Disclaimer: Don't own One Tree Hill.
Authors notes: First off, this might be my last posting for a little while. Apparently we have some stupid tropical storm slash hurricane slash some other kind of annoying thing heading in our direction and everybody seems to be on freak out but me. I went to the story this morning to get some lunch meat and there was an hour wait at the deli counter, people are pushing and shoving at the battery station and I can't even begin to describe the water aisle. Just to show how much I pay attention to the news, I didn't even know we had anything out in the gulf. Anyway, hopefully I will be able to post again soon and this thing what ever it is, misses us. Secondly, I am glad everybody is enjoying the story and I have enjoyed getting the reviews, please keep doing so.
Rating: M for sexual content, violence and vulgar language
Chapter four:
She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she waited in the booth for her date to arrive. It had been six years since she'd been out on a date and she had only dated one guy. In all the years since her split with Nathan, she'd been asked out a lot, especially by Lucas' teammates but had always used Jamie as an excuse not to go.
The truth was, it still felt like she was cheating on Nathan and even though he had left her and was probably hooking up with a lot of girls himself, cheating didn't sit right with her. Sipping her glass of red wine, she rubbing a piece of paper between her fingers as she continued to wait.
A buzzing noise alerted her that her cell phone was going off and she picked it up off the table. Seeing a number she didn't recognize she hit the ignore button, allowing voice mail to pick it up. She looked up in time to see Dave hurrying into the restaurant and took a few moments to look him over.
He was tall,maybe a little taller than Nathan with shaggy blonde hair, bright green eyes and a muscular build. He'd been a football player in high school and liked to stay in shape, at least thats what he had told her in one of their few conversations. He would be coaching football at Tree Hill high where she would be teaching english. Dave was dressed casual in khaki cargo shorts, a white polo and nike shox with no socks. He looked damn fine.
" I am so sorry I kept you waiting. " He apologized as he slid in the booth across from her.
" And I was beginning to think I was being stood up. " She joked and he grinned easily.
He had a nice smile, she liked it.
" Never. " He assured her. " So, how are you liking Tree Hill so far? "
" I grew up here actually. " She replied and he looked up surprised.
"Oh, I thought you just moved here. " He commented and she smiled.
" Well, I just moved back. Lucas also is from here. "
" Lucas is the basketball coach, right? "
" Yes and my best friend slash god father to my son. "
" Right. How old is you son? "
" Jamie's five. "
" Wow, you must have been young when you had him. "
" I was 17. "
Luckily the waiter interrupted the conversation, taking their drink order. He had a beer while she just had a tea with lemon.
" I was married. " She blurted out, not wanting Dave to think she was some kind of a whore. " I am married but Nathan and I were married before I got pregnant. "
" You're still married? " He questioned, his brow creasing in confusion.
" We've been separated for six years and I've filed for divorce. " She assured him, and he visibly relaxed in front of her.
" Wait but Jamie is only five? "
" Yeah, Nathan had left before I found out I was pregnant. " She explained, feeling uncomfortable about airing out all her dirty laundry to this new guy. " So how are you liking Tree Hill? "
He smiled easily. " I think I'm starting to like it a lot more. "
The waiter brought their drinks and took their food order before leaving them alone once more.
" So really, how are you liking Tree Hill? " She prodded and saw him shrug.
" Still getting used to it, theres really nothing to do around here. " He said and she looked at him in mock anger.
" There is a lot do here in Tree Hill! " She informed him as he chuckled. " We have mini golf and go karts, the movie theatre and there is an arcade right down the street. "
" I meant more along the lines of clubs, you know things like that. " He laughed.
" In that case, theres tric. " She told him. " Lucas' mom owns it, I used to perform there. "
" Perform? As in strip? " He asked in shock, she didn't seem like that type of a woman.
" Uh no, it's a club club not a strip club. I'm a singer or at least I was. " She clarified, laughing.
" Wow a singer, huh? Anything I may have heard? "
" Maybe, I recorded with Chris Kellar a couple times. "
" I've heard of him. Your that chick that did ' stars go blue '? "
" Yes. "
" You have an amazing voice. " He complimented and she blushed.
She imagined first dates were awkward but this one wasn't. There was something about Dave that she felt comfortable with. The talked all throughout dinner with a few comfortable silences here and there. He told her about his family and she told him all about her son. She didn't talk much about Nathan except at the beginning of the date a little bit and surprisingly found him leaving her mind all together.
The date ended with him walking her to her car, kissing her gently on the cheek and promising to call. He didn't push for anything and she was grateful. He seemed like a gentleman and anything else would have tainted her opinion of him.
" You're going where? " Dan questioned, furiously.
" Tree Hill. " Nathan repeated, continuing to pack his bag.
