himself.
A glance at her clock showed Haley that it was nearing 1 AM. With a sigh she snuggled deeper into her pile of blankets, determined to get some sleep. Tomorrow night was going to be fun, she promised herself that much. Lucas deserved to be happy and Haley knew that Peyton cared about him a lot. Haley just hoped that Lucas wouldn't be too mad when he found out about her plan to get him and Peyton talking again. After all, what are friends for if not to play matchmaker?