Life in the Fast Lane
Chapter One: Stronger
A/N: This should have been up on Wednesday, but I was having problems with my internet. The next chapter will be up on this upcoming Wednesday as promised. Hope you guys enjoy the new and improved chapters. If you reviewed before, but have some questions, comments or concerns, then just send me a PM. By the way, this chapter is set two years after the Prologue.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything but a chicken wing and my laptop. Wait just the chicken wing's bone. Stronger is a song by Kanye West.
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June 1994
Los Angeles, California
N- n- now th- that don't kill me
Can only make me stronger
I need you to hurry up now
Cause I can't wait much longer
Nathan looked at the car before him and glee filled his body. One and a half years of hard work had proven to be successful. His baby, a Mazda RX-7 FD that had been in a damaged in a car crash by some rich spoiled brat, now stood before him, the fresh coat of red paint gleaming in the sunlight. The custom body that his father and uncle had made for him gave the car the tough appeal that Nathan had always associated with his dream car. Fresh from having just received his license, his hands were itching to go for a spin. He ran his right hand over the head of the white wolf, bearing all of its teeth, displayed on the side of the car, proud that his girl had done such a good job on it. Opening the driver's door and jumping in, he turned the key in the ignition. The car quickly roared to life as Nathan quickly put the car into gear and stepped on the gas, burning rubber as he raced down the street.
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Haley wiped the sweat off of her face as she wheeled out from underneath the car. Sitting up wiping her hands on her baggy fatigue pants and cleaning her tools off on her white tank top, she looked around the empty garage and noticed a shadow pass by the small tinted glass window of the dark wooden door which led to Dan's office. Feeling very proud of the good work she had done on the car, Haley decided to go over and share of her accomplishment with Dan. She had never been happier in her life, than when she was at the garage. Although Nathan and Tim, who had been friends since the 3rd grade, always teased her for acting like more of a tomboy than a girl, and even though she was not actually allowed to work on any cars but the certified "dummy" car, the garage was still a place in which she felt at peace.
The petite blonde hated it when people made comments to her about how they wished they had a family as large as hers, always assuming that she had no idea what it meant to be lonely. As the baby of the family, the typical stereotypes most people would associate with the title didn't seem to apply. Instead of being the spoiled one of the family, she was the forgotten one, the mistake. Her older sister, Taylor, was ten years older than her, and all her other brother and sisters were on their way out of the nest by the time she was six. It seemed that instead of looking after her and doting her, her parents resented her for ruining their idea to go off and travel the world. Her mother had her oldest sister when she was 16, her dad had been 18, and it seemed that the kids just kept coming, wanted or not.
Haley knew that they both regretted having her, that they both thought they were done after Taylor had been born. The resentment was visible from the start when both her father and mother had to take up second jobs to support the family. Shortly after Haley's first birthday, her mother broke down emotionally after realizing how far she had fallen from her dreams. Shortly after that breakdown, it was blatantly apparent to everyone that her mother had given up on taking care of her youngest child. This left her only sister, Taylor to take care of her, but being only 10 years older, that only lasted until Haley was six. At that point Taylor had decided that it was time to leave the nest and just disappeared one night, her only parting words to Haley were, "Good luck Kid!". Back in New York, Haley used school as her escape from the emptiness she felt inside. Her ability to pick things up quickly helped her become a teacher's favorite, giving her the feeling of being wanted and liked. It was in school that her love for cars had evolved, thanks a teacher she had met there.
His name was Mr. Hargrove and he had grown up in L.A., were his father owned a garage. Mr. Hargrove shared many stories with her about growing up in L.A., with a mechanic as father who doubled as a racing fanatic, and the long trips they would take on every weekend to watch the races at a track five hours away. After school, he would stay with her, waiting for one her parents to remember to pick her up. After a while, he began to teach her all he knew about cars, using the school's forgotten mechanic shop. During their sessions Haley began to confess about how she felt at home. Mr. Hargrove sympathized with her and started treating her like family.
The next thing she knew, her parents where talking about a new beginning and she felt happy and hopeful for once. Assuming things would improve, had been her mistake her biggest mistake to date. Things were good at first, with the extra money that her father's new job was bringing in, her mother was finally able to find a job that she liked and wasn't forced to work just to have extra money coming in. Haley remembered watching her mother as she would go on about how she felt more accomplished than she ever had in the past. Haley would hear her father rejoicing at her change of demeanor, that she had returned to that girl with a nothing-will-go wrong and nothing-will-bring me down attitude, the girl he had fallen in love with. Her mother didn't even bring up the topic that her little girl enjoyed cars more than dolls, something that had been a great topic of discussion before. But six months after they moved everything changed for the worse.
