Chapter 2: A Tree Hill Raven never stares, no matter how enticing a person –err, something can be.
After hailing a cab with GiGi, Haley found herself staring at the main courtyard of Tree Hill Prep. Fellow students and parents were bustling about, trying to find their rooms and other various things, so Haley and GiGi decided to join them, making their way to the check in table.
"Names?" An elderly woman asked.
"Haley James," Haley began.
"-and GiGi Sylvares," GiGi finished.
"Okay, very well. Here's your room assignments; non-changeable," she muttered before ushering them out of line.
"So, where's your room?" GiGi questioned.
"Um… Camilla Building. Room 323."
"Sweet, that's my building too. I'm Room 201 on the floor below you."
"At least we're in the same building though. Speaking of which, do you have any idea how to get there?"
"Yep, follow me," GiGi said picking up her bags as Haley did the same, following her in tow. After about a ten-minute walk, obviously slower from all their bags, the girls were met by a large stone building. It was old, yet not run-down looking; instead it looked rather prestigious. On the outside, ivy curled its way between the stones and around a white lattice that scaled up the building. Perfectly cut hedges were strategically placed in the front with small white and blue flowers scattered in front of them. Next to the front door was THP's official flag, a center line cutting it diagonally in half, one side being royal blue and the other being white, a black raven displayed in the middle. As the wind kicked up a bit, for it was the beginning of September, the flag flowed with the breeze.
"Here we are," GiGi stated. "This is the dorm I was in last year. It's pretty nice."
"Nice? This place is gorgeous," Haley breathed.
"Just wait until you see the inside," GiGi continued. As they entered the front door the girls were met by a wood interior and white carpeting; royal blue couches were placed in what seemed to be a living area with a large TV and bookshelves on both sides. A large wood staircase was placed in the middle, of which the girls began to walk up. After the first flight, GiGi noted that this was her floor and that Haley should just continue up another flight and her room would be down on the far end. Making her way up the stairs, Haley had finally made it to the third and final floor. And sure enough, like GiGi had predicted, her room was at the end.
As she made her way down the hall, Haley could hear a familiar voice in the distance. She wasn't quite sure who it was, but she knew she'd heard that distinct voice before. The voice became closer and closer as she neared her room. So close now, in fact, that she could hear the conversation.
"-and then tacky girl had the nerve to correct me. She spoke in syllables as if I were some airhead. And mind you it was some horrid name like Helen or Harriet or something. Let's just hope you don't ever, and I don't ever again have to encounter her. I mean seriously, the girl would not know if Kate Spade handbag hit her in the face."
Click. And just like that, the light bulb went on in Haley's head. Brooke Davis. Sure enough as she stood in the doorway of room 323, her room, she was staring at the figure of Brooke-freaking-Davis.
"Oh no," Haley gasped, unaware she had even spoken.
"Oh yes, here Peyton. This is the one I was talking about. What do you want tacky girl?" Brooke asked annoyed.
"Um, it's Haley. And this uh, this is my room."
"No it's not because it's mine."
"Well, then I guess you're my new roommate, because this is most definitely my room. Number 323 right?"
"Un-freaking-believable. I seriously think that room assignments has like ESP or something and purposely tries to ruin my life."
"I'm sure that's not true," Peyton muttered from her bed.
"And also, I think you mean psychic Brooke. ESP has nothing to do with being able to see the future," Haley chimed in.
"Whatever TG, you knew what I meant. Now, can't you find a different room to stay in?"
"TG?" Peyton and Haley asked in unison.
"Tacky Girl, duh."
"Oh, well anyway, the woman told me these room assignments were un-changeable."
"Well, consider it changed because I'm Brooke Davis and I get what I want. Besides this room is only meant for two."
"Brooke it's-" Peyton began.
"-only meant for two," Brooke seethed. "Now excuse me while I figure this out." She continued before huffing down the hallway.
"Well isn't she the happy camper," Haley stated sarcastically, fighting not to roll her eyes.
"She's not like that all the time you know. She just puts up a front," Peyton remarked.
"Yeah, a cold front," Haley retorted.
"Look, I know you and Brooke got off on a bad foot, but that doesn't mean me and you have to. I'm Peyton Sawyer," she stated, holding out her hand.
