Thank you for the chapter one reviews, and thank you for waiting while I wrote my chapter. It wou
Every Night Is Another Story
All I can say is that being sick sucks.
It rarely rained in North Carolina- or, at least, no more than any other state. So, how is it that the one night I decide to have dinner with Karen, Keith and Lucas it ends up pouring?
And the worst part? It didn't start raining while I was inside the cafe or I would've just asked Keith for a ride. No, it decided to start raining while I was a three blocks away from Karen's cafe. I knew that they had most likely already left so I didn't bother going back. Instead, I just ran back to Dan's. I didn't feel to hot the next day, but I was still okay enough to go to school. I, however, was sent home when I sneezed right in some poor girls mouth during volleyball and then nearly died choking on her ridiculously strong perfume.
"Are you sure that you don't want us to stay?" Deb asked as she felt my forehead and I quickly shook my forehead.
"No," I coughed into my hand as I sat myself up on the couch. Normally, I would've just gone upstairs to my room, but Deb didn't want me going up and down and bunch of stairs every time I was hungry and she wasn't there to help out. Therefore, I was camping out in the living room. "You don't have to do that."
It was around seven and Deb and Dan were all dressed up and on their way to some business owners dinner thing. Nathan was gone at an away game, so I'd be home alone- not that I minded.
"Are you sure?" Deb asked again. "I'm sure your dad won't mind."
"I'm sure." I assured her. "It's just a little cold. It's not like I'm dying."
After a few more minutes of insisting that she could stay, Deb finally left with Dan and I was alone.
For the most part, I just watched TV until I got bored. Then I read...until I got bored. Then I watched TV again until I got bored.
Seeing a pattern here?
Deciding that I needed someone to entertain me, I got my phone from where it sat on the table and tried to call Haley until I remembered that my phone was destroyed from the rain that crippled me. I had even put the battery in rice earlier, but it still wouldn't come back on. My phone was officially gone, meaning I had no choice but to continue channel surfing until my boredom got so strong that I had to overcome my teenage laziness and trudge across the living room to get the house phone.
Once I got myself re-situated on the couch, I tried calling Haley, but she wasn't picking up so I called my Aunt Amanda instead only to find that she was, also, not picking up. I didn't exactly have friends in Alliance and there was no way in hell I was calling my mother after she had her man-boy PA call me to tell me she wasn't coming to Tree Hill instead of doing it herself and I knew that Keith was at some party with Karen, so I didn't have many options.
"Hello?"
"Hey, little bro." Yes, I was calling Nathan. Sue me. "How's it going?"
"Why are you calling me?" I scoffed.
"What?" I demanded. "A sister can't call to check up on her brother anymore?" He didn't say anything, but I could practically hear him rolling his eyes. "Anyway, how's the ride to Hickerington?" The Pickerington Pirates were not beloved in Tree Hill- or Alliance. I had been on the cheerleading team for only three days in Freshman year before our first away game with the basketball team to Pickerington where me and another girl on the team got jumped by a couple of cheerleaders. They ended up taking our cheerleading uniforms and we had to wear whatever we could find in the lost & found on the bus ride home. I quit the next day and joined the swim team where I was assured competing teams didn't have such sadistic tendencies.
"I'm on a bus full of guys and the one behind me smells like he hasn't taken a shower in five days." He informed me with absolutely no emotion in his voice. "How do you think it's going?"
"You remember when you asked me to tell you when you were being a dick?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"You're being a dick." I told him as I grabbed the remote and switched the TV back on. And the cycle continues...
"Sorry," He apologized. "The ride is fine."
"Are you sitting with Lucas?" I asked. "I know he's on the bus."
Nathan scoffed. "No, why would I do that?"
"Because you told me not even a few days ago that you didn't want to be a disappointment to me." I reminded him. "Lucas is my brother and he is your brother, so you guys need to start acting like like brothers- or, at the very least, like you don't hate each other."
"But we do hate each other." Nathan pointed out. I made a face and I think he knew that because he sighed. "I'm not moving."
"Fine, then give the phone to Lucas."
Nathan hadn't been expecting that. "What?"
"Give the phone to Lucas." I repeated. "I need to talk to him." There was a moment or two of annoying shuffling noises before I finally heard Lucas's voice.
"Hello?"
"Hello, favorite blonde brother of mine." I greeted. "Listen, I know you're not gonna like this, but I need you to do me a favor."
"...Alright." He sounded suspicious.
