Chapter 15 Concluding Half
Haley nodded gratefully. Brooke and Peyton left in search of Soraya and the guys headed off to go get food for everyone, leaving two pissed off Newport High girls and one guy who was in neck-deep shit, in his words
'Soraya?' Soraya? Where are you? Soraya?' Peyton called out along the hallways and corridors of the school, they had just entered the building five minutes ago when they had told Haley that they were going to look for her cousin.
'Peyton there's no point; you're just wasting your breath.' Brooke sighed; Peyton was such an amateur when it came to matters about social life.
'Brooke! We said we'd look for her, and we will!'
'When did I say I was gonna stop?' Hmm? All I'm saying is you're not using your Inner Girl logic!'
'Inner Girl Logic?' Peyton raised an eyebrow at this.
'Yeah! IGL come on girl, have you been living in the Stone Age or something? Soraya was crying right?'
'Yeah.'
'So,' Brooke continued. 'That means she's probably upset.'
'Uh huh.'
'And she got upset after seeing her old friends come, specifically her ex-boyfriend, am I right?'
'Where are you going with this Brooke?' Peyton hated it when people beat around the bush, life would be so much easier if people just got to the point.
'Where is your common sense girl?' Brooke asked, deciding to clarify her point. 'So if a girl is having problems with her boyfriend or ex in this case, and if they were really serious about their relationship, they would be extremely upset about this. Some girls might deal with this by becoming cold to everyone around them; others might lock themselves somewhere where no one could bother them and then let out their feelings. This could either be by anger or by crying. Soraya seems more like the person to hide the fact that she cries rather than being mad…so I reckon she's hiding in the girls' toilets.'
'You just couldn't have said she'd be in the ladies from the beginning like any normal person could you?' Peyton shook her head at Brooke's long trains of thought.
'But then you wouldn't know how I came to that conclusion!' Brooke smiled innocently, or tried to.
'Let's just find her!' Peyton gave up trying to knock her sense into Brooke and they both headed to the girl's washroom. When they entered, it seemed that Brooke was right. They heard a voice that was identical to Soraya's muttering the word 'stupid' repeatedly, in between sniffles and quiet sobs.
'Soraya, is that you?' Brooke asked carefully unsure of how volatile Soraya's mood was at the moment.
There was no answer at first, and Peyton gave Brooke a look that screamed out 'do something!' Brooke however just shrugged her shoulders saying that it was all up to Soraya now. The two were about to leave when they heard a click from the cubicles meaning the cubicle had been unlocked. Out came Soraya, her hair was a little messy but nothing a good hair brush couldn't sort out, her eyes were now a sore red colour though from crying so much, however her make up had not smeared, so that was a relief.
'Aaawww Soraya,' Brooke immediately rushed to the girl and gathered her in a bear hug with Peyton by her side. 'It's okay, it's okay to be upset, it's okay to cry.' And that was what Soraya did, she cried once again but this time with two comforting friends around her to rub her back or say soothing words to her.
Peyton wasn't really very comfortable with this, she had lost her mom at a young age and had not even cried then, she wasn't use to seeing or sharing so much emotion with someone besides Brooke, and even then it was limited as she had held it back. She could see that Soraya was quite upset, but still could not bring herself to say anything, instead she tried to show her care through her actions and so she rubbed Soraya's back in small circles.
'What's wrong with me' Soraya though to herself, how can she just lose control over her emotions like this. She hadn't cried since she was five and her mother had told her crying was a weak prayer and no one would ever wipe her tears and answer them. She hadn't cried when she and Haley's grandmother died, she never cried when her parents left her because they couldn't stand each other, in fact she had never shown any signs of being sad or hurt or even fear only anger, which was why her temper was considered so short. It was how she expressed her anger, her fear and her distress. If anyone else had to express any signs of unease by anger, then they too would be expressing rage on a frequent basis.
After ten minutes of anguished tears, Soraya finally had enough strength to pull herself together. It was only then she had fully noticed that Brooke had been comforting her with kind words and Peyton by rubbing her back. 'Well mom' she thought, 'looks like my weak prayers have been answered. As Brooke wiped the tears on one eye, and Peyton the other. 'I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to spasm at you like that. I don't know what's wrong with me!'
'It's okay; you don't have to explain yourself to us.' Brooke told her gently, pushing her hair away from her face.
'But I do, well I need to explain to myself aloud for my sake and I don't mind you hearing this, I mean during the whole time I've been here, I don't think I've ever come across as someone who cries over an ex when we both broke up on mutual terms.' Soraya explained.
'It's just that, I know that whenever I do talk to him on the phone I'm a total bitch to him and I'm glad I do that because otherwise it'd be total awkwardness between us and neither Leon or I have ever been one for unbearable silences. Before we got together, we've always pissed the hell out of each other, so it only seemed natural to go back to arguing again. No awkward conversations and no silences.'
I know I've been talking about the surprise the whole day, but I was only expecting Sarah to arrive, when I saw Leon it was like…no I'm not ready to see you yet, this wasn't meant to happen! Not so soon, you know? I was just totally out of it; I was still in a daze until Leon got cocky with Haley, because that's just something so typical of him to do and it hit home that he was really there standing in front of me.'
