Author note: Thanks to everyone who has been reading up until now, really appreciate it. If there's any questions let me know and any comments, likes, dislikes, anything at all. Hope everyone is enjoying the portrayal of the characters and of Jack, the new character in the story. So off to the next chapter...

Chapter 25

General POV

Haley woke to the sound of knocking coming from outside her room. She did her best to ignore it, choosing to stay in the comfortable embrace of her husband as they slept. They'd have school soon and she wanted to make the most of it before she woke.

The knocking persisted as she groaned in frustration. Looking back at Nathan, she envied the fact that he'd yet to hear the repetitive sound.

Getting up slowly, Haley made her way towards the front door, passing the empty make shift bed she'd made for Quinn on the sofa.

"Quinn is that you?" She called out. She wondered what her sister was doing outside the house so early.

"It's us Tutor wife," Brooke called out. She was getting impatient behind the door. "Can you open up it's important."

Haley opened the door as both Brooke and Peyton walked in with purpose, or at least Brooke did. Peyton had a pair of huge glasses covering her face as she collapsed onto Quinn's bed.

"What's up with you?" Haley questioned, seeing Peyton's mood.

"I'm exhausted," Peyton yawned. She eyed her best friend. "This one's on a mission and it involved waking me up earlier then need be."

"Now you know how it feels," "Brooke reminded. Turning to Haley, she remembered why they were here. "I need you to join the cheer team."

Haley eyed the two before turning to her kitchen. "I must be dreaming. There's no way you guys came to my house this early to tell me something like that."

"Haley please," Brooke pleaded, hot on her tail. "If you don't join then I'll have to settle for girls who aren't qualified. My team has standards. I can't be giving pom poms to every girl who wants it."

"So they learn," Haley countered, remembering her short but grueling lessons. "I did."

"Peyton help me out," Brooke turned to her friend who returned with an inappropriate hand gesture. "See what I'm working with. I got this one who's constantly rebelling, I got some hooker from Vegas, Bevin's who's one knock on the head from forgetting the entire routine, and a bunch of girls who couldn't learn a handstand if it smacked them in the face. I need you."

"We've got a hooker from Vegas?" Haley asked with a smirk.

Brooke rolled her eyes as she grabbed hold of her friend's hand. "Please, I'm begging you. You'll get to cheer on Nathan, and hang out with us, and go on road trips. It'll be fun."

"You know you have no choice," Peyton mumbled from the couch. She didn't bother looking at them as she tried to relax. "Might as well say yes."

"Fine," Haley sighed, watching as the brunette pulled her into a happy hug. She smiled back, happy to see her friend in such a good mood. "You owe me."

"Absolutely," Brooke agreed.

Haley made a mental note of that. She'd cash in later when the time came. Realizing what she'd agreed to, Haley was about to call Nathan over when she spotted Quinn coming out of the bathroom.

"Hey there you are," Haley said. She watched as her sister nodded a little towards her. Alarm bells went off in her head, something was wrong. "Quinn what's wrong?"

Quinn collapsed onto the sofa near Peyton, wishing everyone would just go away. It was bad enough she couldn't sleep without thinking about it, now she'd endure the others asking questions.

Her little sister quickly planted herself beside her as she looked at her with concern written all over her face.

"Quinn what's wrong?" Haley asked again. She knew her sister well enough to recognize that face. Something bad had happened. "Do you not feel well?"

Looking up, Quinn noticed that even Haley's friends looked at her with concern. She really should have booked a hotel.

"I'm fine," She whispered, smiling faintly at her sister. "I'm not sick."

"Is this about yesterday?" Haley asked once more. She'd been beyond curious but she was asleep by the time Quinn had got home. "Did something happen? Did Jack hurt you?"

"What! No!" Quinn quickly said, thinking how wrong that comment was. She knew her sister didn't mean it but was just being cautious. "He didn't hurt me."

"But something did happen," Haley stated.