"I need you to sit next to Nathan for the rest of the way to Pickerington and on the trip back." I could practically hear him getting ready to protest. "And before you say anything, please just listen to what I have to say!"
It was quiet, but then I heard him sigh. "Fine, what?"
"I know you don't like Nathan." I told him. "And I know that he's not exactly your biggest fan, but I need you to do this."
"Nat-"
"Do you know how hard this is for me?" I asked suddenly. "I left the only home and only parent I've ever known to move here to Tree Hill with my mom and get to know the Scott half of my family and now...now my entire world's been flipped upside down; my mother's not even coming to Tree Hill, my dad's a dick who's turned my little brother into his carbon copy and you and Nathan can't even stand each other. This isn't exactly what I sighed up for when I agreed to move here and the least you and Nathan- my brothers- could do is try to get along for my sake."
It was quiet for a few moments before Lucas finally spoke. "Are you trying to guilt trip me?"
"That depends; is it working?"
Lucas sighed once again and I knew I had him. Sure, I meant everything I said about Nathan and Lucas getting along, but I would settle for bus buddies...for now. "Yes, it is."
"Give Nathan a kiss for me." I requested as I, once again, turned off the TV.
"Not a chance." Lucas snorted as he hung up and I did the same before letting the phone drop onto my lap. I wondered what they'd do; would they actually sit next to each other, or would they just agree to say they did?
'Either way,' I shrugged as I picked up the remote and turned the TV back on. 'They're doing it together, right?'
"So," I asked as I entered Nathan's room without even knocking. "How was the game?" I hadn't been awake when Nathan finally got back from the game and he managed to avoid me all Saturday and Sunday, but I still planned on asking him. I knew he wouldn't tell me unless I did and, even then, he might lie.
Nathan shrugged before pulling a gray shirt over his head "It was fine."
I plopped down onto his bed. "Really?" I inquired and he nodded. "Because that's not what Haley told me." I noticed Nathan tense for a moment, realizing he had been caught. "She told me that you threw a basketball at Lucas and then you two started fighting and got kicked out the game. Then she told me that you two got kicked off of the bus on the ride back home and she, Brooke and Peyton found you walking down the road, wearing each others clothes and drove you home. And, by the way, did you know that you sprained her ankle?"
"Look," Nathan turned around to grab his Letterman jacket from his desk chair. "It's not that big of a deal-"
"Not that big of a deal?" I repeated, standing up. "All I asked was that you sit next to Lucas. I didn't ask you to talk to him or even to make some sudden brotherly bond- only to sit next to the guy and you end up throwing basketballs and punches? Not the mention the fact that you could have broken Brooke's leg!" I barely knew the girl, only that she was Nathan's girlfriend's best friend, but she managed to make a...memorable impression that first time I met her. What did she do? I'd rather not say.
"Well, we didn't." Was Nathan's comeback. "And, despite the fact that you want us to, Lucas and I are not friends and we're not gonna suddenly start braiding each others hair and having sleepovers because you want us to." Nathan left the room, leaving me feeling like crap.
Later that day, while I was standing at my locker, still feeling like the worst sister in the world, I got ambushed by cheerleaders- well...one cheerleader.
"Girlie Scott," I would know that slightly raspy voice anywhere. Closing the door to my locker, I turned to see a brunette looking right at me with a little smirk on her face. I was sure that thing was permanent.
"Please don't call me that, Brooke." I requested, despite the fact that I was sure she wouldn't listen. I didn't think Brooke Davis knew my real name.
"So, Girlie Scott," Brooke continued and I sighed. Why did I even bother? "I need your help." Wasn't expecting that.
"With what?" Sure, I wasn't expecting her plea for help, but that didn't mean that I wasn't wary.
"Well, as you know, I'm the captain of the cheerleading team." She informed me. "And both of your brothers took part in the very not fun activity of spraining my ankle." My eyes flicked down to her legs to see that she was wearing heeled boots and they weren't thick heeled like the knee highs I wore. The heels were just a little thicker than stilettos.
"Nice boots."
"Thanks," She accepted. "My doctor says that if I wrap my ankle tightly every day, I should be fine by next week."
"That's great-"
"But!" Brooke interrupted. "I can't cheer. I can't practice and if the other girls practice without me, it'll throw them off when I join in after I'm all healed."
I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes a bit. I had an inkling of what she was going to ask, but I refused to jump to conclusions. "Is there a point this conversation?" I frowned. "Sorry, that came out snappier than I intended."
