Steffy2106 author note: Hey guys. We just wanted to thank you for your fantastic reviews. You're just great. This chapter is a bit sad but….It will get better soon ;-). We hope you're going to enjoy and don't forget to review. Take care.
PS: HJS-NS-23 and myself wanted to ask if one of you guys can make us a banner for this story :-) . Thanks a lot. Steffy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jake was in the cab driving him back to the campus. He was lucky to be able to change his flight back and come back a day early. It felt nice to see his parents and they were happy to have their granddaughter around but he missed Haley and Peyton too much. He wanted to be with them and not on the other side of the country. He decided to stop at the dorms straight away because he wanted to surprise Haley but he was also longing for one of Peyton's kisses. Gosh, her kisses just make me loose my mind! thought Jake smiling.
Once the taxi arrived Jake took his suitcase in one arm and Jenny in the other, since she was sleeping.
When he arrived upstairs he walked pass Peyton's room but she wasn't there. However, he could here some music coming from Haley and Brookes' room. At least one of my girl is there! Thought Jake shaking his head. He walked into the room, which was open but was surprised to find Brooke emptying her suitcases but not Haley.
"Hey Brooke" said Jake trying to peek in the bathroom to see if Haley was there.
"Hey!" Said Brooke with a big smile. "You're back already? I thought you were due back tomorrow". She added really pleased.
"Yeah I know but…where's Haley?" He asked frowning.
Brooke started to laugh. "I don't know what you're trying to pull Jake but you're funny!" She saw a confused looked on his face. "You should know better than me where Haley is! You spent Thanksgiving with her! I mean unless you've lost her at the airport or something" said Brooke shaking her head.
Jake jaws just dropped with surprise. He thought fast and understood without really believing what Haley did. She lied to me!! He said to himself angry. There was only one place where Haley could be and it was his flat.
"Huh … yeah… right" said Jake to Brooke trying to hide his anger. "Can I leave my suitcase here for an hour or two?" He asked.
Brooke nodded. "Of course but…. Are you okay?" She asked seeing Jake turning around.
"Yeah… I'm just fine. I'll be back," he added leaving the room.
He arrived to the building and stopped at Ms. Whitaker's for a minute. He knew there would be a lot of shouting in less than 5 minutes and he didn't want Jenny to hear that.
Once he left Jenny, Jake walked slowly to his flat and opened the door as silently as he could. Haley was inside with a garbage bag and was putting some trash away.
Jake walked in; he was pleased she was turning her back to the door. I can't believe she is singing! Said Jake to himself. We can't say that guilt is killing her!!
He stood beside her, his hands on his hip.
"So Haley…. How was Tree Hill?" Jake asked darkly.
Haley jumped and turned around. She could not believe that Jake was standing before her eyes. "I…I…It's just…. " Haley didn't really know what to say. Just one look on his face and she knew that her secret was out. How much does he know? She asked herself.
Jake was taping his foot impatiently. "SO?" He said louder than before.
"I…I…. You were supposed to be back tomorrow!" It was the only thing that crossed her mind at this instant and she knew it was a big mistake when she saw Jakes' look widen with anger.
"You're kidding me right?" Shouted Jake. "Please tell me you are! I just can't believe it!! My best friend… The person I trusted even more than myself lied straight to my face!!" His face was all red now. He pointed his finger at Haley. "You did lie to me without a blink Haley!! And the only thing you worry about is being caught? Gosh what is happening to you Haley? What?" He added almost incomprehensibly so he was shouting.
"I wanted to spend Thanksgiving by myself" she said in a whisper. "I needed to process all the changes in my life."
"Of course you did!" Said Jake with sarcasms. "Did it occur to you to…I don't know…to talk to me about it!!" He added standing about 3 inches from the front of her face
"Of course it did!!" Said Haley shouting too but she had tears in her eyes. "I know you wouldn't have let me stay!! You're so protective it's just like you don't let me breath by myself!"
"You're damn right Hales! Do you know how stupid it was of you to stay all alone on the Campus huh? Without anybody knowing about it? I thought that life taught you better!!" Seeing that Haley was actually crying now, he stopped shouting. "What if you needed me?" He said with a lot of anger in the voice. "I was more than 5 hours away from you in plane!!"
Haley was mad too now. "You thought life taught me better? Do you consider my almost rape as being a lesson?" She added punching his shoulder out of anger. "What could you have changed anyway huh? What if I needed you?" Haley wanted to hurt Jake how much how he hurt her. "You were about 15 minutes from me back in Pasadena and it didn't stop THAT from happening did it?" She added showing him her scar. "Where were you when I was calling your name?" She added despitefully.
She could see Jake face drained, it was like someone just ripped his heart out.
