HJS-NS-23 Authors Note: Thanks to everyone who read and a special thanks to those who reviewed. They defiantly made our day! This is the chapter leading up to the party. The party is the next chapter and it will defiantly be interesting ;o). Don't forget to review and enjoy reading!
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The girls were getting ready for the party. The guys were supposed to meet them at 9 in Brooke and Haley's room.
Brooke was standing in front of the mirror looking at her reflection. "Hey, P. Sawyer, I need you for a sec!" Shouted Brooke. Both bathroom doors were open which eased the communication.
Haley laughed at Brooke's desperate call for help. She was trying to find something to wear for the party but couldn't find anything she wanted to wear especially after looking at what Brooke was wearing.
Peyton walked in wearing a denim mini skirt and a light blue tank top. "What do you want B. James?" Asked Peyton pretending to be exasperated.
"I need you to do my hair. Please…." Brooke begged pouting in front of the mirror. "Look! It's just crazy tonight and its not cooperating!" She added touching her hair. "It's really an emergency." Brooke looked at Peyton through the mirror and turned around. "Wow! We can say you're showing a lot of skin tonight! Who are you trying to impress with that?" Asked Brooke pointing up and down Peyton's outfit with a cheeky smile.
Peyton blushed. "What are you talking about? I'm not trying to impress anyone." Added Peyton while her brain was screaming Jake. Peyton sighed. "I'll do your hair but you have to sit down and shut up!" She added in mock anger.
Brooke pretended to zip her mouth and sat on a chair.
"You want me to do your hair too?" Asked Peyton to Haley who still had her face buried in her closet.
"Huh? No that's fine but thanks," Haley said.
"Whatever just let me know if you change your mind" Peyton smiled.
Haley just nodded and smiled back.
"Is Jake coming with you?" Asked Peyton nonchalantly. "I think the guys would like talking to him about coach K. They're just terrified about playing at a college level."
Brooke frowned at Peyton's question. "Lucas and Nathan are not scared," she thought to herself. "Where is she going with that?"
"Yea, he's coming." Said Haley taking some clothes from the closet. "He found a babysitter for Jenny. He is picking me up at 9."
"The guys are going to be happy then." Peyton replied tying to concentrate her attention on Brookes' hair.
"The guys…Right!" Thought Brooke.
"I guess… Well I'm going on the bathroom now okay? I won't be too long." She said walking in to the bathroom.
Peyton started to laugh. "Oh you can take your time Haley. It's going to take a while! Brooke always needs a few hours to get ready."
"That's not true!" Shouted Brooke in mock hurt. "I just want to be pretty!"
Haley smiled and looked back into the room but before closing the door, she looked at Brooke "You don't need hours to be pretty Brooke. You're gorgeous anyway." Added Haley sincerely closing the door.
Brooke smiled at Haley's comment. This compliment, especially coming from her sister was the best present she ever dreamed of.
"What are you doing?" Asked Brooke almost whispering once Haley closed the door.
"I'm doing your hair." Replied Peyton confused.
"You know I'm talking about!" Added Brooke trying to make eyes contact with Peyton through the mirror. "Are you going after Jake? Is that why you're showing off your skinny body?"
"What? No!" Said Peyton offended. "I don't even know the guy! I…I was just asking because I didn't want Haley to feel excluded. Come on Brooke!"
"Well…that's good." Said Brooke nodding but she was not convinced by Peyton's comment.
"Why is that good?" Asked Peyton suddenly curious. She wanted to drop the subject but her curiosity won over her desire to keep her feeling a secret. "Because he's friends with Haley?"
"No I don't think they're friends." Added Brooke with a confident tone. "I think they're dating or at least in love with each other. They're too close to be honest and…and I don't want my sister to be hurt again. I've already made her suffer way too much. I want to keep her safe now, protect her from any kind of pain." Brooke smiled. "She deserves to be happy. I mean…I don't know why but I guessed she already had more than her share of pain and sufferance."
