Summary: "The Journal"

Haley James and Nathan Scott attend the same high school, but aren't friends. Nathan is the star basketball player and is known by all. However a common misconception is that he is as obnoxious and jerkish as his friends. Haley is the head of the Tutoring Center and is just your average teenager, but nobody really knows her. Anyway, Haley keeps a journal of her inner thoughts. Stuff nobody else knows about her, and stuff she'd like to keep that way. However, this all changes when Haley accidently loses her journal and it falls into the hands of someone else... Nathan Scott. Her secrets will be revealed, and Nathan will go on a wild goose chase for this mystery girl who has entered his life. Will a friendship develop? Will it become something more? Time will only tell…

So, I have this fic another site and people seem to like it… I hope you guys do too!

The Journal

Chapter 1:

"Tree Hill High is your average American high school. It had its jocks, its nerds, the drama freaks, the drama queens, the loners, the stoners, and then there's me, Haley James. I don't consider myself to be part of any category, unless of course there is a category called 'Haley James.' I'm an individual, I don't go with a flow, and people tend to think I have really strong opinions. And, in regards to that, I'd have to say that's thoroughly predictable and correct. But don't get the wrong idea. I'm not this snooty 'I'm always right,' kind of person like say, Peyton Sawyer. I'm nice for the most part. I mean I wouldn't be doing the Tutoring Center if I didn't care about people. But enough of my ramblings, what's your name kid?"

"Marvin McFadden," the scrawny boy sitting next to her said. "But my friends call me Mouth."

"Well, welcome to Tree Hill Mouth," Haley replied. "I can see this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Yo Nate," Lucas Scott said as he approached his cousin Nathan.

"Hey, what's up man?"

"Nothing, you know who that knew kid is with Haley?"

"Haley…?" Nathan questioned.

"Over there. Haley that tutoring girl," Lucas replied as he pointed across the quad to where Haley was talking with Mouth, the kid she had been appointed to showing around. "Man, she may be out there, but that girl is fine."

"No offense Luke, but that girl is way out of your league."

"Oh yeah? Watch this. No one can resist the Lucas Scott charm," he stated as he walked across the quad.

"Oh god," Haley said as she rolled her eyes watching Lucas walk right over.

"Who's that?" Mouth questioned.

"That my friend would be Lucas Scott. Him and his cousin Nathan are what people like to call 'The Scott Dynasty.' I don't by into all that though. They're basically just your average cocky brainless jocks. Lucas especially. Nathan seems a little quieter, but nonetheless they think they own this school."

"Oh," Mouth mustered as Lucas finally reached his destination.

"Hey, pretty girl," Lucas stated as he eyed Haley.

"Lucas," Haley replied as she rolled her eyes yet again. "This is Mouth, he's new here."

"Lucas Scott," he said as he gave Mouth the nod and diverted his attention back to Haley, "but you probably already knew that."

"Wow, cocky much?" Haley replied.

"I only speak the truth," Lucas replied letting out a smirk.

"Anyway what do you want Lucas?" she questioned. It's not like her and Lucas are friends. They've had a few classes together in the past, but that's it.

"You." He stated nonchalantly, as Haley made a disgusted face. "Is something that matter?"

"Of course not, I just threw up in my mouth a little. Sorry, but I don't do jocks. Especially not arrogant ones." Haley said as she pushed past him with Mouth in tow. Lucas watched her leave, shocked at what had just happened, and then walked back over to where Nathan and the gang were.

"You were shut down man," Nathan said laughing.

"Whatever, she just can't handle me," Lucas replied.

"Maybe if you treated girl more like humans instead of meat, then you'd actually get somewhere."

"And you became a gay philosopher when?"

"Luke, all I'm saying is that maybe the obnoxious pick up lines are getting old."

"Whatever man. It's not like I need her anyway. Half the girls in this school would kill for me."

"Or maybe just one. You know your girlfriend… Brooke Davis? Anyway, I'm going to the library to finish my English paper."

"Later man," Lucas replied.

