Disclaimer: I don't own them and I make no money from them.
Nathan Scott had very few simple pleasures in life. He had basketball, tormenting the bastard that Dan had abandoned, and a bitchy girlfriend that guaranteed him sex. She was annoying, but entertaining. As he stood beside her at his locker, he watched his rival stroll down the hallway alongside his best friend. What Lucas saw in the geek he'd never understand, but bullying them was his favorite pastime. Hell, he'd even made Haley cry everyday from third grade until eighth. Once they came to high school, she anticipated his every thought and avoided him at all costs. Since then, he'd only gotten to publicly humiliated her a handful of times, but all were memorable. He moved to intercept them as they came closer, but was stopped by his girlfriend pulling him back. He glared at the irritated blonde and growled, "What the fuck, Peyton!"
"Let them go, Nathan. Brooke's plan, remember?" She prodded. "You have to be nice to her, gain her trust. Humiliating her in front of the entire school isn't part of the plan." She reminded him, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was going to regret this, she knew it.
He nodded, still angry. Antagonizing Lucas and Haley was the highlight of his day, a way to take out the hurt that Dan inflicted upon him daily. "I have that dinner thing with my parents tonight. I'll be by afterwards if I feel like it." He informed her before walking away.
Haley James walked down the hallway with Lucas and her eyes widened when she saw Nathan watching them. 'Not today, please not today.' She prayed to herself. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Peyton distract him long enough for the two to slip by.
"Is he still bothering you?" Lucas angrily asked, noticing the look of fear on her face, followed by relief.
"Yeah." Haley reluctantly admitted. "As often as he can. He's gotten a lot more creative since grade school. It used to just be gum in my hair, pulling up my dress on the playground and shoving me into the mud. Now, he just embarrasses the hell out of me." She sighed. "I almost miss third grade, Luke. Remember that?" She asked, with a small smile.
"Second month of school." He added, chuckling.
She quickly punched him in the arm playfully, "Whatever you're thinking, don't say it." She warned him.
Lucas smiled at her and stopped in front of his homeroom. He leaned in and whispered to her, "Don't be afraid of him, Haley. He may be popular, but he'll never be a good person. You're above him, don't let him pull you down." He advised before heading into the classroom.
Haley nodded to herself and continued her trek to the bathroom. It was a battlefield this early in the morning, girls trying to fix their makeup and copy each other's homework in the tiny room. All she wanted was to relieve herself and get to class. She stepped into the bathroom and realized that her simple plan was not going to happen this morning, because right in front of her was her worst nightmare.
Brooke Davis expertly finished applying her lipstick in the bathroom with Bevin and Theresa babbling beside her. "Girls!" She loudly whistled, "Quiet." She checked her reflection once more before turning to her loyal subjects. "Bevin, copy Theresa's math homework for me." Brooke ordered. She arched an eyebrow when they didn't immediately move. "Now!"
The two quickly hurried to do as she said and looked up when they heard the bathroom door shut. Theresa grinned when she saw Haley walk in. "Well, well, if it isn't little Tutorgirl." She taunted, sliding up behind Haley and blocking the exit.
Haley's eyes widened in fear and she tried to dodge past Theresa to leave. "Aw, Tutorgirl, leaving so soon?" Brooke mocked.
Haley sighed, realizing she wasn't leaving until Brooke allowed her to. "What do you want, Brooke?" She resigned herself to asking.
"What do I want?" Brooke pondered aloud. "Hmm, an interesting question, James. You know what I want?" She smirked when Haley shook her head in a negative answer. "I want to talk."
"Talk? To me? For what?" Haley fired, completely confused.
"About your boyfriend, maybe? And possibly about a little deal we can work out." Brooke genuinely smiled. Tutorgirl was right where she wanted her.