Author Note: Hey Guys! I was pleased to all the reviews I had for chapter 8. It means so much to me. Here is chapter 9. Okay now the bad news…. I did write 4 more chapters for this story but I'm moving away tomorrow. I'm actually moving from France to Canada so as you can imagine it's going to be harder for me to update for a while but I promise to do my best to update at least once a week.
Thanks again for all your support. That's what keeps me going. You really made these stressing moments easier. I also want to give special thanks to Kelly and Allie, Thanks girlies for always believing in me.
Please don't forget to review this chapter and tell me what you think. I'll try to update again on Sunday or Monday.
Take care of you.
Xoxo, Steffy.
Chapter 9: Just Friends
It was the Monday after the night at TRIC and Nathan had the worse weekend ever. He couldn't stop replaying Friday in his head all over again. He could see Haley's body against Jakes', the way she smiled at him. He wanted to hurt Jake and scream at Haley to not even look at another guy but him.
She wanted me and now she's all over Jake. I guess her love doesn't last that long!! He thought angrily banging the door of his gym locker frustrated and hurt.
"Wow…What happened man?!" Asked Lucas opening his locker besides Nathan. "You didn't succeed to get laid?!" Asked Lucas smiling.
"Hey…Nah that's nothing man…" Said Nathan trying to sound nonchalant. "I just hated today, the classes were worse than usual!"
"Yeah…" Said Lucas unconvinced. "I guess…" He was surprised that Nathan, his best friend, was lying to him. Nathan was a lot of thing but certainly not a liar.
"So…" Said Nathan sitting beside Lucas. "What about your sister? You manage to talk to her?" He asked trying to hide his interest in Haley.
Lucas let out a sarcastic laugh. "My sister…" He said looking straight in front of him. "I'm not even sure I've got a sister…" He said with some sadness in his voice.
"Aww…What happened man?" Asked Nathan patting Lucas' shoulder with concern.
"Can you believe that I barely saw her during the weekend. When I came back on Saturday morning she wasn't there, she was tutoring and then she went to the café to help ma. She spent the afternoon with Brooke and after she spends her whole damn evening talking with Chris…" Said Lucas grimacing. "On this fucking IM thingy." Lucas shook his head. "She didn't listen to a word of what I told her."
"You don't know that… Haley's really caring and she listens to people." Said Nathan nicely. "She even listens to things you say without words." Added Nathan remembering that Haley was the only one to ever mention his issues with his father. She really knew you and she still gave you her heart but you were too full of yourself to notice it! He added to himself crossly.
"Oh I know!" Said Lucas finally looking at Nathan "I was talking for about 15 minutes and she kept saying « uh huh… yeah… right » so I wanted to check if she was listening so I told her that I intended to break up with Peyton because I noticed that I was in love with Tim Smith."
"Oh…." Said Nathan bursting into laugher. "That's sick man! You could find way better than Tim!" Added Nathan jokingly.
"And you know what she said?!" Asked Lucas still with disbelief. "She said « Yeah, that's cool »." Lucas shook his head again. "I gave up and left the room."
"I'm sorry…" Said Nathan sincerely. I hate that Chris guy! He thought jealously. That guy took his place in her head and heart and he wanted to hurt him for that.
"The guy is like 23 or 24 and a musician!" Said Lucas lost in his thoughts. "I talked to mom about it and she said, « Chris is a nice guy Luke your sister is in safe hands with him and trust your sister, she's really mature! »" Lucas sighed. "That's what you call blind faith! I just want her to forget about that guy. " Said Lucas simply.
"Maybe…Maybe I can take her out once or twice." Said Nathan with a shrug trying to be nonchalant and trying to keep his heartbeat steady. "I mean if I take her out the nights she's supposed to chat with that guy maybe he'll give up and she would to." Added Nathan reopening his locker and pretending to be looking for something so Lucas wouldn't see the hope and expectation in his eyes.
Nathan didn't hear anything back and finally decided to look at Lucas. Lucas was just sitting and looking at his shoes.
"You okay man?" Nathan asked resting his back on his locker. "Maybe it wasn't the best idea ever…" He added jokingly while trying to hide the disappointment in his eyes.
"Yeah…" Said Lucas finally looking up again. "I don't want Haley to go out with you. I mean…it took her a trip to Europe to finally get over you and I'd be too scared that she'd fall head over heels for you again." Said Lucas concerned." Plus nobody would believe I will ever let my sister date a guy like you!" Said Lucas with a smile.
