Author's Note: Hey, everyone. I'm glad to see that you all liked the last chapter. I hope I did the flashback okay and it wasn't too confusing. That was the first song fic I've ever done, so I hope it wasn't that bad. I know that some of you wanted to see how they ended things so I figured I give you all a little taste since I really didn't feel like devoting a whole chapter to the subject. I also figured that if I showed you how mean and heartless he was when they ended things, you would see that there is absolutely no way that Nathan will be going to find Haley and beg for forgiveness. He's done what he's done and he meant what he said. There is no hope for Naley in this story. Well, that's my venting for this chapter; hope it wasn't annoying and repetitive. Well, here we go...
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Brooke had spent the rest of the show holding Haley backstage as she cried. She should have known that Haley would breakdown if she thought about Nathan. The wound was too deep and much too fresh to be playing with. When Haley was up there performing, she could tell by the look on her face that she was in a different place, but she thought it was a happy place. When she had told Haley to think of Nathan, she had meant a happy memory not whatever had happened a few nights ago.
"It's going to be okay, Hales," she assured her. She ran a hand through her hair in an attempt to calm her down. At this point, Haley had pulled her knees up to her chest and had her arms wrapped around her legs. She was in a defensive position and Brooke didn't think that was a good sign.
"I just can't believe..." Haley sobbed. "I can't believe he said that." She had tried to repress the memory of all the harsh things that he had said to her. She hadn't given it much thought since it had happened. Now it felt like it had just happened. That she had just walked in on Nathan and that girl.
"What?" Brooke asked. "What did he say?" Haley shook her head, not wanting to have to repeat it, at least not this soon.
"I can't, Tigger, I can't," Haley told her. Brooke nodded her head and just held her tighter.
"Okay, sweetie," she told her. "You don't have to say anything." People had been walking by the whole time and giving them weird looks, but they moved on when Brooke would shot them a dirty look, warning them that she would kill them if they said anything.
"I'm sorry," Haley said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She unfolded her legs and moved her arms so she was more comfortable. Brooke still kept an arm around her shoulder to make sure she was all right.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Brooke told her. She wiped a tear off Haley's face. She ruffled her hair a little. "You okay now?"
"For the moment," Haley replied. She pulled out of Brooke embrace fully and stood up. Brooke followed her lead. She used her shirt to fully clear her face of her tears.
"Ready to go back out there?" Brooke asked her. As soon as she said that, Haley's face paled. She whipped back around to look at Brooke. She was starring at her like she had three heads.
"Go back out there?" she repeated. At the thought, he stomach became queasy. "I can't go back out there. Are you crazy?" Brooke burst out laughing at the panicked look on the girl's face. She patted her on the back.
"Take a pill, Hales," she teased her. "I think they're going to announce the winner soon. And traditionally, all the contestants usually go out on stage for it." Haley began to calm down when she realized she wouldn't have to sing again.
"I'm sorry I sucked," Haley said. She didn't really know how she did, since she had zoned out during her performance, but she was playing the odds and figured she more than likely blowed.
"Are you kidding?" Brooke asked in shock. "You didn't suck. You kicked some major ass out there!" Haley looked at her in surprise, trying to figure out if she was lying or not.
"I did?" Brooke nodded emphatically.
"You were amazing," Brooke assured her. "I didn't know you could sing like that. You should have heard what all the people around me where saying. They were totally impressed."
"Really?" she asked again. There was just something in her that wouldn't let her believe that she was any good. Once again, Brooke nodded.
"Trust me when I tell you they were blown away," Brooke said. "And I'm not just saying that." Haley smiled, proud of herself for actually doing something right for a change.
"So you think I actually have a shot at winning?"
"I'd almost guarantee it," Brooke told her. She wasn't sure if she should have told her that. She wasn't lying when she said that Haley kicked ass and she really thought she should win, but she knew that nothing was guaranteed in life and she shouldn't be getting Haley's hopes up only to have them stomped on.
