Chapter 5: Corner Of Your Heart
"Hey! You're Nathan Scott!" Jamie exclaimed, smiling.
"Yes, yes I am, and you are-"
"Jamie, really James but everyone calls me Jamie." Jamie said shrugging, Nathan laughed.
"Well is there anything I can do for you?"
"Can you sign my book? It'd be really cool to have your name in here than my Uncle Lucas and Uncle Chris." Jamie said making a face. Nathan laughed and took the notebook writing in it.
"Thanks." Jamie said smiling, "Hey is that Lily?"
"Yes it is; you know her?"
"Yeah, she's in my class. Hey Lily!"
"Hey Jamie!" Lily said smiling and walking over to them.
"If you want you guys could play for a while, I'm sure your mom won't mind."
"Yeah, but I need to ask her first," Jamie said turning around to look for his mom. "I think I lost her." Jamie said sheepishly putting his head down.
"It's okay, come on let's go look for her." Nathan said, Jamie nodded and went next to him as Lily went to Nathan's other side and took his hand. Nathan looked down at both of them and smiled and they walked all over the playground.
For some reason, it felt too natural for them both to be next to him, like he was connected to Jamie somehow. He shook off the thought as Jamie pointed to his mom.
"There she is!" Jamie said smiling; Nathan smiled at his reaction to his mom.
"Okay. Excuse me, is this your son?" Haley's eyes widen as she recognizes the voice and picks up her sunglasses from her bag and turns around.
"Yeah," She says, making her voice hoarse.
"Mommy, why are you wearing sunglasses? It's not that bri-"
"James Lucas. . . . James." She said glaring at him.
"Mommy, that's not my last name it's Sco-"
"Jamie! Let's go. Thank you." She says smiling and turns around bending down to pick up her bag her tattoo showing.
"H- Haley?" Haley's eyes widen again and she tenses up.
"Nope, wrong girl."
"Then why is the '23' tattoo on your back?" Nathan said his eyebrow raising.
"Michael Jordan fan,"
"Mommy I thought you said you didn't like basketball." Haley sighed and took off her sunglasses, the one-time Jamie decides to talk a lot is now.
"Yeah, it's me." She said smiling.
"So you're Haley!" Lily said.
"Yes, you're Lily right?"
"Right," Lily said smiling at how Haley remembered, when Nathan brought dates home, they hardly remembered her the second time around.
"She's my-"
"Daughter," Nathan looked down at Lily then at Haley.
"Oh." She said looking down.
"Who is he?"
"My-"
"Son, James Lucas Sco-"
"James." She said looking down at him.
"You gave him your maiden name? Haley what's his actual last name?"
"Scott." Jamie piped up. Haley's eyes widened as Nathan looked at him then at Haley.
"S- Scott?"
"Yeah." Haley said scratching the back of her head.
"Haley how-"
"What did you need Jamie?" Haley said ignoring Nathan.
"I wanted to know if Lily and I could play a little."
"I'm sorry babe, but we have to go, it's getting late and we're having the movie night remember?"
"Oh." Jamie said looking down.
"We could always have a play date!" Lily said smiling, looking at how Haley and Nathan's eyes widened.
"I don't think that's necessary." Haley said.
"Right, I mean you guys see each other in school all the time correct?"
"But we're learning stuff. This would be better." Jamie said looking at Lily smiling.
"Guys-"
"Please?" Lily said pouting, looking at Jamie and he caught on, doing the same.
"Come on the puppy dog face? Really?" Nathan said.
"Yeah guys, you know they look adorable."
"This is why we're doing it!" Lily said, going back to the pouting face.
"Guys, I'm sorry but Jamie has a play date."
"So do you." Nathan said looking down at Lily.
"Okay." Lily said putting her head down.
"Wait Lily-"Lily gave him a stare.
"Guys what's going on?"
"Nothing, Bye Jamie, bye Haley!"
"Wait Lily-"
"Nathan! Hurry up!" Lily said dragging him to the car.
"Jamie." Haley said giving him a look.
"Scout's honor." Jamie said walking over to the car. Haley looked at him then at the descending Lily and Nathan. She sighed and followed Jamie to the car.
"Lillian Bethany Lee, we need to talk." Lily sighed as she and Nathan got into the car.
"Just when ya think he'll forget." She muttered.
Friday.
"Jamie come on! I'm going to be late!" Haley said looking at her watch.
"Sorry mommy! My friend said to bring extra toys!" Jamie said running to his mom, she smiled and picked up her bag.