"I get you Brooke but you better check your information first. I don't think they're dating" Added Peyton trying to convince herself. "I mean yeah they're pretty close and all that but I don't see this kind of love in their eyes. It's not like Broody and you."
"Well…We just have to wait and see but till then I'll keep every gal as far as possible from Jake." Added Brooke not directly to Peyton but she hoped being clear enough.
About 20 minutes later Haley stepped out of the bathroom, Peyton was almost finished with Brookes' hair.
"Well I'm ready." Said Haley simply.
Brooke turned around to look at Haley. Her jaw dropped.
"What?" Said Haley surprised. "You don't like my look?"
"How can I?" Said Brooke nicely. Looking at Haley up and down. She was wearing a baggy pair of jeans with an oversized black tee shirt. She didn't wear any make-up and tight her hair in a simple ponytail. "You're far from ready lil'sis! We need an emergency makeover at that point! Right Peyton?" She said looking at Peyton with such a desperate look that she could not contain her laugher any longer.
"I'm sorry Haley; I'm not making fun at your look. It's just…its just look at Brookes' face!" She added pointing to Brooke.
Haley looked at Brooke and seeing how desperate she looked and about to cry, Haley started to laugh.
"You see…" Peyton said seriously putting her arm around Haley's shoulder. "Your sister is a…how can I say that in a non-offensive manner…" She added dramatically pretending to think. "Well…she is a fashion freak and I think that your look just gave her a tiny stroke! Isn't it Brooke?"
Brooke just nodded.
"You see?" Said Peyton at Haley's attention again. "Maybe you could, just for once, let Brooke dress you and if you don't like it well…you can dress back just the way you are."
Haley frowned. "I don't know about that. I like how I look!" She lied. In fact, Haley never followed fashion; she could not care less about all the fashion icons and all this crap. She didn't feel confident in her own body and always tried to be unnoticed. Things became even worse after the attack and she tried even harder to make her feminine identity disappear.
"Please Haley!" Begged Brooke. "Please; please; please; please!!!!" She added whining.
"You're really pretty and people need to see that! Come on, just let me do it tonight and if you don't like it I won't harass you ever again!" She added with puppy eyes.
Haley sighed and looked at Peyton who encouraged her with a pat on the back. "Okay Brooke but just for tonight right?!"
"Yeah!!" Shouted Brooke jumping all over the bedroom.
"Hey! Don't get too excited about that!" Said Haley seriously. "I don't want you to go over the top or anything! Plus you can't do much…I only got this type of clothes in my closet!"
"I won't." Said Brooke putting her hand up as if she was swearing but her eyes were saying the exact contrary. "As for the clothes…well no problem. I've got everything you need here!"
"I won't fit in your clothes!" Said Haley sadly.
"Of course you will! You're thin. We're the same size I can see that! My eyes are well trained!" She added seriously. "You won't fit in goldilocks' clothes but who could? Huh? Maybe six years old!"
This last remark made Haley laugh.
"Hey!! I'm not that thin!" Said Peyton in mock-hurt. "I just can't put weight on."
"Yeah right…Poor little Peyton" Said Brooke rolling her eyes. "Come on P. Sawyer we only have 45 minutes before the boys are coming to pick us up. Can you bring me back your make-up and you're curling iron please?"
"Ay Aye captain!" Peyton said laughing while going to her bedroom.
"Umm Brooke?" Said Haley with discomfort. "I…I don't want to wear something short okay? I…want to hide my leg." She added in a whisper.
Brooke turned around and gave a small smile to her sister. "Yeah okay but just so you know, you've got nothing to be ashamed of. You're really beautiful Hales…even with your dreadful fashion sense and this scar doesn't change that."
"Thanks Brooke, it's really kind of you." Said Haley with a broken voice.
