Second Time Around
Chapter 6

When they were done they all went their separate ways since they had three hours before the family was meeting for dinner. Haley drove back to her hotel. When she got in she put her hair in a towel and got into the shower to wash off. She got out and pulled out her clothes for dinner tonight. They were all meeting at the restaurant on the docks so she grabbed a pair of jeans and wore them with the same red sweater and red heels from earlier. She pulled her hair down from the towel and her ringlets fell around her face, just as perfect as they were when she curled them this morning. She reapplied her make-up and put her earring back in and added a white gold necklace that had a ruby and diamond pendant hanging from it. She pulled out her cell phone from her purse, flipped it open, and called Chris back. After the third ring he picked it up.

"Chris Keller, Rock Star and Sex-God, what's your pleasure?"

"I'm sorry, I must have called the wrong number. The Chris Keller I know is only a Rock Star Wannabe and from what I have heard, Sex-God is definitely stretching the truth." Haley flopped down on the bed and laughing.

"Hey now, you can't just deflate a guy's ego like that. So, what's up? How are you doing?" Chris is one of the few people who knows how hard it is for Haley to be around her family.

"Oh, I have stuff to tell you. Well the whole wedding stuff today wasn't that bad. The dresses my mom and Taylor had picked were actually really pretty, so the fitting went good. Then we had facials and massages, which I was in desperate need of. So again not bad. I did want to go insane when we were looking for shoes and accessories, cause as usual, nothing was good enough for my mother. But that was nothing compared to earlier. You know when you called, well I was renting a car. And you'll never guess who from, Nathan freaking Scott."

"Nathan, as in the Nathan, as in Nathan broke your heart Nathan?"

"The one and only."

"Wow. So what happened?"

"NOTHING! He acted like I was just some other customer who he had never met before. I mean, I don't know how he should have acted or even how I wanted him to act, but to act like he did, it's just,… he's just so …, ugghh, he's so him." Chris tried to hide his laugh. Sometimes Haley really could be articulate.

"What did you want to happen?"

"For him to fall on his knees and beg for forgiveness telling me how wrong he was and how his life is nothing without me."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously, I have no idea what I wanted to happen. I don't think I should be here Chris. I just want to come back home."

"Hales, you are one of the strongest, most stubborn people I know. You'll be fine. Just stick it out, then you can come back here and stay here."

"I guess it is only a week. Plus Jake and them are coming in the day after tomorrow, so I will have someone to hang out with then. Well, I gotta go meet my lovely family for dinner. I'll talk to you later Chris. Luv ya."

"Luv ya too." Haley hung up and got up off the bed. She grabbed her purse and on her way out the door looked in the mirror to make sure she looked okay. She was still the Haley James that left Tree Hill nearly six years ago, but she was also different. Jessica and Melissa liked to run, so they made Haley like running too. Every morning they went for a run, creating Haley to have a much more lean body. Her hair was the same, except maybe a little darker. Her eyes were the same as they always were, but now maybe with a hint of loneliness in them. She straightened out the front of her sweater before leaving the room. She went down to the parking lot and got into the Cobra. She drove down to the docks to find part of her family already there. When the rest of them arrived they were all seated at a table that overlooked the water. The evening was filled with everyone getting acquainted with Ryan. He grew up in Boston and moved to Texas to go to college with his cousin. After getting their bachelors in business they went to work for the family business in North Carolina. After everyone had dessert and coffee they all left on their own. Haley got into the car, but instead of driving back to the hotel she drove to the beach. She parked the car and walked down into the sand. She pulled off her heels and rolled up the bottoms of her jeans a few inches and began walking towards the surf.

May, Senior year

Haley laid in-between Nathan's legs on the sand as they both watched the waves come crashing in. They had just graduated two days ago and tomorrow Nathan was leaving for Florida to go to High Flyers. They promised they would call each other all the time. He would get back about two weeks before they went to college. Haley would be going to New York and Nathan got a full-ride basketball scholarship to UNC. They decided that they would make the long-distance thing work. They could call each other all the time, and they would visit each other on breaks. For the summers Haley would come back home. They knew it would be hard, but they loved each other enough to make it work.

