"Ow ow ow," Haley groaned as she slowly sat up, her body protesting the entire time. "Why does everything hurt?
"That tends to happen when you've been hit by a car," a voice broke through the darkness. The voice wasn't threatening but it definitely wasn't kind.
It was then, as Haley shot to attention, that she finally took in her surroundings. It was night, or just simply dark, and she was sitting in the middle of one of Tree Hill's riverfront roads. How did I…but her thoughts trailed off when images of her accident came flooding back; Brooke, their fight, the car, and then darkness.
"Who are you?" Haley asked while continuing to scan the abandoned street looking for any sign of her companion. Finally her eyes settled upon the lone figure of a man sitting on the curb.
"I'm hurt," the man feigned insult while rising to his feet. "She doesn't even recognize her own son."
"Jamie," Haley gasped, he was the last person she expected to see.
He finally came close enough for Haley to recognize him. He was clearly an older version of her son, if the fact that he was the perfect mixture of the Scotts' and Davis' gene pool wasn't a sign then it was definitely the attitude that gave him away.
Haley rose to her feet before the very adult version of her son. "How'd this happen?" She asked softly not being able to wrap her mind around anything that was going on.
"We have you to thank for that," Jamie spat. He knew that he wasn't sent here to yell and berate his mom but he wasn't going to let the chance escape him. He was going to make sure that his mom knew the extent of his displeasure of being put in this very situation, no child should have to go through this with their parent.
"Don't forget the venom while you're at it," Haley retorted. She was clueless as to how she'd gotten here, where ever 'here' was, or why she was here and that, in her mind, gave Jamie no right to be flippant with her.
"Well excuse me for being insensitive about this entire situation but I have every right to be pissed about all of this," Jamie said flailing his arms in the directions of the vacant street.
"And what exactly is the 'situation'?" Haley asked hand on the hip and eyebrow raised. She wanted an explanation and she wanted one now.
"That's all up to you to figure out before we even get to go on our lovely journey together," the sarcasm oozing from Jamie's voice. He wanted to tell her, he wanted this whole journey to get started. Jamie knew in his heart that the only way for life to get back on track was for Haley to understand just how important she was.
"And how the hell am I supposed to do that?" Haley asked with an aggravated sigh. This whole cryptic thing that Jamie had going on was getting on her last nerves not to mention her already splitting headache.
"Gee I don't know…why don't you use that 'Tutor Girl' brain of yours and figure it out. Or did that all go to waste with your rock star life?"
"James Davis Scott!" Haley yelled having had enough of her son's attitude. "You are never to speak to me like that again! I don't care that you're an adult!"
"Sorry," Jamie mumbled at hearing his mother's outburst. The anger and hurt swirling throughout Haley's eyes had frightened and saddened him at the same time. He never meant to hurt her with his attitude, he just simply couldn't figure out how to control his own emotions. "I didn't mean it. I'm just…frustrated."
"Apology accepted," Haley accepted upon seeing the regret in her son's posture. "Maybe if you tell me why you're so frustrated I can help you figure out a solution."
"But I can't," Jamie sighed while bowing his head, if it were only that easy. "You have to come to that conclusion on your own."
"And like I asked before, how am I supposed to do that?" Haley let out an aggravated sigh. This entire conversation was infuriating. How am I supposed to figure out why I'm here when the one person that can tell me isn't allowed to tell me? This has to be someone's sick joke.
"What is the last thing you remember?" Jamie calmly asked, they never said anything about helping her along.
"You mean right before the searing pain being inflicted upon my body from the hood of a car," Haley retorted playfully. Jamie was about to scold her for not taking this situation seriously when he noticed her cocked eyebrow. He shook his head knowingly and let her continue. "I just remember being furious with Brooke for involving you in her plan for payback."
"Ok…but what were you thinking about during your argument?" Jamie coxed knowing that he was close to pulling the answer out of her.
"I don't know," Haley let out an aggravated sigh. Liar, you do know. And she did. She remembered everything about her last encounter with Brooke before her accident; the heartbreak, betrayal, and anger. She had an idea where Jamie was going with this but she didn't want to admit it because admitting it would make everything that much more real.
"C'mon, I know that you know what I'm talking about," Jamie pleaded needing to hear Haley say it.
"I was thinking that everyone would have been better off if I'd never been born," Haley mumbled. Shame washed over her like a wave pulling her out to sea, it was drowning every ounce of her being. Never before had she been so ashamed with herself, not even when she was with Damien. It had been a simple moment of weakness, or so I thought. I was just upset…right? I didn't actually mean it. She didn't want to believe that she had become this weak, weak enough to think that her life didn't matter. But does it really? Everyone would be better off without me.
"No they wouldn't" Jamie sighed regretfully, I really am going to have to go through this with her. He saw the questioning swirling through his mother's eyes. "I can hear your thoughts," he mumbled knowing that he was in for a rude awakening.
"You what?" Haley practically screamed.
"Before you go freaking out let me explain," Jamie interrupted not wanting to go through another bought with his mom. "The only reason that I can hear your thoughts is to help you, not to invade your privacy."