She really wished she was alone with Haley, but couldn't exactly ask Brooke and Peyton to leave. Besides, whatever she did say would eventually be passed around eventually.

Sighing, she relented. "We had sex."

The room stayed quiet as the three girls tried to process what Quinn had just said. It wasn't unheard of to hear about two people doing that when both had an interest in one another, it was just odd hearing it from the people in question.

Brooke and Peyton didn't know Quinn well enough to know if she'd ever done that before, but Haley did. Her sister wasn't shy about sex, she was nearly 21, but she wasn't their older sister Taylor when it came to first dates.

Then add Jack into that equation, and none of it made sense.

"What happened?" Haley said quietly, trying her best to understand the situation.

Quinn shrugged. "We were sparring, telling each other things we didn't know about one another, and I kissed him."

"Hold up sparring?" Brooke asked, a little confused. She hated interrupting but she was curious.

Quinn smiled a little. "I showed him the old boxing ring in the gym and we fought."

"Can't say I ever heard that," Peyton whistled. She was fully awake now.

"Then what happened," Haley pressed.

"Then we had sex," Quinn finished.

Haley choked back a couch, seeing Peyton smiling from the corner of her eye. "In the ring? You guys did it there?"

Blushing, Quinn nodded. "It was a spur of the moment. It's not like we planned it."

"Sounds more like a porno," Brooke whispered.

Peyton held back a laugh as Haley ignored the two. "So what's wrong?"

Quinn shuttered, remembering the moment. It'd been a daze but she'd never forget the face Jack had when they'd realized what they'd done.

"His face," Quinn whispered, remembering the sight. "He looked terrified Hales. Like it was the biggest mistake of his life."

Haley felt terrible for her sister, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sure that's not the case. Maybe you were seeing things. Maybe it was his first time and he was nervous."

"It wasn't his first time," Quinn admitted, thinking back to it. She blushed again lightly. "It definitely wasn't his first time."

"That good?" Brooke asked, extremely curious. She hadn't been intimate in ages, so she got a kick out of hearing this.

Haley was about to scold Brooke before she noticed her sisters guilty smile. "Really?"

Quinn noticed the eager looks from all three. They'd probably all been wondering since she admitted it. "Yes okay. It was amazing."

Peyton laughed from her seat before reading the situation. "Sorry. But I don't get it, if you guys had 'amazing' sex, then what's the problem."

Quinn tossed her hands up. "I wish I knew. All I know is, afterwards he drove me home, walked me to my door, said goodnight and that was it. We barely said anything afterwards and he couldn't look me in the eye. I screwed up, and now I'm leaving and I don't even know what I did wrong."

"Well you did him," Brooke mumbled, catching another glare from Haley. "Sorry bad joke."

Haley didn't know how to help her sister, she'd never been in a position like this, but she did know who could help.

"Go talk to him Quinn," Haley urged. She eyed the clock in the kitchen. "You have to be at the airport soon, don't leave things like this."

"You don't think I want to?" Quinn said looking at her sister. "I'd wanted to all morning. All night. I just don't know what to say."

"We don't know either," Peyton admitted, thinking of best-case scenario. "But Haley's right, don't leave it like this."

She appreciated the moral support of the girls, but Quinn still felt clueless. It was a horrible feeling; one she knew would last if she didn't get any real answers. That look would haunt her if she left things the way they were.

Feeling as if there were no last resort, Quinn nodded, before getting up and out the door. The three girls followed swiftly, leaning outside Haley's door peering down the hall wondering what would happen.

"It isn't helping with you three staring," Quinn mumbled as she knocked on the door.

Brooke shrugged. "Pretend we aren't here."

Quinn rolled her eyes as she knocked again. It was almost 7:30, but she knew Jack was up. He'd told her he was always an early riser. Though waiting outside she'd almost wished she didn't know. She would have felt better knowing that he wasn't purposely ignoring her.

