A/N: Wow, it's been thirteen years since I've updated this fic. To be honest, I wrote all my stories my junior and senior years of high school. I have not updated anything since I left for college in 2007, though I had grand plans to do so.
During this time of quarantine, I decided to re-read my old stories. I cringed, I laughed, I was intrigued. A whole spectrum of emotion! But at the end of the day, I decided I wanted to finish at least one. I get the most inquiries on, and am the most inspired by "A Lot Can Happen at Boarding School," so I've decided to revisit.
As you can imagine, I write differently than I did at seventeen, so please forgive the change in tone and the change in direction, but the heart of the story is in tact!
If anyone is still even reading, thank you.
...
Chapter 17: A Tree Hill Raven always leaves. But sometimes, they come back.
It'd been ten years since Graduation Day, the last time Haley James set foot in Tree Hill. She took her diploma, gave her Valedictorian speech, then ran. Everything had changed. Her first year at Tree Hill Prep was a dream – she'd formed a bubble. Real friends, a first love, she felt free. But your past always has a way of catching up.
And catch up it did. By the end of senior year, they knew everything. Her classmates, teachers, even parents. It was her hometown all over again. Her life was no longer her own, but what everyone assumed. It put cracks in the foundations of everything she'd built the previous year – her friendships, her relationship, her future – until there was barely a foundation at all.
It's all Haley could think about as her town car pulled up to the roundabout driveway of Tree Hill prep, a regal banner hung across the entrance, "Our Warmest Welcome to the Class of 2009!". As the driver pulled to a stop, Haley's heart raced. She was really back. She was doing this.
"We're here, Miss James," the driver remarks. "I'll go get your bags."
Haley takes a deep breath, her final moment of peace.
"It's just a weekend. You got this," Haley affirms. "Let's go."
Before she can grab for the handle, the car door swings open. Haley gets out, expecting to see her driver, but is met with the Cheshire-smile of Jake Jagelski.
"Haley James, am I imagining this?"
"Jake, oh my god," Haley cries, pulling him into a hug. "I can't believe it."
"Me either," he says, taking the bags from the driver.
"Oh Jake, you don't have to do that," Haley says, trying to grab her things, but Jake refuses. She then turns her attention to the driver. "Thank you so much, Raymond. I really appreciate it."
"It's my pleasure, Miss James," he smiles. "I'll be back to pick you up on Sunday. Enjoy your trip. I hear what happens at Tree Hill Prep, stays at Tree Hill Prep."
"I wish," Haley laughs, if only that were true. Jake snaps her back to reality, hooking his arm with her's. They walk to check-in at the visitor's residence hall.
"I can't believe you're back," Jake states.
"Me either," Haley says, her nerves obvious.
"I'm glad though."
"Oh yeah?" Haley asks. "What about everyone else?"
Jake goes quiet for a moment, really thinking about his answer.
"God, I might as well call Raymond to come pick me up now," Haley jokes.
"No, no!" Jake laughs. "I just, honestly? Ten years is a long time. I can guess what will happen, but I think I'd rather everyone surprise me. You did."
They make their way up the steps of the residence hall, Jake holds the door like a gentleman. Haley nods, "You were always too nice to me."
"I don't have time for grudges," Jake says. "We all make mistakes."
"Thanks Jake," Haley says as they approach the front desk of the lobby.
"Listen, I'm already checked in. I'm going to head to my room, but see you for the cocktail hour?" He says, placing her bags at her feet.
"Planning on it," Haley says just as the receptionist motions her forward.
"Don't leave me hanging, James," Jake yells as he retreats.
Haley takes a deep breath, stepping to the front desk. No turning back now.
...
Nathan Scott stood in the shower of his room, getting ready for the cocktail hour. He still could not believe he'd actually agreed to attend his high school reunion. Sure, he made a donation each year, and yeah, his dad has an endowment, but he'd vowed to never come back. Tree Hill Prep was so far in his rearview, it felt like another life.
He rubs his face, tired from a long flight. The Bobcats played in L.A. last night, and he'd come straight from the team charter to Tree Hill.
"Nate, hurry up. We've got to get down there," Rachel chirps, peaking her head into the en-suite bathroom.
Nathan's body tenses at the sound of her voice.
"You can go down without me. I'm gonna be a minute," he calls back.
"I'll wait," Rachel confirms. "Besides, it's better to show up last than first."