" Like hell you are. " Dan snapped, flinging Nathans duffle bag off of the bed. " I refuse to let you throw our dreams away over some bitch and her bastard child. "
" Do yo hear yourself dad? There my dreams and that bitch is my wife. I never should have left her in the first place, I never should have listening to you! " His head was pounding, in all the times he tried to stand up to Dan Scott, nothing good ever came of it.
" You're making a mistake Nathan. " Dan warned, the vein in his neck pulsating with rage.
" I'm fixing a mistake. " He countered, picking the bag up off the floor and continuing to put clothes into it. " Don't you ever wish you could go back and do things differently with Lucas? "
Dan closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.
" That's different. " Dan muttered.
" Yes because you knew about it and still walked away. I didn't know about James, I wasn't giving a choice. "
" Maybe that was for the best, son. " Dan replied, hoping he could reason with his son.
" It wasn't, I need to see my wife and kid. I need to know my son. "
" You signed those papers, I saw you. "
" I didn't sign them, I never will. Haley and this child belong with me and I won't stop until we're a family. " Nathan spoke in a low voice and Dan saw something flashing in his eyes.
The look in Nathans blue eyes caused Dan to feel uneasy. They was a mixture of hate, anger, sadness and love in their depths and he knew Nathan meant every word he was saying. Dan knew there was no way of getting through to Nathan and stormed out of the room, determined to find away to change Nathans mind before he went and did something stupid.
Closing his bag, he picked up his cell phone and dialed a familiar number. On the third ring, Rachel answered.
" You got everything I need? " He asked, hoisting his duffle bag onto his shoulder before walking out of his apartment.
" Yes, I got you an apartment in Tree Hill, which was not easy to do on such short notice. " She grumbled and he smiled.
" You're the best Rach, you coming out there with me? " He question, having already discussed her presence in his home town.
" Are you sure thats a good idea, I mean wouldn't it give her the wrong idea about us? " She asked, knowing how fucked up the situation already was and not wanting to be the cause of it getting even more crazy.
" I need you for back up, you're the only one who knows that I haven't been with anyone in at least the last four years." He reasoned.
" I'm not sure having so girl move in with you is going to be the best way to do that, but sure I'll go. " Rachel replied, sighing in defeat. " I did manage to get a two bedroom, so there will be plenty of room at least. "
He walked out onto the street, moving to where his black ford f250 was parked. Unlocking the door he thew his bag into the back seat before climbing into the drives seat and putting his key into the ignition.
" I'll see you soon then. " he told her, closing his phone and driving away.
" He was soooo nice. " Haley gushed as she sat at the breakfast counter with Peyton.
Lucas stood at the sink, washing up what was left of their dinner dishes, listening quietly as Haley recounted the details of her date with Dave. As much as he thought she needed to move on with her life, he couldn't help but feel like she belonged with Nathan. But Nathan being Nathan screwed that all too hell by being the selfish jackass that he was and now Haley was moving on.
" So, when do we get too meet this Dave? " Lucas asked, cutting into the girls conversation.
Two sets of eyes fell on him, one a honey brown hue while the other pair were an amazing green color, both girls fallen silent.
" Oh come on, it's not like I'm going to do anything to the guy. I just want too meet him. " Lucas exclaimed, watching as both Peyton and Haley looked at each other.
" Soon. " Haley promised. " I just don't want him scared off too soon. I have a feeling that all the drama about to start with Nathan might do that for me. "
" What Nathan drama? " Lucas asked, his eye brows raising.
" He didn't sign the papers. " Peyton told him, and Lucas rolled his eyes.
" He did sign them, just not with his name. " Haley corrected, grabbing her purse off the counter and pulling out the copies that were made for her at the lawyers office.
Lucas scanned the papers. He had a feeling something like this would happen. Haley had been naïve to believe that Nathan would just sign the papers and let her go on. After six years and he never filed, Lucas knew he hadn't let go so easily.
" He can't take Jamie, can he? " Lucas asked and Peyton shook her head.
" Not yet, it'll be months before they can even go to court. I heard on ESPN that he signed his contract with Seattle and training camp starts in a couple months. " Peyton informed him as both Haley and Lucas looked at her in amusement. " It was on when I got back to the apartment, blame Lucas. "
" Nathan is not going to give up so easily, is he? " Haley asked sadly, looking into the blue eyes of her best friend.
" Nope but I promise you won't be fighting alone. " Lucas assured her, deciding to change the subject for her sake. " So, seriously when can we invite Dave over for dinner? "
The two girls laughed at him and he smiled back.
It's not exactly where I wanted to leave off but it's a good build up for what's coming. Like I said in the beginning of this chapter, I don't know when I will be able to post again and as soon as I post this and shut down the comp, I get to take it apart and store it in what I hope will be a safe place. So as far as where the next chapter is going, I am not sure if I am going to have a Naley confrontation in it but Nathan is going to see Haley and Jamie from a distance and he is going to meet Dave.