Nathan had to put his mind off everything for the first basketball practice of the year, though. But he couldn't really do that.
As a result, he was extremely distracted and unfocused at practice. And he got the entire team mad at him when they were doing a drill. He missed two passes and completely blew a lay-up.
"Lines," Whitey bellowed as soon as he missed the lay-up. The whole team groaned. Lucas looked at Nathan.
"What is up with you man?" he said as he ran past him during the lines. Nathan didn't respond. He simply ran the lines. When they finally stopped, Whitey bellowed, "Nathan! See me in my office right now!" Nathan groaned. No one talked to him as he stalked to his coach's office. They were pissed at him for making them run.
Whitey slammed the door shut on them both.
"What the hell was going on out there? You're too damn good to be making those mistakes out there, Nathan. I was extremely disappointed. I expected a much better showing from you today. I know it's only practice, but you look distracted. You need to focus if we are going to go further in the playoffs this year."
"Sorry, coach."
"Listen Nathan. I know about your failed marriage. I disapproved because I thought it would ruin your basketball career. Don't waste this chance." Nathan nodded. He couldn't think of anything else to say.
"I'm sorry coach. Really. I just," Nathan said, before Whitey cut him off.
"I don't want to hear your excuses. I just expect to see a better performance tomorrow. What ever is on your mind, get rid of it. We won't win any playoff games if you do as poorly as you did today."
Nathan frowned. He knew. Whitey had reiterated his statements twice already.
"Can I leave?"
"Yes, go," Whitey, said. He sighed as Nathan left.
Lucas was right outside after Nathan exited the office.
"Got chewed out, huh?" Lucas asked him.
"Yeah. Just a bit." Nathan's laugh was false. He pounded his fist angrily on the lockers.
"I don't need another lecture from Whitey." He looked directly at Lucas. "Or from you."
"Dammit," Nathan said, as he left. Lucas went after him.
"Nathan, wait. What the hell is with you? You're lashing out at everyone. I'm your brother Nathan."
"I know, Lucas. Sorry." But Nathan didn't sound like he meant it. "I just want to know what the letter said."
"Huh?" Lucas said. Nathan realized he had spoken aloud.
"Nothing, it's nothing."
"I'm sure," Lucas said. Lucas had a suspicion though. Haley.
"Nathan," Lucas said, "You can trust me. Really. Whatever you're going through. You can tell me."
"It's nothing."
"You look like hell Nathan. It's not nothing."
"It is okay? Just leave me alone Lucas. Just leave me alone. I don't feel like talking about it."
"Okay," Lucas said, "But if you want to talk. I'm here, bro."
"Yeah. Thanks." Nathan said as he walked away.
But on the way out, he met Haley in the hall. He nearly ran into her, in his rage.
"Oh, hi." Nathan said a bit nervously. Haley found it cute, but thought better of it. You ended the marriage, she thought to herself. All because of the letter she had been given.
The day Haley found the letter had been quite unlike the day she told Nathan she wanted a divorce. It was blistering warm and unpleasant. She had found it in her locker. There was no mention of whom it was from.
Haley thought it was from Nathan, so she opened it. But she what the letter contained was quite unexpected. And there was more then one. Inside the envelope was a letter and another envelope addressed from some girl named Lauren.
But the first message was a terrible warning about her marriage. It told her, if she didn't end it, she would pay the consequences. It had almost been like a horror movie. And that had scared her. She knew that letter wasn't from Lauren though. It was from someone else.
And that someone else had found the letter in her mailbox from Lauren. It was someone who disapproved of her marriage, but who?
The second letter was from Lauren, who was her cousin. In it she had told her about some guy she had met. She hadn't mentioned Nathan's name exactly, but Haley had known exactly whom she was talking about. Lauren had not known about Haley's marriage, which is probably why she was telling her about how great Nathan was.
But with those two letters, she had made her decision. She had been thinking about it for a while and those two letters reinforced her thoughts that the marriage was not working as well as they both had hoped.
Haley wanted to work on her music too, and the fact was that they didn't have enough money for her to do that. Sure, Nathan worked at the dealership. But it didn't allow them that much freedom. Plus the warning, and Nathan cheating on her.
But there was one other reason she had not told anyone, not even Lucas.