"It's up to you man…" Said Nathan hiding the pain he was feeling. He knew that Lucas would never allow his sister to date him but this confirmation still hurt him.
"But if I can't speak to Haley I can still speak to Jake…" Added Lucas still in the course of this thoughts.
Please crush him for me! Thought Nathan feeling a bit better knowing that his friend was going to threaten Jake.
After practice Lucas was talking with coach Whitey while Nathan was chatting with a little group of players including Jake. Nathan wanted to know if Jake was going to mention Haley to anyone.
Once Lucas was finally done with Whitey he turned his attention to the group. "Jagielski I need to have a word with you in private." Said Lucas coldly.
The group parted but Nathan couldn't help but smirk. Jake smirked back and looked at him with defiance.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" He whispered to Nathan stopping beside him. "But just so you know if I can't have her somebody else will and it's certainly not you!" He added with a laugh walking to Lucas and leaving a fuming Nathan in his wake.
Nathan stayed near Whitey's office to have a good look at Lucas' chat with Jake. He couldn't hear a thing but he could see what was happening, Please choke him! Thought Nathan desperatly.
Once the chat was over, Nathan walked to where Lucas was. He was surprised that Jake winked at him when they crossed paths.
Nathan frowned with confusion since he didn't expect Jake to look so happy and shrugged wondering what happened.
"So Man…What did you do?" He asked Lucas "Threaten him?" He added curiously.
"Nah…" Said Lucas laughing. "Who do you think I am? Don Corleone?"
Nathan laughed. "Maybe, nah so?"
"I told him that he could date Haley," Said Lucas simply walking back to the changing rooms.
"Come again?" Asked Nathan taking Lucas' arm to stop him. "I thought you didn't want Haley to date a guy off the team!" Added Nathan with anger interlacing in his voice.
"Hey chill!" Said Lucas frowning with surprise. "Why does it matter to you anyway?" He asked curiously.
Nathan shook his head. "Never mind bro…I'm just surprised that's all." Said Nathan with a slight shrug.
Lucas patted Nathan shoulder. "Let me explain to you…" He said opening his locker. "You know I was about to threaten Jagielski but I thought that he would be the better way for Haley to get over the Chris guy. I mean…" Lucas shrugged and sat on the bench. "Jake's a pretty decent guy, he doesn't date around, he's pretty serious, smart and nice plus I can keep an eye on him." Lucas smiled. "Hales seems to like him so…you see what I mean." He added looking at Nathan.
"Yeah! That's a smart move Luke!" Said Nathan with his best cheery voice. "Pretty impressive."
"Yeah…I guess. We'll have to see how Haley reacts to this." Said Lucas grimacing. "You know…She seems to like him but is it enough for her to date him?…That's another question."
"Yeah!!" Said Nathan a bit too happily then intended.
Lucas frowned looking at him, confused towards his best friends cheery voice.
"Well I'm going to hit the showers." Said Nathan walking away from Lucas as fast as he could. Please Haley say no to him…Just make a sign showing that you still love the real me! He added to himself in a pleading tone.
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
"So…just think Brookie." Said Haley patiently giving a pen to Brooke. "I'm sure you know the answer."
"I don't know…and I don't care!" Said Brooke pouting. "Who needs calculus anyway huh?" She added stubbornly.
Haley laughed and shook her head. They were at the tutor center and she knew that Brooke was and always would be a pain to tutor in calculus but she still loved her best friend. "You need it D. and you know it." Said Haley nicely. "You need it to graduate."
"I know but I don't see why!" Said Brooke playing with her pen. "It's not like I want to be an astronaut or a engineer! I want to work in fashion… " She shook her head vigorously. "I'm Brooke smart not book smart, that makes a big difference!!"
"You've got more in you then you think you do!" Said Haley honestly. "You're smart Brookie never ever doubt about it!" Added Haley.
"You're something…" Said Brooke taking her hand. "You always see something special in people even if there's nothing there."
"That's what makes her unique…" Said Jake walking into the room.
"Hey Jake…How are you?" Asked Haley a bit uncomfortably. She flirted with him a bit more then she intended to on Friday. She did it only to rub it in her brother face that he couldn't control her and she knew it wasn't right.
"I don't know yet…" Said Jake mysteriously. "I'll tell you in a minute. I had a little talk with your brother…" He smiled. "And well…I wanted to ask you out on Friday." He added with a big smile.
"Out?" Asked Haley surprised." Like on a date?" She added stupidly. She didn't know what to say.
