Chapter 5
Thank you so much for the reviews last chapter. The number of reviews went up and then down lol so I hope you guys are still interested. I really liked the last chapter because we got some Scott bonding and after everything Nathan did, he needed to pay his dues. Now, I also updated my other story Behind the Scenes so please check that out. Thanks. Enjoy and please review!
. . . . .
"There.. there.. it's okay, Haley." Brooke tried to sooth her friend. After what happened with Nathan and Taylor, Haley needed some time away from her parents and her ex-sister, yes she was calling her that now, and the first person she thought of was Brooke. With out any hesitation, Brooke insisted that Haley fly out to Los Angeles and spend sometime with her, even so much as going out of the way to pay for her flight there.
As soon as Haley arrived at Brooke's penthouse in Santa Monica, Haley flew into her arms and the tears started flowing and that hadn't stopped in the thirty minutes since Haley had arrived.
"I can't thank you enough." Haley sat up from the couch and wiped her eyes with a tissue Brooke handed to her.
"Hales, you don't have to thank me .. you're my friend and I'm here for you." Brooke happily replied. She didn't mind having Haley with her. It had only been a few weeks since she left Tree Hill but Brooke was already feeling a little homesick and missed her friends. "Now, are you ready to tell me what happened?"
Haley took a deep breath, her voice shaky. "God, I don't even know where to begin."
"The beginning would be good." Brooke teased, squeezing Haley's hand in a show of support. Haley nodded and proceeded to tell her about the details of the night of graduation. How she talked to Nathan and asked for his forgiveness and how she was ready to move on with her life without him. It was hard but Haley knew it had to be done. Brooke stayed quiet and somber, she knew first hand how hard it had been on Haley this past year. This wasn't the first time Haley cried over Nathan to Brooke. Brooke had also agreed that it was time for Haley to move on, there was no sense in holding onto something that wasn't going to happen. Brooke remembered that night, it was all so very bitter sweet.
Then Haley started telling her about her visit to Taylor, how Nathan showed up out of the blue and wanted to talk. Haley was so hopeful, that maybe there was something there, that was until Taylor showed up and flipped her world around.
"I could kill that bitch!" Brooke shook her head.
"You and I both." Haley tried to joke, though it wasn't far from the truth.
"I should've kicked Nathan's ass too." Brooke sighed. "I saw him the next morning after you left Tree Hill, I was with Lucas and Nathan came by looking for you… oh honey I can't even imagine what you're going through." Brooke pulled Haley in for a hug.
"I don't know what to do anymore.. I mean .. this whole time.. this whole time he ignored me, all the letters I wrote while he was at High Flyers and didn't hear a word back and everything this past school year, for him to do this and not say anything.. and now he wants to talk?!?"
"Haley, let me tell you that you do not owe that boy anything!" Brooke held Haley by the shoulders, hoping to instill in her some sense of strength. "Leaving for the tour was your mistake and you've more than apologized for it but Nathan.. oh my God, my blood is boiling just thinking about it."
"But what do I do now?" Haley asked, wiping her eyes.
"Nothing." Brooke replied with the utmost of ease. "Hales, look at me, you were ready to move on with you life .. now is your chance, this is your clean break.. pretty soon you'll be in Arizona and hopefully do something about this pale skin of yours." Brooke tried to lighten the mood.
"Brooke.."
"No Haley, look, you and I both know it was over a long time ago with you two, you've both been through so much and at least now the truth is out .. there's nothing left to say or do."
"But move on." Haley added.
"Yes." Brooke nodded. "I mean you even went above and beyond by even apologizing to him even after you found out about Taylor, you are a saint Haley James."
Haley inwardly flinched. She still wasn't used to be calling that, but then again she had no reason to use Scott anymore.
"You and Nathan finally hashed things out.. you guys got everything out in the open, now you can start a clean break, this is what you wanted."
"I didn't want this." Haley sighed. "I didn't want any of this.. I needed it." Haley took another deep breath. "I needed to move on because I knew what I was doing wasn't healthy.. I know what you're saying Brooke but it still doesn't make it any easier."
"No one said it would be." Brooke sadly replied. "I won't lie Hales, there'll be good days and bad days, today is a bad but in time, it'll all be good days.. you'll see." Brooke squeezed her hand once more.
Haley nodded, praying her friend was right. "Thanks Brooke, I really didn't know what I'd do with out you.. and Lucas."
"Right back at you." Brooke playfully punched her shoulder and then got up. "Now.." Brooke put on a radiant smile. "like I said you've been looking a little pale, so why don't you get your swim suit, we'll go to the pier, get some icecream and lay out in the sun and get some color into you."
That sounded nice and Haley smiled, the first time in what felt like forever.
"That sounds perfect."
. . . . .
"Thanks for calling me Brooke, I was getting worried."
"No worries, Luke she's safe and sound."
"Where is she now?"
"Taking a shower. We just got back to the beach, some down time is exactly what Hales needs right now."
Lucas nodded, switching the phone to his other ear. "Yeah, I agree."