"Apology accepted, but if you really want to make it up to me, you can take my spot in cheer practice." I knew it.
"Absolutely not." I said immediately.
"Natali-"
"No way." I continued as I began walking down the hall and away from Brooke, but she followed after me. Her bum ankle wasn't keeping her from slowing down. "My brothers sins are their own. I barely even know them."
Brooke gaped at me. "You'd really throw your bros under the bus like that?" I scoffed.
"I'd trade their souls for a sack of potatoes if it meant I'd never have to see a pair of spanks again."
Seeing that I would not be guilted into doing what she wanted, Brooke tried another approach.
Quickening her pace, Brooke managed to get ahead and stopped right in front of me, blocking my path. I was slightly tempted to just walk the other way, but then I'd have to go around the entire school just to get to my class- plus, there was a difference between refusing to do Brooke's bidding and being rude.
Holding her hands out as if I would push right past her, Brooke gave me a pleading look. "Natalie, please. I need a stand-in and your the only girl I know other than Peyton who's not a backstabbing bitch."
I raised an eyebrow. "Brooke, you barely know me." I pointed out. "The first and only time we met, you called my jeans a 'fifty year setback for women everywhere' and then 'accidentally' spilled your bottle of water all over them."
"Okay, believe it or not, but that was an accident." Brooke claimed. "Bevin's a klutz and she accidentally bumped into me and my arm just knocked over the bottle. Either way, I'm sorry, but I do need you and, if it makes you feel better, your denim is great today." I looked down at the black denim skirt I wore; it was fraying at the hem that stopped an inch or two above my knees, but it was the only thing I could find that went well with my hooded sweatshirt and boots. "Plus, you're my best friend's boyfriend's sister. We're practically third cousins," I rolled my eyes but I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I listened to Brooke's ridiculous logic. "And third cousins help their third cousins in need, right?"
I was quiet for a moment, mostly to make Brooke sweat a bit, but I nodded. "Fine, I'll do it."
Brooke grinned. "You are amazing, Girlie Scott." I sighed at the nickname. "And I promise never to make fun of your mom jeans again."
So, after three hours of algebra, chemistry and world history, I made my way to the gym. I'd be missing my economics class for cheer practice, but my teacher said that I was excused as long as I did my classwork at home.
I didn't have any clothes of my own to practice in since I only had P.E. on Thursdays and it was only Monday, but Brooke was nice enough to lend me hers. The black sweatsuit fit well enough for me; I was a bit taller than Brooke, but it didn't seem to be a problem.
"Hey," Peyton greeted as I walked towards her. At the moment, both the cheerleaders and the basketball players were practicing in the gym, so there didn't seem to be any acknowledged spaces for either team. They all just stayed out of each others way. "What are you doing here?"
"Brooke managed to talk me into taking her place for cheer practice." I told her as I pulled my blonde hair into a ponytail. "Something about you being Nathan's girlfriend and third cousins."
"What?" Peyton laughed and I shrugged. I could barely remember Brooke's half-baked reasoning. "You do know that I'm not Nathan's girlfriend, right?"
"What?"
"Yeah," Peyton nodded. "We broke up a couple weeks ago. Brooke played you."
"That bitch." I breathed.
"Yeah, P. Sawyer can be a bitch, but she has her moments." Both Peyton and I turned to see Brooke coming towards us with a pair of blue and white pom poms.
I crossed my arms. "You lied to me." I accused and she sighed.
"Well, sweetie, I know I told you that I wouldn't make fun of your jeans anymore, but make me sad." I rolled my eyes.
"You said that Peyton was Nathan's girlfriend." I specified. Brooke nodded. "They broke up."
"How am I supposed to keep up with their relationship?" She demanded. "They're like Ross and Rachel with their never ending drama- except Rachel didn't have a thing for Monica."
I blinked. "Yeah, you lost me. Who's Monica in this situation?"
"Pretty Scott." I raised an eyebrow. "Lucas."
Looking away from Brooke, my eyes settled on Peyton who looked like she wanted to be anywhere other than where she was. "You have a hard on for my brother?"
"She's not the only one." I turned back to see Brooke grinning mischievously. You've got to be kidding me...
"I'm gonna be sick." I grimaced as I tried to walk away, but Brooke just grabbed my hand and pulled me back.
