So I'm not going to rant about Tuesday's episode because I'm not really angry about it. I'm disappointed at Mark Schwahn because I think this whole thing with Carrie is kind've repetitive. I mean back in second season Nathan told Chris Keller to back off like Nathan (and Haley kind've) did with Carrie, but neither of them did. Then, Chris kissed Haley (she didn't kiss back), and now Carrie kissed Nathan (he didn't kiss back). Haley didn't tell Nathan about the kiss (she did go back and make out with Chris though at the bus station) just like Nathan didn't tell Haley about Carrie kissing him.
Maybe I'm just looking for similarities…who knows…I just think Nathan's behavior is almost out of character for him...oh well, anyway:

This week has been horrible for me. I spent the first half of it at school, pasting up the school paper, my tape got cut off so I didn't get to see the end of Tuesday's episode either. The second half of the week I got sick and was not able to write until today, I'm sort've nervous that this chapter isn't as good as it should be because I still feel crappy.

As usual, please Read and Review! Seriously thank you to all of you that do, it means so much to me!
By the way, this chapter is mostly just a set-up for later drama, hmmm.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters and such.

Bold face is reality with Haley in a coma, Normal is the dream world, and Italics are the thoughts and memories.

The next installment of the story shall now begin, in a local gas station during Brooke Davis' open lunch break….

Tinker vs Des Moines

"OMG!" Brooke exclaimed as she walked by a magazine rack. She turned around and looked at the cover of one of the practically-tabloid magazines. She picked it up and stared at one of the side boxes to see a picture of none other than her friend Haley James and Nathan Scott. The caption read:

What's happened to this rising star? Who is the mystery man she is with? Will we see more of her or was she just a one-hit wonder?

"This is so not what Haley needs right now," Brooke mumbled as she turned to the full story. It was a poorly done article, full of editorializing with no direct quotes, and Haley was the only one identified in photos, but it may have been enough to catch better magazines' attention. Brooke quickly bought the magazine and left the gas station she was in.

"Haley…" Brooke said quietly as she tapped on her car window. She had been looking for Haley ever since lunch when she had bought the magazine.

"What's up Brooke?" Haley said as cheerfully as she could manage.

It was obvious to Brooke she had been crying, but she wasn't going to comment on that. It did make it harder for her to do what she knew she needed to, "You're not going to like this Tutor-Girl."

"Just tell me Brooke, I swear it can't be as bad as what Nathan said to me."

"Oh I think it could be, and you have some explaining to do once we get back to the apartment about that," Brooke said. She handed Haley the magazine already on the page with the story through her own car window.

"Shit," Haley mumbled. She looked at a picture of Nathan, Lucas, Brooke, and her from the week before after practice, "How did they even get this?"

"I don't know Tutor-Girl, but I think we need to be careful."

"Does Nathan know about this?" Haley asked, afraid Nathan would get angry with her.

"I don't think so."

"So it sounds like this reporter sucks. I mean they don't even know who Nathan is." That shows how little you talked about him on the tour. Lucas was right, your actions don't demonstrate what your words say.

"Do you think this article will attract attention from other magazines? Maybe better ones?" Brooke asked.

"I don't know…I hope not."

Both of them stayed silent for a minute, before Brooke cautiously asked, "So are you going to come out from there at all today?"

Haley took a deep breath and gave Brooke a forced smile, "Right now okay with you?"

"Yay!" Brooke shouted. When Haley exited the car Brooke linked elbows with her, and the two friends walked into the school, side-by-side. They didn't even notice the photographer watching them from the car just next to Brooke's with a smirk on his face.

"Ms. Roe?" A young man with brown hair asked Karen politely.

"Yes?" Karen said, distracted. She had barely spent any time with her son since he had woken up, which made her disappointed, but she knew Nathan needed him more than her.

"I'm sorry to hear about your son."

"Thank you, but he's better now."

"Oh really? That has to be a relief."

"Yes it is, but my daughter—practically—is still in there fighting for her life."

"Is that Mrs. Scott?"

"Yes."

"I'm sure she'll pull through Ms. Roe," The young man said, placing a comforting hand on Karen's arm.

"Thank you for your support," Karen said gratefully.

"This has to be tough for you."

"It is."

"How does Lucas feel about Mrs. Scott's accident?"

Karen looked at the man in shock, "He feels horrible! That's his sister-in-law in a coma, his best friend! How do you think he feels?"

"I'm sorry ma'am I didn't mean to pry," The man said, his voice full of sincerity, but his eyes weren't.

Karen noticed that, but she ignored it, "It's fine. I'm sorry, I don't even know your name."

"Herc Donavan, ma'am."

"Thank you for your concern Mr. Donavan."