He didn't reply, she had touched his Achilles heel. He looked down and walked slowly to the bathroom.
Haley regretted her words straight away. She followed Jake. "I'm sorry JJ, I didn't mean that...I... I was just mad. Please stay!" She begged when he softly pushed her out of his way. "I love you Jake!" She added when he closed the door of the bathroom behind him. Haley continued to talk behind the door. "I'm really sorry…Please just come out and we'll talk. I should have told you that I intended to stay here by myself. It's all my fault. Please…. Talk to me Jake," She begged sobbing again. "You're the most important person in my life…. I won't do it again…ever I swear" she added sat in front of the door.
Jake finally opened the door and looked at her in a strange way. She couldn't describe what was in his eyes. He had a hand behind his back.
"Why did you spend Thanksgiving alone Hales?" He asked sadly. "You just got enough of me or what?"
"No Jake…Come on! I…I just wanted to be by myself." She added trying to touch his arm.
Jake took one step back. "Ummm…yeah right so… I guess these shorts are yours." He said showing her the pair of shorts of the Duke Basketball team with the number 23 on the left leg.
Haley's jaw just dropped. Stupid Nathan!! How could he forget his shorts? She thought to herself.
"So you preferred spend Thanksgiving with Nathan Scott than me! Since when are you dating? Don't you think you're going a bit too fast huh?" He didn't let her the time to answer. Jake was angrier than before. "You should take things slowly with him! I told you I wouldn't mind you guys trying but not you jumping in bed with him for 5 days!! Especially my bed! It's going to end bad Haley and…and well this time I won't be there to fix your broken heart!" He said throwing the shorts at her.
Haley couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Don't you know me by now Jake?" She asked with a voice mixed with anger and sadness. "Do you really think I'm going to jump into bed with someone just like that!! Nothing happened between us!! I didn't intend to spend Thanksgiving with Nathan. The circumstances just forced us together. I swear we just spent it as friends. Nothing more!!"
"I don't believe you Haley and I don't know if I'll trust you ever again." He added out of anger. He didn't mean it and he perfectly knew it.
Haley felt like a punch in her stomach and she rushed out of the apartment crying her eyes out.
"Haley!" She could hear Jake scream from the other side of the door but she didn't stop and kept running. She wanted... no she needed to see Nathan. She needed comfort and the first face she saw was Nathan's which surprised her more than she could think.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When she finally arrived at Nathan's room Lucas was there. Seeing Haley's face Nathan knew she needed to talk and asked Lucas to leave, which he was going to anyways to go see Brooke.
"Haley what wrong?" Nathan asked panicked. He could see she had been crying and that she was really upset and hurt.
"I...Jake is back and he knows." She added sitting on the bed and bursting into tears again.
"How...I mean what does he know?" Asked Nathan sitting beside Haley. He felt guilty because he imposed his presence.
"All of it" said Haley sobbing and "we had the worst fight we ever had! I don't think we're friends anymore" she added lying on Nathan bed.
Nathan lied beside her and put one arm around her tight to keep her close as he started to caress her hair with the other. "Come on Hales. You've been friends forever. It's not a fight, which is going to destroy all of it, and you know it. He'll come around." Added Nathan sincerely.
"I don't think so Nate. I mean we've had many fights in the past. This is the price for spending every moment of our live's together but...this one was different. It was like we really wanted to hurt each other and…and Jake won heads down." she added with a voice that broke Nathan's heart. "You know what hurts the most is that he didn't believe nothing happened with us. My best friend couldn't believe me!" Her eyes were red and blood shot when she looked up to face him.
"What happened? Why did you guys fight?" Nathan softly asked.
Haley quickly told him the story about Jake finding his shorts and exploding on her and then each of them saying something to make the other feel worse.
Knowing nothing he could say would help right now he tenderly brought his lips and kissed her forehead his hands cupping her cheeks. Once she felt Nathan's lips on her forehead something inside of Haley snapped. The instant spark she got whenever they touched or kissed flowed through her body and she didn't want to lose it. She didn't want to fight her feelings for Nathan any longer, why should she when nothing happened before and Jake didn't believe her. Something about how lately whenever she had needed someone Nathan was the one that was saving her. He let his hands linger on her cheeks before taking them off and just facing her on the bed.
Missing his touch she started caressing his cheek with her hand before leaning towards him her lips meeting his as a sense of calmness and passion washed over her body. She slid her tongue over his bottom lip begging for entrance to explore his mouth. Quickly obliging her, his arm wrapped around her waist bringing her closer to him. The kiss was everything he knew it would be; he had wanted another one ever since the basketball game. There was just one thing wrong. Pulling away he had to refrain from going back and kissing her with her lips pink and swollen, her eyes sparkling like stars. No she's upset, she just had a fight with her best friend and you were kissing her you idiot! Nathan thought.
