Disclaimer: OTH belong to Warner Brother's studios. Al tough, I know two brothers that I would like to own.

Hey! This is my second attempt for an OTH fanfic. Sorry I didn't continue with the first one, but don't worry I'll try to finish it. I just wanted to try something else. In this one, Lucas is not on the team yet, Haley is going to tutor Nathan, but they won't fall that easily for each other. There will be some complications...

Sorry it took me so long to update.....and thank you for your reviews I really appreciate it.

Nothing compares to you
Mud, weird phone call and verbal fight

Haley hurried her way her to the car, she didn't want to be soaking wet. She opened the door and sat next to Lucas. He looked at her with a cornered smile. She wondered what got him so, not broody. She touched his forehead, Lucas had no fever but it sure didn't look like it.

"Tell me where my broody friend is and what have you done with him!!!" joked Hale, mocking her best friend's mood. He had been moody all day and now he had a smile plastered on his face that made him look a child. "Come on Luke, tell me!!!" whined Haley, she couldn't stand the suspense.

"I got a call from-

"I know I'm the one who just called you." said Haley butting in Lucas' sentence to annoy him, fortunately it didn't work, and the smile was still there, permanent.

"Sorry to deceive you, but no. Coach Whitey called me, he wants me on the team!" said Lucas to Haley. His best friend quickly started to scream. No wonder he was happy!

"Oh my god! It's just...AMAZING!" then she hugged him, inattentive to the fact that he was driving and that it could eventually cause an accident.

"I'm driving Hales." said Lucas to the excited girl sitting

next to him, almost strangling him. She released him quickly but she had caught Lucas' contagious smile. She couldn't wipe it off. "You know how much it will be fatal, me in a car accident when I'm about to be part of the basket-ball team! I would like to at least set a foot on the basket-ball court of Tree Hill high!"

"What about me? What if I'd be in a coma and living between life and death?" asked Haley, over dramatizing at her best friend going egoistical on her. He just looked her with a big smile.

"What would I do without? Please, don't make me lose my best friend! How selfish of me!" shouted Lucas, mimicking his best friend's attitude.

He parked his car; a small sigh escaped his lips, his smile starting to disappear as he entered his mother's café. Haley followed him quickly, and eyed his expression.

"Luke did you tell your mom?" asked the small brunette starting to worry at her best friend's sudden change of mood. Lucas didn't answer Haley; he knew that she would understand.

"Tell me what?" asked Karen, watching the two of them with a nice smile. The dark haired woman waited for someone to answer. Haley spoke up to break the silence.

"He has some great news! Oh, by the way, can I get myself a big cup of coffee?" said Haley flashing a smile, Karen simply nodded in her direction and it was Haley's time to let the coast clear for the two others to discuss.

Sure, she was glad for her friend, she knew how much he liked basket-ball. But, she also knew how hard it will be for him to enter the team, to be accepted, especially if Nathan almost owned the team. It will be difficult for him to be part of a complete different world. She knew that he wasn't a "jock" material. Lucas' mother will freak out when she hears the news; she will be sucked back in the world of Dan Scott, the man that had shattered the woman. How could someone be so heartless? How could you pretend that someone that lives in the same town as you isn't your son? Lucas' deserved a father and he deserved to be happy, but all his life he was living, thinking about what happened to his mom.

"WHAT?" asked Karen. The woman on the other side of the counter looked horrified at the idea of her son walking in his father's footsteps. The once happy mother looked as she was about to cry. Lucas looked so hurt; she had never him like that, like his dreams had just been shattered.

"I knew would react like this!" exclaimed Lucas, about to leave the place ignoring the customers' stares. Just as when Karen was about to follow him, one middle-aged woman stopped her.

"Let him go Karen, your boy needs to think. At his age, he has to face some frustrations." said the woman to Karen, with compassion.

"You must be right, want another coffee?" As she turned to serve the lady some coffee she saw Lucas's friend about to leave. "Haley take care of him." said Karen in the brunette's direction. Haley simply nodded back at her and followed Lucas, out of the café, she was thankful that it had stopped raining.

