Summary: Haley knew she couldn't hide forever. And it was finally time for her to be, again, face to face with the man who changed her life forever. Naley. AU.
A/N: Hey guys, my life is really crazy right now but I decided to start a new story today. Hope you guys give it a try and leave a review if possible. :)
Chapter 1
Nathan closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again, looking around the place. It was crowded and the music was loud enough to make his head hurt. He had a full day at work and, truthfully, was not in the mood to go anywhere. But Lucas could always persuade him to something, he had to say that. Nathan was tired and not in the mood for any kind of conversation or trouble of any kind. He just wanted to be left alone for a while.
It had been a crazy week: work was hectic and his life was a total mess in all means possible. His current girlfriend, Megan, was driving him crazy with all her clinginess all the time and he was about to lose it with her any time soon, even though he was really trying to do things right with her. Maybe it was time for a vacation, leave New York a little bit, but, deep inside, Nathan knew it was not going to solve his problems at all.
"What's on your mind, Nate?"
He groaned lightly and focused loosely on his brother Lucas, who was now sitting beside him. They were just hanging out at a bar near Nathan's apartment with the girls and Jake. Brooke and Peyton were, thankfully, too busy talking about anything.
"Nothing. I'm just tired. I think I'll head home soon."
Lucas raised his eyebrows slowly and then nodded at him.
"Dan has been calling you lately, hasn't he?"
"Seems like he can't live without making me feel miserable." Nathan sighed and shook his head in the process.
"Do you want me to-"
"No, Luke, that's ok. It's not like he can actually do something to harm me or anything... we're past that a long time ago."
"But he still gets to you." Lucas pointed and took a swing of his beer. He was always looking out for Nathan, especially when it came to Dan. Their father was always messing with Nathan's head since they were little, and when Nathan decided not to go for a basketball career, Dan went a little more crazy on the younger Scott. Lucas never understood why Nathan declined the offers he got when they were still in college, but he wondered it was because of Dan. Nathan mentioned how he was tired of their dad picking on him all the time, and slowly lost his interest in the game. It was visible to all of them at the time.
"I'm doing my best to ignore him."
"If you need any help, you can always ask me, you know?"
Nathan smiled thankfully to his brother and nodded his head.
"I think I need to go." Nathan simply said some time later, getting up.
"See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll drop by around noon."
"Be sure to bring more beer, bro." Lucas winked at him. He and Brooke would be hosting a small get together at their house on Saturday, and Nathan was obviously invited to go.
"Okay."
"Is Megan going with you?"
"I don't know. She said she would try, though, but I'm not sure. Maybe it would be better if she doesn't come, considering Brooke and everything..." Nathan rolled his eyes.
"I can take care of Brooke." Lucas said and Nathan laughed.
"Sure you can." He rolled his eyes playfully. "See you tomorrow, Luke. Say bye to Brooke and the others for me."
He exited the place without waiting for him to respond and fished his keys from his pocket, walking slowly to his car.
XxXxXxXxX
"What took you so long to open the door?"
She entered his apartment without asking and dropped her purse on the couch. Nathan ran his hand through his messed hair and closed the door, trying to think properly. it was near nine o'clock and he was planning to keep sleeping until eleven thirty. When Megan started ringing the bell insistently, thought, he knew it was not happening.
"I was sleeping." He told her as soon as he turned to her. He was wearing just his boxers and his hair was all over the place. Nathan let himself fall on the couch and then sighed loudly.
"I texted you earlier to say I was coming to drop by around nine."
"Well, I didn't see it 'cause I was sleeping. Why did you come so early? I told you I was not leaving until later."
"I missed you." She smiled sweetly at him and sat on his lap, giving him a quick peck on the lips. "And I wanted to spend some time alone with you... you know, just the two of us. You're always so busy with work, I'm barely getting to see you these days..."
"I know." He focused on her green eyes and patted her leg slowly. "Sorry."
"You have to make it up for me..." She smiled wickedly at him this time and licked her lips in anticipation. Nathan smiled back, capturing her lips in a slow and sensual kiss while his hands travelled through her back and her legs. Meg smiled between the kisses they were now sharing and rubbed herself more forcefully on his ripped body, waiting for him to get a clue and actually give her what she wanted.
"Wanna take a shower with me?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
He smiled a little and ran his hands through her body one more time before getting up.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Lucas rolled his eyes and continued following his wife around the kitchen. She was talking nonstop about how Nathan was testing her patience when he decided to come to their house with Megan. She couldn't stand the girl, that was final. Nathan always had lots of girlfriends or little flings but they never got to Brooke like this one.
"Brooke, maybe he likes her."
"What?!" She turned quickly to face her husband and he took a step back when he saw the look on his face. "You have to be kidding me, right, Lucas?"
"Yeah, you know..." Lucas started cautiously this time. "Maybe this time he'll settle down, you know... Nathan is a player, I know. But I was hoping he would find his match already, and possibly it can be Megan..."
"I would love to see Nathan stop whoring around, Lucas, but not with her. She's so artificial and she's obviously just after his money. You can tell that. Just look at her face."
He scratched his head and sighed. It was pointless arguing with her, and as much as he wanted to defend his little brother, Lucas knew Brooke was probably right. He didn't like the girl either, but he decided to give her a chance since Nathan was with her. His brother needed to settle down, and seeing him in a steady relationship for more than two weeks kind of made Lucas happy.
