Lies are Kinder
Chapter Eleven.
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 couldn't wait for the bell to ring and to signify the start of her weekend. She watched the clock above the teacher's desk and according to it the bell should have gone a minute and a half ago. Haley was getting annoyed at the stupid contraption.
It had been two days since she had talked to Nathan after history and Haley had learned that it's hard work avoiding somebody that you share three class' a day with. It was time consuming and totally exhausting.
Haley immediately started shoving her book and note pad in her bag hearing the piercing ring of the bell. "Haley can I speak with you for a second." Haley inwardly groaned at her Italian teacher. She waited for the classroom to empty before approaching her teacher.
"Yes Mrs.?" Haley said making her presence known. "Ah Haley I just wanted to tell you that you have done a great job raising Nathan's English grade." Mrs. Jones smiled widely at her top student and handed her his paper.
Haley just remembered that Mrs. Jones also taught Nathan English. Taking the paper that was presented to her, Haley couldn't help but smile at Nathan's 89 he received on his last assignment. Haley's teacher gathered her books and papers and pulled out her keys to her class ready to lock it for the weekend.
"Haley, why don't you look over that and give it back to him when you're done." Haley walked to the door not really listening to her teacher but reading through Nathan's paper.
Hearing the clatter of keys pulled Haley from her little world and she finally registered what her teacher had told her to do. It was too late; Haley watched the silver Honda pull out of the car park and she let out a loud sigh.
Haley shoved the paper into her bag and set out walking to the café. She had work for a couple of hours and then she was going to the weekly basketball game. After mentally listing the pros and cons, Haley decided to give his paper to him after the game.
000
Haley was distracted all through her shift at the café. She was going through in her mind what she would say to Nathan when she would give him his paper. 'Great mark?'... nah... 'I guess you don't need a tutor anymore?'... nope... 'You're a jerk and an idiot and I want nothing more to do with you'... and we have a winner.
Haley tried to focus on her work, pushing her thoughts of Nathan to the back her mind, she wiped down the counter for the millionth time in the past three hours. She was pulled from her thoughts of trying not to think of Nathan when a blonde woman walked in and began talking with Karen.
Haley took off her apron and shuffled behind the counter getting her bag. "Karen, I'm going to head off now." Haley spoke to the older brunette. "Ok Haley, hold on there a second and I'll get your pay-check." Karen said, then disappearing into the back.
"You're Haley..." the blonde woman questioned while Haley just smiled and nodded. "... would you be Nathan's tutor by any chance?" Haley cringed just realizing that the woman in front of her was Nathan's mother.
"Well yeah... but not anymore." She informed Deb who was delighted that she had finally met the girl who had helped her son. Deb took in the young girl's gloomy expression. "Nathan told me about that but he seemed to be doing well, why stop now?" she asked truly wanting an answer to why they had discontinued the sessions.
"Well... agh... there... it just wasn't working." Haley stuttered. She cursed Nathan for putting her in this position. Deb smiled telling her she wasn't being interrogated which calmed Haley somewhat. "I'm just saying it's a pity... you're good for him."
Haley didn't have a chance to respond as Karen came back to the counter with her pay-check. Haley gave a weak smile to both women and quickly made her exit.
All the way to the Tree Hill gym, Haley couldn't stop thinking of what Nathan's mother had said. "..you're good for him". She racked her brain thinking of how wrong the older woman was. Ever since they had started this thing both of their lives had been thrown into complete and utter ciaos. Nothing good had come from it. Had there?
000
Haley must have gotten off work early because when she reached the gym there were only a few occupants. She had agreed to meet mouth outside so Haley took a seat on the bench outside waiting for him. Haley sat fidgeting with her bag strap to entertain herself before everybody started to arrive.
The small brunette knew that the players came earlier to get ready and syke themselves up for the game but she was at least forty-five minutes to wait. Haley had already formulated a plan just in case Nathan came earlier than the other players. At seven she would just take a little walk and wait for him to go inside.
