Living on the Outside

Chapter One: Over My Head

Haley James glanced around her room carefully before grabbing her jacket and rushing out to meet her best friend, Lucas Scott. He was waiting outside in his uncle's beat up tow truck, impatiently honking the horn.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Haley said as she ran down the stairs knowing he couldn't hear her. She just had this odd unsettling feeling that something was going to happen today. She rolled her eyes at herself as she concentrated on not tripping in her hurry to get outside. They were never late to school and today wasn't going to ruin their record. "Breathe Lucas."

She locked the door and ran out jumping into the opened door. "I'm here!"

Lucas rolled his eyes and peeled off into the street. "It's about time."

"Someone's grouchy today," Haley remarked as she glanced at him wearily. "What's wrong?"

"Brooke and I had a fight last night," Lucas sighed as he stopped for a red light.

Haley tried to stifle her laughter, "Let me guess, was it about your little affair with her best friend?"

"We're trying to get around that," Lucas told her pointedly, "Besides, she doesn't know about it and I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell her."

This time it was Haley's turn to roll her eyes, "That actually wouldn't be a problem. The only reason we know each other is because of you and we don't really talk."

They reached the school in silence and both tensed up at the sight that was waiting for them. Brooke, Peyton, Nathan, and Tim were all sitting at a little table talking. Haley got out slowly not knowing exactly what to do. That wasn't her world, never was and probably never could be. She and Nathan had broken up after months of dating. They had cited irreconcilable differences to their friends though she knew she still loved him more than anything.

She laughed thinking of Peyton's exact words to the rest of the gang. Though she and Nathan had broken up amicably, it was still awkward around them. Lucas, on the other hand, tensed up at the sight of his girlfriend and her best friend. He had been dating Brooke for three months and two months into their relationship, he had been seeing her best friend. His life had definitely changed since the beginning of the year.

"Haley!"

The two best friends snapped out of their thoughts at the sound of Peyton's voice.

"Hey Peyton," Haley greeted her. She gave the rest of the table a small smile as she stood there not knowing if she should sit down. "What's going on?"

"Brooke and I were deciding on what movie to go see tonight," Peyton nodded her head to Brooke who was trying to ignore Lucas' presence behind Haley. "You wanna come with us?"

Haley glanced back at Lucas. They didn't have plans tonight but she still felt the need to check with him. "Sure, what movie?"

Peyton shook her head, "We haven't decided yet, Brooke only wants to see the ones with the cute guys in them and no actual plotline."

"And the problem with that would be…?" Brooke jumped in. "I mean staring at hot guys for two hours doesn't seem like a waste of time to me."

"Go right ahead," Nathan smirked and raised his arms gesturing at himself. "I don't mind."

Haley and Peyton snorted in laughter while Brooke rolled her eyes. That seemed to be the expression of the day.

"Haley," Lucas' voice cut in on her laughter, "I'm gonna go to my locker." He started walking away not waiting for a response. He just couldn't stand being that close to both Peyton and Brooke. Especially now that Brooke was angry at him.

She nodded at him and turned back to Peyton apologetically, "Sorry guys, I'm gonna go check up with him." She glanced at Brooke wearily, "He's not doing so good today."

Brooke nodded knowingly and flipped her hair away from them, "Good."

Peyton raised her eyebrows in confusion as she watched Haley run up to Lucas. "What happened?"

"Broody and I got into a little fight yesterday," Brooke shrugged. "Not a big deal."

"Fight? About what?" Peyton asked curiously, hoping it didn't have to do with anything she was involved in.

Brooke shook her head, "Don't worry about it. All he needs to do is apologize and then it'll be over with."

"Fight?" Tim perked up. "Does that mean you're free tonight then?"

Brooke gave him a look of disgust, "In your dreams Dim."

Tim smiled at her, "Well in that case, you already are."

"Let's go," Peyton stifled a laugh as she got up while trying to ignore Tim. There was just so much Tim a person could take before needing to get away.

Peyton and Brooke linked arms leaving Tim and Nathan still sitting at the table. As they walked into the building, they passed Haley and Lucas who were by his locker talking. Peyton gave her a small smile as they passed leaving Haley to wonder what exactly was she doing by cheating with her best friend's boyfriend.

"Haley," Lucas waved a hand in front of her face, "You there?"

Haley snapped out of her thoughts and focused her friend's eyes, "Yeah sorry, what were you saying?"

"What should I do?" Lucas shut his locker and they started walking toward Haley's. "About Brooke."

"Just apologize and give her chocolate or flowers," Haley rationalized. She glanced up at her friend. "You weren't fighting about anything serious so she's probably expecting something."

Lucas nodded, "Thanks Hales."

"Anytime," Haley smiled at him.

Later on that day Haley was sitting on her bed finishing her homework when she heard the phone ringing from outside the hallway. She grudgingly got up when she realized she had left her phone in the bathroom and no one else was in the house.

"Hello?" She asked breezily.

"Haley-bub?"

Haley glanced at the phone in confusion. It had been a long time since she heard that voice. "Mom? What's going on? Is everything okay?"

Lydia James sighed over the line. "Are you sitting down Haley?"

Haley walked back into her bedroom and sat down on her bed carefully, "Yeah, tell me what's going on? Did something happen to Dad? Or Taylor? Or Quinn? Or…"

"Haley," Lydia interrupted. Her daughter's questions could go on forever with all her siblings. "It's your father. He's had a heart attack. He…he didn't make it."

Haley dropped the phone as the information sunk in. She sat there in shock before realizing her mother was still on the phone.

"Haley?"

Haley wiped her nose as she put the phone back up to her ear, "Yeah, Mom, any other shocking news you want to tell me?"

"I'm coming home," Lydia replied, ignoring the sarcasm coming from her youngest daughter.

"Is there going to be a funeral?" Haley whispered.

Lydia sighed again, "Of course there is, it's going to be in a couple days. In Tree Hill."

Haley closed her eyes, "And everybody's coming back? Even Taylor?"

"Even Taylor," Lydia nodded though she knew her daughter couldn't see her. "Listen honey, I have to go, are you okay?"

"I don't know," Haley replied slowly, she had just learnt a lot of information in just a couple minutes.

Lydia closed her eyes on the other end, "I know this is hard for you sweetie but we're going to get through this together, all of us." Haley could hear her trying not to sob. "I've got something else to tell you, but I'm going to wait until I get home, okay?"

"Okay," Haley responded unsurely, not knowing if she could handle any more news. "I love you Mom."

"I love you too Haley-bub." Lydia told her before hanging up slowly.

Haley looked at the receiver, still in shock about everything that she had just learned. She had just lost her father, one of the most important people in her life. Though her parents weren't always around for her, she still loved them. And now all her siblings were coming back, much to her joy and disappointment. Also, her mother still wasn't done dispensing news. She wondered what it could be. Though she knew it couldn't have been any worse than what she had just heard.

Author's Note: Hey everyone, I had this idea in my mind and I think it's been done before but I wanted to give it my own spin. The next chapter should be up soon, but I really wanted to see everyone's opinion to this story before even thinking of continuing it. So please drop a review, it will be greatly appreciated. I know this first chapter isn't really anything but I promise it does get better. Thanks for reading.

Melissa