And He's Just Paper
Out On The Moonlit Floor
Thanks to: iheartOTH, HalesNLukeBFF4ever, dentyne.fire, Agel15, Selene Romanov, and Mony19 for all of your great, great reviews!
Haley scrubbed down some counters at Karen's Café and sang along to the music. She heard the bell on the door ring and saw Taylor sit down at the counter.
"You called?" Taylor said as she looked at her nails and avoided Haley's gaze.
Haley sighed and set down the rag, "Yeah," Haley said as she got herself a cup of coffee, "I just…You know that Nathan and I have history," she began.
"History," Taylor repeated, "That's past tense right?" She asked sarcastically.
Haley took a sip of her coffee and sipped it slowly, "I don't want there to be a feud between us…"
"I agree," Taylor said, "But you do understand that that's impossible right?" She asked.
Haley tapped her nails on the counter and looked up at Taylor, "We can be friends…"
"Why are you acting like Nathan dumped me for you?" Taylor asked defensively, "Because, Nathan hasn't dumped me, and he isn't planning on dumping me."
"I didn't mean it like that," Haley said, "All I'm trying to say is that you, me, and Nathan have been through so much together the last year," she began, "I just…I know that there's tension between us."
Taylor scoffed, "Maybe because you're the ex wife and I'm the new girlfriend," she retorted.
"Taylor," Haley pleaded.
Taylor leaned in close to Haley, "Tell me why you're really here," she whispered, "Because if you're trying to get Nathan back I must warn you that I'm not going to give up like I did before," she threatened and then left the café.
xxx
Peyton walked down the street and stopped in front of Lucas's house. She took a deep breath and walked towards his house. Peyton knocked on Lucas's door lightly and waited there for a couple minutes; no one answered. Peyton sighed softly and walked away from the door. She took a step back when she saw Brooke standing right in front of her.
"Brooke," Peyton greeted her.
Brooke gave Peyton her best bitchy glare and put her hands on her hips, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm saying goodbye to Lucas," Peyton said as she wiped her eyes quickly, "But I guess I guess he's not home…"
"He won't miss you," Brooke said maliciously.
Peyton looked down at the ground and then back up at Brooke, "You know what?" She said and then slapped Brooke across the face.
Brooke held her cheek and glared at Peyton, "You stupid bitch!" She screamed and then lunged towards Peyton, but Peyton grabbed a handful of Brooke's auburn hair and threw her to the ground.
Peyton looked at the mess she had made, and put her hand over her mouth. She began to cry silently and walked away from Lucas's house.
xxx
Nathan and Haley walked into TRIC, and Haley looked around the place with a content smile on her face, "Did I mention I love this place?' She asked Nathan.
Nathan laughed and looked around a little bit for Taylor, "This is where you debuted…"
"Yeah," Haley said as she slipped her fingers through Nathan's, "It's been such a long time since we danced," she said with a warm smile as she looked up at Nathan.
Nathan laughed nervously and looked over towards the bar, "You thirsty?" He asked.
"Not really," Haley said as she rested her hand on Nathan's chest, "I'm just…I'm so glad that you brought me here tonight."
Nathan saw Taylor coming towards her and pulled his hand away from Haley's, "Hey baby," he said and hugged Taylor.
"Hey," Taylor said and then looked at Haley as the hug broke, "You look nice this evening, Haley."
Haley smiled, "Thank you," she said.
The three of them stood in uncomfortable silence until Taylor finally spoke up, "I'm planning on singing tonight for you," she said to Nathan.
Nathan put his arm around her, "Good luck babe," he said and then kissed her on the head, "I love you…"
"Love you too," Taylor said and then waved to the both of them. The music turned off and a spotlight went on stage to where Taylor was. She held her guitar comfortably in her hands and smiled out to the crowd.
Kiss me out of the bearded barley
Nightly, beside the green, green grass
Swing, swing, swing the spinning step
You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress.
Taylor sang and looked at Nathan; they shared a smile and Taylor strummed her guitar harder.
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me
Taylor winked at Nathan and he winked back. Haley noticed this and took Nathan's arm, "Dance with me?" She asked, "For old time's sake…"
"Alright," Nathan said apprehensively and then led Haley out onto the dance floor.
Kiss me down by the broken tree house
Swing me upon its hanging tire
Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat
We'll take the trail marked on your father's map
Taylor saw them dancing and looked away from the two of them. She saw people whispering and pointing; thinking that Haley and Nathan were going to be back together. She looked over towards Brooke who was staring at her from over Lucas's shoulder. They shared a look, and Taylor looked down at the ground.
