Chapter 7

Welcome back…


I opened the driver's side door of my Navigator and stepped out. My Jordan's hit the pavement first as I straightened my back and lifted my head. I glanced up and caught the rays of the early sun; my eyes squinted in response. I swiftly lifted my arm to block out the sun from my eyes, which caused my letterman jacket to rise up. I hear someone call my name from far away and I quickly look away from the sun. I grab my bag pack, throw it over my shoulder, shut the door, and turned around.

I see from afar a tall lean figure approach me. My expressionless face perishes and soon an aggravated look surfaces.

"Nathan," the feminine voice calls out once again as I listen to her heels hit the asphalt road rapidly.

Alysia gradually appeared in front of me in a short ruffled jean skirt that revealed her cheerleading legs and a red tank top that comprised a low neckline. Her blonde hair bounced on her slender shoulders while the sun enhanced her light blonde highlights that appealed to her light cream skin. Anyone would have thought she was a goddess.

I say that she was the devil…

"Nathan," she repeated as she finally caught up with me and I could undoubtedly smell her exotic perfume.

It was smoldering me…

"What do you want?" I harshly questioned her as I turned around and started to walk towards the campus.

"What I can't say hello to my boyfriend?" she asked me as she put her arm around me.

Or at least tried…

"I'm not your boyfriend," I sharply told her, getting her arm off of me.

I was getting angry by the second. The night I was at Alysia's we did the dirty deed and I left. I couldn't stand being around her.

I was ashamed of myself…

I started to drive home that night, but instead my unconscious directed me somewhere else. I pulled up to the Market Street dock minutes later. It was past midnight. I got out of the car, walked to the table that Haley and I used every morning, and sat down. For the next two hours I gazed at the serene water and watched the moon's rays illuminate the night. While at the same time thinking about Haley and the unjustifiable mistake I had just made.

"But I thought that after last night…" she started, confused and heated at the same time.

"A one-night stand," I cleared up for her as I walked faster.

"You can't keep doing that," she told me, fuming. "You can't just use me like that," she continued, her heels hitting the concrete harder as she tried to catch up with me again.

"Watch me," I responded, walking faster.

"Nathan," she called out to me. "Nathan," she repeated more stern. "Nathan!" she said once more as she grabbed my arm and caused me to stop.

I glance at her arm and steadily bring my eyes to her face; my threatening stare warning her to let go of me.

My gaze speaking loud enough….

She let go of me.

"What the hell do you want?" I snapped, finally suffering enough of her presence.

"Don't tell me that you are still hung over that one girl…" she said, catching my attention at last.

My blue eyes speedily glanced up and met her green pools. I stared at her as she vaguely mentioned the cause of my lack of sleep last night.

"Haley James is her name," she finished with an evil smile.

She knew she had my full attention.

'What a bitch,' I told myself as I grabbed onto my backpack straps for some support.

"What did you just say?" I asked her, debating if she just said what I thought she alleged.

Believing that her remark was a stunt of my imagination…

"You heard me loud and clear," she responded as she persisted to stand and gape at me with a perceptive expression.

She knew exactly how I was going to behave at the mention of Haley's name.

"What do you want with her?" I questioned her harshly as I got close to her figure and looked at her intently.

Not wanting Haley to be involved in my sham life and drama that is popularity…

"Nothing, originally" she replied. "But she is now in my way into preventing me to get what I want," she told me.

"And what do you want Alysia?" I questioned her, knowing very well the answer.

"You," she replied with lust present in her eyes.

"We can't always get what we want," I responded with austerity.

Experiencing what I was saying, knowing all too well…

"But some of us can," she declared with determination as she got closer to me.

I was repulsed by her.

"You know what Alysia? Get a fucken life," I told her as I turned around. "You know very well that I've never been interested in you and I will never be," I continued with fire in my eyes. "So go on and find someone else, stop following me around like an ailing plague," I finished as I walked onto school grounds and didn't hear Alysia's heels behind me anymore.

'Thank God,' I told myself as I opened the building's doors and stepped inside.

I knew that I was too cruel to Alysia, but I was infuriated by her. She never got the clue and after she mentioned Haley, I knew that I had to get away from her.

