The Mourning After
Chapter 12
(Chapter Rated M, you've been warned)
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Flashback (Chapter 7)
"Why are you telling me this?" Haley asked a little nervous.
"Because right before I hit the wall, I went on the comm and told Coop that I needed some of that 200 mph therapy.,."
"You crashed on purpose?" Haley almost said in disbelief.
"I dunno.. maybe.. all I know is that I was willing to try anything to not feel the pain of not having you with me."
Haley turned away from him. Nathan could tell she was visibly upset, but he needed to let her know. After overhearing what Brooke said a couple of days ago, he knew he had to say something to Haley if given the chance.
"I never told anyone this.. Lucas came close once.. he asked me why there weren't any break marks before I hit the wall, but luckily for me we got interrupted before I could say anything."
"Why are you telling me this Nathan.. you shouldn't be telling me this." She started to walk away.
"What happened that day of the shooting?" Nathan asked softly.
"You blew me off AGAIN .. that's what happened .. I felt miserable again.. like crap, like it was all my fault.. that I just wanted the pain to end…" Her voice trembling.
Nathan walked over to her and gave her a hug, but this time she didn't protest instead crying into his chest.
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"I don't care what you say, 'yo' is not a word." Haley declared.
"Is to!"
"Just because Skillz says it on daily basis does not make it part of the English language."
"Fine, have it your way, don't say I didn't warn you." Nathan smirked.
"Whatever Scott… you have the basketball court but Scrabble… now you're on my turf!" Haley proclaimed.
"We'll see about that." Nathan continued to smirk as he put the letters "g," "u," "r," "t," down on the board. "And I do believe that was a triple word score." Nathan said getting up in triumph and heading to the kitchen to check up on dinner.
Haley looked at board, completely shocked. Haley stormed into the kitchen with a determined look. "Have you been letting me win?"
"My lips are sealed." Nathan threw his hands up.
"I don't get it! I always used to kick your ass in this, daymit."
"Don't be upset Hales, when Mr. Thomas (history teacher) tells us to do research on the computers, I just play Text Twist."
"Cheater!"
"How is that cheating? Don't be upset because I beat you fair and square."
"No, you led me on."
"Hey, you wouldn't let me use 'yo'." Nathan shrugged.
"So you were letting me win!?"
Nathan immediately started laughing. "Don't you dare, this isn't funny." Haley pointed her finger at him and he tried his best to suppress his laughter.
"Haha.. well come on the pasta is ready." Nathan said turning off the stove. Nathan smiled to himself, this was going much better than he had planned.
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Two Hours Ago"Haley, where are you going?!"
"To the other cabin!" She said grabbing her things.
"That's silly.. you can't walk there."
"Well maybe you can drop me off?" She scoffed.
"I'm not dropping you off." Nathan stated.
"Then I'm walking."
"Hales, it's pouring out, look will you just stay."
"Why should I!?"
"Because I can start a fire until the lights come back and the stove works so I can cook us spaghetti or something .. and I brought board games." He tried to lighten the mood.
"I can't believe you did this… what were you planning on accomplishing by dragging me out here in the middle of nowhere!?!"
Nathan took in a nervous breath. "Look, Haley I really just want to spend some time with you." He said honestly.
"We live in the same house, I see you all the time."
"No, it's not the same thing.. we have school, I go to practice, you have tutoring.. and all these other things.. we don't get to spend anytime with each other." Not to mention nights out meeting random guys, he thought to himself.
"In case, you forgot, we're getting a divorce.. divorce people don't spend much time with each other." She declared.
"In case you forgot, we're still married and married people do spend time with each other." Nathan clarified.
"You're unbelievable, you know that."
"Look, I'm not expecting a miracle here...but what's so bad about just spending some together… please Haley, just stay here tonight and once the storm passes, we'll join the rest of them."
"Fine! It's not like I have another choice." Haley put her bags down, even if she could convince Nathan to drive her to the other cabin, she was mad at her friends too and didn't feel like seeing them either. Plus it would be suicide to drive in the hilly terrain with the rain and lightening outside. She took a minute to calm herself down,
"Now what games did you bring?" She said, trying to make the most of a bad situation.
--
Haley had to admit that she was having a lot more fun that she originally thought. Nathan was right, they didn't spend any real time together. Sure they weren't 'together' anymore, but that didn't mean that they couldn't be civil with each other. Once they started playing, Haley calmed down and the two of them talked, laughed and ribbed on each other the whole night. She missed this, although she had to be careful and not to be caught up in the romantic atmosphere, especially with the warm and cozy fire Nathan started in the fireplace and candles surrounding the dining room.
"No, I'll do the dishes.. you already cooked." Haley protested as they finished eating.
"It's not a problem, just go relax." Nathan said back.
"Fine, I'm going to get ready for bed." And with that awkwardness settled back in.
"I'll take the couch." Nathan quickly added and Haley nodded.
She went to her bag and took out her toiletries.
"Shoot, Nate I forgot my toothpaste, do you have?" She called out.
"Yeah." He called from the kitchen. "Check my bag."