Confused Haley looked at him the light leaving her eyes as confusion and hurt settled in them. "What's wrong? Why did you pull away?" Haley asked vulnerably the tears forming back in her eyes as hurt and humiliation set in her.
"Well… Hales you're not yourself right now. I mean you just fought with your best friend. Looking for comfort like that is not the best way." Nathan told her his heart breaking because he knew he upset her by pulling away. I want her to kiss me but not like that, I want her to be herself when she does it he sadly thought to himself.
"You're right Nate thanks". She added trying to hide her sadness. "I…I umm don't know what got into me. We're friends right? Okay…I need to go to my room and tell Brooke about the Thanksgiving fiasco before Jake or Peyton does". She added with a smile before walking towards the door.
"Yea we're friends. No worries. Hey, your right you better go tell Brooke! I'll tell Luke when I see him." He added before watching her walk out the door and grabbed his I-pod before listening to the song that reminded him of Haley and their relationship.
I shouldn't be disappointed that he stopped the kiss I mean obviously he just wants to be friends and I guess that's because of me. I don't know anymore I mean why do I like him? Why did I kiss him? Haley was in deep thought by the time she got back to her room and saw Brooke cuddling with Lucas.
"Oh sorry didn't mean to interrupt" Haley said starting to walk back out the door until Brooke jumped up and pulled her in a bear hug.
"I missed you tutor sis." Brooke said sincerely. "Stay here and tell me all about your thanksgiving home."
Great she doesn't know the truth yet, Haley thought to herself.
Lucas stood up too and smiled at Haley.
Well Nathan said he would tell Lucas, "Hey Lucas Nathan said he wanted to talk to you about something." She told Lucas trying to get him out of the room so she would only have to tell Brooke.
"Oh okay better go see what he wanted. Hey maybe he will tell me why he missed thanksgiving. Bye Cheery I love you" Lucas said kissing Brooke before telling Haley bye and walking out the door.
"So tutor sis spill I want all the details of your time at home" Brooke giggled sitting down on her bed and bringing Haley down with her.
"I didn't go home Brooke. I lied to you about going home because I wanted to stay here and think and anyways-long story short I came back to grab my bag Nathan caught me and said he wouldn't tell as long as I let him stay with me." Haley quickly got out not meeting her sisters eyes.
"Omgosh tutor sis! I knew you and Nathan were going to hook up soon!! I'm so good…and no I'm not mad… I understand lies when it's about love." Brooke told her.
"Thanks Brooke I'm glad your not mad but nothing happened with me and Nate, we're not together" She replied.
"Oh!... Even though I think you guys are perfect for each other and everything I believe that nothing happened." Brooke told her sister.
This upset Haley. How can my sister who I have just started getting along with believe me when my best friend since forever doesn't! Putting a smile on her face Haley decided to ask Brooke all about her Thanksgiving. Brooke's dimpled smile showed how much she enjoyed it as she told her everything and they sat there talking about Brookes Thanksgiving for an hour. It finally seemed that maybe they were even closer now.
When Lucas arrived in the room he saw that Nathan was pretty upset. He had his ipod on and ready to go.
"Hey Nate…NATE." Lucas shouted.
"Huh? Sorry Luke I got to go." Said Nathan determined.
Lucas stood in front of the door. "Where are you going Nathan?" Asked Lucas feeling trouble ahead. "What was Haley's problem?"
"Oh… I guess you'll find out sooner or later." Nathan sighed. "Well… Haley never went to Pasadena she… She stayed here…. With me." He added expecting Lucas reaction of shock.
"I didn't see that one coming," said Lucas laughing. "Well…Since when are you guys dating?"
"We're not!!" Said Nathan irritated." And that dick won't believe Haley! He thinks it was a set up or something and I hate that!"
"Firstly... okay you're not dating and secondly who is the dick? And what doesn't he believe?"
"Jake!" Said Nathan as if he was stating the evidence. "He hurt Haley pretty bad and I can't accept that. I need to go and have a word with him. Tell him he made a mistake."
Lucas didn't move from the door. "You just want to talk peacefully with the guy?" Said Lucas frowning. "I don't think so Nate! I can see your face and… and I know things will go bad."
"But…I…." Said Nathan angry against Lucas now.
"Don't mettle in their relationship". Said Lucas still calm. "They will patch things up! You can see how much they love each other! They are family and if you get involved well… I can assure you it's going to go against you". Added Lucas trying to beat some sense into Nathan.
"And so what?" Shouted Nathan exasperated. "What am I supposed to do? Stay here while the girl I love is sad and bruised huh? I have to fight for her!!"
