Chapter 2
That night Nathan went home after basketball practice and decided he should start his homework. He opened his backpack, about to grab for his history book when he remembered the journal he had found in the library. There was something about it that just enchanted him. He picked it up and opened it to the next entry.
i3/25/00
Hey J, it's me again. So I attended Tree Hill Middle School for the first time today. Did I mention that's another reason why I'm writing in you? My nut of a mother thinks that expressing my feelings will be a better way to transition to a new school in the middle of the year. Anyway, I walked around just kind of watching everyone, and for the most part they seem nice. There were some people you could tell were kind of idolized. One kid, Lucca? Landen.. or wait, Lucas. Yeah, definitely Lucas, he seemed to be the shall we say "head honcho," of grade six. There was this other boy with him though, Nathan. He had the bluest eyes I've ever seen. I don't really get his story, he doesn't seem like the rest of that crowd. /i
Nathan cocked his head as he read the end of that paragraph. "So she knows me," he thought to himself, as he read the rest of the entry and then flipped forward a couple pages.
i4/1/00
Okay, so a couple days ago, I said that people in Tree Hill were nice. I take that back. People in Tree Hill are fun-suckers trying to ruin my life. So, I'm at school minding my own business walking into the cafeteria when I hear someone say "Hey, new girl!" from down the hall. I turn around to see this curly blonde approaching me, I didn't know her name, but I'd seen her around with those Scott boys before.
"Hi, I'm Peyton," she said holding out her hand.
I replied by giving her a firm shake.
"Would you like to sit with us?" she asked me, motioning towards the table containing a smiley brunette, Lucas, Nathan, and a couple other kids I've seen in my classes.
Thinking I made a new friend, I happily replied, "Yes!" and continued to follow her to the table. That's when things went down hill.
"What are you doing?" she said in a harsh tone, loud enough for the people around us to stop what they were doing and cause a scene.
"Well, um. You asked if I wanted to sit with you," was all I could muster.
"Yeah, I asked if you wanted too, but I didn't invite you," she replied. Tears welled up in my eyes and I realized what an idiot I'd been. I mean, why would anyone remotely popular even think of befriending me. I looked at the table and saw everyone laughing in my face, except Nathan. He was kind of smirking but he didn't have that satisfied look the others did.
"And by the way… nice poncho," the brunette added as she continued to snicker with Peyton. This was too much to take. I ran out of the cafeteria and too the bathroom, tears streaming down my face. I ate my lunch in the bathroom that day, and it was then that I realized I can't rely on other people to like me. I need to be an individual and not care what people think about me; because if you do, in the end you only get hurt. /i
Nathan looked down at this page and noted the tearstains. He couldn't help by feel regretful. He didn't really remember this happening, I mean, his crowd wasn't exactly the nicest group of kids so this wasn't a rare occurrence. But all the same, he felt bad. Whoever this was really seemed hurt. He took one last look at the page and then flipped through a few more.
i4/23/00
J, it's me, the one and only. Anyway, I'm feeling kind of down today. My sister called me a loner. She says that I have no friends, but I do have friends. Just no one really close. I guess you could say I have trust issues. There's only one person in this school I feel a connection too, and I don't even know why… /i
Nathan searched the page for the rest of this entry, but it was as if she just stopped and never finished. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety. There was something perplexing about whoever's journal this was that made him want to know everything. They're deepest secrets and just anything. He went to flip the page, hoping to find out more, but he found that a huge section had been torn out. The next entry he came to was from three years later.
i9/7/03
Hey J, I know you haven't seen much of me for a while. I've been going through some dark times. Times I didn't want to share with you because they were filled with pain and writing in you makes me happy. But I'm happy now. I mean, truly happy. And I've found a passion… music. I'm not really sure if I have a good voice or not, but hey I'm happy when I do it and that's all that matters. Besides, I figured I'd start writing in you again since I'm starting high school giving me a clean slate and a chance to start over… /i
Nathan was about to finish the rest of the entry when his cell phone rang. "Hello," he said answering in an aggravated tone.
