Chapter 2

Darkness Abroad

Nathan laid up right in his queen size bed staring at a picture that had been taken before he had moved to California with his dad. Her head was thrown back in laughter as he kissed her elongated neck with a smile of his own. This was the photograph that had gotten though the darkest days.

He wondered if she still wore her hair in a loose ponytail everyday, he wondered if she still wore jeans that were loose around her thighs, he wondered if she still wore those stupid tees.

His wondering would come to a close tonight. Nathan planned on going to the Jagielski and James home that evening.

If it weren't for the jet lag, Nathan would be bouncing off the walls with giddiness.

Haley sat in front of her vanity for the second time that day. Finishing up, she pulled the thick back eyeliner pencil under her eyelids, and reapplied her lipstick. She adjusted her top, an expensive piece of black lacy lingerie so that the top didn't cut off part of her tattoo- a cluster of five black star outlines, all different sizes.

She went to open the side draw of the vanity to retrieve her brush- however it was stuck. After unsuccessfully yanking it a few times it finally flew open, the contents blending in with the rest of the mess on the floor. Though one thing in particular caught her eye. The silver frame shined with from bright ceiling light- it held a picture of them together on the beach. He was smiling towards the camera while she kissed his cheek with exaggerated puckered lips. Nathan had given her that picture for her birthday.

Haley placed the frame in her lap and turned her wrist to reveal a script tattoo that read 'Jimmy' in her own handwriting, she had designed it. He had one much like her's that read 'Haley's'. The sexual attraction that her and Jimmy Heart shared was simple lust, however she loved him as a best friend. They would do anything for each other, however out of loyalty not love. Though she would fuck him whenever the opportunity arose.

Haley didn't even get to brush her hair as she had intended before she heard the beeping of her boyfriend's beat up olive green Camaro. She stood up to fix her black matchstick jeans and slipped on her patent leather four inch high, bright red, peep toe heels. Running down the stairs, she didn't bother to bring anything at all, knowing full and well that it would be forgotten when she left the party in her usual non-coherent state.

Nathan had been so nervous getting ready to see Haley again that he had taken an extra hour and a half to ready than normal. Then when he got to the house, Nathan stayed in the car for a half hour bouncing his knee up and down. Then when he finally got to the front door, Nathan paced for a good fifteen minutes before he had mustered up enough strength to knock, by then it was already ten o'clock. A few minutes later a tall boy came to the door.

"Jake?" He looked exactly the same, same haircut, same eyes.

"Nathan?" The other boy's taller and more muscular build had thrown him off at first, though in a second they were slapping each other on the back, doing that weird guy thing way, and Jake had invited him in.

The boys were sitting on the couch having a couple of sodas, talking about how they were mostly, until Nathan questioned the inevitable.

"Man, it's not like I not happy to see you or anything but I was wondering If Haley was here." Jake sighed; this was going to be tough.

"She's out actually."

"Oh um, do you mind if I stick around for a while and wait? I really wanted to see her tonight."

"I guess. But she probably won't be home till like one thirty the earliest. Lydia and my dad are in the Bahamas for two weeks, so it's not like they'll care."

"Since when does Haley stay out that late?" Nathan had been equal to a god freshman year; he went out with his friends, drank some, though Haley had always stayed in on those particular occasions.

"Things didn't exactly freeze for you man. Times have changed. But listen if you wanna stay and wait for her I'm going to be here, so you can hang."

"I don't want to bother you or anything."

"No problem… guess we have some time to kill." Jake said awkwardly to the other boy, whom at one point in time had been his best friend.

Jake knew that Nathan was still in love with Haley James- the nerdy good girl. Nathen didn't know the Haley James she was today- the punked out rebel chick.