A/N: So here's a new chapter slowly heading to the climax of the story. Hope you like it. I had a better version of this but my computer decided to go loco on me so I had to rewrite it the best way I could. So hopefully you're satisfied with this and leave me lots of lovely reviews. Thanks again for taking time to read!
Chapter 7
A few of weeks has past and it's now Friday. The last bell has rung at Tree Hill High sending most kids home. Haley has gone quite close to her new pals at Tree Hill High and she was quite content at her life now. She exited her last class of the day with her new found friends Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer. Today they headed once again towards the gym for another day of practice. Arm in arm they walked towards Haley's locker where they decided to have a little girl talk while Haley sorts things out in her locker.
"So Hales a little birdie told me that you are now Nathan's tutor." Peyton said with a sly voice as she leaned against the lockers.
"And would this little birdie of yours be Jake by chance?" Haley said as Peyton just looked around trying to look innocent.
"Whoa wait a minute here! How come I didn't know about this?" Brooke said with her hands on her hips a little upset that she wasn't the first to know.
"Look guys it's no big deal. Nathan and I just made a little deal." Haley said confirming the rumor.
"What kind of deal?" Brooke said with a grin on her face and a cocked eyebrow.
"Not the kind you and Lucas has Brooke." Haley said as she giggled. "Nathan just promised to help me pass gym class and I promised to help him pass period." She giggled some more remembering the deal they have made.
Haley was in the gymnasium after school attempting to shoot some basketballs in the net but failing at it badly. Nathan came in the gym remembering that he has forgotten something in the locker room after practice. As Nathan walked in he saw Haley grunting as each ball she shoots bounces off the backboard.
"You know you're not going to pass gym class that way." Nathan said with a smirk as he starts to walk towards her.
"Ha-ha. Like you not passing any of your classes." Haley said grinning back.
"How'd you know…?" Nathan said shocked at the comment.
"Lucas" Haley said as she tries to shoot another ball.
"Yeah remind me to kill that big mouth brother of yours." Nathan replied.
"Yeah get in line." Haley scoffed.
"So you need any help with that?" Nathan asked pointing at the basketball in Haley's hands.
"And what makes you think I need your help?" Haley said with a glare as she passed the ball to Nathan. Nathan shot it and the ball went in with a swish.
"Because you probably haven't made one shot yet and I'm just that good." Nathan said giving Haley another one of his famous smirks.
"Don't get so cocky. So what if I do let you help me? What's in it for you?" Haley said suspiciously.
"You help me pass my classes." Nathan chuckled shooting another ball in the hoop.
"Wow, Nathan Lee that is the best idea I've heard. I guess you're not such a dufus after all." Haley said with her hands on her hips and a matching grin on her face.
"Shut up." Nathan chuckled. "So we got a deal Railey?" Nathan asked.
"We got a deal. Just don't ever call me that ridiculous name again…" Haley said as the two shook hands sealing their fate.
"Haley Bethany Scott!" Brooke exclaimed snapping Haley back to reality.
"What! Brooke stop calling me that!" Haley jumped at the voice of Brooke as she closed her locker.
"What? I had to say something to snap you out of Nathanland. Plus I still hadn't come up with a good nickname for you"Brooke said with an innocent smile.
"Whatever. So what's your question?" Haley asked.
"I said how are you going to tutor Nathan when he's a grade older than you?" Brooke asked.
"I'm pretty advanced in my studies; I even help Lucas with his math homework." Haley said.
"I didn't know Lucas had any problems with math." Peyton said.
"Are you kidding me? That boy may know his literature, but he can't even tell the difference between a hypotenuse and a hippopotamus." Haley said with a giggle causing Peyton to giggle as well.
"Heh- So uhmm what is the difference?" Brooke said feeling a little left out. Haley and Peyton just looked at each other and laughed out some more.
"OOoh I got it!" Brooke exclaimed as a light bulb lit up above her head. Peyton and Haley looked at Brooke with a confuse look thinking she finally figured out the difference.
"Tutorgirl!" Brooke yelled out.
"What?" Haley and Peyton said at the same time still confused.
"Tutorgirl is your new nickname! Short and sweet!" Brooke said with her dimple smile.
"I guess it's better than saying my whole name." Haley said with a giggle.
