A Way of Working Out

Chapter 14

Jake stood in the Smith's kitchen looking at the box sitting next to the door. "So she really threw his stuff out?"

"Not all of it, just that one box. But it's all of his baseball stuff," Tim said sadly.

"Does he know you have it?"

Tim shook his head, "He hasn't even told us yet. His shit would probably still be sitting on her lawn if you hadn't called."

"So you don't know anything more?"

"Nope. All we know is what Peyton told you. That he accused her of sleeping with Mouth and the wedding was called off."

"Think they can work this out?"

"God I would hope so. But I honestly don't know."

Teresa walked into the room with baby Curtis on her hip, "Look who I found sitting on the back porch when I let the dog out."

Nathan walked in behind her, "Hi."

"What the hell happened last night?" Jake blurted out.

"Aren't you supposed to be in New York with Peyton?"

"Yeah, until you pulled your little stunt, which I got yelled at for by the way, and we had to come back."

"I believe Peyton's exact words were, 'Your friend's a dumbass.' I'll also have you know that if it had not been for my quick thinking, your shit would probably still be out on her lawn," he motioned to the box.

"She actually threw my stuff out?"

"Dude, you really pissed her off," Jake shook his head.

Tim spoke up, "You can thank me later for freezing my ass off to collect your stuff."

"Thanks," Nathan hung his head.

"So, are you going to tell us what happened?"

"I got home from work late, and found her in the living room where she'd fallen asleep watching a movie. Only she wasn't alone. Her head was resting on Mouth's chest while his arms were wrapped lightly across her back."

Tim rolled his eyes, "Oh yeah, she's DEFINITELY cheating on you. I mean, seriously man."

"I know, I guess I overreacted."

"You guess?"

"Okay, I know. Anyway, I suggested that maybe she never stopped sleeping with him, and she slapped me before slinging the accusation back in my face, saying maybe with all the late nights lately, I was the one sleeping around and called off the wedding. She said she couldn't be married to a man who didn't trust her."

"So DO you trust her?"

"Of course."

"Then why did you say it?" Teresa asked, walking back into the room, having put Curtis down for his nap.

"I don't know. Work's been stressful. And things have been so crazy at the house, trying to get everything ready. Maybe I just wasn't thinking straight."

"You need to go talk to her."

"If she'll listen."

Nathan decided to wait until after dinner, hoping that she'd have had plenty of time to cool down, and might be willing to talk. He noticed that her car was gone, so he decided to let himself into the house, and wait for her in the living room. Attempting to put his key in the lock, he immediately realized what she had done, and knew things were going to be more difficult than he thought.

Sitting on the porch, he knew all he could do was sit and wait for her. Moments later, he saw her car turn onto the street. He stood up and approached the driveway.

Haley saw him standing there and rolled down the window, "Can I help you?"

"Can we please talk?"

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Please Haley. I'm so sorry."

"Save it."

"I see you changed the locks."

"Obviously that was a good idea. Otherwise I'd have unwanted visitors in my home."

"But what if I had only come to get my stuff?"

"You and I both know that's not why you're here. If you want your stuff, go get it from Tim, since he was nice enough to cleanup the lawn for me last night."

"But that wasn't everything."

"No, you're right. Jake has the rest, or he will. Peyton and I just dropped a load off. They're coming to get the rest in the morning."

"I could just take it now. Save everyone the time and the trip."

"No, that's okay. She doesn't mind coming to get it. And I DO mind having you in my home. So please leave."

"Not until we talk about this."

"Fine, then I will," she rolled up her window and backed down the driveway.

Nathan watched silently, fearing he would never see her again.

Nathan next showed up at Jake and Peyton's place.

"Hey man," Jake said as he opened the door, "I don't have all your stuff yet."

His comment didn't even register in Nathan's mind, "She's not here, is she?"

"Peyton?"

"No, Haley."

"No, she's not. I haven't seen her in an hour or so. I was here when she and Peyton returned with your stuff."

"Did she say anything to you? About what happened?"

"She uttered a 'hi', a 'bye', and a 'Tell your friend thanks for breaking my heart.' But that was it. No details. I'm sure she knows they would get back to you."

"Damn it!"

"Did you go over there?"

"Yeah. She's changed the locks, and when she got back she wouldn't get out of the car. I said I wanted to talk, and wasn't going to leave until we did. So she left. I don't know where she went."

"Peyton?" Jake yelled up the steps.

"Yeah babe."

"Have you talked to Haley since she left here?"

"No. Why?" She found her way to the top of the steps.

"Nathan's here, looking for her."

"Hey Nate," Peyton greeted him. "I shouldn't be talking to you."

"Please, Pey. Do you know where she is? I went over there to talk to her but she refused and left." Tears began to well in his eyes, "I have to convince her it was all a mistake. I trust her. I really do. I was just tired. I wasn't thinking straight."

"Let me call her," she paused, "I am only doing this because I think she made a mistake calling off the wedding."

Jake and Nathan sat quietly as Peyton called Haley.