"And how in the hell will the ability to hear my thoughts NOT be an invasion but instead something helpful?"
"Well for starters I'll be able to know when you're ready to go back," Jamie spoke rationally. The anger and frustration was coming off Haley in waves. "And I'll also be able to know if you doubt anything that I'm showing you."
"And why would I doubt anything that you show me?" Haley asked with a huff. This was absolutely beyond bizarre.
"Well why don't we just wait and see?" Jamie said with a snap of his fingers.
With a blink of the eye Haley instantly noticed the change in her surroundings. She was no longer surrounded by the shadows of the riverfront but smack dab in the middle of Tree Hill High.
"Uh Jamie? What're we doing here?" Haley asked not bothering to hide the shock or panic to her voice. She hadn't stepped foot in THH in four years. She used to be royalty in the corridors but now, now she just felt like an outsider.
"This is where our journey begins." Jamie's outstretched arms indicating their surroundings.
"Just peachy," the brunette said gruffly while crossing her arms over her chest. She sat and waited for something to happen; a person to appear, lockers clanging, anything that would indicate that she wasn't trapped in TTH with her son. "Shouldn't there be oh I don't know students wandering the halls?"
"Just be patient," the blonde sighed not appreciating his mother's attitude.
So they waited. Just as Haley was about to protest to their stagnant positions she heard commotion coming from the English wing.
"Ow, ow, ow…" the voice of Lucas Scott could be heard echoing down the hall.
A furious Brooke came flying around the corner dragging Lucas by his ear. She slammed him against a locker, the crash rattling its neighbors.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Lucas screamed at Brooke not caring who his outburst could attract. If it caught the attention of someone that could diffuse this situation the better off he would be. If he knew one thing about Brooke Davis, he knew to never get on her bad side.
"You! You are my problem!" Brooke seethed while angrily poking the blonde in his chest. "Cheating bastards like you are my problem!"
"You're outta your mind," the trapped boy spoke. He attempted to make a break for freedom but was stopped when Brooke shoved him back into the lockers.
"Oh no you don't, you're not getting out of this that easy." Brooke glared at the taller figure, not caring that Lucas was easily a head above her and had at least forty pounds on her. "What the hell do you think you were doing with that slut?"
"This has nothing to do with you Brooke, so just stay the hell outta it!" Lucas shoved past Brooke not caring that he nearly knocked her over.
"She's my best friend! Of course this has to do with me. I won't just sit around and watch you hurt Peyton like this," Brooke hollered after his retreating form. "She deserves better than you."
"Ok, so my brother is a cheating ass, what does that have to do with me?" Haley said with slit eyes. She watched as Lucas continued to walk away un-phased by Brooke's words. The sight before her didn't seem right, hell it didn't even seem plausible in any world.
"He doesn't have anyone that looks up to him."
"Why would that make him cheat on Peyton?" Haley's small voice broke through the silence. Just because I'm not around to look up to him doesn't give him a reason to cheat on Peyton. I know Lucas, he would never be able to betray Peyton like that, he loves her.
"In this world Lucas doesn't feel the need to keep up a good reputation. He doesn't need one anymore. But that doesn't change the fact that he does care for Peyton, Lucas just doesn't see the point in settling down so early in life." Jamie explained knowing that this was just the start of upsetting scenes that were in story for Haley.
Haley just stayed quiet as she tried to process. A small battle broke out in her mind. So what if Lucas is a cheating ass right now, like Jamie said, Lucas still cares about her. It's just a phase. He'll mature and realize that he needs Peyton just as much as she needs him. One side was screaming. So what if he cares about her, once a cheater always a cheater. Just because he still cares about her doesn't mean that he'll grow out of this lifestyle. The cheating will become a habit that he just can't break. Argued a smaller voice, the unsure voice, the voice that knew Haley was important.
Jamie couldn't help but let a small smile slip as he listened to Haley's inner battle. It wasn't much but it was progress and he'd take whatever he could get.
"What d'ya say that we move on?" Jamie asked lightly. He could already see the stress this entire situation was having on him mom and even though he was pissed at her it still pained him to watch her struggle.
"Sure," Haley replied quietly.
Jamie places his hand on Haley's back guiding her towards the double doors just in front of them. They passed through the doors only to be met with the interior of a house that Haley knew all too well. It was practically her second home, the Davis house.
Haley took the lead from there. She wandered around the house taking note that nothing had changed; it was the same house that she had memorized like the back of her hand. Voices coming from the kitchen grabbed her attention. Her feet lead the way as her ears registered that it was Nathan and Brooke.
I wonder if Brooke's found a different Scott to crush on? Haley thought, sending a chill through her spine. If that were the case, she knew that she'd be running out of the house in an instant.
"So what's got you so down in the dumps Hot Shot?" Brooke asked from her seat at the kitchen island.
"Nothing," Nathan sighed from his leaning position against the counter opposite Brooke. There was definitely something on his mind but he wasn't about to tell Brooke, I'd never hear the end of it if I told her.
"Bull," the brunette smirked knowing that there was indeed something bothering her best friend. "I'm your best friend Nate and I can tell when you're hiding something from me so spill."
