Chapter 24,
Haley laughed and smiled at the man sitting across from her. They were drinking coffee and Mark was telling Haley about his life in Europe. Haley hugged the coffee cup tightly with her fingers. Mark paused for a moment and took a drink of his coffee.
"I've lived in Spain, Berlin, Paris, you name a play and I've probably live there." He said laughing. "I love traveling. And when the kids in America return to school in the fall, I'm a French teacher." He said with a small smile.
He was a lot older than he looked Haley thought in indeed interesting. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
"I'm twenty-three." He said with another smile.
"I just graduated two months ago... I'm still trying to adjust to living alone."
"Yeah especially in France. You never know when something will happen…you just gotta watch out for yourself more here."
"So do you like teaching kids French? I took three years of the language and I barley understand when someone starts talking…" Haley said with a laugh.
"Yeah, I love being a teacher…its not the highest paying job I could have right now, but I like it. And the kids like it."
"So tell me about this boyfriend, are you two committed to each other?" Mark paused for a moment and continued talking, "Its isn't any of my business I know, but don't you think he would have boarded a plane and flew here for you?"
"I really don't know anymore. Lucas and I would never go a day without talking, he'd call me before bed and when I woke up in the morning I would call him. But when I moved here, I guess he thought there was no way for us to be together. I'm here, and he's there, there wasn't a break up. We both just figured it was over."
Was she really saying that? Over? She didn't realize how true the words were before they shot right out of her mouth. Were her and Lucas over? Would she never be able to touch his face, or kiss his cheek anymore? Would she never get to hold him in her arms and tell him she loved him? Haley couldn't sort through all the emotions that suddenly surfaced. Maybe it was the wine that Mark had ordered her or, reality.
She placed her hands over her face and breathed in deep. So many memories just lost now. Paris wasn't her, she didn't want to stay here feeling locked away from the world. She wasn't a city person or an Artistic person. Was she just running away from what was real? In truth it had been Haley's choice to leave Tree Hill, after so many people told her it was wrong. Was she just too stubborn and pig headed that she didn't look and make her own choice. Here she was in a crowded café on a Paris street corner so many miles from everything she had ever known, and a complete mess.
"Haley are you okay, you look as if your going to faint." Mark said touching her hand lightly.
Haley tried to look deeper into Mark's face; she tried to imagine what her life would be without Lucas.
"Haley are you there?" Mark said a little louder.
Haley suddenly stopped staring and pulled her hand away from him. "I have to go to the restroom." She said pushing her chair out.
Haley stood up and the floor seemed to spin underneath her. The faces of the people around her seemed to shrivel and look at her tastelessly. She reached out for a hand, but there was no one to grab her. She suddenly toppled to the hard floor; eyes closed hands clinched.
"Madame est vous approuve ?" (Mam are you okay?) A woman from the next table called out.
Voices came from every where. Mark quickly rushed over to her and tried to wake her. "Appeler une ambulance rapidement!" (Call an ambulance) He screamed out into the restaurant.
(A/N- a little change in setting…. go with it…everything will be explained in the end)
Haley took a look around her; she was standing in the museum in front of her favorite painting. A weird feeling came over her as she looked around her. It was like she had seen it all before.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" A voice whispered into Haley's ears.
I've always thought so." Haley said smiling at the guy next to her. She could tell by his voice he was American.
"I've always wondered what Leonardo was thinking when he painted this." He said.
It was only then that Haley got a good look at him. He has brown hair, deep green eyes and a great smile. A smile that she had seen so many times before. "Nathan!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah," He said nodding.
"Why are you here? I mean what happened? Is something wrong with Luke?" She said with panic in her voice.
"No I just came to Paris to see you." He said leaning closer to her.
"Nathan, this is why I left Tree Hill."
"I thought if we had a real chance to talk, you'd change your mind."
"I'm with Lucas!" She said with a deep sigh, "Nathan I'm in college. You flew half way around the world for me to tell you what you already knew!" She said turning her back to him.
"Wait, Halz!" He said grabbing her arm, 'Just talk to me, please?" He pleaded with her.
A museum guard quickly walked over to them, "Miss, is this guy bothering you?"
"No, I'm fine." Haley said. She grabbed Nathan's hands and walked him out of the museum. Once out of the museum Haley let go of Nathan's hand. "How could you do that to me?" She said her eyes full of rage. "You embarrassed me in a crowd of people." She continued.
"Haley you've been gone for three months I missed you." Nathan said his voice growing softer.
"That's not the point Nathan. We aren't together. I'm with Lucas. You can't just expect me to be happy about this."
"And tell me when Luke came up here to see you here?"
"It's none of your business."
"He hasn't has he? Luke is still in Tree Hill without you. Tell me this when was the last time you talked to him Halz?"
"Nathan you should go." Haley said forcefully.
"It kills you! You know that I'm right, I thought you'd be happy!"
"Happy about what?" She snapped back.
"Happy to see me."
'Well Nathan, you're very mistaken."
"Okay Halz, but right now, I'm the closest thing you got to home."
"I'm not listening to you anymore." She said walking away.
Nathan grabbed her wrist again and pulled her close to him, "Don't you miss the nights we use to have?" He said whispering in her ear. Haley tried to pull away from him, but he only squeezed her tighter.
"Let go of me Nathan!" She yelled.
Nathan forced her over behind the museum and into an alley. His body pressed her up against the cold brick.
Haley cringed as she felt Nathan's hands explore her body inside of her coat, "Don't touch me!" She screamed louder.
Her mind just went frantic; if someone could just hear her scream. Her hands balled into fists, and repeatedly punched Nathan in the back, but not even that could get him to let her go.
Suddenly Nathan's fingers swept against her belly button, and then moved to the zipper on her jeans. "No, can't we talk about this Nathan?" There was no use, he pulled her even closer and hastily unzipped her pants.
AN: Okay maybe I lied…there will be another chapter after this…I didn't realize how long this chapter was…lol
