Chapter 12
Nathan drove home from the docks that day completely confused and completely curious. He looked at the folder resting on the seat beside him and couldn't help but wonder about his contents. It obviously revealed something that makes Haley upset, and it seems to him it deals with something she was trying to push to the back of her mind, or away considering the large amount of dust scattered about it. Its contents however were another story. He had no idea what it dealt with.
He and Haley had become extremely close friends over the past few weeks: she made him smirk, he made her scoff, they joked, even flirted a bit, but they'd never dealt with anything deep. They never talked about what he'd read in her journal, because technically he was never supposed to see it, and she rarely brought up his, except to use it to induce embarrassment across his face. They were good companions. They hung out with each other to have a good time. Haley had GiGi for her "girly" needs and Mouth was another shoulder to rely on, while Nathan had Lucas and the guys for support. Not that he needed much considering he tended to keep a lot inside. But neither of them ever sought support or a shoulder to cry on or anything deeper than their "fluff-filled" friendship… until now.
Once Nathan pulled into his driveway he noted that Dan's car wasn't home. After thanking the universe for his good fortune, he was not in the mood to be hammered, he ran up to his room, making sure to lock the door behind him. He put the folder on his desk and took a seat in the cushioned computer chair in front of it. He took another look at the cover, taking in more of its detail. He made another note of its clearly defined thick layer of dust, and also took into account that this folder was not like her journal. It was not worn and well used, but rather stiff and looked as if it had barely been touched. He finally opened it and saw a fairly thick stack of papers tucked into the right side. It seemed to be notebook paper… journal paper as he examined further… and its edges seemed frayed as if it had been violently ripped from its original location.
"That section…" Nathan mumbled to himself running his finger along the frayed edges, "… from the journal. Where it looked like something was ripped out. This must be it. But why give it to me? Why now…" He continued to look at the papers mumbling before he began reading, "I guess I'll soon find out."
Across town Haley James laid on her bed, silent tears dripping down her face one by one, with a hand resting on her forehead, another lightly tapping on the nightstand beside her bed. Waiting, very impatiently, for Nathan Scott to call her back. Telling her he'd read what was in the folder, and finally providing someone she could open up to. The news she'd just received was too much to handle alone, and much to her dismay, Nathan Scott would be the only person who could understand her pain. She continued to wait anxiously hoping to feel the vibration from her phone tickle the tips of her fingers. She knew it would probably be a while till he called, but the waiting was better than the worrying which would lead to thinking which would lead to the pain.