I would like to thank all the readers and repliers to my fiction. I thank you for your time. This chapters a little weird, but necessary. Chapter 4 will be added shortly.
Chapter 3
Two weeks later...
Things had slightly changed between Ms. Scott's two wards. They still shared meals and worked together, but there was no joking around or innocent flirting.
Haley had become extremely formal with Nathan. Even when he wanted help with studying, he had to make an appointment at the tutoring center. She didn't worry about whether he got in on time. She didn't even defend him, when one of her best friends, Lucas Sawyer joked about how dumb Nathan was. Lucas was in his math class and happily noted that Nathan had gotten a 35 and a 24 on his last two trigonometry quizzes. Haley just got up from the lunch table and made some excuse about having to check out a book in the school library. After hearing him awake from his nightmares in the wee hours of the night, she still let him into her bed. However, she remained on her side of the bed. There was no touching or early morning pillow talk.
Nathan seemed indifferent to the switch in her behavior, letting it roll off his back. He had resigned himself to believe that his life was to be filled with disappointment and despair. He supposed, eventually Haley was going to write him off. It just had come sooner than later. He continued with his destructive behavior by drinking, getting into fights, and missing curfew.
Deb had beaten him three times in the last week. Haley stayed away each time, not tending to his wounds or holding him close. She didn't even tell him it was going to be okay or that they would be out of Deb's clutches soon. He missed her encouraging words the most. Truthfully, he missed everything about her.
One night, Haley sat with her back pressed against the bathroom door that lead to Nathan's room. She had heard him stumble down the stairs and crawl through his room to broken down cot. She fought her instincts with every fiber of her spirit, wanting desperately to go to him, to nurse and console him, clutching the first aid kit in her hand.
She could hear heavy sobs from deep in his soul fill the air. Not once, had she ever heard or seen Nathan cry before.
She jumped to her feet and twisted the knob. The door was only slightly ajar and she stood in the opening.
"Haley." She heard Nathan's raspy voice as he wept. "Please, Haley." His tone dripping with longing and heart ache.
The loving girl took one step and a flash of memories hit her like a Mack truck. They were thoughts of all the times Nathan had hurt and/or disrespected her after she had so freely given her care and love to him.
Letting the first aid kit fall to the hard floor with a bang, she immediately retreated. She closed the door behind her and ran to her room. Helping the man that would always have a special place in her heart was just to risky to her emotional state. Another betrayal by him would break her. She had to be stronger than that. It was hard enough surviving the torment Deb Scott placed on her.
Friday, October 21st...
When Haley left early for school three weeks after she overheard Nathan tell his best friend she meant nothing to him, she was surprised to hear the usually tardy teen already in the shower without her threats that he was going to flunk twelfth grade.
Looking at the graded test lying on the breakfast table that morning, she was even more intrigued. He still wasn't doing his best, but his grades had improved.
During the week, Nathan had spent all of his free time locked up in his roomShe had heard him on the telephone a few times. The rest of the noises coming from the dismal abode were gansta rap or hard rock as it blared from his boom box. The garbage can in the hall was filled with what was now empty liquor bottles.
He had staggered into her room smelling like a life-size Margarita Wednesday night. For the first time, she had sent him away, refusing to share her quarters.
How had their relationship dwindled to nothing more than casual acquaintances? At this point, it was doubtful that would change.
Entering the school with his friends, he watched his talkative and fun-loving crew grow silent when Felix's came to an abrupt stop in the crowded hallway. Felix's sister and her girlfriend leaned against her locker whispering, giggling and holding hands.
"Think Anna and Stacie will do a threesome with me?…… I'll pay." Tim lusted.
" Tim!" Nathan warned. "Shut up!"
Peyton and Brooke flashed the pervert a dirty look.
"What?" He shrugged.
Jake just stared at Felix, who was visually livid with the cutesy display his twin and her lover were displaying. Surprisingly garnering their attention, Anna let go of Stacie and faced her disapproving sibling.
"I wouldn't mind her screwing you instead of being a carpet muncher!" Felix spat nastily.
"I thought she was a switch hitter?" Tim questioned dumbly, receiving a jab in the side from Brooke.
The rest of the group watched their brown skinned buddies face clouded with extreme hate for and shame of the best friend/sister to whom he use to be inseparable. Feeling awkward they turned away. Sure most of time most of them were major assholes, but they were open-minded. Besides, they all loved Anna. She use to be a part of them. They thought Felix loved her the most.