Practice, honestly, wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be; Brooke was a bit dictator-ish, but she managed to keep me from walking out. I, however, called it quits when they tried to sit me on the shoulders of a very frail looking cheerleader named Miranda. There was no flying involved, but that didn't stop me from falling on my ass when Miranda's knees buckled.
"You look rough." Was the first thing Haley said when I sat down next to her in English class. We only had one or two classes together and English happened to be one of them.
I gave her a half-hearted glare as more people began filing in. "Gee, thanks. You're a true friend."
"Sorry," Haley apologized and I sat my bag down. "What happened? I just saw you period before last and you were fine."
"Brooke Davis tricked me into taking her spot during cheer practice." I told her, running my hand through my hair and I grimaced when I realized it was still wet from my shower after practice. "She needs a replacement body for the next week until her ankle is better."
"That's nice of you-"
"That's idiotic of me." I corrected. "I didn't get a lot of sleep last night and I'm exhausted. I have my tryout for the swim team after school and, I don't know if you already know this, but falling asleep in the pool leads to drowning ninety-nine percent of the time."
Haley put a hand on my arm and rubbed. "You're a good friend...and so am I, which is why I'll run to Karen's during study hall and grab you some coffee."
I gave her a smile in thanks just as Lucas sat down in the seat behind Haley. Yes, he too had this class.
Once he sat down and put his bag on the floor, he gave Haley a smile before looking to me. "You look rough." My smile was replaced by a glower as I turned around to face the board. "What?"
Haley came through on her offer to bring me coffee and it helped me get through the rest of the day and my swim tryout. I did make the team, so my mood for the day improved exponentially and people noticed.
And by people, I mean Karen and Keith.
"What's got you so smiley?" She asked as I sat down at the bar next to my uncle.
In my last two weeks living in Tree Hill, I had to say that Karen was the person I got closest to other than Deb and Haley. She and my mom had, apparently, been best friends in high school even though Karen had been a year older and, because of that, Karen knew more about my mom than I did. It was a bit weird and kind of messed up that I was closer to my both my brothers mother than I was my own.
"I made the swim team." I informed them happily.
"Congratulations." Keith smiled and I grinned. "Amanda told me that you were breaking records left and right on the team back in Alliance."
I rolled my eyes. "She lied." I told him before looking to Karen. "Aunt Amanda has a habit of...exaggerating."
"So you didn't break any records?" She asked.
"Oh, no. I did break records." I confirmed and Karen and Keith looked to each other, both clearly amused. "But it was only one; I beat the school record for the backstroke, but only by seven seconds." Karen sat a mug in front of me and filled it with coffee. "Thanks." She gave me a smile before disappearing into the kitchen. "And while I did want to share my news, I actually came to talk to you."
Keith seemed surprised. "Me?" I nodded. I understood why he was a bit confused; while Keith and I were close, I had been spending a lot of time with Deb, Karen and people my own age. Something I never really did in Alliance. I always seemed to gravitate towards people who were either younger or older than me. "Well, what do you need?"
"Advice." I began. "I think I messed things up with Nathan."
Keith furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I've only been in Tree Hill for a few weeks." I reminded him as I looked down at my coffee cup."And, in that bit of time, I've been getting to know my brothers, but..."
"But what?"
I sighed and looked up at him. "Do you think it's unfair of me to try and get Nathan and Lucas to be friends?"
"Where is this coming from?" Keith asked. "I mean, Nathan and Lucas don't really talk. Other than basketball, they don't have anything in common."
"They have me in common." I pointed out. "And I don't think it's so bad that I'm trying to get them to talk to one another. I mean, it's not like I'm pushing them to act like they're best friends. I just want them to be…civil. Is that really too much to ask?"
Keith sighed. "It's not." He assured me. "But you have to remember; Nate was raised by Dan and that gave him a big head and Lucas…Lucas can be a stubborn ass when he wants to be. I'm not saying it's okay, I'm just saying that's how things are."
I picked up my coffee cup. "Do you think that things could change? Between them, I mean." Keith looked thoughtful for a moment before he answered.
"I do." He nodded. "But it would take time and they'd have to want it." That sounded like wishful thinking.
Sighing, I propped my chin up with my free hand. "Can't I just lock them in a room together until they learn to like each other?" Keith chuckled.
"If only."
Keith ended up leaving a few minutes later and I stayed to finish my coffee. I was thinking about ordering something so I wouldn't have to go back home for dinner when Peyton waltzed into the cafe.