Her fathers had been known for his temper, not towards his family but instead directed at those who he felt were insulting him, or anything he stood for. One day, while filing some paper work at his job, her overheard one of his co-workers talking about his mother and all the things he wished he could do to her. Her father lost it apparently and stalked over to the guy and punched him in the face. The other man retaliated which resulted in a fight in which her father lost his job. This set off a chain of events which ranged from bad to worse. Her mother had to give up her dream job and get two higher paying jobs, making her stressed and all around temperamental. Her father started drinking once he realized that he wouldn't be able to get another job because of the bad reference that his last employer had put out in the system. This only worked to further infuriate her mother, and being as Haley was the only child left in the home, her mother lashed out on her. She soon then started to beat Haley, and always screamed at her for not being girly enough, for trying to be a boy. Stating she had enough boys and asking what was wrong with her. Her father was always to oblivious in his drunken state by the time that her mother got home and beat her to keep his daughter safe leaving Haley to seek refuge elsewhere. That was when Haley started hanging out in the Scotts household. Once Dan had discovered Haley's talent with cars, he allowed her to work on the "dummy" car in the garage, giving her a chance for her to hone her skills and a chance to practice something she truly enjoyed and had a passion for. Haley finally felt like she was part of a family, the brothers that teased her, and the sister that always wanted to talk with her, even though recently all Brooke wanted to talk about was boys.
As Haley got closer, she realized that Dan was screaming at someone on the telephone. She was about to turn around, not wanting to eavesdrop on Dan's conversation, when she heard her name creep from under the crack between the door and the floor. Curiosity getting the better of her, she kneeled down, placing her ear as near as she could get to the crack, being careful not to breathe in the dust on the floor.
"No I don't have a problem with taking care of her, but that is beside the point… The damn point is that she needs her fucking parents, she too young for this…. Yes, I understand that much, but I have feeling I won't be seeing you guys around anymore...Of course I fucking doubt you'll be coming back! ... Why? Why? 'Cause you have been trying to get rid of her since the second you lost your job and she became a burden. …How could anyone not notice that!… Don't you fucking dare hang up on me, dammit!"
Haley heard the phone slammed down as Dan let out a stream of curses, coming to the realization that her parents had indeed hung up on him. Haley felt the hot tears start to build up in her eyes and then roll down her face, leaving streaks among the dirt which had accumulated onto her face. The young girl always knew that they never really wanted her, but at least they still provided a roof over her head and food for her stomach which allowed her the room to pretend that in their own way they truly loved her and cared for her. They had basically just thrown her to the curb without really saying goodbye and that fact took away from the shaky ground she stood on and sent her tumbling down into the abyss of despair and rejection. All the thoughts that cluttered her head created a pounding sensation and the possibility that Dan might not want her either sent a chill through her body. Haley stood abruptly and ran blindly out the garage, tears clouding her vision. She had no idea as to where she was going, the only thoughts running through her mind was that she had to get away fast.
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Watching the sun set off in the distance, it's reflection and orange dusk hue breaking the peacefulness of the blue ocean, Haley dug her toes deeper into the sand, hoping it would turn into quicksand and swallow her. Sighing she tried to figure out why this bothered her so much.
Because they are your parents and they are suppose to love you. But who could love you? You're nothing but a tag-along geeky tomboy poser.
Haley shook her head trying to rid herself of the thoughts that where flying at her all at once, attacking her mind, the insults along with everything else that had ever been spoken to her throughout the years hitting her all at once. She fought hard to not cry again, but she lost it, and broke down, worse than ever before.
She did not stop crying until she heard a voice over her, startling her causing her jump up and fall to her side.
"You all right there?"
She looked up, trying in vain to hide the tear marks from the person who had broken into her personal space, her own little world. Realizing it was the new kid from her shop class and soon after that she had also seen him over at the garage a couple of times. This probably meant that he had become some what friends with Nathan and Tim. She could not quite remember his name now, but then she remembered his question and shook her head in response, not wanting to explain herself to a stranger.
"You're Haley, right? I've seen you around the garage and at Nathan's."
