She's The Blade

Everybody Is Just A Stranger

Taylor walked into the high school for her first day. It was different than her high school back in LA. The kids seemed closer to each other than back home. She smiled sweetly at the young boys who winked and whistled her way; Taylor was used to the attention. Taylor walked into the gym and saw Felix and Brooke making out. Taylor's jaw dropped and she watched Felix touch Brooke's lips and then walk away.

Brooke smiled as he walked out the gym door and Taylor walked up to Brooke with an upset look on her face, "You're still with him?" She yelled.

"Taylor…" Brooke said as she wiped her lips quickly, "I…I'm in love with him."

Taylor looked down at the gym floor; obviously hurt, "I thought…I thought we were friends," she said as she started to cry, but held back the tears, "He's hurt me before, Brooke, and he tried it again," Brooke looked down in disappointment, "I don't want him to hurt you," Taylor said and put her hand on Brooke's shoulder.

"I have to go," Brooke said as she walked away and put her head in her hands. Taylor heard footsteps behind her, and she turned and saw Lucas who had obviously just seen everything. Taylor bit her bottom lip and headed out of the gym.

Taylor sat in her apartment on the couch while she ate a tub of Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream. She heard a knock on the door and rolled her eyes. Taylor got up and answered the door and saw Nathan standing there, "Hey," she said slightly confused, but still happy that he was there.

"How are you feeling?" Nathan asked as he stood straight as an arrow.

Taylor noticed this, "Um, I'm doing fine…What's up?"

"I saw you kissing Lucas!" He said angrily.

Taylor put her hands on her hips and sighed in annoyance, "So now you're stalking me?"

"No," Nathan spat.

Taylor rolled her eyes, "We're not together Nathan! Remember? I was a mistake!" She yelled sarcastically.

Nathan stood there for a second and then walked away. Taylor's eyes began to burn and she sighed softly to herself. She closed the door slowly and went back over to the couch and lay down.

Nathan walked to the river court and saw Lucas shooting around. Lucas took another shot and then wiped the sweat from his brow, "Hey man," he said to Nathan, "What's up?"

"I think I should be asking you that," Nathan said, "I didn't know you and Taylor were a couple," he said cynically.

Lucas sighed and dropped the basketball, "We kissed. That's all that happened…"

"You know," Nathan said, "You made Haley leave! I don't want you to take Taylor away from me!" Nathan screamed, and Lucas could see that his little brother was losing it. Nathan picked up the basketball that had rolled to his feet, and threw it at Lucas and missed him by a hair.

Lucas ducked and glared at Nathan, "What the hell is wrong with you?" He screamed, but Nathan just walked away, "Are you into her?" Nathan stopped walking for a beat, but then continued on.

Taylor sat on a swing in the park and slowly hummed to herself as she rested her head against the chain. Everywhere she went drama followed; it was a bad habit. She heard leaves rustling and saw Nathan coming towards her. He sat down beside her and took a deep breath, "Chris came by the other day…"

Taylor looked at Nathan, "What did he say?" She asked.

"I know about you past…" He said, and Taylor looked away, "The beatings, the rape, and everything…"

Taylor looked down at the dirt, "I've had a rough life Nathan…"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nathan asked.

"I don't like people feeling sorry me," Taylor answered, "And…I don't trust people easily because then that gives them the opportunity to hurt me easier…"

Nathan ran his hand through his short hair, "Whoever the guy that raped you was a complete idiot…I mean, I know Felix tried a couple days ago, but the guy who actually did it…God, what a dick," Nathan said and then looked at Taylor.

"Yeah," Taylor said softly.

Nathan looked up at the sky, "I miss her Taylor…I miss her a lot."

"Haley?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah," Nathan said and still looked up at the sky, "Do you think she'll ever come back?"

Taylor bit her bottom lip, "She'd be stupid if she didn't…"

Nathan looked at Taylor and he smiled, "I feel like I've known you forever…"

"Because you've had sex with me?" Taylor asked with a little bit of cattiness in her voice.