"Hey," I greeted as she sat down in Keith's vacated seat. "What are you doing here? Looking for my brother, you horny cheerleader?"
"I deserved that." She nodded and I learned a new fact about myself; I was protective of my brothers. Go figure. "I actually came to talk to you. Lucas said you might be here."
"Okay..." Not sure why she'd need to talk to me. "What do you need?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"About Lucas?" I asked warily, hoping she'd say no.
"About Haley." She corrected and I was sure the confusion was on my face. Haley and I were friends, but I didn't know her that well. I had only been in town for a few weeks. "Last week when Brooke and I went to the basketball teams away game, we ended up giving Haley a ride home. This was before we picked up Lucas and Nathan."
"Okay," I still wasn't understanding.
"Anyway," Peyton continued, pushing her curly blonde hair behind her ear. "Brooke took some pills that the school's nurse gave her and she was kind of...wonky for most of the ride. While she was out, Haley and I were actually getting along; I mean, she was fun and a bit goofy and she didn't turn everything into a joke like Brooke usually did."
"So you clicked." She nodded. "I'm not seeing the problem."
"The problem is...I don't know how to do it." I didn't know what that meant. "I like her and I want to be her friend, but things are weird because-" Now I understood.
"Because high school." I finished and Peyton nodded again. "Don't do this to yourself." I sighed and she quirked an eyebrow. "Don't let other people decide how you're gonna live your life because they have no say over what you do or who you hang out with. If you want to be friends with her, just be friends." I said. "Why does it matter what people would think? It's only weird if you make it weird."
Peyton fiddled with the sugar dispenser. "Well, it's kind of too late for that. I've basically been ignoring her."
"That's fine." I assured her. "Haley'll understand; she's Haley."
The next day at school was more or less the same; I went to class, felt guilty about Nathan, subbed for Brooke at her cheerleading practice, felt guilty about Nathan, I went to the rest of my classes and then- you guessed it- felt guilty about Nathan. But, unluckily for me, I managed to throw some embarrassment into my day too.
Because I was on the swim team, I was obligated to join the track team because it was supposed to help with my breathing or something or my legs- one of the two. I didn't mind either way, but that's before I found out running only a mile in fifteen minutes wasn't exactly encouraged.
So there I was; slowly jogging around the gym with almost all of my teammate already finished and the rest almost there and I was nowhere near done. I never really thought of running as big part of swimming but what did I know? Either way, I was the only one drenched in sweat, close to passing out and a major storm going on inside me- and I didn't mean my guilt over pushing Nathan to be friends with Lucas. I felt like I had a literal storm in my stomach and I was pretty sure I was about to keel over.
Giving up, I ducked into the gym as soon as I passed the door and made my way to the girls locker room. Unfortunately, I was forced to go to one of the bathrooms inside the school because all the girls from the swim team were occupying almost every space in the locker room.
"Oh, God..." I groaned as I locked myself inside of a stall. "I knew those tacos were a bad idea. Haley told you that they had been there since last week, but did you listen? No...no, you didn't, because you wanted a freakin' taco!" I berated myself. It wasn't until I situated myself to defile the girls bathroom that I realized that the tacos were not what was causing my stomach ache.
"Oh, my God..." Could my day really get any worse? I had a stitch in my side, a MMA fighter inside my stomach and blood in my underwear. This could not be happening- not here and most definitely not now.
What was I possibly supposed to do? I didn't have a pad or a tampon and, after a quick look, there was a large dark red stain in the back and crotch area of my shorts. Whoever's idea it was to make them such a light color was obviously not a woman.
I was planning on sitting there a little longer and trying to figure out how I was supposed to get all the way to the girls locker room without being seen when I heard the door to the bathroom open. I immediately stilled and quieted down my whining, hoping that whoever was inside wouldn't stay long or, at least, I was before I heard the familiar sounds of mumbled singing.
"Haley?" I asked and the humming stopped.
"Nat?" I heard her get closer to the stall. "Are you okay in there?"
"I'd say yes, but that'd be a lie."
"I told you not to eat those tacos."
"I know you did, but this has nothing to do with them." I assured her. "The problem is kinda coming from the other side."
It was quiet, mostly because I figured that she was trying to figure out what I meant. I could hear the moment she figured it out. "Oh! You mean-"
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Yes, that's what I mean and I don't have a pad or a tampon, or whatever you're supposed to do to fix it. There's blood all over my gym shorts and I left my gym bag in the girls locker room."