Nathan rolls his eyes, hearing the bathroom door close again. Rachel will always be Rachel, a point he continues to wrestle with for their current arrangement. When he was traded from Chicago to Charlotte last year, he welcomed the chance to play to at home. That was the dream.
The buzz of his return thought, finally back in North Carolina after being drafted junior year from Duke, coupled with his father's reelection campaign, made the media unbearable. He could barely leave the house to go to the arena, never mind a club or out to eat. And dating, it'd become impossible. Then came Rachel. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't seen her since high school. She modeled, was well connected, always seemed to know his schedule. If they ended up in the same city, same time, they hung out. Casual.
But being back here, on Tree Hill grounds, it felt anything but casual. He thought it wouldn't matter. He thought his "fuck it" mentality about everything that happened senior year would stick. It had for years, but as soon as they pulled through the front gates, the history he tried to outrun came crashing down.
And coming here with Rachel, was the absolute worst thing he could have done.
Nathan abruptly turns off the shower. There was no turning back now, shit.
...
Haley stood in front of the mirror eyeing her outfit – skinny jeans and a ruffled-sleeve top – cute, but dainty. She scrunches her nose, dainty wasn't exactly what she was going for. She goes back to her bag, pulling out a black off-the-shoulder knit top. She changes, tucking the shirt into her high-waist jeans, and throws on a pair of black peep-toe booties. Much better.
She goes to her jewelry bag, pulling out her necklaces. They've become what grounds her, the only constant wherever she goes – a small pendant necklace that was her grandmother's, her birth stone, and a tiny H. She plays with the H, her nerves taking over at the thought of heading downstairs.
Haley breaks from her thoughts hearing a knock at her door. She answers, surprised to find Brooke Davis. Brooke appraises her, saying nothing, before walking into the room.
"So you did come," Brooke gathers. Haley shuts the door, coming to a stand in front of her.
"I did," Haley states. "To be honest, I wasn't sure until I was actually on the plane."
"I was surprised to see when you RSVP'd," Brooke says coolly. "Although we both know that doesn't mean much."
"Brooke, I…"
"I should go. I just wanted to see for myself."
Haley plays with her necklaces, insecure. "See what?"
"You. Here," Brooke retorts as if it's obvious. "I can't decide if you've got some nerve or a lot of balls showing up here."
"Look, I probably came against my better judgment, OK? But I'm not trying to start anything so, as far as we're concerned, just pretend I'm not here," Haley says, dejected.
"That's the plan," Brooke says, walking to the door.
"Great."
"Oh, and Haley?" Haley eyes Brooke warily.
"You're looking a little Sandra Dee. A hot makeover isn't going to bring Nathan back," she snips before quickly exiting. The hurt on Haley's face said it all.
This weekend was a huge mistake.
...
11 Years Earlier
Haley, Brooke, Peyton, and Gigi were corralled around Brooke's closet, picking their outfits for the ho-down later. Each option Brooke pulled out got shorter and skimpier.
"Brooke, I'm fine to just wear something of me own," Haley stresses. She'd never really dressed for attention. She was most comfortable under the radar and Brooke's closet had a mind of it's own.
"Oh come on Haley! Please, please, please let me dress you. Now that you're with Nathan, we've got to show him how hot you are."
Haley scoffs.
"Oh you know what I mean, you're obviously hot! But I'm thinking let's swap out the one-shouldered poncho for a tied plaid shirt. Unbutton a few of the top buttons. Maybe a lace camisole underneath."
"Brooke," Haley cried. She was exhausting.
"Fine, party pooper," Brooke cries, turning her attention to Gigi. "What about you?"
"Work your fairy godmother magic," Gigi squeals.
"Yay," Brooke claps. "This is going to be so fun. P. Sawyer?"
"Flour duty," she claims, raising each of their flower babies.
"How the boys got out of baby duty is beyond me," Haley scoffs.
"Oh please, Nathan or Lucas Scott with a baby? As if. We had to take them or else these little bags of flour would be a tragedy."
"I bet Jake would be good with a baby," Peyton quips. The girls look at her, intrigued. "Just an observation."
"Uh huh," Haley says suspiciously. "Take it from someone who observes. Make a move."
Peyton scoffs at the call-out, throwing a pillow at Haley. She laughs, swatting it away.
...
Haley stands up from the bed, smiling sadly at the memory. What she wouldn't do to go back, instead of sitting here, alone and afraid of what comes next.
She does one last check in the mirror – phone, wallet, key, lip gloss – then heads down to the madness. One thing was for certain, a lot can happen at boarding school. The reunion was no different.