A String Attached
disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill
Pairing: It's a Laley fic... a.k.a Lucas and Haley... I just always wondered what would have happened had they gotten together first... anyway.. I'm still a huge Naley fan... just wanted to try this out.
Note: It starts out with the scene in episode 8 of season 1 where Haley is crying about the whole Party and Nathan at the cafe and Lucas comforts her.
Lucas walked down the street. He was confused about everything that had happened with Peyton. She was so ready and then she'd run. What had he said? Lucas walked up to the door, prepared to unlock it, but it was already open. He walked inside and closed the door.
"Haley? Hey, Hales!"
He called out to the seemingly empty cafe. He knew she was there and he could tell by the faint sniffling he heard.
Haley heard the door open and tried to wipe away her tears. Haley was on the floor behind the counter, crying. She put her hands over her face as Lucas saw her and kneeled down next to her. She was slightly relieved when Lucas called out her name. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if it had been Karen or someone else completely.
"Is this floor taken?"
She's not surprised that he sits next to her. He's always been there to support her, even when she made a stupid mistake like she already had. She whimpered and sighed, putting her head against the counter.
"You know, just this once, I deserve a big, fat I told you so."
Haley said and wiped at another tear.
"Well you won't get it from me."
Lucas said and Haley laughed. Of course she wouldn't get it from him. Even though he was the person who deserved to give it to her most, all he did was comfort her.
"What happened?"
Lucas asked her concerned look on his face. Haley looks at the wall across from her, tears still in her eyes.
"Exactly what you told me was gonna happen. I started believing that he wasn't terrible, and he proved me wrong. Once again, the smart girl is really stupid."
She said a fresh burst of tears flowing from her eyes. Lucas wiped at her tears and said
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. You are not stupid."
Haley smiled just a little as Lucas puts his hand down and then she thinks of Nathan and starts to cry again.
"Thanks."
Haley said and swallowed, sniffling a little. She bucked up and looked at him a small smile on her face.
"Well, at least things are, uh, working out for one of us. It looks like you and Peyton are headed in the right direction."
She said, a part of her hoped they weren't just so he would wallow with her in self pity.
"Well, if it'll make you feel better, that lasted all of about five minutes."
Haley laughed, she couldn't help it. She pressed her forehead against his.
"It doesn't make me feel any better. Well, welcome back."
She said her forehead still pressed against his. He smiled.
"To where?"
He asked looking into her eyes. Their look intensifying.
"Normal."
Haley said smiling looking deeper into Lucas's eyes. Peyton was right about them seeing right through you.
"Yeah. They can have their world."
He said in almost a dull whisper. Haley enjoyed in and when he stopped talking neither of them pulled away. They sat their with their forehead's pressed together for what seemed like hours but could have only been a few minutes. She couldn't disconnect her eyes with his, even if she had wanted too.
How had he let himself get caught here. He'd had a crush on Hales once but that was so long ago he couldn't even remember why. Now it all came flooding back to him. As she cried all he could think was how beautiful she was. Was it selfish of him to want her right after what had happened with Peyton.
"Yeah. They can have their world."
He heard the words leave his mouth and actually believed them. Why couldn't it just be him and Hales again?
"We can have our own right?"
Hales said playfully pushing on his shoulder. Their foreheads stopped touching for only a second and Lucas noticed how cold his felt without her there. That was when he knew. He brought his hand up and touched the side of her face. The mood in the room got heavy and Lucas nodded, their eyes never broke contact as he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
Haley had certainly been caught off guard by the kiss. By their own world she'd simply meant back to normal. Back to before Nathan and Peyton where there to mess things up. When he kissed her she was only a little surprised. She could feel it coming and when he finally did, she kissed him back.
Haley ran her fingers up to the side of his face as his hand cradled her neck. For a second everything inside her went blank. Where was she right now? She could feel Lucas's lips on hers and was returning his kiss just the same. She felt comfortable and fresh. She wanted this, so why was a part of her sad?
Nathan. The answer sprung to her mind. She opened her eyes and looked away from Lucas's face. She pressed against Lucas's chest, pushing him away.
"What the hell is going on?"
A hurt look played across Nathan's features as Haley stood up.
"Nathan..."
She said the tears springing to the surface again.
"Forget it."
Nathan said and turned around angrily. Haley felt a fresh batch of tears fall down her face. Lucas looked at him walk away and then up at Haley. Lucas stood up and gave her that look. The look that made her feel guilty for no good reason at all.
"Why did you do that?"
Haley said loudly and hit his chest. She looked at where Nathan had stood.
"He's going to think something is going on with us!"
She yelled and slapped his chest again. Lucas grabbed her arms and held her there as she broke down. He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head as she sobbed into his chest.
(((Note: It took me forever to find the original scene... anyway... where do you think this should go? Lucas or Nathan? Give me your opinion and we'll see what happens... I'm not sure if I want this to go Naley or Laley all the way.)))
