"Reporting live from Tree Hill, North Carolina, I'm Josie Kent. After two months of being back in his hometown doing charity work, photos have been released showing that Nathan Scott has a new woman in his life. Sources that say that the woman is Haley James, 22, owner of the café that Nathan was helping out in. My sources also tell me that James is a single mother to a five year old son. Scott's escapades in Tree Hill have got everyone wondering: is this all for real, or is just a publicity stunt to improve his reputation even further? Only time will tell, but keep your TVs on this station for up-to-date news on the NBA's maybe-not-so bad boy anymore, Nathan Scott."
It disgusted Haley to see the headlines in the tabloids lately.
Nathan Scott: Playing House?
Nathan and Haley: The Fake Relationship Revealed
Ever since the photos of her and Nathan had been released, Haley's life had been nothing short of a living hell. She hadn't been able to leave her home, with the press practically taking up residence on her doorstep. Jamie had been staying with Brooke and Lucas, because Haley knew he wouldn't be able to stay cooped up inside, and she didn't want there to be any risk of him being photographed.
Right now, Haley was grateful for her friends. Junk and Fergie had been helping out at the café, since Haley had only been there a couple days out of the past week. She knew that there were also paparazzi camped out at Nathan's beach house, so they had only communicated through FaceTime, phone calls, and text messages during the past week.
Thankfully, there had been a scandal in Hollywood. Nude photos of a bunch of celebrities in LA had been released, and as soon as that story broke, all the reporters in Tree Hill packed up and left town, eager to catch the latest gossip. This allowed Haley and Nathan to be off "house arrest" finally, after more than a week.
Haley was now standing outside Nathan's door, still worried and nervous, but wanting to see him. Jamie stood next to her, holding her hand while anxiously knocking on the door.
"Well, if it isn't my two favorite people," Nathan smiled, as Jamie let go of his mother's hand to give him a hug.
"Nathan, I missed you!" Jamie exclaimed.
"I missed you too Jimmy Jam," Nathan replied, ruffling the young boy's hair, "And guess what? I think there's a chocolate bar in the kitchen with your name on it."
"Sweet!" Jamie said, running off into the kitchen.
"And now you're fueling my child with sugar," Haley laughed, "Nice reunion."
"Could be better," Nathan replied slyly, reaching out to take Haley in his arms, "Ugh, I'm so sorry about all of this Hales. I know this week hasn't been easy for you."
"I'm pretty sure that's the seventh time you've apologized to me this week about this," Haley sighed, her arms draped around Nathan's neck, "I'm ok. Jamie's ok. The press are gone, for now, and we'll deal with the rest when it comes."
"Have I told you lately how much I love you?" Nathan smiled, looking into her eyes.
"A time or two," Haley answered, as they shared a short kiss before Jamie came back into the room, chocolate covering his face.
"Mama, what's a g-go-gol-gold di-dig," Jamie began to ask, sounding out the words on the front page of one of the tabloids that featured one of the released photos of Nathan and Haley.
Haley and Nathan quickly detached themselves from each other, as Haley grabbed the magazine out of Jamie's hands.
"Jamie, where did you get this?" Haley frantically asked.
"There was a bunch of them in the garbage," Jamie replied, "Why is there a picture of you and Nathan on the magazine?"
Haley sighed, turning to look at Nathan, hoping for some back up and some answers.
"I had Clay buy all the copies he could find," Nathan said nervously, his hands in his pockets, "I thought it would help."
"Jamie, sweetie," Haley began, bending down to his level and placing her hands on his shoulders, "Remember when you and Nathan talked about how the people taking pictures can be mean? Well, they weren't telling the truth. But, now they're gone and everything's okay."
"I thought you were always supposed to tell the truth Mama," Jamie looked up at Haley.
"Oh my sweet boy, you are always supposed to tell the truth," Haley smiled, "Some people just forget that sometimes."
After eating lunch and watching a movie, Jamie was on the deck, bouncing a basketball, as Haley and Nathan sat watching him.
"I was going to ask," Haley began, "If you could watch Jamie for a few hours. I really need to get back to the café, make sure things are going ok while I've been gone."
"Yeah, it'll be good for me and the boy to spend some time together," Nathan smiled, "I was actually going to work out today. Gotta stay in shape. I think he can help me out.
