Just to let you readers know, this particular chapter doesn't include any events that occured in my life. All fiction. Except the little bit about him skipping class. Supposedly, that was true. Haha. And of course, I do not claim any of these characters or anything relevant to the television series, One Tree Hill. Thanks for the love and support, always! Enjoy this chapter! xoxo

Haley approached Lucas door. He had a separate doorway to his bedroom that hadn't bothered to lock, for her, for years.

"Lucas?"

She walked in curious to find that he wasn't lying on his bed, his nose stuck in a good Steinbeck novel.

"Oh, hey, Hales,"

"What's up? Let's go to the kitchen. Does your mom need any help?" she suggested.

"Wait... I have to tell you something,"

"What's wrong? You don't look very good,"

"Nothing... I just got into another fight with Brooke... about... what do you think?"

"Prom?"

Lucas could only nod sullenly.

"What's the big deal? It's just a fancy dance with fancy dresses. It isn't the end of the world or something,"

"Well... I don't know about that..."

"Huh?"

"You know who Brooke hangs out with, right? Looks like all of her friends will be joining us,"

"Yeah... I mean, she's the captain of the cheerleading team... who hangs out with..."

Haley paused as realization struck her across the head.

"You've got to be joking!"

"I wish I was,"

"Wait a second... does that mean..."

"Hales, who is the one person that I could really live without?"

'Ouch,' Haley thought, panic-stricken.

"I know, I know. But, I was actually wondering if... the one person that I could live without was coming,"

"Now who in the world do you hate? Haley James? Hating someone? Kiddo, you are full of surprises, aren't ya?"

"How about the redheaded psycho bitch with an inferiority complex?"

"Oh... you mean Rachel?"

"Surprise," she blandly said.

Great. Their special evening with people that both he and she were barely getting comfortable with anyway might be a little thrown off. Now it included not only the jerk-offs that had tormented Lucas since the beginning of high school, but also Nathan Scott! Specifically Nathan Scott! The extremely attractive, extremely flirtatious, and arch-nemesis of her best friend, Nathan Scott. If Lucas found out anything about the little friendship that had been growing between Nathan and her, prom night would definitely not be pretty. Suddenly, she had more to worry about than picking out a prom dress.

--

The next day at school, Haley was anxious for fifth period to come around. She had a billion thoughts running around in her mind, considering how best to bring it up to him. She was sure that Nathan probably didn't even care. His prom date was Rachel Gattina, after all. As much as the female student body loathed her, she was beautiful. Maybe, trashy beautiful but still. These envious opinions of the Bitch, formerly known as, Rachel, filled Haley's head.

Nathan was on his way fifth period. He hadn't seen much of Haley James. When he thought of his SAT prep class, his thoughts were automatically clouded by the adorable but nerdy girl. What no one noticed was that as many classes that he skipped, he very rarely skipped fifth period. It was just too much fun pestering her. On top of that, ever since the day when circumstances had led him to her home, it was an innocent and harmless way for him to check up on her; making sure that she was doing okay.

He applauded himself mentally as he entered the classroom just as the second bell had rung. He always seemed to make the perfect appearance. As usual, Haley was already seated at their typical island of desks but completely zoned out. The cocky smile on his face slowly diminished to a questioning look.

She hadn't even noticed him come in. But, that is exactly what blew his mind—unlike the entire female population in this class, she didn't even budge. He was used to girls shifting uncomfortably to fix their shirts, pull their skirts up a little higher, make sure their thong was showing from behind, etc.

"Hey, Hales,"

For a second, she swore that she had heard Lucas. It scared her shitless to see Nathan standing there instead. Still a little stunned and thinking over the situation at hand she responded with a small smile.

"Where's Ms. Williams at?"

She shrugged almost lifelessly.

"Hello? Are we talking today or have we decided to become mute?" Nathan whispered exaggeratedly.

"Sorry... just a weird day," she finally spoke up.

Now, he was a little worried.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah... I'm fine. Well, I actually wanted to talk to you about something..."

"About what? Go ahead,"

She let in a sharp breath before sighing deeply.

"Don't be so melodramatic, Hales. What's on your mind?"

He lightly brushed his fingers against her temple. The touch sent shivers down her back but she forced herself to focus.

"It's about prom,"

The word prom reverberated through his mind. Was she going to ask him? This would be interesting. He tried to conceal his excitement for whatever it was that she was about to ask.

"Are you smiling? This is serious... it's not a funny topic," She asked in annoyance.

Damn. She was serious.

"Sorry," he quickly muttered.

"I didn't know if you knew but since Lucas has been dating Brooke for the past year..."

As soon as he heard the name Lucas, his excitement dropped back down to the pit of his stomach.

"... So, I'm going to prom with that whole circle. I heard that you and your friends are going too."

"Well... I mean that whole circle does pretty much include the basketball team." He answered nonchalantly.

"Yeah well, the basketball team and especially you don't treat Lucas nicely. I wanted to ask you a favor,"

His eyebrows danced with curiosity.

"Shoot," he answered with a smirk.

"Could you please, just for one night, be nice to Lucas?"

"What do I get in return?"

"What? That's not a favor! Then, it's just a trade!"

"But, that's not fair. I've got to have some sort of incentive, right?"

"Incentive... of all words, you had to know that one..."

Haley shook her head from side to side while Nathan chuckled at her comment.

"Well?"