Nathan shook his head, "No…Because you're the only person that I could ever really open up to…You're here; right now; with me…"

"I just don't understand why you can't be here for me when I need you the most," Taylor said as her voice got raspy, "You hurt me…"

Nathan looked at Taylor, and for the first time didn't see the sexy, strong, tough chick, but the shy, sad, little girl, "I didn't mean what I said," he began, "About you being a mistake…"

"Then why'd you say it?" Taylor asked sadly.

Nathan dug his hands in his pockets, "I was scared," Taylor looked at him in confusion, "I was scared, because for the first time I was with another girl and I didn't once think about Haley…All I cared about was being with you, and that scared the shit out of me," he said truthfully.

"I'm sorry I kissed Lucas," Taylor said; Nathan nodded in understanding, "He's a really great guy, and it was nice to have somewhere there…"

Nathan bit the inside of his cheek, "It just sucked because I was the guy who was supposed to be there…But I was too busy wallowing in my own shit."

"Life is so fucking complicated," Taylor said with a small laugh; Nathan laughed as well.

"I should get going," Nathan said, "Do you need a ride?"

Taylor shook her head, "I'm just going to hang out around here for a little…I talk to you later."

Nathan smiled, "Bye Taylor," he said and there stood there for a second, wondering whether or not he should kiss her or not. Taylor looked away from him, and Nathan walked away.

"Felix was the guy, Nathan," Taylor said softly to herself as she watched Nathan walk to his car.

Taylor walked into Lucas's room and saw him sitting on his bed reading, "What a nerd," she teased.

Lucas looked up from his book and smiled, "It's late…"

"It is," Taylor said and then sat on his bed, "I just want us to be friends…" She began.

"Is this about the kiss we had the other night?" Lucas asked.

Taylor smiled, but shook her head, "That kiss was…Amazing," she said, and Lucas smiled, "I just think…We're better off friends."

"I agree," Lucas said and rubbed Taylor's shoulder.

"Besides," Taylor said with a mischievous grin, "You're so into Brooke…"

Lucas laughed, "And how do you know that?"

Taylor rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself, "It's obvious, Luke," she said to him with a reassuring pat on the back.

Lucas laughed and shook his head, "You know…You're really something else," he commented.

"I know," Taylor said with a wink, "I'm crashing here for the night," she said as she got up from the bed.

Lucas sat up, "You have the bed…"

Taylor smiled, "Are you sure?" She asked.

"I insist," Lucas said and took a pillow and a blanket for himself, and then laid down on the floor.

Taylor sighed as she fully lay down, "Thanks," she said.

"You're welcome," Lucas said and then rolled over on his side, "Hey Taylor…"

Taylor yawned, "Yeah?"

"Do you like Nathan?" Lucas asked.

Taylor shrugged to herself, "I used to think I did…"

Nathan patted down his pillow as he got ready for bed. He laid his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes in peace. He heard a loud knock on the door and he groaned, "Hold on!" He yelled and then got out of bed and headed towards the door, "Who the hell knocks this late?" He said to himself and then answered the door. The door opened and Nathan saw Haley standing there looking very nervous, "…Haley?"

"Hi Nathan," Haley said softly, and then walked into the apartment.

On The Next One Tree Hill:

Nathan's Apartment:

Haley: (Kisses Nathan) I need to talk to you before I leave…

Nathan: (Pulling back from Haley) You're not here to stay for good?

Haley: (Sighing) Only for a couple of days…

Lucas's House:

Lucas: So she's back?

Nathan: (Looking relieved, but nervous) She's back.

Chris's Studio:

Taylor: (Upset) So you think you're just going to prance your ass back in Tree Hill, give Nathan a little somethin' somethin', and then everything will be okay? Well Haley! It's not going to be okay…

Haley: (Crying Softly) I came back to give him closure! At least now he'll know why I'm leaving.

Taylor: (Angry) You don't care about anyone else, but yourself! You don't care who you step on just as long as you get your own fucking way!

River Court:

Taylor: I love him, Luke…I love Nathan.

Nathan: (Standing behind Taylor) You love me?

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