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me
The song ended, and everyone cheered; Taylor walked off the stage and out of the building. Nathan looked at Haley and then everyone around him, "I have to go," he said to Haley and then let go of her.
Haley grabbed his arm and looked pleadingly into his eyes, "Nathan," she said, but he pulled away from her grasp, "Nathan," she said again as he made his way towards the exit.
"Haley I can't do this to her," Nathan said finally, "I can't!"
Haley backed away and bit her top lip, she opened her mouth to say something, but Nathan was already gone.
xxx
Taylor walked to the river court and saw Peyton strumming a guitar and singing softly to herself.
"Do I murder when I forget you from afar," Peyton sang as she strummed the guitar, "Too drunk on the poison of endless roads," she sang.
Taylor sat down beside her sister and finished the song, "And the countless smokey bars."
Peyton put down her guitar and lit a cigarette, "What are you doing here?"
"Nothing," Taylor mumbled and then took the cigarette out of her sister's mouth, "You know I hate when you smoke…"
Peyton laughed softly, "I know…"
"I'm sorry about earlier," Taylor began, "I was just in a bad mood, you know?"
Peyton sighed, "It's cool. I was going to head back to LA anyways," she said and then laid down on the bench and looked up at the stars.
Taylor laid down beside her and let the wind blow the hair out of her face, "I used to envy you," she began and then looked over to Peyton, "You never had any problems…"
Peyton's eyes got glossy and she bit her bottom lip, "I just ran away from my problems, kid," she said and then got up from the bench and walked away.
"What am I going to do?" Taylor screamed at her sister.
Peyton turned around and looked at her in confusion, "About what?"
"About Nathan," Taylor said; her voice raspy and dry.
Peyton wiped her eyes and put her hands in her pockets, "Love him…" She said simply and continued walking away.
xxx
Haley walked into Chris's studio and saw him playing his guitar in the booth. After he was done Haley clapped and cheered; Chris smiled at her and walked out of the booth, "Is that something new?" She asked.
"Yeah," Chris said as he set down his guitar, "It's about heart break and all that shit…"
Haley ran her fingers through her hair, "You know I appreciate everything you've done for me Chris," she began, "I just need to work on my marriage right now…"
"What marriage?" Chris asked, "You guys got a divorce!"
Haley crossed her arms and shrugged, "There's still a chance," she said hopefully, "He was the first guy I ever loved…"
"You don't know a god damn thing about love, sweetie," Chris said, "Or else you and I would…" He began, but then stopped.
Haley looked at him intently, "We would've what?" Haley asked but was cut off by a passionate kiss from Chris. The kiss broke and Haley looked at him in utter shock, "Why'd you do that?"
"To show you what you're going to be missing," he answered cockily and then kissed Haley again; this time taking off his shirt.
Haley took off her shirt and then looked at her watch, "I've got to be at Nathan's in ten minutes Chris!"
"So," Chris said and then led Haley to the back room, "We can do this quickly," he said and then pulled the curtain over the doorframe.
xxx
Haley walked into Nathan's apartment and saw Taylor sitting on the couch. Haley fixed her hair a little and then cleared her throat, "Is Nathan here?" She asked.
"He got held back at the shop," Taylor said and then looked at Haley, "He should be back any minute…"
Haley wiped her lips and sat down at the counter, "I'll just wait…"
"Whatever," Taylor said and then got herself a beer from the fridge. She laughed at Hale and shook her head.
"What?" Haley snapped.
Taylor took a sip of her beer and pointed to Haley's neck, "Chris give you that hickey?" She asked.
Haley put her hand over her neck and gasped, "Shit," she said under her breath and then glared at Taylor, "I went to his studio for a little bit…And…"
"Spare the details," Taylor said, "I must say you have a pretty good deal. You're fucking Chris, and trying to get some from Nathan…Bravo!"
Haley rolled her eyes, "I really liked the song you sang last night…"
"It's our song," Taylor said with a smile, "Mine and Nathan's…"
Haley laughed cynically, "You didn't mind that he and I were literally floating on the dance floor, did you?"
"Are you trying to threaten me?" Taylor asked.
Haley smiled in satisfaction, "Is it working?"
"No," Taylor said confidently, "I love a challenge…"
Read and Review.
Next On One Tree Hill:
(Brooke's House):
Brooke: Her and Chris are still fucking?
Taylor: She has the hickeys to prove it… (Girls laugh)
(High School: Gym):
Lucas: Brooke hasn't been talking so nicely about Hales lately…She seems different.
Nathan: Yeah, I don't know. I just find the fact that she wants me back to be too…
Lucas: Cheesy in that soap opera-ish way?
(Chris's Studio):
Haley: I want you to get rid of her…
