A.N. Hey Guys! . I'm really glad you took the time to review the last chapter. It really shows me that you still enjoy the story and you really brighten my day by doing so.
Anyways I hope you're going to like this one. Please don't forget to review and tell me what you think. I like your opinions!!
Take care.
Chapter 16: Stand by me
"Fuck!" Haley swore between her teeth. She had been looking for her brother for the last 2 hours, and she still hadn't figured out where he could've been. Where are you hiding! She thought leaving the schools gym after seeing it was empty and heading for the weight room.
Haley tried the River Court first knowing it was her brother's favourite place on earth, but he wasn't there. She then drove to Peyton's house, but Lucas wasn't there either. Peyton reminded Haley that Lucas didn't open up to anyone.
Haley sighed and parked her car in front of her mother's café. It was Haley's last option even if she knew her brother wouldn't like to stand in the crowed. "You're pretty much alone when you're Lucas James' girlfriend, he bottles everything up." Said Peyton with a slight shrug. Haley remembered her saying earlier.
Hearing those words from Peyton's mouth made her feel even guiltier. Lucas really opened up to only two people: Nathan and her and…and that was the exact two people who had « betrayed » him.
As Haley walked in she took a quick look in the room and as she expected Lucas wasn't there. She sighed and looked down with defeat in her brown eyes.
"Hey baby…" Said Karen walking up to her with an empty tray. "You're not working today are you?" Asked Karen kissing her daughter's forehead.
Haley shook her head negatively. "No, but do you know where Luke is?" She asked still looking around the café hoping she had just missed his face in the crowd.
"What happened between you two?" Asked Karen worriedly, as she led Haley's to a quieter area. "He seems really upset and hurt," added Karen finally finding her daughter's glance. "And you look pretty shaken up too." Karen told her gently brushing Haley's cheek tenderly.
"You know where he is then?" Asked Haley hopefully. "Tell me ma. Please!" Haley almost begged wanting to know where he was.
"I promised not to tell to anyone," said Karen guiltily. "Sorry baby but…" Karen put her hands on Haley's shoulders. "Tell me what's going on! I see both my babies hurt and sad and I don't know what's wrong! You've got to talk to me baby!" Karen asked with fear, worry and sadness in her voice.
Haley sighed. Karen was about to find out anyway and looking for Lucas right now was just time consuming and useless. "I'm dating Nathan…" Said Haley locking eyes with her mother's. Seeing a bright smile forming on her mother face Haley felt even guiltier, and looked down again. "We've been sneaking behind Lucas's back and he just found out."
"Oh…" Said Karen. "Well…" She cleared her throat. "First let me tell you how happy I am for both of you." Started Karen, "as for your brother…He'll come around eventually." Added Karen positively.
"I just want to set things right ma…" whined Haley. "I've been lying to him everyday and I want him to understand why I did it." Her eyes filled up with tears. "Lucas 's not only my brother he's one of my best friends, and I never intended for my happiness to hurt him in any way." Haley shook her head sadly. "Well…I'm going home, he'll have to come back one day." Added Haley defeated, giving a small smile to her mom.
"Okay baby…" Said Karen smiling back at her "but you know…if you wanted to go and take some fresh air on the roof I couldn't stop you…" Added Karen mysteriously.
"No tha…" Started Haley before her eyes widened knowingly. "OH! Some fresh air…" She said understanding her mother. She quickly hugged her mother. "Love you ma." Said Haley running up the stairs to the roof.
Haley opened the door quietly and found her brother working on his predictions. When their father died the grief counsellor advised them to focus on the future, the good things in their life, so the twins decided to write predictions at the beginning of every new school year of what they wanted or thought would happen in coming year.
There was only one rule; they couldn't read each other's predictions, never. It was a secret and the slips of paper continuously grew, as the years went by and as far as Haley was concerned she had never read Lucas's predictions.
Lucas saw his sister sit beside him; he gave her a quick look before concentrating his attention back on the piece of paper. Damn it ma! You had to spill! He thought not really angry knowing that it was almost impossible to resist Haley's sad puppy dog eyes.
They stay like that for about 2 minutes, but it seemed an eternity in the cold and silence.
"I love you bro…" Said Haley simply breaking the silence.
Lucas gave a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah right!" He said shaking his head. "And when did you realize that huh?" He asked finally looking at her. "Before or after you started fucking my best friend?" He asked seriously.
Haley sighed and closed her eyes. She had expected this reaction. "It's not like that!" She said nicely. "We're together…I love him."
"Love him? And when did you realize that one Hales?" He asked looking straight into her eyes. "I know you had a crush on him and all, but was it worth it?" He asked sadly. "Was it worth betraying your brother?"