"I…I just don't know," Nathan ran an aggravated hand through his hair. He knew, he just didn't know how to explain. He looked up and met Brooke's eyes for the first time and saw the concern held in them. "I guess I'm just tired of this image that I've gotten myself into."
"Hot Shot?" Brooke asked with the utmost confusion.
"That's part of it. Not the basketball part of it but the insinuation about my love life. I mean I used to love it, the prospect of getting a new girl every night was something that I craved but recently…" he let out another sigh as he saw some comprehension enter Brooke's eyes. "Recently I've realized that I want more. I want more than just a one night stand with some stranger. I want to do the whole couple-y thing with someone; the wooing, the date, the…the commitment."
"Wow," Brooke let out with a breath. She never thought she'd see the day that Nathan Scott wanted to settle down. That's a lie, she knew that she would see the day she just figured that it would be in their junior or senior year of college when it was close to being in the real world.
"Is that a good 'wow' or bad 'wow'?" Nathan asked tentatively.
"It's a good 'wow', kinda unexpected but good," Brooke gave a comforting smile. "I'm proud of you Nate. You're turning out to be a great guy, well not that you weren't before you're just turning into an even better guy." Nathan gave her an appreciative smile. "But boy are the girls of THH going to be upset when Nathan 'Hot Shot' Scott is off the market. I can see the river of tears now."
"Very funny, you're a regular comedian," Nathan deadpanned.
"I know, right! If soccer doesn't work out for me at least I have a back up."
"I wouldn't count on that," Nathan chuckled.
"Excuse me? What did you just say?" Brooke glared daggers at the now hysterical Nathan.
"Don't quit…your day job," Nathan panted out.
"You are so in…"
"C'mon Rachel! Please can we just talk about this?" Jake begged as he followed a very pissed off Rachel who had come storming through the back door.
"No! No we can't talk about this! Because hopefully 'this' won't ever become something!" Rachel said gesturing towards herself.
"Is everything alright?" Brooke asked hoping that her interruption would stop the inevitable screaming match.
"No!" Rachel yelled at Brooke. She couldn't believe that this was happening to her. We were careful! How the hell could we let this happen? "Nothing will ever be alright."
"If we just talked about it then we could make it," Jake suggested in a softer tone hoping that Rachel would calm down.
"Talking about it won't make anything better! Talking about it won't stop me from being pregnant! Talking about it won't make this situation go away!" Rachel screamed before storming off further into the Davis household. She completely ignored Brooke and Nathan's shocked and bewildered faces.
Jake let out a defeated sigh. Well that's not how I had planned on telling everyone. He looked up and met the faces of his sister and friend only being able to muster a shaky smile before going after his girlfriend.
"So what? Rachel's pregnant; that still happened in my world," Haley spoke matter-of-factly. I don't see the big deal, well I don't see how Rachel's pregnancy has anything to do with me.
"It's not the pregnancy that is affected by you, not matter what world you're in Rachel was destined to get pregnant. It's her reaction that has to do with your existence," Jamie explained.
"And how the hell is my existence even remotely related to Rachel's pregnancy? I wasn't even around when she found out about her pregnancy the first time." Haley asked with a triumphant look. She knew that she had caught Jamie on this one, there's no way he can justify this one.
"You may not have been there but your existence was the reason for Rachel's calmer reaction," Jamie started. "If it hadn't been for her and Jake's break Rachel never would've realized how much she loved Jake. It the time that she was separated from Jake she was able to grow up and understand just how much he mattered to her and how much she had taken him for granite in your world. In this world she never got that chance. To her, in this world, Jake is still just her boyfriend not the guy she wants to spend the rest of her life with."
"So you're trying to tell me that because Jake never had the opportunity to stand up for Brooke during the whole Chase debacle Rachel doesn't realize that she wants to spend the rest of her life with him?" Haley asked skeptically. This Rachel/Jake pregnancy is pushing things. I kinda understood the whole "Lucas" is a cheating bastard but this is too far out there.
"Think what you want but Jake and Rachel needed that break from each other," Jamie said.
"Whatever," Haley simply scoffed.
"Well that's…unexpected," Nathan sighed. The thought of Rachel being pregnant was crazy to say the least. Rachel was the last person he expected to take to motherhood kindly.
"I wish I could say that I was completely shocked that this happened but I can't, they go at it like rabbits all the time," Brooke said with a gagging noise. "You have no idea how scarring it is to wake up at 2AM to hearing them going at it."
Nathan chuckled. "Well I'm sure that you and Chase pay them the same favor."
"Yea," Brooke said with a lowered gaze. Too bad I don't even wanna be with him.
"Hey," Nathan said while taking steps towards his best friend. "What's going on? Is everything alright between you and Adams?"
"Actually, we're not together anymore."
"What?" Nathan couldn't believe what he was hearing. Brooke and Chase had been dating since freshman year, they were the 'It' couple at THH. "What happened?"
Brooke shrugged. What did happen? Oh that's right, you realized that you like girls. "I just realized that he's not what I want anymore."
"But that's crazy! How can you not want him after three years?" Nathan asked not understanding anything that was coming out of his friend's mouth.
