Lies are Kinder
Chapter Eight.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the characters that aren't on the show. (Haley's family)
Summary: Haley has trouble over which brother to choose to stand by.
Pairings: Naley – Brucas
Rating: PG 13.
The author's note is at the end. Please read.
Nathan walked in his front door and slammed it behind him. The drive back from Haley's house emotionally drained Nathan. He couldn't stop thinking about her. About their kiss and 'god that was a good kiss'. And then Lucas happened. He wasn't even there yet he still could ruin it. Nathan closed his hand around Haley's book. After all that, he still had it.
Nathan was stopped in his tracks to his bedroom when he heard his mom behind him. "You know I'd like to keep that door." Deb let out a small smile letting Nathan know that she wasn't being serious. "Sorry." She noticed Nathan's voice was like his usual. He sounded beaten. "How did it go?" Deb asked her voice soft and inviting. She didn't want to push him. "Oh just great." Nathan called sarcastically back to her making his way upstairs.
Deb watched her son retreat upstairs. She knew he didn't want to talk about it so she would leave it for now. Deb silently cursed herself for never being there for Nathan. She spent most of her time on business trips and when she was home she worked. That was going to stop. 'I want to be a part of my son's life', she thought as she made her way back to the kitchen.
Haley didn't mention her 'visitor' to Lucas. 'Its not lying if he didn't ask' she told herself. Getting off the phone Haley heard her brother call her. "Yeah?" Haley poked her head into the TV room and saw John and Kelly sitting watching 'Friends' re-runs. "What did Nathan want?" John asked in a not so subtle tone. Haley's eyes darted from the TV to her brother shocked that he had asked her so abruptly. "He was leaving off a book." She tried to say it like it happened all the time.
"Where's the book?" Kelly had finally entered the conversation to Haley's displeasure. Haley's hand flew to her face when she remembered she hadn't gotten her book from him. "Let me guess there was no book?" Kelly offered. This brought Haley back from her thoughts. "No... there was a book... he just... he still has it." Haley just managed to get out. "He still has it... god he is such a jerk." Kelly was boiling up inside. Nathan Scott was playing with her little sisters head. And she didn't like it.
"He's not a jerk, Kelly." Haley bit out before she could realize that she was defending Nathan, which wouldn't go unnoticed to Kelly. "Haley he stole your book. He's up to something." Kelly was raising her voice louder and louder by the second. John stood up and shot a look at Kelly. He walked to the door leading into the hall and shut it. "Would you two keep it down or mom and dad are gonna here." Kelly knew his statement was mostly directed at her but she wasn't going to let this one go.
In a low voice Haley replied to Kelly. "God Kell he's not up to anything." Kelly stood up and gaped at her little sister. "Oh come on Haley, it's not exactly everyday that the 'star of tree hill' comes to visit you. He's up to something and you can't be naive enough to think otherwise." Kelly shot back, she hadn't meant it to come out so hateful but it did. Haley looked up at her sister. Haley couldn't believe she heard those words come from her own sister's mouth. "Thanks a lot Kelly." Haley said bitterly as she walked out of the room and upstairs.
"Oh good going Kelly. Really, well done." John said once Haley was out of ear shot. "Oh shut up John. What would you know?" Kelly spit back at him taking her seat on the couch and folding her arms in front of her. "Well for one I don't know Nathan Scott and neither do you. But Haley has good judgment and you should trust her to use it." John had made himself calm down. The last thing Haley needed was their dad finding out about this. Like Kelly he made up his mind about Nathan when he heard the stories that were told around town.
"Look John, this is Nathan Scott. Haley's judgment won't even make an appearance and you know that. She is going to make a big mistake if she goes after him." Kelly said not making eye contact with her twin. John looked down at Kelly from where he was standing and shook his head. "Well it's her mistake to make... and have you ever thought that maybe that it isn't." John headed for the door, he needed to let Kelly cool off before she blew up big time. "Isn't what?" Kelly asked turning around on the couch to face him. "Mistake. Maybe it isn't a mistake Kell." John answered before leaving her on her own.
