Disclaimer - Yip, still haven't received, Bethany Joy Lenz for a birthday present so odds are that I don't own her. Ain't that just a kick in the head? That Mark Schwahn is a lucky devil, I'm telling you, owning the Tree Hill Gang. Maybe if I look hard enough through my family tree I can find a distant relation that makes me related to him...yeah like that would work!
Warning - So yeah femslash, girl/girl, femmeslash, ya get the idea right? If it offends you I've gave you enough warning, in the first two chapter and in this chapter, so don't blame me if you don't like this sort of thing.
A/N - I wanna take the time to thank everyone who has reviewed, you really don't know what they mean, they're like the Nacey to what she meant to Sid, the Bonnie to Clyde, the air to my lungs! Or in other words they are very muchly appreciated, and I urge you to leave more.
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Chapter 3 - Face's You Dream of at Night, Are Often Hidden by a Shadow.
Sighing as she leaned back against her headboard, Haley tried to figure out why her life was suddenly like it was. Unsettling. No more than a week ago, she was happy. Nathan made her happy then. Now...now he just made her scared. She never knew...never even thought he could be like that, to actually do what he had planned on doing. It chilled her to the bone, to know that if she hadn't stopped him...then nobody would have. She couldn't forgive that, forgive him. He claimed to really care about her. If he did, then why did he do that? Was it her own fault? Did she lead him on? All these thoughts ran through her mind, over and over, over lapping each other. They were almost suffocating, closing in on her.
The rhythmic knocking of her bedroom door, gladly pulled Haley from her haunting thoughts. Looking up, her eyebrows rose considerably.
"Brooke," she stated obviously. "Brooke, who happens to be in my bedroom. Why is that?" Haley finished stumped. Sure Brooke and her had talked and she had got a lift home. But that didn't explain why Brooke was standing in the threshold of her bedroom.
"Can't a friend come visit another friend?" Brooke asked almost perky.
"We're friends?" Haley answered without thinking, immediately regretting it when she saw the hurt flash in Brooke's eyes clouding them for a second.
"Uh..."
"I didn't mean that," Haley apologised quickly. "You ever have those moments, where your foot is permanently in your mouth?"
"Only all the time," Brooke replied.
"I'm sorry, the whole friends thing was uncalled for. Why don't we start over!" Haley told the other girl, standing from the bed. "Brooke Davis! In my room? To what do I owe the pleasure of having your company?"
Laughing at Haley's actions, Brooke allowed herself to be pulled into the bedroom as Haley took a hold of her arm. "It is a school day, as much as I loath to admit it, honestly, why they insist that it starts at such an ungodly hour is beyond me. So I, the generous and goodwill girl that I am, am here to offer you Haley 'Tutor Girl' James, a ride. So what do you say?"
"I say; that was a really long winded explanation, for such a simple question."
"There is no pleasing you is there?" Brooke asked her with mock exasperation, which caused Haley to giggle.
"Why yes Brooke, I'd simply love a ride to school."
"Why Tutor Girl, I'd say such a long winded answer like that was uncalled for, a simple 'Yes Mistress.' would have been suffice." Brooke joked, using Haley's earlier words.
Rolling her eyes at Brooke's comment, Haley picked up her textbooks up off of her desk, then turned to face Brooke. Looking at the girl in front of her she couldn't help but smile, with Brooke she felt relaxed, almost safe even. Maybe Brooke had that affect on everyone, Haley didn't know, heck she didn't care either, she just knew what she felt. "Shall we go?"
"Of course Miss James, lead the way," Was Brooke's almost charming reply. Then noticing something, she asked, "Hey, is that my sweatshirt?"
"Uh yeah, I guess I just felt comfortable in it. You can have it back..."
"No! You look cute in it, keep it, I have like oh fifty or so," Brooke told her with her own smile, interrupting her.
"Are you sure?"
"Totally." Was Brooke's cheery reply, as she linked her arm through Haley's and pulled them both out of the bedroom as they headed off to teenage hell, otherwise known as High School.
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Pulling into the parking lot of Tree Hill High, both Brooke and Haley tensed for different reasons. Brooke at the thought of seeing Lucas and Peyton, being all lovey dovey around each other, till it was sickening. Haley...simply because of the prospect of actually seeing Nathan for the first time, since that night. "Maybe if I just avoid them, then it'll be ok," was the thought running simultaneously through both there heads.