"A crush?" Asked Haley in disbelief. "Where you really that blind?" She asked with incredulity. "I've been in love with Nathan for as long as you two have been best friends…" She looked at their prediction box before continuing. "And even longer," she added nodding her head toward the box.
"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Asked Lucas rolling his eyes.
"I wish!" She said recalling how pathetic she was. "Look…" She said taking the box in front of Lucas and taking out her own predictions from the last 10 years. "Read them…" She said handing the pieces of papers to Lucas.
"I can't…" Said Lucas shaking his head negatively. "It's supposed to stay a secret." He added staring at the papers.
"It's a case of emergency," said Haley with a smile. "Plus I'm the one asking you to read them. I'm giving away my own secrets," She added sincerely.
Lucas gave her a quick look and saw hope in her eyes. He gently took the pieces of paper and quickly started to scan over them. Most of her predictions or wishes over the years were concerning Nathan, Brooke, and himself. Each year she wished Nathan would fall in love with her and that he would give her, her first kiss.
She really loved him all these years! Thought Lucas with astonishment. He always thought she had a little crush on him, but he never thought it was that deep and strong. But the rest of her predictions moved him even more. I want Lucas to be happy, I want Lucas to heal his heart and stop crying himself to sleep, I hope Lucas is going to play in junior league basketball, I wish Lucas would find love, I hope Lucas is going to make the varsity team, I hope Lucas will open up to someone else, I hope Lucas will find a girl whose going to love him as much as he deserves to be, I hope Lucas will get his scholarship to Duke. She didn't want much for herself; Lucas was the one she wanted happy during these last 10 years.
Lucas' eyes filled up with tears as he put the pieces of papers back in the box. "I love you so much little sister," said Lucas closing the distance with his sister and giving her a bear hug. "I'm sorry for what I said to you." He added breaking their hug and drying his sister's tears softly with the pad of his thumb.
Haley looked at her brother and dried his tears too before pulling him into a hug again. "Thank you…" She said simply. She didn't really know what to say.
"Don't thank me…" Said Lucas stroking her hair. "I know I've been a little over protective…okay really overprotective, but I would die if you got hurt Haley and…and you and Nate are going to end badly," he said sadly. "Nathan…well Nathan is Nathan."
"I know who he is Lucas," said Haley nicely trying to convince her brother, "and well…" She slightly shrugged. "He won't hurt me and what if he does?" She asked nicely.
"I'll kill him," Said Lucas in a threatening tone, clenching his jaw.
"Nah you won't," said Haley with a slight laugh. "Look at me Luke, look into my eyes…" She added looking deep into his. "I'm happy! Blissfully happy," she added with such a bright smile that it lit up the whole roof. "And well even if this happiness only lasts a while. I'm ok with that." She added knowing deep down she was lying.
"Maybe you are, but I'm not!" Said Lucas stubbornly. "I promised to always be there for you, to always protect you. To spare your heart anymore pain." He said taking her hand. "And…And Nathan knew all that," he added shaking his head. "That's why he decided to hide your relationship…He's a coward!" Added Lucas angry again.
"Lucas look at me." Haley demanded seriously. "If you only believe one thing coming from my mouth believe this please. I swear on Dads' memory that what's going to follow is the truth." She told him before taking his hand, "I'm not defending Nathan."
Lucas nodded, wondering what she was going to say.
Haley took a deep breath before continuing. "You remember our birthday party right?" She asked while she slightly shrugged. "I lied to you on that day. I was upset because…because," she blushed "I wanted to have sex with him, but he pushed me away," she added uncomfortably.
"Oh…." Said Lucas clearly surprised.
"Yep…" Said Haley still red with shame. "And…and when we got together I was the one begging him to keep it a secret." She added biting her bottom lip nervously. "I promised him to tell you the truth soon, but I kept holding back till…till you found out the worse way possible." She added looking down guiltily.
"Do you really feel threatened by me Hales?" Asked Lucas sadly. "Really?"
"Well…you punched my boyfriend!" Said Haley with a small laugh.
"Yeah…I'm sorry about that too." He said grimacing. "Well…not really because he deserved it for lying and taking my sister's innocence."
"Yeah…I don't know about that, but I'll avoid the details." Said Haley seeing Lucas' disgusted face. "Please Luke stand back and let us try." She pleaded her brother.
Lucas sighed with clear annoyance. He was far angrier against Nathan, then he was against Haley for no logical reason except that this was his baby sister.
Haley took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "You know what Harvey Mackey said right?" She asked mysteriously. "Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.'Let me take this opportunity…I know what I can win and I defiantly know what I can loose but…'' She shrugged ''if I'm willing to take the risk you should let me try and stand by me like I did for you.''
