Chapter 2: Something that is nothing
"Hello?" Haley asked, while walking into the Scott's household. Haley couldn't remember the last time she even stepped foot into this home. The night she came home from her tour, a few months back, was the first and last time she stepped foot into Nathan's house.
It wasn't supposed to be his house again, they were suppose to still be living in their apartment and although she didn't expect him to just forget her she thought her coming home would be a big step for them; A change for them, the first step of working towards being together again.
But it wasn't.
They weren't together anymore; Nathan didn't even look at her, he especially didn't look at her how he used to. He lived here; she lived at their old apartment with Brooke. She worked at the café; he worked on basketball. And school, well beside maybe the two classes they had together, Haley felt as if they didn't even attend the same school.
She was willing to give Nathan time and space, the way he was avoiding her at school and outside of school, she knew he needed it. But the day he request her for a divorce, she never thought that day would ever come. Haley knew she hurt Nathan, but she never thought she hurt him enough that he didn't want her anymore. It was never a thought in her mind that she didn't want Nathan while on tour, she always did. She couldn't believe that Nathan stopped wanting her.
Haley stepped inside of the home, afraid to move a step closer. She was still unsure of what was to come from this trip, or even how she was supposed to act. This was all strange to her, when Nathan approached her that evening she was in a different state of mind. Why she said okay still amazed her.
"Um, Crap," Nathan let out a groan. "Look, um, can we talk?"
"Sure," Haley didn't mean for her voice to come off weak. She wanted Nathan to know she was strong without him, "Do you want to come in," the looks in his eyes made Haley regret her choice of words, "I just meant because it's cold and you want to talk. Its fine if you want to stay out here."
Nathan pulled his hand out of his jeans pocket scratching the surface of his head; this buzz cut was a change for him but he was getting used to it, "No, it's fine. Sitting would probably be better."
Walking into the apartment was a complete déjà vu for Nathan. He never thought he would have to step foot into this apartment again; it had too many memories, it was too soon. He wasn't ready for this, he wasn't prepared for this and now because of his fucking parents he had to be her husband for the fucking winter break.
"Do you want a dri—,"
"Look, Haley, I'm going to be quick and simple about this because I'm really not sure how to go about with this and honesty I really don't even want to be doing this but because my parents are so fucked up and love to tell lies these days, they felt the need to bring me in it and lie about me to my grandparents and—,"
"Nathan!" Haley called out. She has never seen him act like this before; he was all nervous and rambling, Nathan Scott was rambling and that was her job. "You're rambling. You don't ever ramble. Just talk to me."
Nathan rolled his eyes at how easy Haley made it sound. He couldn't just talk to her, talking to her was hard for him. Didn't she realize it was difficult for him to just sit there and talk to her like it was all okay, "Okay, um," Nathan began to pace the room, something he isn't known for. When Nathan needed to say something he just said it, even if he didn't think it through, he just said it because he was straight up, "Can you sit down it'll be easier for me."
Haley looked at him odd, he was staring to scary her. "Nathan, what's wrong?" 'It wasn't like he could ask for a divorce, he already did that one' Haley thought to herself.
"Haley, there's really no easy way to say this and you can say no, really but," Nathan paused to look at her. He realized he didn't even look at her, look at her, since he's been her. Haley could wear anything and she would look like a goddess to him. The hair color was a change for him but she looked good as a blonde; the change of clothing wasn't the same but he enjoyed it just as much. Haley was so different from the girl he knew and fell in love with.
The tour changed her and she didn't even know.
"My grandparents came into town this past week because when they called, instead of my parents fooling them like they have the rest of this town fooled they told the truth about their fucked up marriage. My grandpa laughed and then asked about my marriage to you…," Nathan paused once again when he realized Haley started to tighten up at the words of their marriage.
"And…?"
"For some messed up reason my mom lied." Nathan wanted to continue but he was finding this harder than he thought it would be, "She said we were perfect. She said we were perfect Haley! Perfect. No tour, no separation, no divorce talk, nothing! She said we were perfect."
Haley just stared at him dumbfounded. Where was this conversation going? And why did Deb even lie to his grandparents… and, and why did Nathan come all way over here just to tell her that?
Although Haley said no words Nathan knew everything she was thinking. She was always so forward with her emotions and how she was feeling, she was a book that he could read; he on the other hand was so much harder.