"You ready?"
"Yes momma." Jamie said walking to the door. "Ladies first,"
"Why thank you, how did I ever get so lucky?" Haley said gasping as Jamie laughed closing the door.
"I'm never going back."
"Lily, the doctor wasn't that bad."
"Did you have to get 4 shots? No. Did you have to watch your arm bleed in 4 different places? NO." She said pouting and lowering more into her seat.
"You glower anymore and you'll be a puddle."
"I'd rather be a puddle than go to that su-"
"Lily!"
"What!" She said looking at him in the rearview mirror.
"I remember why I hardly took you to the doctor; you got cranky on me, your mom used to do that too." Lily perked up.
"My mom?" Nathan smiled; he could always get her out of her mood when she talked about his mom, who died the day she was born.
"Yep, your dad used to say she had a heck of a yell." Nathan said.
"Do I have that?"
"Yep, and her eyes and her nose."
"Nathan?"
"Hmm?"
"You think Haley's like my mom?"
"What do you mean?"
"The things you tell me about my mom, does Haley show some of that too?"
Nathan never thought about it, but come to think of it, she did. He remembered when both of them met and they hit it off, they used to always talk and name their babies together when they finally settled down enough to have some. It broke his and Haley's heart when she died, Haley lost her best friend, Nathan when he saw Haley crying and curling into a ball while rocking back and forth looking out the window. That's when all the problems began.
"Yeah, she does, in fact, they were practically best friends."
"Really? Think she could tell me more when she comes over today?"
"Yeah- wait, she's coming over today?"
"Oops."
"You said that right."
Haley and Jamie finally got to the door and knocked, only to see a woman with a short nightdress on.
"What do you want?" The woman said with disgust.
"Umm, we're here for the play date with-"
"Lily."
"Lily? Jamie you should've-"
"Before this nice little fuss fest is going to continue, I just want to say that Nathan cancelled, he made plans at the last minute for us."
"Nathan? Scott?" The girl nodded.
"So, bye." She said slamming the door. Haley boiled with anger.
"That, that ASS. And that that-"
"Mom!" Haley looked down to see Jamie trying to get out her grip.
"Oh. Sorry Jamie." She said letting go as Jamie began tending to his red wrist.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side." He muttered while trying to catch up with his mom.
"We're here Lil." He said taking off his seatbelt to see an angry Haley.
"Haley! Haley- what's wrong?"
"Your ignorant wife! Nathan you could've called, told me you and her were doing something! Do you have any idea how late I'm going to be for work? Trying to get a babysitter?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I have the nightshift to do at the school for their drunk taxi thing."
"They still do that?" Nathan said chuckling.
"Yes- but that's not the point. Now I have to cancel."
"No! Haley, I never said I wasn't going to watch Jamie, and that girl isn't my wife, she's my nanny, and I was about to fire her."
"Well, she seems too slutty to be a nanny." Haley muttered with disgust, Nathan looked at her.
"Haley, I'll take Lily and Jamie out for ice cream okay? Calm down." Nathan said putting his hand on her shoulders rubbing it soothingly.
Haley's body relaxed as soon as Nathan put his hands on her shoulder.
"Okay." She muttered, looking down to hide the flush in her cheeks. Lily and Jamie both smiled at each other, giving each other a high five.
"What are you two high-fiving at?"
"Nothing." They both said looking at each other smiling; Nathan looked at Lily, who then gestured to his hands still on Haley's shoulder. He looked and quickly took his hands off and kept them at his side. Nathan missed her petite shoulders and how they used to lean into him, he felt on top of the world, like nothing could ruin the perfection they both had. Sadly, he did.
Haley started to miss the warmth of his hands on her, and how after a long day he'd massage her-and other things that led to their son being born. She soon snapped out of the thought seeing the two children smiling.
"Okay," Haley said getting out of a trance, "I'm going to go, mommy loves you and share the candy with your friend, nice to see you again Lily! Nathan." Haley said starting to walk to her car
"Haley?"
"Hmm?"
"I need your phone number."
"Right." Haley said walking back, rolling her eyes as both Nathan and Jamie smirked.
Like father like son. She thought.
"And we need to talk you know that." He whispered in her ear. Haley felt her knees get weak.
"Y-Yeah." She stammered out, as Haley walked over to Jamie and bending down to give Jamie a kiss, Nathan saw the perfect view of Haley from behind, but he looked away as soon as he saw Lily's glare.
"Bye guys!" She said waving and walking to her car and getting in driving off.
