So I've decided to start this fanfic that has to do with episode 2.20 of One Tree Hill. That's the one where Nathan is in a coma after his racing accident and has a dream where Dan married Karen. At the end of the episode Nathan wakes up and tells Haley he doesn't want her to come home. Well this story is about what if Nathan hadn't woken up then? What would the reactions of those who care about him be? And what would happen in the dream world?
Please Read and Review! Thank you so much to those who have reviewed, you guys truly make me smile! There's a bit of a twist in this chapter…I hope you guys like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters and such.
Side Note: The Bold Face is reality with Nathan in a coma, Regular Type is the dream world, and italics are the thoughts.
Chapter 4: Secrets, Punches, and Fighting Microphones
"Lucas, why did you always have to treat Peyton like a doormat?" Brooke asked Lucas as they sat alone in the abandoned gym.
"I told you, its part of my image. If I act like a complete nice guy I won't get any respect and my dad will just rail on me harder. Now Pretty Girl, why did you have to go and strip in front of Nathan?" Lucas asked playfully kissing her hand.
"I told you its part of my image," Brooke mocked, "I mean if I act like I'm single and actually fine with it people might start asking questions."
"Oh I understand perfectly now," Lucas whispered as he leaned in to kiss his secret girlfriend of a year, Brooke Davis.
"How long has she been like that?" Brooke whispered to Lucas, staring at the crumpled form of Haley.
"Since I pointed out that it's because of her that Nathan hit the wall." Lucas said with regret in his voice.
Brooke turned to Lucas, "Broody! How stupid can you get? She feels bad enough that she wasn't there when he crashed, and then you tell her that you think it's her fault!?"
"I was upset! I'm sorry!" Lucas explained hastily.
"Well I'm going to go fix your mistake," Brooke turned, hitting Lucas lightly with her hair and walking straight for Haley. "Tutorgirl," No sound escaped from the heap that was Haley, "Tutorgirl, I need to talk to you," Brooke crouched down in front of Haley's chair and moved the arm that was covering Haley's face.
"What happened to being Tutorwife?" Haley asked Brooke quietly.
"Right now you're not acting very wifey, I mean your husband is in a coma, but you're sitting here in the waiting room instead of by his side."
"I can't see him with those tubes. Nathan isn't supposed to have tubes, he isn't supposed to rely on anything but himself."
"Haley," This caused Haley to look up in shock, Brooke rarely called her Haley, "Nathan relies on you. He relies on you to be there when he needs you, like right now. I mean if you were in a coma and had lots of tubes coming out of you, you would like Nathan to be there right? He needs you Haley."
"But Lucas said it's my fault, I can't see him knowing I'm why he's like that."
"Well Broody is always seeing things pessimistically isn't he? Anyway even if he hit that wall on purpose because of the pain he was in, what would be the best way to relieve it?" There was silence as Haley simply stared at Brooke, "The one he loves, Tutorwife!"
Haley nodded and shakily stood up. She began to walk back down the sterile hallway with Brooke helping her.
"Haley! Hey Haley!" Haley sped up while she walked down the street to Deb's Den as she heard the voice calling to her, "Haley, wait up!" She heard running footsteps behind her and she knew she wouldn't be able to get to Deb's Den fast enough. As if on cue a guy with brown spiky hair and a self-righteous attitude caught up and started walking beside her, "Hales I almost got the idea that you were trying to avoid me!"
"What do you want Chris?" Haley was annoyed and Chris Keller was oblivious.
"Well Chris Keller's schedule has opened up and well," Chris gave Haley a smirk, "I'll be willing to go on that date with you now."
"I don't want to go out with you Chris," If I just look at the ground maybe he'll go away.
Chris looked up the street and saw Haley's best friend Nathan, he flashed the guy a smile that Chris considered to be dazzling and put his arm around Haley's shoulders, "Now Haley where do you think we should go? You name it, Chris Keller can get in anywhere he wants."