"Oooh!" Brooke exclaimed once again as another light bulb lit up. Peyton and Haley looked at Brooke like she's psychotic.
"Uhhh gotta go to the ladies room Brooke?" Haley asked.
"No it's Friday!" Brooke said with excitement.
"Okay… I think we already confirmed that this morning Brooke." Haley said.
"But I just had the greatest idea!" Brooke said with more excitement.
"What is going on in that head of yours Brooke Davis?" Peyton asked with a stern voice.
"Well it's the third Friday of the school year and since 3 is my favorite number and it's my boy friend's jersey number who I just a-"
"Brooke…." Peyton and Haley said interrupting Brooke before she goes on telling the story of Brooke and Lucas.
"Oh yeah! Tonight at the beach we are going to P-A-R-T why? Cuz I said so!" Brooke squealed with the biggest smile she could muster and pom poms in hands. Peyton and Haley just looked at one another shaking their heads and laughing at their goofy friend for they know only Brooke Davis would make up such a lame excuse just to have a party.
They linked arms once again and headed towards the gym doors.
It is now 8:00, the sky was now filled with stars and a bright moon that overlooks the whole town of Tree Hill. A big bonfire has been lit up and the beach was full of teenagers having the time of their life. It was a perfect night for the students to unite.
The Scott siblings had finally arrived fashionably late with both hands in their pockets. Lucas had a blue with white stripes dressed shirt, which was half buttoned and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He wore khaki shorts that cut off just passed his knees and just wore a pair of black flip flops. Haley was dressed a bit like Lucas with the difference of her green shirt that had picture of a sunset and a palm tree and had 'Paradise' written at the bottom. She also wore khaki shorts but they were just a lot shorter than Lucas' and like Lucas she wore black flip flops. As they stepped onto the beach they immediately saw a brunette in a yellow bikini suit running towards them.
"Hey boyfriend." Brooke said as she wrapped her arms around Lucas.
"Hey pretty girl" Lucas said giving Brooke a kiss.
"Hey Tutorgirl." Brooke said as she pulled away with a smile turning her head to face Haley.
"What's up uhmm Tigger." Haley replied thinking of her own nickname for Brooke.
"OoOOh Nathan has been waiting for you all night over there!" Brooke said with a wink pointing towards the direction where they saw Nathan socializing with Peyton Jake and Tim.
"Uh Why would Nath-" before Lucas could finish his sentence Brooke started kissing him passionately. Brooke opened her eyes for a sec to give Haley a wink and motioned her to go to the direction she had pointed at earlier. Haley gave Brooke a smile and left the two to continue their suck fest.
"Hey guys what's up?" Haley said smiling at everyone.
"Hey girlie glad you finally made it." Peyton said smiling back.
"Yeah no thanks to my sister over there." Haley scoffed referring to Lucas as he always takes forever to get dressed.
"Yo! You have a sister Haley!" Tim asked with excitement causing everyone to laugh at him.
"Tim I was referring to Lucas." Haley tried to explain.
"What, your sister is also named Lucas? Won't that be kind of confusing?" Tim asked with a confuse look.
"No point in trying to explain to him Hales." Nathan said.
"Yeah Dim is just too...special…" Jake said as he tapped Tim's head. The group continued to laugh except Tim who remains lost.
"Whatever man. I'm gonna go get a drink. Maybe you can introduce me to this sister of yours later, Haley…" Tim said with a wink as he left the group.
"Why do we hang out with him again?" Peyton said laughing.
"Yeah it's still a mystery to me." Nathan replied back with a smirk.
"Well anyway, Jake and I have to go now. Jake's parents are going out on a date so Jake and I have our own date with Jenny." Peyton said with a half smile.
"Aww but I just got here… you guys are leaving already." Haley whined.
"Yeah sorry. Have fun though." Jake said
"Alright see you guys later." Nathan said as he butted fists with Jake. Jake and Peyton nodded at Haley saying goodbye as they head towards Brooke and Lucas to say their goodbyes to them.
"And then there were two." Haley sighed.
"What? Afraid to be alone with me?" Nathan said with his famous smirk.
"Oh you're so full of yourself." Haley giggled as she gave Nathan a friendly push. Nathan and Haley we're so into the conversation they were having that they didn't even notice the red-head coming their way.