'When he started winding me up like he usually does, I was desperately trying to make a comeback, I even opened my mouth but I just went totally brain-dead and couldn't say a thing, my mind was refusing to let me speak. Then, it just happened, I felt this stinging sensation in my eyes and I tried so hard to hard to hold them back but it wouldn't work and there was no way I was going to let Leon see that he made me cry, so I legged the hell out of there and ended up like one of them soap opera high-school girls who lock themselves in the toilets and cry because the going got a little tough. I'm totally against that and hear I am doing exactly what they do! How ironic is that?'
'Hey, don't be so harsh on yourself! I don't know why you're so against the idea of crying because that is somehow proven officially to be a good way of healing…or something like that anyways; don't beat yourself up about it, everyone's caught off-guard every now and then. We are teenagers after all—come on that totally screams heart ache!' Brooke tried cheering the girl up and giving her advice at the same time.
'I know what you're saying Brooke, it's just that I haven't cried for a really long time and when I say long I mean years not months, it's like you have control over something for so long and then you lose it in a heartbeat—how is that fair?'
'Soraya, first of all I don't know how you survived years before crying—but that's not the point. The point is life isn't always an easy stroll through the park.'
'An easy stroll through the park?' Peyton broke out of her trance and finally spoke.
'So I couldn't come up with a good analogy! Sue me!' Brooke rolled her eyes, who cares about little details anyway? 'As I was saying, sometimes life plays tricks on you and it's not always fine and dandy but it's still good because at the end of the day we'll still be here for you.'
'When did you get so wise Brooke?' Soraya asked cracking her first smile since the whole ordeal, Peyton nodded her head vigorously in support of Soraya's statement.
'It's nothing to do with being brainy, it's just IGL!' Brooke grinned.
'IGL?' Soraya asked confused, whatever that was she needed some of it.
'Inner Girl Logic.' Peyton deadpanned.
'There may be hope for you yet blondie!' Brooke teased, causing Peyton to give her a light slap on the arm.
'Do you know that Sarah and Haley are grilling Leo right now?' Peyton informed Soraya.
'It's Leon' Soraya corrected absentmindedly. 'Hold on they're interrogating him?'
'That's an understatement!' Brooke exclaimed.
'No they can't do that, they're going to mess it up, oh I've got to get back there.' Soraya began panicking and was all for running out right there and then but she was being held back by Brooke and Peyton.
'Important as that might be, you cannot go out like that.' Brooke shook her head, seeing the puzzled expression on Soraya's face she sighed, and people said she was dense! 'Your make up might not be running, but your eyes are still bloodshot red and your hair is a mess; do you really wanna go out looking like that in front of your ex?'
'You are totally right! In that case I better hurry and fix up!' Soraya quickly ran towards the sink and washed her face to freshen herself up and allowed Brooke to put concealer and eye make up on whilst she ran a brush through her hair, when all was done she looked at herself once again in the mirror, not a single trace of a tear or any other signs that she had been crying. Perfect.
'Alright let's go, I am not going to have my business being spread across Tree Hill and trust me if they don't stop having a go at him, not a single one of them is well known for being discreet and that includes me so let's roll!' Soraya quickly pulled the door open and began speed walking towards the spot she had run from not too long ago.
Meanwhile, with the two Scott Brothers, many questions were raised but there were no answers, only speculation as to what could have happened.
'Man, I did not like what just happened!' Nathan told his older brother.
'Yeah, I know, it's a shame the two can't get along like you and Peyton still do.'
'A shame—Soraya took off as if the apocalypse was coming or something. They really need to sort out their problems.'
'Hmmm' Lucas pondered. 'Was it me or did Soraya look surprised to see him?'
'Wasn't Soraya part of the plan to surprise Haley though?' Nathan asked.
'Yeah, but I don't think Soraya would have reacted like that is she knew he was coming.'
'That's a good point.' Nathan concluded.
'$15.97.' Said the cashier.
Nathan took out a twenty dollar bill and handed it over. 'Keep the change,' he turned towards Lucas, 'let's go.' The two carried 6 sandwiches (they're actually in baguettes but are still called sandwiches) between themselves and headed towards the car. Both wondering whether they would find the new guy Leon alive, those girls didn't exactly seem very friendly towards him when they had left.
Back at the school grounds, a young adolescent male was being thoroughly questioned by two female in their late teens.
'Did you come here to make Soraya, who happens to be my cousin—' Haley began.
'And also happens to be my lifelong best friend.' Sarah added.
'Yeah and that,' Haley muttered quickly before raising the volume of her voice. 'Did you come here to make her life a living hell or not?'
'Err would I pass if I said no?' Leon tried to crack a light joke; this was obviously not a very smart move from him.
'If I whoop your ass right now, would I pass for being a good friend?' Sarah remarked wittingly.
'You would fail the loyalty to your brother test.' He answered back cockily.
'I swear you're acting like Nathan now!' Haley moaned.