"I was just wondering Ms. Roe, how has Lucas been since the death of his uncle?"

Karen turned to Herc, shock written all over her features, "It's been extremely hard on him, but he knows Keith is with him."

"How does that knowledge affect his life?"

Karen saw something in the pocket of Herc's jacket. She quickly reached in, before he had any time to react. Karen pulled out a small black box with a red light, signaling it was recording.

"I'll give you a story," Karen said with her voice full of malice, "A young reporter was brutally murdered after he tricked a woman in despair to believe that he was just a concerned citizen, crossing a line!"

"Whatever," Herc said quietly. The features of his face changed drastically so he no longer looked polite, but rude and mean. His dark hair fell into his eyes causing him to look uncaring. "Can I ask you a few questions about this experience?"

"No! Get out!" It wasn't Karen who yelled at Herc Donavan, but Deb. "Karen doesn't deserve this, her son has just recovered from a heart attack, she doesn't need to be badgered right now by your idiotic questions! GET OUT!"

The reporter didn't need telling twice, he was gone before Deb finished yelling.

"What'd you do?" Lucas asked Nathan. They were the last ones in the locker room after Gym.

"What are you talking about Lucas?" Nathan put his guard up, ready for anything.

"Haley wasn't in class last hour. She was talking to you, last I saw."

"Why am I automatically at fault, didn't you say some things to her?"

"I don't have enough power to get her to skip school, only you do."

"And a rock tour." Nathan pointed out, he was mad at Lucas for getting blamed for Haley's disappearance, "Who knows, maybe she did everyone a favor and left earlier than planned."

Nathan was shocked to find himself pushed up against the lockers, "The hell man?" He asked.

"If you think I'm going to let you mistreat Haley, you're wrong."

"I'll treat Haley as well as I want to treat her."

"Don't even try to hurt her for a second, because if you do," Lucas leaned in to his younger brother, "I'm gonna hurt you."

Lucas released Nathan and quickly left the locker room.

"You're one to talk! She was really upset after whatever it was you said to her this morning!" Nathan yelled to Lucas' retreating figure.

"At least I'm not a jackass who broke her heart!"

Nathan shook his head slightly, "Don't be so sure Luke. You do more harm than you think. You forget, I saw her after your last major fight, before your accident. She wasn't in good shape then."

Lucas was too far away to hear what Nathan said.

Nathan stared straight ahead, he wouldn't risk taking just a glance at Haley. His might feel bad, causing his resolve to falter and trying to comfort her. He would fall even deeper for her, but she would still leave at graduation. He would have to fix his broken heart all over again. Nathan didn't want to do that so he concentrated on their substitute teacher.

Haley's gaze returned to Nathan for the fiftieth time in class that day. This is killing me, but it isn't affecting him at all. She wanted to talk to him, to explain what she meant when she said she didn't want to be friends, that she wanted to be with him.

"Nathan," Haley whispered.

Nathan heard her, but he concentrated straight ahead.

"Nathan," Haley said quietly, but louder than her whisper.

Nathan blinked.

Haley glared, she said louder, "Nathan."

Nathan turned to Jake, "Do you hear something? I keep hearing this annoying wind, but it could just be me."

Haley blinked hard. She realized she didn't have long, she hated when Nathan said things to hurt her. Nobody else could ever hurt her with such simple words, but Nathan Scott wasn't just anyone to Haley.

She stood up and walked to the sub's desk, grateful it wasn't their mean teacher, "May I use the restroom?" Haley managed to ask semi-evenly.

The sub nodded, concern in her eyes. Haley brushed a way a tear that had already started to fall. She ran quickly out of the classroom and to the bathroom, without looking at Nathan. She was sure he would be smirking right now.

Nathan watched her leave, there was no satisfied smirk on his lips, his face was only a mask of concern. Nathan considered chasing after her, he wasn't afraid of going into the girl's bathroom for Haley.

Jake shook his head, "Why did you do that? She deserves better than that Nathan."

Jake's words reminded Nathan he couldn't go after her. Jake was right, Haley deserved better than him, better than what he could give her. If he went to comfort her, she might never realize it.

"I have a plan!!!"

"I think you have it wrong Cheery, it's 'I have a dream,' ya know, that famous speech Martin Luther King Jr. made." Lucas laughed as he and Brooke did their homework together in his bedroom. It was a routine they had started back when they were dating, trying to not think about the emptiness Haley's absence was creating back then.

"No, Broody, I have a plan to get Nathan and Haley together! And past this stupid fight of theirs…"

"Oh…well, what is it?"

"The boy toy auction is coming up isn't it?"

Almost weary of Brooke's plan, Lucas answered, "Yeah, it's tomorrow night." There was no school on Friday and Whitey had decided to make the boy toy auction on Thursday so the team could at least relax a little before the game, but not party too hard.

