A.N: Hey Guys! Here is Chapter 2. I can't believe how many reviews I got for the prologue...24! Thank you soooo much!! You put such a smile on my face!! I even wrote all day!! If I get lots of reviews for this chapter I'll update Saturday.
Anyways, concerning the couples question it's mainly a Naley story .The other love stories are really secondary but yeah it's Leyton (sorry for the Brucas which I am) as for Brookie well…I want to keep it a secret a while longer.
Thanks again for the amazing reviews. The song used in this chapter is Only fooling myself by Kate Voegele.
Take care xoxo.
Chapter 2: Only fooling myself.
Haley drove home alone, since Lucas left with Nathan and Brooke was going shopping with Peyton. Haley didn't even know how she succeeded to get out of it but was happy nonetheless. She smiled parking her car in the driveway but frowned in surprise when she saw her mother's car there.
Why isn't she at the café? Haley thought confused. Her mother had opened a cafe called Karen's café when her and Lucas were 2. The three often joked it was her third child.
"Mom are you okay?" Haley questioned worriedly, walking into the house.
"Haley baby is that you?" Asked Karen from the bedroom.
Haley went to her mother's bedroom. "Is everything ok?" She asked seeing her mother's head in the closet.
"Yeah I'm fine baby." Said Karen with a bright smile. "Tell me which one do you prefer?" She asked showing her daughter two dresses.
"I like them both mom. You're gorgeous." Said Haley sitting on her mother's bed. "What's the occasion?" She asked curiously.
"Aww you're sweet baby." Said Karen nicely. "You forgot huh?" Karen laughed. "Gosh you're so responsible but sometimes you seem so far away."
"I love Lala land ma…" Said Haley seriously. "All my dreams come true there."
"They will come true eventually." Said Karen feeling sorry for her daughter. "I'm going to this Tree Hill charity event with Uncle Dan and Aunt Deb. You know I own a business in Tree Hill and…" She shrugged. "It won't look good if I don't go." Added Karen grimacing.
"Oh that's fine!" Said Haley throwing her hands up in the air like it wasn't a big deal. "I'll take care of the café tonight." She added standing up. "There's never that many people on Mondays so don't worry and plus I don't have a social life so..." Added Haley kissing her mothers cheek loudly.
"You sure?" Asked Karen frowning. "I'm sure your brother forgot about tonight too but I can give him a call and ask him to help you."
"No it's fine!" said Haley. "Plus I won't be alone Brookie will keep me company."
"Okay," said Karen looking at her dresses again. "So…did you think about applying to the program in Europe?" She asked a bit more seriously.
"Yeah…" Said Haley turning around; she was about to leave the bedroom. "I mailed my application on my way home from school." She said playing with her gold pinkie ring.
Karen nodded. "That's good baby." She said sincerely. "If it's really what you want to do I hope you get it." She added looking at her daughter with a smile.
Haley smiled back. "Yeah…" She said before changing subjects. "You better hurry if you want to be fully dressed when Uncle Dan pick you up…And I'd go with the black one if I were you," added Haley laughing.
Haley felt guilty because she didn't know if she wanted to be accepted to the program. A small part of her wished that her application would be rejected so she wouldn't have to make a choice. It would be perfect; the choice would be made for her.
Haley went to her bedroom to grab some books to take with her to the café so she could get some homework done while working. I am really a dork! She thought to herself taking her bag and leaving the house.
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Haley was cleaning a table at the café when she heard a car horn. Haley looked up and saw three people smiling and waving at her. Haley smiled and waved back before going back to wiping the table.
In the car were Dan, Deb, and her mother. Dan and Deborah Scott were not her real Uncle and Aunt, but they took over the role over the years. Dan Scott was her father's best friend; he was also Lucas' godfather. When Keith died Dan somehow took over the fatherly figure, mostly for Lucas but a little bit for Haley. That's how Nathan and Lucas became best friends, almost like brothers because they couldn't be more different… At least in appearance because Haley knew Nathan's heart and she loved the real him not the fake image he gave the rest of the school.
Haley sighed and sat near the register after she made herself some hot chocolate, swirling the liquid with a spoon and spacing out.
She knew Nathan was basically a sad person inside. Dan was really nice with Lucas, Karen, and her but she could see that he had very high expectations for Nathan and with an absentee mother Nathan wasn't the luckiest guy in the world. Nathan was never good enough in his fathers' eyes. Haley knew that she would heal his heart but he didn't want her, she was just baby J, his best friend's baby sister, his tutor…nothing more, not even a friend. A tear slipped out on her cheek before she could stop it and she hastily dried it.
"Still thinking about him huh?" Asked someone sitting beside her.
Haley jumped with surprise. "Ahh!" She screamed." Peyton! You scared the Hell out of me!" Added Haley placing her hand on her chest and trying to calm down.
"Sorry…" Said Peyton sincerely. "I just finished shopping with Brooke…Thank you for letting me down by the way," she added nudging the other girl before giving her a smile.
