Thanks to Jason Mraz for the song... you're sweet.
Sorry about the delay.. end of the year rush is killing me.
Chapter 27: You and I Both
Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me?
Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice and I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing the whole thing
A relaxing night of her favorite movies curled up with her friends Ben and Jerry, who would bring her nothing more than a sugar induced stupor, sounded perfect after her day. Letting out a long, extended sigh, she fell back into the couch. A goofy smile spread across her face. She mentally thanked God for creating such a great stress relieving activity. She also thanked her own no care attitude when it came to school. Movies or reading about the American Revolution? She could just watch The Patriot, couldn't she?
A thunderous knock sounded from the front hallway. She shrugged, someone would answer it. There was silence for a moment then another. And another. Then it sounded as if The Patriot was being reenacted on her front porch. She reached the door in less than a minute and urgently swing open the door.
She looked at the frazzled boy in front of her and frowned, "You are SO not Mel Gibson."
He shook his head and strode past her into the house. By now, he had most definitely learned sometimes with Nicky it was best just not to ask. "I have extremely good news." He paused and stared at her hard as if he expected her to read his mind. She blinked in anticipation and started to crack a smile. His mouth opened then he closed it and began to pace back and forth down the hallway.
"Sean?" Nicole chuckled after a moment. "The floor might start to wear down if you don't chill out. I thought this was good news?"
"Travis is leaving." He told her, staring at a framed painting in front of him. "They're sending him back to a boarding school in California tonight because last night he got caught drinking by some kid's parents. I guess his mommy dearest is mortified that the neighbors know her son is satin."
She laughed, "Satin? Sean, really. He's probably not that bad."
"Aw, damn Nicole. Not all that 'seeing good in people' crap again. He's horrible." He looked at her seriously and she walked toward him gently. She looped her arm threw his and led him to the family room.
"Why California?" She questioned softly. Sometimes, he got so worked up over nothing.
He rolled his eyes. "She has family nearby the school so if anything happens to him..." She nodded and sat them both down on the couch.
"So if you don't like him, why so worked up?" She pointed out, "Or do you really like him and it's just an act."
He glared deathly at her, "No. I hate him."He shook his head. "It's just... my dad, he just let her send him off."
"Travis IS your step-mom's son. He probably didn't want to interfere." She offered as an excuse. She wasn't blind or stupid, she knew what her best friend was thinking. It was pretty obvious actually: When will he send me away?
He snarled, "Jean. Call her Jean. I don't even want to associate her to me with the word 'mom.' It doesn't belong." She shook his head and winced at the thought. "And that's a good theory but it's horribly wrong."
Nicole shook her head stubbornly before placing it down on his shoulder happily. "I bet it's not, best friend."
-.-.
But often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright lights turn to night
Until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me
The next day a brisk winter breeze threw her curly brown hair haphazardly around as she walked to the car. Sliding on her thick sunglasses, she was quickly comforted by the fact that there were no longer lurking reporters circling the mansion as if they were a SWAT team encompassing a hostage situation. She had found out late last night that as quick as they had come, Chris, Taylor, and Kenny had left unannounced, and she had a sneaky suspicion they were behind the reporters leaving. She had seen herself and Nathan spread across every magazine possible and frankly, she was sick of herself.
The small bell jingled above her as she walked routinely into Karen's Café. It was bustling with people trying to escape the harsh cold outside, even for the early time. She sat down at the counter in the only open stool. The elderly man on her left turned away from her as if she had attracted the Bubonic Plague and the smile on her face which was being sent to him immediately faded.
"Coffee?" A blonde waitress asked briskly from behind the counter. Her hair was messed and her shirt was coffee stained.
Haley smiled politely, "No thanks. I'm looking for Karen. Is she here?"
The young girl shook her head while pouring the grumpy old man more decaf coffee. "Ms. Scott? She had to run home for something. She said she would be back by about seven thirty though." Haley's eyes flashed to the clock. She could wait.
"Okay, I'll have a piece of pie and hot chocolate then please." Once the girl was gone she pulled a magazine from her purse and sighed when she saw the headline, complete with pictures.
"It's a shame isn't it?" A quiet voice struck Haley out of her thoughts. She sharply turned her head to see a warm looking, white haired woman looking at her.
Haley fidgeted with the sunglasses on her face, aware that they were keeping her concealed along with her sweat suit. "What is?"
