Chapter 2

Someone To Love

"Now that we got that out of the way, well get on to your summer reading. This year instead of the normal paper that I would have you write, I have become partial to the idea of doing a group project. Now I will be pairing you with your partners, and you will collaborate on an idea on how to present the book's theme on youth." Mr. Danes went on after he read the syllabus to the class. In the end Peyton was partnered with the new girl, Haley. "Alright ladies and gentlemen your project will be due this Friday, that five days and sufficient time." 'What the hell! Is this guy like the English Nazi or something' Peyton thought to herself.

Finally after what felt like hours it was lunch. Peyton desperately wanted to find Nathan. Her day wasn't going as well as expected and she just felt like a hug from her buddy would make all her worries melt away. Instead of finding Nathan, Peyton stumbled upon Haley, literally.

"Oh my gosh. I'm so, so sorry. I really am." Haley apologized. She was sitting under an oak tree in the middle of the court yard with her legs neatly placed in front of her.

"No it's cool. Don't worry about it. I should have been looking anyways." Peyton said as she plopped down next to her partner on the grass.

"I was thinking about that project that we have to do. And I figured out that we do not have enough free periods to finish it."

"Ya I know. Um, do you wanna maybe come over after school? My parents, well my dad and my step-mom are gunna be gone for a while." God what the hell was she thinking. This was not typical Peyton Sawyer fashion.

"Uh, sure. My parents are, well honestly I don't know were my parents are this month." Haley answered in a smile. All Peyton could do was laugh.

"Sweet. Meet me at my car this afternoon. It's a black mercury cruiser. It's old."

"Ok see you then." Haley answered again with a bright smile, but Peyton couldn't help but wonder if it was just a mask.

"Do you wanna grab some lunch?" Peyton asked, wondering if she would be lonely out here by herself just reading.

"Um, no, not really hungry but thanks."

The last two periods of the day had gone smoothly for both Peyton and Haley. She found Peyton's car with ease, thanks to the 'oh so detailed' descriptions she gave Haley. Although Peyton had gone the entire day without seeing Nathan, she couldn't help but be a little disappointed. The car ride to the house was silent, although not uncomfortable. The soft music in the back ground and the beautiful North Carolina scenery was calming to Haley. The girls had a small snack of water and yogurt when they arrived and made seemingly meaningless small chat. After that they got right down to business.

The pair made a organized schedule of when they would meet, who would do what, so on and so forth. And after they were don with that day's work they decided just to be lazy and sit around being that both had no were to go.

"So what does one do on a Friday night in this place?" Haley asked completely out of the blue.

"Well I work at a night club called Tric, and sometimes people go down to the river court to watch the guys play. Other than that, it's the typical small town." Peyton answered not taking her eyes off of the television.

"Oh that's cool, can't wait to check it out." Haley said still engrossed in to movie.

"Do you wanna go now? We could hang out for a while I mean it's only nine o'clock." Peyton asked almost deviously, like she was up to something.

"Yea, it's not like I have any were to be." Both girls got off the couch and ran to Peyton's room deciding that the sweat pants they were wearing would just not cut it.

When Haley entered her friend's bed room she was memorized. The art on the walls was amazing, some were per say darker than others but that just made them have a little more meaning.

Both girls were now in their bra's searching through Peyton's closet for some tops to wear. Haley had decided on a distressed denim mini skirt, while Peyton was clad in a pair of dark navy jeans.

"Do you wanna do makeup touch ups before we put our shirts on?" Peyton asked still trying to find a shirt.

"Sounds good to me. Where is it?" Peyton told Haley that she kept her makeup in the bathroom, causing her to go out into the hall way in her bra. Haley was still contemplating her knew found friend. Peyton was a really cool chick, and she was really nice. But from what Haley could gather from her bedroom she seemed like she would be more of a person that didn't open up and was a, well bitch. Don't judge a book by it's cover, Haley thought to herself. Her mother used to always tell her that, when her parents were around that is. But then Haley couldn't help but wonder which was her cover? Was Peyton really a dark angsty person that happed to take a strange liking to Haley, or was Peyton a really sweet and nice person that just has a creepy taste in art.

Haley found the door that was supposed to be the bathroom, according to Peyton. She went to open the door when some one on the other side had done then same. Haley couldn't help be scream out of pure fear. That would be the point that she realized that she was in a mini skirt and bra, all she could will herself to do was quickly as possible go back to Peyton's bedroom.

(Haley's Holy shit. What the hell was that? A guy just opened the door to the bathroom, what the hell did I scream for? It's not like burglars go to the bathroom! But damn, he was hot. And those eyes! OMG! He was so tall, and she definitely worked out

"Did you find it?" Peyton asked as she saw Haley come in, and as she was putting on her shirt.

"Um, not quite. Instead I found a guy. Dark hair, blue eyes, ring a bell?" Haley had her hands on her hips in a scolding fashion.

"Oh, you mean Nate. Ya that would be my best friend slash step-brother, in that order. Is that why u screamed?" Haley embarrassingly nodded. "You should meet him, properly that it." Peyton started pulling her put of her room until they stood in front of another dark wood door identical to Peyton's."

"Maybe the proper way would be with a shirt, I mean it's not every day that I meet a guy in a black satin bra." Haley said feeling extremely self conscious.

"Nah." She said as she opened the door and ran into the guy, Nate as she came to learn.

"Nate this is my friend Haley. Haley, Nathan." Peyton introduced the two using her arms. Haley just waved feeling very uncomfortable, as she tried to hide herself under her two scrawny arms.

Nathan could tell the girl was uncomfortable, and it could have possible been because he couldn't stop staring at her. And for the first time in her life he thought that a girl was beautiful not hot.