Again, the feedback is treasured. I would love to reply to everyone, but I spend too much time critiquing and revising. I know I'm a slow ass! Lol! Because I'm splitting the chapter I had planned in two, the post is condensed. I hope this doesn't disappoint.
Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it.-Alexander Dumas
Chapter Six
The Thanksgiving holidays had been uneventful for Nathan and Haley.
Mrs. Scott was too occupied by her civic clubs and slimy part-time boyfriends to harass the duo.
Whitey served them up a sumptuous meal and later, they lounged by the hearth while he told stories of his childhood and life with his deceased wife, Camilla.
Friday, they both worked the morning shift and spent the rest of the day decorating the cabin for the yuletide season with items from the local discount mart.
They indulged in Karen's famous cider and grilled cheese sandwiches. Nathan scarfed down a bunch of reindeer shaped sugar cookies while Haley decorated the outside of the house with twinkling lights. Nathan did most of the hanging and she did most of the supervising. He didn't even complain about putting on what looked to be one hundred arms that created the fake Christmas tree that now sat beautifully decorated in the corner of the living room. He just laughed heartily and joined in when he knew a verse as Haley sang and fluttered about the small dwelling, setting nativity trinkets, hanging garland and mistletoe. This was the most fun he had since his parents died.
Except for Nathan's date with Kelly Saturday night. The rest of the weekend was spent doing community service of Ms. Scott's choice and attended church. It could have been much worst.
Tuesday, November 29th...
The day started off a disaster. Not only did Ms. Scott show up for breakfast with the kids, but viciously critiqued their eating habits, posture and grooming skills throughout.
After eating, they both longed for the escape of the school bus. Unfortunately, Deb decided that Haley's knee length skirt was extremely whorish and her shirt distasteful just as the bright orange vehicle hit their corner. Nathan tried to stay with the girl as his aunt drug her from the door an to ward their basement dwelling.
"No. You
can't be late, Nathan. You're doing so well." She plead with
her big brown eyes and he obeyed, not able to refuse her.
He slowly shut the front entrance and descended the steps. He
must have turned around at least four times before get on his
transportation, knowing Haley would have to hike the six block walk
by foot.
Ms. Scott didn't stay around to harass Haley after she came back upstairs with the previous skirt in a different color and a lovely red sweater. Luckily, Whitey had to go to the market and offered the girl a ride to school.
"If you children
say the word, I can have that drunk broad out of you lives! I've got
cataracts, but I'm not blind. I know what she's been doing to you
two!" The old man offered with agitation, clutching the young
girls hand as she fought of tears of sorrow and anger.
She wiped her eyes, turning her head from left to right.
"I love you for caring. Mr. Durham. But, we'd never forgive ourselves if she hurt you. Promise you won't mess with Ms. Scott. Promise me." She begged.
The senior citizen grumbled, but deep down he knew the child was right. Ms. Scott was the type of evil that kept you up at night and made you fear for you life. She was much too powerful for an old man to handle, much less a pair of teeny boppers.
School...
Arriving at her normal time and getting her books for first and second period, Haley went to search out her house mate.
Rounding the corridor to his locker, she found them unaware of her as Nathan fought off Kelly's advances. She leaned in for a kiss for the third time and he backed away, opening his locker.
"Gawd! Do you think that's all I'm about?" He asked in disgust.
Most guys would be relieved that women only wanted one thing from him, but he was sick of it. He wanted to be respected, admired and loved, but girls just saw him as a temporary fix or something nice to hang off their arm besides diamonds or platinum. He was basically treat like a whore. Well, except when he was with Haley, but that was different. He thought. Sure there was an attraction, but she wasn't interested in him. He would know by now. Besides, if she did, it wouldn't work anyway. He tried to convince himself. You can't turn a ho into a husband or even a decent boyfriend.
"Maybe, I think you're interested in somebody else." Kelly jumped back into his face.
"Who?" He smirked quizzically trying to stop fantasizing about a romantic day at the zoo with Haley and remember why Kelly was so pissed. It was all coming back to him.
"Tell me you're not still whining about me
taking Haley to the ball? I thought we cleared this up Saturday when
you sent me home twenty minutes into our date because I told I was
going to the dance with her instead of you." He yawned as she
started running her hands down his chest and he rolled his eyes.
"There's nothing you can do or promise me that's going
to change my minded. Tim and Felix may be my best friends, but she's
my closest, Kelly." He said honestly, gathering his books as
Haley presence drew near.
"That's only because you live together! I'm you're
girlfriend! …….Haley may not be hot like me and she dress weird,
but save your charity cases for another time! You're not smart
enough to play the good guy!" She jealously yapped and Nathan
would have told her off if they weren't distracted by the loud sound
of books falling, Haley's books.
