You Know What They Say

Chapter 2

Voices carried through the woods as Haley and Lucas walked towards all the camp counselors. A bonfire surrounded them as a few of them danced with their partners while a few drank beer from what she could only assume was a keg. Before she could say anything to Lucas, Brooke, one of the female counselors she had worked with over the summer detached herself from the guy she had been dancing with and clumsily made her way to where they were, throwing her arms around Lucas when she finally got there.

"Lucas, it's so good to see you" Brooke said throwing her arms around his neck and giving his cheek a kiss.

"It's nice to see you too Brooke. You seem like you're enjoying yourself quite a bit." Lucas answered with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Well don't tell Keith, but Nathan managed to get us all beer. One less hurrah of the summer before we start school next week."

"Sounds like a good idea to me. Can you get me and Haley one?"

Brooke gave a sly look to Haley before smiling at Lucas.

"Sure. I'll be right back."

"Nice. I'm sure she'd love to bang you after that."

"Brooke Davis has wanted me ever since we were freshmen in high school, why shouldn't I take advantage of that for the sake of my best friend every once in a while?"

"Because it's wrong Luke. If you like the girl than go for it, but if you don't than don't use her just because you're bored especially for my sake."

"Alright, I'll try to be nicer to Brooke, but can you do me a favor tonight as well?"

"Anything for you."

"Try to have fun and let lose tonight Haley. It's the last day of our vacation and I want you to enjoy every second of it. And don't hold out Haley. You know you could have fun if you really want to."

"I'll try but I make no promises. Now go get me that beer before I start bringing down the entire party with my lame ass attempt at jokes."

"Later Hales." He smiled as he walked back to Brooke while Haley made her way to the group of teens who had settled around the fire.

"What's up, James?" a girl asked as the others around her snickered.

"Not much." She answered grabbing a beer and staring into the campfire. She knew she wasn't really welcome here, but she would try. At least for Lucas's sake.

"I didn't think you like parties." A girl Haley remembered as Rachel snickered.

"Well there's a first time for everything."

"Whatever you say James. Just try not to kill everyone else's buzz while you're at it okay?"

Haley shrugged taking a sip of beer as she walked off to one of the places where no one would bother her. The lake.

During the summer, when she felt as if the pressure was getting to her, the lake was always her safe place. If only it would have been true for this night. Because when she stopped at the lake the person, she least expected to see was sitting at the edge of the dock and was staring at her intensely. Nathan fucking Scott.

"Who's there?" he asked not able to see her in the pale moonlight.

"It's James. Haley to be more specific."

"Oh. It's just you. Sorry., I didn't mean to bother you with whatever you were doing down here. I know you weren't really a people person."

"I don't mind, but what are you doing out here? I'd figure a guy like you would be partying it up with your friends for the final night of the summer."

"I guess I just needed some time away. After all us popular people do get overwhelmed sometimes too."

"What does a guy like you have to be overwhelmed about?"

"Besides an asshole dad and friends who barely know the real me. A lot. There's more to people than just their status you know?"

"I don't see it that way. So, what you have an asshole dad, a lot of teens our age does."

"Doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt us. I wouldn't expect a girl with a perfect life to understand that."

"What makes you think I have a perfect life?"

"Do you seriously want me to answer that question?"

"Duh." She answered taking a seat beside him as she took a sip of her beer.

"You just seem to have everything together. Your siblings will fight to the nail for you when anyone tries to hurt you. You have two loving parents who actually seem genuinely happy together and you're on the road to be our class valedictorian on top of being one of the most gorgeous girls I've ever seen. Trust me Haley. Your life after high school will be just fine. There's more to you than just, well, this."

"What makes you think that there's not more to you than this?"

"Just a feeling."

"Well take that feeling and tell it to shut the fuck off because you're too good at basketball not to go somewhere."

"You really think so."

"I know so."

"You've been coming out to the games?"

"Well Lucas is my best friend so of course I support him when I can."

