Betty: Okay, I'm a little confused. See, you kissed me and then you danced with me and you talked about being my rebound guy, so... I mean, what was that all about?
Gio: Well that's just it. I don't want to be the rebound guy. I want to be the guy.

Betty: We can't just paint stars in your apartment and call it the Planetarium.
I mean, this is Adele, not Amy Winehouse!

Marc: Wow, Betty, that was really funny

Haley was on her computer on top of Karen's Café. She did her best work up there. The breeze flowing through her hair and her brain cells tingling. She jumped a bit when the door opened. She let out a sigh of relieve when she realized it was only Lucas.

"Hi Lucas." She was so grateful for him these past few weeks. She and Nathan had broken up and she was a little down. "So, how's the café?"

"Busy." He sat down next to his best friend. "My mom was wondering if you'd come down and help out. Her head is about to explode."

"Okay." Haley shut down her laptop and put it in her bag and put it in her employee locker. She hurried down the stairs to where the aprons were and grabbed herself one. "Karen, I'm here." She looking into the café from the kitchen and her eyes widen. "Wow. It really is busy." She grabbed a pencil and pad and when out to start her day.

On the other hand, Nathan started his day fairly similar. He was also working on his computer when he got called in to work. Apparently Gary, his boss called in sick and Nathan had to fill in for him. He was willing to work because he needed the money. And he wanted to get his mind off of Haley and their break up. He knew they would get back together and he was hoping it would be soon.

"Hi welcome to Hot 'N' Twisted, what can I get you?" Nathan hated saying that, but he had to. He needed the job. He had an apartment to pay for.

"How about, my son back in his own room?" Dan said.

Nathan looked up at his father. He hated Dan so much. And he wasn't going to be going home with him. He was glad no one was behind him. "Dad, I'm not going with you. Okay, now you should go. There are people that actually want pretzels."

Dan looked behind him and saw no one. He turned back toward his son. "You don't need your own apartment."

"Dad, can we talk about this never. I have work to do."

Dan just scoffed and shook his head. "I'll pay for your apartment, that way the money you make can be used for something else."

"Okay, will you pay my bills too?" Dan nodded. But Nathan knew there was a catch. "Watch's the catch?"

"No catch." Like that was true. "Just no girlfriends until college."

Nathan's eyes widen. No girls. No Haley. Haley was the only girlfriend he wanted. "Sorry dad. I can't do that."

"Why not? Hades dumped you. Oh, I'm sorry; Haley is her name right? You have so many of them I can't keep track."

"And how many women did you get pregnant? I have so many siblings it's hard to keep track of them all." Nathan said with a smug grin on his face. "Now would you like anything, Sir or are you through?" Dan didn't say anything he just walked off and Nathan was so glad that Dan had left. It was going to be a very long day.

Brooke and Peyton were on their way inside the mall when they spotted Dan coming out. They hid themselves from where he was walking. They did not want him to see them. He was so creepy and they knew that he was even angrier now that Nathan had moved out and his wife wanted a divorce.

"That was close." Brooke said. She shuddered at the thought of him glaring at her. "Isn't it time he died soon? No one on this earth wants him."

Peyton nodded in agreement. "I know that's right. Shouldn't he be digging himself and early grave? Will at the stress he's put on Nathan, that's what he should die of."

Brooke entered the mall and held the door open for Peyton. "So, I think Nathan's working today. I need to talk to him about why Haley broke up with him."

"I don't think he's working today." Peyton said as they hopped onto the escalator. "And even if he is, I don't think he'll tell you about him and Haley. I he probably doesn't even want to hear her name."

"Oh, pish posh." Brooke said with the flick of her wrist. They hopped off the escalator. "He needs to vent. And I'll be the person he vents to." The spotted the carousal in the mall and across from it was Nathan at his job. "Now we can't be too eager to stop by over there. We should ride the carousal a few times and then be in the mood for a pretzel."

"You are so evil." Peyton said to her evil brunette friend. "But I love the way your mind works." Peyton followed her to the carousal.

Nathan saw them out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't believe they'd stoop so low as to follow him to work to find out what happened. It was his business. His and Haley's and no one needed to know. He decided to leave early since he worked the minimum amount of hours he could.

Peyton got off the carousal and spun around a few times. "Okay, I think we shouldn't have ridden it the last time. I'm feeling kind of dizzy."

"What you're feeling is hunger." Brooke said. "What you need is a pretzel. Some carbs will help you." Brooke grabbed her arm and dragged her over to Hot 'N' Twisted. She saw no sign of Nathan. "Excuse, is Nathan Scott here?"

"He left. What can I get for you?"

Brooke looked at the pretzels and almost barfed. She wasn't really up for eating pretzels.

"One pretzel please." Peyton said. "Could I have mustard on the side please? Thank you." Peyton gave him a five dollar bill and took the pretzel and mustard.

She turned to Brooke. "What. I'm hungry. And just because you're watching your figure, doesn't mean I'm not."

Brooke scoffed and walked ahead if Peyton. "I need to go shopping."


Haley sat by the counter. I just don't know how I'm going to get through the day. Not without knowing I can go straight to Nathan's. "I am so tired. I've only been at it for five hours." Haley sat down at the counter. She looked around at the dying down café. "Karen, what am I going to do? I can't help but keep thinking about Nathan."

