Chapter 8

Summary: Nathan pleads for forgiveness. Reviews welcomed!

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Despite the chance of getting beaten by Lucas again, Nathan knew he had to see her, to talk to her. He waited all night for Haley to come out of the café before realizing that there was a back exit that she escaped from.

He went to her house the next morning, throwing pebbles at her window, or so he thought.

"Are you trying to wake my parents up?" Haley asked. Nathan was surprised, he hadn't even seen her come out.

"Haley, look I'm sorry." He said running after her. She was already making her way back inside the house.

"Whatever." She said as she continued to walk away.

He ran up in front of her, blocking her way. "I'm sorry for what I did, it was wrong I know that."

"You better buy them in bulk if you're going to keep apologizing."

"I messed up, I know that, but believe me it was never about getting to Lucas."

She looked at him and hated how handsome he was, how sincere his face look and the intensity of his eyes when she looked at him. He reached out to kiss her but she slapped his face before he got the chance.

"Don't you dare.. all this time you were just using me for what?" Haley was now brought back to reality. "o get to Lucas… you're pathetic Nathan.. what's even more pathetic is that I fell for it .. so there you go .. I hope you're happy .."

"Haley, please let me explain."

"Fine.. did you or did you not convince Whitey to make me your tutor?"

"I did but.."

"And why was that?" Haley interrupted.

"…"

"Yeah, I thought so.. look I don't need an explanation from you.. going into this I already knew you were a jerk.. I just didn't know to the extent .. what did I do to deserve this huh? Or Lucas.. we did NOTHING to you Nathan but yet you've made it a living hell for Lucas.. and now me.. that's something I won't ever understand .. I'm through with you."

Haley stammered back inside and shut the door hard. Nathan look down and then started to notice some of the neighbors looking at him.

Nathan spent the rest of the day on his bed, thinking about Haley. He tossed a small toy basketball he won at a fair a few years back. Haley was right, she didn't deserve to get hurt and come to think of it, neither did Lucas. He liked Haley so much, it scared him, but his want of her outweighed any fears that he might have. He wondered how he can get through to her, to give him another chance. Sitting back and doing nothing was never something Nathan Scott did, but here he was unable to come up with anything, unable to move. Nathan had excelled in everything he put his mind to, which in his case, was basketball. He succeeded in that, but in this, he was failing, failing miserably. Nathan Scott never knew defeat until now.

--

"Hey Haley."

Haley turned around to face Peyton. "Oh hey." She replied back, the last person she thought she would be speaking to. Ever since Lucas joined the basketball team, the two of them drifted apart, well not really but they were both busy and Haley almost didn't notice Lucas spending time with a different crowd, one that involved Peyton Sawyer and Brooke Davis. Haley made a mental note to herself to ask Lucas, which one was he actually going for. They hung out a few times before, mostly at school, sharing lunch with them. Haley had to admit that they were not as bad as she thought they would be. Even Brooke, who known for being ultra bitchy turned out to be more normal than she thought. They were Lucas' friends, which made them Haley's as well, at least that's what she thought.

"So Luke told me what happened with Nathan… I'm so sorry."

"What for? You did nothing wrong, in fact I'm amazed that you were able to put up with him for so long. I can't believe how stupid I am."

"You're not stupid Haley.. you just got caught up in that Scott charm." Peyton winked and Haley was pretty sure she was referring to Nathan but wondered if she also included Lucas in that.

"Nathan is a jerk, I know that and I don't know why I even stayed with him for as long as I did."

"But you did.. why?"

"Well, there were a few times, only a few where he didn't act like such an ass and was actually normal. He's a decent guy underneath it all but he always put up a front.. I guess I kept holding out for that decent guy to come around but he never did .. and plus he was hot."

"I bet that helped."

"Yeah, it did." She giggled to herself. "But seriously, I am sorry for what Nathan did to you.. I wish I knew that you were tutoring him, I could've warned you."

"Don't worry, there was nothing you or anyone could've done.. I knew I was stepping into trouble when I agreed to tutor him.. I just choose to believe the good in people but you know what I'm just happy I found out now rather than later."

"That's the spirit." Peyton said as the two continued to walk to class.

The rest of the week passed without much of anything. Haley kept her composure as she walked through the halls and passed by Nathan. She tried to act and carry herself as if nothing happened and she hoped she was doing a good job. She could feel him staring at her and when she turned around to look at him, his gaze never left her. She would quickly turn around though not wanting to look at him with that look, that look that made her want to get lost in his eyes. She missed him terribly, though she wouldn't let Lucas or anyone else know about it. Lucas has been great, he knew her better than anyone and she knew that he knew that she was still upset about the whole thing, but he never really ask her about it, for which she was grateful. He gave her the space she needed to move on, or at least try to move on. She began hanging out more with Peyton and Brooke, the last two people she thought she would spend a day shopping with but it turned out to be fun.

Haley was glad for her new friends and the welcomed distractions, but she thought of Nathan often and that surprised even her. Things between the two of them were over, not like there was much there to begin with. She tutored him with his classes and they had a couple of good conversations and shared a few awkward moments of intimacy, but that was it. They weren't a couple, they were even barely friends. During junior high, she was so upset with Damien West, but that even faded after a couple of days. She was hurt at first but she got over it and for the rest of the school year, didn't pay him any attention. When Haley didn't like someone or when someone does something bad to her, she did a good job of cutting them out of her life, but Nathan Scott was different. He lingered and couldn't shake him off.

--

"So I'm wondering, which one?" Haley asked.

"Which what?" Lucas asked.

"Brooke or Peyton… I know I've been distracted lately but like what's up with you two.. or three in this case."

"We're friends."

"Yeah, sure… you can't honestly let me think that you and the two of the prettiest girls at school are hanging out and you guys are just friends."

"We hang out and we're friends."

"That's different."

"How so?"

"You're Lucas.. you don't count."

Luke laughed. "Well first there was Peyton but I don't know .. it's kinda weird, her and Nathan were going out for a while and I think there could've been something with us but I don't know."

Haley looked out blankly.

"Sorry."

"Huh." Haley responded.

"For mentioning Nathan."

"Oh, no it's fine.. whatever .. we're over… not like there was a 'we' to begin with.. but anyways.. so what about Brooke then." Haley said changing topics.

Lucas couldn't help but blush when Haley mentioned Brooke and Haley laughed and thought it was cute.

"You're too easy Scott." Haley said, smiling to herself.

"You too James." Lucas thought to himself. Despite putting up a front, he knew the whole situation with Nathan still affected Haley. She couldn't have liked him, at least not that seriously anyway. She was a good person and was probably hurt more by the fact that someone would be so cruel to him and her. Lucas started to get angry again and wished he could do something to get back at Nathan. He was surprised that Nathan had actually kept a low profile. During practice and games, he barely said anything, no condescending remarks, no cockiness. Whitey seemed pleased and Lucas was at least grateful that the team could concentrate on the game.

The next day at school, he and Haley were walking down the hallway and Lucas could see Nathan by his locker in the distance. They were talking casually and he made some off hand joke to which Haley laughed and he put his arms around her as they walked by Nathan. Haley noticed Nathan there but choose not to acknowledge his presence. Having Luke place his arms around Haley was nothing new and it didn't bother her at all and Lucas knew that as well. But Lucas couldn't help but smile as he swore he saw Nathan's face grow cold and angry as they walked pass him.

To Be Continued …

I hope you enjoyed, Merry Christmas and please review !! I'm trying to be more consistant with my updates, hopefully with the downtime I have during Christmas, I can bank some extra chapters. Enjoy!