"So!" Nathan said looking at the two kids looking up at him, "Let's get in!" He said opening the door as the kids climbed in.
"Mr. Scott?"
"You can call me Nathan, Jamie."
"Okay, my mom said my dad has a hard skull, because I do too, what does that mean?" Nathan chuckled.
"It means you don't listen very well."
"Oh. She said she misses him sometimes, that he's far away. Where do you think he is?"
"I think he's pretty close." Nathan said driving off.
"It was so awkward." Haley said sighing.
"I don't believe that." Lucas said getting in the front and closing the door.
They were in the parking lot of a burger place not too far from a local party they heard about.
"Yes it was! Lucas, I'm feeling the things I shouldn't, just because he's my baby daddy doesn't mean-" At that Lucas busted out laughing. "What I miss?"
"You said baby daddy." Lucas said laughing again as Haley playfully wacked him on the arm.
"Shut up." She mumbled smiling a little.
"Haley, I'm sure it's just past emotions, I sometimes get it when Brooke's around. But not a lot anymore really, we've made our choices."
"So you think it was a good choice to break up with Nathan."
"I never said it was good, I mean for the time that you did yeah, but forever? That I can't agree on."
"Ugh, I hate it when you're right." She said banging her head on the steering wheel.
"I do!" Lucas said beaming, and then his phone rang. "Hello? Oh hey Peyton…. Yeah, yeah I'm in the car…. Peyton! Not right now! Peyton…. Yes that would be good- I love you too snugglepuss…. No I love you more, I love you more, I love-"
"We get it! You both love each other!" Haley said groaning.
"Sorry, Miss. Bitter's next to me."
"Lucas!" Haley whacked him on the arm.
"Ow! Haley stop hitting- ow! Peyton, I'll call you back." He said hanging up the phone, "Haley, we do not need to result to violence."
"Yes we do." Haley said crossing her arms.
"You must like being a baby don't you?" Before Haley could answer, the taxi phone rang.
"Ha!" Haley said picking up the phone. "Tree Hill- Yeah, we're right around the corner…. Okay, buh-bye." She hung up. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be, just next time we decide to do teen job replacement for a week, let's not do this one."
"I agree totally." Haley said backing up the car.
"Here we are." Nathan said turning off the ignition.
"The carnival? Oh boy!" Jamie said taking off his seatbelt, Nathan smiled.
"You act like you've never been to one."
"I haven't. Mommy doesn't like to go there, too many memories she says." Jamie says shrugging. Lily looked at Nathan in the mirror and Nathan sighed getting out of the car and taking Jamie and Lily out, holding their hands.
"So, where do we go first?"
"How about that?" Jamie pointed. It was the water gun races with a balloon.
"Sounds good, Lily you up for it?"
"Yeah, that's good."
"Well let's go, I must remind you, though, I'm very good at this." Lily and Jamie looked at each other.
"I'm sure we can manage." Lily and Jamie said running over.
….
"I can't believe you beat me, I can't believe I'm soaked."
"Sorry dad, we had to."
"Yeah, plus, it's not like we didn't warn you not to be so cocky." Jamie said shrugging.
"You kids are a trip."
"We know!" Jamie and Lily said running to another game, Nathan laughed and shook his head, soon running off to catch up to them.
"Here we go," Haley said putting the girl in the backseat.
"Are you an angel?"
"No sweetie, I'm your English Lit teacher."
"Oh, what about that hunk?" Haley's brows furrowed.
"Who are you- Oh you mean Lucas?" Haley snorted, "He's your gym teacher, and you guys are doing basketball tomorrow so you might want to have some Aspirin in the morning."
"Okay, bye." The girl then passed out. Haley and Lucas laughed before climbing into the front seat and proceeding to drive again.
"Haley put down your phone."
"What? What are you taking about? I'm just-"
"I know you're worried about Nathan and the kids, but they'll be fine."
"I know, it's just, I've never left Jamie with anyone besides you and Peyton. What if they get kidnapped? Or, or-"
"Shut up Haley." Lucas said chuckling and looking back to the road. They decided to switch turns for every drop off.
"Wait till you have a kid. Then tell me to shut up." Haley pouted slumping into her seat.
"For a teacher you sure are a baby Miss. James."
"And for a driver you surely make a girl queasy Mr. Scott."
"At least you're not pregnant again." Lucas muttered. Haley gasped and hit Lucas "Hey! No. Hitting. The. Driver. We agreed to this!"
"Well I never said I agreed." Haley said sticking out her tongue.