"Luke, wait!" shouted Haley, running after him. "Look I know you're mad at your mom but you know as well as I do that her reaction would resemble to that. You also have to consider that your mom didn't really expect that to happen, it simply took her by surprise." said Haley, trying to reason her friend's anger. Lucas stopped and turned to her, he still looked angry. She gently put her on his shoulder, he knew she was right but at the same time he felt hurt. "Plus, your mom would never hurt you on purpose. I know how much you wanted her to be happy for you." finished Haley with a cornered smile. She linked her arm with his, and led him to the Rivercourt, the place where her friend liked to think and talk with her.

Few minutes later they arrived to the deserted basket-ball court. As they took a seat on the old picnic table a car pulled up on the street, and not any car. Nathan got out of the car sided with Tim and two nameless jocks that were a complete waste of oxygen. As if we needed more idiots on the surface of the Earth, they had to be there in front of Haley and Lucas, trying to make an impression. Nathan had confident smirk on his face; his hands were in his pockets and looked as if he was on top of the world. He walked slowly right in front of Lucas, they were face to face.

"I heard that you are on the team." stated Nathan with an arrogant tone. Lucas looked as angry as he was few minutes ago.

"What does it do to you anyway?" asked Lucas confronting his brother that was definitely not here to welcome him on the team.

"Because it's my team and I don't want you in It." simply answered Nathan with a sly smug on his features.

"What, we need the accord of the great Nathan Scott to make any decision? Look you may think that your ruling the town, but you're obviously not ruling on the people in It. Plus, it's not like daddy dearest begged the coach to make me enter." said Lucas, insulting his own father, his own blood, with pure hatred. Nathan didn't say anything back at him; he was satisfied to get to Lucas that way.

Lucas hated the boy standing in front of him, like he was a king. The two nameless jocks walked in Lucas's direction as Nathan slowly led the way. Haley didn't like what was going on. She quickly glanced at Nathan and he caught her watching. She decided to interfere by putting herself between the two tough jocks and Lucas. She knew that she wasn't Joan of Arc, but at least she could try.

"Oh, that his so cute Lucas as a cute little girl to defend him." said stupid Tim. The two jocks chuckled at his comment.

"I'm not here to do that, and he won't have to defend himself because nothing will happen here. You guys think you're so tough because you're in the great company of Nathan Scott, get yourselves a life. Between you and me, I wouldn't like to be at his service. Look, don't you two have better things to do? Leave him alone he didn't do anything to you!" said Haley walking to them, trying to be strong in front of them. Inside she was scared, but at this instant she didn't care. Nathan watched her, she looked angry.

Then one of the two jocks pushed her on the wet grass. She was taken aback; she had to admit that she was surprised at his attack. She stood up immediately, covered with mud. Nathan and Tim were quite stunned to see her standing up again. She was on fire and if looks could kill she would have killed the nameless jock in a matter on seconds. Lucas lounged at him and punched him right on the jaw. He hit him so hard that he heard a bone crack. Haley went to him and pulled him with all her might wanting to stop him.

"Lucas! Stop it, there are not worth it." At this instant he stopped and shot a death glare at his brother. Haley's and Nathan's eyes locked, he saw the hatred that she felt for him. He never saw someone looking at him way, like he was dirt. He felt uncomfortable, he wanted to leave.

"That's what you tell them to do, to push girls around like that, like they're nothing!" shouted Lucas at Nathan with profound disgust. His voice was so threatening that Haley had chills running down her spine. She never saw him like that.

"We're leaving, we better get back to your party Tim." said Nathan, his arrogant expression gone. They started to follow him, except for Tim. He looked at the brunette with a guilty face.

"Are you okay Haley?" asked Tim, his hands in his pockets. She slowly nodded at him, and he left. To her surprise, this guy, after all the rumours about him, actually had a functional brain. She looked back at Lucas who was holding his slightly injured hand.

"I'm sorry that you have a friend that puts into so much trouble like Me." said Lucas referring to her being pushed in the mud. She looked at him with a small smile.

"I would never have another friend than you Luke. Never." said Haley with pure honesty followed by a huge hug.

Nathan watched the two of them hug. He knew that it was something that he could never have. It bothered him that Lucas had a friend like that, a real friend. He envied him for having something that meant so much and that was priceless. Haley saw Nathan looking at them, and she saw the small glimpse of sadness on his features. When he realised that she was looking at him, he turned around and got to his car. He left them alone; he knew that this was just the beginning.