"What are you girls doing?" Nathan surprised all four of them as he stepped outside ready to workout.

"A little heads up next time," Brooke demanded.

Nathan nodded confused before looking out towards Quinn's direction. "Ah he's not there Quinn."

"What? How do you know?" Haley asked. Nathan had literally just woken up.

Pointing towards the parking lot, Nathan explained. "Whitey told me yesterday he was meeting Jack in the morning. Cars already gone."

"Damn."

Jack POV

The campus was still quiet as Jack walked into the gym that morning. He'd totally forgotten about the meeting he had with Whitey and had come very close to just skipping it all together.

Yet Nathan and explained horror stories about upsetting the old man so Jack thought he'd best get his ass into gear that morning. To say he was having a rough morning would be an understatement, but he wouldn't piss Whitey off because of his stupid mistakes.

Walking into the familiar gym, he got a flash of yesterday. It'd been fun up until he screwed it up, and now he was reminded of it as he passed the door towards the ring.

Trying to think of anything else, his mind wandered to the fact that he was meeting the basketball coach for some strange reason. He hadn't scheduled it, only thing he knew was Lucas told him coach was looking for him yesterday and 10 minutes later he was agreeing to a meet.

Hopefully he hadn't broken one of the machines in the training room. Last thing he needed was a bill of something he couldn't afford. He'd yet to find a job, so money was scarce.

Stopping in front of the tiny office inside the locker room, Jack saw that Whitey was inside waiting. They spotted each other right away as the older man singled for him to come in.

"Hey coach," Jack took the seat across from the man who nodded.

"How was your night?" Whitey grunted.

Jack mentally rolled his eyes. He was being questioned about his dating life by even the damn coach of the basketball team.

"It was fine," Jack answered quietly. "Thanks for the gym."

"Well half expected the place to be burnt down by the time I got here so that's a welcome sight," Whitey replied with a lazy smile. "So Keith tells me you're looking for a job."

"Glad to see my life makes front page in the Tree Hill paper," Jack said with a hint of annoyance. He didn't mean to sound rude but it was that kind of a morning. "Sorry."

"You got spunk," Whitey stated. He pointed towards the empty locker room behind Jack. "Your brothers, god bless them, have that too. Can't say it's been smooth sailing the entire time, but you Scotts are a tough group I'll give you that. Been busting my ass for two generations."

He wasn't sure what to say as the old man continued.

"Guy who cleans this place quit a few days ago," Whitey explained. "Didn't know him very well but he cleaned this place and he cleaned it well."

"A janitor," Jack summed up.

"Strictly the gym," Whitey continued. "The court, the halls, the changing rooms, training room, stuff like that."

Jack understood. "You want me to clean your gyms?"

"I don't want anything," Whitey said seriously. "It's you who needs a job. Figured you'd might be interested."

It wasn't the best of jobs, but not the worst Jack had done in the past. "What could the hours possibly be? This place isn't very big. An hour, two tops?"

"You know what's a perk from my job?" Whitey stood from his seat as he walked slowly towards the door. Peering his eyes outside, he continued. "I don't pay squat to the people I hire. That's the schools problem."

"What are you saying?"

"You'll start at the end of the last bell and finish at 9," Whitey explained. "That's about 5 hours."

"You really think someone's going to believe that I'm cleaning this place for 5 hours?"

"They will if it's coming from me," Whitey answered. "Now don't expect any freebies, you'll do your job, and do it well, and when it's over you'll make some money."

Jack could understand why so many turned to Whitey in their need for help. He didn't even know the guy well and here he was offering him a pretty great deal.

Looking around the gym, he thought of worst ways to get paid. Here he could be alone, do his work, maybe train a little longer, and get paid for it.

"What's the catch," Jack asked, getting up.

Whitey smiled lightly. "Some people are just trying to help others son. I'll see you after school."

