Hey sorry it's taken me a while to get this chapter up but I have a three day weekend so I'll try to update again Monday. I hope you enjoy this extra long chapter! Happy Reading…..
Disclaimer: I don't own it
Chapter 6
"Rachel what time are cheerleading tryouts?" I asked
"Uhh I have no clue go ask the cheer nazi she should know." Rachel replied.
"Okay is everybody ready to kick some cheer but!? All four of us have to make it into the squad." Brooke came into the kitchen where Peyton, Rachel and I were eating breakfast. Today were the cheerleading tryouts to become a Duke Blue Devil and Brooke the cheer nazi was back and bitchier than ever…
"Yes bitch we are all ready. Oopps I meant Brooke..." Peyton replied in a sickeningly sweet voice. Have I mentioned that Peyton isn't really a morning person?
"Shut up Grouchy McGrouch a lot." Brooke replied annoyed. I just sat back and rolled my eyes. The four of us never get along in the mornings, it's like we all wake up with PMS and it only goes away after 10 a.m.
Okay so it's been exactly three days. Three days since my last English Lit. Class and three days since I last saw Nathan Scott. So I am going to admit something right now and if it ever gets out I will completely deny it…I've kind of been hoping to run into Nathan… Okay wait before you jump to any conclusions or anything I don't like him I mean he is easy on the eyes but he is a total jackass, he can't have a serious conversation for more than five seconds and he is always hitting on me, but don't get me wrong I like our playful banter, I mean that's why I have been kind of hoping to run into him, he keeps me entertained, but I assure you it is nothing more than that. I don't like him.
"Alright, can we please go before world war three starts?" Rachel asked referring to the fight that she knew was about to erupt between Brooke and Peyton.
"Yeah let's go I want to get there early and scope out our competition." Brooke said.
Within the next five minutes that four of us were driving towards the campus were the tryouts would be held. I looked down at my outfit. To try out for cheerleading they made you wear extremely short shorts and a tank top I was extremely uncomfortable to say the least. It was basically the other cheerleader's way to evaluate your look and see if you're "hot" enough to be on the squad.
Truthfully I don't even like cheerleading that much. I much prefer tutoring hence the name tutor-girl however senior year during the sparkle classic a classmate and cheerleader on Brooke's squad ended up getting the chicken pox and having to go home, leaving Brooke a member short. She was basically flipping out saying how she had to beat her rival Claire Young. So being the good friend I am I stepped up and offered to fill the spot temporarily. Peyton and Rachel were also on the squad so it wasn't much of a sacrifice for me since I had my best friends with me. So after the classic Brooke insisted that I join the squad permanently and I eventually caved. The one good thing about cheering it means I get to spend more time with my girls.
"Okay guys we are here lets go inside and start stretching." Brooke suggested. We had just arrived at the school gymnasium where the cheerleading tryouts were held.
Brooke, Peyton, Rachel and I were all stretching a lot of the girls that are trying out have already arrived. Brooke and Rachel went off to another part of the gym to make a "plan of attack" as you can see they were the ones that were more into the cheerleading thing. Peyton and I were on the other side of the gym waiting for the tryouts to begin, because that meant we could go home faster.
"Hey you okay?" I bumped hips with Peyton. She had this really sad expression on her face.
"Yeah, I just miss her you know?" Peyton replied with a shrug. You see Peyton's mom, Elizabeth died when Peyton was nine. At the time we all pulled together to get Peyton through the tragedy. Peyton's mom was a cheerleader in high school, which is the main reason Peyton joined the squad, it made her feel closer to her mom.
"Yeah, Peyt. I know." I replied with a sad smile on my face. I embraced her in a sideways hug knowing that it was all she needed right now; to know that someone was there. However our talk was ruined by the sound of a whistle I looked over to see the captain of the cheerleading team waiting to get our attention. She looks oddly familiar...
Oh my god, it was that girl that talked to me at the end of class a couple of days ago! Of course she is the cheerleading captain; I mean with my luck I would be surprised if she wasn't!
"Okay girls, my name is Stacy Fields and I am the current cheerleading captain, tryouts will begin in promptly five minutes, I advise you bring you're a-game because the Duke Blue Devil cheerleading squad does not accept weaklings."
Great, she's still a bitch.
Cheerleading tryouts were almost half way through Brooke, Peyton, Rachel and I had already tried out. I thought our auditions went pretty well. Brooke even says we are a shoe in. As of right now the four of us are sitting on the bleachers waiting for the tryouts to end. Stacey made up some lame ass rule about no one leaving till everyone had tried out. Something to do about fucking moral support. Yeah right…
Five bucks says she just wants to humiliate some girls and see them fall on their ass in front of a bunch of people.