"She lied and because I'm in high school with a marriage that has 'no' problems my grandparents planned this trip to help my parents with their marriage. My grandparents have these activities they want to join them in so they can work together on trusting each other and being stronger and blah." Haley was still dumbfounded, "I know, what does this have to do with anything? Well my grandma feels that if my parents around happy married couples, it may do them some good. And my grandpa feels that if a man my age can keep his marriage strong why the fuck can't my father." Nathan looked at her one last time before telling her why he was here, "My grandparents want us to come along… as a happy married couple that they think we are."
There. He did his part. He got it out. He didn't have to be nervous anymore. Rambling was finish with. Haley just had to say no.
"Okay."
Haley stood there like a scared little girl. Once again she looked broken in front of Nathan. She wanted him to know she was fine. And that she was fine without him.
"Haley." Deb smiled. She couldn't have been happier now that Haley had arrived.
Nathan would never admit it but the moment he saw his wife step inside his home, he felt a lot more at ease. He even smiled upon seeing her face; his wife was so fucking hot! He couldn't remember the last time he had sex! Actually, he remember the last time Haley and him had sex, it's what got him through most of his sleepless nights when he was hot and bother for his wife. Sometimes he just wanted to give in and go over to her; he wanted her that bad. This vacation not only was going to suck but it was going to be so hard to gain control! 'Fuck!'
"Come in, come in. You know my home is like a second home to Nathan and you. Don't be shy." Deb saw the awkward look in her eyes. Poor Haley didn't know much of what was going on, all she knew was that she had to be happily in love with Nathan.
"I haven't been in your home in such a long time Mrs. Scott; it's even more beautiful then from what I can remember." Haley tried her best to be polite. She wasn't sure what she could and couldn't say, Nathan and her didn't really go over anything. She thought it would be best to place her bag on the floor and walk over to her 'husband' who was so kind enough to come and greet her and give her a kiss? 'Thanks Nathan! Wonderful husband you are.'
"Daughter-in-law why is it you haven't been to our home in such a long time? I mean it seems like Nathan is here every day?" It was going to be harder for Dan to bug Nathan, but he knew how to make Haley feel at unease.
Before Haley could make it close to Nathan, she turned to face Dan. She thought everybody was in on the lie? Expect for the grandparents, of course, she still didn't even know why Nathan parents lied for her. Deb was coming around and was pretty nice to Haley, but Dan, Dan hated her, "Um, well with school and work, and taking care of mine and Nathan's apartment, I'm way too busy to spend as much time here as Nathan seems to fine, sir."
"Please, call me…" Dan paused to look around at his family, boy; he was enjoying this, "Dad. Call me Dad. You've been in the family for a pretty long time now, Hales. It's not like you and Nathan are getting a divorce or anything; with such a perfect marriage like yours it'll be forever." Dan smirks. Maybe this was a good idea after all.
Haley didn't get it.
Nathan needed her help because his parents lied? Dan was rubbing it in her face and Deb was acting like her best friend; it came off way too fake, "Sweetie?" Haley turned around facing Nathan, for the first time since arriving to their home, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Nathan nodded his head, giving his father one last look, he walked away from the main room and towards the kitchen, far enough for the others to not hear one word, "Sweetie?"
"I'm sorry is, 'ass!' a better name for you in front of your grandparents?"
"I'm sorry, what? Did you just call me an ass?" Nathan had no clue where this mood change was coming from, 'Fuck, is she pmsing?'
"Yeah, I called you an ass Nathan! I thought you said it was your parents who lied? Why is your dad grilling me?"
"Whoa, I never said my parents, Haley, I said my mom. My dad has been acting like this the whole time, it's like his way of threaten us he's going to tell my grandparents about the lie but he never actual says it. I really don't give a fuck if he tells them, I mean, I didn't lie and really I rather not be doing this."
"Oh." Haley wanted to be strong, she did, she had to… but that hurt, "If you didn't want to do this why you ask me to come?"
"I told you, my mom lied and— and, Haley, I told you, you could of said no."
"But why did you say yes?"
"What you mean?"
"It's not like you care to make your parents happy, and I really don't think you want them to be together or, I know for a fact you know this trip won't help them, but you agreed to go and you agreed to ask me to come along. You could have told your grandparents yourself that this is a whole lie."
"Because… because," Nathan wasn't going to admit and he wouldn't even say it to her. This trip is meant to suck, that's it, "Because… my mom! I can't leave her alone with my father and my grandfather. I actually have a relationship with my mother again and I'm not leaving her alone. I don't know why my mom lied about us, but she did, and maybe she did because she feels my grandfather won't be as hard if you're around and if we're good together. I don't know."
