Stillness
Chapter 6
Thank you all for lovely reviews. It's a little heartbreaking yes, but that's how I intended it to be, lol. I like stories where either Nathan or Haley have to fight for the other person but something about Season 3 always gets to me. Now this chapter is a little lighter than the previous ones. I've been a little busy writing lately, so please check out my new one-shot I posted up recent, "Officer Scott" as well as my latest update on "Behind the Scenes." I'm actually done with the next chapter in that one but I still got to read over it and stuff. I'll probably get started on "The mourning after" tomorrow. You're feedback means everything so please check those out if you enjoy my work. Enjoy this chapter and please review!
. . . . .
"I don't think he's coming." Brooke said as she flickered through the channels.
Haley looked at Brooke, putting the magazine she wasn't reading down.
"Who?"
Brooke huffed, as if she didn't know. "Nathan." She said casually.
"What? You're delusional!" Haley defended herself and picked the magazine back up.
"That's why you've been staring at the same page for ten minutes now?" Brooke cocked her eyes and before Haley could say anything, Brooke yanked the magazine from here, revealing a two page spread of Armani's new line. Brooke chuckled as she saw what Haley was looking at, or rather not looking at. "The bags cute." She put the magazine down and went back to flipping channels.
"Whatever." Haley mumbled as she shifted uncomfortably on the couch, with her eyes still on the front door.
"It's been two days, he's not coming." Brooke said once more. For four days, Nathan kept showing up at Brooke's wanting to see Haley and everyday she ignored him. It became a daily ritual and something Haley apparently missed. Even though, she didn't see him or talk to him, it was still nice knowing he was nearby.
"And how would you know?"
"Cuz he said so."
"What!?" Haley's eyes went wide. "When did you talk to him?"
"When he dropped off the flowers." Brooke nodded to the dozen or so bouquets that were currently on Brooke's dining room table. Everyday Nathan came and everyday he left flowers.
Haley narrowed her eyes, her annoyance growing on her soon to be ex-friend.
Brooke saw the angry glare and turned her attention back to Haley. "He came by the other day to drop of the flowers and he said he had to take off to take care of a few things. There, happy."
"You know you could've told me that two days ago!"
Brooke shrugged. "You didn't ask." Haley rolled her eyes again and shook her head.
"Besides, I wanted to make sure."
"Make sure of what?"
"That you still loved him."
"Brooke.. Nathan was my first love who I married.. of course I still love him."
"Yes, but I wanted to see if you still wanted him."
"I .. I don't want him back.. we're over." Haley said hesitantly.
"O-kay." Brooke said unconvinced as she started playing with her hair.
"Brooke!" Haley exclaimed. "I'm serious, we had our chance, it's over."
Brooke got up and padded Haley on the head. "It's only over if you want it to be." And then made her way into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
"I can't believe after everything's that's happened, you just want me to go running back to him."
"I didn't say that." Brooke closed the refrigerator. "And believe me, I ripped him a new hole when I yelled at him for the whole Taylor debacle .. but he didn't budge. I got to give the boy credit, he's as stubborn as he is persistent."
"So, what should I do?"
"I don't know Hales, it's up to you." Brooke sighed, feeling sorry for her friend. "But checking every five minutes to see if he's here and then pushing him away when he is.. seriously Hales, you've got to do something."
Haley stayed quiet and looked down. Brooke hated seeing Haley so sad and beat down. It was just like how last school year was when Haley moved in with her.
"I would've at least taken his offer to go to the beach.. I mean yeah Nathan's a jerk .. but a jerk with a great six pac." Brooke grinned, trying to lighten up the mood. Haley tried to feign annoyance although she had to give it to Brooke for helping her feel better, no matter how inappropriate.
"Whatever.." Haley huffed. "He's gone now."
"When it comes to Nathan Scott, I wouldn't rule anything out." Brooke said as she took a sip.
. . . . .
Haley was suffocating. How this taxi driver was able to drive in this heat with no air conditioning was beyond her. A few hours ago, she left LA on a plane and headed to Phoenix for her freshmen orientation. Getting out of the cab, she was glad she had singles so she gave the exact amount. She wasn't going to let this jerk get a tip after he made her sweat off about five pounds.
Looking around at her surroundings, it was almost surreal to think that in a couple of more weeks, she would be attending here. She grabbed her duffle bag and headed up the stairs towards registration. She hoped that this trip to her new school would get her excited for the upcoming semester.