'That's the brunette guy who was checking out that cheerleader with blonde highlights? Yeah he seems like a ladies man, I see the resemblance!' Leon smirked. There was simply no end to this guy.
'He was?' Haley asked, disgusted. 'That is so like him!'
'Ooh Haley you sound a little jealous there?' Leon teased.
'My other half has a point.' Sarah commented.
'I'd say you like him!'
'Definitely!'
'Hey!' Haley blushed. 'We're meant to be having a go at Leon remember?'
'Oh yeah,' Sarah cried out, she then rounded on her brother. 'See! This all your fault!'
'Sure just blame it all on the brother, and it's not just any ordinary brother either. It's your monozygotic, twin brother. Your other half like you said before—'
'Leon don't' Sarah sighed, the whole twin speech gets old after a while.
'Don't what?' Leon asked, hiding a smirk. 'I mean both of you just immediately point you finger at me! Sarah, you're my sister yet you choose to side with her instead. Okay, so she's one of you best friends, in that case Haley, you're one of my best friends yet you choose her. She's your cousin right? Fine but make up your mind! One of you decides friends come first and the other family. Either way you're against me! It's discrimination!' Leon gave out a long speech made from the top of his head.
'Discrimination against what exactly?' Sarah asked sceptically.
'Leon discrimination!' He answered with a playful grin, upon seeing the looks on his 2 favourite girl's faces hi expression became solemn. 'Alright, it's male discrimination.'
'You mean gender discrimination?' Haley asked.
'What you said. If anything goes wrong in a relationship, it'll always be the guy's fault.'
Lucas and Nathan, who had just arrived from bringing everyone's lunches, had just heard what Leon had just said. Lucas nodded his head whilst contemplating that and Nathan decided to join the conversation by adding in his two cents.
'He's right!'
Leon, Sarah and Haley all turned around to face him.
'If a relationship falls apart, you always blame it on the guy and not the girl!'
Haley snorted. 'Maybe because it always is the guy's fault!'
'Me and Peyton?'
'You were a jackass! And it's Peyton and I!'
Nathan rolled his eyes. 'Tim and Teresa?'
'He was with Clarisse and was an ass!'
'Nikki and Jake!' Nathan smirked; he knew he was right on this one. Why didn't he use this one first?
Haley thought it through for a minute. 'Alright. So one out of three! You do the math!'
'You're the tutor!' Nathan remarked.
'You're the tutee!' Haley responded.
'Exactly!' The two rivals stared each other down for as long as they could…until they were interrupted by a loud cough.
The cough came from Sarah. 'Hi, sorry to interrupt your lover's spat or flirting—'
'We were arguing' Haley interrupted sourly.
'Whatever, the point is we need to go back to getting answers from my cocky brother.' Sarah then turned to Nathan. 'Hi, Nathan right? Unless you want to be in the line of fire of two currently pissed off girls, my advice to you is not say anything. I don't mean to be rude; I just don't want my brother's ego to get any bigger so please—'
Haley interrupted. 'Stay out of it! And I mean to be rude!''
Before Nathan could respond however, another voice entered the conversation.
'I think you two should take your own advice!' It was Soraya, and behind her was Brooke and Peyton, who were currently catching their breaths from jogging to catch up with Soraya's incredibly fast pace of walking.
'Soraya?' Sarah and Haley questioned simultaneously.
'Yeah it's me. And you heard what I said. Take your own advice and stay out of this.' Soraya told them, upon seeing Haley's taken aback face and Sarah's hurt face, her voice softened. 'Look, I don't mean to be a bitch, it's just that whatever happened, happened between Leon and I, so we'll deal with this okay?'
'In that case you guys need to sort it out...like now because from what we saw earlier you two have issues to deal with and you've put Sarah and I in an awkward position.'
'Excuse me?' Soraya asked confused.
'Soraya, you're my cousin and Leon's my best friend—hell he's more like a brother to me.' Haley began.
'And Leon is my biological brother—'
Sarah was interrupted by Leon clearing his throat; she rolled her eyes and continued. 'Sorry my monozygotic twin and he will never let me forget it, also you are one of my best friends, my lifelong one. So that leaves LeeLee and me in a bit of a predicament.'
Soraya acknowledged this point and said 'Fair enough you've got a point. I'm sorry I didn't see how mine and Leon's relationship would affect you two, so Leon and I are going to sort this whole thing out' Upon seeing the delight on Haley's face, she added 'privately in other words alone away from all of you.'
'We are?' Leon asked her with a raised eyebrow.
'Yes, we are.' Soraya said through gritted teeth. 'Is there a problem with that?'
'Yeah, what if I don't want to have a private conversation with you?'
'Then, we can do this in front of everyone, I know how awkward you get when it come to talking about relationship issues and you know just as well as I do that I can attract the whole school population's attention and watch us have this talk so unless you want that, I suggest you move because we will talk either way.' Soraya's voice dropped dangerously low as she spoke to Leon.
Leon glared at her menacingly, he did not appreciate being threatened, but she was right, he hated having talks about commitment and boyfriend/girlfriend stuff alone let alone a whole crowd of people. Showing he was not impressed, Leon grabbed Soraya's arm and held it purposefully tight, so that he had her arm in a painful grip.