"I'm gonna miss you Nate." She told him as a tear fell down her cheek. He hugged her and kissed her shoulder.

"I'm gonna miss you too. I love you so much Hales. Always and Forever."

"I love you too. Always and Forever." As more tears ran down her cheeks they were joined with raindrops. They both jumped up and ran into Nathan's beach house. By the time they got there they were both soaking wet. Nathan stepped into another room and came back with two, big, fluffy towels. However, the drying off soon became forgotten as the two began to make-out. Things quickly escalated and they found themselves on the couch with hands and mouths going everywhere.

"Nathan, I can't." Haley whispered breathlessly. "I'm sorry, it's just…"

"Haley, it's fine."

The water splashing Haley's feet pulled her from the memory. She walked up a little farther away and continued walking.

It wasn't fine was it.

July

Haley, Lucas, and Brookes decided to take a road trip to Florida. Haley missed Nathan. At first they called each other two or three times a day, then it became once a day, then once every other day. It had been nearly a week since she had talked to him. She was scared the relationship was starting to slip away, so she decided to surprise Nathan. After convincing Lucas and Brooke to come with her they set off for Florida. After they got there and checked into a hotel they decided to go grab a bite to eat. Brooke desperately wanted to go dancing, so they decided to all go to a new club. Lucas went up to the bar to get them some drinks while Brooke pulled Haley with her onto the dance floor. Haley accidentally bumped into someone and turned around to apologize. But what caught her eye was what was behind that person. There on the dance floor was Nathan grinding with some bottle blonde bimbo.

Breathe Haley, he wouldn't cheat on you. He's just dancing, granted it does look like he's having sex standing up, but he loves you.

Haley's attempted thoughts of calming herself vanished the second she saw the blonde turn around and kiss him. Tears filled her eyes and she ran out of the club. Brooke saw Haley running out and looked around trying to find what made her flip-out like that. Once she saw Nathan she went and grabbed Lucas and went in search of Haley. When they got outside the club they saw Haley sitting on the curb down from the club crying her eyes out. The went over, sitting on each side of her hugging her.

"I want to go home." She got out before she completely broke down. Lucas picked up Haley and they walked to the car. By the time the got back to the hotel Haley had stopped crying, had stopped feeling. Lucas went to carry Haley but she stopped him. "I'm fine." She said weakly. And started to walk to their room. Lucas looked over at Brooke, both sharing that same look in their eyes. It wasn't a look of pity but a look of compassion. They had both witnessed Haley's mother belittle her and watch how Haley took it all in and kept going, just as strong as ever. But this, this was a Haley they had never seen. A lost and broken Haley. They followed her to their room and they all went in and fell asleep. The next morning they all got back into the Tahoe and drove back to Tree Hill.

Nathan finally called Haley three days after she got back home. She didn't answer though. He left a message saying he would call back later. And he did, and again she didn't answer. Haley was sick of hearing her phone ring, so she finally answered it a few days later.

"What!"

"Haley. Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Wow, you actually sound like you care."

"What? Why? Because I forgot to call you last week? I'm sorry I was busy."

"What, busy sticking your tongue down a blonde's throat, but I'm sure that wasn't all you were sticking in her was it! Couldn't get it from me so you get it from the first slut that throws herself at you?"

"What are you talking about Haley?"

"I saw you. I went to Florida to visit you because I loved you and missed you. Lucas, Brooke, and I went to a club the night we got there and I caught you with that blonde."

"Haley, I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. The guys made me go out with them and I guess I had to much to drink. I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry, I really am."

"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I was ever stupid enough to love you. I'm sorry I wasted the last six months with you. I'm sorry I ever knew you. Never, ever, talk to me again. Leave me alone." She hung up the phone before he could say anything. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes and she didn't want to cry while she talked to him. Her cell phone went off but she turned off the ringer. She grabbed her purse and keys and got into her car. She drove to the beach and walked down near the water. She sits down and pulls her knees into her body and lowers her head. She digs her feet in the sand as she lets the tears fall freely from her eyes.

"Always and forever." She whispers and more tears cascade from her eyes.

Haley turned around and started heading back to the car. She saw someone standing about 50 yards in front of her. He looked familiar. She started walking towards him.