The girls woke up later than they normally do for the first day of school. And they have the guys to thank for that. They wanted them to have a sleepover with just the six of them instead of going down to the beach party like the rest of the teengers in Tree Hill. Then they had to go and pull that stupid prank.
"I can't talk to him today guys.."
"We know Hales.."
"It's gonna be so weird, but I just don't think I could talk to him without yelling or crying."
"It's okay Hales we understand. And we stick behind your dicision. It was us three long before they came and made us a group of six."
*Flashback*
The girls were getting their makeshift beds in the living room ready so they could sleep.
It was four o'clock and they had school in like two hours. Then suddenly the heard commotion in the basement, which is where the guys were.
"What's going on down there ?" Haley called out, only to not get a response. The other two shrugged their shoulders and went on making the beds. Lucas and Jake ran up the stairs a few seconds later.
"It's Nathan he fell and hit his head...It's really bad.." Lucas said.
And with that the girls ran down the stairs.
"Oh, oh God Nathan..." Haley whispered falling to her knees, tears starting to fall from her eyes.
"Nathan...there's so much blood. Brooke, Peyton...so much blood..." Brooke and Peyton were by her side in an instant.
"Haley come on..let's call and ambulance.." Brooke suggested.
"Brooke, what if he's dead. What would we do? Brooke we can't loose him, I can't loose him.."
"I know Hales..let's go call an ambulance..."
"Yeah Haley, Brooke's right. We need to call an ambulance so we can get Nathan to the hospital..."
Haley just nodded her head, and they stood upand turned to leave, then they saw Lucas and Jake at the top of the stairs laughing. They turned their heads, confused. Then a hand reached out and grabbed Haley's leg. She screamed and they turned around to see Nathan on the floor laughing.
"I'm glad you guys find that funny." Was the last thing Haley said that night. She spent the rest of the night in her room with Peyton and Brooke, crying."
*End Flashback*
They all got up to take their showers. Haley was done first, and she set on her bed in her towl, just staring out the window, tears rolling down her face. Brooke and Peyton were done at the same time, and they stopped when they entered. They watched their best friend who was always so strong, crumble right before them. Haley had always been the strong one. When Peytons mom died, whenever Brooke's mom would leave for weeks or months at a time. Through every terrible thing in their life, Haley held it together, and never broke. But here she was crumbling, and not just from what Nathan had done. But from years of wear and tear, and being strong for too long. And they felt horrible, and guilty. She shouldn't have to always be the strong one like she has been. They watched her body shake as she cried silent tears. They then made a silent promise to never let her end up like this again, and if that meant keeping Nathan away from her, at least for the time being, they would.
"Hales...it's time to get dressed." Haley nodded but made no move to get up.
Brooke walked over to her and gently grabbed her arm, afraid that if she touched her she would break completely. Peyton had walked into her closet and got their cheerleading outfits out. She handed Haley hers and she took it and and held it as if it were the only thing holding her together at the moment.
"Haley, come one we have to get dressed hun."
"Yeah, I know.." Haley whispered her voice shaky. She started to get dressed, as did Brooke and Peyton.
When they got dressed they went downstairs to see the guys still standing there.
"Hi" They said as if last night never happend. They were met with cold stares.
"It's time for shcool. You guys need to leave." Haley said, her voice almost cracking.
"Hales..." Nathan said reaching out.
"Don't Nathan...just don't." Haley said turning around and walking out, Brooke and Peyton hot on her heels.
When the girls got to school they were met with confused stares and glances. Rach-ho walked up to them.
"Where's the guys?"
"Don't know." Haley answered...
"But.." She was cut off by Nathan.
"Hales...please listen to me."
"How about... No? Yeah that sounds good."
"Brooke, Peyton...guys please."
"No. Come on Hales."
All day everyone was wondering what happend. At lunch the girls were sitting at their normal table when the guys walked up.
"Guys...listen. We didn't think you would take it that seriously."
"Really? Did you guys take stupid pills last night? You pretended to be dead, Nathan. DEAD! How do we not take that seriously." Haley all but yelled.
"We just thought you guys would...I don't know..."
"Nathan...you guys are stupid. What if it had been me laying on the floor, pretending to be dead Nate?"
"I...well I'd..."
"Exactly Nathan. Exactly."
"We're sorry."
By now they had a crowd.
"Nate...I just don't...I don't know.."
"Hales..."
Haley sighed,
"Sit down."
*Three months later. October*
Nathan and Haley were sitting on the docks, it was late October.
"Naaaaaathhhhhhaaaaaannnnn I'm coldddd. Can we please go back to my house with everyone else now?"
"Noooo Hales. Here take my jacket."
"But then you'll be cold. No, I won't. Pinky promise."
"Fine." Haley said as she took his jacket.
"Why are we here anyway Nate?"
"Just wait for it."
A few minutes passed and a boatg came rolling down the river. It stopped in front of Nathan and Haley.
"Nathan..."
"Shh. Just watch." Two guys walked off, with two trays in their hand. They sat the trays down and took the lids off. One plate had Mac 'n Cheese on it, the other plate had the cracker jack braclet. Haley smiled at the memory.
Nathan had given it to her when she first tutored him. She threw it in the river a few weeks ago when she was pissed at Nathan. She instantly regretted it.
"You found it."
"I promised you I would." He said as he put it back on her wrist. He smirked.
"Don't say I never gave you anything."
Haley rolled her eyes and threw some maccaroni at him.
"Hey!"
"You know I still love you Hot Shot."
"Yeah." He whispered, all joking gon from his eyes.
"Nathan..."
"I love you Hales..."
"I love you to Nate..."
"No...I mean I love you. As in I'm love with you. I get so jealous when you go on dates with other guys, and I just want you to be mine."
"Wow..."
"Yeah...That's not what I was hoping you'd say..."
"I'm in love with you too Nate."
They looked up and smiled at eachother.
"So what does this mean?"
"I hope it means that you're my boyfriend."
"One condition."
Haley cocked her head, confused.
"You have to be my girlfriend."
"Hmm I don't know...I'll have to think about that."
They both laughed. Little did they know that someone was off to the side, recording the whole thing.