"Back off!" Brooke growled. She knew that she was being irrational for snapping at Nathan but her defenses were up. It was hard enough trying to sort out her feelings, she didn't need Nathan's added stupidity to deal with. "It's been a long time coming. It's been like this for three months."
"What's been like this for three months?" Nathan asked hoping that he could help the brunette out.
"I just…you wouldn't understand."
"Try me," Nathan said with what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
"Just promise me that you won't freak out," Brooke asked with hopeful eyes. She watched as Nathan nodded his head in confirmation. Here goes nothing. "I'm gay."
Silence filled the kitchen as Nathan processed what Brooke was telling him. She's gay. My best friend is gay. Brooke likes girls. Brooke has liked girls for three months. Brooke broke up with Chase because she likes girls. At that thought Nathan couldn't help but hide his smile. Ha, Adams is gonna be pissed when he finds out Brooke dumped him because she likes girls. There was no hiding the fact that Nathan Scott didn't like Chase Adams, he only tolerated the prick because Brooke was his best friend.
"I take it by that smile that you're alright with this?" Brooke asked hesitantly.
"Yea, yea I'm definitely alright. Now I'm finally free of being nice to that prick," Nathan beamed at Brooke knowing that she would get a kick out of his reasoning.
"You're so bad," she playfully swatted at his arm.
"What can I say? Never liked the guy, he was never good enough for you anyway," Nathan gave a sincere smile. His smile turned into one of utter delight as a thought crossed his mind. "Now we can talk about all the hot girls!"
"Boys," Brooke sighed with an endearing smile directed at the completely distracted Scott standing before her. He's probably thinking about who we can talk about first. Hmmm hopefully it's Mandy Musgrave…if I ever got the chance, slow down there girl, one step at a time.
"Glad to see that she's come to her senses," Haley smile triumphantly at hearing Brooke's admission.
"I thought that you'd like to see it," Jamie smiled. There was no reason that they needed to see Brooke's admission to being gay, he just figured that it would cheer Haley up.
"Yea, I did like it. Thank you," Haley said sincerely as she looked at Jamie. "One question though, how come Nathan doesn't just ask Mia out on a date?" That was the only thing that bothered Haley about this little 'scene'. She knew that no matter what world she was in, Nathan was never one to not go after what he wanted.
"He's never met her," Jamie started, secretly thrilled that his mom had asked him about Nathan. "Mia met you in music class way before the thought of going to a Ravens' basketball game crossed her mind. If it wasn't for your friendship and kindness, Mia never would've gone to that basketball game. In this world Mia just sticks to music and her friends that she made in class, she never felt the desire to experience the rush of a basketball game that you had described to her."
The voices were starting up again. All of this is coincidental. Everything could work out in the end. It's not because you're not alive. One voice said, but Haley could hear the weakness behind it. It was more hushed and muffled. They need you. You're the glue that holds them together. You're their missing piece. Everything would be better if you were alive. The other voice argued. This voice had grown in strength from her previous inner battle. But if anything, it held equal power as its counterpart.
"You wanna move on?" Jamie asked. He too had noticed the change in the force behind Haley's battle. She's starting to get it.
"Lead the way," Haley waved her hand in front of them.
Haley dutifully followed Jamie as he walked towards one of the first floor guest rooms. When he gestured to the door she assumed that there was going to be another scene on the other side. Hopefully it's a good one.
"Chase I'm sorry I just don't love you anymore," Brooke sighed knowing that he wasn't going to go away easily. She had known for a while that she didn't love Chase, that she could never love Chase. He just wasn't what she wanted anymore. No guy was what she wanted anymore.
"C'mon Brooke, you know we're good together," Chase practically begged as he advanced towards her looking for some sympathy from the brunette. He had followed her into the empty guest bedroom knowing this was the only chance he'd get to try and talk some sense into the stubborn brunette. He wasn't going to let Brooke go without a fight.
"Seriously Chase, back off," Brooke spat but that didn't deter his advancement.
"She said back off Adams!" Nathan growled from the doorway. He had been watching Brooke the entire night knowing that something was bothering her. The moment he spotted Chase following her he knew that something was up. "Or do you need to be personally escorted from the party?" He asked with a series of cracking knuckles.
Chase slinked out of the room knowing that if he wanted to survive not just the night but the rest of high school he needed to at least stay off Nathan's bad side.
"Finally," Brooke sighed while taking a seat on the bed shortly followed by Nathan.
"Why so glum?" Nathan asked softly while wrapping a reassuring arm around her shoulders. He could sense that something was bothering her but he didn't understand what. She had told him she was gay earlier and he had immediately noticed a weightlessness to her attitude that hadn't been there in over three months. But for the life of him he couldn't understand why she was sad, she was finally free from her loser boyfriend, there's nothing stopping her now.
"Why couldn't you be a girl?" She asked with a crooked smile which Nathan just had a full hearted laugh at. "Don't laugh," Brooke pouted. "My life would be perfect if you were a girl." She glared at Nathan as he tried and failed to withhold his laughter. "I know that if you were a girl I'd definitely go after you, it only makes sense…us being best friends and all."