Jake burst into laugher while Brooke kick Haley hard under the table.
"Yeah…that's the general idea." Said Jake jokingly keeping his eyes locked on hers.
"Aren't you funny!" Said Brooke slapping Haley's arm.
Haley looked at Brooke with a look saying « hit me one more time and you'll regret it for a long time ». "Yeah that's me the joker!" She finally said to Jake with a smile. "Well…that's very nice of you Jake but…" She started seriously because a voice kept screaming in her head and it was saying Nathan.
"Of course she will!" Said Brooke cutting her off. She looked at Haley with pleading eyes saying, « you promised to give him a shot!! »
Haley looked at Brooke and back at Jake again. She could see that Jake feared a rejection. He actually was a nice guy and a date wasn't too much to ask. Haley nodded positively. "Yeah…Okay…Friday sounds good." She said trying to sound cheerful.
"Great!" Said Jake honestly pleased. He gave a thankful look to Brooke and kissed Haley's cheek. "I can't wait," he said leaving.
Haley just nodded. When she made sure Jake was gone she slapped Brooke's arm.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked slightly angry.
"What's wrong with me?" Asked Brooke with disbelief. "What's wrong with you?" She asked pointing at Haley. "You're holding onto something that's not there! I don't know if you're holding on to this Chris guy in Europe or to your old crush Nathan but you really need to move on Haley. " Added Brooke with tears in her eyes. She was just fed up of watching her best friends life passing her by while she was always caring for someone else then herself.
"I…" Started Haley with surprise; it was the first time that Brooke acted that way with her.
"Let me finish!" Said Brooke not shouting anymore. "Because either way J it ain't worth it! One of them is half way across the globe and with the groupies and all and believe me he isn't celibate! As for Scott well…" She shrugged "He had at least 5 years to give you a chance but he didn't and you promised that you moved on so now I want you to show me!" Added Brooke taking her friends hand. "Please Hales…just give it a try."
"I'm sorry…" Said Haley with tears in her eyes. "You're right I should move forward." She said hugging Brooke tight. "Nathan and I are just friends and I need to stay convinced of that! " She said to both Brooke and herself.
22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Friday night:
"Come on Haley…" Said Brooke with slight annoyance. "Don't you trust me?"
"I do Brookie and you know that but…but I'm not sure about the hair." Said Haley pouting as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I already let you pick the top I'm wearing and do the make up." She added as an excuse.
"I know you did but you're the one who called me right?" Asked Brooke her hands on her hips. "And I maybe don't know much but a lot of things I know are my way around fashion and make up. You did change a lot while in London J and now people can see how beautiful you are. I just made you insanely stunning that's all. " Said Brooke clapping her hands together. "I'm supper excited! It's your first official date ever!!" She squealed.
Haley laughed and looked at her own image in the mirror. Brooke curled her hair lightly, and she was wearing a beautiful emerald green low-neck shirt, which fit her like a second skin, with her low waist black jeans and high heel leather boots. Brooke made her make up natural but she still chose red for Haley's lips. She said that Haley's lips were perfectly full and they needed to be shown. They' re a real invitation to make out said Brooke with a laugh as Haley looked away embarrassed.
"So? We keep the hair this way right?" Asked Brooke worried.
"Yeah…we do!" Said Haley hugging Brooke. "Thanks for your help Brookie."
"It was my pleasure Hales". Said Brooke sincerely with a smile. "Question…" She said looking around.
"Answer…" Said Haley sitting on her bed.
"Where's the over protective brother?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"Oh…He's with Peyton I don't really know where…" Said Haley with a laugh. "I think Peyton's trying to keep him away from the house for a while you know…for him not to change his mind and snap at Jake."
"Oh Yeah…" Said Brooke her eyes widening at the image of Lucas seeing his sister how she was now. He would go ballistic!! Thought Brooke taking her mobile and texting Peyton to ask if she needed any help keeping an eye on Lucas.
About 10 minutes later Haley was in her kitchen looking at the clock. She was ready and waiting alone because Brooke had left for Karen's café in order to help Peyton with Lucas.
Brooke wanted to stay with Haley but her excitation for Haley's date was actually making Haley even more nervous. You're expecting too much out of it Brookie!! Stop pressuring me! Said Haley almost begging her to join Peyton.
15 more minutes and Jake will be here…Thought Haley with a lump forming in her throat and stomach. She took a deep breath. "Calm down Hales…It's just a date you don't have to do anything you don't want to do." She whispered to herself.