Jack laughed a little before thanking him. As he left the office, he felt relief pass over him. He'd done the last thing he promised Ed. Now he could start to earn some actual money.

He felt a buzzing in his pocket as he quickly pulled out his phone and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey." It was Lucas. "How was Whitey?"

Jack looked back to see the man in the office. "Good actually. Gave me a job."

"You're not are newest mascot are you?" Lucas laughed.

"I'd go back to living in my car before that," Jack joked, hearing another laugh. He stepped outside wondering what he should do. "So what's up?"

Jack heard another voice before Lucas spoke. "I'm with Haley, she just wanted to let you know that Quinn was dropping by the school to say bye before leaving. So be on the look out."

Jack only heard half the answer when he spotted the girl in question leaning by his car. He mumbled a goodbye before closing his phone. Lucas could have still been talking but his head was already miles away.

It felt like years had passed since he'd seen her as he walked towards her. Images of kissing and touching and panting passed his mind, reminding him of yesterday. She must have been so confused, Jack thought.

"Hey," He said quietly, as he approached her. He watched as that amazing smile came out for a second before dropping. "All packed up?"

Quinn nodded. "Didn't come with very much."

"Guess not," Jack noticed.

The two stood quietly staring down one another. So many things to say, but neither knew how too. They almost felt frozen in place.

"You say bye to Haley?" Jack asked, trying his best to act normal. He could see the pain he was causing her, avoiding the subject. He'd done it yesterday and now he was doing it again. "I…I'm sorry."

"For what?" Quinn asked, a sad smile on her face. "I kissed you."

"I know but I should have stopped it."

He could practically see the shot she took as he spoke those words.

"Was it that bad?" Quinn asked quietly, fearing for the answer.

"Of course not," Jack answered seriously, stepping a little closer to her. "That was amazing. You were amazing."

"So then why can't you look at me?" Quinn asked, trying her best not to let the last comment get to her.

He owed her the truth. It was his fault last night had happened and the best thing he could to was to put her at ease and just be honest. Yet just thinking about it, Jack wanted to break down. It was so hard to speak the words.

How could he possibly tell her everything and at the end of it expect her to feel better. It was a cold hard truth that had haunted him for so long, and because of it, he was close to hurting someone else because he wasn't strong enough to just be honest.

That had to change.

"Can you keep a secret?"

Haley POV

Haley felt miserable waiting outside the terminal as she sat with Quinn. She hated seeing her sister go, just getting used to being with her again. It wasn't fair.

"Stop pouting," Quinn looked up at her. "I'll be back soon enough. Maybe over Christmas break."

"That's too long," Haley whined. It was only two months but it felt like a year away.

"Don't be like that," Quinn laughed, pulling her sister in for a hug. "It'll fly, I promise."

"I hope so," Haley mumbled sadly into her sister's shoulder. She pulled back happy to see her smile again. "I'm glad you and Jack talked."

Haley noticed the far and away look in her sister's eye at the mention of her brother in laws name as she mumbled a 'me too'. She'd held back the entire car ride, not wanting to sound nosey. Her sister had a private life, and what she did with it was up to her. If she wanted to share, she'd listen.

That's all.

"Maybe when you get back you guys could go out again," Haley offered lightly, trying to add a joke. "Except with the boxing ring sex scene."

"That part was fun," Quinn teased, laughing at Haley's blushed state. "It's what comes after that's hard. I better go."

"Oh come here," Haley pulled her into a hug, holding on tight. "Take care of yourself Quinny."

"You too babe," Quinn whispered back to her. "Take care of Jack Haley, please."

"I don't…"

"Just watch out for him," Quinn pulled back, wiping a tear away. She smiled before grabbing her bag. "I'll call you when I land."

Haley watched as her sister left the car and disappeared into the sea of people entering the airport. She was terribly confused as her sister left, wondering what she meant.

Looking back one last time, she tried to find her sister, but couldn't. She was gone, alone again, and more confused then ever.