"And this my friend, is that last stop on our tour. The library. Mind if we stay here for a bit? I just want to write for a little."

"Yeah, sure," Mouth replied as they sat down at a table and Haley took her books out of her bag. "… So you want to be a writer?"

"Well, not professionally, but I've keeping a journal since the sixth grade. I don't know… there's just something liberating about being able to write down whatever I'm feeling at any given moment. It's relaxing cause like, I can write about anything or everything and I don't get judged for it. I just get to freely express myself. I know, I'm a geek, but whatever, sue me."

"No, I think it's cool. Can I see it?" Mouth inquired as he grabbed the thick, cluttered, and obviously well used book from the table.

"No!" Haley exclaimed swatting the book down in front of him. "It's nothing personal, I just… There's private stuff in there that well, I want to keep that way."

"I understand," Mouth answered simultaneously with the bell signaling the end of free period.

"We should get going," Haley stated as she grabbed her backpack and began walking Mouth out of the library, not realizing the article she had left behind on the table. She was about to open the door to enter the hall when someone beat her to it… Nathan Scott. She looked up at the tallish figure and couldn't help but marvel at his ice blue eyes.

"After you," he said, giving his hand a little wave, signaling both Haley and Mouth to walk past him.

"Thanks," Haley replied.

Nathan continued into the library and found a table to work at. They were all empty since everyone had cleared just cleared out to go to their next classes, but he was drawn to one in particular. On top of it lay a worn book, one obviously not from the library. He approached the table and sat down, then picked up the book and opened it up to the first page, glancing at the first line.

i

3/23/00

Hey J, haha, get it? J for Journal! Anyway, some people may call me crazy, talking to a book… I know I'm only writing, but I feel like I'm talking to you. Oh god, here I got rambling again. That's a bad habit, but whatever. This is a one sided conversation, it's not like you get to speak, so I'm allowed to ramble. Oh god, I'm officially talking to an inanimate object. Alright, let's just start over…

Hey J, I'm new at this so work with me. I decided to start a journal for a variety of reasons. One being that well, I have five siblings and I feel like no one listens to me. And two, I don't trust them with my secrets. Take Taylor for instance. If I told her my crush, well… I might as well just ask the principal to announce it over the loud speaker. So here is where you come in. You are what gets to contain my thoughts and secrets. I know it's a big challenge, but I think you're up to it./i

Nathan couldn't help but smile at the nature of whoever wrote this. They seemed funny and innocent, and there was just something about reading this that made him want to learn more. His inquiring however was put to holt as students began to file into the library. He slipped the book back into his bag and took out his English report to work on.

"Shit!" Haley exclaimed as she reached into her bag for a notebook that period, noticing her journal was missing. She immediately raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. James," her teacher stated.

"Um, may I please run to the library real quick? I forgot something there last period."

"Yes, just be quick," her teacher answered as Haley got up and made a fast exit. She hurried through the halls until she reached the library, swinging the door open and looking at all the tables in a frenzy.

"Damn. I should have paid attention to where we sat," she mumbled under her breath. She knew it was over to the left, but all those tables were full and none of them had her journal. She looked over and saw one containing a group of freshmen; another with some kids she's tutored before, and the third sat Nathan Scott. She decided to approach the kids she'd tutored, making sure to glance at the other two tables for her journal, still no luck.

"Hey Jake. Allen."

"Oh, hey Haley!" They replied.

"This may sound weird, but you guys didn't happen to find or see a ratty old journal around here did ya?"

"Nope, sorry."

"Eh, thanks anyway," she said turning around to leave the library.

She made another quick glance at the freshman, no journal; another over at Nathan, no journal, he was just working diligently on something; and then returned to class. She wasn't really much of a religious person, but on that walk back to class she prayed that someone returned that journal to her. That journal was who she was, and Haley James didn't think she was ready to show that to the world quite yet.

a/n: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I hope it wasn't too cliché or anything for you. I'm trying to make a different-type Naley story and I personally think this is a different concept, but who knows. Let me know what you think of it! I'll update ASAP.