"Hey, it's Lucas. Was I interrupting something?"
"No, no. Just uh, some homework."
"Cool. Well anyway, want to meet up for pizza in like 10? A bunch of us are going down to Lafferty's Pizza."
"Yeah, man, I'll be there," Nathan stated lamely.
"Peace," Lucas said as he hung up on the other line.
Nathan looked down at the journal, unable to part with it. For some reason he found himself not wanting to part with it, like there was this yearning inside him that made him want to hear this persons thoughts and feelings. He needed to know who this was. He searched the cover and a bunch of entries, but nothing said her name. Seeing the time, he stashed the journal in the top drawer of his dresser and then went out to meet Lucas; totally unaware of the fact that there was a pair of small golden initials "HJ" etched into the bottom corner of the back inside cover.
Haley stood outside Lafferty's Pizza waiting for Mouth, whom she'd asked earlier that day to go out to dinner with her as kind of "Welcome to Tree Hill" get together. He happily replied yes, however was running a little late. As Haley waited outside for Mouth, she couldn't help but regret her decision to take him there, because low and behold Lucas Scott and all his little followers had decided to dine there tonight too. After waiting for ten minutes, Haley decided to go inside and grab a table in the back corner.
About five minute later she saw Mouth enter the front door, but he obviously didn't see her. She got up to walk over to him, and inevitable had to pass the "Scott Dynasty's" table.
"Ah, decided to change your mind, eh Haley?"
"Um, actually no. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not one of those moronic girls that falls to your feet Lucas Scott."
"We shall see," he replied.
"Whatever Lucas. I'm walking over to get Mouth," she said, brushing past him for the second time that day. Once she greeted Mouth, Haley began to guide him back to their table, not noticing the open ketchup packet lying on the ground.
As she shuffled her feet across the floor it was as if the next events went in slow motion as she absorbed them. 'I have only one foot on the ground. Oh god, I'm losing balance. My head is bending backward, oh god, I'm starting to loose the grip in my only foot on the ground. I can now see Nathan Scott entering the pizza place since I am bent so far backwards. I can see Nathan Scott running towards me. I can feel that I no longer have two feet on the ground, and simultaneously I feel two arms hook under my armpits as I lean against their chest.' Haley stays this way for a few seconds as she processes what just happened. She looked at her surroundings. 'Oh god, I'm not on the floor am I? Then that must mean…' Haley looks up to see an awkward looking Nathan Scott staring down at her.
"Uh, Hi…" she said as her face brightens, the realization coming over that she is now lying in Nathan Scotts arms. She forces herself up, steadying herself to make sure she doesn't fall again. "Thanks," she replied giving him a little smile as she fixes her shirt and looks down at what she just slipped on.
"No uh, problem," he said looking down at the petite girl standing before him. He hadn't really notice her before, but he couldn't help but notice as he caught her that she smelled really nice and the fact that she had a beautiful smile.
"I'm going to uh, go now," she said as she pointed towards her table and hurried back there with Mouth, mortified at what just happened. Nathan just watched her run off and then made his way over to the table Lucas was at, noting that they were all oblivious as to what just happened.
Once Haley made it back to the table, she couldn't help but burst out laughing. That had to have been one of the most awkward and embarrassing moments she had experienced. Mouth couldn't help but join her. It was pretty funny seeing Haley fall almost flat on her bum. After she finally calmed down, Haley mumbled, "I can't wait to put this in my journal," causing her to remember again the fact that she did not have it.
"Hey Mouth?"
"Yeah Haley."
"You didn't happen to accidentally take my journal did you?"
"Nope, I left it right where it was when you told me not to read it."
"Oh okay. And uh, sorry about that. I kinda freaked out a little there."
"It's okay," Mouth replied looking down at the menu as Haley continued to think. She racked her brain for any clue as to who would have it, completely unaware to the fact that it was in the possession of the blue eyed boy sitting just tables away from her.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Leave reviews and let me know what you think!