Authors' Note: Wow! We just want to thanks to everyone who reviewed. We were blown away with the responses! In this chapter there isn't a lot of brucas but next chapter there will be! You will also find out why Nathan is the way he is in this chapter. Enjoy this chapter! Please remember to leave reviews because they motivate us to update faster! Have fun reading!
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Haley arrived at Jake's flat completely out of breath since she ran there. She didn't want to think she just wanted to run as far as possible from Nathan. He kept playing with her mind and she could not continue like that. Haley had the keys Jake gave her when she moved into her dorm and walked straight in.
"Hey Baby Girl! Thanks for knocking!" Said Jake in mock anger.
"Oh stop it JJ!" Said Haley falling on the sofa. "It's not like I could interrupt anything... You've got no life!" She added Taking Mr. Waffles in her arms.
"Oh... I can't believe you would say such a hurtful thing! You're tiny but you're mean!" Said Jake overreacting and putting a hand on his heart.
"Whatever!" Said Haley standing up. "Where's my baby?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
"Well... Let me think. Umm... She had an appointment with her lawyer at 4 so I guess now she should be... in her bed." He added with laugher.
"Ah ha ha you're so funny!!" Said Haley sarcastically. "Well then I guess you don't care about the chat I had with Peyton? Fair enough" she said with an evil smile seeing Jake's reaction. "Well I'm going to see my baby now!" She called walking to Jenny's bedroom.
"No stop I want to know what happened! What did you say what did she say? What happened tell me baby girl please!" Jake begged following Haley around like a lost puppy dog.
"No my baby is more important" Haley said with a smirk going into Jenny's room and seeing her sitting up in her princess toddler bed.
"Hawey!" Jenny excitedly said.
"Hi sweetie do you want to come over to aunt Haley's for awhile?" She asked the young girl whose blond curls were all messed from her nap.
Jenny's eyes got wide in anticipation. "Ywa"
"Ok lets get your Winnie the pooh and your bag together so daddy can have some him time"
"Umm Haley... Why are you taking my daughter away?" Asked Jake confused.
"Why? Well maybe I do it because a young and gorgeous blond girl will come pretty soon and that I think that you need some alone time with her."
"What?" Jake asked making sure he heard right. "Peyton is coming here?"
"Exactly precious! So I don't want my lovely baby to see some pervert actions. I mean you didn't get some for like... an eternity so I'm taking this innocent thing with me." She added laughing.
"Look who is talking!" said Jake. "When was the last time you had some action huh? You never had some! And with Nathan Scott being around I guess Jenny has more of a chance to see some terrible things in your room than mine!!"
"What?" Haley asked with a shock face. "I'm not getting intimate with the freak!!"
Jake couldn't contain his laugher seeing Haley's face. "Come on girl! You're hot for the guy and..." Jake sighed. "I got to know him over the last two weeks and even if I hate to say it well...maybe he isn't that bad." Added Jake embarrassed.
Haley frowned. "I don't get you Jake."
"Oh don't get me wrong! I still don't think it will be a good idea for you to get together because I'm scared it will end badly and I'm sure you can do much better but I won't mind you two trying something." He added biting his lips.
"Oh Gosh!" Said Haley walking to the door. "I'm so happy you said that!" She opened the door still looking at Jake "you know what?! I'm going to take my panties off and run to Nathan's room right now! All right?" She said turning around and immediately blushed since Peyton was standing there.
"I was joking" Haley said embarrassed as Peyton stood there laughing. "Ok now that I have made a fool of myself I am taking Jenny and leaving."
"Give daddy a kiss Jenny" Haley said holding the little girl so she could say good-bye to her dad. "Bye dada" Jenny said latching herself back to Haley.
"Have fun" Haley winked grabbing the bag out of Jakes hand and walking pass Peyton. "Hey Peyt I have Jenny so just tell Jake to call me when you guys are done." She added before leaving.
"Umm hi" Peyton said shuffling her feet nervously looking down.
"Hey" Jake said looking at Peyton with intensity shining in his eyes. "Come on in"
"Okay thanks" Peyton said walking into the apartment and looking around. "Soo…" Peyton said uncomfortable with not knowing what to say.
"Okay I guess I'm going to be blunt. I like you Peyton…but" Jake started to say
"But you don't want a girlfriend or you like me as a friend. I understand" Peyton told him turning away.
"No Peyt wait!" Jake said grabbing her arm and stopping her from leaving.