I heard Haley rummage around her bag. "I don't have anything either. I'll be right back."
"Wait, Haley don't-" But then I heard the door click shut. She was gone. "Go."
Seeing as I had no other option, I sat and waited for Haley's return. When she finally did come back, I could tell that she wasn't alone.
"Nat," Haley called, her voice getting nearer until I could see her sneakers under the door of the stall. I couldn't see the shoes of whoever she was with. "I brought Peyton."
"Well, unless she moonlights as a period fairy, I don't see how that's gonna help." I was being snippy and I knew it. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it in me to care.
"Uh," I heard rustling, like someone was rummaging through a bag. "Here." Two converse clad feet stepped beside Haley's before a hand reached over the stall door holding a small wrapped stick. After carefully lifting myself up from the toilet I took it and unwrapped it to find a plastic stick that was thicker on one end.
"What the hell am I supposed to do with this?" I asked immediately and it suddenly got quiet. "Hello?"
"You don't use tampons?" I heard Peyton ask in question and I sighed. This was about to go from slightly mortifying to making me contemplate moving to Mexico and changing my name to Manuela.
"...This...might be my first period." I admitted reluctantly. "Ever."
I didn't know Peyton well. The few things about her I did know made a strong case that she was a good person, but good people laughed at messed up situations all the time. How was I to know whether or not she would laugh at my predicament or tell anyone and everyone she could get to listen?
"Nat," I heard her say. "You may not like this, but I think we might have to get Brooke."
And that's how I ended up with three different girls in the bathroom while I had my first ever period. I honestly thought it was going to be the most embarrassing thing that I ever had to go through in my life, but it wasn't that bad, to be honesty.
After Peyton retrieved the clean pair of underwear she was going to use for after cheer practice, I put on the pad and came out of the stall. Then Brooke explained to me how to use tampons while Peyton went out and got me some Tylenol from Brooke's locker and Haley kept everyone out of the bathroom. I don't know what she was saying to them, but whatever it was, was doing the trick.
Peyton drove me home afterwards since school was over, but not before we stopped by Karen's Cafe because she wanted to talk to Lucas.
"What're you doing here?" Karen asked as I took a seat at the counter. Peyton had gone straight to the table where Lucas was reading.
"I'm on my way home," I told her, willing my body to relax. Periods were not comfortable. "My ride needed to make a pit-stop."
Karen noticed the way I was holding myself so stiffly. "Are you okay?" She asked and I nodded.
"I'm fine." I assured her. "I'm just...a little uncomfortable." Maybe it was the way I was acting or the way I was sitting, but Karen seemed to realize what I was talking about pretty quickly.
"Oh..."
"And it's my first." That was unnecessary to share.
"Yeah, your aunt mentioned that your Aunt Flo hadn't come yet." I stared at her in a mix of shock and confusion.
"You've talked to Amanda?"
Karen nodded. "Your mom and I used to be close when we were in high school." She said as an explanation.
"So close that your boyfriend slept with her?" That was rude. What was wrong with me this week? "Sorry," I apologized. "Things have been..."
"I get it." Karen assured me. "But, yeah; your mom and I were close and, after she had you, Amanda and I started talking on the phone. We wanted to get you and Lucas together a couple of times, but things kept coming up- and then your mom asked Amanda not to let you see Lucas anymore-"
"Wait, what?" I demanded and Karen stopped and stilled. "She told Amanda not to let me see Lucas?"
"I thought you knew?" She said and I shook my head. "She said that you called her and said that you didn't want to see Lucas anymore because you thought he was mean." She shook her head. "I asked him what he did to you at the party and he wouldn't tell me so I wouldn't let him go to the Rivercourt with his friends for an entire week. I'm pretty sure he still hates me for that." She added as an afterthought.
I straightened up as I processed the information I had just been given; My mother called Amanda and told her not to let me see Lucas. My mother lied and purposely kept me away from Lucas. My mother didn't even see me more than twice a year since the disastrous idea of Amanda's to have me with with my mother and she had the nerve to keep me away from Lucas...My mother was, single-handedly, the reason I had such a sucky relationship with my brother.
"Natalie..." Karen began as I sat there, still. "Whatever reasons Joanna had, I'm sure they-"
"Please don't." I cut across as I stared at her. I was barely holding back my tears and I was sure that if I moved my eyes or even blinked once, they would all come rushing out. "Whatever excuse you want to make, don't; Keith and Amanda have spent ten years making excuses for her and I won't listen to them anymore."