"Nathan, I don't have anything that I can offer you..."

"I'm sure that I can think of something,"

Haley frowned at the bargain that had been presented to her. To take it or not to take it? Maybe it would be something along the lines of cleaning up his room for him for a week or something. Maybe tutoring him for a final exam? Hah! Who was she kidding? Knowing the very little information she had on Nathan, it would probably something boyish like... she hesitated to even think.

"Under a few conditions,"

"Okay..."

"One, you have to be nice to Lucas the entire night up until 12am. Two, you can't mention anything... about you know..."

Nathan nodded his head in understanding. He wouldn't talk about that to anyone.

"There's more?"

Haley simply continued.

"And three, nothing perverted or against my moral values, okay, Scott?"

"Take out number three and we have a deal,"

Before they could speak further regarding her request, the teacher came strolling in late just to her own class. During the class assignment, Nathan kept looking up from his paper to sneak looks of Haley. She looked frustrated and seemed to unable to concentrate on the work ahead of her. He loved it when they squirmed. But getting her to squirm as well was a challenge in itself.

"Haley," he whispered.

She ignored him. Her tactic to make him feel bad.

"Haley," he tried again.

"Haley!" he whispered harshly.

"What?!" she hissed at him.

"I'll do it,"

Her ears perked up at his remark. A grin appeared on her face when only a few moments ago a heavy frown had adorned it. Even though she had no clue what his favor in return would be, she was satisfied. But, Nathan had other plans already brewing in his head so he just courteously smiled back.

"P.S., keep your prom date away from me,"

"That won't be a problem," he slyly answered.

Of course it wouldn't be a problem since he didn't have a prom date. He noticed that she seemed to believe otherwise as she rolled her eyes at his cocky comment. Was Haley James being jealous?

She hated it when he had that knowing look on his face. It was as if he knew about something that she didn't. It probably didn't have anything to do with her. But if anyone had been placed in her shoes, who wouldn't hope that it had everything to do with her?

--

Haley waved to her best friend as he pulled his truck away from her driveway. That particular Monday was painfully long on top of the several hours she had squeezed in at Keith & Karen's. She juggled three textbooks and a take-out bag from the café as she approached her front door. She piled the books onto the ground as she tried to jiggle the door open. It was locked which she found strange since she usually forgot to do it.

Pulling her keys out of her messenger bag, she let herself in while trying to carefully using her feet to push her textbooks along with her. She sighed in relief that she'd finally gotten inside. Carrying her things and plopping them onto the kitchen counter, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. She picked it up to find a familiar handwriting in red pen inscribed on it.

Haley-bop,

I'm sorry I didn't call to let you know...

I'm finally home!

I'm meeting with potential client for dinner tonight but,

I'll wake you up tomorrow morning for school.

Love you,

Mom

She smiled with gratitude that her mother had the decency to even leave a note. As she munched on her deli sandwich she quickly did a page or so of math homework. After eating she decided to take a quick break to take some of her belongings upstairs.

She headed up the stairs to her bedroom with her backpack. As soon as she opened the door, everything in her hands fell to the floor with a loud thud. She gasped just as loudly as she had the first time she saw it—the dress! Hanging on front of her closet door was the very same prom dress that she didn't get in a clear plastic garment bag.

Haley jumped up and down and did a little dance that only Lucas had seen, once.

'Wait... did I miss something?' she thought, as thrilled as she was.

Who could've have done this for her? She was stunned as she walked towards the beautiful gown that she swore made her believe in 'love at first sight'. Taped to the plastic was a small white envelope. Haley removed it from the plastic carefully and opened it even more gently.

You like, Tutorgirl?

Just consider it an early birthday gift or something.

We're bound to be friends someday as much as you doubt it!

But, this definitely grants me access to your hair and makeup for that night too!

And... maybe free tutoring sessions whenever I need them.

xxx

B. Davis

P.S. I have like 5 pairs of shoes to match your dress!

Haley could imagine Brooke clasping her hands together at the end of the note, as she usually did when she was this excited.

As nice as the gesture was, she felt like she couldn't accept it. She'd have to make up for it someway, somehow or else she would just have to return the dress. She looked sadly at the gift that she was too afraid to touch.

Suddenly, her cell phone rang. She saw an unrecognizable number.

"Hello?"

"Tutorgirl!"

"Brooke?"

"So... do you like it... or do you love it?" Brooke gushed over the phone.

"I love it and... just... thank you so much but..."

"But what?"

"I can't accept it! It's so expensive and you didn't have to get it for me..."

"Well, I want you to have it, anyway, because if someone else wears that to prom... it'd be a damn shame,"

"I know but, Brooke, I can't take it..."

"Look... I know how you feel... actually, I really don't because I love gifts. But, since you do kind of owe me... if you do me a favor then do you think you can accept it?" She asked in a mischievous tone.

"I'll do anything you need me to do! You ask and it's done!"

"Well, if you say so... okay, so here's the situation. You know, Gattina, right?"

"Yeah... you mean, ugh... I'm not even going to tell you what I normally call her..."

"Haha... you and that feistiness... so cute! Anyway, she's getting kicked off the squad." She said bluntly.

"Oh... well, that sucks to be her,"

"So, you said you'd do anything, right?"

"Yes,"

"You sure, Tutorgirl?"

"Yes,"

"You promise me, you will?"

"Yes, yes, yes... a million times, yes!

"Great! We need a replacement!"