Later that night, Haley had taken a well earned shower. She entered her room and had let herself fall on her bed. She was contemplating her sealing, thinking about what had happen today. So much had happen to her that day, first she got stuck by tutoring Nathan and then she got pushed in the mud by his idiotic followers. But at least one good thing happened; she was there to witness the reconciliation between Lucas and Karen.

Haley's thoughts suddenly drifted to Nathan and how he looked so sad when he saw her and Lucas hugging. It was like he wanted to be part of that. What did he want exactly? She was intrigued by him and the way he acted. One minute he could be the world's biggest jackass and the next he was the complete opposite. He was constantly putting on a façade as if he wanted to protect himself from something. He was scared of showing who he really was, but that certainly wasn't an excuse to treat people like that. It revolted Haley to see him torture her best friend.

She let out a sad sight and yawned, she had had a tiring day and she needed to have a goodnight sleep. She turned off the lights and covered herself with her warm sheets. She slowly drifted to sleep; she wanted to have a peaceful sleep. She fell asleep but few minutes after, her slumber got interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. She opened her lamp and picked up the phone. She waited for someone to talk on the other line.

"Look, I don't know who the hell I'm talking with but frankly I couldn't care less. So I'm gonna hang-

"If I were you, I would look out for your boyfriend." said a drunken voice on the other end. Haley frowned at the voice, she recognized it. "Because if you don't, you're only going to watch him suffer and I know that it isn't what you want."

"Nathan your cover is blown. Don't ever call me and don't even bother to show your face on Monday!" shouted Haley angrily, how could he menace her like that. "You're an asshole, I thought I could give you the benefit of the doubt but forget it!" and she hung up. She was shaken up by his call; she never knew she could have this kind of reaction from a meaningless phone call. She brought her knees to her face and she didn't know what to do or think about it. Was he serious about hurting Lucas?

She had hung up on him. He chuckled to himself, he thought it was funny. He got himself another beer and got back to the party where he left it. He walked to his intoxicated girlfriend that was feeling pretty festive tonight; he knew that he was going to get some candy.

The curly blonde greeted him with a wet and sensual kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he put his hands on hips predatorily. She stopped the kissing and bit her upper lip. She looked up at him with want in her eyes. They both went into a random room that was empty. He let her kiss him with hunger even though his thoughts were elsewhere. She started to whisper words in his ears as he looked at her. He saw the lust in her eyes, she wanted him. He crashed his lips down with hers, thinking about crashing the ones of a small brunette. This thought freaked him out, but he continued to kiss Peyton. What they were doing was the only thing that they both looking for, it didn't have any emotion, there was only want and need in their relationship.

Even if Nathan had everything: the money, the car, the popularity and the girl, he still felt miserable. But as long as no one would notice it, he got it covered.

Monday morning, Haley was in her tutoring office doing a little bit of paper work. She heard someone knock on the door and it was the janitor. She got up and opened the door to him.

"What is it Mr Sanchez?" asked Haley to the old man in a good mood. She had a messy ponytail and a nice red vintage t-shirt along with a pale pair of jeans. Nathan noticed how she looked so natural.

"I know that you said that you weren't waiting for anyone but he showed up, I thought that I could come to make sure." informed the man in front of her referring to the tall boy behind him. She looked over the janitor's shoulder, and sighed, it was Nathan.

"It's okay. Come in Nathan." said Haley with a fake smile. "Thank you Mr Sanchez."

After Nathan entered the door she gently closed the door. She spun on her heels and looked at him, furious.

"What are you doing here?" asked Haley, beginning to turn red at the presence of Nathan.

"Not even a small 'Hello' to your student." said the dark-haired boy with a fake pout.

"I don't want to hear your bullshit, get out now!" exclaimed Haley pointing the door at him. He didn't look frightened at all, he simply smirked at her, he wasn't about to move. The not so tall Haley wanting to rip his head off, he had the guts to show his face.

"You're either really stupid or you don't what you're doing. I suggest that you leave." said Haley with a low voice that indicated her fury. The small girl looked at him; he just smirked at him which made her roll her eyes at his gesture. How could he always look so confident?