"Now that, that is really inappropriate." Lucas said playfully scolding her, "What would your kid say?"
"He'd say "Go mommy! You Rock!"" Haley said smiling, Lucas laughed, "You know I'm awesome Scott, or else you would've dumped me years ago."
"I would've, but I was afraid of Scary Haley coming to hit me repeatedly in my sleep."
"Oh you're so lucky you're driving."
"Never stopped you before," Lucas muttered. They soon came to a stoplight, then something pinched Lucas's butt. "Haley! Now that's a little rude!"
"What are you talking about?" Haley said skimming through a school newspaper she picked up. "I remember our newspaper was better, we used to put in coupons for it too-"
"You didn't pinch me?"
"No." Haley said looking at him.
"I did!" The drunk girl in the back said, Lucas groaned while Haley busted out in laughter.
"Guys, you can start to get ready for bed, Jamie, I know your mom's coming soon but you can change and take a shower in my room if you like."
"Sure, besides, if I want to sleep I need to call my mom. She sings me a lullaby she wrote."
"Okay, let me lead the way." Nathan said carrying Jamie's backpack; they soon went into his room.
"Nathan?"
"Yeah bud?"
"Is that my mom?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know her?"
"We used to know each other back in high school. I'm going to go tuck in Lily, the bathroom's over there so knock yourself out." Before Jamie could ask another question, Nathan walked to Lily's room; she was dancing around in her iPod in her pink pajamas, stopping when she saw Nathan leaning on the door.
"Hey there." Lily said.
"Get into bed rock star." Nathan said chuckling.
"Got it basketball star," Lily hopped into bed putting the covers up to her neck.
"So, what shall it be this time?"
"What about the poem?" Lily said excitedly.
"Okay then," Nathan smiled and walked over to her bookcase and pulled out a book full of poems her mom had before she died. It was her and Nathan's special treat, nobody else but they did it.
"We were on the one with the flower." Lily said smiling; Nathan smiled and turned to the page.
"We should not mind so small a flower -
Except it quiet bring
Our little garden that we lost
Back to the Lawn again.
So spicy her Carnations nod -
So drunken, reel her Bees -
So silver steal a hundred flutes
From out a hundred trees -
That whose sees this little flower
By faith may clear behold
The Bobolinks around the throne
And Dandelions gold." As soon as Nathan finished the poem, he saw Lily fast asleep. He smiled at the girl he'd been caring for a year, he didn't care or mind if she had to stay with him forever, but he knew she wasn't going to be here forever, her dad informed him that it would be his last voyage, as he had saved up enough for them to live, and he was getting to old for the stress.
Nathan put the book away and went to turn on her nightlight, turning off the lights. He made his way to his room so see Jamie sitting on Nathan's bed, waiting.
"Hey, you ready?" Jamie nodded, he had on a pair of sweats and socks with a hoodie since he knew it might get cold.
"Now all we have to do is call my mom." Nathan nodded and dialed Haley's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me, Jamie wanted-"
"His lullaby song?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, put him on." Nathan handed the phone to Jamie, who settled in,
"Hey momma, yes I was good." Nathan smiled. "Yeah…. Okay." Jamie managed to put the phone on speaker and laid down.
"You good?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, your alone right?" Jamie looked at Nathan and smiled,
"Right." Nathan shook his head.
"Okay, just a verse and a chorus,
Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your curly cues
Your contagious smile
And as I watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight
Knowing clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms. . . .
Nathan? Nathan?"
"Hmm?" Nathan snapped out of his trance, hearing Haley's voice made him want to sleep, like when he got home from a game and she massaged him and hummed little melodies, him falling asleep soon after.
"I'm going to be there soon, okay?"
"Yeah, this is pretty early for them though, but they looked hyper tired."
"They're young." Haley said laughing a bit.
"Haley you know-"
"Nathan, please. Not right now." He heard her sigh on the other line.
"Okay fine. But we do need to talk. If anything, there's a spare under the rug if I don't answer after three knocks."
"Got it. Bye Nathan."
"Goodbye Haley." Nathan hung up and sighed, he was about to get up till he felt a little hand on his leg.
"Don't leave again. Please." He heard Jamie murmur in his sleep.
What does he mean don't leave?
Nathan tried to get up again only to face the tighter grip on his leg by Jamie. Nathan sighed and got back into bed, deciding to read a Sports Illustrated Magazine on his bedside table, soon falling asleep next to Jamie.
Haley walked up to the door of Nathan's apartment and knocked, waiting about 30 seconds
One.
