Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing and none of the characters accept made up ones.

With Tragedy Comes Grief, Desperation, and Love

Does She Speak?

Tree Hill N.C. Nathan's House

"Hey man, what's up?" Nathan's best friend Luc asked

"Not much just kind of confused you know?"

"This is about that girl coming right? Look man this is going to be hard for her so maybe you should stop thinking about you and your rep. You should give her a chance actually be nice to her. She has gone through a lot so you should lay off on the whole being a class A jackass for a while at least."

"This doesn't just affect her Lucas it effects me too. I have to put up with some charity case. She's probably weird as hell too."

"Whatever Nate…I don't want to fight with you about this all I'm saying is give her the benefit of the doubt. I have to go to Brooke wants me to meet her at mom's café."

"I'll think about it but I'm not promising anything. Yeah I'm going to head out too. Allyson wanted me to go to her house for dinner tonight then her parents are out of town. Perks of dating head cheerleader…she knows what she is doing."

"Okay have fun see you later."

Room 23 L.A. Memorial Hospital

"Haley can I come in?" Deb asked knocking lightly on the wooden door.

No answer. Haley just sat in her bed motionless thinking to herself. She clutched onto the tiny white board the nurse had given her. She told Haley if she didn't want to talk that was fine but for her health they needed to know how she was feeling. She handed Haley the white board and like magic Haley described every painful part on her body, the nauseous feeling in her stomach, and the pounding headache that she became accustomed too. With all that written they sedated her to relieve her pain. Now with this knock on the door Haley felt obligated to speak but no words left her mouth, instead she turned on her side and clutched her board. When no one answered the nurse informed Deb Haley refused to speak and to just let herself in.

"Hi Haley, I'm Deb."

Haley lifted the whiteboard so Deb could read what she wrote.

I know…I'm Haley.

"So we are going to be flying to North Carolina tomorrow. Your bags have been packed and personal possessions are stored in my rental car as of now. Is there anything else you would need to get before we left?"

Thank you and no that is all I need. Now I would like to rest… I suppose I will see you in the morning.

Tree Hill Airport

Nathan sat in his chair and fidgeted anxiously. He along with his girlfriend Allyson and his best friend Lucas were there to pick up his mother and this new girl Haley. He decided not to follow Luc's advice. He told Allyson he just couldn't accept this. Her being the bitchy cheerleader girlfriend she was suggested he put on a front, around his mother praise the girl but secretly let her know just how un-welcome she really is when no one is around. Allyson was evil and always had plans and ideas. Nathan was a bad ass and loved that his girlfriend was so devious. They made most kids life hell and Nathan and Allyson just smirked on not caring. They felt the world owed them something, they were better then everyone else and it was their job to put people in their place. This is what they planned on doing to Haley. She was not going to just come in and change their lives she was not welcome here and they planned on making this fact known.

"Mom!" Nathan excitedly yelled hugging his mother.

There she was Haley James. She was only about 5'3" and maybe about 90 lbs. She looked very under nourished Nathan observed. Her hair was the color of light auburn with small tints of red shining through. She had it pulled into a tight pony yet some pieces fell and curled around her face. Her clothes were ragged and torn and she looked almost frightened. For some reason she carried around a miniature white board with eraser and marker attached Nathan wondered why. While hugging his mom Nathan glared hard at Haley. As soon as he saw how scared she looked and fragile his face couldn't help but soften. Haley's arms were covered with tiny marks. Her face was swollen and she had a black eye from what he could tell. Above her eyebrow was cut and a scar had formed. He noticed a shiny stud hanging from her bottom lip revealing that it was pierced and what he noticed next scared him a gash formed right next to her lip which was slightly still bleeding. The one thing he saw that he knew he wanted to know more about was a tattoo on her left wrist. That tattoo said owned and Nathan couldn't help but wonder what that meant. Little did he know these were not the only piercing and tattoo that were forced upon her fragile body.

"Nathan! Nathan! Nathan!"

"What mom?" Nathan was brought out of his train of though and snapped back realizing he had drifted off.

"This is Haley James. Stop being so rude and introduce yourself."

"Oh right sorry. Hey I'm Nathan." Nathan said with a small smile.

What happened next began to confuse him drastically

So I've heard. I'm Haley.

"Uh is there a reason why you are holding a board in front of my face?"

Haley wrote on the board again and turned it towards Deb

"What can Nathan not read because if he is to stupid to read basic words then we might have a bit of a problem." Deb laughed as she read aloud Haley's comment.

"Hey! I can to read. It's not my fault someone is legally retarded and can't talk." Nathan defended getting a laugh from Allyson and a scold from Luc and Deb.

Hey smart one I can talk I just chose not to okay?

"Whatever."

"Hi, I'm Allyson Nathan's girlfriend it's nice to meet you Haley. I think we are going to be great friends." Allyson said in a fake sounding voice.

You don't have to pretend to be nice to me.

"I'm not pretending though."

Sure

"Okay I think that is enough visiting for now lets get our bags and head out. Nathan can I speak to you real quick?" Deb asked

"Sure mom."

"Nathan give Haley a chance okay for me?"

"Alright mom anything for you."

I'll give her a chance all right. A chance to disappear.

"Here Haley let me help you with those." Nathan said grabbing her bags.

Thanks.

"No problem, let me show you to your room."

Nathan led her upstairs into the room that had been designed, painted, and furnished for her the previous days. Once inside he shut the door.

"Alright Haley lets get something straight. This is my house and my town. I didn't chose to bring you here and I don't want you here. Stay out of my way and away from my friends. I'll act friendly around my parents and certain people and I expect you to do the same. Otherwise you are just dirt on my shoe and I want nothing to do with you. I'm not buying your story or this whole non speaking act I know you are just trying to get attention and lets face it your not getting it from me." Nathan saw the look of hurt in her eyes and wanted right then to take it all back, but no he was right with what he said she didn't deserve to be there and he didn't want her there or did he?

I'm not looking for your sympathy all-star. I had no choice I was forced to come here. You think I wanted my sister to get killed or my mom so I could live with you yeah right. You have no idea what I have been through it's not an act. It was real and painful that is why I choose not to speak. Don't think I'm telling you this to make you feel bad either cause I'm not. I don't need you nor want anything to do with you so just leave me alone.

With that Nathan realized Haley wasn't just messing around. He felt bad for being a jerk but he said what he said and he meant it. He simply gave her a sympathetic smiling not realizing it of course and headed for the door. What happened next surprised him as he was walking through the door way he heard Haley fall to the bed, turning to make sure she was alright he was her sobbing holding on to what looked to be a sketchbook and sobbing.

After Nathan left Haley began to draw. It was the only thing she had ever done that Mike couldn't take from her. She opened to a clean page and drew. When she was finished she was surprised to see a picture of Nathan with the words etched below it "I don't want you" above it was a mind bubble that said "but I think you can set me free." Haley had no idea why she had drawn those words but deep down she knew they just might be true.