Second Time Around

Chapter 9

Haley let the unshed tears fall from her eyes before she took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks, erasing any indication that she had cried. She walked back out to the table everyone else was sitting. On her way she got everything hollered at her from great job singing, to will you marry me. Yup, some people were definitely drunk at Tric tonight, and soon Haley would join their ranks. She took the seat she was sitting in earlier while Jake gave her a hug and Josh, Sara, and the now present Taylor and Ryan congratulated her on her performance.

"You did great Hales. Ryan and I were wondering if you and Jake would sing at the wedding?" Haley looked over at Jake who just shrugged his shoulder and gave her the "it's up to you" look.

"Sure, why not."

Taylor clapped her hand together. "Thank you so much! This calls for a celebration. I'll be right back." Taylor walked over to the bar and returned a few minutes later with a couple of shots. Everyone had one except for Jake and Sara since they were the designated drivers for the night. After many more rounds, Jake went outside to call and check on Peyton and Jenny while Taylor pulled everyone else onto the dance floor. A very drunk Haley and Josh were grinding, but as soon as the next song came on Haley went over to the bar to order another shot.

"Hey, can we talk." Haley turned her head toward the voice to see Nathan sitting down in the stool next to her.

"Oh, now you want to talk to me. Well this ought to be good." She looked at him waiting for him to talk.

"Can we go outside where it's quieter?" He asked her over the music.

"Fine." She said as she got off her stool and started to walk out of the club followed by Nathan. He put his hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd. Haley felt a shock go up her back as he touched her, the same shock Nathan felt go through his arm. When they got outside Haley turned to Nathan waiting for him to talk, praying that he would tell her what she has waited six years to hear.

Please tell me how big of an ass you were. Please tell me you still love me, that you never stopped, that you never will stop loving me. Please tell me that your life has been miserable without me and you would give anything to have me back.

"Look, I'm sorry we ended things the way we did. I went to your house when I got back from Florida and you had already left for New York. Lucas told me that you left early and didn't want to see me." He paused trying to think of what to say.

"Six years. I haven't see you for six years Nathan and that's the first thing you say to me. No wait, how could I forget, the first time we talked was when you were being oh so cordial when I rented the car. I mean what the hell was that! We have history, and after not seeing each other for six years you just treat me like some other customer! Uuuggghhh, you are so infuriating!"

"What was I suppose to say! Six years, you said it yourself Haley, what could I possibly say? I was caught off guard, I didn't know you were going to be coming in to rent a car. If I had known, yeah, I would have said something more. How would you react if I came into where you work without any notice. But wait, I forgot, the perfect Haley James, you never do screw up do you?"

"No, I screwed up real bad. I knew I should have never given you a chance, but I did. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and we went out. That was the biggest mistake of my life. I actually believed you weren't a total ass, but I was wrong."

"Yeah, well you didn't seem to think it was that big of a mistake the six months we went out." Nathan spit back at her. He didn't mean for it to sound so spiteful, but the fact that she thought is was such a mistake tore at him.

"Lapse of judgment. Long lapse of judgment that I never plan on happening again. And nice way of turning the tables here, you were the one that cheated on me, so why are you being so nasty to me!"

"So, what, is that why you finally came back. So you could grind on some guy in front of me. So what, you and Josh together again. You told me you were just friends, or where you lying?"

"I wasn't lying, and no. First off, no that's not why I came back here. Glad to see your ego hasn't deflated over the years, still think everything is about you. Newsflash, it's not. And not that's any of your business, but no Josh and I aren't together again. His cousin is marrying my sister, that's the reason I am back. So, are you done now? Or would you like to treat me like crap a little bit more?" She hatefully yelled back at him waiting for him to blame her for something, or belittle her, anything hurtful. But all he did was stare. She couldn't read his eyes. She used to be able to. She could tell exactly what he was feeling just by staring into his eyes, but now there was a mask. Some brick wall concealing his true emotions. She finally turned around and walked back into the club leaving him standing on the sidewalk all alone.

When she was back into the club she walked back over to the table. Jake was sitting there with Sara while the drunk ones were off on the dance floor making complete fools of themselves.

"Hey Jake, I'm gonna head out. I'll call a cab and you can take the car back when your ready. Just tell everyone I said bye."

"Actually, I kinda wanted to get back too. Sara, can you tell them that we said bye."

"Yeah, no problem. See you guys later."

"Thanks. Bye Sara." Jake told her as he got up.

"Thanks Sara." Haley said before her and Jake walked off. Sara waved to them before she got up and joined the rest of their group on the dance floor.

Jake drove Haley back to the hotel and they both went up and walked to their rooms. Haley knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep so she grabbed her room key and started walking to the beach. He conversation with Nathan had sobered her up, but she wanted to walk, she wanted to clear her head. After walking a mile she was at the same spot she was last night. She pulled off her shoes and jacket and left them on the beach before rolling her pants up and walking towards the water. She stopped so that she wasn't standing in the water, but it hit her feet as the waves rolled in. She just stood there staring out into the black vastness ahead of her, studying it, as if it would give her the answer to the question which has plagued her for years, "Why?". The wind whipped her hair around as she stood there, so entangled in her thoughts that she didn't hear or see the person come up and stand next to her.

"Hey." She turned her head to the right and moved the strand of hair out of her face to find him standing next to her.

"Hey." She whispered as she turned her head back toward the water.

"Whatcha doin?"

"Sinking." She looked over to find him staring at her with a confused look on his face. She looked back out to the water again before she explained. Somehow is was easier if she didn't look at him. "When the water goes out it takes some of the sand with it, then you sink." He looked down at her half-buried feet and nodded his head. Somehow they both knew that when she said she was sinking, she didn't just mean her feet in the sand.

"I'm sorry." He turned his gaze away from her and he too stared out into the darkness.

"About tonight, or about six years ago." They were both surprisingly calm talking to one another, their voices just above a whisper.

"Everything. I never meant to hurt you Haley, I really didn't. I wish I could just go back and do things differently. Not that it makes a difference, but I never had sex with her. What you saw is all that happened. It was just a kiss. I never knew her and I never saw her after that. I never went out with the guys so they always gave me crap, so I finally went that night. I, um, I had to much to drink, and you know the rest."

"You know, I almost wish you did have sex with her. Then I could convince myself you only did it because you were some horny guy and I had values and morals, so you got what you couldn't get from me from someone else. Or that it was just some emotionally-void one-night stand. But a kiss is passionate. A kiss means something, it means more than just sex. It's not that I don't believe you, because I do, but I don't trust you. Not anymore. That night when I saw you I helplessly watched my world crash at my feet and shatter into a million pieces. That night hurt me more than you'll never know Nathan."

"I really am sorry."

"I know you are, but that doesn't really change the past now does it?"

"I still love you Haley. Always and Forever."

"I still love you too, that's why it hurts so damn bad." Haley wiggled her feet free from the sand and turned around. "Guess I'll see you around." Haley began walking back as Nathan just stood there watching her walk away. He wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words, so he just turned around and stared back into the darkness for a while longer before walking back to his beach house.

-Leigh