"Let's hope so," Haley said nervously. Brooke felt terrible about what she had just done.
"Just remember," she began. "If you don't win, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You were amazing and I am so proud of you for going out there." Haley nodded at her, trying to think positive. Despite what Brooke said, there was still a part of her that believed that she could possibly win. She never won anything, so why should it start now?
"Okay," Haley said. "I promise I wouldn't be sad. I promise to look on the bright side of things. I should be proud of myself too. And I am."
"Good," Brooke said, now she was just as nervous as Haley was. "You did great."
"Contestants!" a woman called. Both Haley and Brooke looked her way. "When Grace is done singing, we will be announcing the winner. I need all the contestants to be ready to go on stage when she's done." Everyone nodded and began to get ready to go back on.
"You ready?" Brooke asked her nervous friend. Haley took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. She turned to Brooke.
"You have to come out there with me," she informed her. Brooke looked at her in confusion. She looked around to try and figure out if Haley was talking to someone behind her.
"What?"
"You have to go out there with me," she repeated. "I went out there once, I can't do it again."
"But only contestants..."
"There's so many of them, they won't see you," Haley explained. "Please, Tigger. I would feel a lot better if you're there with me. Please?" Brooke finally gave in and nodded. "Thank you!" she cheered. She jumped up and down and hugged the cheerleader.
"No problem," Brooke told her. Haley smiled at her before going back to being nervous. They listened as the last singer finish her song. The crowd began to cheer. Haley looked nervously over at Brooke.
"Was I better than her?"
"By a long shot," Brooke assured her. Haley nodded, pleased with herself. As the crowd quieted down, the other contestants started to make their way on to the stage. Haley took a deep breath, grabbed Brooke's hand and followed the others onto the stage. As they stepped on, the crowd began to cheer them all on again. Haley and Brooke found a spot at the edge of the stage and waited as the judge handed the MC the envelope that had the winner in it.
"Now as you all know," the MC began. "The winner of this contest wins a check for five thousand dollars." The crowd cheered and a few contestants did too. "And as you also know, only one person can win first prize. Now most competitions like this usually draw things out as long as they can by starting with third place. So to speed things up a bit, we're just going to announce the winner." She turned to everyone behind and give them a smile of good luck.
"Breathe, Hales," Brooke whispered to her when she saw that Haley was starting to hyperventilate. Haley nodded and took a deep breath. Brooke squeezed her hand for support and took a deep breath as well.
"And the winner of this five thousand dollar check over here is..." Everyone was silent as she opened up the envelope. "Ashley Harrison!" They both sighed in disappointment. They separated their hands and clapped politely, but sadly. The girl they assumed was Ashley screamed and jumped up and down in excitement. She ran up to the MC and grabbed her check.
"Thank you so much," she said to the crowd as they cheered for her. She hugged the MC, blew the crowd a kiss and walked backstage. Brooke looked on in disgust.
"She was totally sleeping with the judge," she said to Haley. Haley gave her a sad smile, thanking her for trying. The MC walked back into center stage.
"Now for the winner of the three thousand dollar second place prize," she began. Both Brooke and Haley looked at her in surprise. The sign never said anything about a second place prize. "Haley James!"
"Yes!" Brooke cheered. She gave Haley a hug in congratulations and pushed the shocked girl into the spotlight. Haley walked over to the MC in a daze and accepted the check.
"Thanks," she said nervously when there was a mic shoved in her face. The lady hugged her and she didn't know what to do. As soon as she was released, she made her way off the stage, Brooke following in close pursuit. When they meet backstage they both jumped up and down.
"I knew you could do it," Brooke told her. Haley smiled at her and looked at the check. This was the first good thing that had had happened to them in the past few days.
"Yeah," she said to herself more than to Brooke. "I knew I could do it too." Brooke smiled and gave her another hug before they quickly ran off to find directions to the nearest bank.