"Hey superstar..." Rachel wrapped her arms around Nathan and laying a wet one on Nathan's lips.
"Oh… uhmm… Rachel…" Nathan said pulling away from her.
"Hey wanna come back to my very empty and very private beach house?" Rachel said with a seductive voice, slipping her hand under Nathan's blue polo shirt and running her fingers all over Nathan's body.
"Uhmm actually…" Nathan glanced at Haley.
"Oh no it's okay I'm just going to look for Lucas and Brooke." Haley said turning around, but before she could walk away Nathan grabbed her hand to stop her. As she felt the gentle touch of Nathan's hand she felt a shiver down her spine.
"Actually I was talking to Haley, Rachel. I wanted to uhmmm ask her about some homework…" Nathan said quickly trying to come up with an excuse. Rachel pulled away a little upset at the rejection.
"Fine, whatever, if you change your mind I'll be over there." Rachel said pointing to the direction where 4 guys in red shorts were standing, assuming they were lifeguards. Rachel walked off leaving the two once again.
"Uhmm sorry about Rachel…" Nathan said apologizing for his rude girlfriend.
"I don't even know why you're with her Nathan. You know you deserve so much better than Rachel." Haley said so bluntly.
"Really? Cuz I don't know…I never really had any good relationship with any women." Nathan said.
"What are you talking about Nathan? There are plenty of girls around here. You just gotta look." Haley exclaimed a little frustrated at Nathan.
"I don't know Hales. I guess I'm just not ready for that kind of thing. I don't want people to get too close to me because they just end up leaving anyway." Nathan said a little upset.
"What do you mean?" Haley said a little confused.
"I mean look at my mom. She's was a freaking alcoholic. If it wasn't for your dad she wouldn't even be at rehab right now. And you, you just left. You we're the only one I could talk to about my mom back then. I couldn't tell Lucas those things. When you left I felt so alone. I had no idea what to do with my mom. It was like she wasn't even there. She was so out of it. All the women that I cared about in my life have left me. And I don't know I guess I just don't want to feel that pain again. So before they can play with me…"
"You play with them first." Haley finished as Nathan nodded. "Nathan... I know your mom has hit rock bottom ever since your dad died and I'm sorry for that. But you possibly can't blame yourself for that. She loves you, which is why she's at rehab right now trying to get better for you and I'm sure she'll get better soon. And well I'm back now so you know you can always come and talk to me again about anything. So don't think they always leave you, sometimes they come back." Haley said with a reassuring smile.
"I just don't want to get hurt Haley. It sucks." Nathan said.
"Well it doesn't give you a right to hurt these girls too." Haley replied back.
"Trust me Hales they aren't hurt." Nathan said.
"Okay maybe not, but you should really find someone that actually cares about you, someone that treats you better, someone that likes you for you not your body, and someone-" like you. Nathan thought to himself. Nathan looked at Haley's chocolate brown eyes and couldn't help but to think if Haley never left Tree Hill, maybe they could've had something. Maybe she was the one he needed in his life.
"So what do you think?" Haley said looking up at Nathan with a smile. Nathan snapped back to reality a little confused at what Haley just said. Can she read my mind? He though, what do I think about me and her?
"Hello… Nathan?" Haley said as she waved her hand across Nathan's face.
"Oh uhmmm what was the question again?" Nathan asked scratching his head chuckling a bit. Haley shook her head and laughed a bit.
"I said how about we ditch this place and go to Rivercourt, show me some more of your so called skills." She said nudging him.
"Oh yeah sure thing…Railey…" Nathan replied with his smirk.
"Okay how about you stop calling me that?" Haley said with her hands on her hips.
"Hmmm... How about… no..." Nathan said as he started running off. "C'mon Railey!" he called back laughing.
"Oh you are so gonna get it!" Haley yelled back as she ran after Nathan and jumped on his back after catching up.
Meanwhile as Rachel chatted with the group of guys, she got bored and decided to look around for Nathan. She glanced in the direction where she had left Nathan and Haley, but only found emptiness. She scanned around some more and finally saw Nathan giving Haley a piggy back ride both laughing as he walked them toward his car. Rachel glared at the two when all of sudden she crushed the plastic cup in her hand causing the alcoholic substance to splash all over the place. Rachel threw the cup on the ground and stormed off into the darkness that had welcomed her.