Haley went over to Nathan's bag and found the toothpaste, but she also found something else, something that made her blood boil.
She came storming to inside the kitchen. "What are you doing with these?!?!" She asked furiously as she dropped her empty pill bottles on the table. Bottles that she thought she threw away.
Nathan turned off the faucet and looked at the empty pill bottles, now rolling onto the floor. He cursed to himself, he forgot he put those in his bag. He swallowed the lump in his throat, he wasn't ready to do this so soon but he figured there was no turning back now.
"WELL!!!" She demanded.
"I think you know." He said as calm as he could.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said heatedly.
"You know what it means, Hales."
She stood there for a moment a little confused. "WAIT! Is this why we're here.. cuz of this.. you think I have a problem so you hold an intervention in the middle of nowhere!!"
Nathan's silence seemed to only confirm what she just said. "Unbelievable .. wait.. no.. don't tell me you had help?!"
"Haley.."
"NATHAN…" She gritted her teeth.
"Haley, look we're all concerned about you…" Nathan finally admitted.
"OH MY GOD !! .. You guys are unbelievable I can't believe I call you guys my friends.. you've been plotting against me this whole time!"
"We're not plotting anything." Nathan pleaded. "We're concerned, Haley.. I'm concerned.. you shouldn't be taking so many pills."
"Who are you? My doctor?"
"No, you're husband."
"Yeah, only when it's convenient for you!" She scoffed.
"Haley.." Nathan tried to plead, trying to ignore the hurt he felt at her words.
"I do not have a problem with medication my doctor prescribed to me!!!"
"Well according to your doctor, you're supposed to take one every 8 hours."
"Or as needed." She tried to remind him.
"So 3 or 4 is okay?" He shot back.
"Now your some math whiz? Where'd you learn to count pills or did Deb teach you that?"
She did not just go there, but Nathan tried to keep his temper in check. He knew he was going to face resistance. He had to be strong, for her.
"What's the matter, Nathan? Did I hit a nerve? Seems like you and your dad have more in common than you think." She said with a smirk on her face.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Having your wives reach for the pill.. apparently, Deb and I have more in common than I thought too." She knew she was hurting him but she was too upset to care.
"Haley, stop this." With each word coming out from Haley's mouth felt like a twist in the knife in Nathan's heart.
"What?! You're the one who thinks I'm a junkie."
"I never said you were a junkie." Nathan said in frustration.
"God, I can't believe you." Haley rushed over to her purse and pulled out her pills. "Here, take it..I don't need it." Haley slammed the bottle on the table.
"Ok." Nathan said calmly. "Then you won't mind if I do this." Nathan took it and held it over the trashcan, she didn't flinch. "Or better yet." Nathan opened the bottle and held it over the sink.
Suddenly, Haley's eyes grew wider and he could see fear in them. The sight just broke his heart. He was turning the bottle slowly when suddenly, Haley took a step forward.
"DON'T!!!.. Nathan, give them back!" Desperation in her voice.
"NO!"
"Give them to me!!!"
She lunged at him, trying to take the pills but him being taller and stronger just held it over her. He moved passed her.
"Come back here."
"No."
"Nathan Royal Scott, you better give those back to me or I swear to God."
"What.. what're you going to do?!" He challenged her.
She wasn't sure what to do or say. Her mind was so confused and she felt so angry, hurt and betrayed.
"Just like Dan." She muttered. "I'm surprised Deb lasted as long as she did." Her face grew cold.
Nathan didn't think his heart could be broken anymore than it was, but everything Haley was saying was rubbing salt in the wound. He couldn't loose it, he had to stay cool Everything was coming at him, anger, hurt, guilt, most of all guilt. He needed to breath, he couldn't breath. He opened the door and stormed off with the pills, not caring that it was pouring outside.
"Where the hell are you going!?!" Haley said chasing after him. "NATHAN!!" She screamed and he turned around.
"You're right." He said, almost so low that Haley almost couldn't hear it. "YOU'RE RIGHT!!!" He finally shouted, his emotions now getting the best of him.
"It's my fault .. IT'S ALL MY FAULT!!"
"Look Nathan, we're both a little heated.." She said in a more calm voice ".. let's just go back inside where it's warm and dry.. just give me the pills and we can go inside."
Nathan couldn't believe what he was hearing, she wanted the pills. He had driven her this far.
He held out the pill bottle from his hand. "The pills or me." He said softly.
"What?" She almost didn't hear him.
"The pills or me." He said more firmly.
The both of them stood there for a moment, both completely drenched by this point. Haley stepped closer and tried to reach for the pills but Nathan pulled his hand away and took a step back before she could take them.
"Nathan!!"
He couldn't believe what she just did. He was now completely distraught. "YOU DON'T NEED THESE!!!" He yelled. He stepped closer to her.
"YES I DO!!!"
"WHY?!" He demanded to know.
"Because of YOU!!!" Nathan's heart sank even further than he thought it could ever go. Then Haley started to recall:
Flashback (Chapter 8)
"I was wondering… with the crash.. on the race track.." Haley choose her words carefully for the incident was definitely not an accident.
"Yeah?"
