Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews last chapter. I'm glad to know that there are still a lot of you interested. Here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own OTH or its characters
Chapter 13
"What's up fellow cheerleader?" Rachel greeted Haley who was seated at their regular lunch table alone.
"Hey." Haley looked up and attempted at giving her red headed friend the best smile she could muster. Apparently it wasn't enough when Rachel sighed and took the seat across from her.
"Okay, now I know that something is going on."
"What do you mean?" Haley questioned trying her best to play dumb. She had successfully spent the day avoiding both her friends and Nathan, bumming a ride off the Travis in the morning and heading directly to her classes after each bell.
"Don't play dumbass with me girlie." Rachel looked at her knowingly. "That was the most pathetic smile I've ever seen and combine that with the fact that Nathan has been a Grade-A asshole all day…something's up."
Haley shook her head at her friend. She loved that Rachel was such a good friend that she was able to read her so well but she really didn't want to talk about Nathan. "I'd rather not get into it."
Rachel nodded understandingly. "Okay, but you know I'm always here if you need me to beat hotshot's ass right?"
Haley laughed the first genuine laugh since the previous night. "Noted."
"Well, will you at least talk to me about cheerleading?"
"What about cheerleading?" Haley questioned confused taking a bite of the apple that was on her lunch tray.
"Um, how come you never told me how kickass you are?" Rachel questioned incredulously.
"I am not that good." Haley chuckled.
"Yes, you are!" Rachel nodded. "We might actually have a chance at winning the Sparkle Classic this year."
"The Sparkle Classic?"
"Yeah, its this competition we enter every year. It's a whole weekend thing with the basketball team…it's in a couple of months and we usually loose to this skank I went to cheer camp with but with you on our team we totally have a chance of winning."
Haley laughed and shook her head. It scared her how much Rachel and Brooke were alike. "Has Teresa said anything to you?" Haley questioned.
"You mean other than bitching at me every moment she sees me to let her back on the team?" Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, she wasn't too happy when she talked to me after school yesterday." Haley nodded.
"She talked to you?" Rachel asked concerned. "What did she say?"
"Nothing new." Haley shrugged. "She's all talk."
"Either way, let me know if she does anything else and I'll have a little talk with her."
"Okay, Dad." Haley teased.
"Hey guys." Jake nodded taking the seat next to Haley.
"Jagielski." Rachel smiled. "Glad to see you not attached to Peyton's lips for once."
Jake chuckled. "Sorry Rach but I'm definitely not gonna apologize for that."
Haley laughed. "How've you been Jake?"
"Good." He shrugged. "Trying not to die from Whitey's two-a-days."
"He seems brutal during practice." Rachel noted.
"Not only that but he's enforcing this new shirt and tie on game day rule." He winced tugging on the dark blue tie wrapped around his neck. "What's up with Nate, Hales? He totally lost it in practice yesterday."
Haley sighed and was about to respond before Rachel beat her to it. "She doesn't wanna talk about it."
Haley shook her head while sending her an appreciative smile.
"Well, I don't blame you." Jake responded while taking a sip of his bottled water. "Whitey held a team meeting this morning to kind of clear the air from practice yesterday before the big game. Nathan was acting like an ass the whole time."
"What else is new?" Haley questioned. The bitterness in her voice didn't go unnoticed by Rachel or Jake.
"Do you think Whitey's gonna bench him for the game?" Rachel questioned curiously.
"Nah." Jake shook his head. "Oak Lake's tough. Whitey wouldn't bench him…I just don't get why he's acting like such a jackass."
"You know what?" Haley started while getting up from her spot. "I'm gonna go find out." She was sick of the Nathan that had emerged in the past couple days. She wanted her Nathan back. Something was up and she was going to find out what it was.
"He was in the gym before I came here. He's probably still there." Jake advised.
"You coming to the party tonight at my house?" Rachel questioned.
"We haven't even won yet." Haley pointed out.
"So?" Rachel shrugged. "Victory party if we win and drowning our sorrows in booze party if we lose."