"My dad is an ass, Haley, we both know that. And he'll probley spend this whole trip threaten us to spill our 'secret' but deep down I know he's scared of my grandfather as much as the rest of us are and he won't dare tell him the truth. My father could have told my grandpa the truth and he didn't, he's now a part of the lie, he went along with it and if my grandpa was to find out; Dan would regret telling him."
"This trip will be hard Haley, but, let's just promise each other we won't talk about our problems or even deal with what we're really facing. We fake this whole trip, act like the happy married couple we used to be and before you know it, it'll be over with. Okay?"
Haley would never turn down this opportunity; a chance to be Nathan's wife again? A chance to call him baby, sweetie, honey… a chance to hold his hand and hopefully more than just peek kisses, although she amuses it'll take a few days before Nathan kisses with more feeling, to share a bed with him again; god she couldn't remember the last time she had a decent sleep. She just couldn't sleep on her own anymore; she literately needed Nathan beside her. Maybe when he was in a deep sleep he would roll over and cuddle her; god she could only wish!
And maybe, just maybe, she could remind Nathan what they once had, is worth having again. Being his wife again, letting him know how serious she really is. She would never turn this down.
"Okay."
Haley was grateful that she and Nathan got to ride up to the lodge on their own. Sharing a vehicle with Nathan's parents AND grandparents wouldn't be a smooth ride. The silence in the car is killing her but it's better than having to deal with fighting and Dan Scott grilling her on every move she made and didn't make.
"It's so beautiful out here." Haley was starting out of the window of Nathan's car; if he wasn't going to speak she had to do it herself.
"It kind of gets old; I've come up here for years when I was younger. It's not really, 'beautiful' anymore, after seeing it year after year."
"Oh, that's nice to hear Nathan. So then, are you saying after seeing things so many times they get ugly? Did I get ugly to you then, day after day waking up to my face?"
Nathan took his eyes off the road for 2.5 seconds, he knew he could drive this street with his eyes closed if he wanted to; he knew this road backwards and forwards but Haley would kill him if he did that. He stated at her for a second, giving her the death glare, "That's not what I meant!" She couldn't just take how he meant it; she had to talk about 'them.' "You've always been beautiful to me, Haley, doesn't matter if we're together for 50 years or 5 minutes… how you look to me will never change."
Haley felt guilty. She knew what he meant and it was wrong of her to bring 'them' up like that. This was hard on her, but it was just as hard on Nathan, maybe even more. She was being selfish and even wishing for more with Nathan on this trip was selfish on her part too. Haley had to back off, when and if Nathan was ready to come around, he would. "I'm sorry Nathan."
The rest of the drive was spent silence again; no music, and no talking. Only the sounds of the outside could be heard through-out the vehicle.
Haley thoughts on this trip were changing. Maybe it wasn't going to be as great as she thought it could be.
Haley hasn't seen anything quite as beautiful as the Scott's lodge. She heard a few stories from Nathan about this place, stories about when he was a child and each winter break Nathan and his parents would come up to get away from the town and just relax. Nathan would tell her how much he loved going, and how he truly felt they were a real family in those months. It wasn't until Dan got worse on Nathan and his mother busied herself with her work that they all just stopped going and stopped caring.
Nathan never explained how beautiful the place truly was, "Oh my, gosh. Nathan, I know you said you and your parents stopped coming up here but why didn't you just go, take some friends or something?" Haley stepped out of the car to get a better view, it was insanely gorgeous. "Why didn't you ever invite me up here?" It was breathtaking, the perfect vacation spot.
The outside screamed; winter wonderland! Snow fell everywhere and perfectly too, just as the snow was falling as well. They never got snow like this in Tree Hill; it made winter feel slightly different in Haley's eyes. The mountains were a distance from the lodge; it would only be a short drive away though. And the air smelled so fresh. It was perfect.
It was a small town, much smaller than Tree Hill; there weren't many other homes around, and there were barely anybody walking around. Haley already said it was perfect, but it truly was. It seems so romantic too. Haley could see now why Nathan's grandparents picked their lodge for Dan and Deb to "fall in love again." She was just hoped the same happened for her and Nathan. Even if she wasn't going to push it or anything, Nathan needed time and space and she knew that.