"I'm not saying that to be kind, it's the truth but don't worry I've got what you need." Added Brooke picking a pair of form fitting jeans from her closet. "These will fit you perfectly. Try them on."
Haley tried on the jeans and were surprised how tight they were and showing off her curves.
"I don't know Brooke…" Said Haley rubbing her hands on the jeans.
"Damn! You've got such a fine ass in those jeans! You're making me jealous." Said Peyton behind Haley.
Both Brooke and Haley were surprised by Peyton comment and laughed.
"Well thanks…I guess!" Said Haley blushing.
"Oh!" Said Brooke as she just had a revelation "I know which top will go perfectly with your skin tone and these jeans!" Brooke added looking in her closet and handing a red top to Haley.
"I can't wear that!" Said Haley in shock. "It's doesn't cover much skin!"
"Of course it does! Just try it on would you?" Asked Brooke with puppy eyes again.
Haley sighed and tried the top. The top had no back and had a low neckline to show cleavage. It was like a second skin so it was tight. When she looked at Peyton and Brooke she could see something she never saw before: admiration.
"You were beautiful before little sister. Now…you're just hot!!" Brooke said looking Haley up and down proud of herself. "Now let's do your hair and make-up."
Brooke worked on the make-up while Peyton worked on the hair. Once it was done they both stood in front of Haley and smiled.
"So? What do you think?" Brooke asked Peyton.
"What can I say? She is just gorgeous!" Peyton added to Brooke attention.
"Um Guys? I'm here you know!" Said Haley with a smile.
"Go to the bathroom and judge for yourself." Said Brooke pointing to the bathroom.
Haley took a deep breath and stood in front of the mirror. She could not believe what she was seeing. Brooke and Peyton did a fantastic job. She was beautiful! The lip-gloss made her lips look full. The pink blush brought some essential colour on her cheeks making her look way healthier and the eye shadow and eyeliner brought all the attention on her eyes. Haley never noticed before how beautiful her eyes were. As for her hair, the big curls made by Peyton were showing her perfect face shape.
She came out of the bathroom and looked at the girls. They seemed anxious. She smiled.
"Thanks girls! I really like it!" Said Haley sincerely. "I don't even recognise myself anymore!"
"You're welcome!" Said Brooke relieved "But you were beautiful before too! We just wanted to show it more. You're still the same because as you already know the cover doesn't make the book!"
"Well, I'm pleased you like it." Said Peyton sincerely. "I'm going to put my stuffs away."
"Thanks Peyton." Said Haley.
Brooke waited for Peyton to be out of earshot. "Jake is going to be breathless once he'll see you!"
Haley frowned. "Jake? Why? What are you implying Brooke?"
"Oh! Nothing! Don't mind me. I'm…I'm a bit dumb!" Said Brooke with discomfort. "I'm going to see if Peyton is done now okay? I'll be back in a minute." Added Brooke rushing into Peyton's room.
Haley shook her head and laughed. Her sister was so strange. She was folding her clothes on the bed when she felt a presence behind her. She shivered and turned around.
Nathan was looking at her with such intensity and passion in his eyes. For some reason it seemed that even if she had only known him a day she could see straight into his eyes and see his soul.
Seeing her standing in those jeans and red shirt took his breath away. "Hi" he croaked out. Nathan quickly cleared his throat what was this girl doing to him he thought. "I mean Hey" he said the normal cool Nathan back.
"Hi," Haley said biting her lip and crossing her arms over her chest subconsciously trying to protect herself.
"So you look hot, wanna go have a quickie in my room before the party?" Nathan asked with a smirk.
Haley was speechless she couldn't believe he would say this to her. Her hands flew to her hip. "You are soo..."
"Hot, sexy, a god, indescribable? I know," Nathan said cockily.
"No you're mistaken" she added, "I was going to say an asshole, a smart ass and a perv"
"A perv you want" Nathan said stepping closer to her.
