Author's Note: This is going to be a 3-5 parter ficlet. Hope you enjoy. Don't forget to review at the end.
The colours blended into one as she woke up, her head screaming for caffeine. Squinting, she forced her upper body to lift from the soft, comforting mattress she had slept in the night before. And after a few minutes, when her eyes had finally adjusted to the harsh sunlight streaming in from the windows, she surveyed her surroundings. She then concluded that she was not in her house. And therefore not in her bed.
"NATHAN!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. Hearing no response, she tried again.
"NATHAN! Where in the world are you?" She demanded. And after what seemed like forever, Haley heard the shower being turned off and Nathan came to stand in the doorway.
In his boxers.
And nothing else.
Haley had to blink twice before she could regain her composure.
"Nathan." She breathed.
"Yes, that's me. And no, before you ask, Brooke's not here. Where? She went out with Lucas to breakfast." He responded. "Now are you ok? Do you need anything?"
"No. I'm fine. See you downstairs?" She asked, still a little dazed.
"Sure." He turned around, then pausing, he asked, "are you sure you're ok? You seem a little off."
"Yep. Totally fine!" She lied. As he left the room, she sunk under the covers and groaned. Since when did she melt at the mere sight of Nathan?
'When he's shirtless. And I can see his abs, especially when he just come out of the shower and his hair's all wet and spiky…and…..wait. I'm doing it again.' Sighing, she came to the conclusion that, slowly, but surely she was falling for her best friend. Yes, the one and only, cocky, arrogant and highly irritating Nathan Scott. Groaning once again, Haley crawled out of bed and into the en suite bathroom.
She descended the stairs quietly, careful not to make any sound, and tiptoed across the hallway, through the French doors of the large living room and into the kitchen where she could smell breakfast being cooked by none other than Nathan Scott. Still quiet, she crept up to him, where he was buttering her toast, and finally pounced on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Hales!" He whined after letting out a loud yelp.
"What?" She asked innocently, munching on an apple while he carried her on his back to the table.
Sighing, he answered, "Nothing."
"I have you well trained." She claimed proudly.
And as they sat at the table, content with their delicious breakfast, the two were silent. Something unusual for them.
Haley's thoughts wandered to the times when they were children. She had practically grown up in this house with the Scott brothers. She and Brooke would come over every day to play with their playmates. And as time went on, they grew into different people – but ever constant in each other's lives. From being playmates, Nathan and Lucas became the players of the school and Brooke and Haley found the miracle that were boys. Not once did they think that their soul mates, however, were right there, by their side every time Dan Scott came home to yell at the boys. Or every time the girls' hearts were broken by a guy. The four of them would be there for each other. She laughed, remembering the faze the boys went through, where every guy they dated had to be properly qualified for the job. And of course they all fell short of Nathan or Lucas' requirements.
Hearing Haley's angelic laugh, Nathan couldn't help but smile back. He knew what was happening between the two of them, but he would never be able to face it. It was far too awkward a subject to approach with Haley and yet he never seemed to be content with her as a friend. He always ended up wanting more. And being Nathan, he closed up and let it be. Considering neither one's parents would be around for longer than a couple of days at a time, the four kids had to parent each other – and for the most part it had worked. But Haley could still see the pain behind Nathan's eyes. This is why she never worked up the courage to talk to him about the relationship they were dancing around. She knew that if they didn't work out, the two would never be able to go back to being 'just friends'. The pull between the two was too great.
And so they sat, a table full of food laid out in front of them, yet all they could think about was the other's captivating pair of eyes. There was an unspoken stand off happening now. Neither willing to back down from this staring competition. Neither willing to back down on their love. And just as Nathan began to speak, Brooke and Lucas burst through the back door laughing hysterically.
"Oops, Luke, I think we stopped Naley's breakfast date." Brooke said gravely. Then two seconds later, she was laughing again.
"Someone's had too much coffee." Nathan noted, taking a sip of his own.
"I'll deal with her; you carry on your date." He said and winked.
Haley simply groaned, she seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Brooke had this 'crazy notion' that Nathan and Haley were perfect for each other. Haley insisted, however, that the only reason she was suggesting this was because she wanted the four of them to double date.
"Brooke and her crazy ideas, eh?" Nathan said as he began to clear the dishes.
"Tell me about them." Haley replied rolling her eyes. And all the while they were thinking of ways to tell the other of their true feelings.
Nine hours later, the four friends were resting in the living area of the Scott mansion watching a movie. Well more like the nodding asleep, trying to watch the movie. Brooke's caffeine rush had died down and now they were all winding down, waiting for the day to come to an end. And before long, Brooke and Lucas had fallen asleep on the love seat while Nathan and Haley lay resting peacefully, being lulled to sleep by each other's breathing.
Soon, Nathan was lying fully on the couch with Haley curled up on top of him. One of her hands lay resting gently on his heart while his were wrapped around her waist. Both wore contented smiles on their faces as they slept. Haley dreaming of Nathan and Nathan dreaming of Haley. Would these two soul mates ever realise they were the two halves of a burning heart?