Chapter 16: A Tree Hill Raven knows that sweating the small stuff won't get you anywhere. But sweating the small stuff together… that could.
After class that day, Haley mumbled some excuse to Nathan about not feeling so well then made her way over to her dorm room. Stopping two floors short of her own, she made her way to the last room and knocked.
"Well if it isn't little Miss Rags-to-Riches," a busty redhead cooed.
"Excuse me?" Haley questioned, anger in dancing in her eyes.
"You heard me. What is Nathan like your sugar daddy or something? I mean why else would he be dating someone like you. You know, someone who's not that special, has no style, and is like a walking add for Walmart."
"You know what Rachel – actually, I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to not waist my breath on your conceited ass. Now do me a favor and get GiGi. That's the only reason I would set foot outside your door," Haley huffed out.
"Funny, Nathan used to only come to my door for one reason too… but it wasn't that."
"Just get GiGi please. Your voice makes me want to vomit."
"Sorry can't. She's not here."
"Are you kidding me? That's five minutes of my day lost because of you. Whatever," Haley sighed to herself before briskly making her way back down the hallway. Not wanting to return to her dorm room where Peyton and Brooke where, and unable to go to her swing because Nathan would see her, Haley walked to a place Jake had shown her.
She crossed the grass down by the lake and made her way over to the other side of the boating shed, making her easily obscured from view from anyone passing because of all the canoes and trees around her. Taking her shoes off, she dipped her toes and the cool sand and laid back, the suns rays falling across her body.
After a while of just laying there, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a familiar number. Several rings went by and she was about to hang up when someone finally answered.
"Hello?" The woman asked.
"Hey Mom! It's me."
"Oh Haley-bop! I was just thinking about you. How's school? You know Winter break is coming up."
"I'm good Mom," Haley stated, a little sigh escaping her lips.
"Honey what's wrong?"
"Nothing Mom. Why would you say that?"
"I'm your mother Haley. And having four children before you gave me a lot of experience with emotion. Tell me what's going on Sweety," her mother urged.
"Well, I have a boyfriend…"
"A boyfriend? My Haley has her first boyfriend! Honey what's wrong with that? And is he cute? What's his name?"
Haley laughs to herself before speaking into the phone. "His name is Nathan Scott and yes, he's very cute. He's got the body of a Greek god. But it's not him I have a problem with. Some people just don't, I don't know, accept me with him. And today we got assigned this project but it has to do with family and…"
"Oh Haley…"
"I'm just not ready to share all that Mom. I've met some really great people and I don't want to scare them off or have them look at me differently. I want to be just Haley no attachments, you know?"
"I understand honey. I'm so sorry. But, just think, if they're truly your friends they won't see you differently."
"As much as I'd like to believe that, something like this does change everything."
"I have faith in you Haley. Don't worry about them, just tell them when you're ready. You're not being rushed."
"I know Mom. I'm just so overwhelmed I guess," Haley stated, tears rimming her eyes. "I wanted to get away and yet it's like this ghost that constantly haunts."
"I'm so sorry honey. You have to know that. And your father, he's sorry too."
"Not as sorry as I am. But, I've got to go. I just wanted to talk to you, someone who would understand. I love you Mom, you know that right?"
"Of course. And I love you too Haley-bop," Lydia James cooes into the phone. "And I'm excited to have you coming home kiddo. We can visit your father."
"Yeah…" Haley stated, trailing off. "Goodbye Mom."
And with that she hung up the phone and continued to lay on the soothing sand, silent tears streaming her face. Family was a big part of Haley's life, but also a big issue. Something she continued to try and run from, but eventually would have to share. It seems the time to share has come sooner rather than later for her.
By the time Haley was done with her thoughts it was approaching dinner time, so she made a quick run for her room, thankful no one was there to question where she had been as she changed into her uniform and then made her way over to formal dinner. As she approached the steps, she felt a large hand grab her and pull her behind a column, a chaste kiss placed atop her recently glossed lips.
"Nathan," Haley giggled.