"What?" Peyton asked now annoyed that she walked over there for nothing.
"I do like you and I want to be with you but you have to know I am a single dad trying to raise my daughter and I don't want to freak you out or anything but Haley is important to me and will always have a great importance in my life. She's Jenny's godmother but she is also my best friend and if she ever needs me I'll be here for her any day and anytime. I can't tell you what she's been through that's her decision if and when she tells you but we've been through too much together for me to leave her alone if she needs me. I guess I just want to make sure that if we do get in a relationship you won't get jealous of my friendship with Haley." Jake rambled.
"Jake I get that you and Haley have a strong friendship, and I guess that a part of me will always be jealous I won't come first at everything and she'll always be there and you'll always be there to rescue her if she ever needs it. But all that doesn't matter, what I want is to be with you. Nothing else matters" Peyton said sincerity laced through her words.
Jake didn't know how he got so lucky meeting someone like her and just grabbed her and kissed her senseless. This kiss was defiantly better than the first one. They spent the next 3 hours just making out on the couch and exploring each other's mouths and bodies.
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Haley arrived in her bedroom to find Brooke looking over her new purchases.
"Hey Tutor sis!" Said Brooke cheery like always. "Look what I've found at the fashion show!"
"I'm glad Brooke," said Haley pretending to care while putting Jenny on her bed.
"Do you know where is Peyton?" Asked Brooke still folding her new clothes.
Haley started to laugh. "She's with Jake. That's why I've got the baby," she said bending down to kiss Jenny. "I want to give them some time alone."
"You what?" Brooke asked confused. "I don't get you."
Haley sighed. "Please not you too! Well they like each other and I'm not and never been in love with him! He is my best friend… He's my bro!" She added. She didn't want to tell Brooke the whole story all over again.
Brooke sat on her bed. "I didn't expect that one! I was so sure!" She added to herself.
"Well…. You just made a mistake. Everybody did!" Said Haley nicely. "So what are you going to do tonight?"
"I don't know…" Said Brooke with hope in the eyes. "You want to hang out together?" Brooke asked.
Haley was about to answer when Jenny pressed the pooh « Haley will like Brooke when hell freezes over. » Haley could see the pain on Brooke face.
"Stupid Jake! How could he forget about erasing that?" Haley thought to herself.
"Brooke…I…I'm sorry about that." Said Haley sincere. "I don't think the same now I swear." She added taking the bear and recording a new message saying "Haley loves her sweet angel."
Brooke sighed. "I deserved it anyway." She said sadly.
"No you don't" said Haley shaking her head. "I can see that you're not the Brooke I knew before. You're a good person now."
"So? Do you feel like I'm your sister again?" Asked Brooke her voice full of hope.
Haley couldn't look at her sister, so she kept her eyes on Jenny." I…. Don't ask me that Brooke" said Haley sadly because she didn't want to hurt her sister." I never felt close to you. I haven't heard from you for about 5 years. How could I feel all the sisterly love in two weeks?" Haley asked still keeping her eyes on Jenny. "But I like you and I care for you, you know". She said finally looking at Brooke.
Brooke nodded and took a red shoebox from under the bed.
"However…" said Haley trying to sound positive" I think that before College will be over…. We'll be sister again." She added with a smile.
"You should look at this box," said Brooke all mysteriously. "Maybe you'll see things differently."
Haley frowned and opened the box. She took out a pile of pictures and looked at Brooke questionably.
"I kept all the pictures of the two of us," said Brooke nostalgic. "I also kept every letter you wrote to me. I always loved you Hales even if I kept showing the contrary."
Haley had tears in her eyes. She never expected something like that. She didn't want to show her emotions so she kept her eyes on the box. She took a pile of envelopes out. There were maybe 50 of them. They were all addressed to her but they've never been sent. Haley finally looked at Broke. "What are those?" She questioned with emotion laced through her voice and showing the big pile of envelopes to Brooke.
Brooke who was already very emotional could not contain her tears anymore when she saw her sisters' reaction. "These are the letters I wrote to you for the last 4 years. I want you to read them," she added sobbing. "In each single one of them I tell you about my life and how much I love and miss you and how I hate myself for the way I behaved toward you but…. but I never found the courage to send them to you. I was too afraid to be rejected by you."
Haley took her sister in her arms. "You should have sent them. You let me suffer for four more years."
They were sobbing in each other arms when Lucas walked in.