"Yea and I'm pretty sure that my mom was banking on that for us in this form," Nathan said with a smile while giving Brooke's shoulders a squeeze.
"Yea she can count that out. Oh I know what would be better, if you had a hot sister." Her mind wandered to what a Scott sister could possibly look like, definitely a hottie.
"Like I'd let you near any sister of mine," Nathan snorted at the thought. Images of Brooke chasing after a young girl around his house just kept popping through his mind.
"Like you'd let anyone else near her," she gave her best friend a look. She could just picture Nathan building a Rapunzel tower in his backyard where his sister would remain until he found her a proper suitor.
"True…but if you really wanna take up this matter you should ask my parents why they decided to stop at two." Nathan couldn't help but smile at the thought of a little sister. Sure he would definitely be the over protective brother type but it would've still been cool to know what it was like.
"I really don't understand why they stopped with you two. You would think that they'd want to have one successful child," Brooke smirked while swiftly getting up from her seat and running towards the door.
"You're sooooo gonna regret that Davis!" Nathan yelled as he tried to find the brunette in the sea of teens.
"I get what you're saying," Haley whispered with her head bent. She had seen the heartbroken look in both Brooke's and Nathan's eyes when they were talking about another Scott child. That should be me. They shouldn't have to wonder what life would be like, they should know.
"You may think you understand what I'm saying but you won't really know until you can live it," Jamie said with a smile. His mother was finally starting to understand how important she was to everyone around her and he couldn't be happier. With any luck things would be better than they were when Haley finally woke up.
"What're you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you finally fully understanding how important you are to everyone."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Haley asked almost defiantly. She had seen what Jamie was trying to show her by visiting everyone in her life. There was nothing else that he could do that would show her how much her life mattered.
"Like this," Jamie said as he placed his hands on Haley's shoulders and shoved her out the door to the guest room.
Haley watched with mild displeasure as her adult son pushed her. Real mature Jamie. The guest room door shut just as her body staggered backwards clear of the doorway. "Can't even face me after that little stunt," she muttered under her breath while reaching for the door knob. But she found nothing behind the closed door; Jamie was nowhere in sight.
"What the…" but she trailed off when she felt someone's presence behind her. Haley spun around expecting to see Jamie's playful smirk but was startled to find that it wasn't Jamie standing behind her but Lucas Scott.
"Can I help you?" Lucas asked to the startled blonde. He'd never seen her around the high school or town. She was hot and he wanted a chance to get to know her and seeing she wasn't from around town was a plus, there was no way she could know about his situation with Peyton.
Haley quickly, and not so discreetly, looked over her shoulders to see if there was someone in the guest bedroom that she had over looked. To no avail the room was still empty.
"You can see me?" She asked in disbelief.
Lucas let out a hearty laugh to the petite blonde standing before him. "Sounds like you've had a little too much of the punch." When he noticed the scowl the blonde was giving him he quickly tried to back track. "Of course I can see you, how could I miss a beauty like you?"
"Gross," Haley gagged as she pushed past Lucas. This was getting weird, as if it wasn't weird before. An involuntary shiver ran through Haley's body at the thought that Lucas was hitting, lamely I might add, on her.
Haley mindlessly maneuvered through the throng of teens that occupied the Scott house. What's going on? Why can people see me now? And where the fuck is Jamie? Just breathe Haley, head for the door without being seen. With a thud Haley walked straight into a rather large and strong body. With a horrified look she met the gaze of none other than Nathan Scott, so much for getting out of here without being noticed.
"Sorry," she mumbled while trying to sidestep her brother.
"No problem," Nathan smiled warmly down at the seemingly frightened girl. He noticed her sidestep and matched it. He'd seen Lucas talking to her and his curiosity was getting the best of him; he needed to find out if the rumors about his brother's cheating ways were true. "Where are you off to in such a rush?"
"Reality," Haley sighed, why can't I just wake up? I get it now Jamie, I really do. When nothing happened an aggravated sigh befell her lips. Well I might as well enjoy this while it lasts, right? Nothing like being back in high school to put everything back into perspective.
"What?"
"Never mind, so why are you so interested in what I'm up to?" Haley asked with a smirk. She knew that Nathan had much better things to be doing at a party like this than asking the partygoers what they were up to.
Nathan gave a smirk of his own, spunk, I like her already. "Fine, you caught me, I do have an ulterior motive. I was just wondering what that guy over there was talking to you about?" He pointed to where Lucas was now sulking near the makeshift dance floor.
"If you want to call his failed attempt at flirting talking then be my guest," Haley responded, venom oozing throughout her tone.
"Damn," Nathan breathed while running a troubled hand through his hair. I guess that answers my questions. I really hope Peyton doesn't know.
"You should tell her," Haley started. She saw the puzzled look that Nathan gave her and continued. "His girlfriend. You should tell her that he cheats on her." Even though she knew Peyton would be crushed to find out that Lucas was cheating on her, she knew that it would be a thousand times worse if Peyton found out that her friends were hiding the truth from her.
"How do you know about Lucas and Peyton? I've never seen you around here before?" Nathan couldn't hide his bewildered tone.