John made his way upstairs and stopped outside Haley's room and knocked. "Yeah" John heard Haley call from inside giving him permission to go in. Her voice sounded weak and John could tell she was upset. Haley sat at her desk scribbling down notes for school. "Thanks for sticking up for me." Haley croaked out not turning from her desk. John looked at Haley; she must have heard them talking downstairs. "Anytime. She is just worried about you." John offered trying to explain Kelly's harsh words. "Well I wish she would be a silent worrier." Haley let a small smile appear on her face. She knew John was right. John spoke up after a minute of silence, "Hale's, do you like him?"
His question was straight forward and Haley thought her answer would be quick off her tongue but it wasn't. She opened her mouth fully intending for something to come out but after a few seconds she shut it again. Haley looked at John who had tilted his head waiting for an answer and in a way he got it. John nodded at his little sister letting her know that she didn't have to say it. Haley looked down at her feet and then back up to her brother. "How am I going to tell Lucas?"
Haley quickened her pace when she heard the bell ring for class. 'Stupid alarm.' Haley cursed her alarm for not waking her up this morning. She must have slept through it. She didn't get much sleep last night due to her encounter with Kelly and her conversation with John afterwards. Luckily she had a free first period so she went to the tutoring centre.
Entering the tutoring centre Haley saw Beth. She was one of the other tutors and the two got on quite well. "Hey Haley I didn't know you had a free period at this time." Beth asked smiling at her. "I do but I usually go to the library." Haley explained walking to her cubby. Each tutor in the school could use the centre when ever they wished and each had their own cubby. It kind of made Haley feel like a real teacher.
Haley stood staring at her cubby for a second not believing what she saw. Inside her cubby was her copy of 'Wuthering Heights'. Haley picked up her book and flipped through the pages to see if he had left a note or something. But there was nothing. She couldn't believe him.
"Yeah Nathan Scott came in and left that for you earlier." Beth offered an explanation when she saw Haley confused face. "Right of course he did." Haley muttered under her breath. Nathan must have taken his opportunity to give it back without her being there. "Oh and he told me to tell you that for not to bother on the getting him a new tutor." Beth recited off Nathan's previous words.
"Why are you not tutoring him anymore anyway?" Beth questioned her while returning to her desk. Haley fiddled with the cuffs of her jacket not making eye contact with Beth. "We just... didn't get along." Haley answered knowing full well it was a lie. She and Nathan did get along... and maybe just a little too much. Haley's hand unconsciously moved to her lips remembering their kiss. "A boy that hot you don't need to get along with." Beth said chuckling. Haley just smiled in response. She didn't want to talk about Nathan.
Haley needed to get away. Her only sanctuary bar the tutoring center was the library. Haley sat in the back near the 'Reference Only' section. She knew no one ever used these books. Haley sat with her health book in front of her. She was supposed to be studying. She wasn't going to be able to avoid him; he had English with her after lunch. 'God why did I have to kiss him back.' she yelled at herself. Haley looked around the near empty library then back to her hands. She had started picking at her nails. 'Why is he avoiding me?' Haley thought.
Smile1: Hey thanks for the encouragement. It's greatly appreciated. If you have anymore advice please tell me. Please keep reviewing. Thanks.
A.N: Hey guys. How's y'all doing? Sorry about the wait but I have stuff to do. Like for instance, homework. Don't ya just hate school? Stupid teachers with there tests and...well their breathing. Ok I'm going to stop ranting now.
This chapter kinda seemed to drag on a bit but I needed to get Kelly's dislike of Nathan in. Tell me what you think. R & R please cuz like no one is sooo please. (And be nice cuz it's my birthday. Yep I'm 17. It's such a crappy age nothing happens.)