"Ouch, that looked like it hurt." Rachel commented as I winced. Some girl just tried to do a spilt and ended up twisting her ankle in the process.
I head the gymnasium doors slam shut and the four of us look over to see the basketball team enter.
Crap.
"Looks like things just got a lot more interesting." Peyton commented with a smile on her face.
"Oh my god." Brooke turned around in the bleachers making sure the basketball team didn't see her.
"Lucas is here." She hissed.
"How do I look?" She asked hastily
The three of us started laughing. "Brooke you are wearing short shorts and a tank top, I am pretty sure if Lucas sees you he won't be able to forget you." I replied.
"Suicides, now!" We heard someone yell. Looks like the boys basketball coach was a real hard-ass.
"Okay girls bring it in." Stacey called all of us to come down to where she was standing.
All the girls who tryouts out were standing around Stacey waiting for her to say whatever she need to say so that we could go.
"Mediocre tryouts today girls, some people made a very good impression on me, and others well, I don't even know why you came today." She said in a disgusted voice.
See, didn't I tell you the girl is a sweetheart.
"You are all dismissed; the final list will be put on the bulletin board at the union center tomorrow morning." And with that said bitch Stacey walked away.
The four of us walked to the other side of the gym where our bags were. On the way there I heard someone shout me and Brooke's name.
Lucas.
"Brooke, Haley!" He was jogging over to us.
"Hey Lucas, I didn't expect to see you here." Brooke said in her extremely flirtatious voice.
"Yeah I am on the basketball team, you two trying out for cheerleading?" He inquired.
"Yup, hopefully we made it." I said. I liked Lucas he seemed like a really nice guy. Plus the fact the Brooke is totally in love with him is another thing. He would be good for her.
"Oh Lucas I want to introduce you to my other best friends. This and Peyton and Rachel." Brooke said.
The three of them exchanged pleasantries and then we heard the basketball coach's booming voice echo throughout the entire gym.
"Scott! You just going to stand there and flirt or are you going to actually play some basketball, since in case you forgot this is basketball practice." He said sarcastically.
Well he seems pleasant.
Lucas winced at the sound of his voice and then shot all his teammates a look when he heard them snicker. "Coming Coach K!" Lucas replied.
"I'll see you guys later." Lucas smiled and walked off.
"Brooke stop drooling!" Peyton whispered. We all laughed and Brooke pouted.
"Aww its okay Brookie Cookie I think its cute you have a crush on Lucas." Rachel said.
"Let's just go." Brooke said while smiling we all continued our journey to the other side of the gym.
I bent down to go get my bag and I felt someone's presence behind me.
"You mind staying like that James, I kinda like this view."
I would know that voice from anywhere.
Nathan.
I turned around and just like I suspected he was standing behind be blatantly checking me out, his signature smirk planted right in place.
"Shouldn't you be like scoring touch downs or something?" I shot back
"Baskets, Hales." He replied. For a second I thought I saw a genuine smile on his face. I must be hallucinating.
"Whatever." I replied annoyed. Okay real smooth Haley nice comeback.
"You know you want be James." Nathan then proceeded to shot a basketball into the basket while looking at me. And it went in.
Cocky asshole.
"Who was that?" I turned around to see Rachel, Brooke and Peyton behind me after Nathan walked away.
"That was Haley's boyfriend." Brooke stated in a teasing voice.
"Ugh let's just go home." I started walking towards the exit.
"He's hot." I heard Rachel comment.
I turned around and glared at her and I heard the three of them snicker.
"What?" She asked in an innocent voice.
"Yeah Hales I thought you didn't like him." Peyton said looking at me expectedly.
"I don't!" I said exasperatedly.
So why is it when I heard Rachel's comment about Nathan I wanted to slap her?
This can't be good.
"YOU GUYS!" It was 7 in the morning. Way too early for me to hear Brooke yelling.
"Bitches, get your asses out here right now." I reluctantly pulled the covers off of me and walked into the living room where a seemingly dead Peyton and Rachel where waiting on the couch.
"About time tutor girl! I have great news!" Brooke replied cheerfully.
"Brooke, how can you be so fucking perky at 7 in the morning?" I groaned.
"What can I say it's a gift and curse, a gift for me a curse for you, now sit down."
"Okay girls we all made the cheerleading squad!" Brooke yelled excitedly.
"Yay."
"Yippee"
"That's great"
Rachel, Peyton, and I all said this at the same time in a monotone voice. I could see that Brooke was not satisfied with our reaction so I spoke up.
