Chapter 2 Part 2
The door to Nathan's car slowly opened and extremely loud rap music flowed out, infecting the formerly silent air. The music was soon turned off, and the silence of the atmosphere settled in once more, something that was foreign to both boys. They opened the trunk and took out their bags and they silently lugged them into the hotel lobby. Their nostrils were soon filled with the scent of lilacs. They walked over to the reception desk to be met by an elderly woman. She sat there looking down at the sheets in front of her and calculated expenses. The cookie jar next to her lay open and Lucas reached in and pulled out a cookie, which caught her attention. She looked up and re-composed herself, and a professional smile came to grace her lips.
"Welcome to the Tree Hill Inn, Mr. Scott," she greeted politely.
"Thank you, Alison, is our room ready?" he asked as he eyed her name tag.
"Yes Mr. Scott. Will you be needing any brochures on Tree Hill, or a
tour service?"
"Oh no, I know Tree Hill better than anyone else here," he smirked.
The woman politely nodded, not quite understanding the weight of his words.
"And Brooke, he just said it. Like out of the blue, and I totally didn't know what to say. Brooke are you even listening to me?" Haley blew out.
"Uh, what? Yea...not really sorry, Friends is on," admitted Brooke guiltily.
"Well shut it off, you have to help me," whined Haley, "It is totally stated in the best friends rule book that when one friend calls the other, the other is severely inclined to turn the damn tv off."
"But this is when Ross and Rachel- - -," started Brooke.
"I don't care. We have bigger problems Tigger," screamed Haley,
grabbing Brooke's attention.
"Ok, I'll shift into best friend mode...just because I love you so much," said Brooke, as she realized that right now wasn't the time to care about Ross and Rachel, it was Haley and Derrek time.
"Thanks Brooke," said Haley sincerely as she fidgeted with her hands.
"No problem. So what is the problem again?" questioned Brooke.
"This morning, Derrek said he loved me...I, I didn't know what to say. He just like sprung it on me...I was so confused...I don't know if I love him. Maybe if I was giving time to think then I could have given him an accurate answer. I didn't know what to do, so I just said I loved him too...and now that I think about it, I don't think I do..." said Haley as the realization hit her. She didn't love him. She replayed that sentence over in her head. Ever since 'the incident' which is what she preferred to call it, it had been hard for her. She was in a daze where every direction she turned in was a thick fog. She didn't know what she wanted. She realized that had happened a lot. It always ended up in her compromising for something less. She let people and things take advantage of her. Life as she knew it, was ruining her.
"Haley...this is big. We all thought that you both did. I mean you guys are inseparable, and well...this is just a big shock," started Brooke, who tried to absorb the new information in.
"I know...I guess in some weird way it is to me too. I mean...god I don't even know what I mean. Am I even making sense here? " questioned a newly frustrated Haley.
"Hunny you are, just say what's on your mind," coaxed Brooke.
"Brooke I don't know what happened...I think I used to love him. Maybe at one point I did, but something changed Brooke...something changed along the way. And the frustrating thing is, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I just wish everything would go back to how it was, how it was supposed to be," sighed Haley sadly, as a few tears trickled out of her eyes.
"How it was supposed to be?" questioned a baffled Brooke, soothingly.
"I don't know...not like this. Maybe if Nathan hadn't left...things would have been different," said Haley as she stared off into space.
"What does Nathan have to do with anything?" asked Brooke, who by now was ultra confused.
"Nothing, I don't know," said Haley trying to correct her slip.
"Haley you changed Derrek. You know how he used to be...he was like Nathan. For god sakes they were best friends. Nathan's my brother, I love him, but Haley he was just bad news."
"I know, but god, I hate this feeling. Being uncertain. I feel like a horrible person...he's going to hate me. He put his heart out there, and I brutally crushed it, and oh my god, Peyton...," Haley said in a haunted voice.
"And Peyton will still love you. Because it isn't your fault. You can't make yourself love him. We know I tried that a while ago, the result wasn't that great. She might be a little mad at first because he is her brother, but Lee she could never hate you hunny," soothed Brooke.
"Brooke I don't know...I'm scared," confessed Haley, her voice sounding so hollow, empty, and fearful.
"Scared of what?" asked Brooke worriedly. Something was wrong. Haley was never like this, if something was wrong she would hide it, or avoid it. But there was something strange in her voice. She sounded broken, she sounded lost. Some strange kind of fear, the same fear she had heard in her voice when they first met. She sounded haunted.
iFlashback
The little auburn haired girl who was crying for her mom that day in the park. She was clutching her little teddy bear tightly as she continued to wail. She looked in every direction and saw unfamiliar faces. Some strangers smiled and some had sad expressions upon their faces as they glanced at the little girl. She continued to walk around crying, not wiping the tears that continued to pool on her cheeks. The little girl tripped over her untied shoelaces and started to cry harder. Suddenly she saw two little black shoes appear in front of her and she looked up, her brown doe eyes now meeting sparkling brown ones. The little brunette put her Barbie down and offered her hand to the fallen girl. Their hands touched and the brunette pulled her up. The little auburn hair girl got up and continued to sob. The brunette suddenly took a step forward and embraced her. The auburn haired girl froze, surprised by the new girl's action, but after a couple of moments returned the hug.