"Did you know about this whole Taylor thing?" Brooke asked.
"Yeah, I was there when Haley got there, but I had to get back to Tree Hill because my mom needed me to help out in the café.. I knew something like this was going to happen."
"Well there's nothing more we can do.. but I think Haley's going to be okay, she's strong."
"I hope so.. tell Haley to call…"
"You're talking to Haley?" A voice called out behind Lucas and Lucas immediately put his hand over the mouthpiece.
"What're you doing here?" Lucas whipped his head around to find Nathan standing by his door way.
"Are you talking to Haley? Where is she? Let me talk to her?" Nathan called out.
"Is that asshole with you?" Brooke asked in disbelief.
"Sorry.." Lucas got back on the phone. "Look I got to go."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later, Bye Luke."
"Where is she?" Nathan asked before a Lucas even got a chance to put his phone away.
"Nathan.."
"Luke.. I'm fighting for my life here.. where is she?"
"…"
"Dammit Luke! I thought we went over this. I thought you had my back."
"I have Haley's back!" Lucas cried out. "And right now she's a mess, no thanks to you." Lucas regretted the words as soon as it came out.
Nathan instantly felt like he got punched in the gut.
"Look I'm not trying to put you down but just give her time."
"NO!" Nathan shook her head. "We wasted.. I wasted enough time… she's with Brooke isn't she?"
Lucas paused, not saying anything. "Nathan.." Lucas said in a warning tone.
"Look Luke, you're the one that told me to fight like hell and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"I know that Nate.. but she's really hurting right now."
"And you and I both know I'm the only one that can make it stop."
"Don't get so cocky."
"It's the truth.. I love her and I was the biggest idiot in the world for not doing something sooner."
Lucas sighed. "Nate.. just please don't something stupid."
"No, not stupid." Nathan paused. "Just drastic." And with that he took off, not bothering to turn around to Lucas' cries for him to come back.
. . . . .
Dan walked inside the house and passed by Nathan's room. He stepped inside to see Nathan too busy packing for him to notice him.
"I didn't know pre-season practices at Duke started up already."
"They don't." Nathan replied curtly and continued to pack.
"Care to tell me where you're going?"
"Not really."
Dan walked over to the dresser and saw a print out for a flight itinerary.
"Why are you going to LA?"
"None of your business." Nathan snatched the papers away from him.
"You're going to see her aren't you?" Dan said after a pause.
"By her, you mean my wife then yes."
"She isn't your wife. I thought she signed the papers."
"You mean these papers." Nathan smirked as he pulled out a manila envelope and tossed it to his dad. Inside were the shredded remains of the annulment papers.
"Nathan, what the hell do you think you're doing? This is your life we're talking about here.. you finally have a clean break and with Duke this fall, you have you're whole life ahead of you, don't blow this!" Dan grew anger.
"No, my life is in California and it will be wherever Haley goes."
"Don't make the same mistake.."
"Mistake?" Nathan cried out. "Are you kidding me? So what, you leaving USC to raise me was a mistake.. not raising Lucas? Which one is it Dad?"
"You're twisting my words.. what I meant was.."
"No Dad, I don't care what you think.. you already made that point across when you gave me the annulment papers last year."
"Which you signed!"
"After you practically forced me to."
"You did nothing that you didn't want to do.. remember she was the one who left you for dead."
"Well she came back and it was my fault for not doing anything about it then. I'm correcting my mistakes."
"The mistake is you running half way across the country to chase after some girl."
"Not some girl, THEE GIRL."
Dan shook his head. "I'm putting a stop to this.. I'm canceling all your credit cards." Nathan was already 18 and was already emancipated since he was 16 so Dan only had one card left to play with.
"Go ahead, I've never used it in months."
"These tickets don't come cheap and last time I checked you stopped rolling pretzels a while ago."
"As if it's any of your business, the money came from mom… you remember her, you used her family's money to earn your own." Nathan shot back and continued packing.
"Nathan.. look just think about this."
"Yes Dad, I have.. I've been thinking about it for over a year now and I'm done okay.. what I can't believe is that everything you went through with Karen that you would still force those annulment papers on me .. how could .."
"Karen? Her and Lucas have nothing to do with this."
"But it does, doesn't it? You don't fool me Dad, you loved Karen and settled for mom and in the process you made everyone miserable.. I won't make the same mistakes you did.. I won't become you."
It was clear to him now that Nathan wasn't budging. If Nathan wanted to keep this up, then so be it. It would only be a matter of time before this fails, again and Nathan would be running back to him.
"You're making a mistake son." Dan said as he was leaving. "I helped you out before, don't expect me to be there when you come running back for help."
"Well it's a good thing I won't be needing it." Nathan said confidently. "Look dad," Nathan scratched his head, his headache only growing worse. "I'm not asking you to like this, what I need for you is your support and if you can't give me that then you might as well go now."
And without another word from Dan Scott, he left the room.
. . . . .
