Moving On (Chapter Seventeen)
Haley began eating her food while the others carried on a conversation about their summer. Peyton was describing her part-time job at THUD Magazine. "It's awesome. They're even talking about giving me a recommendation for the art school I want to go to," she said.
"That's awesome, Peyton," Nathan said. Peyton smiled.
"Well, I've got to head to the tutoring centre," Haley said, getting up.
"Some things never change," Brooke quipped. Haley rolled her eyes as she left. She walked into the tutoring centre. She started going through files as Nathan walked in.
"So, I put in a request for another tutor for you," he said. Haley turned around. She shrugged.
"All right. If that's what you want," she said, turning back around.
"I thought that you would want it," he said. Haley sighed.
"No, Nathan. I have no problem with being your tutor," she said.
"Really?" he asked. Haley nodded. "Why? After what I did, how can you stand to be around me?" he asked. Haley cracked a smile.
"Nathan, you don't have to be a martyr. I'm a big girl and I'm over what happened. I don't hold grudges," she said. Nathan laughed.
"Tigger, anyone?" he asked, referring to the grudge Haley held against Brooke.
"That's different. Brooke attacked a member of my family and she didn't express the least bit of remorse over what she did to Taylor. I know you're sorry for what you did," she said. He nodded.
"Well, thanks. I appreciate it," he said.
"No problem," she said.
Haley and Nathan were in the tutoring centre a week and a half later. Haley was helping him with his chemistry homework. "I hate this stuff," he said.
"Then, why'd you take it?" Haley asked.
"I didn't have a choice. It was either this or take another history and I'd take five science classes before I took another history," he said. Haley laughed.
"Give that to me. You can't be that bad. You got a good grade in your chemistry unit last year," she said, taking the book from the paper from him and looking it over.
"Well?" he asked.
"You've got all, but one right, Nathan," Haley said. He took it back from her and looked at it in disbelief. The question he got wrong was the one that he was working on before he took the page from her. "You've just got the wrong metal, Nathan. Look over the periodic table and then apply the information and you'll be fine," she said.
"Thanks," he said. Then a guy named Chad Holmes walked in. "Hey, Haley," he said.
"Hey, Chad," she said, looking up at him and smiling.
"We're still on for tonight, right?" he asked. Haley smiled.
"Of course," she said. Chad smiled.
"Awesome," he said and then left. Nathan looked at her cautiously. "What's tonight?" he asked.
"Oh, Chad and I have a date tonight," she said simply. Nathan was glad she was looking down at her own homework because she didn't see his face fall or notice that he was falling apart inside.
"Oh," he said breathlessly.