'Hurry up and find somewhere quiet, bitch.'
'First, let go of my arm. Bastard' Soraya spat out.
'But I might get separated from you in the huge crowd.' Leon said in a false sweet tone of voice. However, there was a huge rush from students, who had just been released from lunchtime extra-curricular clubs, all wanting their lunch.
'I realise that you might be scared to get lost but no need to be so nervous, you can loosen the grip some.' Soraya answered in the same way.
Reluctantly, Leon loosened his grip after giving a false smile, 'I was merely looking out for you.'
'Well there's no need.'
'If you say so.'
'I do.' Soraya grinned back at him darkly.
With that said, Soraya led him through the crowd whilst he was still holding onto her arm and they were soon hidden from everyone else's view, as they went to a more secluded area.
Brooke was the first to speak after they left. 'Was it me or could you see and feel the sexual tension they had going on there?'
'Let's not go to the feel part, he is my big bro after all.' Sarah shuddered before imitating her brother. 'No, it's monozygotic twin!' They almost believed it was Leon if she was guy because she had done it so precisely it was unnerving.
'What is a monozygotic twin?' Nathan asked he had never heard of that term before, maybe it was because he slept through the lessons or because he skipped school, he couldn't be sure.
Sarah turned to face him and smiled. 'Well you know what twins are right?'
'Yeah, of course.' Nathan answered.
'Well basically monozygotic means we were one egg that split into two.'
'Kinda like identical twins?' Lucas asked.
Sarah beamed at him. 'Yeah, that's exactly right! But obviously it's not that straight forward considering I'm a girl and he's a boy.'
'So how come you were from the same egg?' Peyton asked intrigued.
Sarah was overjoyed to see everyone's interest in the topic. 'You all know about all girls having XX chromosomes and all boys have XY ones right?'
Everyone nodded their heads, even Haley who had heard this explanation countless of times before but she just loved hearing it as she thought it was so cool.
'Well we were extraordinary embryos that use to have XXY chromosomes but during my mom's pregnancy, Leon lost an X chromosome and I lost a Y chromosome. So, instead of us being boys with disabilities, I became a healthy girl and Leon became a healthy boy.
(AN: I researched this and it is correct)
'Wow! Is that even possible?' Jake asked speaking to Sarah for the second time, he had gone to check on Jenny whilst Nathan and Lucas had gone to get everyone else's lunch back, he had silently crept onto the group and the others only noticed now that he was back.
Sarah, although surprised by Jake's quiet entrance, replied in her normal voice. 'Well it certainly isn't common, but theoretically it can happen and I'm living proof of that, oh and Leon is too.'
'So who's older? Brooke asked. 'You or Leon?'
Sarah's smile faded a little bit. 'We don't know...you see, my mom was having delivery complications and her life was in serious danger, so the doctors were obviously more concerned about my mum's survival then our birth times. Well she didn't make it anyways and passed away in childbirth. After her death time was recorded they gave us both the same birth time.'
'Doesn't your dad remember?' Brooke asked again.
'No, he was having his last words with my mom. Sarah no longer had a smile on her face; traces of sadness could be seen instead.
'I'm sorry,' Lucas gave his condolences and the others were about to murmur theirs too until Sarah spoke.
'Oh no please don't!' She spoke empathetically. 'I know she's my birth mother and all, but I never knew her and all, so I don't feel that…affected by her death, when you give me sympathy , I feel like I should feel bad for not being more affected by it and then I feel all guilty.'
'In that case no sorries for you!' Brooke remarked in a way only she could.
'One more thing,' Sarah concluded. 'Never mention my birth mom in front of my brother unless you have a death wish…he can be quite…touchy about this subject.
Haley snorted. 'Touchy? More like he'll turn into an axe-murderer on you and slice you into gory bits! Remember when Soraya mentioned something about her without realising it? I thought Leon was going to beat her to a bloody pulp. Even she got intimidated by him then…that's the only time I've ever seen her scared of Leon!'
'I would have thought you would be more sensitive about it.' Nathan commented to Sarah.
'You are so stereotypical!' Haley rolled her eyes.
'I think he was talking to me.' Sarah turned towards her other best friend.
'Yeah, I was talking to Sarah.' Nathan told her gleefully.
'LeeLee, Nathan is so sweet and polite; I don't see how or why you can argue with him.' Sarah winked at the others. Everybody laughed at the gob smacked expression on Haley's face.
'Why don't you just answer him then?' Haley changed the topic.
'Oh right.' Sarah grinned guiltily; everyone turned their attention towards her. 'Leon isn't affected by our mom's death so much either, what makes him despise her being mentioned is that he it shows a sign of his weakness.'
All the boys nodded their heads immediately, whilst the girls either didn't understand it or pondered it before accepting the idea.
'I don't understand that,' it was Peyton who spoke up this time. 'I lost my mom when I was young as well but that doesn't mean you just ignore it and never have her mentioned again.
