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Chapter 26
After helping Nathan out at his court appearance Haley made a quick exit from the courtroom and Tree Hill, or at least she tried. When she finally arrived at the train station to take a direct route back up to New Jersey to stay at Quinn's, Haley learned that all trains heading to the metropolitan area were delayed a day due to a Labor Strike.
"Great, just my luck," Haley muttered under her breath. As much as she wanted to see Nathan, she needed to keep her head focused on herself, and getting caught in Tree Hill, the place you're running from does not help that. As she racked her brain on places to stay, canceling out both Nathan's house and her own, Haley finally realized someone she could stay with. With that thought in mind she turned on her heel and made her way out the door.
When she finally hailed a cab, she found herself twenty minutes later on a doorstep ringing the doorbell. Finally after what seemed like forever a familiar face opened the door.
"Ohmigod, Haley?" the girl squealed in excitement.
"The one and only, G!" Haley exclaimed back to her friend. "Sorry to just barge in here on ya."
"No, no. It's quite alright. Just uh, what brings you back? I thought you said it'd be a couple weeks. I mean, not that I'm not happy to see you or anything."
"Actually I'm only back for today. I went to Nathan's court appearance just to make sure he got his emancipation, and I was going to head back home but my train is delayed till tomorrow."
"So you're not back for good?" GiGi stated solemnly.
"Not yet, but I might be coming home sooner than I think," Haley stated. "I just, I need to clear my head, ya know?"
"I know what it's like. But, what exactly do you need to clear your head about? I mean I never exactly understood why you left."
"It's a long complicated story that I don't want to relive. Let's just say Taylor is a manipulative bitch out to ruin my life."
"I'm sure that not true Haley," GiGi said sympathetically.
"Oh no, it is." Haley stated in a huff.
"I guess I'll take your word for it then. Why don't we move your stuff…" GiGi began. "Wait where is it?"
"I don't have any. Remember I was planning to head back home."
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Well, good thing for you I have like a freaking drawer full of all the clothes you've left at my house from various sleepovers," GiGi stated giggling.
"I knew me being a slob would come in handy!" Haley said laughing as the two girls walked up the steps to GiGi's room. For the next two hours the girl spent some time catching up. It felt good to Haley to just laugh like she used to. And it felt, for the first time in a while that she was getting back to the old Haley.
When the twosome finally ran out of topics to talk about GiGi got in the mood to bake a cake so she excused herself to do that while Haley decided to just relax in her friend room.
Once she flopped on the bed for fifteen minutes, Haley decided to riffle through GiGi's closet finding her guitar from freshman year that GiGi got for Christmas but never had the chance to use. After tuning it, Haley began singing whatever song came to mind, something she had become accustomed to once she reestablished her love for music. As she sang, her voice carried throughout the house bringing peace to everyone's ears. GiGi smiled in the kitchen as she heard her friend belt out lyrics, something she had not enjoyed since the dreadful Chris Keller…
After getting up from his spot on the courthouse steps Nathan began to wonder around Tree Hill. He should be happy, being on his own. But to him, what was being on your own if you had no one to share it with? Yes, he had his friends, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't Haley. It was then that it dawned on him, Haley could not have gotten far. There were only two ways out of Tree Hill, the train station or car. She doesn't have a car so her only other option is the train station, but he overheard someone on the steps saying most trains were delayed. Besides all that, he had this feeling in his stomach that Haley was still here. The only question was where…
Haley had just finished playing some of her favorite songs when she began to sing the most recent song she'd written.
Honestly I didn't mean to cry so hard
The heartache was pouring in like rain
I didn't mean to show I care
Honestly I didn't mean to laugh so loud
But it just sounds so absurd to
Say that you want me
Say that you need me
after everything I've done
Really truly I didn't mean to hurt you
I just thought that maybe now
We'd have better luck the second time around
Its always better the second time I hear
Find me in the evening when you're ready to dance
And I will take you to places
where you never thought you'd have the chance to love
Love, Love is all we have
I will run myself in circles here without you
As she neared the end of the song she heard an incessant tapping and stopped abruptly. It was coming from the front door but soon stopped once GiGi opened it. Haley stood at the top of the steps waiting to see who it was. But in her gut she knew… it was him.
"Uh, Na-Nathan," GiGi spit out shocked.
"Hi GiGi," he stated anxiously looking past her into the house.
"Wha-what are you do-doing here Nathan?"
"I know this is a long shot, but is Haley uh, here?" He pleaded.
"Actually she-" GiGi began before peering up the steps to her second floor where she was greeted by a frantic looking Haley mouthing the words 'no', "-she uh, hasn't talked to me since she left. She needs her space and being the wonderful, gracious, caring and selfless friend I am, I'm going to give it to her," GiGi continued stressing her traits so Haley could here.
