Nathan had tried to insist on driving her home. After declining repeatedly, he'd simply shot her an annoyed look and left with Tim.

Haley loved walking. Her friends made fun of her for it, but there was nothing she loved more than walking home barefoot in the rain. Walking was a great excuse to get out, to get some fresh air. It was also good exercise, as she didn't get enough of that during her cheer practices.

Her phone buzzed.

Don't come crying to me if you get abducted because you're too stubborn to accept the ride that I so kindly offered you.

Haley laughed. It was just like Nathan to take something so simple so personally. It was a fault of his, but she loved him just the same.

Aww, c'mon, Scott. You know the only reason you offered to drive me home is because you wanted to spend more time with me...(;

She was pushing the limit, but for some reason, she didn't care. Maybe it was because they were texting, and he couldn't tease her for the way she was smiling, or the blush that had once again graced her cheeks.

When you're right, you're right, Hayles. :)

"Oh!" Haley blurted out as she collided into the stranger. "I am so sorry... This was my... Are you okay? I'm sorry! I should have been watching where I was going!"

"I'm fine." Julian replied coldly.

She froze, torn between listening to Nathan's earlier rant about how the new boy was now public enemy number one, and feeling guilty because it had been her fault.

"You're Haley James, right?" He asked, holding his hand out. "I'm Julian Baker... We sort of met earlier."

"I'm sorry..." Haley began. "I'm best friends with Lucas... And Nathan..."

Julian laughed. "Well, then, I'm sorry too."

While she found his comment to be slightly backhanded, she understood where he was coming for. Nathan Scott was known for, and prone to bad reactions when it came to the people he cared about.

Haley sighed and shook his hand. It was the least she could do, after her best friend had overreacted to a total accident, and she had almost sent him to the sidewalk.

"So." Julian followed along beside her. "Word on the street is that you're Tree Hill's best tutor... I was thinking of signing up to offer my services as well."

"Oh yeah?" Haley replied distractedly. She was too busy looking over her shoulder to process his words. It would be just her luck that Nathan, or Lucas, or one of the other guys on the team to see her talking to him.

If she was being watched, then surly, word would get back to Nathan. The last thing she needed was for him to get in a fight because of her.

"I also heard that you're most likely going to be valedictorian."

She shrugged. Her friends were all rooting for her, and secretly, she had been planning her speech since the 8th grade. Lucas was the only one who knew about it, because he'd snooped through her desk when she'd made the mistake of leaving him alone in her room. She'd smacked him, and punched him, and then she'd threatened to beat him up if he ever mentioned it to anyone.

So far, his lips had remained sealed.

"I'm hoping." Haley admitted, glancing down at her phone. Nathan hadn't texted back, he was most likely driving.

Haley James wasn't anything like he'd expected. He'd already labeled Brooke, and Peyton as followers. In the presence of the Scott Brothers, they acted as if he didn't exist, but there he was, having an actual conversation with one of the most popular girls in school, and she was actually being nice.

"I don't get it." Julian muttered after a few moments of silence. "I just don't get it, Haley."

"Don't get what?" She asked, readjusting the strap of her gym back across her right shoulder.

'You."

Haley raised an eye brow. "Me? What about me?"

"You're smart." Julian pointed out. "You're like, the smartest girl at Tree Hill, right? Then how are you popular? Pompoms and textbooks don't mix. You shouldn't be in that crowd, and neither should Marvin... Mouth, whatever his name is. My point is, you don't fit into that group. So how the hell are you popular?"

Haley reeled back as if he'd slapped her, tears welling in her eyes. It wasn't like she hadn't questioned it herself, but who the hell was he to point it out?

"Shit..." Julian muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Hey, I'm sorry... I didn't mean it like that..."

"Haley?"

Tires screeched, and angry shouts could be heard from a mile away as Nathan Scott left his car in the middle of the road, keys still in ignition.

"Hales?" He asked quietly, jogging to get to her. He reached out, brushing his thumb across her cheek to collect a few stray tears.

"Haley." Nathan said again, his tone even. "What's wrong? Why are you... You. What the hell did you say to her, huh?"

He shoved Julian, raising his arm.

"Nathan!" Haley snapped, grabbing him. "Nathan! Hey! He's not worth it, okay? Let it go!"

"Yeah." Julian mocked. He was growing tired of Nathan Scott always coming to the rescue. "It's not worth it, Nathan."

Nathan's fingers locked around her wrist. "You're lucky."

Tim suddenly appeared out of nowhere, punching the new boy before either one of then could react. "You ain't that lucky."

He reached out to rest a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder, unsure of what to say. There was no way that he'd allow her to walk home, with tears streaming down her face. Even if he had to throw her over his shoulder and carry her.

"Tim?"

"Do what you gotta do, Nate."

Nathan pulled on Haley's hand, leading her back to his car. He held the door open for her, letting it fall shut before sliding behind the wheel.

The new kid was really getting on his nerves.

Nathan listened to her sobs as they began to die down. His jaw tightened as his hand wrapped around the gear shift. Julian had tripped Peyton, he'd made Haley cry, he was asking for it. He pulled out back out into traffic, his thoughts full of ways to make new boy Julian Baker pay.

No one messed with one of Nathan Scott's girls and got away with it.