"Haley James," Haley replied, taking Peyton's hand and shaking it after she put her bags down. "So you're not friends with Brooke?"
"Oh no, I am. Best friends in fact. I'm just saying, once you get to know Brooke she's a good person. She can act like a bitch sometimes but it's all a façade. She has a good heart."
"I guess I'll take your word for it, but I have yet to see it."
"Maybe if you gave her a chance then you will."
"We'll see," Haley stated simply.
"So, meet anyone else on your way to Tree Hill Prep?"
"Yes actually. GiGi Sylvares."
"Oh, I know her, she was my roommate last year. We were never like, best buds, but she was a pretty cool kid."
"So it seems."
"Excuse me for a minute, I have to go call my dad and let him know I made it here okay," Peyton replied before exiting the room. The time alone finally gave Haley a chance to examine the room. It was bigger than the others on the floor because it was a suite, meant to fit three rather than two. In three of the four corners, a bed was perched, the other of course housed the door to their bathroom. While one of the beds was left bare, of which of course was Haley's, the other two and the space around it were decorated accordingly. What seemed to be Brooke's corner of the room house a pink and white polka-dotted comforter with leopard print sheets, a chair in the shape of a high-heel, and a picture board of her and random people. Peyton's corner was a little less pink and a little more black. Her comforter was checkered and posters of her favorite band could be found on the wall. It also seemed if she had a chest full of art supplies of some sort.
After finally taking it all in, Haley placed her bags atop her bed and then took a seat on it, dialing her mom's cell phone number.
"Hello," Lydia chirped on the other end.
"Mom? It's Haley."
"Oh Haley-bop! I was afraid you wouldn't call," she cooed from the other end.
"Don't worry I wouldn't forget. So how's uh-"
"He's as good as can be," Lydia quickly stated. "But more about you Haley. Have you met anyone new?"
"Three people actually. Two of which I met on the plane. And one of them is my roommate."
"Oh that's great honey!"
"Yeah… I guess it is," Haley stated walking towards the window of the room to admire the scenery. As she continued talking to her mother about her trip, Haley's eyes wondered outside to a large tree found just behind her building with one sole swing hanging from one of its branches as the others loomed over a basketball court. Several boys were playing on it, one of which caught Haley's eye. His features were different then the other blonde surfer-looking boys; he had dark hair and from what she could tell, a rockin' body. Deciding she should scope out some of the campus, Haley ended the phone call with her mom, making sure she remembered to say "I love you" and "I miss you," then made her way out of the room.
Coincidently, or purposely, Haley didn't know, she found herself behind her housing building, sitting on that very swing she had been looking at just moments ago, and staring, or at least trying not to, at the boy she had been doing just the same to from her bedroom window. As she pumped her knees up and down on the swing, she watched out of the corner of her for that boy. And now, after gaining a closer look, she saw he had the most startling blue eyes she had ever seen. Although she didn't notice, one by one, the boys on the court left leaving only the dark haired boy; aimlessly shooting baskets into the hoop. And in her sideways glance, contemplative trance, Haley was completely oblivious to the fact the boy had stopped playing basketball and was now in fact also staring at her.
"You can stop staring at me now," he stated, a smirk coming across his face as he visibly saw Haley snap out of her thoughts.
"Wh-what-uh, what?" She stammered.
"You were staring at me."
"No I was not!"
"Yes you were. But it's okay, I get it a lot."
"Wow, you have an extremely large ego."
"Maybe so, but I know for a fact you were staring at me."
"I was not. Maybe I casually glanced over at you boys playing basketball since there isn't much to look at on this swing other than the stonewall of the building or the basketball court but I was never staring at just well, you," Haley huffed, her face now blushed twice over, the color of the red flowers on her poncho.
"If that's your story," he stated with his smirk still plastered across his face as he took a step forward. "What's your name?"
"Haley."
"Haley…"
"Just Haley. And yours?"
"Nathan, but unlike you I have a last name… Scott."
"Well Nathan Scott," Haley stated gazing over at him as she got up from the swing. "I must be going."
"Of course. Maybe I'll see you around?" He questioned.
"We'll see," she said smiling before making her way back toward the building; inwardly scolding herself for being caught drooling all over his glorious features.
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