"Those two live here, you know. I knew the girl's parents well. Nice girl, boy's a little rough but wasn't no hoodlum like they make him seem. Sad to see they can't be left alone." It struck Haley then who the woman was. Mr. and Mrs. Krougal lived two houses down from her until she was thirteen when Mr. Krougal had a heart attack and Mrs. Krougal and her kids moved to a smaller house. She had to be in her eighties by now. "Karen, the woman who owns this place, her son was rather friendly with her, and he is Karen's boy's half- brother." She paused to take a long drink of her tea. "I'm surprised yous didn't know. You live here, child?"
"Just moved here."
The woman's eye seemed to twinkle and Haley felt a rush of panic. "No wonder. It's small town, and chit chat spreads quick, sugar."
"Their news spreads pretty quickly all over the world." She laughed humorlessly. She picked casually at the piece of apple pie in front of her.
"True. That young thing that says the entertainment news loves to gab about them. They're pretty popular with the youngins." She nods. "Me, I think they are risky to be so spontaneous."
Haley swallowed the lump in her throat, just another doubter. "You don't agree with their engagement?"
"No, no child. I agree. From the daily tellings those two are more in love than most of us. I just said it was risky." She paused and let her words soak in then laughed, amused at a memory. "Sometimes the best things in life are risky, Miss. James." Haley drew in a deep breathe and went to speak, but Mrs. Krougal had swiftly up and left, just as Karen came in front of her.
"Haley? What are you doing here?"
Haley's head snapped from the door where she was watching the lady leave to a woman she considered her second mother's smiling face. A look of concern grew on Karen's features as she took in the look of puzzlement and shock on Haley's. Having forgotten the real reason she came, all Haley could muster was, "I need a new disguse, Karen."
-.-.-.-.-.-.
Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
Others only read of the love, the love that I love.
"Nicole. Nicole!" Hannah hissed as she shook her sleeping sister's for. "Get up! It's almost eight! I need your help." When she saw no movement in her sister's state of slumber she resorted to harsher tactics. Grabbing her sister's cd player alarm, she cranked the volume completely up and slid their father's Ying Yang Twins cd. When the sounds of Halftime blaring threw the speakers reached Nicole's ears, she struggled to unroll out of her comforter, instead rolling onto the floor. A loud thud resounded threw the room.
"I. Can't. Stand. You." Nicole mumbled from the ground.
Hannah was unfazed. "Get up. I need your public school knowledge."
"I thought you were the smart one." She grumbled, shoving the blankets off of her body.
"I am. I need your help with what to wear." She chirped, turning on the shower for her sister. "Now hurry up and get ready!"
Fifteen minutes later Nicole was completely finished with her morning routine, only about one hour earlier than she normally would have woken up. She filled into Hannah's room and let herself sprawl onto the bed. "What?"
"THAT's what you're wearing to school?" Hannah's eye's bulged in surprise.
Nicole looked down at her flip flops, sweat pants, and gray tee shirt and shrugged. "Yeah? So what?" She scoffed, a hint of self defense in her tone. "In public school, you can wear whatever you want. Just don't be the girl who showed up on her first day wearing a white lab coat with a bra and mini skirt on underneath. She insisted on leaving the coat unbuttoned so she got suspended. Now she's called Dr. Dumbass."
"Nicky! Oh my god. What if I wear the wrong thing! And get stuck with a nickname for the rest of my life!"
Nicole sighed. "I don't think you understand Tree Hill's politics yet. My last name is Scott and yours is James. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will get us made fun of. But if you wanna be super safe go with regular blue jeans and a polo. It's what about half of the girls will be wearing. Only yours will be more expensive." She finished, getting up and walking down stairs to the kitchen.
Shortly following Nicole, Hannah appeared in the kitchen, only to find her mother and sister at the counter talking.
"Good morning, Hann." Haley smiled. "Where are you going?"
Hannah shot Nicole a questioning glance, she figured Nicole would have told her. "...Uh. School." She watched her mother's eyes light up in hope. She hated fighting with her mom. It happened rarely, so when it did, neither handled it well.
"Uh, I'm going to... get out of here." Nicole quickly exited, leaving her feuding family members to go at it.
"School, huh?" Haley asked, trying to keep her tone nonchalant.
Hannah suddenly felt very nervous. "Yeah, I figured I'd give it a try."
"It couldn't hurt, just to try it I mean. Public school isn't so bad." Haley agreed.
"Yeah." She said softly, looking down at her folded hands. Glancing up at her mother's familiar eyes, she felt a rush that made her think her mom knew all along. They could talk about this...right? "Mom? Can we talk for a sec?"
"Sure, baby. What's on your mind?" Haley smiled, wiping split milk off of the table.
"If... well, when. When you and Dad get married, if things... don't turn out right, like say you two get a divorce..."She trailed off as she fought her brain for the words to finish her thought.