"Oh," Nathan stated looking disappointed. "I've looked everywhere else in Tree Hill and this was my last stop. She's definitely not here?"
"Nope, wish she was. But she's not," GiGi stated starting to close the door.
"Hey, one last question. Do you uh, happen to play guitar?"
"Me? No are you kidding. I can't even perfect the kazoo!" She exclaimed.
"Oh, cause I swear I heard a guitar coming from your house," Nathan stated giving GiGi a curious look.
"Oh that was uh, my uh, Sheryl Crow DVD," GiGi stated nervously hoping he wouldn't press anymore on the subject.
"She has a DVD?"
"Yep."
'Good to know, I'll have to get it for Haley. She's like her favorite," he stated caringly as he turned back towards the sidewalk.
"Hey Nathan?" GiGi called to him before closing her door.
"Yeah?" He questioned.
"I'm sorry about Haley."
"Yeah, me too."
"She'll come around, you'll see. She let you in a lot further than I've seen her let anyone in for a while. Even further than me. Just don't lose hope, okay?"
"I'll try not to. I just don't know how long I can last."
"Goodbye Nathan," GiGi replied, closing the door behind her, then looking up the steps to a sad looking Haley. "You're breaking that boy's heart you know?"
Haley remained quiet, staring at her friend knowing she was right, before turning back to GiGi's room where she could finish her song, tears streaming down her face in the process.
Please believe that I tried my best to forget you
but the memories keep flooding back like tears
I didn't mean to fall in love
Oh, I've tried and tried
And I just can't hide from your love
When she was finished Haley looked up with her tearstained face to see GiGi standing in the doorway. "You do realize that every song you sang has been about Nathan?"
"What? Has not," Haley stated, her face getting red.
"I didn't mean to fall in love, oh I've tried and tried and I just can't hide from your love?" GiGi swooned. "Who else could that be about other than a tall, dark haired, muscular, good looking, amazing…"
"Okay I get the picture G. So what if the songs are about him? I never said I didn't love him anymore."
"I just don't understand why you keep pushing him away when it's perfect you guys are well, perfect for each other. I mean, until the other day you were jumping for joy after he gave you that little ring, which I notice it no longer on your finger."
"I just, I need some time for me. I want to go back to the old Haley James. The confident one, the one who could hold her own. Not the one who needed to lean on someone just to keep her head afloat."
"Haley James. You have got to be kidding me," GiGi said taking her friend by the shoulders. "You are the strongest girl I know. I don't even know the half of what you're going through or been through but all I can say is that from what I know you've dealt with you are a lot stronger than me. You honestly think you've changed? You haven't. You're still that spunky know-it-all girl I befriended back in the day. The only difference is that you're in love. And do you know what happens when you fall in love?"
"What?" Haley said looking GiGi in the eye.
"You finally find someone who you can share everything with. Because you're no longer a whole, but a half of something much bigger and more beautiful. So what if you need to lean on Nathan? So what if he helps you along the way. That's what you're supposed to do. And that's what you do for people you love. You help them. Because you want good things for them more than you want them for yourself."
"But-"
"Haley there are no buts. I think you're just afraid. Afraid that even though you love Nathan and he loves you back that he's going to do what Chris did, which is cheat on you."
"I think you're right," Haley whispered, finally revealing what has truly been on her mind.
"I know I'm right Haley," GiGi stated while enveloping her friend in a hug. "But do you know what you have to do instead of run away?"
"What?"
"Stick it to Chris and show him that your love life is not ruined because he's a jerk. Fight for your love as much as it scares you. Because things like love don't come around often. At least, not a love like yours and Nathan's."
"Who knew you were like yoda or something?"
"What can I say, I'm just perfect," GiGi joked causing both the girls to giggle. "But seriously, does this mean you're going to come home now Haley?"
"Yes, but in a couple days. I need to pack my stuff up and settle some things first."
"So when can I expect you to grace my presence again?"
"I'm not sure, but soon. Don't worry G, I'm tired of running."
"I'm glad, because I miss you."
"I miss you too GiGi," Haley stated before an odd look came over her face. "Do you smell smoke?"
"My cake!" GiGi laughed as both the girls ran down the steps to the kitchen, joking around like old times. That is what Haley wanted. To be her old self again, and it seems that she had found herself again, at least most of her. The only part missing was an ache in her heart which she would soon find would only be filled by none other than Nathan Scott.
a/n: Don't worry guys, like Haley said, she's coming home soon. Aka next chapter or the one after that. And don't worry it'll be a spiffy way of coming home too. Not just a bye I'm going back to Tree Hill kinda thing. I'm going to spice it up and you people who are dying for your Naley to reunite, which is well, all of you, will most probably like it! Have no fear, Naley is coming back and you will learn about the postcards. Don't think I've forgotten! Until next chapter, adios. & leave some love!