Some text loosely based on episodes in Season Three – credit to the OTH writers! I own nothing!
Brooke angrily slammed the door and threw herself down on the couch beside me.
"Something wrong dear?" I smirked, putting down her textbook and taking off her reading glasses.
"Yes, roomie, something is very wrong. This is our Senior year, our SENIOR year! Finally!! I'm the Captain of the Ravens and this is supposed to be my year!! I'm the chief, the commander, the one to follow, the –"
"Brooke, what happened?" I urged her to just get to the point.
"I just never expected that after all of my cheer camps, practices and years of experience suddenly I have some ho-bag trying to take over my squad—" Brooke blurted out in frustration and then suddenly felt worse for talking about it with me.
I could sense Brooke's hesitation. "Brooke, it's okay…you can talk about Rachel."
Brooke smirked, "See, all I said was 'ho-bag' and you immediately knew who I was referring to!"
It was no secret that Rachel Gatina was the newest recruit to the squad, if only by default. Brooke had disliked her on-sight but Peyton had convinced her to give Rachel a fair chance. A fair chance that had promptly back-fired.
I couldn't help but laugh –
"I feel bad though…sorry, Hales. Here I am bitching because the girl is trying to win over my squad…when she's already –"
"—won over my husband?" I finished for her.
Brooke sighed, "yeah…but he's not actually your husband anymore…"
I shook my head. "I know, but it doesn't make it hurt any less."
Brooke leaned over and put her arm around my shoulders, "I know buddy."
Then, suddenly Brooke sat up on the couch with a grin.
I looked at her confused, "wow, do you really shift moods that fast?"
"Yes, when I've struck idea greatness!" Brooke smiled. "I got it, I think I can help both of us out with one quick solution."
"..and what would that be?" Haley asked.
"You are the next Ravens cheerleader!" Brooke exclaimed. "Don't you love it?"
I just stared at her, "No, Brooke…that's actually a terrible idea. That's beyond terrible."
Brooke's face fell. "Why? Think back to how much you helped us out last year at the Classic? I mean sure, you're clumsy and you can lack coordination at times too—"
"—Wow, is that your way of buttering me up?" I said wryly.
"No, seriously, think about it – it's genius. You join the squad, allowing for a lot of time to wear short skirts and spandex around Nathan…plus you could be with him at pep rallies and away games and I could use you as our ninth girl and kick the red-head "skank-ho" to the curb!"
"Brooke, you were right before. Nathan is not my husband anymore- it's over. So, why would I go torture myself by repeatedly putting myself in his path to get rejected?"
"Tutor girl, don't be 'downer girl.' Accentuate the positives here – you would be getting face time with Nathan and knocking your competition out of the way in one clean sweep! What more could you ask for? Just do what you want for once…"
"I'll do what I want – the answer is still no," I said.
"Okay, why don't you just do what I want for once?" Brooke asked with hope.
I shook my head.
"I'm just trying to help…because at this point, you need all the help you can get," Brooke said before softening her tone. "I guess the truth is, I'm just not ready to give up on Naley and something tells me neither are you."
I pursed my lips, looking at Brooke with concentration.
"I'll think about it," was all I said after a moment.
I was rushing down the corridor, trying to avoid a tardy in her Biology class. It had been hard enough to catch up after missing the first weeks of senior year, without adding more absences or tardies to my list. I had managed to convince Principal Turner to admit her back in THHS due to my excellent GPA and track record with the faculty.
Rushing to put her keys in her backpack and zipping the compartment, I hadn't been watching where I was going until I ran smack into someone. They were considerably taller than me and had a chest that was hard as steel. I closed my eyes, knowing immediately who it was before even looking up. That familiar smell of after-shave, I would know that scent anywhere.
I looked up into the surprised eyes of my ex-husband.
"Nathan, I'm sorry, I guess I just wasn't watching where I was going…" I dumbly explain.
He's silent for a second, not sure what to say or even whether to speak at all…there's so much distance between us now.
"No, it's fine," he finally says, his manner is nonchalant but his glare tells a different story. I look away saddened. The beautiful cerulean eyes that used to express Nathan's love for me had now turned cold in my presence.
I only nod.
"Well, I guess I should go," he says, gripping his own backpack and making a move to step around me, trying to settle his gaze out over the courtyard.
"Okay…"
He walks away and it hits me that this is the first time he and I have even spoken since I came back. We had successfully managed to avoid each other for the past couple of weeks since I came back to school but I knew it had only been a matter of time.
I walk away completely deflated and continue on to class. I think about how coldly he reacted to me and it furthers my irritation. Irritation that quickly turns to anger. I know I have made mistakes but to be treated as though I didn't exist, as though as our marriage had never happened... that's the sick irony of annulments I suppose.
That's how I knew that it couildn't end like this - it just couldn't be left unresolved like this.
Yes, the paperwork has been filed but the emotions were still there and this marriage was far from over...for either of us. I hadn't known for sure until he had been standing before me, but the look on his face was not one of indifference. As long as he still held emotions for me, I saw a chance. It may sound silly but it was my only thread of hope to hang on to...the day Nathan Scott would regard me with no emotion is the day I would truly give up because indifference is the true opposite of love.
I pull out my phone to text Brooke on my way to class. I had my answer for her.