Lies are Kinder

Chapter Ten.

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.

Haley scanned the cafeteria looking for Lucas. She finally spotted him sitting with Brooke near the back. As she walked down the small isle Haley spotted Nathan sitting with Tim and the rest of his b-ball crew. He hadn't notice her so Haley tried to move through the mass of students without being seen.

Nathan looked up from his sandwich and caught sight of her. She was pushing her way past the students coming in the opposite direction. Her chestnut brown hair hung loose around her shoulders. Nathan watched as she walked right past him and sat beside Lucas.

Haley could feel his eyes burning in the back of her head. She turned around and saw him watching her. He quickly turned his attention back to his lunch and tried to get her out of his mind.

"You ok? You look... distracted" Haley turned to look at her best friend she smiled and nodded hoping he would just leave it alone. Lucas tried to figure out what was wrong with Haley this past while. He had hoped everything was back to normal now that she wasn't tutoring Nathan anymore. But she was still... occupied.

Lunch ended way too quickly for Haley's liking. She and Nathan had history next class and Haley wasn't looking forward to being ignored. She sat in her usual seat near the front waiting for her teacher to arrive.

A few minutes into her teacher's lecture, Nathan still hadn't arrived. Haley lowered her head and tried to make sense of the notes she had just taken. Her head shot up after hearing the door creak open. Nathan walked in not paying attention to her at all. He spoke quietly to the teacher for a second and then looked for a seat. But the only one open was next to Haley.

Haley scrunched up her face. 'This is so typical' she thought to herself as she flipped through her history book looking for something interesting. She heard the chair beside her squeak as the legs slid on the tile floor. Haley unconsciously cringed at the noise.

Nathan shifted in his seat and took a glance at the girl beside him. He saw her cringe as he took out his book. 'Fine! I don't give a shit.' Nathan said to himself when he saw Haley's behavior towards him. Nathan decided to concentrate on his history.

Haley snapped out of her daydream when she heard the shuffle of books and chairs. 'The bell must have gone.' She said to herself while getting up and putting her books in her bag. She saw Nathan in her corner of her eye; he bent down and picked a pen up from the floor. It was now or never.

"Ah. Thanks for the book." Haley said giving him a small smile. Nathan looked at her and then shoved the pen in his bag. "It was your book." He replied gruffly. Haley inwardly groaned, she should have known that he would be like this.

"Ah... well I just wanted to say thanks." Haley responded hoping he would give her something to go with. "No need." Nathan countered. He stared directly into her eyes practically daring her to say something more. The staring contest the two were having was broken by Tim's sudden appearance.

"Hey man, I got the c.d. you wanted to borrow." Tim sentence seemed to fade when he felt the tension between his friend and the tutor. Nathan glanced at Tim and then back at Haley and when she didn't open her mouth to speak he cocked his head to one side. "Do you want something else?"

Nathan knew it sounded harsher than he had intended but right now he couldn't stand to look at her. It hurt too much. Haley's eyes widened at his question, she couldn't believe he was acting like this. 'He kissed me.' She screamed at herself silently.

"You're such a jerk." Haley whispered as she brushed past him. Haley's words were just audible for Nathan and Tim. Nathan closed his eyes hoping to block out what he had just heard. It didn't work.

Tim gave Nathan a questionable look. "What's up with that?" he asked waving his arm to where Haley had disappeared. "Nothing.... So where's the c.d." Tim stood motionless staring straight at his best friend. "Nate that's not 'nothing'... what's going on between you two? And man aren't you supposed to be getting her to like you... because it doesn't look like its working."

Nathan shot Tim a warning look and Tim immediately recognized this as a 'don't push me' kind of subject. So he dropped it. "Yeah the c.d. is in my locker."

Haley had ignored him the rest of the day. Nathan knew he had deserved it because he had been a complete asshole to her. He didn't want this. He didn't want to hurt her. But it was either hurt or be hurt.

O.k. I am so sorry for the wait but I have been so busy at school, doing essays, studying for tests and watching the corny-est movie for English. Yes I have to study 'Strictly Ballroom'.

Sara: Thanks for the review. Tell me what your story is called and I will definitely check it out. Oh and thanks I did have a good birthday. Please review again. Sarah.

Tardychick06: You're in a sling? What happened? Hope you are better soon and thanks for the encouragement. Sorry the update took me so long. Sarah.

Melphis: Sorry about the authors note. I just had to write a disclaimer because if I didn't I would have Brian Singer on my back about it. And I am again sorry about the late update... hey did I rhyme? Anyway hoped you liked this chapter. Sarah.

KELSEY: I'm thrilled that you like both my stories and that you have bookmarked them. Thanks for the review. Sarah.

Guys I love reviews, if you hadn't guessed that by now. So please tell me what you think and if you have any questions or suggestions please let me know.

I have a new fic now called

"Questions?" Naley- Two years on, both Nathan and Haley are left in the dark and neither knows it.

Please check it out and tell me what you think.

Oh I should have another update of "It Can't Be You!" up by the weekend.