Everyone was delighted to see Haley back at the café. She got to hear all the stories about how business had boomed with all the press hanging around all day, every day the past week. Now, though, it was slow, so she sent Anna home, since she'd be closing Karen's early for the evening. Karen and Keith were coming home tonight, and the whole gang was throwing a little celebratory dinner in their honor at the café.
Haley was at the counter, only a few customers seated, when she heard the familiar jingle of the bells on the door. She looked up to see a woman, in her early 40's, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked nervous, as she walked up to the counter and hesitantly took a seat.
"Welcome to Karen's Café," Haley smiled, "What can I get for you?"
"Just a coffee please," the woman replied, "Black."
Haley got the coffee, setting the mug in front of her.
"So what brings you to Tree Hill?" Haley asked, receiving a questioning look from the woman, "It's a small town. Everyone knows everyone, and I've never seen you before. So where are you from? US Weekly, People, National Enquirer?"
"I'm not a reporter," the woman stammered, "I'm just here looking for Nathan Scott. He's…an old friend."
"Everyone's looking for him these days," Haley smiled, "Unfortunately, he's not here. But I could tell him you stopped by."
"No, no that's alright," the woman replied, getting up out of her seat, leaving a five dollar bill on the counter, "I should go. Thank you for the coffee."
However, in her haste to leave, a small piece of paper fell out of her purse as she swung it onto her shoulder. She was already gone by the time Haley got to it and picked it up, and when she walked out the door, the woman had disappeared.
As Haley held the paper in her hands, she realized that it was a small photograph. The boy in the photo couldn't have been older than 8 or 9. He had dark hair, and Haley immediately recognized the ice blue eyes he had has well. As she turned the photograph over, the cursive writing on the back said, "Nathan, 3rd grade, age 8."
Haley sighed, leaning against the door of the café as she realized that the woman who had been here was Nathan's mother, Deb.
Nathan had taken Jamie down to the boardwalk with his scooter. He'd rigged up an apparatus that tied Jamie's scooter to him, allowing him to pull Jamie. He was banned from summer practices, and the first two preseason games with his punishment, which meant he had to work out on his own.
Jamie was a good "coach" as he called himself, even semi-forcing Nathan to run up a large hill towards the end of the workout. As they returned home, Nathan was dead tired. Jamie, however, was full of energy.
"That was fun!" he exclaimed, jumping on the couch, "What are we going to do now Nathan?"
Jamie was so wound up, he ran out to the back porch to grab his basketball, returning with it, and looking up at Nathan.
"Why don't you set up NBA Live, I'll go take a shower, and then we can play, alright?" Nathan said, not realizing how much work a kid really was. They didn't have an off switch.
Haley got back to the beach house, letting herself in with the key Nathan had given her, only to find the two boys on the couch, both yelling at the television. She laughed when she realized they were playing that basketball video game that Jamie insisted on playing whenever he was at Lucas' house.
"Looks like you two had some fun today," she said, as she looked around, seeing the house was a mess.
"Hey Hales," Nate said, not taking his eyes off the screen.
"Hi Mama," Jamie also said, also not moving his gaze.
"That's the welcome I get?" Haley scoffed, "Maybe I should just go to the homecoming party by myself."
"Karen and Shmeesh are home?" Jamie perked up at the sound of the party, allowing Nathan to score the winning basket in their game.
Once Jamie got over the fact that he'd lost, Nathan questioned the name Shmeesh that Jamie had said.
"When Jamie was first learning how to talk, he could not, for the life of him, say Keith," Haley laughed, "His first time saying it, it was shmeesh, and it's stuck ever since."
"It'll be good to see them," Nathan said, "It's been too long."
"Mama, can I have a drink of water?" Jamie asked, as the three of them sat on the couch, watching a basketball game of course.
"Yeah, sweetie, I'll go get one," Haley replied, standing up, "Nathan, do you want to come help me?"
Nathan looked puzzled, but regardless, he followed her into the kitchen.
"What's up Hales?" he questioned, as she filled a cup up with water.
"Nothing," Haley nervously replied, "Do I need an excuse to want to be alone with my boyfriend or something?"
"I guess not," Nathan said, "So how'd it go at the café? Did Junk and Fergie burn the place down?"
"No, everything was…um, fine," Haley answered, seeming a little standoff-ish.
Nathan sighed, "Haley, you've got that look."