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Okay, that chapter officially sucked. I'm really sorry that was so horrible, but I promise the next one will be better. We will be heading back to Tree Hill for a visit. And guess who will be making his grand return? Well, it's obviously Lucas, but I thought I'd make it sound more surprising. Anyway, please leave a review to tell me what you think, even if it's a bad one because I know I deserve it this time. Okay, I'm done. Peace.
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Brooke had spent the rest of the show holding Haley backstage as she cried. She should have known that Haley would breakdown if she thought about Nathan. The wound was too deep and much too fresh to be playing with. When Haley was up there performing, she could tell by the look on her face that she was in a different place, but she thought it was a happy place. When she had told Haley to think of Nathan, she had meant a happy memory not whatever had happened a few nights ago.
"It's going to be okay, Hales," she assured her. She ran a hand through her hair in an attempt to calm her down. At this point, Haley had pulled her knees up to her chest and had her arms wrapped around her legs. She was in a defensive position and Brooke didn't think that was a good sign.
"I just can't believe..." Haley sobbed. "I can't believe he said that." She had tried to repress the memory of all the harsh things that he had said to her. She hadn't given it much thought since it had happened. Now it felt like it had just happened. That she had just walked in on Nathan and that girl.
"What?" Brooke asked. "What did he say?" Haley shook her head, not wanting to have to repeat it, at least not this soon.
"I can't, Tigger, I can't," Haley told her. Brooke nodded her head and just held her tighter.
"Okay, sweetie," she told her. "You don't have to say anything." People had been walking by the whole time and giving them weird looks, but they moved on when Brooke would shot them a dirty look, warning them that she would kill them if they said anything.
"I'm sorry," Haley said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She unfolded her legs and moved her arms so she was more comfortable. Brooke still kept an arm around her shoulder to make sure she was all right.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Brooke told her. She wiped a tear off Haley's face. She ruffled her hair a little. "You okay now?"
"For the moment," Haley replied. She pulled out of Brooke embrace fully and stood up. Brooke followed her lead. She used her shirt to fully clear her face of her tears.
"Ready to go back out there?" Brooke asked her. As soon as she said that, Haley's face paled. She whipped back around to look at Brooke. She was starring at her like she had three heads.
"Go back out there?" she repeated. At the thought, he stomach became queasy. "I can't go back out there. Are you crazy?" Brooke burst out laughing at the panicked look on the girl's face. She patted her on the back.
"Take a pill, Hales," she teased her. "I think they're going to announce the winner soon. And traditionally, all the contestants usually go out on stage for it." Haley began to calm down when she realized she wouldn't have to sing again.
"I'm sorry I sucked," Haley said. She didn't really know how she did, since she had zoned out during her performance, but she was playing the odds and figured she more than likely blowed.
"Are you kidding?" Brooke asked in shock. "You didn't suck. You kicked some major ass out there!" Haley looked at her in surprise, trying to figure out if she was lying or not.
"I did?" Brooke nodded emphatically.
"You were amazing," Brooke assured her. "I didn't know you could sing like that. You should have heard what all the people around me where saying. They were totally impressed."
"Really?" she asked again. There was just something in her that wouldn't let her believe that she was any good. Once again, Brooke nodded.
"Trust me when I tell you they were blown away," Brooke said. "And I'm not just saying that." Haley smiled, proud of herself for actually doing something right for a change.
"So you think I actually have a shot at winning?"
"I'd almost guarantee it," Brooke told her. She wasn't sure if she should have told her that. She wasn't lying when she said that Haley kicked ass and she really thought she should win, but she knew that nothing was guaranteed in life and she shouldn't be getting Haley's hopes up only to have them stomped on.
"Let's hope so," Haley said nervously. Brooke felt terrible about what she had just done.
"Just remember," she began. "If you don't win, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You were amazing and I am so proud of you for going out there." Haley nodded at her, trying to think positive. Despite what Brooke said, there was still a part of her that believed that she could possibly win. She never won anything, so why should it start now?