Though, I couldn't shake up this odd feeling that Alysia was going to do something unexpected and destructive.

Something that might ruin my reputation in Tree Hill High.

Something that might affect my relationship with Haley in an immense way…

I persisted to walk down the halls, grasping that the majority of the students were watching me. A numerous amount of girls smiled at me in a flirtatious manner and I ignored them. Usually a smirk would emerge on my face by all the interest, but it today it didn't. I instead walked with my head held up high, looking ahead with a cold gaze.

Not wanting to be here; wanting to feel guiltless of my previous inexcusable actions.

When I didn't give a shit about other people and just did what I pleased…

Or whom I wanted to do…

But everything changed once I met Haley.

Once I decided to conquer the unattainable.

Never believing that I was going to fall for her…falling for the unattainable…

I finally reached my locker and opened it. I pulled off my bag pack and unloaded some of my books in it.

The books that I was supposed to use to do my homework, but I never got to…

I closed my locker and was taken aback that Haley had been beside me the whole time.

Being surprising as she always was…

She stood in front of me with a stern expression; I clearly knew that she was furious. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest and I was familiar to what that meant.

I was in big trouble.

"Where the hell where you?" she questioned me with anger.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I shot back, frustrated.

Irritated by her affection towards my brother and of everything that has happened in past couple of hours…

The affection she never showed me.

"What the hell am I talking about?" she repeated, more infuriated. "Well Nathan last time I checked, I was tutoring you. I showed up at the dock at the same time, 7 o'clock. I waited and waited, but oh what a surprise you didn't show up," she continued.

"I slept in," I merely replied as I turned around and started to saunter away.

I don't know what caused me to lie and to act so cruel to her. I guess I was finally feed up with everything and I had decided to take it out on the first person that I recognized.

Igniting my anger to the one person that has allowed me to experience numerous blissful occasions and to one that knew me the most, without the facade…

"You slept in?" she mocked. "Nathan, I'm not doing this for my benefit, I'm doing it for yours. I'm doing fine in all my classes, exceeding all of them. I already have Duke waiting for me," she continued more calmed. "Obviously I don't need the help, my grades prove it."

"Well, I am sorry for wasting your time," I replied, annoyed.

I suddenly observed that Haley's expression softened and she had an understanding look.

"Nathan," she said softly. "I'm sorry…but I really was mad that you didn't show up this morning," she stated.

I gazed at her and I rapidly wanted to apologize back, but I didn't.

Always falling for her innocent appeal…

"Well, I don't really need the help anyways," I confessed. "My grades are fine so I guess we can end these useless tutoring lessons," I added harshly.

"Nathan…" she began, upset.

"You've seen my grades Haley. Didn't you find it kind of ironic that I had high grades and I still needed your help," I tried to clear up for her.

"I already knew that Nathan," she callously told me. "But—" she started before I interrupted her once more.

"Haley, you were just a conquest, nothing more," I declared with coldness.

Immediately her face went white and the usual joyous expression she comprised, vanished.

My heart breaking at the site of her despairing gaze…

All of a sudden, I felt the body heat and touch of an individual. I could undoubtedly identify the similar aroma of the entity. I turned around and became aware of Alysia holding onto me.

She looked at me, then at Haley, and evilly grinned.

The smile that was identical to the devil himself…

"You didn't actually think he liked you did you?" she said with a sweet, but ruthless voice.

Haley glanced at me with a quizzical manifest, searching for my deviation. Though, I continued to let Alysia embrace me, never voicing my disagreement. My silence confirmed Alysia's allegations.

My heart breaking some more…

I didn't want to go back to the life of it being complicated, I wanted to go back to the life when it was easy. Return to when all I cared about was basketball and having a good time.

Back to when my life didn't matter and I didn't feel emotions to someone…

Haley quickly gazed away and within a few moments, she tormented herself some more and returned her attention to us. I watched as her eyes started to get diluted, at last, visibly letting her guard down.

My heart was now completely broken.

She quickly curved around, placed her hand over her mouth, and ran away.

I knew that she was running to the girl's bathroom so she could let her tears fall.

And it was all because of me…

I immediately shoved Alysia off of me and took a step forward in Haley's running direction.

