Sorry for the delay in this chapter. I had a family wedding to go to and Hindu wedding celebrations last days. But it's all over now. Yipee! Enjoy this Haley chapter.

Haley James: Walk On By Me

From her seat at the back of the classroom, Haley could see the actions of the other four students in the room. Lucas Scott was reading a book Haley recognized to be their English assignment.

From the two Scott brothers, Lucas was definitely the silent one. Most people probably wouldn't even know he existed if it hadn't been for his relationship with Nathan. There had been a time where she and Lucas had been close.

Not in the romantic way, of course, but in the buddy-buddy way. But that had been before high school; way back in Junior High, and mostly due to the fact that Lucas' mother had been friends with Haley's.

However, High School changes people, Haley realized. Suddenly it's not about who is the smartest in the class or learning to share. It's all to do with how much money your parents have, how much power you hold in the school and what you wear.

The girl sitting a few rows ahead was a testament to that.

There was no doubt that Haley was slightly envious of Brooke Davis. She was gorgeous, rich and popular. Guys fawned over people who had big boobs; not a high I.Q.

Haley rarely listened to the gossip floating down the halls, but was sure that whatever they said about Brooke wasn't all true.

Sure, Brooke spewed out a few bitchy comments here and there. But as Haley watched the way Brooke and Peyton were, she knew that Brooke couldn't be the 'Ice Queen' people often said she was. Brooke seemed to be herself around Peyton; sharing the odd joke, giving genuine smiles to people, and even helping out.

That was something else Haley envied. Peyton and Brooke's friendship. Haley longed to have a friend she could talk to or hang out with. All Haley had were sisters and brothers who usually were at each other's throats.

She hated being the youngest.

It seemed slightly unfair. Peyton and Brooke had nothing in common but had a solid friendship; whereas Peyton and Haley seemed to have everything in common, yet barely even glanced at each other.

Haley watched as Brooke leant over to see what Peyton was drawing and then glanced back at Haley. Haley stiffened as Brooke's eye met hers. Before Haley could say anything or avert her gaze, Brooke broke out into a smile, nodded at whatever Peyton was saying and turned back.

Great! They were probably talking about her.

Maybe laughing at the poncho she wore a few days ago before this stupid heatwave.

Haley's attention turned back to the heat that suddenly seemed to be increasing. She was already dressed down to her t-shirt, having shed her jacket, but she was still hot. For the first time, she'd ventured out in a skirt that was above her knee and she hardly ever did that.

She was a complete jumper-and-jeans type of girl. Her older sister Taylor used to tease her about it and tell her she'd never ever meet a guy if she dressed like one.

But Haley didn't really mind. She was more interested in studying than finding a guy, which is probably why she ended up in detention in the first place.

"Hey, Tutor Girl!" Haley's attention snapped back to reality and she turned to find the four other teenagers staring at her.

"What?" Haley asked a little embarrassed at the way they were all looking at her.

"Well, it's about time," Brooke grumbled, "We've been calling your name for a while," Brooke held up a piece of paper, "I need help with my History."

Haley was a little shocked at Brooke's request but nevertheless agreed with a small nod of the head. Even more to Haley's surprised, Brooke plopped herself down next to Haley and thrust the piece of paper in front of her.

"Come on, girlie," Brooke said, "Tutor me."

Haley glimpsed through Brooke's assignment and frowned.

"What exactly do you need help with? This is a B-grade paper." Brooke smiled.

"Yeah, I know. So why did you really have a cigarette?" she questioned. Haley's cheeks burned as everyone turned around to look at her again.

"I-I don't… I don't think that's really that interesting. Plus, I already told you," Haley said nervously giving back Brooke's assignment in an attempt to deter the girl. But Brooke simply rolled her eyes.

"Please," she said, "I can smell a lie a mile away. So come on, tell us the truth. It'll never leave the room. I promise." Brooke held a hand to her chest to emphasize her point.

Haley looked at the other four faces, all of them curious and anticipating her answer.

"I'm always the good girl," she said finally, "At home, I was the youngest and so my parents were always interested in Vivian because she was the oldest, or Quinn because she was the prettiest, or Taylor because she was always getting in trouble. I was the smart one," she grinned slightly, "The straight-A student, the quiet one… the tutor girl…" Haley shrugged. "It's the same at school. Nobody notices me because I'm not a jock, or a cheerleader. I guess I just wanted to do something to get me noticed."