'I'm just saying how he sees it, I'm not supporting it so please don't point the gun at me!' Sarah cracked a light joke, she really was Leon's brother to crack jokes at inappropriate times.
'Peyton, it's more of a guys' pride thing then a loss of someone issue.' Jake attempted to explain to her.
Peyton shrugged her shoulders; she still didn't agree but didn't want to make a scene as it was Leon's reasoning not theirs'.
'So…back to the whole sexual tension matter.' Brooke said meaningfully.
'What are you talking about?' Peyton asked her best friend.
'Soraya and Leon! Duh!' Brooke rolled her eyes, and people though she was dense and didn't have a clue!
Sarah and Haley grinned evilly, causing the others to recoil a bit.
Haley spoke first, '20 bucks that they'll screw each other within a month!'
Sarah was next. 'Nuh uh…25 Canadian dollars that they'll get back together within a month!'
'You're actually going to bet on your family and best friends?' Lucas raised an eyebrow.
'YEAH!' They both said simultaneously.
'I want to bet 20 American dollars that they get back together in two weeks!' Brooke added in her opinion.
'And I'll bet 20 that they screw each other in two weeks.' Nathan added in his thoughts.
'Any other takers?' Brooke asked. When Lucas, Peyton and Jake shook their heads, she added 'Spoilsports…well can one of you at least hold the money until whoever wins the bet?'
'Why don't we just pay the winner at the end?' Sarah asked. 'And if any of us claim the money then they need proof to back it up, deal?'
Haley, Brooke and Nathan all nodded their heads and said 'deal.'
'Now that that's out of the way.' Said Haley, she turned to face Sarah quizzically. 'What are you and Leon doing in Tree Hill anyway? And where is your stuff?'
'Stuff's in the car Leon hired, I swear his maniacal driving is going to kill us one day!' Sarah exclaimed. 'And you know the Montreal Cheerleading Competition is due to start soon.'
'Already?' Haley cried out surprised, I thought it wasn't for another month!'
'Yeah, well with Soraya gone as well, we needed to call you both back early, so there'll be no adjusting problems.'
'Who decided this?' Haley asked.
'Well, seeing as I am now in charge of the squad, I did.'
'And Leon had to come as well because…' Haley hinted at the question.
'Because, he decides to be an overprotective brother who says, 'you won't have a clue at what to do!' Ass!' Sarah bit out.
'Idiot, I bet he just missed Soya!'
'Thank you!'
'Hey guys,' It was Brooke, 'sorry to interrupt but why would Haley need to be called back for a cheerleading competition.'
'Because I like to watch it!' Haley answered quickly, too quickly actually.
'Stop being silly LeeLee. It's because she is co-captain of the Newport Tigers Cheerleading Squad, who I might add are the Montreal Cheerleading Champions for the 6th Year running! And we're going to make it 7 this year.'
'Haley's a cheerleader?' All the other Tree Hill students asked.
'Well, since the news is out, it's why I could learn the routine in Charlotte so quickly.' Haley explained.
'I thought it was because you did gymnastics!' Said Peyton astounded.
'I thought it was luck!' Brooke added in.
'Gymnastics is part of it.' Haley said.
'How come you didn't join our squad?' Brooke asked.
Sarah answered for her. 'She's still part of another squad, our squad. If the others found out about her filling in for your team, they would freak like hell at her! It's a good thing you're in a different country or else I'd switch at her for it too!'
'Sarah, you're too nice to ever bitch at anyone!' Haley stated.
'Oh…err yeah that's be right.' Sarah replied, scratching her head. 'Anyways, you think we can go out tonight? I mean I know I just got here and all but like, Leon's been keeping me in a cage since Sora's gone. I swear I can't even go to the toilet with him demanding where I am!'
'That's right Leon and Soya always did argue about your freedom, didn't they.' Haley recalled.
'Yes and now she's left me with an overexcited idiot a.k.a. brother dearest.' Sarah rolled her eyes. She never realised how much of a difference Soraya made by sticking up for her rights until she left, before she would just wish they didn't talk about it but now all she could think about was the different ways to beg for her help.
'Why don't we go TRIC tonight? It's a night club that opened recently.' Nathan told her. 'And then if Haley doesn't mind we can do a sleepover at her house?'
'Oh please Haley can we do that…I don't think I can bear to hear a whole night of Leon and Sora having a go at each other.'
'When you put it that way, we have got to do that!' Haley answered. She certainly didn't want her sleep disturbed by their constant shouting at each other.
'Do you and your brother have fake ID, actually does Soraya?' Nathan asked all of them.
Sarah pulled out her fake ID, it was almost identical to the one Haley used on pact night. 'Not a single one of us Canadians are newcomers to partying!' She grinned.
'That is too true.' Haley agreed.
'Remember in ICE when Nikki made a move on Derek?'' Sarah asked
Haley smirked at the memory, 'Sadie was infuriated!'
'Well you would be, if some girl was trying it with her man of 3 years right in front of her face and so blatantly!'
'Do you remember what she said?'
Brooke who was avidly looking between the two asked. 'What'd she say?'