"Well, I think bring this plate to table three will help." She handed Haley a plate.

"Will I ever get over him, Karen?" Haley asked before heading into the café. She really wanted to get over him. She truly did.

"Hi, what can I get you?" Haley asked a man that came into the café. She heard the bell ring.

"How about a date?"

"I don't care who you—" Haley stooped mid-sentence when she saw who it was. "Adam, hi. I'm sorry I'm a little irritable today. Must be stress of the day."

"Well, it's been two weeks since Nathan lost out on the best girl there is in school. And I feel it would be my honor to take you out on a date."

"I don't know."

"Yes." Lucas said behind her. "Adam Graver. She would love to go out with you."

"Wha—" Haley couldn't speak due to Lucas' hand on her mouth.

"Okay. Tomorrow night at six o'clock." Adam winked at her. "I'll meet you here."

"But—" Haley still couldn't speak with Lucas' hand on her mouth.

"Lucas. How could you?" Haley said when Adam left and she could finally talk. "I don't want to go out with another man. Especially not some jock."

"Haley, it'll be fine. Brooke and Peyton will help."


"You look amazing." Brooke said. She had just finished Haley's makeup. "Now, Peyton has picked a few outfits for you. All you have to do is try all of them on and I'll see which one is best for you."

Haley looked at herself in the mirror. "This is whore makeup. I look like a whore. That's probably good right now because it's what I am. I mean I'm going from one guy to the next."

"Haley, that's a good thing. It's time to move on." Brooke said. She pushed Haley to her closet. Haley put on one of the outfits. She didn't even have to look at herself in the mirror. She couldn't do this. She didn't want to do this.

"I think you should be done." Peyton said. She was right outside the bathroom door. "Adam will be meeting you in an hour. And we still need to do your hair."

Haley put on a different outfit. It was more her. It showed no cleavage. It was a pink cashmere sweater and black dress pants. She stepped outside and Brooke just shook her head.

"No Haley. Not going to happen." Haley put her hands over her chest.

"I'm not going to show anything. Okay, I don't even want this date."

"Fine." Brooke said. "Go with this whole, stupid no cleavage thing."


"Take a seat miss." The waiter pushed in her chair and Adam sat across from her.

"You look really great Haley." Adam said. Haley just looked at her menu. She'd been here before. It was her first date with Nathan that she'd been here. She was going to order the Mac and cheese.

"Here you go." Adam had ordered the Mac and cheese too.

Adam was kind of disappointed. He wanted to talk to her. "You know I'm really glad you decided to order something different. Not many girls would order something like this. I happen to like it. It makes me feel like a kid again."

"It's my favorite meal." Haley said. She decided that if she was going to have a date, she should enjoy it. "What's your favorite meal?"

"It would have to be French toast. I love it. And it's so simple to make."

"I make the best French toast. It's to die for."

"Maybe you'll make me breakfast soon. You know if I ever spend the night."

Haley rolled her eyes. It was only a half hour into the date and he was talking about spending the night. He was such a pig. All men were pigs. All they thought about was sex.

"What do you have planned next for us?"

"How about a movie?"

Haley smiled and nodded. "That sounds nice. What movies are playing?"


Lucas went over to Nathan's apartment. He sounded really weird on the phone. "Nathan, it's me. It's Lucas." Lucas opened the door and he saw Nathan's shadow from his bedroom. "Nathan!"

"Which looks better the blue red or gray?" Nathan had come out to show him different color ties. "Pick one Lucas."

"The blue. It brings out your eyes." Lucas said. "What are doing here? Where are you going? Do you have a date?"

"God no." Nathan said fixing his tie. "I'm going over to Haley's. And I figure if I'm wearing a suit, maybe she'll be more prompt to say yes to me."

Lucas felt so bad for him. Haley was on a date and he was here practicing his speech to serenade her. "Nathan, there's something you should know."

"Yeah?" Nathan asked. He turned to face his brother just as he was about to go out the door.

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Lucas felt so bad. He couldn't say something that would hurt his feelings more. He needed to find it out by himself.


"That was great. I totally feel like a little kid again. I mean Mac and cheese, Mary Poppins and Lady and the Tramp? It's like childhood again." Haley said. They had just arrived at her house.

"It sounds like you had fun." Adam said. He had a big smile on his face.

"I did. I'm surprised."

"Why? You didn't think I would be any fun?"

"No, it's just this is my first date since Nathan and I thought I would thought about Nathan the entire night, but I haven't thought about Nathan once."

"Good. When have you got more free time?"

"I have work tomorrow night but I'm free for lunch. What'd you have in mind?"

"Well, seeing Lady and the Tramp puts me in the mood for spaghetti and meatball, so I know a great place that serves the best. Shall we try it our together?" Haley nodded. "Good." Adam leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Across the street Nathan looked so melancholy. He just saw the love of his life kiss another man. He even bought her favorite flowers, purple wildflowers. How could she do this? After all, Adam Graver was more of a man whore than he was.

Haley walked into her house and she couldn't help but smile.

NEXT CHAPTER:

HALEY GOES ON A SECOND DATE WITH ADAM

NATHAN THROWS HISMSELF INTO WORK

HALEY BUMPS INTO NATHAN