"Get off of me Chris," Haley said quietly, still thinking that staring at the ground and not at Chris would somehow get him to go away.
"Haley won't you look at me? I know my good looks might make you hyperventilate, but how am I going to kiss you with you looking down?"
Haley looked up with a look of disgust on her face, which turned out to be a mistake because Chris took that as Haley wanting to be kissed and he slammed his lips onto hers. Haley immediately tried to push him off, but he wouldn't budge. Suddenly Chris was on the ground, sputtering.
"OW MAN! WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?" Chris howled at the guy who had just him in the face.
"Oh I don't know! Maybe because you were sexually harassing my best friend?" Nathan yelled loudly, his face a mask of rage.
"That doesn't mean you have to punch my gorgeous face!"
"You're lucky that I'm not going to kick your ass right now!" He turned to Haley and immediately his features softened, "C'mon Hales, let's get away from this loser." He placed his arm around Haley's shoulders, where Chris' had been moments before. As they walked to Deb's Den with Nathan holding her, Haley thought "Getting kissed by Chris was definitely worth it for this."
"Hey Tutorgirl, can I ask you a question?" Brooke asked Haley as they walked slowly down the hallway to Nathan's room.
"I think you just did, but you can ask another Tigger," Haley said offering a weak smile. She was trying her hardest to be strong for when she would walk back into Nathan's room.
"What is the deal between you and Keller?" Haley suddenly stopped and slumped against the wall. She knew this question would be brought up, but did it have to be so soon? "Oh I guess now wasn't a good time! Never mind."
"No Brooke it's all right, I should be open about it before I go see Nathan. I'm going to be completely honest with you," Brooke nodded, expecting to hear the worst, "There was nothing going on between Chris and me."
"What?! Bu-but didn't you guys kiss and stuff?"
"Chris kissed me 3 times and that's it, I swear. The first time was in the studio, I didn't kiss him back and I ran off. The second time…." Haley paused, she hated thinking about the second one, "I kissed back. It was before he left for tour the first time. I don't know why I did it and I regret it so much. The third time was early on in the tour, to say it didn't end well would be a slight understatement," To Brooke's shock Haley smiled.
"What do you mean 'didn't end well'?"
Haley ran a hand through her hair, "I kinda hit him on the head with my microphone. It was early on in the tour and we had just performed out duet and Chris got this idea to kiss me; he said it was for our 'image', but I didn't want to be kissed. I got in so much trouble for hitting him, but it put Chris in line! To be honest, I'm a little surprised you didn't hear about it."
"Well when you first left…you have to understand Haley, all we knew was that you had kissed Chris and left Nathan. All we saw was Nathan getting drunk and being sad all the time. So we all kind've ignored any news of you."
"Oh…well that's understandable…."
"As time went on we started paying attention. Nathan even recorded that time you were on TV!"
Haley suddenly felt a little sick. She remembered that disastrous interview, "Oh no. He recorded that? He told me he wasn't going to watch it!"
"What happened in that interview anyway? Nathan didn't let anyone see it, and I didn't get a chance to watch it on TV because it was the day of Keith's wedding. I only know about the tape because Lucas took me over to the apartment to help talk to Nathan once and I saw a tape labeled Haley on TV!!!"
"Chris told the interviewer that we were a couple and I didn't get a chance to deny it…"
"Oh! Well then…" That explains Nathan's actions at Keith's wedding, Nathan had shown up at Keith's wedding yelling about how marriage was stupid and Lucas had had to drag him away, Brooke figured it probably wasn't smart to tell Haley about that, "Well now that that's out of the way shall we continue to Nathan's room?"
Haley took a deep breath and started walking down the hallway again, just as slow as before.
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I have a bit of a backstory for the Brooke and Lucas relationship in the dream world, but I don't know if you guys would like it because it has nothing to do with the main storyline. If you guys would like me to put it in or keep it out let me know! Thanks for reading!