Haley and Soraya looked at her, one of them was about to answer when they heard a voice from behind.
'You hit me, I'll scream, run to the girls locker room and put concealer on, but you hit on my man and first I'll fucking castrate you, then I'll cut your shit ass body into little gory bits and finally send the bloody pieces to your family!' It was Soraya, her and Leon had just come back from their talk, both were slightly out of breath although why the others couldn't be sure, maybe it was running or possibly the verbal abuse they had given each other or it might be neither.
'That was a classic. Sadie's always been great at bitching people out but that just killed it.' Leon added in his thoughts.
'Wow!' Brooke was amazed and jokingly said. 'You wanna run that by again, I think I need to use that in the future, if anyone makes a move on Lucas.'
'You know!' Soraya grinned. 'I told Sadie the same thing and that was really silly of me because everybody else was like yeah and had to agree with me so she then copyrighted that insult by saying...'you do and you die'! That little ditz!'
'Well, how would you like it if I used your insults to defend myself? Leon sneered at her.
'Why Leon,' Soraya plastered a big fake smile on her face. 'If you really wanted to use my insults all you had to do was ask!'
'Funny James!' Leon smiled sarcastically.
Soraya and Haley called out at the same time, 'now that's just freaky!'
'What's freaky? 'Sarah asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
'I say that to Haley a lot!' Nathan answered her. Haley and Soraya nodded in agreement.
'So you and Haley argue a lot as well?' Leon asked him.
'More like she just picks on me for every little thing I do!'
'I know exactly what you mean…with Soraya of course, Haley's an angel with me!'
'It's the other way round, man!' Nathan smirked.
'Can you believe that?' Soraya asked.
'They're talking as if we're not even here!' Haley remarked.
'Let alone listening!' Sarah added.
Brooke and Peyton grinned at the three girls; it seemed that Haley had no trouble when she was in Montreal making friends, and they were decent girlfriends, although it did explain why she opened up so easily; because she had done it before. Lucas too, was smiling at Haley; she looked so peaceful with the Canadians.
Jake however, was feeling a bit distressed. The girls had mentioned Nikki; Jake's mother. Although, he tried not to let her get to him, he couldn't help it. What women abandons a child she carries for nine months, promises to bring her up with everything she's got and then runs out of the hospital as soon as she's out the delivery room. If she didn't want to look after the baby she could have at least discussed it with him, they could have figured something out, rather than lying about it all. The thing that was unnerving him this time was that Nikki had been rumoured to go to Canada because that's where she supposedly resided.
'Hey girls and Leon.' Jake began; he had to know if that was the same Nikki they were talking about.
They all looked at him a bit surprised, Jake didn't normally speak that much, it wasn't because he was shy either, it's just he just preferred to listen.
'You guys mentioned a girl called Nikki, right?' He asked.
'Err Jake, there's probably more then one Nikki out there?' Peyton added in hesitantly.
'I've just got to make sure Peyton.' Jake told her before turning back to Leon, Sarah, and Soraya. 'What does she look like? What is she like? Anything about her that's not common?' Jake prodded for information.
'I'll take the looks question.' Sarah answered. 'She has black hair and dark eyes; I think she's Hispanic…although I'm not definite. She looks tanned anyway.'
'You really don't want to waste your time knowing what she is like.' Soraya said angrily. 'I swear to god that girl is the most twisted, conniving bitch I have ever met. She pisses me off more than Leon, that's gotta count for something!'
'She like eating ice cream with her hands, that's uncommon right?' Leon said unsurely.
'You'd know, wouldn't you?' Soraya gave him an extremely dirty look, if anyone else had seen it, they might have been worried.
Leon just rolled his eyes. 'We've all seen her do it!'
'One more thing, Nikki is lethal with guys.' Sarah warned.
'Yeah she'll do anyone that's a male.' Haley added.
'Single' Soraya included. 'Or taken, was there anything else?' Soraya asked Leon.
Leon looked like he wanted to say something but then decided against it.
'Why, you know her?' Haley asked. She was in Montreal when Nikki had come back to Tree Hill claiming to want to be a part of Jenny's life, so she did not know about Jenny's mom and in Montreal it had just been said that she was on holiday.
'She's Jenny's mom.' Jake told her.
'Are you sure man?' Lucas asked. 'That's the same girl they know?'
'Nikki use to eat ice cream with her hands too.' That was all Jake had to say.
(AN: I just want to clarify that Peyton and Lucas never happened. Lucas and Brooke were still going out together until Nikki came and she came onto Lucas but he resisted (thank gosh) and Brooke saw her and bitched her out. Haley knew a girl called Nikki was Jenny's mother but never put two and two together. Nikki is someone the whole Montreal crew know but they don't know she had a kid and left her…yet.)
'Damn.' Nathan stated. He too had not seen Nikki because he was arrested for hosting a party in his own apartment, which he couldn't be there for because he had to word at the pretzel stand in the mall.
'You're right Soraya, that girl really goes all out for it, may as well be a real hooker whilst she's at it.' Brooke bitched. 'She was all over Lucas that one time in the bar.'
