1x19
Nathan and Haley were sitting on a beach, a while after Nathan found out about Haley's "23" tattoo on her back.
"Nathan, I know I'm driving you crazy," Haley started.
"Noo, you're not," Nathan interrupted her.
"Do you think I'm a tease?" she asked him seriously.
Nathan sighed. "Stop it."
"Well, what do you think?" she inquired quickly. She was worried that she had blown it with Nathan, he hadn't exactly reacted the way she'd hoped about her tattoo.
Nathan looked away and pondered what he would say. "I think that you're my girlfriend, and I want to spend time with you." Haley looked away and sighed. Nathan tried to reach her. "I just don't wanna push you."
"You're not," she replied, still looking away from him. Nathan sighed, "but I am." This made her look up at him. Nathan tried to explain. "Haley, you got a tattoo, for God sakes." Haley pushed her hair behind her ears self consciencely. "It just freaks me out," he continued, "because, obviously, this whole thing with us means a lot to you." This made her turn around and look at him.
They studied each others faces, and then he looked down. "I just don't wanna do anything to...pressure you, drive you away. But sometimes I can't help it." This made Haley look at him with longing and intrigue in her eyes.
He glanced at her again. "Just like I can't help that I fell in love with you." He looked at her for a reaction. "'Cause I did." he added. She closed her eyes in shock and let her mouth drop open.
He waited for a moment, to see if she would say anything and when she didn't, he said, "I love you, Haley," as if to confirm what he had said before, just in case she had missed it. She looked at him with a hint of a smile on her lips.
"And it scares me a little bit," he continued, looking down at his hands, unable to say anything else to convince her he was sorry. "But...there it is."
Haley was gobsmacked. She studied his face, then looked away. She took a deep breath. "Woaw," she breathed out. "There it is." She turned to look at him, and suddenly they were kissing. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I love you too," she smiled back at him. He grinned at her and she pulled him towards her again.