It was as if time stood still. Nathan could see the numbness and self doubt clouding her ashen face.
Kelly took a glance at the petite girl she had know since first grade and felt like a complete ass.
Haley found her footing and bent down to pick up her things, only to feel a familiar hand aid her.
"Please don't listen to her. That's not what you are to me, not even close." He groveled to the girl in the quiet hall.
"Am I some big joke to you?" She wanted to know through her silent tears. "Was offering to take me to the ball whole thing something you and Tim schemed up?"
"No! Gawd, no!" He proclaimed, bringing her close to him as her sobs got heavier and she struggled in his embrace." I swear on my parents grave. I want to go with you." his throat thick and his eyes watery. "Please. Pleas don't cry, Hales."
"We are sooo last week!" Kelly stormed off. It was embarrassing to see her boyfriend practically breakdown and plead for another girls forgiveness. Obviously, she had been right about his intentions for Haley all along.
With the sexy redhead's outburst, Haley dried her tears and rose.
"I don't want you two break up over me. Aren't you going to go after her?"
Nathan stood tall. Haley was a total enigma to him. She was broken at the thought that he considers their date to the dance a pity ask, but she still cares enough to worry about his relationship with a girl that she deemed good for him. She was incredible.
"Haley, you can't mess up what was never there. She's not the one for me." He took her books in one arm and held her hand with the other, leading the way to her first period. "Now if you don't mind, I would like to walk my favorite girl to class."
Later...
Haley worriedly paced the
floor of the cottage living room. She had been there for an hour and
there was no sign of Nathan.
Ten minutes, later she saw him coming down the boardwalk with
his back pack loaded down. She ran out into the unusually low
temperatures and dragged him inside. Stopping in front of the fire,
she examined him carefully as she shed him of his outerwear and
accessories. She was praying he hadn't run into his Aunt Deb or an
angry and vengeful husband of one of his old conquest.
"Where were you? Are you okay? Did something happen?" She rattled.
"I'm fine. I just had to make a stop." He smiled, kissing her head. It was nice to have someone to come home to.
She let out the biggest sigh and fell back onto the sofa, letting her mind wander.
"Oh. I guess you made up with Kelly."
"That would be a no. I told you. I don't want her, Haley." He affirmed, bending down to search his bag. "I suffered through the cheer leading squads meeting at Brooke's house to pick up a few things."
"You poor baby." Haley mocked sarcastically as Nathan turned on the television.
He took a seat next to Haley and placed a half a dozen DVDs in her lap.
"What's all this." She peered at the items, curiously.
"Well, I know you haven't gotten to see a lot of movies because of your situation with my aunt an all." He confessed uncomfortably. "So I asked Brooke to pick out some of her favorite chick flicks since we started high school because she has seen like every movie in the world! The girl dates more than a professional escort!" He laughed and Haley did too, blushing slightly. "Umm, there's a few to start you off."
"Wow. You did that for me." She grinned innocently and he could do nothing but nod. "You're too good for me."
He was so proud he could burst, nobody ever said anything like that about him. Making her happy was so invigorating and uplifting. Maybe she wasn't meant for Lucas. Maybe!
She chose Two Weeks Notice, a big Sandra Bullock fan after seeing Ms. Congeniality on TBS a hundred times, give or take a few.
Nathan set up the player while Haley micro waved a bag
of popcorn and made cocoa.
With their treats on the table and the remote in Nathan's hand,
they gather themselves on the couch, under the king sized fleece
throw Haley had bought after he refused to pitch in on the purchase.
It had all these goofy forest animals all over itNathan
didn't understand why she couldn't pick out anything normal, but
they were miles from normal.
During the movies New Year's party scene, Haley warned Nathan that she didn't know how to dance so he should be prepared at the ball.
He laughed it off as no big deal and they remained snuggled together until the film ended.
Haley excused herself to the bathroom, only to return to a room little only by Christmas lights that cover the fake tree. The sounds of the adult contemporary station Ms. Sawyer always played at the café wafted through the room.
"What's going on?" She pondered.
Nathan came from the shadows, gently taking her hand.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" She shrieked and he brought her closure, engulfing her tiny waist with one arm.
"Shhh. It's me, Hales." He soothed and she gave him a shove in the chest with shaky hands. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Don't
do that!" She trembled with her head held low and he regretted
his romantic notions.
How could he have been so thoughtless? It had slipped his
mind that she was becoming more and more skittish as Ms. Scott's
tirades became more frequent and severe.
"I was trying to do something nice for you. I'm sorry, Haley." He coaxed, rocking her in his arms until she felt more self-assured.
"What's this about anyway?" Finally raising her curious brown peepers to seek out his plan.