"Ha ok no. I would rather die a very painful death then have my lips come anywhere near yours" Haley shot back taking a step back, but he only kept coming closer to her, until she was backed up against the wall.
"Really now" He asked with that annoying smirk as he put his arms on the wall beside her so she was trapped there.
"Mhmm yep I'm sure" Haley said anything but confidant his smell driving her crazy. She wanted him to kiss her but knew she shouldn't.
Just as he lent down to kiss her they heard Jake clear his voice.
"We won't always be interrupted," He whispered before moving away from her frustrated by everyone always interrupting them.
Haley tried to put herself together and smiled guiltily at Jake. Nathan noticed her smile and turned to see Jake angry look. This scene was just like a stab in Nathan's' heart. "What is happening here?" he asked to himself. Nathan was feeling something strange it was a mix of jealousy and pain. He never felt anything like that before.
"Brooke, Peyton! Nathan's' is here!" Shouted Haley. She wanted to avoid the lecture that Jake was probably preparing for her.
"Oh hey hot shot! Where is my man?" Asked Brooke looking at Nathan strange face.
"He…he's downstairs with Skills." Said Nathan trying to sound calm. "He asked me to pick you two hot chicks." He smiled.
"Oh okay. Let's go Peyton." Added Brooke who wanted to give some alone time to Jake and Haley.
Jake kept staring angrily at Haley who was biting her lips.
Nathan wanted to punch Jake without really knowing why.
The three of them were about to go when Nathan turned to Haley. "So you're coming?" He asked impatiently.
Haley was about to respond when Jake cut her off. "We'll join you guys. We just need a minute."
"As you want man." Said Nathan nonchalantly but he wanted to shout at Jake, tell him to back off and that Haley was his. His reaction took him by surprised
Brooke, Peyton and Nathan were about to go down the stairs.
"Oh!" shouted, "I've forgot my wallet." Lied Peyton. "I need to go back to my room. I'll join you in a minute okay?" She added smiling.
"We can wait if you want proposed Nathan." He really wanted to wait for Haley.
"No, don't be silly the party is only a few doors down. I'll be fine. Just go."
"Okay. Just hurry up." Said Brooke
"I will," said Peyton running back to her room. She felt bad to snick on Haley but it was stronger than her. She put her ear on the bathroom door.
"You can't go around dress like that!" He said angry.
"Why? It's not bad. I mean do I look bad?" Said Haley sobbing. It was the first time that Jake got that angry. It really hurt Haley.
"No…" Jake sighed. "No it's not that baby girl." Said Jake a bit calmer. "It's the exact opposite!"
"Oh…" Said Haley surprised.
"I mean I can't keep my eyes on you all night long and…and well…" Jake passed a hand trough his hair.
"Well, with you dress like that I will have to!"
"No, you don't I mean Lucas will be here and Brooke and Peyton and Nathan. I'll be just fine."
"Yeah that's the point! Nathan will be there!" said Jake angry again.
"Are you planning to date the jock?"
"Huh? No! Of Course not!!" Said Haley offended. She was offended by the fact that Jake could read right through her more than by his statement.
Peyton quickly got up she couldn't stand to hear anymore. The tears were falling so fast she knew she would have to fix her make-up before she could leave again. She walked into her bedroom and laid on her bed sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hales don't lie to me look me in the eyes do you like Nathan?" Jake asked scared of her answer. He didn't want her to get hurt anymore then she had been. "You know he's a serial dater, he's just going to use you and then throw you away."
"I...I...I don't know…part of me likes him while the other part is so infuriated with how he acts. Let alone I'm scared to get hurt and what if something happens?" Haley asked all the insecurities coming back to her.
"I'm here for you baby girl I promise. No one will ever hurt you again." Jake said hugging her.
"You say you can protect me forever but you can't. Only I can protect myself and I really just want to go to this party and have a good time. I want to forget about everything now come on," Haley said breaking away from Jake and heading out the door.