"Just try to be civil with her, okay?"
"So doesn't let her get in my way." Brooke hissed and he nodded quickly.
Lucas decided not to argue with her anymore and headed outside. It was a beautiful day and he instantly smiled. His friends were all there hanging out and enjoying the pool and the barbecue... just couldn't get more perfect.
Well, except for Haley.
His smiled vanished slowly when he thought about her. She was still living back in Tree Hill and he didn't see her in almost three years. He couldn't deny the fact that Haley would always be a part of his life, and it was hard knowing that she was not there now. They grew up together, faced high school together, went to college... and now... well, now, things were different. And Lucas sometimes just wished they could be together again.
"Can I go and get some more beer?" Jake approached him laughing a little and shook his head at whatever Mouth and Nathan were saying to him. "We're kind of running out."
"Sure, man. Help yourself. Nathan brought two twelve packs earlier."
"I'll be right back. You want one?"
"No, I'm okay."
Lucas made his way to his brother and patted his shoulder. Meg was laying on a chair on the other side of the pool while Peyton and Jenny were playing in the water. Mouth was now chatting with Skills and the girls on the pool deck, while Brad, Jake and Peyton's five years old boy, was teasing them nonstop.
"How's it going?"
"Good." Nathan smiled to him. "I think I was needing some time to relax."
"I told you you're working too hard."
Nathan nodded. Working all the time was the best way to keep his mind off of his own messy life. He was slowly getting jealous of his friends. They were all married and had kids, or were getting them soon. He was the only one who seemed to still be stuck in high school world. He was still single, no kids, no love, no nothing.
"You know... in moments like this I miss Haley the most." Lucas said in a low voice. Nathan sighed and looked away from his brother when he mentioned Haley. "I wish she could be here."
"Well, thankfully she's not."
Lucas rolled his eyes at him and then shot him a look.
"I think it's about time you stop with this thing."
Nathan didn't answer his brother. He and Haley never really get along. They knew each other since he could remember, but they were never friends. She was always around him and the others and they went through school and college together. Haley was a constant in his life since forever, but now he could say he was better without her near him everytime.
"Haley is okay, Luke." Nathan told him a while later. "She's a big girl now, and she knows what to do with her life."
"I know that. I just miss her. Maybe I should go there and visit her next month."
Nathan nodded his head. He knew how much Lucas loved Haley, besides everything he always tried to respect that. She was like a little sister to his brother, and Nathan had to say he tend to be a little protective of her as well. Lucas would be crazy if anything ever happened to her.
"Maybe you should." Nathan pointed.
"Why don't you come with us? You could visit mom..."
"No, thank you." Nathan cut him and shook his head vehemently. "I don't wanna see Dan."
Lucas nodded. He knew Nathan had a point there so he didn't tell him anything more. Things always got ugly when Dan and Nathan were near each other, and his brother was already too messed up. He didn't need putting up with their dad right now.
"Let's get something to eat." Nathan changed subject quickly. He was not in the mood for Dan or Haley. In fact he was pretty much good knowing they were far away from him.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Haley was putting all the toys in the blue colored box she was carrying while wandering through the house. The TV was still on and she smiled sweetly at the cartoon that was showing at the moment. It was his favorite since he was very little and he always made her watch it.
"Momma..."
She turned to see the young four years old approaching her still on his pajamas, carrying his stuffed bunny with him. His hair was messed up and his blue eyes still a little puffy from sleep. A smile appeared instantly on her face and she placed the box on the floor when he was near enough for her to pick him up on her arms.
"Hey, baby... how did you sleep?"
"Good." He answered.
"Are you hungry? I made pancakes."
He nodded and gave her a small smile. He was still sleepy and she felt her heart ache for him. Jamie was everything to her. He changed her life completely, and since he arrived, nothing was the same. She couldn't imagine her life without him now, and that she had to admit. She was lucky to have him.
"Mommy has to do some things today, so you'll stay at the cafe, okay?"
"Cool." He smiled. "Grandma always let me eat chocolate cake."
"Yeah, I know how much you love to stay with her, huh?" Haley placed him in a chair and went to serve him breakfast.
"I'll miss her when we go to New York." He told her with a pout and she caressed his face with a sweet smile.
"I know, baby. She'll miss you too. But we'll come visit her as much as we can, ok? I promise you."
He nodded. Haley knew it would be quite a change for Jamie, since he never left Tree Hill. But now she got this amazing job opportunity she couldn't say no, even though she knew Nathan would be there. Going to New York would change everything to her and Jamie, and she knew that too well. But she was also thrilled to see her old friends again, especially Lucas. She couldn't wait to tell him the news.
"You'll love Lucas, Jamie." She smiled at her son and gave him a glass of orange juice. "The last time he saw you, you were just a baby. Aren't you happy to meet him?"
"Yeah." Jamie nodded, smiling, while chewing on a small piece of pancake. "And Nathan too, right?"
Haley nodded and caressed his hair.
"Grandma said he likes to play basketball." Jamie told her enthusiastically. "Do you think he'll want to play with me?"
"Sure he will, sweetie..." She smiled at him and felt her heart ache at the thought. She knew sooner or later she would have to say the truth, she had to let them know. But it was hard. It was always so hard. Going to New York would change everything again and she knew it was just a matter of time.
But it was time for her to face Nathan again.
To be continued...