"Will it tear everyone apart?" HAley offered. Hannah nodded. "Look, Hann. If something like that does happen, I'll make sure no one loses touch. I know how important Nicole and Nathan have become to you. I'm not about to let you lose them... or me."
A small smile spread on Hannah's face. "Do you looooove him?"
"Very much."
"Mommy and Daddy sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First come lo-" Hannah sang as she followed her rolling eyed mother out of the kitchen.
-.-.-..-
See I'm all about them words
Over numbers, unencumbered numbered words
Hundreds of pages, pages, pages forwards
More words then I had ever heard and I feel so alive
"Hey, sexy girl." A rough male voice smirked in her ear and she let out a laugh that matched her eye roll.
Nicole shut her locker and turned around, "Hey clinically insane boy." She peered around the boy, scanning the hallway. "Have you seen my high strung sister? It's her first day in a public school and I don't want her to go into culture shock or something."
He put his hand over his heart and feigned hurt, "It's my first day here too, you know. A little compassion from my best friend would be nice!"
She let the teacher like smile grow on her face and batted her eye lashes, "I'm sorry Seanie boy. How has your first five minutes at yet another new school going?"
Sean sighed dramatically, "Well, since you asked..." She swatted at his chest and he laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Come on, let's go save your sister from a panic attack."
Heads turned as they walked down the middle school hallway. They turned the corner and entered the main office. They took a seat in the row of chairs and waited for Hannah. Nicole leaned over and whispered in Sean's ear, "Do you like the secretary's glasses?"
"I rate them a nine point seven on the too cool for style scale. If I had her bone structure, I would wear those at all hours of the day." He joked with a serious face. After she stifled her giggles, together they immediately whispered a rendition of 'I Wear My Sunglasses At Night'.
"Hey, I was looking all over for you two," Hannah chirped from behind them, "Did you guys know they sell chocolate bars in the vending machines here?"
Startled from her voice, the pair nearly jumped. "Yeah, welcome to public schools, Hann. They just let you get fat." Nicole sighed as she took a deep breathe to regain composure.
"I really like it here, Nicky." She grinned softly into Nicole's ear as they walked to Nicole's first hour.
Nicole rolled her eyes. "School sucks, you're weird. Come on we only have forty five seconds before I'm late." They quickly dogged the students being shuffled off to class by teachers and the inanimate objects which Hannah was sure she would fall over at least once today. The tardy bell rang before they half way down the math hallway and Nicole groaned. They slowed down, they were late anyways.
"-And keep out yesterday's homework. Make sure you have those four theories copied down from yesterday. If they're on your formula cards you can use them on the quiz tomorrow... Ah, Miss. Scott. So nice of you to join us, and who is this with you?" Nicole's math teacher, Mrs. Barnes told the silent class.
"This is my sister, Hannah. She might be transferring here and I was just showing her the math labs, but Dr. Tydell stopped us to ask Hannah some questions, sorry we're late." Nicole lied cooly.
Mrs. Barnes smiled tightly. "Hannah, pull a desk near Nicole's. Nicole, just get out your homework."
As they walked to their desks Hannah leaned in and hissed in Nicole's ear. "You lied! What if she checks with the principle and he says he didn't stop us?"
Nicole looked over at Hannah and stonily said, "She won't."
"How do you know that?"
"Tree Hill politics, Hannah. You really need to figure out how to work your power." She shook her head and opened her books to learn the CPCF theorem, while Hannah learned that she wasn't an everyday person like in New York. She was a star in Tree Hill's eyes, a mysterious star.
-.-.
You and I, you and I
Not so little you and I anymore, mmm...
And with this silence brings a moral story
More importantly evolving is the glory of a boy
"Okay, great. See you at ten then, Miss. James." The sickeningly sweet intern at TeenPeople's voice came through the phone. It was times like these Haley wished she had the will power to say no to pleading people. She was just too nice sometimes. She reached up to set the cordless phone back on the kitchen wall when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her middle. Haley turned around and smiled happily at the male chest in front of her.
"Hey you." She chirped excitedly.
"Hey yourself." He smiled back, leaning in to seal their welcome with a kiss. When they finally pulled apart he traveled to the fridge and scrounged for a beer. "Where is everyone.. It's too quiet."
"School." She responded shortly, but not hiding the thankfulness in her voice.
His eyebrows raised in surprise, "Hannah too? Don't tell me she volunteered to go to public schools!"
Haley nodded happily. "It's been an odd day for me to say the least, but odd in a good way. I missed you though."