'Hold on! She has a daughter!' Sarah exclaimed shocked.
'She got knocked up?' Haley asked with disbelief.
'She abandoned her child?' Soraya asked in a quiet voice. She was really empathetic with babies and younger children and the though of abandoning a child was terrible to her. 'Gosh every time I think she can't get any worse she does something even more degrading!'
Leon was just awestruck by the idea; he didn't know what to say. He'd heard of guys leaving women with babies to look after, but he had never heard of a woman leaving the guy with a baby. This Tree Hill place sure was weird.
'Don't worry; I'll make her life even more of a living hell. Jake.' Soraya vowed to him, the girl had crossed the line, hurting her was one thing but to hurt a friend? Just the thought of that made he grip her fists tightly.
'Actually, I don't want Nikki to know that you know about this.' Jake immediately spoke up, almost sounding frantic.
'Why?' Sarah, Haley and Soraya cried out simultaneously. Leon looked slightly relieved at this though why one couldn't be sure.
'Because, I don't want her knowing Jenny's whereabouts, knowing that girl, she'll probably try and take Jenny away again. I had to stay in Savanna for a while to escape her.'
'He's got a good point.' Sarah reflected. Haley nodded in agreement. Soraya looked like Christmas had been cancelled but then looking at the plea on Jake's face caused her to melt.
'Fine.' She relented. 'I'll just have to hate her for some other reason, which I'm sure she is bound to give me when I get back, or who knows I might have one in my head already.' She took a sideways glance to Leon who returned the gaze, both were locked in a deep stare until Soraya looked away, Leon sighed. This wasn't quite how he expected things to turn out when he decided to accompany his sister to Tree Hill.
'Oh, by the way we're heading to TRIC tonight.' Brooke informed Soraya and Leon.
'Isn't that the new night club in Tree Hill?' Soraya asked. Brooke nodded at her quite surprised. 'Jason took me there on our date.'
'Oh a date? So that's what you call it?' Leon asked.
'Well that's what it's called when a guy and a girl go out somewhere in a romantic sense.' Soraya plastered a forced smile on her face.
'Yeah, but I didn't realise two people screwing each other for kicks in other words an ONS was considered a date.' Leon countered with an evil smirk on her face.
'Leon, I know there was a time when we were actually quite close together,' Soraya began in a sympathetic voice. 'During that time we and other people may confuse each other's attributes, it's perfectly understandable. However, I think I'll just clear it up for you. Having One Night Stands is your kinda thing. Not mine.' She smiled at him and spoke slowly as if he was like a five year old.
Leon hissed angrily at her was about to reply when Sarah beat him to it.
'Oh, for fucks sake!' Sarah, Leon and Soraya turned to her in absolute shock although the others were slightly surprised as well. Sarah very seldom swore and if she did that meant she was really angry. 'Would you two stop arguing for once in your god damn lives? I swear to god I am going to knock your heads together and pray you'll get concussions if you don't bloody shut up!'
That really did shut the two ex-lovers up, Haley grinned finally! 'Go Sarah! Anyways after TRIC there's a sleepover at my place so you two best behaviour and no arguments, kay?' The two glared at Haley, but all she did stare was right back at them hard. 'Okay?' She asked a little louder this time.
'Yes' Soraya said unwillingly.
'Yeah' Leon mumbled reluctantly.
'Good.' Haley answered; she took out some keys from her bag and handed them over to Sarah, 'these are the keys to my place, I live on 2656 Bentley Avenue.' She then turned to Leon, did you drive here?' (AN: That's my cousin's add in LA…only American 1 I know!)
'Yeah I rented a Nissan Almera.' He told her.
'Good, now get on the nearest freeway and take the third exit. After that drive straight until you see Tree Hill Elementary School, then take a left and you're on Bentley Ave. You can find the number right? The street goes uphill.'
'Freeway, third exit, school, left, uphill?' Leon double checked. Haley nodded; she was used to him cutting down directions into 1 or 2 words.
'Hold on wasn't pact night held in TRIC as well?' Soraya asked.
Nathan nodded. 'By the way, Haley I think you've had enough time to think and decide whether you're going to be my servant or offer an exchange?'
Shit. That was the first word that came into Haley's mind when pact night was mentioned. 'Errrm, give me tonight please Nathan, I want to hear Sarah and Leon's ideas. Tomorrow morning I promise.'
'Fine you got tonight. You're going to be busy so I think you should start planning in lessons as well.' Nathan smirked, there really wasn't a lot Nathan would want to trade with Haley seeing as he had it all really. He's waited so long why not one more night?
Peyton spoke next. 'Hey guys, is it me or is the school ground really quiet and deserted?'
'What time is it?' Haley asked, getting quite anxious.
Sarah checked her watch '8:30'. Everyone stared at her.
'You idiot that's Canadian time!' Leon rolled his eyes at her sister.
'You're calling your other half an idiot?' Sarah asked her eyes becoming wide and innocent like a child who looked like she was about to cry, no one could be rude to her or tell her off whenever she had that face on.