"Nat-" Karen said as I got out of my seat.
"Sorry, I've got to go." I insisted before rushing out of the diner like a bat out of hell.
"I can't believe she would do something like that!" I yelled as I paced in my room.
After walking home and crying my eyes out, my attitude had taken a turn; instead of being sad and weepy, I got upset and pissed. Seeing as how I felt guilty by even standing next to the guy, Nathan was a no when it came to people I could talk to. I couldn't go to Lucas without picturing him, Peyton and Brooke in some weird sex triangle and there was no way I was going to either Dan, Deb or Keith, so that left only one person.
"Maybe she had a really good reason?" Haley suggested and I scoffed as I pulled at my hair.
"Who knows?!" I exclaimed. "I haven't spoken to her in almost two years! When she ditched me at some mother/daughter retreat that she insisted we go to! Who knows why she does anything she does?!"
"Well, then maybe you should tell her how you feel." I scoffed. "I'm serious, Nat. Call her and ask her why she did what she did. She'll talk to you if you talk to her."
I turned around and started pacing the other way. "That may work with your hippie parents, but it won't work with my mother; she'll talk at me and insist that I did call her and say the things that I didn't say. Joanna Rhodes is a liar and she's the worst kind of liar because she won't admit when she's wrong. She will literally tell a million lies just to prove that her first lie was the truth!" Frustrated, and with a pounding head, I stopped pacing and just got down on the floor. I laid there on my back, staring up at the ceiling for a few moments as I willed my headache to go away. "My head hurts and I want to hit something."
Haley stared down at me, unaffected by my need to lay on the floor. She even got down there with me. "That's your period." She said and I turned my head to look at her. "It heightens your emotions and stuff; it's basically like being a werewolf during a full moon." So I could count on a lifetime of this until I become unlucky enough to hit menopause? Great. "I was serious about talking to your mom, Nat; you two've got unresolved issues and they're not going to go away until one of you tackles them head on."
"That's if she'll even listen." I sighed. "She never hears anything I say- and that's assuming I get past her man-boy assistant."
"What about an E-Mail?" She suggested. "You've got her address, right?"
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts." Haley interrupted and I chuckled. "Really mature."
"You have mail." An electronic voice informed me and I sat up with a groan.
"What was that?"
"My E-Mail." I stood up and grabbed my latop off of my vanity dresser before sitting down on my bed, tucking my leg underneath me. Haley plopped down next to me only a second later as I opened the E-Mail. "It's from my Aunt Amanda." I told her as I read. "The construction company hit a snag in the house."
"What house?"
"My house- well, mine and my moms. She bought a foreclosure and hired someone to fix it up. It was supposed to be done before I moved here, but they were behind." I told her before I kept reading. "There are a few things they need a decision on before they can continue. My mom's got some super important meeting and can't spare a few moments out of her busy schedule so I have to go down to the house tomorrow." I sighed. "I'm gonna have to ask Nathan to borrow his car."
"Your dad has a dealership and you don't have a car? Haley questioned.
"Keith always promised that we'd find one I liked as we'd fix it up together." I didn't mention the fact that I didn't even have a drivers license. Amanda had begun teaching me how to drive around my fifteen birthday, but we never got around to getting me an actual license.
"That's nice." Haley smiled and I smiled too. It was a nice little moment that we were having- that is, until a familiar, slightly raspy voice interrupted.
"Are you two about to make out?" Haley and I both looked to the doorway of my bedroom where Brooke stood in all her...Brooke-ness. "Because that would honestly be a twist I didn't see something."
"What are you doing in my house, Horny Hannah?" I asked as I closed my laptop and set it aside. How did she even get in? Neither Dan or Deb were home and Nathan had practice.
Brooke opened her mouth to answer, but didn't get a chance before someone else joined her in the doorway. "You said you were going to the bathroom." Peyton said, looking at her friend accusingly. What was happening?
"I got lost?"
"Sure you did." I decided to cut in.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you," I interrupted and they both turned to face me. "But what are you doing here?"
"Well," Brooke started, not giving Brooke a chance to speak. "We were at P. Sawyer's house watching Carrie and that made me think of your little...predicament at school earlier." I closed my eyes and willed my face not to heat up. Was she always so blasé?
"Get to the point." Peyton ordered and I was thankful.