Anna tore off in the direction of the Girl's Room.
"Homophobic prick!" Stacie insulted before chasing after her girl.
"I'm not the one with a fucking problem!" He countered.
"Dude, don't do that to your sister." Nathan spoke sincerely, hoping to coerce Felix into respecting his sister's decision whether he condone them or not.
"Whatever!" The other teen let out a laugh." Like you have room to talk!"
"What the hell does that mean?" his now heated friend demanded.
"It means. Maybe you should take a look at yourself or keep that damn mouth of yours closed, Scott!"
Nathan tightened his hands into fist and stepped closer to the guy acting less like they hung out on a daily basis.
"Familiar with Haley? You bastard! ...You know what? I don't need this shit!" Felix walked off, headed for the parking lot.
He was tempted to ditched school before second period gym where his lesbian, bisexual or whatever the hell she was this week, sister was the butt of a many joke or rap. He was tired of defending her when she didn't even confide in him before bringing her lifestyle public. He thought they had been closer than that. He loved her more than anybody in the world. She should have put her trust in him, had more respect for him!
Nathan stormed out after him. A nosy Brooke and Tim tried to follow, but were held back by Peyton and Jake. It was time somebody set Nathan straight.
Parking lot.…..
"What about Haley?" Finally reaching Felix, Nathan spoke to his back. "Say it!"
"Come on, Partner. We all know if it weren't for Haley your ass would be dead somewhere! When you come in here all bandaged and shit! ……You've never been to the emergency room. ... Who else would fix your ass up? Not your mean ass aunt, that's for sure ... not those sorry bitches you're always doing!" Felix relayed honestly, leaving Nathan speechless.
"When you miss curfew and get busted it's so obvious because you come in here all fucked up because you're Aunt beat you down. But as much as you screw up someone has to cover for you at least half the time or your would have put you sick foot under…… Those are the days Haley comes all bruised to hell! You're aunt's one crazy bitch! They need to lock that sick ho up!"
"How did you know she was hitting me? Us?" A shocked Nathan requested as the first bell sounded.
"Jake suspected it for a while but you just confirmed it."
Nathan dropped his chin to his chest. He felt exposed, ashamed and humiliated.
"We didn't go to the authorities because in Criminal Justice class, we learned if your rich or famous, you can get away with all kinds of bullshit in this country. Ms. Scott is loaded, reputable in the community and a pretty little blond. She would so get off! ... child abusing bitch!
"Peyton and Brooke wanted to confront you, but we were afraid you'd freak and start avoiding us. You know how you get. ... You could have told us!"
"Oh yeah! Right! Picture this! ... Guess what, guys? ... My 120lb witch of an Aunt is kicking Haley and my ass regularly and there's not a damn thing we can do about because we don't have anyone else! They would ship my orphaned ass off to one place and Haley to another!" He acted out sarcastically.
"So you two are close?" The shorter student prodded getting into the driver's seat of his BMW while Nathan took the passenger's spot. They were already going to be late. Why rush it?
"Yeah. Being apart would be just as bad as the torture we endure to stay together ...We have this connection. The Beat By Deb Scott Club or something." He tried to joke through his rambling when thoughts of Haley dance in his head. "Really, really tight. At least we were?" Nathan paced.
"Until?" Felix pressed.
"A couple of weeks back, Tim was hounding me about checking her out at lunch and saying I liked her and stuff……. How I feel about Haley is none of his business! ... Anyway! Short version, I told him Haley was nothing to me."
"I'm assume she overheard."
"Hell yes! She was standing right behind us. She came to give me an extra cupcake from her lunch."
"Ouch!"
"Since then, things between us have progressed from bad to worst. She only talks to me when necessary and she always short and direct. She leaves work before my shift is over so we can't ride the bus together. I already tried to apologize and she basically told me, she has given up on me."
"Ohhh, that hurts."
"Probably just as much as you writing Anna off is killing her."
"That's different." Felix frowned, wrinkling his brow.
"She can't help how she feels, Felix. You're going to regret shutting her out. She's your family. You love her, Man."
"You love Haley and you treat her like crap. You constantly do stupid and unnecessary bullsh!t that gets your ass in all kinds of trouble!" He comments to steer the conversation away from his short comings.
"I never said I loved Haley." Nathan denied staring dreamily at the windows of the tutoring center.
"Didn't have to, Man. When you see her or talk about her, it's there. I've witnessed it."
"We're just friends. Well, not even that right now. ... She has been so good to me." He smiled solemnly.