"I just…things get around," Haley smiled sadly. She could see how much stress this situation was bringing Nathan and it pissed her off. In her reality Lucas would never dream of cheating on Peyton; she just wished that this Nathan could know that. The inner battle Nathan was fighting was obvious to Haley. "Just forget about your troubles for tonight and deal with it tomorrow. Why let a good party go to waste."
"I like your thinking," he smiled a genuine smile, a smile that had escaped his lips since he first heard about his brother's infidelity. "So how come I've never seen you around here before?"
"I'm not usually into the party scene." Haley went for the easy route.
"So what makes tonight special?" Nathan grabbed two cups and handed one to the blonde.
"I don't know, I guess I just thought that I'd live a little," oh the irony. "I'm Haley by the way."
"Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Nathan Scott and welcome to the party," he said with a cheeky grin. If Lucas struck out she'll never be able to resist my charm.
"Save it," Haley playfully glared at her smug brother. Should've figured that Nathan would make a move. "You're wasting your time. You're not my type."
"And what would your type be?" He asked trying to save face and his ego. It was a rare occurrence that both Scott brothers struck out on the same girl. If they didn't like Lucas' broody emotional character then they loved Nathan's confident jock.
"I'd take her over you any day," Haley said with her smirk still plastered on her lips while pointing towards a certain brunette that was glaring at Nathan with envy. She had to restrain the laughter that was threatening to escape her throat. Awwww! Brooke looks so cute when she's jealous.
"Ah, I see that my best friend Brooke has caught your eye," he remarked. He too saw the daggers that Brooke was shooting in his direction. Making a very discreet 'come here' head nod, Nathan smiled at Brooke hoping that she would get the hint.
"Hey Nathan," Brooke greeted nonchalantly. She wanted to play this cool. This girl would be the first one she attempted to hit on and she was a bundle of nerves.
Brooke had instantly noticed the petite blonde when she emerged from the spare bedroom. She half expected to see one of her peers following her but was pleasantly relived when no one else popped out of the room. But seeing the blonde turning down both Scott brothers left her with hope. Even if she is straight she'd be a perfect friend in my book.
"And who is this gorgeous being that…"
"Quit the sweet talk and ask me to dance already," Haley smiled when both Nathan and Brooke's jaws nearly dropped to the floor. She raised a questioning eyebrow when Brooke didn't make a move. "Well c'mon."
Haley grabbed Brooke's hand and dragged the practically motionless brunette until they were well integrated with the rest of the dancers. "If We Ever Meet Again" by Timbaland and Katy Perry came blasting through the speakers. Haley started to move her body to the rhythm hoping to coax Brooke out of the statue she'd become.
Haley moved closer to Brooke hoping that the feeling of their bodies close would snap Brooke out of her trance. "You just gonna stand there or are you gonna dance with me?" She whispered into Brooke's ear. She could see the obvious shiver run through the brunette's body and smiled, I still got it.
Finally! Haley cheered when she felt Brooke's hands rest on her hips. It was tentative and so junior high but it was a step in the right direction in Haley's book.
"Sorry," Brooke mumbled shyly after she finally started to move to the music. This girl was such a mystery to her and not just her identity. The feelings that the blonde was able to evoke sent Brooke to new heights but she had absolutely no idea how that was possible after knowing her for all of a minute, Chase never made me feel anything close to this and I've known him for years! She wasn't simply dancing with the petite girl, it felt like she was floating, the solid world around her just faded away, and she liked it. "You just caught me off guard back there."
"I guess you could say that I just go for what I want," Haley smiled when she saw the blush spread across Brooke's cheeks. Ok that's it, when I wake up my new mission: make Brooke blush all the time. The waves of sadness from earlier were coming back tenfold. Yes she had missed Brooke while watching her during her little adventure with Jamie but being able to experience the simple things; her blush, smile, dimples, touch, smell, just everything that Brooke Davis was brought back her love and dedication for the brunette. It didn't matter what she went back to, she was going to fight for Brooke. "But I suppose that I could've waited for the cheesy pick up line that I'm sure you were moments away from uttering."
"There was no cheesy pick up line!" Brooke scoffed at the audacity that this girl had at mocking her flirting.
"Oh really?" Haley smirked. This lightness between them was absolutely amazing; it felt like they truly were back in high school pre-Chase debacle. "Well then would you care to enlighten your dance partner of what you were going to say?"
The nerve! Brooke playfully scowled at her partner. Crap! It was cheesy.
Haley saw Brooke's face drop and chuckled. "Did someone just realize that their pick up line was a train wreck?"
"Fine," Brooke grumbled as she rested her forehead against the blonde's shoulder. The funny thing, she didn't even know the girl's name but she felt comfortable enough to be her goofball embarrassed self like they had known each other forever. "My line was cheesy and a turn off but in my defense it was my first attempt at flirting with a girl."
"And it was a very noble attempt, Brooke," Haley smiled when she met Brooke's gaze. "Too bad I'm the impatient type."