His signature smug smirk spread slowly across his face as he walked even slower toward her, "The kids are gone... we have the house to ourselves. What CAN we do?"
"Nathan," She warned. "They will be home in an hour."
"So I can be quick." He told her, lifting her onto the kitchen counter and trailing sloppy kisses down her neck.
She leaned back her head, "Would this be a good time to tell you we have to do an interview for Teen People tomorrow?" Too distracted and possibly too excited, Nathan murmured a yes, sure, whatever between kisses. "Would this also be a good time to tell you we can't do this because my birth control ran out?" She couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably at the lost little boy face he made.
"Haley..." He groaned, walking with difficulty away from her.
"Where are you going?"
"Shower." He answered. "Cold Shower."
-.-.
And it's okay if you have go away
Oh just remember the telephone works both ways
And if I never ever hear them ring
If nothing else I'll think the bells inside
Have finally found you someone else and that's okay
Cause I'll remember everything you sang
"Slut? Second Slut? Sean?" Brooke questioned to her new guests, widening the front door to let them in. "What are you doing here?"
"Coming to see you of course!" Hannah answered as she was the first to walk through the door.
Nicole smiled and rolled her eyes, "Public school agrees with her. She's mentally unstable."
Brooke smiled and wrapped Sean in her arms, "Good to see you kid." She said loudly so Hannah and Nicole could hear, but quietly whispered in his ear, "Just 'Best friends' don't normally stare at each other's asses." She winked at him as she pulled away and he blushed furiously. Nicole shot him an questioning look and he smiled nervously. "Well, shall we move to the kitchen?" Nicole smiled and remembered that almost every good conversation she ever had with Brooke had occurred in a kitchen, which she found puzzling since Brooke could not cook.
They followed a pregnant Brooke into the kitchen where it seemed like pastel colors had exploded. "Uh, Brooke. What is all of this?" Nicole shuddered.
Brooke looked around the room casually, "The baby's room stuff."
"You don't even know the sex of it yet." Hannah reasoned, mentally flinching at the idea of clown wallpaper. God, how those things scared her.
"So what? I can plan now anyways. It gives me something to do. Peyton and I have been working on this for the past few days. If she wasn't so hormonal and girly right now, I bet she'd go with black or something. But, I think she chose a Beatrix Potter theme, she read somewhere that it developed brain function or something." Brooke sighed longingly, she really needed to read more, and Peyton always took the good ideas.
"What about a basketball theme?" Sean chipped in, Hannah nudged him fiercely.
Brooke rounded on him, "A basketball theme, huh?" She bit out venomously. "Yeah, there's an idea. Why don't I just attach the pressure onto my stomach now and get a head start on it! Please, Sean, get serious. As if having the last name of Scott isn't pressure enough." She rolled her eyes.
"Sorry." He mumbled and felt a sinking guilty feeling hit the pit of his stomach.
"Have you started the wedding plans yet?" Hannah asked, hoping it would be a neutral enough question.
Her mood seemed to immediately perk up, "Yes! I have!"
Nicole glanced nervously around the room, "Have you two set a date yet?"
"Yes! We have, but I'm not supposed to tell. We need to tell Karen first." She squealed, "But you girls won't tell will you?-"
"Brooke! Just stop there and tell Karen first. Uncle Luke won't be happy if you let it spill." Nicole scolded.
"But-!"
"Just make like Sean and shut up Brooke." She smiled motherly. "Now let's pick out a nice... unbiased color scheme."
Cause you and I both loved what you and I spoke of
and others just read of and if you could see now
well I'm almost finally out of.
I'm finally out of, finally.
well I'm almost finally, finally, out of words
The Brooke at the end was random, but I like her. THE NEXT CHAPTER: Is the last one, be sad.
Throw my hands up and Shout Outs:
Emmalee05 -- I really loved writing that scene between Haley and Hannah. I actually cried while writing that scene. But I was on medication for strep throat so... ha ha ha. There wasn't much NH in this chapter, sorry. Hope you still liked it though.
JeniRose- I liked your review, it was close to what I had been thinking about for this chapter, so I made sure to include them. I love Brooke and I really like the Brooke and Nathan relationship. I hope they have more of them in season four!
Roserows: I hated that chapter too, butI REALLY hate this chapter. As a matter of fact, I hated it so much I puta little Brooke in because I like her, Im happy youlikeher too. Some people don't I do.Thanks forbeing so honest, you're cool like that I guess.
leh2007- Thanks, I adore you too.
deli41321 - I have a idea about Brooke's words.. you'll have to wait to see though. I liekd writing Hannah's day at school, even though I hated how it turned out. That happens too much with me :(