Nathan saw Lucas' jaw drop and frowned trying to remember what he just said. He spoke out of anger.
"You Love Haley!!" Asked Lucas surprised. "I knew you liked the girl but I never thought that you loved her!"
Screw me!! Thought Nathan Why did I have to open my big mouth again?
"Well…I …. It's just that…." Nathan sat on his bed. "Oh Crap…Yeah I love Haley James and I'm so screwed up because of it!!"
"Oh my god…" Said Lucas sitting beside Nathan. "I'm so happy for you! Haley is such a great girl!! She'll make you really happy."
"She won't because she doesn't know how I feel and I don't want her to understand me?" Said Nathan darkly. "Don't go around spreading the word. I need you to keep your mouth shut on this one."
"I swear I won't say a word but why don't you tell Haley? You've got to be a blind man because she likes you too."
"Well…I love her too much already and I don't want to lose her." Said Nathan sadly.
Lucas understood what his cousin was talking about." Listen Nathan… You can't keep this shell up forever you know. You'll regret it sooner or later and…you won't forgive yourself if you let Haley slip away. She…"
"I lost most of the people I cared for Luke" Said Nathan his voice broken with emotion.
"And? Life is life Nate! When it kicks you, you just have to raise and fight back!" Said Lucas with emotion. "Haley is a fighter I can see that. She is not your mum, she is not your dad and…she is not Angela." Added Lucas sadly seeing some tears on Nathan cheeks. "You've got to fight for her man because…you're way depressed without her healing your heart."
Nathan nodded. "I…I'll just wait a bit longer." He added like he was talking to himself.
Lucas stood up and looked at Nathan. "Fight for her man, be strong for her and open your heart to her because she is worth it and you know it." Lucas sighed "You can finally be happy and loved! Won't you try that for once?"
Nathan knew that Lucas was right. I'm just not quit ready yet. He added to himself.
------------------------------Meanwhile-------------------------------------
Jake was going back to the dorm with Jenny. He needed to pick up his suitcase but this was just an excuse. He needed to see Haley and settle things between them. He never saw her that angry and hurt before and he hated to be the one that caused it. She just wanted to stay... That's not a big deal! He said to himself. On his way to the room he bumped into Peyton.
"Hey" She said with a bright smile. "I'm so happy to see you. I missed you!" She added caressing Jenny's Hair. "I missed you too Jake". She added winking.
Jake forced a smile. He was happy to see Peyton again but he couldn't stop seeing Haley's face before she ran from the flat. "I'm so happy to see you too Peyton". Said Jake giving Peyton a quick kiss.
Peyton frowned. "I knew you were back because well… Haley and Brooke are chatting in the room". Seeing Jake eyeing Haley's bedroom door Peyton sighed. "What's going on Jake?"
"I…I did something to Haley and I need to check on her". He said not knowing if he wanted Peyton to know the all truth.
Peyton opened her bedroom door. "Why don't you come and talk a bit about it before?" She smiled. "I'm sure she just needs some time with Brooke."
Jake nodded. She was right. I need someone elses advise he added to himself.
Jake explained almost everything to Peyton from the Thanksgiving lie to the fight but he conveniently left out was had been said exactly. He felt really ashamed about what he said.
Peyton was completely split. She felt bad for both Haley and Jake.
Jake shook his head. "You think I'm wrong right?" Asked Jake sadly.
"Well…" Said Peyton uncomfortable. "I don't know Jake because I know you and Hales for about 3 months and you guys have known each other for forever!" She sighed. "But…as little as I know Haley I can see she is not the lying type and…"
"Well!! She did lie though." Said Jake cutting her off.
"I know she did Jake," said Peyton nicely rubbing his cheek. "But I don't think she would lie for something as bad as dating Nathan. I'm sure that if she told you it was the circumstances than it was." She added.
"But why did she lie at the first place then?" Asked Jake not really talking to Peyton. This question obsessed him.
Peyton smiled and kissed him softly.
"Why did you do that for?" Asked Jake with a smile. "I like when you do that."
"I like it too" said Peyton. "But I wanted to do it because my answer won't please you I guess." She added blushing.
"Oh…"Said Jake widening his eyes. "I'm listening".
Peyton cleared her throat and stood up. "I'm not taking sides Jake but everybody can see how protective you are with Haley. I don't know what happened and I won't judge your behavior toward her but you're really protective and maybe…. I say maybe she lied to you for you not to worry too much and to let her do what she really wanted for once," added Peyton looking down and waiting for Jake reaction.
"You're probably right." Said Jake in a whisper. "I just can't let her go. She's my baby girl and…and I can't imagine my life without her around." He added sadly.