"What look?" Haley asked innocently.
"That look that you get when you want to tell me something, but don't really want to tell me," Nathan responded.
"No I don't" Haley said, "And you shouldn't know that look yet."
"Hales, what is it?" Nathan asked.
"Ugh," Haley sighed, "Fine, this woman came by the café today, looking for you. She said she was an old friend."
"Come on Haley," Nathan laughed, "You know the paparazzi will say anything and everything to find me. That's old news."
"She wasn't a reporter Nathan," Haley took a deep breath, "I think it was your mom."
Nathan's eyes grew wide as she said this, and he immediately tensed up, "How do you know?"
"She freaked when I said that I could let you know she stopped by," Haley continued, "Ran out, but on her way, she dropped this."
Haley took the photo out of her pocket, handing it to Nathan. He looked at it, turning it over to see his mother's script on the back. All too soon, though, he tossed the photo onto the counter.
"Look, even if she is here to see me, I have nothing to say to her," Nathan shrugged, "She's wasting her time."
"Nathan, she seemed really genuine," Haley replied, expressing concern, "Like she really wanted to see you. From what you've told me, it's been a long time."
Nathan slipped his arms around Haley's waist, "Please let this go, Haley. I don't want to ruin anything. It's been a good day, and we're going to go the party and have fun. Don't worry about her, okay?"
Haley hugged Nathan, though she couldn't get the image of Deb out of her mind.
The party was in full swing at Karen's, just waiting for the guests of honor to arrive. Lucas had gone to pick them up from the airport, leaving a very pregnant Brooke in the care of Haley.
"Haley James, I don't know how you were pregnant in high school, and worked here, and were valedictorian, and volunteered in the tutor center," Brooke rattled on, "I can barely get myself dressed in the morning without being exhausted."
"I had to Brooke, for Jamie, and for me," Haley replied, "I didn't just want to be another statistic. Another stereotypical girl who gets pregnant in high school and ruins her life. That wasn't going to be me. Trust me, I'm definitely exhausted now."
"At least now you have Nate to help out," Brooke smirked, gesturing over to where Nathan was helping Jamie get a plate of food from the buffet, "He's really good with him."
"You should've seen him after taking care of Jamie alone for a couple hours today," Haley laughed, "But I don't know Brooke. He's supposed to go back to Charlotte soon, and I don't know what's going to happen then."
"Just live in the now Haley," Brooke smiled, "You worry too much."
The sound of the bells on the door got everyone's attention, as Lucas walked in first, revealing his mom and dad following closely behind him. Everyone cheered and rushed to hug Karen and Keith, who had been away traveling on a second honeymoon/getaway/Haley and Lucas had forced them to leave Tree Hill for some alone time.
"Haley!" Karen exclaimed, as she wrapped her in a hug, "The place looks great. I told you you'd be fine."
"You know me better than I do," Haley smiled, as Jamie came running up.
"Karen!" he exclaimed, jumping into her arms, "I missed you!"
"I missed you too little man, look how big you've gotten," Karen replied, kissing the young boy on the cheek, before he moved on to Keith.
"Shmeesh!" Jamie cried, as the two did their "secret" handshake, before hugging.
"How's my all-star?" Keith asked.
"Nathan taught me the fadeaway and my team won our game!" Jamie rambled, as he began to tell Keith all about Nathan and basketball, and the summer he'd been having.
"Well, look who the cat dragged in!" Karen slyly said, as Nathan walked up to her, "How long's it been? Four, five years?"
"It's good to see you too Karen," Nathan smiled, hugging his aunt.
"So am I safe to assume that Lucas was telling us the truth?" Karen asked, "You two…!"
"Yes Karen," Haley blushed, as Nathan took her hand.
The party was still going, as Nathan sat at a table with Keith. Haley and Karen couldn't resist going in the back to talk about ordering and payroll.
"So how long have you two been together?" Keith asked, taking a drink of his beer.
"A couple of months," Nathan replied, doing the same.
Keith continued, "She sure is something special Nate, I hope you know that."
"Don't worry Uncle Keith, I know," Nathan smiled.
"And if you hurt her, you'll be disowned from the family. I hope you know that too," Keith replied with a straight face, before chuckling.
Nathan laughed as well, "I got a similar speech from Lucas and Brooke months ago, and Karen about an hour ago. You don't have to worry."