There was a silence.

"And that was the best you could come up with?" Brooke scoffed. "Why not just put Jello in the pool or something those kids on Saved By The Bell would do?" she asked.

"Maybe because we don't have a pool in school," Nathan butted in.

"Whatever," she said, "Point is that there are other things you could stick in your mouth besides a cigarette."

"And you would be the expert on that, wouldn't you, Brooke?" Nathan quipped.

Brooke silenced him with a look.

"Do you know how yucky cigarettes are? They give people cancer, build your body up with tar, and don't forget the yellow fingernails, teeth and major case of halitosis you'll be battling."

"Geez, Brooke," Nathan said, "When did you become the ambassador for clean living?"

"Since my grandfather died of lung cancer two years ago," Brooke shot back. Nathan looked a little shocked before muttering an apology.

"I didn't want to do anything that could get me kicked out of school," Haley told them, "Just something that could… that I could remember. I've never been in detention before. I felt like I was missing out."

That earned Haley a few sniggers and eye rolls.

"Well, you've experienced it now," Peyton said, "Not very exciting, huh?"

"Were you expecting Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and a bad 80s soundtrack when you walked in?" Brooke raised an eyebrow in a friendly manner before returning to her seat.

"Plus," Brooke began again, "Lucas is quiet and oh-so-very studious," Lucas looked up, "and he still manages to make waves throughout the school."

She smiled mischievously and waited for Nathan's reaction. But Nathan just glared at Brooke and continued staring at the wall in front of him.

Haley looked at Nathan while everyone else got back to doing whatever it was they were doing before Haley's confession. She'd seen him around and heard a lot about him during her time at the school.

It was true what they said.

He was as arrogant, moody and mean as she'd heard he was.

He also was as good-looking as people said he was.

She wondered what it would be like to see him smile genuinely; and not because he'd put down Lucas again or said something insulting.

She was sure he'd look much more handsome than he already was.

Haley watched as Nathan's head turned slightly and he looked at Brooke for a little while. Brooke didn't notice him looking at her and when she flicked her hair back and caught his stare from the corner of her eyes, she smiled slightly, prompting a smile from Nathan that seemed natural and real.

Brooke then returned to her magazine, while Nathan's gaze lingered a few moments longer before turning back to the magazine.

Haley wondered if she would ever see something like that again. She thought Nathan and Brooke hated each other. Was there something else lurking underneath? Or were they just giving each other acknowledgement.

She then glanced at Lucas, who also was looking at Brooke once every few pages. She seemed to be drawing his attention from his book and Haley could see that this could get extremely messy if both Scott brothers held Brooke as the object of their desires.

She couldn't help but laugh at the potential situation; two brothers who hated each other's guts vying for the femme fatale of the tale. Would Brooke choose the quiet, sensitive brother? Or the one who held power, status and wealth?

Haley didn't even know the answer to that. She could see Brooke and Lucas together and it seemed to fit in a twisted sort of way. She could see Brooke only doing it to annoy Nathan, but the looks she'd seen between Lucas and Brooke earlier on gave her the feeling that it could run slightly deeper.

She shook her head.

No, if Brooke was going to choose a Scott brother, she'd choose Nathan easily. He had everything in him that Brooke would find desirable – especially the wallet. Although his ex-girlfriend was Brooke's best friend. Would that stop her?

But Haley wondered if she'd underestimated Brooke and the others. There were the stereotypes and rumors she'd heard down the halls of the school, and then there were the four in front of her who seemed much different.

"Hey, Haley!" Peyton called. Haley turned in time to see a piece of paper being placed on her desk. Haley looked at it with interest and her eyes grew wide.

"You did this?" she asked. Peyton nodded.

"Sorry if it sucks," she apologized.

"Oh no!" Haley said, "This… this is fantastic. Can I keep it?" Peyton nodded and turned back to her sketch pad.

Haley stared at the drawing Peyton had given her. She knew Peyton was a great artist, but she didn't know she was this good. She stared mesmerized at the pencil lines that curved across the page forming a perfect likeness to herself.

Underneath, Peyton had written 'Haley James' and signed it off.

That's who I am, Haley thought to herself, I am Haley James.

To Be Continued…