Chapter 3
It has been several days since Haley had seen her journal, and she was beginning to become anxious. Over the years she had developed trust issues, and at the pit of her stomach she kept getting that feeling that whoever had it would use it against her. She needed to find it, that journal was her life. Desperate measures needed to be taken, thus her reason for talking to her older sister Taylor.
She ascended the stairs to her bedroom, and opened the door revealing Taylor flopped out on the bed.
"Did you take my journal?"
"Haley, what are you talking about?"
"It's a simple question Taylor. Did you take my journal?"
"No."
"Okay," Haley said, about to exit the room until Taylor spoke.
"Haley…" Taylor began.
"Taylor. Don't talk to me. Don't ever talk to me. The only time you're allowed to is when I initiate it. Understand? You may think now that because it's all over I'll forgive and forget, but I won't. Why do you think I keep a journal… it's cause I remember ieverything/i," Haley spat at her sister and she left the room and an awestruck Taylor behind.
After leaving Taylor room, she went into her own and jumped onto her bed in frustration. She had checked the library multiple times, her room, her locker… all the obvious places, yet she had not luck. "Someone must have my journal," she mumbled to herself, "but I have no idea who."
That night Nathan found himself reading himself to sleep as he had for the past several nights. He looked down at his current entry.
i1/1/04
So J, as you can tell, it's New Year's Day. And do you know what that means? New Year's resolutions! Me and my sister Taylor always used to write our goals on a list each year and put them in a box that we would keep in the back of my closet until we reopened them a year later on New Year's Eve. However, seeing as I'm not talking to Taylor anymore, I'll just write my goals in you instead!
1. Become head tutor at the Tutoring Center.
2. Find a new love interest. I've secretly been a hypocrite and pining for a certain tall, dark-haired, blue eyed guy, who is totally what I'm bnot/b into.
3. Become a singer. I know what you're thinking. I'm tone deaf. But music makes me happy, and if I have the potential in me, then hey, why not become one? I severely doubt it will happen, but it wouldn't hurt to attempt. /i
Nathan reread her goals, lingering on the second one. "Tall… dark-haired… blue eyed… me?" he stated to himself. He flipped back to a couple entries, rereading what he had overlooked before.
i3/25/00
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.
4/1/00
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.
10/3/03
I was paired up with Nathan Scott in gym today. He was amazing at basketball. Too bad I have two left feet and can't play. He taught me granny style though, which was surprising since I figured he would just laugh in my face.
10/31/03
I came to school as the Riddler for Halloween. Haha, get it? Cause he has question marks everywhere, like for questions, and I'm a tutor so I answer questions? I know, that was really bad, but anyway, guess what? Someone came as batman… Nathan Scott. Our costumes would have made a good pair, except for the fact our characters were total opposites, as are we.
12/6/03
Today was the first day of the basketball season. I decided to go with Gigi and be supportive of the Ravens, since well, I have been known to lack of school spirit in the past. Everyone played really good, especially the Scott Boys. Lucas has a really good three-pointer, and Nathan can dunk like no other. I couldn't help but notice the sadness in Nathan though. I mean, when he's on the court he seems happy, but then I saw him just even look towards the direction of who I assume to be his father, and well, let's just say his smile immediately fades to a frown.
I read an article about him and his dad in the paper the other day. His dad seemed pretty intense. Maybe all that pressure gets to him. I don't really know. /i
Nathan then flipped back to the page he had been on before. As he had read through her previous entries, he just thought she was another admirer, and didn't think much of her comments. He wasn't cocky, but it was a known fact that girls swooned towards him and Lucas, so he had grown to accept it. This person, whoever they were… there was something about them he didn't know how to put. But after looking back, she didn't just seem to be about his physical appearance. She seemed to understand him without even knowing him. On that note, he closed the journal, placed it in his bag, and went to bed.
The next day Haley found herself walking with Mouth to their history class, which they just so happened to have with Lucas, Nathan, Brooke, and Haley's other friend Gigi. She took a seat and slid in between Mouth and Brooke Davis.
"Okay class, today we will begin our work on the different decades of 1900s. I have already paired you up, but if you'd like, you may make a switch with another group," said their teacher as she began rambling out the names of the groups. "Marvin McFadden and Gigi Han, the 1970s, Lucas Scott and Haley James, the 1980s, and Brooke Davis and Nathan Scott, the 1990s."
As soon as the teacher finished, Haley couldn't help but role her eyes. It was just her luck she was stuck with the obnoxious one, formally known as Lucas. However, her anxiety was surprisingly but to rest by none other than Brooke Davis.
Upon hearing the partners, Brooke turned towards Lucas, then over to Haley who was sitting next to her.
"Hey Tutorgirl, Lucas is going to trade you for me so that me and my boytoy can work together." Haley was about to resist, but then she realized Brooke was allowing her to steer clear of Lucas.
"Whatever, that's fine. But the names Haley, not Tutorgirl," she stated as Brooke switched seats with Nathan. Haley turned towards Mouth to complain about the situation, however he was too busy with Gigi, of whom he was growing closer and closer to since his move to Tree Hill. She sighed and turned he face, only to be met by Nathan Scott staring at her.
"Hi." He said awkwardly. "I'm Nathan –"
"Scott. I know." Haley replied cutting him off. "I'm Haley-"
"James, I know. Mrs. Barnett just said it before." They sat there in silence for about a minute until Nathan broke it.
"So, slip on any ketchup packets lately?"
"Your an ass," Haley half joked, unsure of Nathan.
"Take it easy there partner. I was just breaking the ice. I guess we should get started."
"Yeah, I guess we should," Haley replied looking down at her notebook.
"So, the 1990s…"
"It was basically just an era full of boy bands, grungy clothes, and the start of a technological revolution."
"Let's not forget childhood fads of Pokemon, Tamagochis, and Pogs!"
"Wow Nathan, I'm impressed never knew you were such a pop culture know it all."
"Well, contrary to popular belief, there is more to me than basketball." They both laughed at his last comment and got started brainstorming on what they were going to do for this project. Nathan couldn't help but again notice her beautiful smile, and that little spunk she had to her. He liked it. Too many girls were becoming fake, and to him, Haley was genuine and unafraid to be herself. He was surprised he hadn't really noticed her around school before until Lucas pointed her out to him. His thoughts were interrupted as Haley took out her notebook and Nathan noticed two gold letters on the corner of the front cover.
"Hey, what's that?" he inquired.
"Oh, just my initials. When you live in a house with a bunch of siblings you learn to label your stuff so you don't lose it. That was my pet peeve as a kid. Having my books or Barbies or clothes or anything stolen really."
"Oh, I see. That's understandable," Nathan replied, thinking nothing more of it. They continued to work on planning out their project till the bell rang and they each went their separate ways. However, Haley couldn't help but shake this feeling of completeness she had when joking around with Nathan. It was as if he was filling that void she'd been searching to fill, but she quickly pushed that idea to the back of her brain, as she had been since she moved to Tree Hill in sixth grade. Nathan Scott was part of the obnoxious crowd of people who couldn't be trusted. End of story… right? "Yes," Haley thought to herself unsurely, "… end of story."
a/n: Thanks to all for the reviews so far! They brighten my day like you wouldn't believe. Also, I know you may be confused about Haley/Taylor's relationship, but that will be revealed later on in the story. Don't worry, but I have to leave you in the dark about that for a bit... sorry! Anyway, please leave reviews, it really means a lot to see what you guys like/want/don't like. Keep on reading and reviewing, and I'll keep on writing! Lol.