Haley walked down the street and turned the corner onto the beach. Brooke really did live in a great area. Brooke was having dinner with her parents and Haley didn't want to intrude, besides, Haley just wanted some time alone.
There weren't that many people out anymore but she found a nice spot on the sand to sit and enjoy the approaching sunset. The sun, sand and surf, everything felt so calm and peaceful but it was anything but for Haley. Still, it was either be depressed in the back of a cramped RV or this, she choose the lesser of two evils.
"Beautiful isn't it?" A voice called out.
Shivers ran down her spine as she recognized the voice. She closed her eyes for a second, hoping she was imagining things, but then she opened them and turned her head to find Nathan Scott in the flesh. He was wearing a pair of cargo khaki shorts, a black polo shirt with all the buttons on top unbuttoned showing off his chiseled chest and his white sneakers in his hands. He looked like he stepped out of an Abrecrombie ad, not like Haley noticed, she was just making an observation.
He took a seat next to her and looked out onto the deep blue ocean.
"What.."
"What am I doing here?" Nathan finished for her and then gave her a small smile. God she looked beautiful. "I came for you." Nathan said softly.
"Don't!" Haley threw her hands up. "Nathan, you shouldn't have came. It's over between.."
"No.. it's not Haley." Nathan cut her off. "I know I hurt you and I know we have a lot of stuff we need to go through."
"You did hurt me Nathan but there's no stuff left, there's nothing.. I'm sorry you had to come all the way over here to hear that but we're.. we're over and have been for a while." Haley said softly.
Nathan fought the onslaught of raw emotions and tried to stay focus, he knew this wasn't going to be easy.
"Haley.. we made mistakes.. I made mistakes.. but I still love you and I know you love me."
"I do love you, so don't make this any harder."
"It doesn't have to be… we can still have it Hales.. you and I, we can still have it all."
Haley gave him a small smile. There have been too many fights and yelling, she didn't need another argument. She needed closure.
"That would be nice wouldn't it? But we can't erase what happened."
"No but we can put it behind us."
"And then what Nathan? We've been apart longer than we've actually been together.. I know you love me and I know you're sorry and I'm trying so hard to let it go.. yes I was hurt and angry over what happened with Taylor but it only shows that we were over a long time ago."
"Haley, I can't change that and I'm sorry for but I'm trying to do better now."
Haley got up, not wanting to hear anymore for she was a hair's away from breaking.
"Nathan.." Haley dusted the sand from her jeans and Nathan stood up as well. "I appreciate you coming here.. really I do and I know you're sorry .. I guess I'm just disappointed.. disappointed that you could do something like that."
"But I didn't do anything with her." Nathan tried to point out, growing very frustrated and tired from his long flight here. "I was a mess, I thought you left me for Chris."
"But I didn't."
"I know that."
"And how would you like it if I went to Lucas right now, wanting to sleep with him? Or go see Chris for the same reason, to get back at you. Just think about that Nathan.. how would you feel?"
"…" Nathan stayed quiet, knowing full well what the answer is, just even the mention of it had his blood boiling.
"And how would you feel if I actually tried to do it and didn't bother to mention it for a year… look Nathan, I'm not trying to say this to upset you or get even with you.. we've both been burned.. it's time to move on." Haley said softly.
"I can't do that without you." Nathan replied, his voice thick with emotion and he took her hand in his.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, a stray tear falling. She squeezed his hands and held it up to her lips and gave it a small kiss.
"I will always love you Nathan Scott .. but after everything, I just.. I just can't be with you." And with that she took her hand away from his and started to walk away.
"Haley.. please.." He ran up to her. "Hales.." He reached for her hand, stopping her in her tracks.
"You're.. you're hurting me." She said softly and he looked down to see that he was gripping her arm a little too tight, but he had a feeling she didn't mean that. Reluctantly, he let her go.
"Please don't follow me.." Haley's voice cracked as she wiped away another tear.
He didn't want to push her any further. Seeing the pain in her eyes made him want to throw up, but he wouldn't be detoured, he wouldn't. He simply couldn't.
"I'm not going anywhere!" He called out those familiar words to her retreating form. Haley stopped for a moment, a sense of déjà vu, coming to her. A part of her felt happy to hear those words from him but yet an even bigger part of her told her to keep walking and so she did just that.
. . . . . .
SIt took nearly a day's drive but after countless miles of highway, a dessert and half a dozen bathroom breaks, he was finally here. Getting out of his rented car, he made his way to the directory to look at where he needed to go. When he left Tree Hill, he told his brother he needed to do something drastic and he didn't mean just flying out to California to see her.
Strolling into Arizona State University's auditorium, he headed up the stairs to the offices on the third floor. Stepping inside the athletic department, he went straight for the secretary.
"Can I help you?" The middle aged woman asked.
"Hi.. my name is Nathan Scott and I'm here to talk to the head of the basketball division."
"May I ask what for?" The secretary looked through the directory of phone numbers.
Nathan only smirked. "I want to know if they could use another point guard."
To Be Continued . . . .