"What's your name?" asked the brunette as she released the other girl from her embrace.
"I'm Haley," said the girl, as she wiped away her tears.
"I'm Brooke," said the bubbly brunette cheerfully.
"Have you seen my mommy?" asked Haley looking around.
"No, but you can play with Barbie and me until your mommy comes back. My brother even has super man if you want to play with him" said Brooke as she pointed to the blue eyes boy sitting in the sand box.
"Okay," said Haley, and they held hands and walked towards the sand box.
End of Flashback/i
Brooke remembered that day, because it was the beginning of their friendship, but something about that empty look in Haley's eyes had always scared her. That little girl holding her teddy bear and her eyes just seemed so empty like a void that had yet to be filled. Brooke had never seen that look since that day, but Brooke felt like it was coming back again. And it scared her to the very core of her being.
"Of being alone. Whoever I love leaves me...and whoever loves me...I leave them," said Haley softly, her voice sounding so distant and far away.
Brooke's heart just broke, "Don't you dare Haley James, there are so many people who love you and are still here. Example number one being me, dumbo. Now get this crap out of your head, you're loved, you're appreciated, and right now you're delusional. So right now I suggest that we have a movie night with Peyton to show you just how much we love you!" said Brooke lightening the situation
"Okay Brookie, thanks," said Haley sincerely taking in a deep, calming breath.
"No problem. So see you tonight and remember we love you!" added Brooke. She heard Haley chuckle and they both hung up feeling relieved and calm.
Haley hung up the phone and looked around the empty house disinterestedly. She sat down quietly for a couple of moments and sighed. She felt like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. She was glad she told Brooke because it was hard to keep it in. It was a secret that kept pestering her incessantly and she didn't know what to do. Brooke helped her, and Haley was just overall relieved that she understood. Because Haley was still lost, but maybe she was a little less lost now.
She suddenly heard the lock to the front door jingle. She walked to the door quietly and saw a shadow lingering above it. Her nerves went in overdrive and the sudden feeling of dread pumped through her veins. Then she spotted an umbrella lying by the bottom of the staircase. She quietly ran and got and hid behind the door. Her finger was placed on the button to open it upon command. She was ready and she silently waited for the intruder to come in.
Click.
The door silently started to creak open, and Haley prepared herself for what was about to happen. She gripped the umbrella tight and took a deep breath.
"Honey I'm- - -"
"HA," screamed Haley as she jumped out, opening the umbrella in her defense.
"Home...Haley?" questioned the intruder.
"Taylor?" Haley questioned as she looked at her from the side of the umbrella.
"What the hell are you doing?" Taylor yelled, her hand placed upon her heart.
"Self defense. What do you think?"
"I don't know maybe it was some kinky umbrella game that you were going to let me in on later," shrugged Taylor as she put her bags down. She walked into the kitchen and opened up the fridge.
"Oh here's a little relevant question, what the hell are you doing here?" asked Haley as she followed her older sister into the kitchen.
"The party tomorrow. Jeez Haley you should really keep track of things," Taylor said as she helped herself to the goodies in the James's fridge.
"Funny. Last I heard you were with your pimp. Mark, was it?"questioned Haley bitterly as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and seated herself on the counter.
"Uh no, but I see I was missed dearly," said Taylor sarcastically taking a seat on a nearby stool.
Haley sighed, "I did miss you, but this is just unexpected." She ran a hand through her
hair.
"Don't worry sis, I'll be on my best behavior," teased Taylor as she threw a piece of popcorn at Haley, who expertly dodged it.
"Oh, that's like you saying you're still a virgin," Haley laughed, as she stole some food from her sister.
Two could play that game.
"Hey now, retract those claws. I come in peace," Taylor said as she held up her hands.
"And you bring gifts?" questioned Haley sweetly, as she eyed her sister's bag lying in the hallway.
"And I bring gifts," repeated Taylor, as she followed her little sister's gaze.
"Good good," said Haley.
Taylor got up and went to her bags and started quickly unpacking. Haley impatiently sat in the kitchen trying to get a peek at what her gift was, while the distinct sound of 'Shit, where'd it go?' could be heard from the hallway.
"Ahh there they are," said Taylor as she held out her hands, "The finest toiletry
products."