A little while later, Haley was standing, talking to Keith, Karen, Brooke, and Lucas. Haley hadn't seen Nathan in a little while, but figured he was with Skills, Mouth, and Jamie, causing some sort of chaos.
As Karen listened to Brooke talking about some sketches of clothing designs that she'd done, her phone rang. Her expression changed, and she hurried out the door to take the phone call.
About halfway through another one of Keith's magnificent stories about the road trip, Haley felt a warm hand slip around her waist, and a pair of lips on top of her head.
Haley turned slightly, she couldn't contain her smile when she saw those blue eyes looking back at her.
"And where have you been?" Haley sighed, leaning into his embrace.
"Just wrangling the little man, trying to keep him out of the chocolate fountain," Nathan laughed.
"And how did that go?" Haley asked, turning her head to look at him.
"Yeah, you might have to buy him some new clothes," he grimaced, gesturing towards a now-chocolate covered Jamie.
"You're lucky he starts school soon," Haley playfully punched Nathan's arm, "But thanks for trying."
The party was winding down, as just the main gang was left: Lucas, Brooke, Jake, Peyton, Skills, Junk, Fergie, Mouth, Millie, Nathan, Jamie, Haley, Karen, and Keith.
Peyton approached Haley, who was trying to wipe Jamie's hands and face to get him ready to go home, to no avail.
"Haley, why don't Jake and I take Jamie back to your place, get him cleaned up, and in bed?" Peyton offered, "You should stay, enjoy the rest of the party."
"Are you sure?" Haley looked at Peyton, concerned, but grateful.
"Of course," Peyton smiled, "It'll be good practice."
Haley gave her a questioning look, before Peyton quickly fired back, "For the future. The far-off, distant future."
And so Peyton and Jake walked out of the café, a sleepy, sticky Jamie in tow.
The rest of the gang was beginning to help clean up, as the bells jingled on the door, and everyone turned to see who it was.
Haley figured that Peyton had forgotten something, but was astonished at who she saw standing nervously in the doorway of the café.
Deb.
Nathan was the first to speak up.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he questioned, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"I wanted to see you, sweetheart," Deb replied, wiping her sweaty palms on her pants.
Nathan sighed angrily, "Don't call me that."
The rest of the gang saw this as the time to make their exits, hastily moving out the door, leaving Karen, Keith, Haley, Nathan, and Deb in the café.
At this point, Nathan was furious. All of his anger management counseling was going out the window as he looked at the woman who had chosen drugs over her own son.
"Did you tell her to come?" Nathan turned to look at Karen, the rage in his eyes scaring Haley. She'd never seen him like this, except in the bar fights on TV.
"Nathan, calm down," Haley tried to say, placing her hand on his arm, but it seemed like he wasn't even listening as he shrugged out of her touch.
"Karen," the one word echoing out of his mouth as he turned to look at his aunt, who was looking at him, stone-faced and tough.
"She's your mother, Nathan," Karen replied, "She called me, and I told her you were here."
"Well, you shouldn't have," Nathan retorted, "Because her son isn't here. She doesn't have a son anymore. Come on Hales, let's go."
However, Haley stood right where she was, not wanting to be with him when he was this angry.
"I think I'll walk home," Haley said, as Nathan looked at her, that fire still evident in his eyes.
She saw his eyes change for just a moment, pained by her rejection, but then going right back to full of anger.
He stormed out of the café, pushing past his mother, who was now in tears, leaving his aunt, uncle, and girlfriend to clean up the "mess" that he'd just made.
Charlotte, NC
Dan Scott sat in his office, looking over the file that the private investigator had sent him on Haley James. He flashed his devilish grin when he read some of the details that the PI had dug up. This would help him immensely. He was not about to let his son mess up his life and his career to go play house with some gold digger who wanted a baby daddy.
Dan dialed his assistant on the phone, "Get me the phone number for Sharon at PEOPLE," he said, "I have something she's going to be very interested in for her front page."
So, Dan is the mystery man who sold the photos to the press. And now, he's going to release information about Haley to PEOPLE magazine. What will it be? Any guesses?
SOO sorry that it's been a little bit since I've updated! I've just been super busy with work!
Hope you all enjoyed the eighth chapter of Show Me How to Live!
Leave a review with any suggestions, comments, or ideas you want to see in future chapters!