"Now here you are using my name like we know each other and I don't even know your name," she smiled at the blonde trying to save face. She already admitted that she wasn't great at opening lines but if she could prove that she could maintain a flirtatious conversation she had a shot with the blonde.
"I'm Haley."
"Well it's nice to put a name to a gorgeous being." Brooke's thousand watt smile shone through as Haley laughed at her line. "At least I can make you laugh."
"Always," Haley whispered before ducking her head at her slip up.
"What?" Brooke tilted her head lower so she could try and make eye contact with the downtrodden girl.
"Nothing," she smiled back at Brooke. She wasn't going to let her memories mess things ups, at least not tonight.
Being bold, the nerves that she was feeling earlier having vanished, Brooke pulled Haley into her body finally letting her senses the joy of being filled by everything that was Haley. This girl was like nothing she had ever experienced before. She was soft yet powerful, there was this force behind the blonde that was mysterious and intriguing. The rhythm that Haley was setting was absolutely intoxicating. Brooke's knees had almost let out when she first fully felt Haley's hips moving with her own, it was so natural and in sync, like we're meant for each other.
"Better," Haley mumbled into Brooke's ear. She could feel the confidence coming back to Brooke in waves. "Oh great."
"What?" Brooke questioned. She heard the contempt in Haley's voice and didn't like it one bit. What could possibl…oh fuck! She let out an aggravated sigh as she watched Chase approach them. "Just let me handle him." She waited for Haley's approving nod before she stood between her date and her ex.
"What do you want Chase?" She spat. He fucking left the party! And if he knew what was good for him he would've kept it that way.
"Is this why you dumped me?" Chase seethed. He couldn't believe the scene that he had been unfolding before him. His girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, whatever the hell she was had dumped him for a chick. Not in my lifetime! "Because you decided to test you sexuality and chase some skirt!"
THWAK! And Chase was looking up at Brooke from his place on the floor while holding his jaw. "I don't know who the fuck you think you are but you have no right to come around here and talk to me like that!" Brooke screamed over the music not caring who heard. She had dealt with Chase's shit for long enough, it was time that she stood up for herself. "And don't you dare talk about Haley that way!"
"You've certainly got a pair, I'll give you that," Chase snickered as he pulled himself to his feet. Taking a quick glance at Haley he smirked. "I do have to say you have good taste in sluts."
Brooke was winding up to lay another fist across Chase's smug face when another fist beat hers to it. She watched as Chase flew backwards ten feet knocking into several of her peers before he stumbled to the floor.
"I thought I told you to get the hell outta here," Nathan growled while towering over Chase. "That doesn't mean to terrorize my best friend because she dumped your sorry ass." Chase was about to rebut but stopped when he saw Lucas come racing over to aid his brother.
"Fuck all of you!" Chase yelled before running out of the Davis house.
"Dick…"
"Jerk…" Nathan and Lucas growled at the same time.
"Hey Brooke are you…" but Nathan trailed off as he saw Haley leading Brooke towards the kitchen. Without another word he followed the two wanting to make sure with his own eyes that Brooke was ok.
He reached the kitchen to find Brooke with her hand running under the water and what he presumed to be Haley rummaging through the freezer. He watched with rapt attention as this new girl doted over Brooke like she had done it a thousand times before.
Haley had found a bag of frozen peas and quickly wrapped it in a dish towel. "Gimme." Haley commanded while pointing to Brooke's swelling hand.
Brooke quirked her eyebrow while obeying Haley's order and held out her hand for it to only be grabbed by the caring blonde. She watched with rapt attention as Haley examined her slightly bloodied knuckles with a quizzical look. What's so intriguing about a post-punch fist? "Ow," Brooke hissed when Haley applied the bag of peas. No matter how many times she got injured during a game or everyday life Brooke hated the pain.
"Baby."
"Excuse me!"
"You heard me," Haley chided while waving her finger at Brooke. "It's what you get for going around punching guys bigger than you." What on earth possessed her to think that she could take on Chase? The girl is nuts.
"He had no right to talk about you like that," she grumbled in response not seeing why Haley was so upset with her. She was simply defending her honor and now she was getting all pissy and judgmental.
"That still gives you no right to go after a guy like Chase. He could've pummeled you," Haley whispered while bowing her head; just the thought of Brooke getting attacked by Chase made her cringe, she could still clearly remember how sore her cheek was after he punched her.
Brooke looked up from her hand at the change in Haley's voice. Even though it was just a whisper, Brooke could hear every ounce of fear and that was unsettling beyond anything that she had ever experienced. She'd taken note that Haley had bowed her head but for the life of her she couldn't understand why. How can this amazing girl come to care so much about me this quickly? It didn't seem natural but at the same time it warmed her heart to no end.
Without hesitating Brooke raised her uninjured hand and lifted Haley's chin so she could look the blonde in the eyes. She was startled to see tears brimming Haley's eyes.
"Hey," Brooke whispered while wiping a stray tear that had fallen. "Shhh, there's no reason to cry. It's just a couple scratches nothing serious."