Lucas cleared his throat, he felt bad to interrupt what seemed to be an intense emotional moment.
"Oh Broody!" Said Brooke with a beautiful smile even through her tearful eyes.
"Are you guys okay?" He asked looking between Brooke and Haley.
"I couldn't be better!" said Brooke kissing him. "I bought a fantastic shirt for you back at the show." She said turning around. "Shoot!" She added looking through her bags "I forgot your bag in the car! I'll be back in 5 minutes," she added hugging Haley and kissing Lucas before leaving the room.
"So is everything okay between you and Brooke?" Lucas asked looking into her eyes.
"Yeah I think we're on our way to being sisters finally" Haley replied looking at the letters in her hands
"Yeah I can see that. "Said Lucas wanting to speak about the real reason that made him come to the room. "Um Hales... Did you see Nathan?"
"What?" Haley asked surprised by his question. "Well...Yes I did but it was some time ago and...and well we didn't leave in such great terms why?"
"I'm looking for him and I shouldn't worry but he isn't picking up his phone." Said Lucas sincerely.
"I don't know where he is Luke. You should try the « Skank hole » the bar down campus. I'm sure he is there." She added trying to be nonchalant
"Look I know he was a ass to you but he does feel bad" Lucas told her
"Wow you mean the jerk actually has a heart," she said rolling her eyes.
"Hales he's had a rough life." Lucas told her
"Who hasn't?" Haley asked sick of the excuses Lucas was making for Nathan
Lucas shook his head. "Let me enlighten you on Nathan Scott life Hales. I know you won't repeat anything and…and stubborn as you are I think it's the only way I have to make you reconsider your decision of hating the guy." He added
"Whatever Luke." Said Haley pouting
"You're so like Brooke on that!" Said Lucas with a smile. "You're both so stubborn when you believe something. Anyway, Nathan's dad died when Nathan was three and his mum started to drink way too much and she became addicted to pills not long afterward." Said Lucas sadly.
Haley looked at Lucas surprised and took Jenny into her arms to have some kind of comfort while listening to the story of Nathan's life.
"His mum never cared that much about him. She cared way too much about her booze and pills than she did with her son. My parents tried to bring some love in Nathan's life but he was so sad and angry that he created the shell you're seeing today." Added Lucas his voice broken with emotion.
Haley phoned beeped, Haley looked at it. "I'm so sorry Luke. I...I didn't know. If I did...I... Sorry but it's Jake sending me a text. I need to bring Jenny back to his flat."
Lucas nodded. "I just need a minute more Hales. Something terrible happened to Nathan 3 years ago. He met a girl, pretty nice actually, a lot like you her name was Angela."
Haley felt a little pang of jealousy growing in her heart.
"Nathan liked her a lot but didn't want to admit it. He was scared to let his guard down and to be hurt again like his dad and mum did." Lucas cleared his throat. "We were at a party and she was there too. Nathan ignored her the whole night and flirted with every girl at the party. Angela was really upset about that because she told Nathan what she felt for him earlier that day. She drank too much and asked him to drive her home. He just sent her away saying that he was going to have a quickie with some random cheerleader there. "
Haley frowned "what a jerk!" she thought.
"Anyway... She started to cry and took his car and left. She killed herself about a mile away."
"No!!!" Haley shouted feeling her heart breaking.
"When Nathan found out he ran to the hospital like crazy. I followed him there. And for the first time in my life I saw him cry." Said Lucas with tears in his eyes recalling the scene as if it was yesterday. "He told me that it was all his fault and that every person he cared about left him! That he didn't deserve to be loved and everything like that. After this terrible night Nathan became even worse and now... I can see everything happening all over again." Lucas added with despair.
"Why?" Haley asked emotionally.
"He likes you." Said Lucas as if he was stating the evidence. "I'm sure he's just scared to let his guard down and lose you like he lost everybody else. "
"I...I... Just find him Luke and take care of him." Said Haley taking Jenny's bag. "I'll talk to him later. I understand him now. I'm going to be his friend." She added sadly.
"I wil," said Lucas kissing Haley forehead. "You're a good person Haley James you know that?!"
Haley nodded and left the room. She felt terrible just now! She felt as the worst person on the planet.
Walking back to Jakes apartment Haley's head was swimming with thoughts of Nathan. Before she knew it she was at Jakes'.
This time instead of walking in she decided to knock since she didn't know what they were doing and really didn't want to see anything.