Getting out of the car, they headed for the main building, other students rushed past them, hurrying to class before the final bell rang. But Haley and Brooke were in no rush, no rush at all, they wanted to drag this out for as long as possible. Delay the inevitable as they say, because after homeroom, English loomed.
English. The one class, the only class, all five of them had together. The tension would be thick, rightfully so between Brooke, Lucas and Peyton. But how could Haley explain the tension between herself and Nathan, without telling everyone what had happen? Luke would be blinded with rage, no one hurt his family, and Nathan wouldn't stand a chance. A part of her just wanted to let it slip in conversation with him, so Nathan would know half the pain that she was in due to his actions. Keeping quiet would be for the best, so she did, she kept it all to herself.
Homeroom was a blur, teachers calling names, a full attendance, then the bell signalling next period. So there they were, sitting next to each other. Haley on the outside of five rows ofdesks and Brooke right next to her. Looking at the clock on the wall, the seconds ticked on by like they were hours themselves, the students piling through the classroom door looked as if they were all in slow motion, and then there they were. Together. Peyton, Lucas and Nathan. If looks could kill, Lucas and Peyton would be ash blowing in the wind right now, due to the death glare Brooke threw there way, their smiles dropped as they passed by, but there hands were still clasped, and to Brooke that hurt more than seeing them kissing. Nathan wasn't fairing any better, as he had tried to walk up to Haley the look on her face had told him, if he came any closer he would be in some sort of pain. So he stayed away.
The teacher walking into the class quietened them down to a hush, and the lesson stated.
Halfway through the lesson, Haley felt a tapping on her shoulder, turning around her eyes narrowed as she looked at Nathan. Ignoring him she turned back round and continued with her work.
"Haley!" Nathan whispered almost silently trying not to get the teachers attention, but succeeding in getting Brooke's.
Turning around again Haley drew daggers at Nathan. "What?" she whispered harshly.
"I wanna tell you..." he started before he was interrupted.
"Listen Nathan, we're in class right now, I don't want to talk to you right now, I don't even want to look at you, so just drop it!" Haley demanded gravely
"But Hales, we really need to talk, I'm sorry ok? Sorry!" Nathan pleaded.
"Listen Nate, if she doesn't want to talk to you, then she's not going to! No matter what you say, so why don't you take some advice and leave her the hell alone!" Brooke warned him.
"Miss Davis, is there a problem?" Mr Robson, the English teacher asked.
"No Mr Robson, Sir, there's no problem what so ever." Brooke told him sweetly.
"Make sure it stays that way then. Ok children, eyes to the front, I want everyone listening." And so the lesson continued, and English was learned, until the bell rang.
As it did Haley shot out of her seat as fast as she could and headed for the door. Brooke and Nathan stood at the same time, intent on following her, as Nathan hurriedly stuffed his things in his bag, Brooke managed to head after her first, until someone grabbed her arm.
Turning around she came face to face with Peyton and Lucas. "Brooke, I think we need to talk." Lucas started.
"I so don't have time for this." Brooke replied as she yanked her arm free from Peyton's grip, and headed out of the door a few seconds before Nathan, leaving Luke and Peyton in her wake.
Heading down the hallway, she spotted Haley hurrying to the main doors of the exit. Walking a little quicker she managed to get toHaley as she reached the exit.
Linking there arms together, Brooke smiled at her as they continued to walk. "Hey there, my favourite Tutor Girl."
"Brooke, I'm the only tutor girl you know! But do you mind letting go of me, before..."
"Before Nathan, catches up with you." Brooke stated finishing Haley's sentence. "Somehow, even I know you don't wanna talk to him. So what do you say we get outta here huh? My car's right over there."
Haley thought about it, contemplating whether or not it was a good idea. Taking a look behind her she saw Nathan fastly approaching. "Let's go." she answered, as she practically pulled Brooke to her car.
As they got into the car, Haley smiled over at Brooke, in thanks.
"My Knightess in shining Gucci, huh?" Haley remarked, as they pulled out of the parking lot.
"Prada, actually." Brooke retorted.
As they drove away leaving Tree Hill High in there wake, they didn't hear Nathan call out Haley's name and they didn't see the anger on his face at being ignored, nor did they see him punch the car he stood by in frustration, actually leaving a dent in the hood.