"What I missed you," he said innocently, blinking his beautiful blue eyes. "Besides, how can you put on those yummy glosses and not that I'll want to kiss you."
"Who says I don't put them on as a trick for you to kiss me, eh?" Haley laughed.
"What a wise woman you are," he joked, before dipping his head down for a kiss.
"Why thank you! But let's go inside I'm starving."
"Yeah me too, but not for food," he stated huskily, his eyebrows wiggling.
"Down boy," Haley giggled to herself. "A girl needs food to keep up with all your energy."
"Speaking of which, you seem much better than after class before. Were you sick or something?"
"Yeah, something like that. But I'm fine now, soon I'll be some angry oger woman you wouldn't want to meet though if I don't get some food in my stomach!"
"Well we wouldn't want that," Nathan stated before grabbing her hand and pulling her into the dining hall behind him. Making their way to the food line, both piling their plates high, Haley's a little more-so then Nathan's, they then went over to their table where everyone was already seated.
"And so they decide to come," Lucas sighs.
"Dude, looks like you owe me five bucks!" Jake squealed, causing the girls next to them to laugh.
"You bet on us?" Haley asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well Lucas thought you wouldn't come."
"Yep, he figured you'd be canoodling or something," Brooke stated.
"Brooke!" Lucas yelled.
"What? You said it!"
"Well anyway. Then Jake said you'd be here and it wasn't like that," Peyton stated. "So then Lucas made a wager and here we are. Lucas five bucks into debt and you two sitting at the table with us."
"Interesting…" Haley stated, giving them a quizzical look before shoveling some food into her mouth.
"Yeah, very." Nathan stated, before turning to Lucas. "Okay two things. 1) How gay are you to be using the word canoodling and 2) I'm going to chop your balls off if you keep making bets on my sex life."
"Wait!" Brooke squealed. "You guys have a sex life?"
"What- no!" Haley screamed.
"Not yet at least…" Nathan stated with a sheepish grin.
"Okay can we please change the subject?" Haley pleaded, her face a vibrant red.
"I think that would be for the best," Peyton laughed. "So about those flour babies…"
"God that assignment makes me want to swear off kids just thinking about it. All the dumb crap we have to do, and those damn flour babies! As if my backpack wasn't enough weight."
"Thank you Lucas, you never fail to give us a complaint," Nathan laughed as did everyone else.
"Yo, shut up. Do you seriously like this project? Let's list all the ways Dad has been such a great parental figure…"
"Hey, I never said that. I'm just not complaining like a baby."
"Whatever, you will be," Lucas brushed off, stopping when he say Dean Hargrove approach the podium.
"Hello all," he boomed into the microphone. "And welcome to yet another one of our lovely formal dinners. You do know what that means, right?" A loud groan quickly following his last words. "Etiquette lessons!"
"Yipee!" Lucas stated sarcastically, an eye roll ensuing shortly after.
"But I've got a special treat for you guys, tonight we will take a short break from our recent lessons on table manners and proper conversation, and have some fun. As you all know, this Friday is not only the distribution of flour babies, but our annual square dance which happens the first Friday in December as we welcome winter and say goodbye to fall. Well, in order to that we must learn how to square dance so tonight we are going to have ourselves a little ho-down."
"Oh god," Peyton stated rolling her eyes. "This is not my idea of fun."
"Oh cheer up P. Sawyer. This won't be that bad! Just think… learning which spoon to use or dancing with a guy."
"Hmm… I guess you're right. You always can put that right perspective on things Brooke."
"Thanks, I try," Brooke stated laughing.
Meanwhile, beside them, Haley groaned. "Haley what's wrong?"
"Do you not remember our last dance? Didn't quite end well and I still have two left feet."
"Oh come on. You weren't that bad. And besides, you're mine now so there's no need to pout," he smiled.
"Okay fine. But I still have two left feet," she groaned.
"And I have two right so we're perfect," he grinned, happy when a smirk played across her face.
"You are quite the sweet talker Mr. Scott."
"Only to you," he laughed before placing a kiss on her cheek, pulling back just as Dean Hargrove began to speak again.