The lodge itself was a whole another story; she knew the Scott's had money but, seriously, Haley couldn't even afford to rent this place out. There were a few tresses covering the lodge, which made it even that more special; but the sizes of the tresses couldn't even cover it, the place was huge! Haley thought the Scott's home in Tree Hill was something, but that home isn't nothing compared to this place.
"I don't know why I didn't invite you, you never asked." Nathan walked over to the back of their car, to get their suitcases. He was surprised to see that his parents and grandparents didn't make it yet; 'guess the short cut worked.' He was grateful they weren't here yet. They could get the good room with the couch in it… at least then the sleeping arraignment wouldn't be weird for him. He just wasn't ready to share a bed with Haley yet; fake it, sure, actually share… too soon.
"Plus my friends were way too lazy to travel all the way up here; vacation time was known as partying time. They were always up for traveling in the summer time… but half of them and their lame ass girlfriends would complain about it being too cold." Nathan scuff, he really did have some bad choices in friends, "Beside, too many memories here. I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself with my friends partying in the place."
The outside just wasn't where it stopped, after Nathan got their bags, they decided to just go on in. Nathan had a key and there really wasn't any point in waiting. They weren't sure when the others would get here anyways. After opening the door, Haley could have sworn her jaw dropped to the floor. It wasn't fair, that somebody got to grow up in this lodge year after year, just come whenever they pleased.
"Nathan, I'm so jealous of you right now."
Nathan let out a chuckle, he knew most people were surprised whenever they came into contact with things Nathan got to do in his life, but it wasn't like Haley didn't know this was the lifestyle Nathan lived. It wasn't like he got to live like this anymore; yes he moved back home, but he didn't spend his parents money anymore like he used to. "Why?"
Nathan started to laugh again, when she just gave him the stare in respond. She didn't have to explain herself; he knew why she was jealous. He always wanted to share this place with Haley, but he was always scared to take her here. When they were dating, sex was one of their biggest issues that if he took her somewhere like this just the two of them he was scared she would amuse he meant it for something else and it would push her further away, he couldn't risk that. And then, getting married so soon and Haley leaving for the tour, there wasn't even time or money to ask her come up her. She broke his heart, he wasn't about to share this amazing place with her. Nathan didn't plan on telling her either that he wanted to invite her up here.
"Anyways, there are two bedrooms on this floor, three on the second floor and then the third floor is the master bedroom; I'm thinking we should grab it just because it's the best room but it also has a couch."
There goes Haley's heart dropping to her stomach again. Nathan always knew where to hit her and boy did he hit her hard, "A couch?"
Nathan saw the hurt in Haley's eyes; again… he didn't want to hurt her. This wasn't what this was about; he wasn't trying to hurt her. He didn't say these things on purpose but they needed to be said, "Yeah, it's just… they expect us to share a room, of course, and I can't just sleep on the couch down here they'll know. At least with this room, there's a couch in it and the bed is incredible, Haley, you'll sleep like a baby I'm telling you."
She couldn't help but feel disappointed, everything she wanted to happen didn't, and Nathan had an excuse for everything. "I can sleep on the couch, I mean this is your lodge, I don't want to put you on the couch Nathan."
"Its fine, Haley, I'm use to sleeping on couches; I've been doing it for years." Nathan went to grab their bags, starting to walk up the stairs, hoping she would follow. She didn't have to make a big deal about everything he said or did. "It's not a problem."
"I can carry my own bag!" Her tone was harsh and held so much meaning behind it. If Nathan wanted to be distance and cold towards her for the whole vacation, hell she could do it too. It was so easy for him to act this way towards her, she was positive it could be the same for her.
AN: The second chapter and yes, I'm already evil, I know! Don't worry it won't be this way forever, they have to start on the bottom before they reach the top, right? Thank you so much for those who review, I know a lot of people just don't do it, I'm sometimes guilty of that too; you read and then close. But, honesty reviewing does make an author update more. I love getting reviews from you guys and what you think. It's also just the first and second chapters; I know much people don't read the first chapter until it gets updated more. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WHO DID 3 and for the others who read thank you too.
I'm still looking for somebody to edit my work, Jenn, "D.J. Alberta" was going to beta my work. But she's extreme busy I honesty wouldn't feel good with myself, adding my own work on her list of things to do. I do appreciate her for offering though; it was extreme nice of her. Once again, still looking for a beta, I will be looking in the profiles on FanFiction for a beta as well.
The chapters as of now aren't very long, I'm hoping in future chapters I will write more. For now I'm just getting you guys into it, before I jump fully into it.