"But it could've been so much more," Haley whispered, not being able to trust the strength of her voice. She knew that any slip up could give away what she'd been through, how she'd gotten there and missing out on this precious time with Brooke but she couldn't hold in her emotions. Yea she knew that it was a stupid scuffle but the possibility of Brooke getting hurt just pushed her over the edge. It was like she was back in the street, heartbroken but willing to risk everything for Brooke wishing that she would be the one to suffer the pain instead of her girlfriend.
Without even thinking Brooke wrapped the disheveled blonde into her arms, the desire to protect the blonde overpowered any social restraint that dictated that feelings this strong shouldn't be forming so fast. She was relieved when Haley didn't protest, her heart fluttered when Haley hugged back with the same vigor as Brooke.
Nathan watched the scene before him unfold. All logic was failing him as he tried to figure out how things could possibly be happening this fast. Haley had just appeared out of nowhere and in a matter of half an hour it seemed that she had stolen Brooke's heart. The rational side told him that this attachment wasn't good but the irrational side couldn't contain the happiness that Brooke had finally found someone who clearly cared deeply for her.
Deciding to give the girls some space, Nathan went into the other room telling everyone that the party was over. There were some protests but the majority of people understood that if they were to stay on Nathan Scott's good side that they would vacate the residence as soon as possible.
"She's something else," Rachel commented when she came to stand beside Nathan after the party guests had left. They both just watched as Haley went back to doting on Brooke's injury after her mini breakdown.
"She sure is," Nathan smiled. "Is it strange to think that she's the missing piece to everything?"
Rachel turned to look at Nathan. She could see the confusion swirling through his eyes but she could also see longing. It wasn't the kind of longing one would display towards a lover but a longing of a brother to a sister or a friend to a friend. "Nah, I think she is the missing piece."
"What'd ya think we go start the fire, for old time's sake?" Jake asked while he slid his arms around Rachel's waist. Shortly after Rachel had spotted Lucas talking to a strange blonde, who she now knew was Haley, she came to her senses and knew that she never wanted Jake to be with another girl. She'd immediately sought him out and apologized for going off on him. Despite what was in store for them with the pregnancy she knew that if she had Jake then everything would work out in the end.
"I think that's a great idea," Nathan shot Rachel a grateful smile before he led the way to the backyard fire pit. "We're gonna start the fire when you two feel like joining," Nathan said in passing to the new couple.
"Fire?" Haley asked while tilting her head to the side. In her previous 'life' they never had fires. Well there was usually a bonfire going on during the party but the moment the party was over it was extinguished and everyone usually hung out in the entertainment room.
"Yea, just a little something that we do after parties," Brooke smiled while taking Haley's hand and leading her to the back patio where the fire pit was located. Haley dutifully followed wanting to see this side of life before her.
They were the last to arrive. The fire was blazing as the group was immersed in chit chat. Haley couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face. Lucas and Peyton were talking, not yelling, but actually talking to each other seemingly sorting out there issues. Rachel and Jake were snuggled together as they talked with Nathan and Mia who had joined the group. I guess Nathan found Mia after all. Her heart swelled, this is how it should be. But why am I not back in my body? I finally get it Jamie, I really do, they need me just as much as I need them.
Brooke had taken a seat in one of the Adirondack chairs the surrounded the fire. She watched with amusement as Haley started to walk in front of her intending on taking the vacant one next to her. Not if I have anything to say about it. She quickly reached up and grabbed Haley's hips effectively stopping her before pulling the smaller girl into her lap.
Haley let out a slight squeak at the sudden gesture but immediately settled into Brooke's lap letting out a content sigh while nestling her head between Brooke's neck and shoulder. A shared sigh of contentment escaped both girls' lips when Brooke tightened her hold around Haley's waist. Neither one realizing that they had gained the attention of the entire group.
The attraction between the two was as blatant as the side of a building, there was no denying that Haley was the missing piece to everything right in their world.
Haley started to play with Brooke's hand. She idly traced random shapes in Brooke's palm not having a care in the world. She was with the woman of her dreams, the love of her life, and nothing was going to stop her from enjoying every second of it. Without even realizing what she was doing, Haley continuously spelled out 'MINE' on Brooke's palm.
Finally realizing what Haley was saying Brooke turned her head to meet Haley's gaze. "Really?" She whispered softly in awe.
"Always," Haley smiled sweetly before moving the couple inches that separated her lips from Brooke's. The kiss was soft, innocent but most importantly quick.
Before she knew what was happening, Haley was being pulled from Brooke. She could still feel Brooke beneath her but it was like something was pulling her mind from the situation. Her body was staying but her conscious was vacating the scene, taking her away. It was the worst case of the spins that she had ever experience but when she finally came to she was awake. But not just awake, she was conscious of everything going on around her; the rapidly beeping machines, the tubes, her headache, all of it. But the thing she was most aware of, she was back and there was nothing stopping her from winning Brooke back.
That's the end for chapter 10.
I am terribly terribly sorry for this wait. I know that it may not have been worth it to some but it was worth it to me.
This is the longest update/story/chapter that I've ever written. I guess it's my apology for delaying so long.
I don't know how much longer this story is gonna be. I'm thinking that there may be a few more chapters after this one and then Far Away will be complete.
Hope you enjoyed!
=D