"We want to take you shopping." Brooke continued when I reopened my eyes. "Seeing as how today was your first...you know, we figured you wouldn't have anything other than what Deb had laying around the house and- to be honest- I'm pretty sure she's hit menopause already so whatever she does have is probably older than the dinosaurs."
I tried not to roll my eyes. "You do realize that Deb is only thirty-four, right?"
Brooke did roll her eyes. "Still," She insisted. "She's probably got some huge, granny panty tampons." She grinned mischievously. "I hear that Nathan's got a huge head."
I furrowed my eyebrows as Peyton sighed. "I don't understand."
"Yeah," Haley added. "Neither do I."
"Trust me, you don't want to." Peyton assured us.
Brooke gave me another pad so I could take another shower and change my clothes before we left. I really wanted to spend my time with the girls, but my mind wouldn't shut off for the hours that we were together; all I could think about was my mother and the most I thought about it, the angrier I got. I knew that Peyton, Haley and Brooke noticed, but they were nice enough not to say anything- Well Peyton and Haley were.
"Okay, what's wrong with you?" Brooke demanded from where she sat across the table from me. After getting my...supplies, Brooke had decided that she was hungry and, if she was hungry, we were all hungry. That's how we ended up at Karen's Cafe. Peyton kept looking around nervously, like she was waiting for something to jump out and attack her.
I shook my head as I picked up my water. "What do you mean?"
Brooke gave me a look. "You've been brooding for that past three hours." She informed me. "Spill." I looked to Peyton for help reigning her friend in, but she was too busy looking around the cafe for, what I now realized was, my brother. I then looked to Haley who sighed and put down her fork. I took that to mean that she was about to help me.
I was wrong.
"Nat found out her mom told her aunt not to let her see Lucas when she was a kid." I gaped at her.
"Wait, she did what?" Peyton asked, finally pulled away from her surveillance of the cafe.
"Seriously, dude?" Haley shrugged. I sighed and Brooke looked at me expectantly. I realized that my only choices were either to get up and leave or woman up and tell her. "I was talking to Karen earlier when Peyton and I stopped by here after school." I told her. "She didn't even realize that I didn't know. She said that my mom called my Aunt Amanda and told her that I called and said I didn't want to see Lucas anymore."
"And I thought my mom was messed up." Brooke scoffed.
"Your mom is messed up." Peyton assured her before looking to me. "Did you talk to her about it?"
"Why would I?" I shrugged. "The last time I tried to talk to her about something serious she ditched me at a hotel."
"Your mom suck." Brooke said and I nodded in agreement. "Let's crash her car!"
I shook my head. "She doesn't live here." I told her and she deflated. "Plus, Haley thinks I should talk to her; tell her how I feel."
"And you should." Haley took over. "She's your mother. Even if she doesn't listen now, she'll have to eventually."
Haley's words stuck with me for the next couple of days. She was right, eventually my mother would have listen to me- even if she didn't want to.
So there I sat; on my laptop at midnight trying to figure out what to write. Haley had said to be honestly, to tell her how I really felt. The problem was that I didn't know how I felt at the moment; I had long since lost the anger and frustration that I had felt earlier in the week and I refused to admit that she made me cry when she had her man-boy assistant to call me instead of doing it herself. There was no way my pride- or my ego- would let me do that.
Looking away from my laptop screen, my eyes caught the picture that sat on my nightstand; it was one of the few pictures that I had ever taken with her. I had been only three years old and my mother had just graduated college and had yet to become the career focused woman she was today. The picture was of us both sitting on the bench swing in the back yard of my grandparents house. According to Amanda, I had loved that thing.
Anyways, Amanda had come to Tree Hill from Alliance to help my mother pack. They had taken a break and my grandmother had seen my mother and I on the porch swing and gone out to take the picture. Neither of us had noticed.
There was no way I could write the E-Mail that I needed to; I couldn't write all the things that I was actually feeling, knowing that they would hurt my mother. She might not have raised me and she might'v disappointed me a few times too many, but I still loved her.
So I sat there, on my computer at midnight and wrote two pages of lies to my mother; I played up m friendship with Brooke, Haley, and Peyton, lied about how Nathan and I had been getting along and made up a cockamamie story about Lucas and I having a great relationship. The truth was, I probably had a better relationship with Nathan than I did with Lucas at the moment, and that twas saying something.
After finishing my lies, I didn't know how to end my letter. There was no way I was going to write Sincerely or anything professional like that. Instead, I decided to put, at least, one truth in my letter.
- I miss you, Natalie
Then I pressed send.