Hi, everyone! This is my first story-it's Naley, of course. They are my absolute favorite couple on OTH! There will be other characters/couples, but it is primarily Naley. I was inspired by the Christmas holiday and began writing this right after Thanksgiving. It's going to be a very short story somewhere between 5-10 chapters long. I have up until the third chapter written already, but I'd like to see what you guys think before posting anymore. So, please read and review. I would really like to hear what you have to say and whether or not to continue. This chapter is pretty short-it's just a beginning chapter to get you guys started.
Haley stared out the window looking for any sign that the Christmas holiday was actually here but found none. There was no snow on the ground. There weren't any drops of ice on the window sill. She didn't even have a single decoration in her house. Christmas is her favorite holiday, and normally, she went crazy with the decorations. She usually had three trees up and other decorum plastered all over the house as well as those beautiful icicle lights hanging on the outside of the house. But this year, she didn't have any of that. Christmas meant nothing to her this year. It was just a passing holiday that she actually couldn't wait to see end.
She snapped out of her thoughts as a mug of hot cocoa was placed down in front of her. She looked up and saw her sister smiling softly at her. "What are you thinking about, baby sis?" Quinn asked taking a seat in the chair across from her.
"Nothing." Haley answered quietly.
"The expression on your face tells me it isn't nothing." Quinn prodded.
"Just thinking about the holidays." Haley admitted quietly as Quinn nodded in understanding. "I guess, I'm just not really feeling it this year." She continued.
"Well, who would? I mean, there isn't a single decoration up. You don't even have a tree, Haley." Quinn said incredulously yet gently. She watched her sister and her heart broke as a tear strolled down Haley's cheek. This year has been so hard for her sister, and she wished she could take her pain away. "Maybe you should get back into your Christmas routine. I think it will really help you. Come on, let's put up at least one tree." She suggested.
"I just...I'm not in the mood, Quinn." Haley dismissed.
"Okay." Quinn said simply understanding not to push her sister. "Change of subject then...so, I think David is going to be getting that promotion at work."
"Really?" Haley asked as her sister nodded. "Quinn, that's great. He deserves it, and so do you." She said with as much enthusiasm as she could. She truly was happy for her, but she was just tired at the moment. "When does he find out?" She asked.
"Probably within the next few days. His company Christmas party is next Friday night, and it's supposed to be revealed before then. This would just be perfect for our family." Quinn said rubbing her slightly protruded stomach.
Haley smiled and reached over placing the palm of her hand next to Quinn's. "Speaking of, how is my precious niece?"
"She's wonderful. Of course, she's now pressing against my bladder causing me to have to pee like every freakin five minutes." Quinn answered as they both laughed. "But it's worth it."
"It is." Haley affirmed. "I can't wait to meet her. And I can't wait to see her in those adorable clothes I bought her."
"Yeah, all seventy outfits." Quinn said laughing.
"Hey, it's my job as an aunt to buy her a lot of clothes. It's one of the perks." Haley defended herself.
"Fair enough. But when you have a daughter, I get to do the same." Quinn said as Haley immediately stopped laughing. Quinn realized what she said and instantly felt horrible. "Haley, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." Haley said quietly.
"No, it's not. I wasn't thinking. It's just like me to bring that up. I'm so sorry. Gosh, I'm so insensitive and..."
"Quinn, really it's okay. Don't worry about it." Haley reassured.
Quinn nodded unsurely. She couldn't believe she said that. That was the last thing that Haley needed. She was already depressed as it was, she didn't need anything more added to it. Quinn grew increasingly worried day by day. She thought by now, Haley would be okay. She didn't expect her to be over everything, but she thought she would have at least found a way to deal with everything.
There have been statistics that supposedly proved depression and suicide rates actually increase during the holidays. Quinn has never believed them considering this time of year is so magical and joyful. Her sister absolutely loves Christmas. She turns kind of into a crazy, obsessive fanatic of the holiday. This year was anything but. She didn't know what to do anymore. All she knew was how scared she was for her.
Haley finished up the last of the dishes just as her front doorbell rang. Her body tensed slightly as she headed towards the foyer. Placing a hand on the doorknob, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening it up. "Hey, Nathan." She greeted.
"Hey. Sorry, I'm late. He fell asleep, and I didn't want to wake him up. But I knew you'd be worried." Nathan said while holding a sleeping boy in his arms.
"You could have just called." Haley said while grabbing the bag located at Nathan's feet and stepping aside to let him enter the house.
"I'm just going to go put him down if that's okay." He asked.
"Of course." She responded. She watched as he headed through the hallway and disappeared up the stairs. Her heart still fluttered when she saw him. She didn't know if she'd ever be able to get over him. He was her first and only love. How can you just forget about that? She wondered how he did it so easily. She wondered if he ever thought about her or if he missed her at all. Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming down the stairs. She looked up and saw him walking closer to her.
"Jamie's passed out. He was pretty exhausted so he'll probably sleep through the night." Nathan said.
"Okay, thanks. So, what did you guys do today?" She asked.
"What do you think?" He returned with a small smirk.
"Basketball." She said knowingly.
"Of course. We went to Charlotte and hung out with some of the other guys on the team." He said.
"Oh, I bet he loved that." She said as he nodded in confirmation.
An awkward silence drifted into the room as Nathan and Haley both tried to avoid eye contact with one another. Haley hated this feeling-this deafening silence between them. There was a time when they could talk about anything and everything. And there was also a time when they didn't have to say a word and just sit in the silence without is being so awkward and uncomfortable. For what felt like hours flew by when Nathan finally made a motion to move. "Well, I, umm...I better get going." He said heading towards the door.
"Nathan, wait." Haley called haulting his movements. He turned back around to face her and waited for her to continue. "We haven't really decided what we're going to do about Christmas." She began as he gave her a confused look. "I mean, with Jamie. We haven't decided on an arrangement like who's going to have him or whatever." She clearified nervously.
"Oh, right. Umm, well, I haven't really thought about it." He said.
"I just...I didn't know if your family had any plans or anything. I know your mom and dad would probably love to see him, and I know you want to spend the holiday with him." She said.
"Yeah, I do. But you do, too. Maybe we can do a Christmas Eve/Christmas day kind of thing. As far as I know, dinner's at my mom's house the night before Christmas like usual." He suggested.
"Well, how about you take him on Christmas Eve then? That way, you and your family get to spend time with him. And you can relax or whatever on the twenty-fifth considering you have a game on the twenty-sixth agains..."
"Milwaukee." He finished for her as she nodded. "Since when do you follow the games?" He asked jokingly yet seriously.
"Since you made it into the NBA." She replied sheepishly as another silence fell upon them. "Anyway, does that sound okay to you?" She asked trying to ignore the tension.
"Yeah, that sounds great." He answered.
"Okay, then. Well, I guess, I'll see you next weekend when you come to pick up Jamie again." She said.
"Yup, see you next weekend," he said walking towards the door. "Bye, Hales." He said quietly before exiting the house completely.
"Bye, Nathan." She muttered sadly towards the closed door. She always hated seeing him go. She didn't know if she'd ever get over that.
So, there's chapter one. I know it's short, but the chapters will get longer. I just needed a starter chapter for the story to set it in motion. Please tell me what you think in a review. :)