A/N - Future fic. Consider all the high school drama over. Now they're deep into the real world, which I do realize is not this simple, especially employers. Nathan's basketball career played out like Dan hoped it would and he's in the NBA (chose a team, really, any team). Haley's career took an odd turn and you'll find out where she works.
"Since when are fifteen-year old girls this interested in professional basketball?" Haley wondered out loud as she and Nathan watched the highlights from last night's game on ESPN. "The fact that some of them are actually holding up signs for you is not reassuring for me."
Kissing the top of her head, he laughed in reply, "Don't worry I would never consider anyone else. Besides I'm pretty damn sure it's illegal."
"So you're only going to be home for two more days?" she questioned softly, playing with her engagement ring as she often did when nervous, or excited, or anything other than Haley.
"Sorry, baby, but you know three days is already a pretty long stretch to be in the same city," Nathan replied, finally back in the apartment that he and Haley supposedly shared though he was only there in the off season.
"Yeah, I know. It's just that when you're home. I'd rather have you here for a couple months than a few days," she watched the TV, amused at the goof ups. Feeling Nathan's weight shift on the bed she was pulled back against him.
He stole the remote from her hands and clicked the TV off. "I just want one more night with you. As long as I know you're waiting then I'm perfectly content with my life." Nathan drew the covers over both of them and they fell asleep peacefully, blissfully unaware of anything else.
Soon enough Nathan had to leave this time for California and Haley was back at work. She opened the door to the P.R. firm a bit later than usual after Nathan tried to get her to go to the airport with him. Attempting to sneak past her boss' office but not so surprisingly she heard her name called from inside.
She entered the space cautiously and found her boss' little beady eyes staring back at her. "Have you wrapped up the latest appearances with Nathan Scott?"
"Yes, Mr. Jameson, he's to make an appearance at the press junket after the game tonight and avoid as many questions about his fiancé as possible," Haley replied in a monotone voice.
"Good, good. But for the last time who is this mystery girl? He wouldn't tell us when they first started dating and now he won't tell us after they're engaged."
Haley fought hard to keep a straight face but still couldn't look him in the eye as she answered, "I don't know. He refuses to tell me and I can't contact his friends for this reason. And none of the team knows either."
Feeling excused she rushed out the door and into her own office. She collapsed into the plush leather chair and burst out laughing when someone knocked on her door and Brooke entered.
"You having fun with yourself over there? Or is there something that I should know?"she said staring at Haley's odd spectacle.
"It's the fifth time in the past week that my boss has asked about Nate's fiancé," Haley got out after five minutes of laughing and Brooke staring at her like an idiot.
"Yeah, well, it's not his fault you two refuse to tell anyone. Also not his fault that you're demented enough to be the P.R. rep for the fiancé you won't admit is engaged to you," Brooke paused and thought for a moment. "Did those sentences make any resemblance of sense?"
Smiling Haley responded, "Not really. But then again you are describing my life and that doesn't make sense either."
"Sure it does. You're engaged to a hot and famous basketball player but won't tell anyone. Wait, how are you not in a mental institution?" Brooke smiled sardonically while Haley scoffed at her suggestion.
"Excuse me, but I am not the one who–AHH!" Haley jumped up in her seat while Brooke once again stared at her like a crazy person. "My ass is vibrating," she further explained then tried to retrieve her cell phone from where she had accidentally sat on it as it escaped her jacket pocket.
"Ooh," Brooke let out in fake understanding and paused when the words sunk in, "Wait. What?!?" Haley triumphantly grabbed the phone and quickly answered it before the person could hang up. "Ooh your cell was ringing. For a second there I thought..." she trailed off needlessly as Haley was already ignoring her.
"Hey, Nate."
On the plane Nathan smiled before answering her, "Hey Hales, who do I hear in the background?"
"Oh, that's just Brooke who's trying to admit your fiancé to an insane asylum."
Haley smiled sweetly at the offended Brooke who loudly added, "Am not. I'm just saying that she's crazy not that she needs to be admitted."
"Well, tell her we've tried before. And there's not a place that would take you," he joked from three thousand miles in the air.
"Did they forget to turn on the oxygen to the cabin? Because, unless you're suffering from brain damage, that is not the way to treat the woman you are about to marry. Sometime. Soon," Haley said the last part awkwardly as they had not planned a date.
"Alright I'm deranged. I'm crazy for speaking like that to you. I'm the one who needs to be in a mental hospital."
"Haha, very funny, Nathan. Now why did you call?"
"I wanted to see if my beautiful fiance/P.R. rep would join me in California for a certain press junket. And not to mention meet the team since most of them think that I'm not really engaged and am talking to myself at this current moment."
Haley grinned, seeing as his entire team knew that Nathan was engaged but since then she hadn't gone to many of his games or at least stayed long enough to be introduced. They were always afraid of someone finding them out. "It fits your neurotic image. I can't leave right now. Molly's on a vacation so I have to cover for all her psycho clients and Peyton's coming into town so I have to meet her at the airport. Besides my boss is bugging me about finding out who your fiancé is."
"Tell Brooke to get Peyton and screw Molly, I need you here. This is professional work. Don't you have to tend to the needs of your own client before you take care of hers? And it'll give you the perfect excuse to get Jameson off your back. You're coming to the junket to squeeze information out of me." The reasoning took long for Nathan to get out and he didn't bother to keep his voice down so he soon had all his teammates staring at him.
"Give me a second to process all that...okay, done. I'll tell Jameson and I'll get the next flight over."
But, Haley–," Nathan started not hearing her words, "Wait. You're not just pulling my strings?"
"No," she said flashing a smile at Brooke who was silently demanding to know everything. "Brooke is perfectly capable of getting Peyton and I've been working longer than Molly. I need a vacation damn it. Or at least some time with you."
Brooke stared at her puzzled with the direction the conversation was going or actually ended. Haley put the phone down and smiled sweetly at her long time friend, "Brooke, you know you're one of my best friends..."
"Just stop there. I know exactly what you're getting at. And you will so owe me after you get back." Haley jumped up and hugged her all while she was still talking, "You get to spend time with your hottie and I get to babysit the angsty blonde."
Rushing out of the room Haley yelled another quick 'thank you' before slowing and heading into Jameson's office. "Mr. Jameson, I'm going to California to help Scott with the junket."
"Wonderful, Ms. James. The meeting's tomorrow so you'll need to leave immediately. I suggest you tell Anne to reserve you a ticket for the next flight to California." Haley grinned victorious and started to leave the room when she heard him call out once more, "Ms. James. Don't forget about the girl."
Turning back she looked him in the eye and for the first time in a long while answered him truthfully, "Entirely impossible to forget, sir." She walked towards his secretary's desk and muttered, "Unless I get amnesia."