The doorbell rang, Haley took another deep breath, grabbed her bag and opened the door but it wasn't Jake standing in front of her door, it was Nathan. She instinctively walked out and closed the door behind her.
"Hey Nate…" She said uncomfortably. She didn't know why but she felt guilty like she was cheating on him. "What are you doing here?" She asked frowning.
Nathan just kept looking at her. His eyes looked on her beautiful lips and he couldn't stop staring at them. He could see himself taking them with passion and nibbling on her plump bottom lip.
"Nate?" Asked Haley frowning.
"Yeah…" he said with a high voice. He cleared his throat "I came to see Lucas. We're supposed to hang out tonight." Added Nathan trying to sound as nonchalant as he could. You couldn't find another lie could you moron? He thought angrily. Since he learned on Tuesday that Haley was going on a date with Jake he couldn't help but be angry and insanely jealous. A part of him tried to convince himself that he had no feelings for her, but he just liked being the center of attention to such an amazing person and that her lost of interest for him only affected his ego and nothing more.
"Oh…" Said Haley surprised and slightly disappointed. "Well he's not here, he's at the café." Added Haley with a smile. "So…" She said twirling. "Do I look nice?" She asked genuinely. "It's good to have a guy's opinion." She added sincerely not realizing she was making him even more nervous.
"You always look nice…" Nathan mumbled looking down.
"Huh?" She asked frowning and bending down to try to meet Nathan's eyes. A lock of her curly hair went in her face. She was about to pull it back behind her ear but Nathan did it first.
His touch was slow and soft at the same time. Once he put the lock back behind her ear he caressed Haley's cheek. This one simple touch made them both shiver and lock eyes before both frowning with confusion.
Is that desire I see in their eyes? They both thought perplexed.
"Haley?" They both heard.
Jake's voice brought Haley back to reality. She jumped back from Nathan's touch and blushed with shame.
"Ready to go?" Asked Jake nicely trying his best not to look at Nathan who still hadn't let his eyes off Haley.
"Yeah…" Said Haley her heart pouncing in her chest. "You should go to the café Nate, Luke's there." She added not looking at Nathan before running to Jake.
"We're just friends…" She told Jake when she arrived beside him who just nodded in response.
Nathan looked at them walking to Jakes' pick up. He had his hand on her lower back and Jake helped her in and they drove off.
Nathan shook his head and sighed with frustration. "Don't go with him…stay with me…you know we're not just friends." He said out loud looking at the spot where Haley was standing just minutes before. That's what I should have said added Nathan to himself sitting on the bench under the porch with his head in his hands.
33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
It was just before 10.30 when Jake parked his car in front of Haley's house. Haley had her elbow resting on the window frame with her hand on her mouth completely lost in her thoughts.
Jake turned his car off and sighed. "Haley?…Haley we're back." He said nicely touching her shoulder.
Haley jumped with surprise and looked around. She saw her house and understood she was home. She felt so bad about their date. What happened with Nathan earlier tonight shook her up pretty deep and she couldn't stop thinking about it. Poor Jake… She thought guiltily. "Well…" She said with a smile. "Thanks for the night, I had fun," she said nicely with a small smile.
Jake laughed and shook his head. "No you didn't!" he said not even angry. "You weren't with me most of the night!" He added nicely.
"That's…Why are you saying that?" She asked not wanting to insult him anymore by lying to him. He deserved better than that.
"Oh you know… many little things showed me you weren't completely with me tonight." He said with a slight shrug. "But one of the biggest hints was when you said that the film was pretty romantic." He said with a laugh.
"So?" Asked Haley frowning with confusion.
"Haley…We just watched Saw IV!" Added Jake looking at her.
"I..." Haley sighed. "I'm sorry, I truly am Jake!" She said sincerely looking at him with sadness. "It's just that I've been pretty tired these days and…maybe we should do this another time." She tried. She was wondering about Nathan and was in a hurry to see him again in order to investigate what happened earlier between them a bit more but, meeting Bevin ruined her night even more.
Flashback:
Jake went to fetch the drinks while Haley was waiting for him in front of the room.
"So…Finally dating a raven huh?" Asked Bevin walking up to her with a big smile. Bevin was a cheerleader and Tim Smith's sister. She was nice but shared the stupidity gene with her brother.
Haley smiled and nodded. "You know it's just a date." Said Haley uncomfortably looking for Jake.
"Yeah right…" Said Bevin with a laugh "and what I did with Nathan Scott yesterday was just exercising! "Added Bevin shaking her head. "Well…you're lucky Jake's one of the few that are actually decent. Have fun! "Added Bevin nicely waving goodbye.
