Chapter Twenty-Two
I Hate Mondays
Haley
I hate Mondays.
Seriously, why are they even there? Why don't we just have a six day week and banish Mondays altogether?
"Hey tutor girl," Brooke greets me at the school entrance. I had to walk this morning – the first time in ages – and I am not in the best mood. Seeing Brooke being all cheery and bright is really not doing me any good.
"Hi cheerleader," I mutter darkly. I can't help it. I honestly tried to fake a smile or something but I look pure evil. Honestly, I'm nervous. After a weekend locked away in my bedroom, I now have to face Peyton, Lucas and of course, Nathan.
It's almost enough to make a girl skip school.
Wait a second, why am I at school?
"Oh, are we still depressed?" Brooke asks, putting her arm around my shoulder. I keep my head down, hoping not to see anyone who I really don't want to see.
"No, we are not depressed, but I am."
Brooke doesn't say anything. She's probably just trying to handle me right or something.
We reach my locker, Brooke still with her arm around my shoulder. I wonder briefly why she's so friendly all of a sudden, but I have to admit I'm glad for it. She's a nice girl and if I was on my own right now, I'd probably be slitting my wrists in the girls restroom.
I open my locker.
"Haley."
I turn to see Lucas looking down at me, wringing his hands together and wearing a nervous look on his face. Brooke steps back and smiles at Lucas, that really obvious flirty smile.
Why am I not even bothered.
"Hey Lucas," I greet. My voice is tired and I can't even be bothered to act like I'm hurt over our break up. How the hell did I go out with him for so long? There's no chemistry there, none at all.
"I wanted to apologise," he says softly.
"Oh, well I've been getting plenty of those, I'm not sure I really want anymore."
I know it's wrong to take this out on Lucas. I mean, of course I'm pissed at him for ringing me and making me hear what Nathan had to say, but I guess it's good that I found out.
"Right," he says, starting to walk away. He stops mid-step and turns to face me. "You know, I was kind of hoping we could still be friends. I know it could be hard, but you've been a part of my life for so long that the change would be even harder if you left it completely."
I slam my locker shut and swing my bag over my shoulder. "Yeah, well sometimes change is a good thing," I mutter, walking away.
I'm not stupid, I know I can't avoid Nathan the way I really want to, but that doesn't mean I can't ignore his pathetic lying ass.
He's already in homeroom when I walk in, and he's moved to the desk next to mine. I roll my eyes and sit down.
"Hales…" he starts.
"It's Haley," I correct him. There, just like it was at the start of the year. Everything is back to normal.
Except that it isn't. Everything has changed.
"Can we talk?" he asks. Why won't he leave me alone?
"We are talking," I hiss.
"I mean…" He cuts off and sits back in his seat. I look up and see that Tim has walked through the door. Ah, so he's trying to be Mr Cool Guy huh? Trying to pretend that he's not into the dorky tutor girl?
"Nate, why are you sat there?" Tim shouts.
Nathan frowns to himself and I raise an eyebrow at him, daring him to come up with an excuse. If he does, then we're over for good.
Not that we're already not of course. Not that there was anything to be over.
Nathan stands up, obviously ready to move back to his desk.
"I like Haley James," he say loudly, causing everyone to gasp and me to cough rather inelegantly. "I'm sat here because I've been a complete dick and I'm trying to get her to forgive me." He sits back down again.
All around me is a mad buzz of chatter. I stare furiously at my hands, my cheeks going bright red. Nathan leans over onto my desk.
"Did it work?" He asks, his voice hopeful. I stare up into his eyes and immediately wish I hadn't. A girl could get lost in those eyes. Tears spring up in mine again.
Just when I thought I was all cried out.
"You just don't get it Nathan. You can't correct a whole lifetime of being you with a few seconds of being this… this perfect person," my voice catches on the last word and I rush out of the room.
Bang into Peyton.
How is it possible to meet the three people you've been dreading in the space of ten minutes? How? Some people would be able to spend the whole day without seeing one, I have to go and see all of them.
Tears are streaming down my face and Peyton is looking at me with a dumbfounded look.
"Excuse me," I cry, as if I'm talking to a stranger. I can deal with falling out with Lucas and even Nathan, but not Peyton. She's my best friend.
I rush past her and into the girls restroom.
