Chapter 6

Writing to Reach You

Every day I wake up and it's Sunday

Whatever's in my eye won't go away

The radio is playing all the usual

And what's a wonderwall anyway

Because my inside is outside

My right side's on the left side

Because I'm writing to reach you now but

I might never reach you

Only want to teach you

About you

But that's not you

It's good to know that you all know I'm hurting

It's good to know that you are doing well

It's good to know that you all know I'm hurting

It's good to know I'm feeling not so well

Because my inside is outside

My right side's on the left side

Because I'm writing to reach you now but

I might never reach you

Only want to teach you about you

But that's not you

Do you know it's true?

But that won't do

Maybe then tomorrow will be Monday

And whatever's in my eye should go away

But still the radio is playing all the usual

And what's a wonderwall anyway

Because my inside is outside

My right side's on the left side

Cause I'm writing to reach you now but

I might never reach you

Only want to teach you

About you

But that's not you

Do you know it's true?

But that won't do

And you know it's you

I'm talking to

Christmas 2009: Lexington, Kentucky

Nathan walked into his house and ran his hand across the edge of the coffee table. He smiled at the picture resting on the table. He picked it up. He let his fingers linger over the dusty frame. Inside the frame was a picture of him and his new girlfriend, Lindsay, at the Beta Sigma Phi formal in the fall. His arm was wrapped around her tanned waist and her strawberry blonde head rested on his shoulder. Nathan smiled at the picture and set it back down on the table. He continued into the kitchen and stood over the sink, looking out into the backyard.

The driveway was visible from the kitchen window and Nathan saw a black SUV pull into the driveway. He watched Lindsay climb out and run to the back door. She swung open the door and jumped through the doorway. Lindsay threw her arms into the air and then spun in circles. "My god! Isn't it an amazing day?" She threw her arms around Nathan's neck and smiled at him, "It is an amazing day to be alive!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him outside.

"Lindsay. No. It is so cold." Nathan said trying to get his girlfriend to compromise he said, "Come on, let's just stay inside, we can make hot chocolate…"

"Come on old man! You are such the party pooper!" She smiled and let go of his arm. Sometimes he did feel like an old man compared to the eighteen year old Lindsay. She smiled her million watt smile and motioned for him to come toward her. "Come on Nate. A little snow never hurt anyone."

He gave her a half hearted smile and walked off the porch. His foot hit the snow and he looked at her. The two smiled at one another and Nathan came running toward her. Lindsay screamed and jumped into Nathan's arms. She wrapped her long legs around him. She pushed her lips against his, letting their mouths remain together for a second longer. The two pulled away. Lindsay leaned back in, opening their mouths this time, their tongues dancing in each others mouths. Nathan pushed her long hair off her shoulder and pressed his lips against her neck. She moaned and whispered in his ear, "Lets take this inside."

Nathan knew the routine. The pair would go inside, fool around for a little while, and then when things started to get hot and heavy, Lindsay would freak out, proclaiming that she "just wasn't ready" and, surprisingly, that didn't bother Nathan. He just enjoyed being with her. Sometimes Nathan, of course, being a 20 year old man, just wanted to have sex with Lindsay.

He let go of Lindsay and she started to walk into the house. She looked back at him, "Aren't you coming?" She pushed her hand into the back pocket on her army green pants.

Nathan nodded, "Yeah, but, I gotta go work out with the team." He walked up the steps to the porch and put his hand on her lower back. He kissed her on the cheek and walked into the house.

Lindsay took a deep breath and gave him a half hearted smile. She watched him go into the backroom and change clothes. "When are you going to be back?" She yelled to him as she popped three grapes into her mouth.

"Three hours or so." He said, emerging from the room now fully dressed in his Wildcat blue.

"Want me to make dinner?" She put the bundle of grapes back into the refrigerator and turned to him, "I could make pasta. I know how you like that..."

Before Lindsay could finish, Nathan had another one of those flashbacks that he had been having lately.

Christmas 2005- Tree Hill, North Carolina

"Yes sir. Tonight we have pasta with meat sauce." Haley said as she casually chewed on the end of her pen. She ran her fingers through her ponytail and slowly tapped her foot. She starred at the man trying to order his food. She thought he must have stared at that menu for at least forty five minutes straight.

"Um. Hm. I'm sorry; can I have just another minute?" The older man asked as he looked up at Haley.

"Oh of course." She nodded and said, "I will be back in just a few minutes."

Haley walked away and rolled her eyes as she looked at Lucas who was sitting at the bar. His arms rested on the top of the table; he lowered his head onto his arms. "Trouble with a customer?"

Haley threw off her apron and said, "I am taking, a break." She grabbed a class of coffee and started to walk outside.

The door to the café opened and Nathan walked in.

Haley rolled her eyes and immediately walked behind the counter and out the backdoor.

"Haley, please."

"Nope, nope, nope." She said, almost running out the door.

Nathan swung open the door to see her sitting on the back stoop.

"I don't know what you could possibly have to say that would make me (a) want to listen to you or (b) make me change my currently and possibly permanent feelings about you. Those feelings being that you, Nathan Scott, are a heartless, sex hungry, demon child." Haley took a long drink from her cup of coffee.

Nathan stood in front of her and put his hands into his pockets. "And I don't know what I could say to you that could change your mind about me. But I do know that a long time ago, the Haley James I used to know, gave me a chance and her mind changed about me forever. So maybe that Haley James could come back…"

"That Haley James left."

"Yeah she did, she left with Chris Keller. She left her friends, and her family, and…" Haley looked up at him, her eyes slowly filling up with tears. Nathan finished, "her husband."

"So now we are back to this?"

"We are always back to this Hales."

"Haley! Table seven says he is ready to order…" Karen said. Her voice started in a yell, but was now almost a whisper as she emerged from the kitchen to the back steps.

Haley stood up and walked back into the café.

"You know she still loves you Nathan. That's not the problem." Nathan nodded at Karen. "The problem is that she knows you still love her."

Karen walked back into the café. Nathan followed behind her.

Brooke walked into the café and stared at Lucas, still sitting at the bar, and then at Nathan, who was walking out from behind the counter. Brooke looked around the café and immediately ran out.

"Brooke wait!" Nathan yelled as he started to follow after her.

"If you want her back," Lucas said as he looked at Nathan and then back at Haley, "then you can't be doing thinks like that."

"Oh really?" Nathan said as he held open the door, "I was about to say the same thing to you."

Nathan ran after Brooke, "Brooke wait."

Brooke quickly turned around, "Nathan it was a mistake. It was all a big mistake."