"Seems like a pretty tedious task."

"Not really. It's what friends do."

"I wish my friends were as good as you."

"Maybe you need better friends."

"Are you offering?"

"I don't think you would want a friend like me. I'm not really your type."

"What's my type?" he said moving closer to her. They were so close now. Closer than they had ever been before. She had to admit if he wasn't such a narcist he would be pretty cute.

"Assholes. Air head cheerleaders with no personality." She responded biting her lip.

"Nice try, but I'm not as shallow as you think."

"Fine. Prove it."

"How would you like me to prove it?"

"Have a beer with me?"

"Out of all the things you could have said, that was one of them that I didn't expect."

"Why? Are you too much of a chicken to go over to the keg and enjoy a beer with me? Or will your friends and girlfriend not like that?" shew challenged sizing him up to see if he really was the jackass people said he was.

"I'm not chicken. Come on, let's go get that beer."

Nodding Haley followed Nathan over to the keg getting strange and almost envious looks from other counselors as they passed and went over to where the keg and Peyton believe it or not happened to be.

"There you are! I thought you got piss drunk and fell in the lake or something, but I'm glad I was wrong about that." She exclaimed giving him a sloppy kiss on the lips laughing slightly. If anyone was piss drunk it was obviously her.

"Nah, I was just at the lake clearing my head and talking to Haley here. Have you two met?" Nathan asked as Peyton squinted at her as if noticing her for the first time that night.

"Aren't you Lucas's friend? The one who works at the tutoring center?"

"That's me." Haley answered with an uneasy smile. At least Peyton wasn't being outright rude to her.

"So that mean you must be really smart."

"I guess you could say that, I don't think I'm that much smarter than anyone here to be honest."

"You're modest. I like it. You want a beer; we have plenty to go around."

"Sure. I feel like I'm not nearly drunk enough for this party."

"Shit. Nathan where have you been hiding her all this time; I like her style. Cheers to the new school year." Peyton said handing Haley and Nathan a cup of beer as they all toasted guzzling the beer as they laughed and shared stories. She hadn't known why she hadn't tried talking to them until now. They were obviously hilarious and a cute couple to boot.

"So how long have you two been together?"

"About two years." Nathan answered as Peyton's eyebrows stitched together.

"Four." She answered as Haley winced. She didn't want to be here for this.

"Sorry, I must be more drunk then I realized." Nathan laughed taking a sip of his beer as Peyton knocked it out of his hand making it slosh on Haley. Fuck. This was exactly why she didn't like socializing with drunk people no matter how drunk she was herself.

"What the fuck Peyton! What's your problem?"

"You're my fucking problem you stupid asshole. How could you forget how long we've been together? Unless you're fucking someone else!"

"Peyton, there is no one else, why the fuck do you always draw that conclusion every time we fight?"

"Because it's the fucking truth Nathan! You don't think I don't see you looking at other girls. You don't think I see the fact that you don't find me attractive anymore!"

"Peyton, you know that's fucking bullshit. Why can't you just stop being a psychotic bitch every once in a while!"

Gasp filled the air as Peyton took a step back, face flashing with shock and hurt until it settled for anger and she sent a slap flying so hard that it had almost knocked him off his feet.

"Fuck you Nathan Scott! We're fucking done!" she screamed as she pivoted on her heels and marched to what Haley assumed was her cabin Brooke following her to check if she was okay.

"Fuck." Nathan yelled throwing his cup of beer in the forest as he tore down the trail obviously pissed off and wanting to be alone as Lucas came to her side in a flash.

"What the fuck just happened? Are you hurt?" Lucas asked as if ready to beat Nathan's ass.

"No. I'm fine, but I think I'm done for the night. Walk me to the cabin?" Haley asked as Lucas took her shoulder and rubbed it in a comforting gesture.

"Of course. Come on, let's go." Lucas responded her walking her back to the cabin not fully aware of how much of an impact that night would really have on the rest of their lives.