Wanting to apologize to her…

But I stopped. I knew that it was supposed to be like this.

I'll never experience a tender or enchanting sensation towards anyone. I am always expected to feel empty and uncared for. I am anticipated to do what others expect, not what I wish to do.

Inside I was disappointed, my life had gone back.

Without the love and affection of Haley…

"You did the right thing," Alysia verbalized as she saw my unmoving figure. "Things are supposed to be like this," she added as she approached me.

"Get the hell away from me," I told her bitterly as I smacked her oncoming hand and turned away.

"Nathan, sooner or later you are going to come crawling back," she called out as I didn't hear her piercing heels stomp on the floor behind me.

I persisted to gaze forward and knew that she was correct. If I ever wanted to experience love or any type of it, the closest possible thing that I had was Alysia.

And I hated it…

I persevered to walk with disenchantment and fury. I was raged that I was never going to feel the love of a human being. I'll by no means endure the blissful sentiment someone gets in their stomach when their significant other comes within reach of them.

Where my actions spoke louder then my words…

I turned around and saw the navy blue locker. I observed the dark shade and it abruptly reminded me of the torment currently running through my body.

It looked so welcoming…

I punched it.

My hand pulsed with pain as it traveled down my bloodstream throughout my whole body. I glanced at my hand and observed the redness that was spread all over. At last, I brought my gaze to the locker that acquired my ferocity; I clearly saw a slight dent in the middle, where I hit it. Suddenly, I discovered that the usual loud hallway was soundless.

The gossip had ceased for the first time in a high school…

Everyone's faces were focused on me. Students held their books and binders in their circles as they intensely stared at my raged figure.

Who will soon add some more gossip into the mill…

"What the hell are you looking at?" I questioned them while I sent them a threatening look.

Knowing well that they shouldn't disapprove or question me….

Each person turned around and continued on their business. However, consciously I knew that from the corners of their eyes they were watching everything I was doing. The chat instigated and everyone's curiosity ensued. I could clearly hear the groups asking each other of what was going on.

"What the hell is up with Nathan?" I heard a group of lowerclassmen ask each other.

"Wonder if he and Alysia broke up?" a group of jocks said. "Have you seen her? I would definitely like me some of that…" one of them said before they high-fived each other and laughed.

More anger throbbed in my veins. Not for them degrading Alysia, but because they thought we were together.

"Is the Great Nathan Scott finally breaking?" beamed a distinct individual faintly.

My face turned towards the voice, but all I saw were small cliques of noisy freshmen. A puzzled expression fulfilled my face as I searched the crowds for the one who recently strutted.

The one who spoke the truth…

Though, the comment that stood out the most was the faintest of them all.

"You think Lucas found out about Nathan and Haley?"

I turned around and searched for the soft tone, but all I heard were students slamming their lockers shut, gossiping, and continuing on their regular day.

I was fumed.

'Who in the hell knows about my relationship with Haley?' I asked myself, knowing that we hid our relationship well. 'How did we mess up?'

Abruptly, someone tapped my shoulder.

I grabbed the person and shoved the entity against the lockers. Wrath filled my eyes as I breathed heavily and glared at the daring individual.

"Let me fucken go!" Tim tried to yell as I held my hand on his neck.

My rage decreased as I stared at my 'best friend'. I let go of him.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Tim questioned angrily as he took deep breaths of fresh air.

"What the hell do you want?" I asked him with rampage still present in my voice, not bothering to apologize.

"You just push me against the fucken lockers and choked me," he stated, fuming.

"I didn't know that it was you," I told him as I picked up my scattered bag pack and put it once more over my shoulders.

"What the hell has been up with you lately?" he remarked as he stretched his neck a bit. "Ever since basketball season has started up again, you have always been mad and question everything," he continued. "I used to be able to talk to you and count on you with stuff. Now, I keep getting the third degree if I even ask you on what are you going to do later on at night. You haven't hung out with the boys and me in a long time," he continued. "Well until recently anyways," he added as he stared at me intensely. "Now tell me Nathan, what really is going on? What the hell have you been doing all these months?" he asserted with an inquiring expression.