Like most colleges, orientation was usually an overnight affair with endless presentations about what the school had to offer and of course meeting with your advisor to discuss course selection. All in all, it was a good distraction from everything going on.
"Haley James." She smiled at the volunteer in front of her. The young lady in front of her must've been a student here. She didn't look that much older than her. Flipping through some papers, the young lady frowned.
"I .. umm.. I don't see you here."
"What?" Haley scratched her head but realized. "Oh.. I'm sorry.. umm.. Haley Scott." Haley felt embarrassed, she was still technically a Scott.
The young lady gave her a curious look. Great, Haley thought, she must think I'm so weirdo for not even remembering my own name.
"Ahh.. yes .. here we are.." The young lady pulled out a folder with a bunch of papers inside. "Here's your packet, bring it with you when we meet at the conference center just down that hall. We're going to get started in about an hour and a half, until then you're free to roam the campus or go to your room and get settled .. this is your key card to let you in the dorms.. you're in room 2332. . We'll be here if you have any other questions."
"Thanks." Haley smiled warmly and gathered her things.
Haley found the dorms with little problems, but she was drenched in sweat. She did want sun, she thought to herself. She couldn't wait to put her things down and take a cold shower before going back to the Campus Center.
The dorms were as expected, nothing too flashy or terrible. There were a couple of people roaming around but not too many. She entered her room and saw two twin beds right next to each other and two desks and two dressers on the other side. Great, she thought. The cleaning people didn't bother to set her room up properly. She already saw that someone else was here and she hoped her temporary roommate would help her move the stuff around. She closed the door and heard, who she presumed was her roommate, taking a shower in their bathroom.
She put her things down and grabbed her toiletries and a towel. Then she walked to the other side of the room to peer out the window. She heard the shower stop running and then the door open. She took a deep breath ready to meet her new roommate but her jaw dropped as she saw Nathan there, a huge smirk on his face and what she realized was a way too small tower, wrapped casually over his waist.
She felt the temperature rise even more as he stood there, dripping wet, muscles glistening, acting as if he came out of an Abrecrombie ad that or a cheap porn.
"Na.. Nathan?"
"Hey Roomie."
"What.. what.." Haley was trying to formulate the words.
"Damn, if I knew you were going to take a shower, I would've waited for you." He winked at her.
Haley shook her head. "I don't know what this is Nathan but when I come back, you better be gone!" She rushed passed him and entered the bathroom. She turned around to hear him chuckling and catching his back, she saw him remove his towel, his buns of steel coming in full view and she wanted to slap him for a whole hosts of reasons.
. . . . . .
"He did what?!" Lucas exclaimed over the phone.
"Apparently, he's transferring here." Haley sighed. After she took a shower, Nathan was still there. Determined to talk to her, he told her, he was transferring here if and that would be that. Haley couldn't take another word as she quickly changed and made their way to orientation. Nathan stuck by her like glue but luckily, she was getting a tour of the English department and finally got separated from him. She had a 15 minute break before the next presentation and so she had to talk to someone.
"I can't believe this." Lucas replied. "Wait, this is Nathan, I take that back."
"I can't believe him.. how could he throw away Duke to go here.. God!" Haley was getting furious at the thought that Nathan would throw away something he'd been working his whole life for.
"For you Hales."
"I just want him to go." Haley said softly.
"I don't think that's going to happen buddy.. at least not for the rest of the weekend." Lucas tried to point out. "Well, he's persistent as he is stubborn."
Haley laughed sarcastically. "Funny.. Brooke said the same thing."
And they were right, he would be stubborn but he was no match for Haley James soon to be former Scott.
. . . . .
The whole day blew. How the hell was he supposed to get some face time with Haley when the school had him hurtled around like cattle from one place to another. He had a headache, he hated orientations. It didn't help that a couple of girls tried to hit on him, that was so the last thing he needed.
Coming in front of room 2332, he saw the lights were already on, which meant that Haley was inside. He started to feel a thousand times better. They could finally get some alone time.
He opened the door, an amused look on his face, as he saw Haley bent in front of him trying to move the two twin beds apart.
"Are you going to just stand there or are you going to help me?" Haley turned her back and glared at Nathan while she tried to pull on the surprisingly heavy beds apart.
"Nope.. I'm enjoying the view."
"God you're such an ass!"
It took everything in Nathan not to say a smart comment back but he already knew Haley was on edge and he didn't want to piss her off even further than he had to.
"Nope, no can do."
"Nathan.. if you think we're going to sleep together in the same bed.."