"And for you." Felix assured as he opened the door.
"I could say the same thing goes for you and Anna." Nathan got out and joined his classmate on the journey back to the main school building. "She keeps your cocky behind in check."
"Alright, alright! I hear ya! ... Here's the deal." Felix surrendered. "You figured out how to get cool again with Haley. ... I'll apologize to my sister and stop being an anus. That still doesn't mean I have to like Stacie. She's always been a bitch, gay or not!"
"Deal!" Nathan chuckled as they bumped fist. "Can I take off now? I'm barely passing Spanish?"
"I've got an A." Felix bragged and turned down a separate hall.
"Dude, you're fluent! Kiss my ass!" Nathan smarted and sprinted to class.
The conversation Felix had with Nathan, made somewhat of a difference.
Nathan cut out the fighting and started improving in his studies, but he was still getting drunk. He started dating girls their age, but they were still trashy, cheaters and verbally abusive to him.
Some of the tension between Nathan and Haley had subsided. They were holding conversations during meals and even watched television together a few nights a week.
They kept sharing a bed. He could hold her hand while they slept. It wasn't as intimate as laying his head against her beautiful breast. It didn't compare to the way her dainty digits use to examine him when she thought he was still asleep, but he would take it.
Thursday, November 18th...
Busting through the double door, Haley headed directly for her table. She couldn't help noticing Nathan was absent from his normal eating perch. Probably making out with some bimbo in the library She journeyed onward. Mouth, Skillz and Lucas were already in attendance.
"Lukie!" She squeal with false enthusiasm, trying to overcome the sense of foreboding she had just acquired.
"Sup, Hales." He grinned happily.
"Hi, Haley." Mouth smile.
"Mouth." She giggled.
"Looking hot, Girly!" Skillz flirted. She blushed bashfully causing her au naturale cheeks to redden.
"Thank you, Antwon."
"I told you not to call me that, Hales!" A tight lipped Skillz whispered as he scoped the area to make sure no one had heard.
"It's your name." She laughed, batting her eyes at him sweetly.
"Cool! Haaaleeeeybop!" He blurted and her jaw nearly fell to the table. Finally, she closed her mouth and shot dagger at her lifelong friend.
"You fight dirty!" She pouted." Hi, Skillz. How are you today?" She mocked in a phony polite tone.
"That's more like it!" Her friend joked and the group laughed.
She was unzipping her back pack to search out her lunch, when Skillz and Mouth grabbed their stuff and headed out.
"Hey, why are you leaving me?"
"Lab." Mouth explained but she still looked confused..
"Chemistry project ring a bell.? It's due next Tuesday, before the Thanksgiving break." Skillz added as the pair walked away.
Haley was white as a sheet, her heart racing. The midterm information and supply list had been handed out the week she stopped speaking to Nathan.
Mrs Cannon claimed to have turned over a new leaf. She was working their asses off. A week later her tyranny ended when Jason Calloway needed a tutor. Chemistry became a free period again.
The brunette had completely forgotten about the assignment! Oh snap! Nathan was her lab partner! Mrs.Cannon would just love to see him fail. Especially after Haley got him out of being her man whore!
The worried girl threw her bag over her shoulder and stood, but Lucas grabbed her wrists. Holding her in place.
"Hey, I never get you alone. What's the hurry?"
An uneasiness swept Haley. More and more, Lucas tried to get her alone.
One night, He helped Haley carry a large box of cheesecakes to the freezer. On the way out, he trapped her into a corner, pretending to play Tickle Monster, but she swears his hands were roaming places that weren't ticklish. Luckily, Nathan came and got Haley because the bus was coming.
"I forgot all about the project! I have to find Nathan!" She panicked.
"Why do you need that retard?" He spat icily, increase his hold on her wrist.
"Oww! You're hurting me, Lucas!" She flipped and snatched her arm away.
The pair received stares from students seated close by. Haley didn't care. Her head was drowning in images of Mrs. Scott tossing her across the room by her arm, binding her wrist with duct tape or rope, or the time she broke it, striking her with a tennis racket. She felt scared, trapped and lost. She couldn't move.
"Hales. I..."Eager to apologize, Lucas leaned over the table.
"Stop touching me!" was her outcry.
Suddenly terrified of her trusted sidekick, she backed up, bumping into a something hard and firm.
"Haley. What's wrong?" Were Nathan's gentle words. Rotating, she went straight into his arms as she eyed Lucas with anxiety…..
Pamela