Haley laughed slightly. "Maybe." Truth was she just really wanted to get this mess sorted out with Nathan. Either he explained himself for last night or he wasn't the guy she thought he was. A party was the last thing on her mind. "I'll see you guys later."
Nathan took the last basketball off the rack and dribbled it on the hard wood floor of the gym a couple of times before bringing it up to his nose and shooting it towards the net. It went in with ease and the 'swoosh' sound that he had grown used to over the years vibrated off of the gym walls. He needed to win tonight. More than that he needed to beat his Dad's record. He needed to prove that he was better. Once and for all. It was all he could think about. The idea of sticking it to Dan Scott was consuming his every thought. He knew that what he was doing was wrong. Taking drugs to improve his game? It comprised not only himself but the game that he loved so much. It was making him act like a shithead to every person he encountered. But it didn't matter. All that mattered was that he showed his dad he was better.
"Glad to see your shitty attitude hasn't affected your game." His head snapped up to the doors of the gym to see his girlfriend standing there.
"Not now, Haley." He shook his head and went to go collect the basketballs discarded near the net.
"Not now." Haley repeated while moving towards him. "Then when, Nathan?" She questioned. "When are we going to talk about what is going on with you?"
"Nothing is going on with me." He mumbled moving towards the metal rack near the free throw line to place the basketballs in their spot.
"Like hell it isn't!" Haley yelled. "Despite the fact that you totally crossed the line with me last night, you've been treating everyone like shit."
He shook his head. He knew she was right. But it didn't matter right now. The only thing consuming his thoughts was Dan Scott. "People are mean, Haley. Life's a bitch."
"That's rich." She scoffed. She watched frustrated as he moved about the gym collecting the rest of the basketballs off the floor. She followed him as he once again made his way towards the metal rack before snapping. She reached out and grabbed his arm spinning him around so that he would be facing her.
"Nathan." She mumbled her hand still on his arm. "You're shaking."
He moved away from her shrugging. "I'm fine."
"What is your problem?" She scoffed.
"My problem?" He repeated annoyed. "Haley, this is my problem." He motioned around the empty gym. "Tonight this gym is going to be filled with people who expect me to not only win but be perfect!" He yelled out.
She shook her head before reaching out once again taking a hold of his hand and forcing him to face her. Haley looked at him for a moment before shaking her head and letting go of his arm forcefully. "Unbelievable." She mumbled.
"What?"
"Are you fucking high?" Haley whispered.
"What?" He questioned again irritated this time.
"Nathan, your pupils are dilated, you're shaking, you're moody. I've been around enough asshole druggies to know when someone is on something." She said harshly.
"You know what Haley, I'll just see you after the game tonight." He shook his head wanting to get away from her as soon as possible. She could see right through him. And it scared him.
"No, you won't." She moved away from him. "At least not this Nathan." She scoffed before turning to him once more. "Good luck with your problem, but speaking from experience this isn't the way to deal with it."
Lindsey walked around the James' living room staring at the pictures on all the walls. She stopped at one of Travis and Haley. The younger James couldn't have been more than four years old. They were at the beach and Travis had his arms wrapped protectively around his little sister.
"What are you doing?" Travis asked amused walking towards Lindsey.
"Why don't you have any pictures of your parents up?" She questioned softly turning towards him.
He let out a sigh. "It was too hard back in California so I guess me and Hales just kind of kept the tradition when we moved here." He looked at the picture that Lindsey was in front of before a smile graced his face. "That was when she actually listened to me."
"She was four." Lindsey laughed. "I don't think she had much of a choice."
He shook his head. "You know moving to Tree Hill was one of the best things I could've done for her." He looked down at the smiling brunette and wrapped his arms around her. "And me."
"I'm glad." She nodded. "You ready to get out of here?"
"Actually, can we wait for Hales to get home? I totally spaced on telling her that I'm leaving for a few days this morning."
