Chapter Ten
When You Want What You Can't Have
Haley
"So, why were you called out yesterday?" I ask Brooke as she takes her seat beside me. She rolls her eyes and smiles.
"Oh, that was just Bevin telling Mrs Klein that my grandma had dies so we could go for tons of ice cream and retail therapy," Brooke replies. My eyes open wide. Brooke seems to misinterpret this look of pure shock, as she leans over and says, in a quiet whisper, "Her boyfriend just dumped her."
"But, aren't you worried that might be tempting fate?" I ask.
"What? I don't have a boyfriend to dump me."
"I mean, saying that your grandma died…"
Brooke laughs. Not exactly the response I was expecting.
"What's so funny?"
We both look up to see Nathan throwing his bag down on the desk in front of us. Despite my best efforts not to, I smile at him. He wasn't in homeroom today and I have to admit, I was kind of worried about him. Just a little bit though. Not like I would be if it was Lucas, who, thankfully, is acting a little less weird around me.
"Oh, I was just about to tell Haley that both of my Grandma's are already dead." Brooke says, giving Nathan her 'lets just screw' smile.
Nathan raises an eyebrow. "Sounds hilarious."
"Oh, you just missed the conversation. I'm not catching you up on it, there are more important things at stake here." Brooke goes on. She leans over the table, her long brown hair spilling over her books.
"And what's that?" Nathan asks.
"Midnight Madness. I was thinking it might be fun if we… you know, kick the season off with a bang…"
Oh my God! Is she talking about… sex? No. Surely she's not… I mean, not in the middle of American Lit.
Right?
"Uh, what do you have in mind?" Nathan asks. Surprisingly he's not flashing that cocky grin. Instead he's looking quite… well, quite embarrassed actually. Weird.
"Well, I don't want to discuss it here. I'll tell you at Lunch."
Nathan looks at me, just for a second. I feel something in my chest, like a sharp pain. Maybe I'm getting a cold or something.
Lunch. Yup, 1:05 Lunch Time. Huh huh. God, why am I being so jumpy?
"Why are you being so jumpy?"
It's Lucas. You know, my boyfriend? Right Haley, pull your mind back into the here and now. Lunch time. With Lucas. My boyfriend.
"Hales?"
I freeze. Did Lucas just call me Hales?
"My name's Haley," I say somewhat automatically. Lucas gives me a strange look.
"Right. Well, I was just wondering where you are, because I don't think you're here." Lucas goes on. I look up at him, his eyes all puppy-doggish and lost looking. What the hell am I doing? I'm sat here worrying about a cheerleader and a jock and their private life, when my perfect boyfriend is sat right in front of me looking tired and confused.
"Lucas I'm just… I'm just worried about school work. I'm a little behind." A lie. And apparently a transparent one because Lucas doesn't look like he believes me for one second.
"Right, you behind on schoolwork."
I sigh. "Do you want to go somewhere?" I ask. Lucas looks confused again.
"What?"
"Just throw off school for the afternoon, go to the beach or something."
"Okay, who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend?"
"I'm serious Lucas. I'm so tired and bored…"
"What of Haley? Because this seems a little out of character for you and I'm wondering if you're referring to school or… to something else."
What? Okay, this is officially confusing. "Um… what would that 'something else' be Lucas?"
Lucas shrugs. "I don't know, why don't you tell me when you figure it out."
He gets up and leaves, grabbing his book and doing what I can only describe as a storm out of the cafeteria. "Figure what out?" I ask myself.
I don't go to my lesson. I mean, I told Lucas I wouldn't and just because he's not here doesn't mean I can't still have a little fun.
I wasn't lying when I said I want to get out of here. Just for one afternoon I can be a rebel, not Haley James the perfect little Tutor Girl. Oof!
I've walked smack bang into someone's chest. It's a hard chest. A nice strong chest that smells of faint cologne and soap and washing detergent.
Oh crap, it's Nathan.
"Whoa, where's the fire?" He asks, pushing me back gently with his hands on my shoulder. I shrug them off quickly.
"What?"
"Why are you in a rush Hales?"
I don't correct him. I don't really want to. I mean, what's so bad about Hales? It's better than tutor girl. Although I'm still pissed with him, he…
Actually, why am I pissed with him, what has he done wrong?
Hmm… It's a dilemma to be sure. Or you know, not. God, what is wrong with me. Why am I turning into this flaky little ditz? That's not me! I'm sensible, I'm mature, "I'm cutting class."
Oh yeah, maybe not.
Nathan raises an eyebrow and that cocky smirk of his makes an appearance. "You're cutting class?"
Why is he saying it like that? Like I'm not capable of cutting class or something? "Yes," I say, all indignantly to show him that he's pissing me off. "Don't look so surprised, okay?" I whack him playfully on the shoulder. He laughs at me and pretends to rub his arm.
"Hey Hales! You don't know your own strength do you?"
I laugh at that. The idea that my little jab could even register on Nathan's pain meter is laughable. "Well stop looking at me like that!"
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to figure out what planet I come from."
Nathan laughs again. I've never noticed before (probably because I never see him laugh) but his eyes kind of sparkle when he laughs, and his eyebrows raise up a little. He looks… well, to be honest, he looks kind of adorable.
Ew… Nathan Scott and adorable in the same sentence? The world's gone mad.
"Look, I'm sorry Hales, but have you ever missed class before?"
Well of course I've missed… um… wait, I must have missed some lesson before, I mean, what about illness and… oh God! I'm a geek! Last time I was sick I had a stomach bug and I was throwing up – and I dragged myself into school! I was sat in the class running out every five minutes to throw up, and I STILL CAME TO CLASS!
Nathan's still staring at me. "I didn't think so. You're a novice. You'll be caught in like, a minute." I go to protest but he stares me down. "Five, tops."
"Well… I'll just go to the beach or…"
"By yourself? Sounds fun. And besides, Mr Topsky has a free period next and he always goes home for it, and he lives by the beach."
"How do you know that?"
"Our beach house is right next to his."
"Ah yes, the infamous beach house. Home of wild parties and debauchery," I say. Nathan raises his eyebrow and I realise how dumb that must sound. Its not like I've ever been or anything. "I mean, so I've heard," I add in quickly.
"Well, if we stick around here we're definitely going to be caught. I know this arcade where the teachers never go. Come on."
He starts to walk off and I'm stood staring at him like a goldfish. He turns around. "Hales?" he calls.
"Y-you're coming with me?" I ask. He shrugs.
"Well, I'm late for my next lesson now anyway, and besides that, you need me so you don't get caught."
Relax Haley. It's only Nathan Scott. The biggest jock in the school, resident bully and womaniser.
Oh yeah, and your boyfriend's brother. What's not to be relaxed about?
"Hales, will you hurry up?" Nathan calls, and I realise I'm stood like a deer caught in the headlights. I run up to him and we walk across the car park.
"Lead the way," I tell him.
"Follow me young grasshopper, you have much to learn."
"Oh my God Nathan! You are such a geek!"
Arrgghh! Banter!