Haley nodded her head in response. She did not feel like talking at the moment but she also did not want to seem rude, it wasn't in her nature. Haley looked onto the boy's eyes and from his expression could tell that he was waiting for more of an answer
Then she was willing to give at the moment. As he waited, he plopped down onto the sand, blanketing her in a thin layer of the grainy substance, beginning to come to the conclusion that he wasn't going to get much from her.
"Names Jake. Since you don't want to talk to about whatever is upsetting you. Since I'm not one to pry, why don't we just talk? Then when you are ready to head back, I can walk you back to the Scotts', they have been looking for you all day."
Haley smiled for the first time since she heard the phone conversation, glad that he hadn't pressured her to talk about it, something she knew she would have to do if she went back. Sitting there with him reminded her of the day she meet Brooke, two years ago. For some unexplainable reason she felt comfortable and relaxed with Jake. Not to mention, that in some strange way he had helped her forget all the terrible feelings that had overpowered the longer they sat on the beach. Once the streets were no longer illuminated by the last golden glows of the setting sun, and the flickering street light took its place, Haley decided than even though she wasn't ready to confront the Scott's, it was time to go home, her new home.
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Nathan drove up to his home and parked out front on the street. The rush of driving had him on a high and he knew nothing could take that feeling away. As he stepped out of his car, he noticed that Brooke was standing at window looking out into the street, her cheeks tear stained. Nathan broke into a run, hoping that nothing had happened and it was just something silly that Brooke was crying about. As he walked through the front door he ran to the crying Brooke and pulled her into an embrace. Brooke instantly threw herself into his arm, hugging him tightly, crying even harder.
"What's wrong, Brooke?"
Brooke mumbled something into his shirt, her sobs making it impossible for him to understand what she was saying. He gently pulled himself out her grasp and pulled her chin up so that she was looking at him straight in the face.
"Brooke, calm down for a second and tell me what happened."
After a few minutes, Brooke stopped sobbing and started speaking.
"She's gone!"
"Who is?"
"Haley!"
"What?"
Brooke broke out into another stream of tears, and it took Nathan another 5 minutes before he could clam her down enough for him to be able to understand her. Once she calmed down, she took in a long, deep breath before starting to speak again.
"Dad said that he was talking to her Dad, who's off looking for her mother, who ran away this morning, and he thinks she over heard him and ran away! Now they can't find her. And there was this hit and run, and Dad went with Tim to go see if it was her. I'm so scared Nate!"
Nathan stood there and automatically enveloped his sister in his arms and tried to soothe her as all the information started to hit him. He really hoped that it wasn't Haley and that she was all right somewhere. No one deserved to be deserted like that by their parents. After a few minutes, he heard the phone ring and went to pick it up, hoping it was someone with good news.
"Hello."
"Hi, is this Nathan?"
"Yes, who is this?" Nathan answered impatiently. He did not recognize the voice and knew that it could be either one for two things. Either this person was calling about a subject other than Haley or Haley had been in some sort of accident. He prayed to God it was not the latter of the two.
"It's Amanda, from school, you know Kelly's friend. I was wondering if Tim was there, it's kind of important."
"He isn't here right not, I'll tell him you called. Bye."
Nathan hung up, knowing that he should feel somewhat bad for acting so rude towards the girl, but not actually caring. They were in a crisis here, and had to keep the lines open for important phone calls, instead of stupid phone calls, involving stupid high school love lives. As he put the phone down, he heard Brooke scream, and ran over to her. Outside their home, illuminated by the street lamps, was Haley, waving goodbye, to someone whose back was turned to them. He watched as Brooke ran out and went to hug Haley, who just stood there, neither returning the hug nor rejecting it. It was a side of her he had only seen when she was on the defensive, not wanting anyone to see the hurt she kept inside.
He looked on as he saw this new Haley inform his sister that she was tired and was going to go sleep. He could tell that the iciness in her voice was not lost on Brooke, but also realized that Brooke knew that this was Haley's defense mechanism. Hopefully it won't last long he thought to himself as he comforted Brooke, something he knew she wanted to do to her best friend.
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June 1994
New York, New York
"To become the best, you've got to think yourself the best." His father's words resonated in his head as pushed himself to keep running. Soon the gleaming sun, high in the sky, heated his tired muscles and he decided that it was time to rest. Speed was his adrenaline, revenge his motivation. He wouldn't stop until he was the best and he could catch those who ruined his life. After taking a swig of water, letting the cool liquid run down his dry throat, he got up again, his tired muscles ready for another round of torture.
I know I got to be right now
Cause I cant get much wronger
Man I've been waitin' all night now
That's how long I've been on ya
I need you right now