Chapter Eight

A.N. Thanks to everyone for their reviews, they really keep me going. I'm going to try and update at least once a week, I've finally got a story rotation going, but to update one I have to be able to finish a chapter of another and that's hard sometimes...but anyway please keep reviewing because the higher the review count the higher the story is on my rotation list! Disclaimer: Part of the scene in the classroom I don't own but when you get there I'm sure you'll understand why I had to copy it straight from the episode Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows.

Thanks to everyone for their reviews, they really keep me going. I'm going to try and update at least once a week, I've finally got a story rotation going, but to update one I have to be able to finish a chapter of another and that's hard sometimes...but anyway please keep reviewing because the higher the review count the higher the story is on my rotation list! Part of the scene in the classroom I don't own but when you get there I'm sure you'll understand why I had to copy it straight from the episode

"Hey," Brooke drops onto the bench next to Haley at lunch. "You look sick, maybe we should go home."

Haley rolls her eyes, "I'm not sick, I'm fine."

"Are you sure the stress of dealing with all the rumors isn't getting to be to much? I mean a half-day is a good start, you can ease yourself back into this."

"You're treating me like I'm sick or something, I'm not going to break. And besides the rumors are fine, everyone just whispers about me wherever I walk by, no one is actually confronting me about it. Which might have something to do with you and Peyton trailing me for most of the morning. And besides on top of all of that Nathan's not even here today so..."

"That's the thing," Brooke bites her lower lip, "on my way here I saw Nathan pull into the parking lot."

"Oh," Haley pales visibly.

"And you guys have the same..."

"Brooke," Haley glares, "I'm well aware of both my and Nathan's schedules, thank you."

"So, want to go home?"

"People see their exes all the time, I'll deal," Haley shrugs picking at the sandwich she'd bought minutes ago but had yet to touch.

"Haley you don't have to be strong all the time." Haley's eyes briefly lock on Brooke's before she looks away again without responding to Brooke's statement.

Haley is already in class when Nathan stumbles in, Haley watches Nathan but it is clear that he is doing everything that he can to avoid looking at her. Tt takes all of her willpower not to look at Nathan anymore and to turn her attention back to the teacher who is talking about some science related subject. A task made even more impossible as she can't help but hear the dialogue being exchanged by Nathan and Lucas just a couple seats behind her.

"Nate, I'm glad you showed up," Lucas whispers.

"Whatever," Nathan responds, "I'm only here because my playstation broke." His words are quickly followed by the hiss of a can being popped open, this action is the last straw and Haley can't help but turn around in her seat in enough time to see Nathan take a swig out of a can.

"Hey man, are you nuts?" Lucas demands quietly and Haley watches as he glances up at the teacher but she can't take her eyes off of Nathan but Haley is well aware when the teacher trails off and some girls right next to her giggle.

"Okay," the teacher approaches Nathan's seat and crossing her arms over her chest demands, "please tell me you are not drinking beer in my class."

"Technically it's malt liquor," Nathan responds taking another sip.

"Nathan!" The teacher exclaims.

"It's okay," Nathan declares digging around in his bag before producing another can and setting it on the desk of a student sitting nearby, "I brought enough to share."

Haley can't stand watching this scene anymore and she jumps to her feet and hurries over to Nathan, lightly tugging on his arm, "come on Nate, let's take a walk, talk..."

Nathan shoves Haley off of him, hard enough that she had to grab a desk to keep from falling, "get off of me, Haley. We're not married anymore, so just leave me the hell alone."

"Nathan..." Haley can't help but try again as the teacher and other students watch on dumbfounded, except for Lucas she can see the pity on his face.

"Haley, seriously, just leave me alone. I was thinking of maybe hooking up with this fine educator here, with that outfit I'd guess she's easy and this way I can move on and all that shit we talked about."

"Nathan!" Haley stares shocked at Nathan while their teacher looks ready to explode with rage,

"Both of you, principals office, no," she orders before placing a firm hand on both of their shoulders and directing them out of the classroom.

"This is inexcusable," Principal Turner is standing over both Haley and Nathan minutes later. "The school kept our mouths shut when the two of you got married, because you seemed to be going along about it very maturely, but I will not allow the two of you to use my school as an open forum for your marital problems."

"It won't happen again Mr. Turner," Haley assures quickly.

"You're absolutely right because you are both about to be expelled."

Haley's eyes go wide but Nathan shows no reaction, "expelled?" She asks quietly swallowing against the lump blocking her throat.

"Yes, expelled. Mrs. Scott you haven't been to a class in nearly two weeks and your husbands actions in the classroom today are grounds enough for expulsion."

"But..."

"I'm not expelling anyone today, but both of you will be serving some serious detention time." He stops for a moment, as if to figure out their forms of punishment, "Mrs. Scott you will be serving afterschool detention until you've made up every test, essay and assignment that you've missed on your hiatus." He stops to think again, "and Mr. Scott you'll be spending the next six weeks in Saturday morning detention, after you've served a weeks worth of suspension."

"Great, does that mean I'm free to go home?" Nathan questions as he stands.

"In school," Principal Turner adds.

"Damn," Nathan swears before dropping back into his seat.

"You're free to return to class Mrs. Scoot."

"Will you stop calling her that?" Nathan demands, "we're not going to be married anymore."

Principal Turner glances at Haley looking for some sign of confirmation and at her not he sighs, "I'm sorry to hear that, but as I said earlier keep your problems outside of the classroom, outside of the halls of Tree Hill High. Now, Ms. James if you'll excuse us Nathan and I have a lot to talk about,"

"Woohoo," Nathan responds in an overly excited tone.

Haley stands and glancing at Nathan one last time she walks out of the office. "Oh my God, Tutor-Girl," Brooke jumps to her feet when Haley walks into the hallway, followed closely by Lucas and Peyton. "Luke sent me a text message saying you guys got kicked out of class."

"What happened in there?" Lucas gestures to the office doors, he'd already quickly informed Peyton and Brooke about what had happened in class while they waited.

"Turner threatened to expel the both of us," Haley informs.

"Expel you?" Peyton demands, "that's not right."

"He's not going to," Haley sighs before she begins to explain what had occurred in the office.

"Nathan's probably lucky he didn't get expelled," Peyton concludes right before the door opens and Nathan emerges, slamming it shut behind him.

"What the hell are you guys doing here? Talking about me? Stagging some sort of intervention?"

"Nate we just..." Peyton begins.

"Just back the hell off," Nathan orders.

"Nate, come on," Lucas begins.

"Sorry," Nathan shakes his head, "but I've got to spend some quality time in the suspension room, so if you'll excuse me."

"Nate..." Lucas tries to stop Nathan, who's already started down the hallway.

"Luke," Haley sighs, "just let him go. You're not going to get through to him today."