"Make me." retorted Nathan. She looked at him and she pushed him with all of her might, but it was useless, he was like a stone wall. She sighed and put her hands on her hips.

"You're acting like a baby, I want you to leave."

"I don't want to."

"Why? Since I'm obviously not going to tutor you." asked Haley waiting for answer. He moved closer to her, he was like a tower to her, she felt so small now.

"Because you and I both know that you have no choice." Nathan could be pretty persistent, but Haley wasn't about to let him win.

"I have a choice Mr-I-think-that-the world-revolves-around-me and seeing that you won't leave. I will." affirmed Haley leaving him alone in the now cold office. He quickly followed her. He grabbed her by her arm and she tried to yank it away, but his grasp was too strong.

"I know I was an ass-

"Ass is an understatement for all the stunts that you pulled on me lately. I mean, how dare you call me in the middle of the night and threaten me!" He looked at her surprised; his grasp was less strong and it was the appropriate moment to pull her arm away from him and she started to walk back to the room.

"I called you?" asked Nathan, not believing what he had just heard. He sounded honest, Haley turned to look at him. He looked confused and she just nodded. He walked to her and as he got closer, Haley didn't know what to do. It was like she had frozen on the spot.

"I don't remember." said Nathan to her with honesty. He couldn't believe that he had called her. She entered her office and made a sign for him to follow her. "What did I say?" asked the dark-haired boy, concerned about what stupidity he could have said to freak her out.

"I don't really want to repeat It." blurted out Haley, starting to get agitated at the idea of her best friend getting hurt.

"What did I say?" asked Nathan again, his eyes staring back at hers. "I mean did I say something with something that could have sounded like: "I want you I need you oh baby. Or did it sound like some crappy romantic love song?" humoured Nathan cracking a smile at her, letting his guards down. Haley let out a small laugh, but got serious again.

"Let's just say that it freaked me out to hear you talk to me like that. You threatened me at 2 o'clock in the morning! I mean, I got a call from a drunken version of you telling to watch out for my boyfriend! Considering the fact that I have no boyfriend, I knew that you were talking about harming Lucas and that I couldn't take. I got pushed in the mud for him and I can do more than that, I don't care if I get humiliated!" babbled Haley, out of control and mad at herself for acting this way. "If you think that you can use the fact that I'm tutoring you to hurt him, I swear to God that I won't be responsible for my actions! And I-

"Okay, calm down!" said Nathan, not registering everything that she had just said to him. "I totally didn't plan do make you fall in the mud and to-

"It's the least of my problems that I got dirty, but it's another one to see my friend suffer because of a jerk like you." said Haley, interrupting him and having a verbal fight with him. She was a nice person by nature, but let's just say that she wasn't custom made to endure this kind of individual. Nathan was used to hear his girlfriend talk to him like that, but he was kind of shocked to hear Haley talk like that about his brother, like he was the most important thing in her life.

"Why are you defending him so-

"You don't expect me to explain to you, you don't even know what having a friend means!" exclaimed Haley; she knew she had said something out of hand. Nathan looked as if he got slapped across the face. She saw his features hardened and his eyes get darker.

"Well, I guess I'll see you this after noon, right?" asked Nathan on the point of leaving, avoiding eye contact with her. She felt so guilty. She didn't want to be so mean toward him; he was bringing the bad out of her. She walked to him and touched his forearm lightly, enough to send electric bolts in Nathan's spine. He never had felt like that in his life. He turned to face her; he saw the guilt in her eyes. He never acted so mellow dramatic around anyone, but it was like she was the only one to get to him.

"Look, I'm sorry. I never meant to go this out of hand, I'm never like that, I can't really explain it but-

"Don't, it's easy to see that you hate me."

"It's not like you give any chance to feel otherwise." He started to walk away from her and he left her alone, this time it was her that was standing alone in the hallway while he was going out. He was boiling inside, he was mad at himself for letting her get to him, getting under his skin.

Did you like it? I pretty sure you readers know the drill and that you don't need any instruction...

Come on don't be shy and click that 'REVIEW" button.

I know that someone would really appreciate some feedback.

Angel Oscura