"With.. with what happened.. how ..how did you get over that?"
"Well I decided to go to High Flyers so that was good for a time but when that was over I pushed away everyone who cared about me and acted like an ass to the ones I loved … and only recently I realize what a huge mistake that was.. so I guess you can say I'm still getting over it .. with what you went through with the shooting Hales.. just don't make the same mistakes I did."
End Flashback"I'm following your advice.. you had basketball... I have school.. I'm not pushing my friends or family away.. hell I even decided to move in with you … I'm not going to be cold and hurtful like you were ….I'm dealing okay (her voice choking).. and I need those pills to deal .. so if you care for me at all you'll give them back to me." Haley pleaded.
"I do care, more than you know." He said softly.
"Then give them to me!"
Frustrated he threw the bottle, sending pills everywhere. Haley couldn't believe what just happened, her world crashing down on her.
"NOOO!!"
"DAMMIT HALEY, when're you going to realize that you don't need them?!"
"YES I DO! I NEED THEM!" She screamed, tears in her eyes.
"DAMMIT HALEY !!!..YOU HAVE ME!! … YOU LOVE ME!! WHEN'RE YOU GOING TO REALIZE THAT YOU ONLY NEED ME!!!" Nathan screamed at the top of his lungs, his hands trembling.
Haley had never heard him talk that. She felt his anger, frustrations and most of all hurt and desperation. The rain masked his eyes and if it weren't raining, she was pretty sure that tears were streaming down his eyes. She was now shivering and she was pretty sure it had nothing to do with the cold rain beating down on them.
"You need me.." He said once more out of breath. "I'm you're drug." He said with more conviction "YOU LOVE ME!!!" He pounded his chest, his voice cracking. She felt the weight of his words, all at once, wondering if that was more a statement of a question.
"And I'm going to prove it!" He stated more calmly, quickly walking right up to her, holding her face and crashing his lips on hers.
He poured every emotion into that kiss, his anger, hurt, frustrations, but most of all his love. She was taken completely by surprise and she tried to push back but he was stronger and held her in place. Her mouth resisted but as the rain poured down on them, her resolve started to fade. Mustering all her strength she tried to push him away but he only pushed her closer to him. He wasn't going to let go, not this time. He pressed his lips harder and she couldn't hold her resolve and long and she kissed him back. Her hands, instead of trying to break free, were now wrapped around his neck. They took a few steps back and Nathan leaned forward and now Haley rested on the hood of Nathan's car.
Their lips finally broke free, both of them breathing heavily. Haley looked up and saw Nathan's blue eyes staring intently into hers. Rain was pouring over them but she could still see clearly. She was trembling and he wiped away some loose hairs that were on her face.
His lips crashed against hers and she wrapped her arms and legs around Nathan. He held her tight as he brought her back up and carried her into the cabin. Their lips never parted and Haley held on for dear life as Nathan open the door and carried her in.
Slamming the door behind him, Nathan carried her to the bedroom, Haley unbuttoning her shirt, along the way. Their lips finally separated when Nathan dropped Haley onto the bed. In an instant, their clothes were shed and Haley moved to the top of the bed, her head resting against the pillows. Nathan went on top of her, his hands roaming up her legs and stopped near her hips where he felt a birth control patch. They looked each other in the eye, both grateful that they had some sort of protection.
His mouth ran up her torso, through her breasts and the side of her neck before landing back on her lips. She moaned in pleasure as she felt Nathan's hardness pressed up against her. She couldn't take it any longer, she needed him inside of her. She spread her legs further, letting him know exactly what she wanted.
He ran his hands through her wet hair and then held her cheek. Pressing his forehead against hers; "Tell me you need me." He said softly. She only responded by kissing him. "Tell me you need me." He said with a little bit more force as he pressed his erection against her entrance, taunting her.
"I need you." She moaned.
"Tell me you want me." He whispered, grazing the tip of his erection against her wetness.
"I want you." She said almost breathless. She tried to press her hips more towards him but he moved back in response. His forehead remained on hers and she opened her eyes to see him staring right into her.
"I want you.." she repeated, her eyes never leaving his and her mouth trembling.. "I want you Nathan.. God Nathan.. I need you.."
"Tell me you love me." He said softly, his lips grazing her and slightly moving his hips forward towards hers.
She wanted him so badly at that moment. Still staring into his eyes, she gave herself up to him. Their futures were uncertain, that much was for sure but she saw forever in his eyes, just like the first time she fell in love with him.
"I love you … I love you..Nathan.. don't leave me.. I love you so much.." She said desperately as she ran her hands through his wet hair, tears now rolling from her eyes, all of her emotions bubbling up to the surface. That's when Nathan finally saw it, he felt it, her last bit of hesitation and doubt waning and in that moment he knew too that she had completely and utterly given herself over to him, his heart finally set free.
"I love you too." He said as he kissed her once more and thrust his hips forward, the two, bodies now completely one. Her legs wrapped around his waist as the space between their bodies closed in.
"I love you."
To Be Continued . . .
I worked through 11 chapters for this moment and hopefully it showed, especially after so many rewrites. Please leave your reviews!!