Lucas looked at his sister for a while. He could see in her eyes that she was truly happy and if Nathan was the reason of this bright light in her eyes then he couldn't stay mad at him.
"You remember when you asked Peyton out right?" Asked Haley rhetorically. "We all thought she wasn't the kind of girl you needed in your life and that you were closed up and broody enough and that you didn't need a girlfriend as tortured as you are. But…" She sighed. "But when you said that you felt it in your gut, I stood by your side and see! You've been together for almost two years now and still growing strong," she added nicely. "Nobody can tell you who you're supposed to be with except yourself."
''I suppose…'' Said Lucas thinking. He looked down at his watch. "That was such a defence!" He said sincerely impressed. "You should go to law school," he added with a small sad laugh
"I'll think about it…" She said joining him in laughter.
"Go…I'm sure Nate's waiting for you." Said Lucas letting go of his sister's hand. "I'll just have to get use to the fact that I won't be the most important guy in your life anymore and that I won't be the one you run to when something's wrong." He added with nostalgia.
"You're my twin Lucas! Nobody could ever replace you in my life." She said emotionally. ''You took dad's role into my life, trying to be strong for me and for that…you'll always be special." She added hugging him.
"Thank you…" Lucas whispered in her ear. "Now go to your man Hales…we'll finish this chat later," he added taking his cell phone out to call his river court friends. He knew that a good game would help him get better and clear his head…it always did.
Haley jumped from her seat. ''I love you bro!!'' She said excitedly almost running away to meet Nathan.
"God help us…" Whispered Lucas after his sister left.
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It was Monday morning and Nathan had come to pick up Haley and drive her to school. «As a real couple» he added to her with his usual cocky smirk.
As Nathan and Haley parked into Tree Hill High parking lot, they both had a lump of worry in their stomachs, but for different reasons.
Nathan was worrying about Lucas. Haley told him Lucas was going to get used to them being together and that he was sorry to have reacted the way he did, but he still managed to avoid them all weekend. Nathan couldn't help but worry about Lucas' reaction when he sees them together. Will we be friend like before? Nathan asked himself getting out of the car.
As soon as he saw Haley's worried look he shook his head and gave her a genuine smile. God he loved this girl. "Breath Angel…" Said Nathan nicely walking to her side of the car in order to open the door for her. ''It's going to be just fine.'' He added opening the door.
Haley smiled back and decided to concentrate on his blue eyes. Looking into his eyes had the power to push all her worries away and replace all her doubts and fears by an unconditional and overwhelming feeling of love and peace. She was worried about people's reaction to this uncanny couple, the girls were going to hate her big time and Haley liked just being ignored. But now looking into Nathan's eyes she thought that her worries were just stupid because all that mattered was them and only them.
"When I'm with you it's always fine…" She said sincerely still keeping her eyes on his.
Nathan smiled even more and wrapped his arms around her waist. He liked the fact that she felt safe when she was with him; it's all he ever wanted. He softly brushed his lips on hers. "Ok let's go baby…the wolves are waiting," he joked before laughing at seeing the expression on her face.
"That's so not funny!" She said pouting.
"It's a little funny," he said with a slight shrug. He wrapped his right arm around her waist in order for her to be against him as they walked into the school.
As they walked in they could see people's heads turning around to look at them as they walked pass. They could hear whispering at each step they took. Haley bit her bottom lip, since she was feeling really uncomfortable. She looked at Nathan and could see him looking down at her. He didn't care at all and it helped Haley to feel more confident.
They stopped in front of Nathan's locker. "You can breath now," he said opening his locker. "We made it!" He added with a laugh.
"Yeah…" Said Haley laughing too. "It wasn't that bad well…" She looked around. "For now…" She added playing with her pinkie ring.
"They'll talk about it for a while, but they'll move on soon." Said Nathan taking some books from his locker and putting them in his bag. "It's the first time I've got a girlfriend Haley and…and that I'm in love," he added gently brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "It's big news you know." He added with a wink closing his locker.
"Come on…let me escort my lady to her locker." He said respectfully.
"Oh you're a real gentleman!" Said Haley bursting into laugher. "Ummm," she added tapping her finger on her chin pretending to think. "I wonder where my boyfriend is?" She added cheekily stopping at her locker.
"Ouch…that's harsh!" Said Nathan in mock hurt, putting a hand on his chest.
"Aww I'm sorry…"She said putting her hand on top of his, still resting on his chest. "How can I make it better?" She asked pretending to be serious
"Well…a kiss would be a start…" He said stoking his own chin.
"All right…" She conceded rolling her eyes; She stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed his lips.
But in less then a second Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her harder.