"I had to…" Said Haley showing her the empty café and putting a cup of hot chocolate in front of Peyton.
"So anyways, I was supposed to meet Lucas, but apparently he's doing some kind of NBA live tournament with Nathan and some guys from the team." She said grimacing. "He remembered you had to take care of the café for your mom today so he asked me to check on you." She added with a smile. "You know the whole overprotective brother thingy."
"Gotcha!" Said Haley with a laugh. "But where's my Brookie?" She asked curiously. "I know she can be a pain in a ass while shopping but you didn't kill her did you?" Added Haley jokingly.
"Well…even though I wanted to a couple times I thought about it but no I didn't…" Said Peyton laughing. "Nah, she'll be here soon, she just had to deal with some cheer crisis with Kathleen. She'll be over soon."
"Okay," said Haley nodding. She didn't really know what to say to Peyton. They were friends but not best friends.
"You know…if he hasn't noticed by now how unique and special you are he's not worth it Hales." Added Peyton uncomfortably. It was the first time she had the courage to mention it to her.
"What? Who?" Asked Haley naively.
"Nathan…." Said Peyton looking into her eyes. "You deserve better. "
Haley sighed. "I…Is it that obvious?" Asked Haley slightly ashamed.
"Well…" Peyton shrugged. "It is to me." She said nicely.
"Thanks Peyton…" Said Haley sincerely.
"Hey…don't mention it." Said Peyton standing up. "I need to get back to your brother now. He's waiting for me, you know I need to give him a full report." She added laughing.
"Have fun!" Said Haley smiling.
Brooke came over about 10 minutes later; they spent most of the evening talking about literature. Haley was tutoring her; luckily enough they didn't get bother too much. They only had about 5 costumers all evening.
Brooke decided to spend the night at Haley's.
"Well… I going home picking some stuff and I'll met you back here. We can watch some chick flicks if you want. " Added Brooke on a cheery tone
"Yeah, That's sound fun," said Haley sincerely. "I'll wait for you and clean the place. "
"That's a deal." Said Brooke laughing storming out.
Haley walked to the door and flipped the « close » sign. She walked back to the counter when her eyes stopped on the guitar they had in the café. She took it and sat down.
She started to play…
I stop to catch my breath - And I stop to catch your eye
No need to second-guess - That you've been on my mind
I dream days away, but that's okay -
It's like I want to hear a silent sound - And then hold it in my hand
But a rose won't blossom from a ground - Of desert sand, but I like to pretend that
One day I'll turn around - I'll see your hand reach out
I'm only fooling myself, oh, - But maybe when you smile
It means you'd stay awhile - Just maybe you'd save me now
Well, now it's etched in stone - That I can't survive alone - You have the missing piece
That I need so desperately - Yes, I slip away to a day that'll never come
It's like a splash of water to my face - When I suddenly realize - That you could never find a place
For me in your eyes, and I don't know why I keep thinking
One day I'll turn around - I'll see your hand reach out
I'm only fooling myself, oh, - But maybe when you smile
It means you'd stay awhile - Just maybe you'd save me now
It's love in disguise - I'm lost in your eyes - I'm lost in your eyes
One day I'll turn around - I'll see your hand reach out
I'm only fooling myself, oh, - But maybe when you smile
It means you'd stay awhile - Just maybe you'd save me now - Save me now
Just maybe you'd save me now
"Why do you need to be saved?" Asked a masculine voice behind her.
"What the hell!" Shouted Haley turning around to face Nathan. She was embarrassed being caught by him in such a personal moment. "Why do people keep doing that!" She asked aggressively.
"Sorry…" Said Nathan looking down. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Haley sighed. "Nah don't apologize. I…I just …Never mind." She said forcing a smile. "What can I do for you?" She asked nicely. "Sorry I can't tutor you tonight but I've got some time tomorrow if you want."
"Nah it's fine," he said sitting down. "Lucas is with Peyton and well I wanted to see how you were doing since this morning you know…" He shrugged "you seemed pretty upset and all."
"Don't worry," said Haley with a smile. "Everything's fine I was just a bit tired."
"If you need anything you can tell me you know that right?" Asked Nathan seriously. "You're special to me you know that right ?" He added locking eyes with hers.
"I am?" Asked Haley her heart racing in her chest. I'm special! She squealed in her head.
"Yeah you are! You're my friend, you're my one girl friend and that makes you so special!" Said Nathan proudly.
"Yeah…" Said Haley trying to hide her pain and disappointment out of her eyes and voice. "Okay…I'm not trying to get rid of you, but Brooke will be here any minute and I really need to be done before she gets back."
"Okay…" Said Nathan walking to her and kissing her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow. Have fun!"
"You bet!" Said Haley putting her thumbs up.
Once she made sure Nathan left she put her head on the counter. "Please kill me now…." she whispered to herself before banging it against the counter in frustration.