It was just easier to talk to him after the game instead of before, she thought to herself not realizing she was procrastinating the obligatory conversation. Haley was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Nathan's jeep pull up into the parking lot.
Nathan got out of his jeep and grabbed his bag from the back. He didn't usually come this early but he had a lot of pent up anger that was going to undoubtedly surface during the game. So he decided to come and get some of his emotions out beforehand.
Haley's head sprang up hearing a door slam. She couldn't believe her luck when she noticed the tall brunette coming her way. He hadn't seen her yet and Haley contemplated making a run for it. 'No.' she silently commanded herself. She was going to do this now.
She sat on the edge of the bench waiting for him to notice her. He didn't. Nathan was about to walk right past her when she just swallowed her pride. "Nathan?" he didn't even look at her. Haley reached out and caught his arm before he could get past her.
Nathan looked startled when he felt a hand on his forearm. He reached and pulled off his headphones and looked down at the owner of the small hand. "Haley? What are you doing here?" he asked as she pulled her hand away. "Just came a bit early." Haley smiled awkwardly.
Nathan didn't make eye contact, he found something 'interesting' in the background. "Yeah I can see that." He answered callously. Haley just decided to ignore his hostile tone and get on with what she had to do.
"I have something for you..." she said pulling his paper out of her bag. "...you got an 89. That's great." Haley smiled proudly, handing him the A4 pages. Nathan bit the insides of his mouth as to suppress his smile. He did want to make her proud; it was her that got him that grade. If she hadn't been helping him he would be looking at a big fat F.
"Yeah. Who gave this to you?" he said shoving the paper in his bag without even looking at it. Haley turned back so that now she wasn't facing him. He was mad with her and with no real reason. "Mrs. Jones" she answered bluntly. 'Two could play at this game'. She thought to herself.
Nathan watched the petite girl practically ignore him. "Oh..." Nathan's bag was starting to weigh him down so he took a seat beside Haley. She flinched at his sudden movement but started to relax after a minute. The two teenagers sat in silence for a few minutes.
"What did you tell your mom?" Haley asked looking at him for the first time since he sat down. Nathan squinted his eyes in confusion. "Huh?" Haley took a deep breath and was ready to explain everything that happened at the café but decided against it. "Nothing."
"No, what do you mean 'tell your mom'." Nathan enquired turning slightly towards her. "She was at the café and she just knew who I was." Nathan nodded now knowing what she was talking about. "Oh I had to tell her where I was going..." Nathan looked down at his feet and started to redo his lace. "...the other night." He answered gulping down a breath of air.
"About the other night..." Haley started, until she saw Nathan getting up from the bench. Nathan looked down at the confused look on Haley's face. "That's my cue to leave." He said matter-of-factly. Haley got up and stood face to face with him. "Why?" Haley said, baffled at his reaction.
"Why?... because I really don't feel like doing this right now Haley. Ok?" he shouted while fixing his bag on his shoulder. "Why are you mad at me? You were the one who kissed me!" Haley shouted equaling his volume. "Yeah, well everybody makes mistakes." He replied in a low voice before turning and walking away from the tearful brunette.
Haley watched as Nathan walked away from her and entered the building. She dropped back onto the bench tears threatening to spill over her face any second. Haley got up and slowly strolled in the direction of her house. She was in no mode for a basketball game.
000
Lucas stood behind a tree flabbergasted at what he had heard. 'What the hell am I gonna do?' he asked himself as he watched his best friend walk away wiping her damp checks with her sleeve.
God, that took me so long to finish. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can which will probably be next weekend. So look out for it. And there should only be a couple of more chapters left, like about three or four.
I found out the last day that the word blond/blonde is used according to the gender of the person and I would like to thank Endless Dark from for that tid bit of information.
Sara: Yeah I love all birthdays except mine... I'm kinda weird like that. Lol. Well tell me when you get your story up and I will defiantly read and review it. Thanks for taking the time to review. Sarah.