"Brooke I promise we will be more cheerful after the sun actually comes up. Couldn't this have waited?" I asked.
"Jeez you know if I can be cheerful at 7 in the morning then so can you!" Brooke replied.
"Yay."
"Yippe."
"That's great."
This time Rachel, Peyton and I said it with a little more enthusiasm to satisfy Brooke.
"Thank you!" Brooke said.
"Well now that is over I am going to go make breakfast." Peyton said while standing up.
"You guys want some?" She asked the three of us.
"Sure I knew we kept you around for a reason goldilocks." Rachel stated.
We all followed Peyton into the kitchen and sat down on the island while she started cracking eggs.
"Hey Brooke where's yesterday's mail I never got the chance to look the other day." I said I wanted to know if I got that new issue of vogue.
"On the table Hales." She replied.
I looked through the mail and while I didn't see a vogue magazine I did see a huge envelope addressed to me without a return address. Curiosity got the best of me and I opened it up.
All of the sudden I lost my appetite.
"Hey you know I am not really hungry I am just going to go out for a run." I said wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible. I felt as though the wall were closing in on me.
"What?" Peyton asked incredulously. "Haley you cannot be serious, it's raining and you're wearing shorts and a t-shit."
"Water is good for you." I ran out of the kitchen hastily put on my running sneakers and slammed the door shut.
I ran to the park near our apartment building and collapsed on the nearest bench. I was actually thankful for the rain because now nobody could tell that I'm crying. I realized I still had the mail in my hand and I looked down at the piece of paper that made me so upset to begin with.
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
Chris Keller
And
Teresa Woods
I read those first four lines out loud. I guess I just wanted to see if it was really real. That after the two year relationship that Chris and I had, he is getting married 3 months after our break-up to someone else.
And they actually sent me an invitation. Like I am going to that wedding.
I looked up in time to see someone running through the park. They were coming closer to me and I could make out the shape of their body put it didn't seem like someone I knew so I just put my head down and stared at the invitation.
Then I heard it, I heard him. "Hales?"
Nathan.
When I said that I was that I was hoping to run into him that didn't mean right now, at this moment when I look and feel like crap.
"Are you okay?" He asked me softly. For once I wasn't seeing the jackass that I had gotten to come accustomed to. No, the Nathan talking to me right now was sincere and concerned.
I knew he just asked me a question but I couldn't talk its like I wanted to say yes so that we could move on and forget this ever happened but without thinking I shook my head no.
"Here." Nathan proceeded to take off the sweatshirt that he was wearing- leaving him with only a t-shirt- and placed it over my shoulders. "You're shivering." The sweatshirt was wet from the rain but right now it's exactly what I needed; to know that someone was there. Granted I never thought that someone would be Nathan…but it's kind of nice.
"Thanks." I muttered softly. Nathan was now sitting next to me on the bench. It was getting harder to control myself right now I just wanted comfort, but should I really be looking for that in Nathan? After everything with Chris I promised myself I would never get close to another guy. I was tired of crying. And I knew that I couldn't get involved with Nathan, it wouldn't lead to any good.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly.
Of course I want to talk about it, I want to kick and scream and just let it all out. My mind was screaming at me. Don't talk about it with him. If you do you'll be letting him into your life and he will only get closer. But another part of me a slightly bigger part of me was saying Let it go, talk to him it could be what you need and that was the part the won.
So I talked, I vented to him about Chris and he listened. He just sat there and listened to me talk and it was what I needed. He never interrupted and when I was done we just sat there in silence for a few minutes.
"You know what I think?" Nathan positioned himself so that he was facing me.
I shook my head no waiting for him to continue.
"I think that you deserve better Hales." He stated.
When Nathan said this he said it with such truth and meaning, that I really believed him. He wasn't saying it just because it was the right thing to say he was saying it because he meant it.
"Me too."
I softly smiled at Nathan letting him know I was thankful for him listening to me.
"Hey Hales, I know that we didn't exactly get off on the right foot but…" He didn't even finish his sentence because I burst out laughing.
"You think?" I said sarcastically.
He laughed and continued with what he was saying, "Anyway I would like us to start over, so what do you say Haley James, friends?"
As he said this I knew what I should say, what I had to say. I couldn't become friends with Nathan Scott. We were getting to close as it is, by getting in deeper with him, well I just don't want to go into that territory. But no matter how much I knew what I should say I couldn't stop the words from coming out of my mouth it was like word vomit…
"Friends."
R&R
--Storyofmylifee