"Now, please clean up your trays and push your tables towards the sides of the rooms so we can begin," he cheered, eagerly awaiting the student to comply. After about fifteen minutes, when the tables were finally cleared and the dance moves were shown, the students were put into groups of three pairs. Lucas, Peyton, Jake and Brooke all ended up in a group, but Nathan and Haley got separated. Instead they were placed with Nathan's roommate Tim, a fellow basketball player Vegas, GiGi, and much to their un-luck, Rachel.
As they got into their places for the dance to begin, Haley couldn't help but give Rachel a bit of an evil eye. Starting off with Nathan, she twirled and turned, skipped and hop, laughing at how ridiculous they both looked. She had to say though, it was fun to be doing this with Nathan. However, soon it was time to switch to the next person in the square, which much to his dismay, left Nathan with Rachel.
The dance this time was much more a hassle than a light-hearted affair. Between skips and twirls Rachel finally spoke. "Come on Nathan, loosen up. You're so tense."
"Maybe I just don't want to do this."
"Well there are other things we could do if you're bored," Rachel giggled, giving him a seductive look as they linked arms.
"No. God, Rachel. How many times to I have to say no until you realize I don't want you?"
"As many "no's" it takes for you to say yes," she replied, turning to look at him, her eyes sparkling with want.
"Rachel I have a girlfriend. I'm not doing this."
"Please Nathan, you don't actually like her? I though it was just a pity thing. She's not exactly your type. I'm your type," Rachel cooed into his ear.
"You know what Rachel. Newsflash, you're not my type. Did we ever date? Hell no. We hooked up a couple times but that's it. If you want me type, look about five feet to your left so do me a favor a but some fucking ice on it," Nathan hissed before pulling out of her grasp and exiting the dining hall as everyone was cued to switch partners again.
Haley watched as Nathan bolted out of there before walking over to Rachel, and pulling her aside. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"None of your business," Rachel hissed. "I was just giving him some options."
"You know, I knew there was a reason they called this a hoe-down," Haley spat bitterly. "Just do me a favor and leave him alone. He doesn't want you Rachel." She continued, before turning on her heel and hurrying out to find Nathan.
Knowing where he'd be headed, Haley made her way out to the basketball court behind the dorms but found it empty with no sign of Nathan in site. Not sure where else he would go, and not wanted to return to the dining hall, she made her way up to her room.
As Haley opened the door and flicked on the lights, she was startled to find a figure sitting on her bed. "I figured you'd get here eventually," they stated, a small smile on their face.
"Geez Nathan! You scared the bejesus out of me!" Haley giggled. "But I'm glad it was you in here then some psycho killer.
"Yeah, me too," he stated, getting up from his spot on the bed and pulling her into his arms, his head leaning down to kiss her just before Haley pulls back.
"Not that I don't want to kiss you," Haley grinned, "but why did you storm out of there?"
"Rachel was being well Rachel. And as much as I try to just brush her off she has this way of hitting my nerves."
"You're not the only one," Haley stated sarcastically.
"She says stuff to you too?" Nathan asked concerned. "I mean, even after that one time we all told her off."
"Yeah, but I just brush it off. It's really no big deal," she shrugged.
"It's a big deal to me. I don't want her pestering you because seeing you upset is not what I want. I want to see you happy."
"Well, you make me happy so be proud," Haley stated, pulling him closer.
"Oh, don't worry, I am," Nathan smirked before kissing her passionately on the lips, each of them not wanting to pull back for air.
"You know we have to stop running out of etiquette lessons where we have to dance," Haley giggled as she looked up at Nathan.
"Well, if every time one of us rushes out of a dance and it ends like this… I we'll be okay," he joked, pulling her up to meet his lips.
"And I think I'm just going to have to agree," Haley laughed, before resting her head on his chest, feeling so right in his arms. This is what she wanted. She wanted happiness. Pure happiness with no string attached. And right now that is what she was going to care about: being happy. Petty comments spurred by jealousy and family problems were not going to haunt her. She came to Tree Hill Prep to be happy and Nathan was just the person to help her do it.
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