"How's it going? Oh he did? Did you talk to him? Um hmm. So you left? Where are you at now then? Okay, tell Brian and Jesi hi. And call me if you need anything, anything at all. Alright, talk to you later."

"Goodnight Nathan," and with that, Peyton went back upstairs. She felt horrid. She'd just ratted out her best friend. Although, technically she didn't tell him where she was, he just overheard a phone conversation.

"Thank you Peyton," Nathan whispered at her retreating back. "Thanks Jake. Wish me luck."

"Dude, it's getting late. Don't you think the baby's going to be asleep?"

"We'll talk outside then. I can't wait any longer."

"Good luck then."

Minutes later he found himself parked out front at the Frost's home. It was a smart hiding place. He never would have thought to look for her here. Slowly climbing the stairs, he thought about what he was going to say to her. Heck how he was even going to see her. He knocked on the door.

A few moments later, he heard the chain being slid out of place and Brian pulled open the door. "You need to leave. You're not welcome here."

"Please Brian, I just need to talk to her."

"How could you be such an ass?"

"I know, I know. I want to apologize."

"She's upstairs with baby Ben right now."

"Fine. Then I'll wait."

"I don't think she's going to come down and talk to you. And I'm not going to let you in. Haley would kill me, and then Jesi would do it again. I'm not stepping into that lion's den."

"Just tell her I'm here. Please."

"Fine. But don't expect a miracle."

Brian went upstairs where he found Haley singing lightly to his young son. The look on her face was of pure happiness, but he knew that underneath she was a ball of sadness. He waited in the doorway, just watching her, until Ben was sound asleep and she placed him in the crib.

Haley turned to the man who she'd noticed standing in the doorway a few minutes before, "He's asleep." She hugged him, "Thanks for letting me stay here tonight." Looking back at Ben she asked, "Think I'll ever have one of my own?"

"A baby? Of course you will."

"Will I be married to the father? Because right now, it's looking like I'm never going to find someone."

"You will. The perfect man is out there for you," he put his head down, "Speaking of which, there's someone outside for you."

"Damn it Peyton," Haley muttered. "Will you tell him to go away?" Brian turned to do just that but Haley stopped him, "Wait, I'll do it. Otherwise he'll never leave."

Brian followed Haley down the steps and met Jesi at the bottom who asked, "Is she really going to talk to him?" She peeked out the window. "He looks so sad out there."

"He should look sad. He really screwed up."

"Have you talked to Mouth?"

"Yeah. He feels awful about the whole thing."

"He shouldn't have to feel bad. He and I used to fall asleep watching TV all the time when he lived with us, but you never thought we were sleeping together."

"I know. And I don't understand why Nathan did? He and Mouth are friends. He should know that they would never do that, well not again anyway."

"I just hope they work things out."

"Me too babe, me too."

Haley stepped out onto the porch and sat next to Nathan. "I told you to leave me alone."

"Something got you out here."

"Yeah, an extreme annoyance with you. I want you to leave. And don't get Peyton to do your dirty work for you. That's just evil, pitting two best friends against each other."

"Look Haley," Nathan rested a hand lightly on her knee.

She swatted the hand away and stood up, "Don't touch me." She stepped towards the door

"Haley, stop, please," and Nathan reached out, grabbing her hand her hand, which he dropped immediately, remembering what she'd just said. "Please," he pleased, "just hear me out."

Haley stood silent for what seemed like an eternity before sitting back down, this time further away, "Fine."

"I am so sorry about what I said last night."

"You really think I'm going to let you get away with being so vague?"

"Okay, I'm sorry that I jumped to conclusions and accused you of sleeping with Mouth." He looked into her eyes and she tried to avoid seeing the sorrow, the pain and the terror written all over his face. "I love you so much Hales. I mean it when I say I can't imagine my life without you in it. You are the one and only person for me. And I DO trust you. I'm just scared. Things have never gone this well in my life, ever. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. And work has been so stressful lately. And I was pissed at myself for all the late nights. I wished every minute that I was at home with you. Please Haley, reconsider. Don't call of the wedding. I want to make you my wife."

A tear slid down her face, "I can't Nathan. I can't become Mrs. Nathan Scott. Not with this hanging over us. This isn't the only time things are going to be stressful at work. I'm not going to sit by and take absurd accusations every time you're stressed out at work. What will it be next time? Oh, I know, I'll be pregnant, and you'll accuse me of sleeping around and say that you don't even know if the baby's yours. No Nathan. I will NEVER live a life like that. Too many of my family members have been in abusive and controlling relationships, and I promised myself that I never would." She slowly slid her engagement ring off of her finger.

"Haley, no," Nathan cried as she dropped it in his hand.

"Bet now you're wishing you'd waited a few more months to rear that ugly side of your personality. It would've been harder to walk away once we were married." She stood and once again approached the door. And then, with her back to him, tears streaming down her face, and a shaky voice she whispered, "Goodbye Nathan."
Please don't hate me. This isn't the end. But the next update may take a little time. With these past two chapters, I have strayed slightly from the story as it was originally written (neither of them existed before) and I decided that the original ending doesn't really work well anymore, so I'm rewritting! But I still promise to finish the story before the premiere next week!