"Well. You said you didn't know how to dance and do. So I thought I would teach you." He said nonchalantly while placing her arms around his neck and his around her waist before the selection end. "I wouldn't want you embarrassing me." He teased when she stiffened at the onset of the dance.
Her laughter filled the room and she fell into step.
"So who taught you how to move so gracefully, Mr. Scott?" She vexed in a British baroque.
Haley's spontaneous and creative nature, made his time with her all the more enjoyable.
"My mom use to dance around the kitchen with me on Saturday mornings while my dad made us pecan waffles." He recalled with a hint of sadness in his tone.
"I'm sorry, Nathan. We can stop. I don't want to upset you." She apologized, but he only winked at her.
"No, Hales. Those were ... and these will be great, beautiful, fun memories."
Meanwhile...
The doorbell rang at the Scott estate.
Ms. Scott promptly answered it in a matter of seconds, hoping to find Ms. Canon was actually early. The two tramps had met a few weeks ago at the local tanning salon and become instant buddies. Tonight, they had planned a girls night out.
Deb brushed down her short and low-cut ice blue dress, refusing to be outdone by the much younger blond. Only, the corn-haired person waiting at the door was male.
"Lucas Sawyer? My oh my! You sure have grown up." Ms. Scott smiled hungrily. "Come in." She ogled the strapping lad as his slipped between her and the ajar door.
"Thank you. Mrs. Scott. You really look good too." He grinned with his eyes locked on her unnatural breast as they sat partially stuffed and pushed up in her expensive gown.
"So how can I help you Sweetheart? Is this about the can food drive?" He followed her to the living room and took a seat while she made him and herself a drink before she remembered the boy was a minor.
"Actually, I came to
see Haley and to ask you something." Deb rolled her eyes and
gulped down the strong liquid in one of the glasses. She forgot
this little twit was friends with her slutty ward.
Everyone needed to think she was the perfect guardian if she was
going to keep making Haley's life the living hell she deserve for
being her-whore-of-a-mother's offspring and Nathan just for being
born a heart breaking male Scott.
"Well Haley's at work, so ask away." She plastered on a sweet facade.
"Haley and Nathan didn't have to work today" He blabbed, looking around the lavishly furnished room. "I guess she's at the library working on her English report, but I doubt Nathan is." He chuckled playfully.
"Probably not." Deb gritted through her teeth, before picking up the other glass and downing it.
Lucas noticed her impatience as she sat the empty container down on the bar.
"Anyway. It's about the Holiday Ball. ... I know you don't allow Haley to date but I would really like her to go with me." He whined.
"I have rules for a reason." Ms. Scott said a little more coldly than she planned. "I just wouldn't want anything to happen to that poor sweet girl." She lied as her voice dripped with concern.
"It won't. I swear!" He promised.
She strolled across the carpet and behind Lucas chair and laying a hand on his shoulder.
He jumped uneasily. "And this way Nathan won't have to take her. He can take his own girlfriend."
The middle aged woman raised a brow. The boys visit was getting more and more interesting by the minute. His knowledge of the pair could be used as an asset in the constant torture of Nathan and Haley. Stupid boy!
"Hmmm... since you were man enough to come ask permission for Haley to go with you to the ball, I'm going to make an exception." Ms. Scott proposed while her fingers ran through his well cropped locks. He was young and ripe for the picking. "All in due time!" She scolded herself.
"Thank you Ms. Scott. I promise to have her home on time and to be the perfect gentleman." Lucas sprung to his feet and ran around the chair to hug the woman.
"You better be a good boy." She flirted, brushing her breast against him as he embraced her happily.
Suddenly, he let go and raced for the door.
"I have to go tell her the good news."
"Lucas! Wait!" Deb ran after him, stopping him at the door.
"Yes, Ms. Scott."
"Umm. It's getting late. I'm sure Haley's will probably leaving the library in a few minutes. It closes soon. Why don't you just tell her at school tomorrow."
The distortion of his handsome facial features made it clear he wasn't pleased with her suggestion.
"I promise not to tell her or Nathan myself. I'll let it be your surprise." She tediously made a cross over her ample left breast that hexed the boy into submission.
"Alright! Thanks again, Ms. Scott." He waved with his eyes still trained on her chest as he backed down the steps, got in his car and drove away.
Ms. Scott went
inside and picked up the telephone. She waiting impatiently after
dialing a number.
"Ms. Canon for your banging." The recipient
dared.
"Cocoa, start the party without me. There's something I have to take care. I'll me you at the bar." Deb firmly stated and hung up before marching into the kitchen, sitting at the cozy breakfast nook and watching the door that both Haley and Nathan would eventually come through...
Pamela