He finally let go of her and smirked. "That's what I was talking about!" He said proudly as they both burst into laugher.
"Well …well… well," said a red head standing in front of them, her arms crossed on her chest. "Geez… you hear about it, but you don't believe it till you see it for yourself." Rachel said giving a slightly ironical laugh. "«The beauty and the Beast» of Tree Hill High." She added shaking her head. "Nathan being the beauty of course." She added looking at Haley with defiance and jealousy written all over her face.
"I…" Started Nathan ready to defend Haley, but Haley put her hand on him and locked eyes silently asking him mentally to drop it. Looking into her big brown eyes calmed Nathan immediately.
"Yeah…I figured that part…I'm smart you know." said Haley her back still turned to Rachel.
Nathan just sighed and shook his head, while Haley put some stuff away in her locker.
"When you think that not so long ago it was me you were kissing like that!'' Added Rachel with a pretend concerned voice, "How sad how your standards fell that low," she added ready to go.
That's it! Thought Nathan angrily seeing the pain passing through Haley's face. "No way!" He said with a sarcastic laugh. "My standards were so low that you couldn't differentiate them from the ground when I was hooking up with you." He said seriously. "And I never EVER kissed you the way I'm kissing her!!" He said his voice rising before wrapping an arm around Haley, while she was still looking away trying to hold her tears in.
Rachel started to feel uncomfortable since Nathan was speaking so loud and people were starting to gather around them.
"I love Haley and that makes a fundamental difference. She's got something that you never had…my heart!" He added with defiance. "And just so you know…" he said tightening his embrace "never compare my relationship to the filthy little thing we used to have." He added angrily with spite.
"Whatever…we'll see if your still so in love in a couple of months." She shrugged her shoulders. "Once the passion and the taste of novelty has faded…" She smiled. "I can't wait to see that tutor ugly!" She added turning around in disdain and leaving as fast as she could without running. She couldn't take any more humiliating comments today.
The group, which gathered around them, melted , like ice in the desert.
Nathan looked at Haley. He could only see the side of her face as she kept looking in her locker. He could see all the emotions on her face. "Come here baby…" He said wrapping an arm around her neck, while pulling her into a hug. "She's just jealous that you're the one making me happy." He said nicely his lips pressed on her forehead. "You shouldn't let her get to you, she isn't worth it!" He added delicately brushing his lips on her forehead, while smelling her fruity hair
Haley had her face buried in Nathan's chest. She loved being in his arms; it was the only place on earth where she felt safe. "I expected something like that anyway," she said flatly against his chest. "You're Nathan Scott!" She simply added.
"And you're Haley James!" He said like he was talking about a queen. "That's way more impressive!!" He added sincerely.
Haley finally looked up again and gently started to stroke his cheek. "I don't mind her." She said sincerely. "When I'm in your arms nothing else matters." She spoke honestly. "Plus I actually feel bad for the girl!" She added shaking her head.
"You feel sorry? Why?" Asked Nathan confused.
"Well Rach hoe's on the cheerleader team right?" Haley asked and Nathan nodded in confirmation. "And whose the captain?" She asked as she saw Nathan's eyes widen. "Yep…" She said grimacing. "And as soon as Brookie hears about what happened this morning…if she doesn't know already…"
"Oh it's going to get ugly!!" Said Nathan shivering. "Poor Rach!" He said pretending to mean it, before they both burst into laugher.
"Aww…I love it when you laugh!" He said happily, taking her lips with his into a deep kiss.
They heard someone clear their throat beside them and broke their kiss. It was Lucas. Nathan looked at his best friend with apprehension, while he broke his hug with Haley.
"Hi…" Nathan said guiltily still keeping his eyes up. He wanted Lucas to understand that even if he regretted the way they acted he didn't regret being with Haley.
Haley looked at her brother hopefully.
Lucas stared at Nathan and finally smiled at him before moving into a quick manly hug. "Take care of her…. don't make me regret trusting you with her." He added before breaking the hug and looking at Haley who mouthed a «thank you». Lucas quickly kissed his sister's forehead. "I'd do anything for you baby sis." He said sincerely. "Well…I'll see your ass on the court bro. I see my girl," he said pointing to Peyton and walking her way. ''I'll see you later!'' He added waving bye to them.
Nathan took Haley's hand and interlaced their fingers together. "Well…I guess he's getting used to us."
"I guess…" said Haley with a bright smile. Everything was finally falling into place.
"Let's go to class girlfriend," said Nathan squeezing her hand.
"I'll follow you boyfriend," she said with a small laugh, while walking hand in hand with the love of her life. How could life get any better then this? She asked herself.
In next chapter: Where will you be when all my dreams come true?