Chapter Two
Thinking Causes Pain

Rain. I hated driving in the rain. The roads were slick and people seem to forget the rules of the road at the sight of a single drop. Plus, my windshield wipers suck. Plain and simple.

I fiddled with my radio until I finally came to the conclusion that nothing at all was worth listening too. As I ran my fingers through my hair, I was surprised when the hair stopped above my shoulders. Oh, right. I got a hair cut last week. First hair cut in over a year. I was ready for a change. I was ready for a lot of things at this point in my life, but more or less to scared to do them.

I stepped on the gas peddle a little harder, not because I wanted to get to the airport soon, but because of the fact I hated the rain. My eyes scanned the road. I passed a white Spyder and through the rain, I could see a young couple. His hand covered her shoulders and she stared out the window. I knew how she felt...

This takes place before Nathan and Haley are married...

Everything was quiet. Nothing was supposed to be quiet. The rambunctious seniors, piercing shouts, and roaring laughter had been replaced by 253 solemn, calm, and almost timid students. At a single glance the young adults dressed in their school colors could have been mistaken for visitors at a funeral home after the death of a loved one. The only thing they had lost was a game.

65-71, the Tree Hill Raven's lost their first game of the season and left behind a basketball, a couple jerseys, and their pride.

Nathan kept playing it over and over in his head. 'At two minutes to go in the first half I should have gone for the three. Damnit. If I had, who knows what might have happened.' He closed his eyes and watched Lucas pass him the ball. He held on to it for a half a second too long before passing it to Tim. He opened his eyes and cringed.

Haley stood with her arms crossed over her chest, staring at the big blue bus. She hated busses. She also hated the fact that Lucas would be sitting with Brooke, or Peyton, or... someone other than her and she would be stuck sitting with Nathan. On any other day, she would not have minded this. But today, today was different.

Nathan picked her up early that morning. Earlier than she expected and that was when their first fight occurred. He knocked on her door at six thirty.

She rolled over and moaned.

He heard her and opened the door.

She threw a pillow at him.

He cursed.

She looked at her watch and mumbled, "What are you doing here?"

"Picking you up." He said. Nathan walked toward her closet.

Haley reached for her remote and threw it at him.

It hit him on the back of the head. He moaned and said, "What was that for?"

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and narrowed her eyes at him as he slowly turned around, "I can only imagine what you would do to me had you been the one so rudely awakened at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning."

He crossed his arms over his chest, "Fine... ya know. That is just... fine, Haley." The remote lay on the floor. Nathan bent over to pick it up. He started to speak as he stood up, "I guess this is what I get for trying to do something nice for my girlfriend, huh?"

Haley half-asleep, half-pissed off said, not thinking, "I guess so, Nathan, I guess so."

Nathan was standing in the doorway when an angry Haley gave in and told him she would go to breakfast with him. She rushed into the bathroom, washed her face, and threw on some clothes. Her bags were already backed for the annual senior trip.

Almost in a mediocre mood, Haley wasn't even in the car before Nathan's cell phone rang. She leaned closed to see if she could hear the other line.

"Hello?"

"Nate?"

It was a girl.

He whispered, "What are you calling me for?"

"I just wanted to talk to you."

"I told you not to call."

Haley looked around the front of the car, "Nathan? Everything okay?"

"Yeah." He said quickly, "Just fine."

She could see his lips move and she strained her eyes and ears in hopes to hear the converstation. She heard nothing and watching him drop the phone into his pocket, but not before putting it on silent.

"Who was it?" She asked, fastening her seatbelt.

"Oh, no one." His nostrils flared. They always did that when he lied. His face got hot. He knew she was watching him extremely carefully and he knew he had to be extremely careful.

"No, really, who was it?"

He started the car and looked everywhere but in her eyes. "Its not a big deal."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"Because I don't need to."

"Wow, good reason." She looked out the window and mumbled, "See Nathan this is why I have trouble trusting you."

"I heard that." He said, taking a sharp turn.

"Good."

"Like I have the easiest time in the world trusting you, anytime that you are not with me you are with Lucas..."

She shook her head, "Who is like my brother..."

"Who is my brother!"

Haley bit her lip hard and whipped her head around to look at Nathan. The words spilled out of her mouth before she could stop them, "I hate you sometimes."

She quickly turned her head toward the window and covered her mouth. Had she meant what she just said?

Nathan's eyes remained on the road and his mouth remained shut. There was nothing to be said. She hated him... sometimes.

"I think we should just go to school," He said.

"I think you're right."

Now here they were. Two hours later. Lucas finally strolled in. Brooke sat on top of her luggage, might I add she was the only one with an actually suitcase. Peyton scribbled in her notebook, looking up at Lucas every few second.

Haley put one hand on her hip and she dug the other deep into her pocket. Nathan walked passed her with out even saying a word.

She deserved it though. She told him that she hated him. She deserved to not be spoken too.

As she turned around she saw a girl's hand run down Nathan's arm. She shook her head and looked back up, the girl was gone. Haley sighed and searched the crowd for Nathan.

"Save me." She said, putting her hand on Lucas's shoulders.

"From what?" He asked her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Everything."

"How do you expect me to save you?"

"Well you can start by sitting with me on the bus."

"I am sitting with Jake. I thought you would sit with Nathan."

"Well you thought wrong. This is perfect, just perfect."

"Whats going on Haley?"

"I hate him." She turned her back to him.

"You don't hate him." He put his hand on her arm and tried to get her to look at him.

She gave him, "No I really do. And by the way, who is that girl?" Haley asked, pointing to a tall, lanky sophomore.

"Uh... I think that is Savannah Blackstone. I think she is a sophomore."

"Savannah Blackstone, ha. A sophomore? What is she doing out here?"

"Late for school I guess. Why?"

"Because I think Nathan is sleeping with her because I won't."

Everyone started to board the bus, while Lucas and Haley continued their conversation.

"You're crazy." Lucas said, bending over and picking up his bag.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe." She looked up at him, "But will you please sit with me. I have candy."

Lucas laughed, "What kind?"

"Sweet Tarts. You're favorite."

He laughed again and put his arm around her waist, "Is this a bribe?"

"Is it working?" She asked, with a handful of the candy.

He took a package from her hand, opened it, and tossed two into his mouth, "I would say so."