"I'm sorry do you not think that I can read? These are all bottles of shampoo and bars of soap from cheap motels. And I'm pretty sure they weren't giving them away for free. This better be a joke. A stupid one," pouted Haley.
"Of course it is. This is your real gift," said Taylor as she took out a necklace from her
pocket.
"First oh my god that is beautiful. Second if some weird guy gave it to you after you had sex, I refuse to touch that. And third please tell me you bought it?" begged Haley.
"I bought it," Taylor replied, unamused.
"Okay, now gimme," said Haley as she tried to grab it.
"Uh-un," Taylor said cheekily, "what do we say?"
"I'm not going to say it Taylor," Haley let out with a look of disgust.
"Well then I guess this pretty necklace won't be yours." Taylor looked at the necklace
pitifully.
"Wait." said Haley. "I'll say it..." She took a deep breath and started, "I love Taylor yes I do, I love Taylor how about you?" Haley squeaked out.
"Aww, that was so cute...here ya go," a satisfied Taylor handed over the necklace.
"I hate you," Haley puffed out, as she grabbed the necklace.
"Oh I am so happy I taught that to you when you were small. It just boosts my spirit every time Wanna do it again?" questioned Taylor in all seriousness.
"NO! I was a tortured child," stated Haley simply as she walked up the stairs after Taylor.
Taylor pranced around Haley's room as if it was her own. She walked over to Haley's shelf and started to move things around.
"You suck. So sis what kind of crap are you into lately?" questioned Taylor as she fingered Haley's CD collection.
"Only the stuff that you're into," answered Haley sweetly.
"Ahh young grasshopper you have learned well," said Taylor as she fell back on Haley's bed.
"So not to be completely anal about this, but like you do have proper attire for tomorrow, right?" asked Haley going over a mental check list.
"Of course dear."
"Alright, just don't show it to me before the party unless you want me to ban you from wearing it."
"Deal. So where are those two screeching banshees that follow you around day and night?" questioned Taylor as she flipped through a magazine.
"Peyton and Brooke are coming over soon," said Haley, as she fixed the mess Taylor made of her CDs.
Funny how you know it was them I was referring to," stated Taylor with a smirk.
"Whatever. I have to tell Peyton to bring Pretty Woman," said Haley as she started
dialing her number.
"Peyton's house of whores. Today all handjobs half off. What can we do for ya?" questioned Brooke.
Haley heard a thump and an 'ow' from Brooke.
"Interesting...anyway Brookie tell Pey to bring Pretty Woman with you guys tonight. We can totally do a sob fest...with Taylor," Haley added quickly.
"Who?" Peyton ground out as she beat the phone out of Brooke's hand.
"Taylor."
"No, we aren't coming...not with that whore there," screeched Brooke, who seemed to have gotten the phone back.
"Please guys. I'm tired. Just come...for me?"
"Oh alright," said Brooke, but she better watch it, or I'll totally be over her like Peyton over Jake. Just that it won't be sexual."
"Um ok," said Haley. She muttered a quick goodbye to both and hung up.
"So...Tay, what's new?" asked Haley, as her attention returned to Taylor.
"Nothing much, I drank, I partied, I got married, I went to interesting places, I drank, I partied." finished Taylor.
"You what?"
"I told you. I drank and partied."
"Yeah, I heard that. I just don't think I heard you say you got married. Right? Because my responsible, smart, level-head, beautiful sister Taylor would never get married. Right?"
"What was that about me being beautiful?"
"Taylor."
"Ok..fine. I kinda, sorta got married." Taylor let out sheepishly.
"There is no "kinda sorta." You either got married or you didn't."
"So you're clearly congratulating me," Taylor let out dryly as she rolled her eyes.
"Do mom and dad know?" Haley asked seriously.
"What do they ever know?" retorted Taylor.
"Well, who is it? And how?"
"His name's Brent Eastwood. We met at this bar- -"
"You met your husband at a freakin' bar? Oh let's go get our baby at a whore house."
"Haley..."
"Sorry," Haley apologized, as she quieted down.
"Well yea we met at a bar, but this guy was harassing me, and Brent sort of protected me. And it was sweet, cause we both know that no one ever does nice things. And so I gave him my number, and we met a couple of more times. And we went out for like 3 months, and so he popped the question and I said yes. I know it doesn't seem real and all but it is...I mean when he looks at me, I feel special. Like I'm the only one he's looking at ya know? It feels good," she gently smiled and finished.
"This is weird. Since when do you fall in love?" asked Haley jokingly.
"Since now," Taylor said in all seriousness.
"Well then I'm happy for you," Haley said softly. They both smiled at each other and silence encompassed them.
"So how's your hottie?" asked Taylor playfully.
Haley opened her mouth to say something, when the door bell rang.
"Must be Brooke and Peyton. I'll get it," Haley said as she got up.
And so the conversation ended..