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Haley sank back into the passenger's seat finally glad to be out of Nathan's grasp. She was content to listen to the music that flowed out through the car speakers as Brooke drove along the open road.
I'm Dying, Dying to wake up without you, without you in my head again
I'm Dying, Dying to forget about you, that you ever lived
There's a shade come over this heart that's coping with laying down to rest
I'm Dying to live without you again
It was ironic really, the first song to come on, would remind her of Nathan. Of what she wanted. Maybe she was over reacting, it wasn't like he had physically hurt her. But emotionally he had damaged her, and just like the song's lyric's she was dying to wake up without him in her head again. Every time she closed her eyes she saw him coming at her, pinning her to her own bed and not hearing her pleas for him to stop...but he did hear them, he just chose to ignore them, ignore her. She didn't sleep in her own room anymore, she slept in Taylor's room, her big sister, her protector. She wished Taylor was home, she missed her.
There was no doubt that her heart was guarded now, how could it not be? That's what she got for opening her heart to someone. She gave it willingly and in return it had gotten stomped and stamped on, now there was an ache that wouldn't go away. She should have listened to Lucas, listened when he had told her Nathan was bad news, she knew that now, now that it was to late. Momma always said 'You play with fire, you're gonna get burned.' Nathan was the fire, an explosion of sorts, and Haley was the victim, she had been burned, set alight, until she had been reduced to ash.
I'm Dying, Dying to find a distraction, get you away from me
I'm Dying, Dying to reach a conclusion, so that the world can see
It's the same old story of love and glory that broke before it bent
I'm Dying to live without you again...
The song was fitting, but songs usually were, no matter how you felt there was always one you could relate to at the time.
"So, what was up with you and Nathan?" Brooke questioned, pulling her out of her musing.
"Would you believe me if I said nothing?" Haley wondered.
"Not one bit. So tell me what happened." Brooke asked, as she slowed the car down, and then pulled it to a stop.
"It was nothing really," Haley lied. "We just had a stupid fight, that's all." she explained.
"It wasn't stupid if you're giving him the cold shoulder Hales, it's something." Brooke reasoned with her.
"We were studying...and then he was kissing me, but I wanted to study and words were said and then I told him to leave." Haley told her, leaving out the whole 'Oh and he tried to force himself on me and would have succeeded if I hadn't stopped him.'
"Words that can't be taken back?"
"Oh yeah."
"Then you're doing the right thing, you should make him grovel until you're ready to forgive him."
"But that's just it Brooke, I'm not sure I can." Haley told her almost silently.
"You can't?" Brooke questioned, scrunching up her forehead. "Haley, is there something you aren't telling me?"
Looking up into Brooke's eye, Haley so desperately wanted to tell her what had really happened, to share her pain with someone else, to ask if it was her fault, but she couldn't. "Yeah, there is. But I'm not ready to tell anyone, just yet." she explained to Brooke.
"Just answer me this one question, did he hurt you?" Brooke asked with dark eyes, not liking the feeling of anything or anyone hurting Haley, if Nathan had, she wouldn't be accountable for her actions.
"Not physically no," Was Brooke's answer. "I'm ok Brooke, I promise."
Taking Haley's hand in her own, Brooke couldn't help but notice how well they fitted each others. She soothingly ran her thumb over it in a calming way, hoping it was at least comforting. "When you feel ready, whether it's tomorrow, next week or next month, I'll be there waiting for you, I promise. When ever you need me, I'll be right here waiting." Brooke vowed.
Smiling at Brooke, Haley moved forward and hugged her. Being in her arms felt better than it had when she was in Nathan's, if perfect was a feeling then perfect was what right now was. Almost reluctantly Haley pulled back. "I hope you will."
"I will, I'll be right there when you need me to be." Brooke told her, with a smile, as she started up the car. "Where to ma'am?" Brooke asked trying to ease the mood.
"Where ever your heart desires, ma lady." Haley answered, as they headed to where ever Brooke wanted to go, still with there hands clasped together.
End of Chapter 3.
Thanks for reading, wanna review, go review. Don't wanna review...please review! But if I can be serious for a moment...Thanks for reading the story...oh and did I mention about the reviewing?