"Okay," Haley said. "I promise I wouldn't be sad. I promise to look on the bright side of things. I should be proud of myself too. And I am."
"Good," Brooke said, now she was just as nervous as Haley was. "You did great."
"Contestants!" a woman called. Both Haley and Brooke looked her way. "When Grace is done singing, we will be announcing the winner. I need all the contestants to be ready to go on stage when she's done." Everyone nodded and began to get ready to go back on.
"You ready?" Brooke asked her nervous friend. Haley took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. She turned to Brooke.
"You have to come out there with me," she informed her. Brooke looked at her in confusion. She looked around to try and figure out if Haley was talking to someone behind her.
"What?"
"You have to go out there with me," she repeated. "I went out there once, I can't do it again."
"But only contestants..."
"There's so many of them, they won't see you," Haley explained. "Please, Tigger. I would feel a lot better if you're there with me. Please?" Brooke finally gave in and nodded. "Thank you!" she cheered. She jumped up and down and hugged the cheerleader.
"No problem," Brooke told her. Haley smiled at her before going back to being nervous. They listened as the last singer finish her song. The crowd began to cheer. Haley looked nervously over at Brooke.
"Was I better than her?"
"By a long shot," Brooke assured her. Haley nodded, pleased with herself. As the crowd quieted down, the other contestants started to make their way on to the stage. Haley took a deep breath, grabbed Brooke's hand and followed the others onto the stage. As they stepped on, the crowd began to cheer them all on again. Haley and Brooke found a spot at the edge of the stage and waited as the judge handed the MC the envelope that had the winner in it.
"Now as you all know," the MC began. "The winner of this contest wins a check for five thousand dollars." The crowd cheered and a few contestants did too. "And as you also know, only one person can win first prize. Now most competitions like this usually draw things out as long as they can by starting with third place. So to speed things up a bit, we're just going to announce the winner." She turned to everyone behind and give them a smile of good luck.
"Breathe, Hales," Brooke whispered to her when she saw that Haley was starting to hyperventilate. Haley nodded and took a deep breath. Brooke squeezed her hand for support and took a deep breath as well.
"And the winner of this five thousand dollar check over here is..." Everyone was silent as she opened up the envelope. "Ashley Harrison!" They both sighed in disappointment. They separated their hands and clapped politely, but sadly. The girl they assumed was Ashley screamed and jumped up and down in excitement. She ran up to the MC and grabbed her check.
"Thank you so much," she said to the crowd as they cheered for her. She hugged the MC, blew the crowd a kiss and walked backstage. Brooke looked on in disgust.
"She was totally sleeping with the judge," she said to Haley. Haley gave her a sad smile, thanking her for trying. The MC walked back into center stage.
"Now for the winner of the three thousand dollar second place prize," she began. Both Brooke and Haley looked at her in surprise. The sign never said anything about a second place prize. "Haley James!"
"Yes!" Brooke cheered. She gave Haley a hug in congratulations and pushed the shocked girl into the spotlight. Haley walked over to the MC in a daze and accepted the check.
"Thanks," she said nervously when there was a mic shoved in her face. The lady hugged her and she didn't know what to do. As soon as she was released, she made her way off the stage, Brooke following in close pursuit. When they meet backstage they both jumped up and down.
"I knew you could do it," Brooke told her. Haley smiled at her and looked at the check. This was the first good thing that had had happened to them in the past few days.
"Yeah," she said to herself more than to Brooke. "I knew I could do it too." Brooke smiled and gave her another hug before they quickly ran off to find directions to the nearest bank.
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Okay, that chapter officially sucked. I'm really sorry that was so horrible, but I promise the next one will be better. We will be heading back to Tree Hill for a visit. And guess who will be making his grand return? Well, it's obviously Lucas, but I thought I'd make it sound more surprising. Anyway, please leave a review to tell me what you think, even if it's a bad one because I know I deserve it this time. Okay, I'm done. Peace.