A/N: I'm sorry that I haven't posted frequently but I had no Internet connexion. So, here I give you two chapters at once.
Chapter 4:
The weekend was over and everyone had to return to the real world. For the teenagers, the real world was school where some people had to face the consequences of their weekend.
For the first time ever, Haley James didn't want to go to school. She didn't want to face her classmates and the look she knew she would get from them after what happened at the cafe with Brooke. She couldn't help but think about what Brooke said the entire weekend. Did she really lose herself when she became Nathan Scott's girlfriend? Or was it even before that? Those questions had been pestering her mind the whole time since Brooke's little outburst. And the thing that Brooke said about her acting like she was better than everybody else and that she had better get off her high horse before it's too late, that was getting to her too. It wasn't the first time somebody had told her that. Taylor, her own sister has said the same thing when she had turned to Haley for some girl talk.
Her sister told her about a party that she went to and all the wild fun she and her friends had had. When Haley had interrupted her and told her that the way she was living was not normal, that she thought Taylor had to change because she wasn't living like she was worthy of respect. Of course, Taylor didn't take anyone bullshit, especially from her little sister. So, she told Haley that she came to her as a friend and a sister, not as a child in need of a scolding from her mother. She let Haley know that it was hard to be close to her because she was always judging people, and that it was no wonder she had no female friends. Then she told her that she had to get off her high horse because she was no different from the rest of them. The only difference was that Haley as good at being a hypocrite. When Haley had looked at her sister with a hurt expression across her face, Taylor just shook her head disappointed and said that she wouldn't make the mistake to turn to her again. After that she had left Haley's room and after graduation she had moved out, which was almost two years ago. Ever since, Haley hasn't talked to her sister. She called once or twice every three months but makes a point to only talk with their parents.
Haley shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had to stop doing this and get ready for school. She couldn't change what happened before, but she could change her ways now. She never had a female friend; her friends all consisted of boys. Girls have always been acquaintances and nothing more. Okay, now she had Peyton, but she had to face the fact that they only started to talk with each other because of Lucas. And also because Peyton didn't have Brooke anymore so the rest of her 'friends' didn't see the point of being friends with her anymore either. So, it was more of a pity friendship than anything else. When she thought of Brooke though, Haley can't help but feel guilty. She dismissed her without knowing her, never really giving her a chance even though Brooke tried to be her friend. She tried to make sure she didn't feel left out because she was dating her best friend. Haley just didn't make an effort like Brooke did. She had made up her mind about Brooke and she wasn't going to change it. How could she be so mean? She lied to her when Lucas had cheated on her, even though she had seen how devoted Brooke was to Lucas when he was in the hospital. And how devastated she was when he broke up with her. What does Haley do? She excludes the girl and treats her like she did all the wrong to Lucas and Peyton.
"Haley, you ready to go?" Haley turned and couldn't help but smile. Standing there was her perfect boyfriend. Perfect was a big word, but he loves her with her flaws and all. And the same went for her as well. Funny, she never would have gotten with Nathan if it hadn't been for Brooke. Oh God, she really was a horrible person.
"Hales, are you okay?" Nathan asked, concerned etched on his face for his girlfriend, who was in some kind of daze. Suddenly, Haley came out of her daze and walked toward him. Standing in front of him, she took his hands in her own. Nathan couldn't help but still be worried about her though.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I had a really great time this weekend," Haley said, smiling while she continued to play with his hands.
"Oh really, even with Hurricane Brooke who made her appearance?" Nathan asked with a smile and took her in his arms. Even though he couldn't see her, she nodded on his chest. Suddenly, Nathan relaxed. He was worried about her and how she would handle the whole cafe ordeal. But she was fine and that made everything good.
"I love you, Hales," he said. And he meant it. She looked up at him with a beaming smile.
"Well, I adore you, Nate," she responded, truthfully and with a hint of a challenge to do better than that. Nathan laughed and twirled her around before dropping her back on her feet and kissing her. At that moment, Haley felt that everything was going to be fine as long as she had Nathan with her. Haley didn't believe in fairy tales but if she could compare it to one, finding Nathan was her happy ending.