"Nothing," I flatly told him with no emotion in my tone. "Or do you have a problem that we haven't hung out lately?" I harshly affirmed. "I just haven't been in the mood," I added. "Besides, who says I have to answer to you anyways? I made you Tim, without me, you would still be the clueless little hormone-driven nerd who no one talked to," I shot back as I gazed at him.

A flash of astonishment and hurt glistened on his face. He knew that what I said was true.

Although, I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty of my accusation.

He was the closest thing I had to a best friend…

"Look man," I started to apologize. "I just really haven't been in the mood. My dad has been hammering me for everything I do wrong on the court. Especially since it's my last year and this is the time when the scouts are making offers. It's just been rough at home," I told him, speaking some of the truth.

Leaving Haley out…

He started to nod in understanding. He understood that I was proclaiming the legitimacy. In addition, he needed to stay friends with me if he wanted to continue his high status at school.

Always having to distinguish my actual friends from the popularity seeking scum…

"Well man, I think we need to take you out to relieve some of that stress," he commented.

And I suddenly knew that he forgot my ruthless declaration I made moments before; we were back to being best friends.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him a quizzical aspect.

"Here," he replied as he handed me a piece of yellow paper.

It read Party at the top.

"Vegas is having a party tonight," he answered my questioning cast.

"It's Tuesday Tim," I told him.

"And your point is?" he responded with a 'who gives a shit' look. "You wouldn't have a problem with this before…" he added, recognizing that it was going to affect my decision.

I glared at him and I swiftly comprehended that he was right.

'Maybe I do need to go to a party and just have fun,' I told myself. 'Not give a fuck about anything…'

Knowing well that alcohol wasn't going to get rid of my problems, just postpone them for a few hours…

Though, not being aware that it was going to cause more…

"Your right," I retorted as I placed the paper into my jacket pocket. "Who the hell gives a fuck, right?" I added with a grin. "I'm in," I told him.

"Glad to have you back man," Tim replied as he patted my shoulder with excitement. "It starts at nine, all right?" he informed me with a smile while he walked away.

Though, instead of feeling eagerness and anticipation for the party, all I could sense was dissatisfaction.

Without the friendship of Haley, the knowledge of becoming my own person, and the happiness that aroused in me the past few months...

I wasn't glad to be back.

Welcome back,
Welcome back,
Welcome back.


AN: Hey what's up you guys?! Well I am so sorry for making you wait so long for this update. I had a lot of things going on. Plus, I couldn't post it yesterday cuz of the bugs or whatever the site had so I had to wait till today after work, but oh well...The most important thing being college stuff, which BTW for anyone who cares I got a scholarship for the university I am going to be attending! Yeah!!! I ended up getting $5,500 and I can renew for 3 more years for a grand total of $22,000. Pretty sweet, right? Well, what kinda suxs is that I have to keep a 3.25 GPA and I am not too thrilled about that. I know that I can probably do it, but arg, so much h/w I am going to have to do. Arg, but oh well…I at least got a scholarship! Yeah! See, that is what happens if you get all A's in ur HS years, well I am only gotten one B. Stupid discovery! Who the hell needs that stupid class anyways?

Well, I have most of my college stuff done with. All I have to basically do is still search for some more scholarships, which is definitely on my To-Do list. Damn, I really need to get started on that. So that is what is happening with my right now. LOL, I wuz going to update Prohibit Love, but I decided to update this one cuz it has been a long time since I have and I had it written it out so I decided to post this first.

So this chapter came out a little different from what I anticipated. I wuzn't going to have the whole confrontation thing this early, but I think that it kinda worked for the best. Especially for the upcoming chapter. So deal with me now my friends trust me, I do everything for a reason!

Thank you all for ur reviews. You guys are awesome. I am glad that you, Lysser8312, enjoyed how I incorporated the song throughout the chapter. Good to know that I did good job with it. And Thanks Haley Jade, good to know that my story is well written. I always enjoy reading that, it just means that all the efforts I put in...well...it is all worth it. Well, now the countdown begins; I think that there are 2 or 3 chapters left in this story so the ending is rapidly approaching.

Once again my fellow readers, review. Ialways like to know if ppl arereading the story and enjoying their time doing so.

With much love,
Sleepneeded911