"Technically, we won't be.. there are two beds there, we'll just be really close to each other."
Haley threw her hands up in defeat. "I don't even know why I bother."
"Haley look.."
"No, Nathan.. you look.. do you think this is funny or some sort of game?"
"No of course not."
"Then stop acting like it is. Jesus Nathan.. this is your life we're talking about here.. what happened to Duke?"
"I couldn't go there knowing you were here."
"Why?"
"Why? Because I love you that's why!"
"God, Nathan.. this is a mistake."
"Then it's mine to make.. look Haley, I told you I wasn't going anywhere."
"And if you go here, you really won't be going anywhere." Haley sighed as she took a seat. "Nathan, I spoke to admissions.. you're not even officially a student yet.. the basketball team hasn't picked you up yet."
"They will."
"And if they don't."
"It doesn't matter."
"Nathan, do you even hear yourself?"
"I can play basketball wherever Haley.. it doesn't matter.. as.. as long as you're there."
He expected her to be angrier and to yell more but she looked up at him, he wasn't expecting to see the sad and defeated look she had on. "You made a mistake." She repeated softly as she got up to change into her night clothes.
. . . .
"Are you alright?" He turned to Haley who was buried under the thin sheets. He couldn't believe that she was only a foot away but yet he was so far from her.
"It's scorching during the day and at night they apparently turn the place into igloos." Haley chattered her teeth. She only brought shorts, summer dresses and tank tops with her. She didn't think she'd need a sweat shirt. She didn't know how Nathan could just sleep there in just his boxer shorts. The room was freezing.
After Haley changed, an uncomfortable silence swept over them. He knew it wasn't going to be easy but having Haley repeat to him what he was actually giving up and saying it was a mistake for him to be here was weighing heavily on him. He was crazy alright but he had to take this risk. So many times over the past year he wanted to do that with Haley but something always held him back and it was so easy to run away. But now if he did nothing, then he would loose her and he wasn't go to let that happen.. not again.
Nathan sat up and took his sheet and placed it over Haley.
"Nathan.. you don't .." She tried to protest and she was just as surprise when she felt him saddle up to her, getting in under the sheets with her and pulling her close to him.
"Nathan.. stop this.." Her hand met his hard chest. "If you think that I'm just going to just have sex.."
"Hales you know I would never pressure you about that." He said in a serious tone. "I remember how cold you always got in the apartment, no matter how hot it was, so would you relax, I'm not going to try anything… no let's get some sleep."
"Nathan.. we can't .." she tried to push off him.
"Hales.. I'm just asking for you to sleep with me.. sleep that's it.. it won't kill you."
"Right." She said sarcastically.
"Look.. just come here and do me a favor." He held her close. Getting tired and not wanting to argue anymore.
"Okay.. fine.. what?"
"Just close your eyes and take a deep breath."
"Nathan.."
"Hales.. please."
She shook her head as it rested against his hard chest, she hated to admit how comfortable she felt and how her chills had stopped. A half naked Nathan Scott could send any woman ablaze. She took her mind out of the gutter and did as Nathan requested. She longed to feel some sort of repulsion but it wouldn't come. All she felt was comfort, the same comfort and warmness she'd longed for and missed for the past year. And with those distance memories now a realty, she drifted off to sleep, once again in the embrace of her husband.
Nathan felt her breathing steadily and her shaking stop. He looked down and smiled as she fell asleep. Holding her felt so great, so wonderful. It reminded him of how he got addicted to this, just holding her. After getting emancipated and having his own place, he would often sneak over Haley's to just sleep with her. Before her, he didn't know just how good it was just to be with someone else. His smile dropped once he realized their present. For tonight, he'd have her and he only hoped that tomorrow, she would still be his.
. . . . .
Nathan tossed in bed and hugged the pillow a little tighter. It was then that alarm bells came blaring through his mind and he shot up from bed and found that he was alone. He panicked and looked around and saw that all of Haley's things were gone.
He got up off of bed and noticed a note on the desk.
Nathan,
You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you. I love you Nathan, I never denied that and I probably always will but I can't go down there again. We had our chance, it didn't work out. I'll always care for you and I want you to be happy which is why I called Duke this morning. You're spot is still waiting for you. There's still time, don't blow it.
Haley
Nathan stared at the letter for a minute before he scrunched it up in his hands and violently threw it across the room and slamming his fists against the desk, his frustration, anger and sadness taking over him. . Once again, Haley had left him and left a chilling note behind.
To Be Continued . . . .