'Of course not, I'm just a little grouchy from the plane trip.' He told her, she then smiled a big smile also just like a kid. Her childish characteristics were what everyone loved about her.
'So what is the time?' Haley asked again quite worriedly now.
Jake glanced at the watch '2:30' he read out.
'Man, lessons started half an hour ago.' Lucas whinged.
'I'm late for tutoring. I hope Brandon doesn't mind.' Haley though aloud.
'Is he the cute guy with dimples?' Soraya asked and Haley nodded.
Haley you need tutoring?' Sarah asked. Haley wasn't that bad at her studies.
'No I'm the tutor.' She clarified. Here we go again, she thought.
'You're a tutor?' Sarah and Leon exclaimed.
'You use to be the average C student!' Sarah added.
'I though it was B student?' Lucas asked.
'Nah, that was only in English.' Leon told him, and then leered. 'And Soraya's wistful thinking.' The girl was ready to start on him before she remembered Sarah's outburst.
'Sarah! See he started it—totally random!'
'Stop picking on Soraya, Leon!' She told her brother sternly.
'I got free period.' Soraya stated.
'So have I.' Nathan added in. 'I'm going to head to my house. Need a ride?'
'Nah, as tempting as it is to ride without Leon, I want to catch up with Sarah so I'll see you tonight.'
'7:00 in the bar?' Nathan checked with everyone and receiving nods from all around. 'Cool, see ya.' He headed off to his car and drove off.
'Alright bye guys.' Brooke said.
'I'll meet you guys at my place?' Haley asked the Canadians. They all nodded and walked up to the rental Nissan Almera, before they too left.
Haley, Lucas, Brooke, Peyton and Jake all went into the lessons or tutoring session they were meant to be in half an hour ago. Inside the school, they all bid their goodbyes and headed off in their own directions, wondering what tonight would bring.
AN: Well this second half of the ch was quite long if I do say so myself, I mean 9 pages on size 8 times new roman font and minimized the page margin so a pat on the back for me. I hope you all love Leon, so hot, so cocky and so damn good at pissing Soraya off. LOL Anyways I better get onto personal replies…I heard there's a new rule saying you can't post them up or something but like my friend I think it's only if you leave authors notes on its own and I've included a ch so it should be okay Thanks again to Johnny for sending me that little email reminder.
Chapter 14 Reviews:
MisFaith1029: Hey, that's okay, I know life can get pretty busy sometimes but try review every once in a while to let me know you're still there.
OTHchick: Thanks! Glad you like it!
lilmonkeygirl31: I hope this update makes you happy! Don't forget to review either. I'm glad you think it's so good.
clemsontigerschic: Hi! I hope you like what happened, I promise you it'll get even better by chapter 17 or 18.
crazy4coco986: I'm so glad you won't forget to review. You're so sweet! I hope you get ungrounded soon and it's an honour to keep you entertained. I'm so happy you think it's awesome.
1ThNalEy23: Hey, glad you thought it was a great chapter. Doesn't matter if you forgot as long as you review now! Here's the update.
Johnny:When I first read your review I was LOL. The second time I was ROFLOL! You sounded like me almost with whole OMG thing LOL! Yup Sarah and Leon are in town! The DRAMA! So glad you're loving it more and more…Haley naughty in Tree Hill? Nah…it'll ruin the image; she worked so hard to build! Leon and Soraya together…I quote Nelly's 'It's getting hot in here!' You've done really well waiting for September.
nathansgirl08: Can I just say I loved the first two words of your review…you totally sounded like my cousin there. It's true naley would usually had some action by now in other stories but then there's no suspense! I LOVE creating drama and tension and that's what my story's going to be about if it isn't already. Thanks for reviewing and hope you like the chapter.
Chapter 15 First Half Reviews:
lilmonkeygirl31: I'm so glad you think so! Enjoy!
Johnny: Hmmm…I don't know if you pressed enter twice or it was your way of trying to get me to update quicker that's caused your review to come up twice. (Only Joking.) Anyways, Yes I got your email, just about…although it did end up in the junk mail folder. Oh well I've added your add to my add book now so hopefully it'll go through inbox if there's a next time. You'll only find out about Leon if Soraya's happy with it because if you haven't noticed she's in control…after her mini-breakdown- well actually Leon's just crap with relationship talk so that leaves Soraya with the hard work. I think he more than makes up for it in other aspects though. Hope this Chapter's good!
1ThNalEy23: Oh, disappointed…that's not good…going to have to rectify that! LOL Thank you for letting me in on the neck-deep shit...I haven't corrected it on the 1st half because I'm too damn lazy but I did correct it on the recap. Sorry my American lingo ain't all that. That's if it's even American…but it ain't from Britain I'll give you that. Sorry to leave you hanging like that. I was just trying to keep to the timeframe I set out, which I did. This Chappies much longer though, so I hope it's better then the last half. Hot deep passion is expressed in many different ways…wait till you get to Chapter 17 or 18 that's when the real fun begins.
crazy4coco986: Hey again, you're back! LOL errrm, I'm glad you think my story's so good and YAH another chapter or half…but it's longer then some previous chapters so you know….can't wait for your next review.