"Sure." Lindsey nodded. "You ready to meet the parents?" She smirked.
"Please, Strauss." He chuckled. "Parents love me."
Lindsey and Travis turned their heads at the sound of the front door opening. "Hales!" Travis called out.
A clearly disgruntled blonde entered the room and Travis let out a whistle. "What's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing." She waved off with a sigh. "What's up?"
Travis studied her face for a moment before continuing. "I forgot to tell you this morning but I'm going to South Carolina for a couple of days to meet Lindsey's parents…I'll be back on Sunday."
"Okay, have fun." She smiled softly.
"What are you up to tonight?" Lindsey questioned getting up from her spot on the couch.
"I just came home to change into my uniform, Lucas is picking me up for the game in like ten minutes." Haley responded.
"Okay, well we're off." Travis nodded walking towards the front door with Lindsey in tow. "Behave." He looked at her sternly.
"I won't do anything you wouldn't do big brother." She smiled at him sarcastically before ushering the couple out of the house.
Haley sighed once her brother and Lindsey had made their way out of the house and she closed her eyes bringing a hand up to the bridge of her nose. Today had completely worn her out and the last thing she wanted to do was act happy at a basketball game. She sincerely hoped she was wrong about Nathan. She didn't want to be right; she just wanted to chalk up his bad attitude to the pressure he was feeling. But like she had told him in the gym she had been around enough people with an affinity for drugs in LA to know when someone is on something. She wasn't judging him. She had been there. She knew what it felt like to feel suffocated and to look for an easy out. It just killed her that her Nathan felt like he had to resort to that. He didn't admit anything to her at the gym. But she knew.
Haley tiredly walked up the stairs and made her way to her room changing out of her jeans and red sweater and into her cheerleading uniform. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand next to her desk and she saw a text from Lucas.
My mom needs help at the café, I'm running a little late. I know how crazy Rachel gets about being late so I told Nate to pick you up on his way to school. He should be there soon. See you later.
Haley groaned. "Seriously, Luke?"
Haley's head snapped up at the sound of a horn and she made her way over to her window to see Nathan's black SUV parked in her driveway. "Guess it's now or never." She groaned picking up her gym bag off her bed and making her way out of her bedroom and down the stairs of her house. She took in a deep breath before opening her front door and locking up her house. Haley slowly walked towards Nathan's car before opening the door to the passenger seat and getting in silently. She could feel Nathan's eyes on her for a moment before his hand moved to the gear shift moving it into reverse and pulling out of her driveway. The atmosphere in the car was tense. Haley shifted in her seat uncomfortably every time she felt Nathan look over at her.
"So are you gonna talk to me?" He questioned after silence became too much to bear.
"Don't count on it." She mumbled. She was pissed. She was pissed that he still hadn't admitted to her what she already knew. She was pissed that he still hadn't apologized for last night and she was pissed he was pretending like everything was okay.
"What do you want from me, Haley?" He yelled. She looked up and saw that he had pulled into the school parking lot putting his car into park.
"I want you to stop lying to me and yourself." She looked at him before shaking her head and moving to get out of the car.
"GO RAVENS!" Rachel yelled trying to overpower the roars of the crowd.
"Your boy is on fire tonight, Hales. He's about to beat his Dad's record." Peyton commented over to Haley whose eyes were transfixed on the court.
"Yeah…" she mumbled.
"Luke, ball!" Nathan yelled over to his cousin who was currently getting double-teamed. He caught the basketball with ease and set himself up at the three-point line, just when he was about to shoot a player from Oak Lake that was blocking him cam at him a little too hard and he ended up on the floor. Nathan closed his eyes and groaned. He was dizzy, if he was being honest with himself he hadn't felt all there since the start of the game but he pushed threw it. He was four points away from beating his Dad's record. Four points.
He opened his eyes and looked up to see Lucas holding his hand out to him. "Make these two free throws and a lay-up and you're there little cousin."
Nathan nodded making his way towards the free throw line. "Just pass me the ball."