Haley knocked on the door and Jake opened it. After looking into his eyes, she was happy to see him looking so happy. He was truly happy and that's all that Haley wanted from life.
"I'm sorry Jake but I can't stay," said Haley wanting to see Nathan as soon as she could. She needed to ease her mind.
Jake kissed her forehead and whispered "Thank you baby girl."
"You're more than welcome brother" Haley whispered back.
She handed Jenny to Jake. "I love you sweetie," said Haley kissing her.
"I wove you Hawey," said Jenny waving good-bye.
Peyton grabbed her bag. "Haley wait for me. I need to go Jake"
"Yes I know" he sighed in mock hurt. "You've got to finish your artwork for tomorrow. "He pouted
"Aww I'm sorry Jake" She said facing. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Well...I guess that a kiss will make me feel better." He said with puppy dog eyes.
Peyton quickly kissed him and walked to the door to leave with Haley.
"Ready?" Haley asked before walking out the door.
"Yep" Peyton sadly responded. She really didn't want to leave but knew she had to finish an assignment for her art class.
After walking in silence for a few minutes both in deep thoughts of a different guy. Peyton thinking of Jake and how happy she was they were together and Haley processing everything Lucas said.
"Hey isn't that Nathan?" Peyton asked pointing to a guy sitting on a bench a few feet in front of them.
"Yea it looks like that" Haley responded.
"Well go talk to him" Peyton pushed knowing how Nathan was and how Haley really liked him.
"I don't know... why don't you go and talk to him?" Haley asked.
"Because we both know its not me that he wants to see" Peyton replied pushing Haley in Nathan direction.
"Hi" Haley said shyly standing next to Nathan.
"What do you want?" he asked snottily.
"I...I thought for a while Nathan" said Haley softly biting her lips "and you're right. We should try to be friends," she added sitting next to him and putting her hand on his.
He was confused. "Why would she decide to be my friend now? Well I guess I should be thankful but I feel more disappointed that she only wants to be friends. This is the first girl I have ever wanted to be more with but I was a ass to her hopefully I can make it up to her!" He thought to himself.
"Okay" he agreed. "So does that mean I have to start giving you piggy back rides?" He asked jokingly.
"Oh shut up," Haley said rolling her eyes good naturally and pushing him jokingly.
"Well Ms. James its getting pretty late out I better walk you home" Nathan said smirking.
"Well if you must" Haley said shrugging her shoulders and then laughing at Nathan's shocked face.
"If I must? Jeez you know how to make a guy feel loved," Nathan said laughing at the shocked face of Haley.
"So Jake plays basketball, do you?" He asked changing the subject before she could make a comeback.
"No I don't. I am a complete klutz. Jake tried teaching me once and Skills got hurt." Haley laughed remembering the day. Jake had tried teaching her and she threw the ball and hit Skills in the back of the head.
"Oh so you're a basketball killer. Stay away from me then" Nathan said laughing.
"Your going to regret saying that Scott" Haley said stopping while Nathan just kept walking and chuckling to himself. She decided to run and jump on his back for that comment.
"Ugh" Nathan said not expecting her to jump on his back. "What are you doing?" He asked laughing.
"Well... we're friends now Scott and you're making fun at me! I think you don't have a choice! RUN!!" She added laughing still on his back. "It's good for practice "she added, "You can ask Jake and Luke."
"I need some other things good for practice but I guess that's all I'm going to have from you huh?" said Nathan laughing
"You're such a perv" Haley said but couldn't help her cheeks flame red.
"Okay hold on" Nathan said playing along with her and running to her room. "There is just something about this girl that makes me do stuff I would never do with anyone else" He thought to himself.
"I love holding on to him. No I can't, we're just friends that's all I can let him be. Right?" Haley wondered to herself while holding on tightly around Nathan's neck.
"Okay mademoiselle here we are" Nathan said once they got to her door.
"Thank you sir" Haley said slipping off his back sad that the ride was so short.
"I guess I'll see you later buddy," Haley said masking her face so that he couldn't tell she wanted to kiss him.
"Bye." He said walking away before he grabbed her and kissed her like he had wanted to all night.
"What's wrong with me? Why do I like him? We're just friends that's all we can ever be. I do not want to kiss him," Haley thought to herself before opening the door and quickly grabbing a pair of pajamas and lying in her bed where thoughts of Nathan consumed her until she fell asleep and dreamed of him.