She knocked again, and waited.
Two.
And for the third time she knocked, and waited about a minute, waving to a lady who had her hands full in bags.
Three.
Haley soon looked around to see if the hall was vacant, and looked under the rug for the key.
"Aha!" She whispered loudly, and made her way inside. "Nathan?" She whispered, closing the door softly. She walked down a hall where she saw pictures of Nathan's family, his basketball team, and Lily and Nathan in an assortment of pictures. She smiled.
He must really love his daughter; I hope Lily has a good mom. Haley thought. She walked up the stairs to see weird paintings and a basketball that had Nathan's favorite athlete. Of course he'd make a little shrine. She playfully rolled her eyes and stopped, the sight taking her breath away.
Nathan was sleeping with his arms wrapped around Jamie. She smiled and watched the picture for a second.
We would've made a happy family; I just wished the petty crap didn't get in the way. Haley saw Nathan stir and quickly went to wake him.
"Nathan. Nathan."
"Hmm? What?" Nathan said groaning, waking up to find Haley there smiling, he looked down at Jamie and smiled.
"Come on." Nathan nodded and swiftly got out of bed, picking up Jamie, he followed Haley to the living room as Haley turned around to take Jamie.
"I got him."
"What about Lily?"
"She'll be fine, I'm pretty sure she's knocked out, plus, we're on the first floor, and I hope you parked near the entrance?" Haley nodded, she opened the door making sure to take the spare key with her and they walked to the car, Nathan putting Jamie safely in. Haley closed the door and Nathan leaned on it.
"Nathan." Haley sighed, she knew this would come.
"Why didn't you call? You know I would've been on the first flight here, this is my son too Haley."
"Yeah, but I got the wrong diagnosis, and even then you were doing so well."
"That doesn't matter; he's my son Haley, my son, what would make you think you could just go along with life with him? How could you just not trust me or tell me for that matter?"
"I have good reasons." Haley said bitterly, her mind started reeling with all the fights they had.
"Give me one."
"The fact that you had girls all around you all the time, you cheating on me all that time and-"
"It's not like you were an angel either Hales."
"Really? Well tell me what I did that was worse than that?"
"You kept this from me! And, and-"
"What Nathan?" Haley said. She was beyond aggravated now.
"You stopped."
"Stopped what?"
"Supporting me, what I did."
"You think I stopped? Nathan, you stopped supporting me way before I decided to stop going to your games, I did support you! I took a basketball class to try and learn about the game so we didn't have to talk about my work all the time! I wanted to see you beaming about what you did and that I knew in return what you were saying. But then you just stopped listening and- I just couldn't do it. You think I wanted this? To be raising a kid on my own?"
"Haley-"
"I've got to go. I'll see you later Nathan." Haley got on the other side of the car and turned on the engine. Nathan stopped leaning on the car and watched as Haley drove off. He sighed and walked back in the apartment and took the spare key out from his pocket Haley gave back to him, walking into the house.
She was right, she did try, all he did was push her away and sleep with other girls, which was what, stopped him from going after them the first time. Hearing it all from Haley made it worse than when he heard it from Lucas.
"Damn it." He muttered, he walked over to the cabinet and opened it to see all the alcohol staring at him, the big jugs in the back, the short ones up front. He didn't originally plan this destination, but it came to this.
Haley put Jamie to bed, she walked downstairs to her piano, and she took the notebook on top of it searching for a new piece of loose leaf. She passed her song Can't Breathe, theone she promised to write a line in everyday till it was finished. As soon as she found a new page, she started to play a note.
"There's a corner of your heart for me.
There's a corner of your heart just for me.
I will pack my bags just to stay in the corner of your heart.
Just to stay in the corner of your heart.
There is room beneath your bed for me.
There is room beneath your bed just for me.
I will leave this town just to sleep underneath your bed.
Just to sleep underneath your bed.
There's one minute of your day.
There's one minute of your day.
I will leave this man just to occupy one minute of your day.
Just to occupy one minute of your day.
Just to sleep underneath your bed.
Just to stay in the corner of you heart."
She sighed and finished what was left of the song, putting it back into the bookcase, slowly walking to bed.
Sorry I about not having to have written :( Busy with work and stuff.
That's it! Did he drink? Or not?
Jamie's Lullaby is "In My Arms" By Plumb,
The Flower Poem read by Nathan is called "We Should Not Mind So Small a Flower." By Emily Dickinson.
Bye! Comment!
Love,
Cassie :)