What game is he playing? Thought Haley with anger and she had been even more lost in her thought since then.
End of flashback.
Jake put his hand on top of hers. "There'll be no more dates. I believe you Hales. Well…I believe that you're sorry but stop lying to yourself." He said nicely.
"What?" Asked Haley surprised.
"I couldn't say it better…" Said Jake pointing to the radio. The song playing was Just friends by Gavin DeGraw.
I saw you there last night
Standing in the dark
You were acting so in love.
With your hand upon his heart.
You were just friends
at least that's what you said
Now I know better from his fingers in your hair…
Jake turned the radio off. "Your heart belongs to someone else and you better stop lying to yourself about it because…because you're going to keep hurting yourself and any men who want to be with you," he said nicely.
"I tried to stop loving him with all the strength I had in me." She said sincerely her eyes filling up with tears. "I even traveled half the globe to forget about him." She shook her head. "Did…Did I hurt you?" She asked sadly. "If I did I'm sorry…. I really like you Jake…" She added looking down.
Jake smiled. "You're a good person Haley James," he said nicely drying her tears. "But you've got to face what you feel and how you intend to handle your love life."
Haley started to sob even more.
"Come here... Don't cry…" Said Jake hugging her." I think we can be terrific friends and you didn't hurt me Haley. I think a part of me always knew there was something going on between Scott and you. I just refused to see it." Added Jake sincerely.
"No…" Said Haley taking a tissue from Jake's hand. "I'm the one who used to hope…Nathan doesn't see me that way."
Jake laughed nicely. "Aww Hales are you really that blind?" He asked looking at her. "He feels something for you, if he didn't why would he have been spying on us since we've been back?" He added looking discreetly behind her. "Don't turn around!" He said seeing as she was about to do so.
He bent down and kissed her nose nicely. He pressed his forehead against hers. "From were he is he prolly thinks I kissed you on the lips." Said Jake with a smile.
"You're the sweetest guy on earth Jake." Said Haley sincerely keeping her forehead on his. "You're going to make some girl the happiest woman possible." She added hating herself for not having these kinds of feelings for Jake.
"You can't control who you love Haley." He said like he read her mind. He finally took his place back on his seat." I'll see you on Monday."
Haley nodded. "Thanks Jake…" She smiled. "And I really think we should go out again, but as friend this time." She added opening the door.
"I would love to!" He said sincerely. "You can be my wing man!!" He added pretending to be serious before they both burst into laugher.
"I'll think about it!!" Said Haley still laughing before closing the door.
While walking to the door her anger against Nathan resurfaced. He was the one who ruined my night out with Jake, but he wasn't into me when he slept with Bevin last night! She thought angrily.
When she walked in the living room she found Nathan nonchalantly sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Haley rolled her eyes. "Where's my brother?" She asked coldly.
Nathan turned around surprised. He saw her kiss Jake, hugging him and all. They stayed parked in front of the house for at least 20 minutes. He didn't expect her to be so cold.
"I…He just drove Peyton home, he'll be back in a minute." Said Nathan nicely walking to her. Since he touched her cheek, he felt all these feelings and he wanted to touch her again, no he had to touch her again.
He brought his hand nicely to cup her cheek but she slapped it off.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She asked crossing her arms on her chest.
"I…It's…I don't know." He finally said sincerely.
"You're not flirting with me are you?" She asked in a threatening tone.
Nathan opened his mouth and closed it again trying to figure out what happened to make her so cold towards him.
Haley shook her head. "You're sick man!" She said trying to hide her feelings. "We're just friends…Nothing more and maybe even less!" She added looking straight into his eyes. "You won't get in my pants! I'm not that kind of girl sorry and you're defiantly not the kind of guy I need in my life," she added turning her back to him.
"I'm sorry…" he said sadly watching as walked up the stairs.
"Let's forget about it," She said stopping but not turning around to look at Nathan. "By the way I saw Bevin tonight and she thanks you for last night." Added Haley before going up again.
Damn Bevin! Thought Nathan with anger finally understanding why Haley was so cold to him. She really doesn't know when to shut up!!
Nathan sat back on the sofa. I'll show her that she can trust me with her heart. It's going to take some time that's all or maybe…. maybe it's better this way. Thought Nathan confused.
Next chapter: You always step up for the people you love right?…Good intentions are not always rewarded...A birthday is coming up... Decisions and risks are taken