Nathan looked towards the sideline of the court after his first free throw went in with ease. His eyes locked with Haley's concerned ones and he felt his heart speed up. He brought his attention back towards the net when the ref had passed him the ball for his second free throw. He brought the basketball up to his nose and shot it towards the basket the orange ball making its way threw the net almost immediately.
Two more points.
His eyes went up to the stands and he moved to cover the guy he was assigned. He caught his father's eyes. He wasn't screaming like the rest of the gym. He wasn't clapping. Instead he was watching every move Nathan made intently. Nathan followed the every move of the guy he was covering. Nathan was known for being an offensive player but his defense wasn't too shabby. He had managed to strip the ball from the Oak Lake player and the roar of the crowd immediately filled his ears. He made his way towards the opposite ends of the court. The numbers were in his favor, he has made a quick break away and there was no one covering him. So he went for it. Nathan dunked the ball. He got the two points. And then it all went black.
Haley paced around her living room frantically clutching her cell phone to her hand praying that someone, anyone, would call her back. When Nathan collapsed on the court her whole world stopped. Watching him lie on the floor unconscious made her sick to her stomach. Honestly all she could remember is Luke holding her as she worriedly looked on while paramedics rushed to put him on a stretcher.
She had wanted to go to the hospital but Keith and Karen had made her and Lucas go home, not wanting to overwhelm Nathan or his father at the hospital. Lucas had dropped her off at home after an abnormally quiet car ride between the two best friends he had offered to stay with her until his parents call with some news but she declined wanting some time alone. It had been two hours and she still hadn't heard anything from anyone.
Haley distractedly stopped pacing and moved towards the front door to open it when she heard a soft knock. Despite their tumultuous couple of days she was worried sick about Nathan and no one was answering their damn phone.
"Hi."
It was only when she heard the crack in the voice that she had grown to crave over the past couple of months that she head shot up.
"Nathan." She whispered hating the way the boy in front of her looked. Defeated.
"Can I come in?" He asked softly.
Haley nodded and Nathan walked into the familiar house and took a seat on her couch in the living room before taking a deep breath. He noticed that Travis' bike wasn't in the driveway and it gave him more confidence to go and talk to her. Not that Travis' presence would've stopped him from seeing Haley. He needed to see her. Touch her. Know that she didn't think any less of him.
He woke up in the hospital overhearing his father bribing the doctor so that he wouldn't make his test results – the one that came up positive for performance enhancers – public. It was in that moment he realized his mistake. He jeopardized his future, his friends, his girlfriend for what? Some pissing contest with Dan Scott? He got out of the hospital bed grabbing his car keys with one destination in mind.
Haley slowly walked towards Nathan. She was scared. Reality had set in about an hour ago. She was alone in the living room trying to contact just about anyone under the sun who could tell her how Nathan was doing. No one was answering and she had felt helpless. She didn't want to loose him. She couldn't loose him. It was during her panic ridden quest to find out what the hell happened to her boyfriend when she burst out into tears. She loved him. She was not ready to admit that out loud yet but almost loosing him made her realize just how much she loved him.
"Hales." He called out painfully from his spot on her couch.
As if his voice had snapped her back to reality she walked toward him with a little more conviction and took the spot next to him on the couch wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. She smiled softly when she felt Nathan's body relax into her and place a soft kiss atop her head.
"What happened to you Nate?" Haley questioned softly.
"Haley." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I've made so many mistakes."
"It's okay." Haley responded taking her hand to caress Nathan's cheek. "It's okay Nate."
"No it's not." He shook his head. "I can't believe I was so stupid."
"Tell me what happened."
"I took performance enhancers." Nathan admitted shamefully.
"Nathan." Haley whispered whilst still keeping his face cupped in her hand.
To Nathan's surprise Haley's voice hadn't been filled with disappointment, pity or anger at his admission but rather complete understanding.
"My Dad just kept pushing and pushing. And I know it was wrong. I know that. I just couldn't take it anymore Hales." His voice cracked and Haley had to keep her emotions at bay. Nathan needed her.