"Well how about I convince Haley to buy you like she did last year and I buy Nathan?"

Lucas gave Brooke a perplexed look, "So how does Brathan, plus Laley, equal Naley?"

Brooke smiled a little at Lucas' use of the couples' nicknames, "I know the guy that writes down who each person buys. I'll ask him to put down that I bought you and Haley bought Nathan. Then I simply get to the checkpoint before Haley and take you so she's left with Nathan and can't complain or try to switch because we'll be long gone!"

"Wait, what says Haley won't just leave once she realizes she's stuck with Nathan?"

"I learned this the hard way last year, all sales are final. Also, it's for charity, as long as sweet Haley is still around there's no way she'll turn her back on it. Nathan has to stick with her because he's part of the basketball team, once he says he'll do it he's stuck, no matter what."

"You know Brooke Davis, I think you might just be a genius."

"It took you this long to figure that out?"

"What can I say? I'm a little slow sometimes."

Brooke smirked, "You can say that again."

Lucas gave a little laugh, he began to clean up his stuff, he had to get back to school for practice. Brooke began to gather her stuff as well, she had cheer practice to go to.

"Oh Brooke! I forgot to ask!" Lucas exclaimed as Brooke started to get into her car.

"What?"

"Can you guys practice outside today?"

"Lucas, its only 50 degrees outside! We'll freeze!!"

"Please Brooke, I told Nathan I would get you to practice somewhere else today."

"Why?"

"He doesn't want to see Haley right now and with the championship so close…"

"All you guys care about is basketball…"

"It will probably be easier on Haley not to see Nathan right now anyway."

Or you, Brooke remembered Haley avoiding Lucas in the hallway today, "Fine Luke, we'll practice somewhere else today, but not outside."

"Thanks Brooke."

"Hey Lips!" Brooke shouted at the scrawny sports announcer when he walked by right after the Ravens practice ended and the guys went into the locker room.

"It's Mouth," he said as he turned to face Brooke that evening after basketball and cheer practice.

"Mouth you know I know that, but Lips just sounds more BA."

Mouth smiled, "What's up Brooke?"

"You're the trusted guy who's writing down who buys who this year at the boy toy auction right?"

Mouth nodded, smiling sheepishly, "I don't think I could handle another auction as exciting as last year's."

"Nobody could top mine though," Brooke said with a smirk.

"True, what do you need?"

"I need you to switch a couple of names for me at the auction."

"Who's?"

"I'm going to buy Nathan and Haley is going to buy Lucas."

"So you want me to write down that Haley bought Nathan and you bought Lucas?"

"You catch on fast Lips."

"What's in it for me?"

"The pleasure of knowing you just helped out Haley and Nathan?"

"So I should risk my title of most trusted guy in school just to help out Nathan and Haley? For some reason that doesn't sound too appealing."

Brooke's face went serious and she kinked hey eyebrow, "I'll give you twenty bucks and we'll call it a deal."

"You got it." Mouth said with a small smile.

"C'mon Nathan it's for charity!" Lucas begged his brother in the locker room after practice.

"Luke, maybe you aren't aware, but I'm not a hooker…."

Lucas smiled a little and shook his head, "You're not giving them sex Nate. You just take them out on one little date, you know how it goes, you did it last year."

"If I remember right you almost beat me up because I followed the rules and kissed Peyton at the end of the night. Besides, I'm not going to offer myself as a date to a bunch of horny girls who have no chance with me," Nathan said, adding a tone of finality, which Lucas ignored.

"Here I'll even do you a little favor, I'll have Brooke buy you. I mean you guys are friends, that way you won't be stuck with some horny freshman who has no chance with you," Lucas could tell Nathan didn't find an evening with Brooke all that appealing, so Lucas changed tactics, "You didn't have a problem with it before."

"Before I was screwed over by your best friend you mean?" Nathan asked, usually the guilt trip would get Lucas to shut up.

"So you're letting Haley win," It didn't work on Lucas now that Haley was back, "She hurt you and you're just going to stop living because of it. I get it now, you're weak."

Nathan glared at his brother. He hated being called weak almost as much as he hated being compared to Dan, "Fine, I'll participate."

Lucas smiled, "That's the Nathan Scott I remember."

Nathan returned his smile with a smirk. He wasn't just going to participate, he was going to torture Haley.

Lucas left the locker room first, Nathan waited until he was the last one. He pulled out his cell phone and called a number he once found slipped into his bag. He had seen the girl sit right behind him, so he had only put it into his contacts so she wouldn't bug him about it.

"Hello?" A girl answered with a seductive tone on the other end.

"Is this Rachel?"

"Call me Red, what can I do for you Nathan Scott?"