"We all make mistakes Nathan." Haley shook her head. "You aren't any less of the Nathan I know because of yours."
Nathan looked at her in awe for a moment. She was forgiving him. She wasn't angry at the way he had treated her earlier or the night before. She wasn't disappointed that he had taken the cowards way out of a bad situation. He was staring at a girl who could see past all the mistakes he had made and still chose to be with him. He felt an immense amount of love for her at that moment. "Hales, when I fell on that floor tonight, I was so scared. I was so terrified. I woke up in the hospital and I realized how stupid I was to think that drugs were my way out of a messed up situation. And I promised myself that if I could just get up and come to see you I'd tell you how much I need you, how much I want you, how nothing else matters."
Haley closed her eyes at his words and leaned in to touch her lips softly to his. "You have me." She whispered into his mouth.
"Haley, I am so sorry about this morning and more importantly last night." Nathan shook his head moving back slightly to look her in the eyes. It killed him that he treated her like that. She was the last person in the world he wanted to hurt. "You have to understand that I didn't mean anything by it, you mean too much to me." She could tell he struggled slightly as he lifted his had up to wipe away a tear that she hadn't noticed had fallen from her eye. "I have made a lot of mistakes. But you're not one of them."
She wasn't going to lie. His actions the day before had stung. Obviously he hadn't known the extent as to why. And in this moment Haley wanted to desperately to tell him. But tonight wasn't the time. Tonight she needed to focus on Nathan.
She shook her head and placed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "It's okay."
He leaned his forehead against hers for a few moments before moving to look her in the eye. "I should get going." Nathan whispered his face inches from hers. "I just needed to see you, I hated the way we ended things." He moved to get up from the couch after placing a soft kiss on Haley's forehead. He was halfway to the front door when Haley called out his name.
"Stay with me tonight." She called out softly.
He turned to look at her. "Hales," He shook his head.
She got up from the couch and walked toward him, taking his hand in hers. "Please, Nate."
He brought her head to his mouth and laid a small kiss in her blonde hair. "I need to go talk to my Dad."
She nodded her head in understanding before sighing. "Call me if you need anything."
He moved towards her once more and pulled her towards his chest. "Can I come back after I talk to him?" He asked vulnerably.
"Of course." She whispered into his chest. "I'll be here."
Nathan pulled up into his driveway before turning the key in his ignition so that his car was off. He slowly made his way out of his car and up towards the front door of his house.
"Nathan Royal Scott, where the hell have you been?" Dan questioned angrily stalking up to his son as soon as he entered through the door. "I've been worried sick."
"That's why you called my cell right?" Nathan questioned dryly.
"How stupid can you be?" Dan questioned ignoring Nathan's snide remark. "Performance enhancers? This could seriously jeopardize your future with basketball! You're just lucky that the doctor is willing to keep this under wraps for us!"
Nathan rolled his eyes clutching his car keys hardly in his hand. "Is that all you care about, Dad?! College scouts?"
"Nathan, I don't understand why you did this." His father shook his head. "You won the game and beat my record but it's not like it counts anyway, you were on drugs of God's sake!"
Nathan scoffed turning his body away from his father. "I don't know what I'm surprised at how his conversation is going right now. You're the reason I took the drugs Dan! God, for once I just wanted to prove myself to you. But now I see that nothing I do will ever be good enough will it, Dad?"
"Nathan." Dan shook his head.
"No, this just makes what I've been thinking about that much easier."
"What are you talking about?" Dan questioned annoyed.
"I'm getting emancipated Dan."
"Emancipated? Nathan…"
"No, I'm sick of your constant bullying. I'm done." He turned to open the front door as Dan called out to him.
"Nathan, where are you going?" He asked angrily.
"I'm going to my girlfriends house. Because as much as you think she's a distraction, she's about the only reason I second guessed myself before taking those drugs." He shook his head before walking out the front door. "Thanks for nothing."