Title: If It Means A lot To You
Author: Britnybella
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Just love the characters.
Summary: The one that got away. We've all heard the cliché. For Nathan Scott, it's more than that. He never expected to fall in love with her that summer. Or break her heart. Now years later, unexpected events will cause him to have to finally face her.
Authors note: Hey all, thank you for checking out my new fanfiction. I will ask that everyone be kind. I haven't attempted to write a fanfiction in over 2 years so I'm probably rusty. Lol. Let me know what you think! :)
Extra points for anyone who knows where the title came from ;)
Chapter 1 – Damn Memories
**That Summer**
"This is amazing, isn't it?" Haley whispers, awestruck, as if she speaks too loudly the moment might shatter into a million pieces.
Nathan sneaks a peak at her and smiles to himself. She has to be the cutest thing he's ever laid his eyes on, laying there next to him on the blanket, arms folded behind her supporting that pretty head of hers. Her eyes were glued to the night sky in awe, the look on her face that of an epiphany.
It was a hot July night, probably the hottest they had experienced so far that summer. The air was thick and hard to breathe from the rain showers that had snuck in earlier that afternoon. That was the funny thing about Florida summers. One minute you were out on the beach soaking up the perfect sunshine living the life, not a cloud in sight, the next minute the sky fell out and you were completely drenched before you even had a chance to realize the downpour was coming, much less make it to shelter.
A warm breeze rolled in off the waves and it felt comfortable and cool against his sticky, perspired skin. A much needed temporary relief from the stifling heat of the night. As it was his T-shirt was already damp and stuck to the skin of his back and chest.
He must have taken to long to answer, because suddenly she shifted her chocolate gaze from the sky to his face. He saw her breath catch in her throat for a moment and surprise crossed over her features as she realized his eyes were fixed on her and not the meteor shower taking place in the inky sky above them.
"Yeah, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He finally whispered back, never taking his eyes off of hers.
She grinned, trying to break the tension, and then cleared her throat. "Yeah, it sure is something else. I've never seen a meteor shower before."
Nathan's eyes floated to the sky and then back to her, and a small, embarrassed smile played over his lips.
"Oh yeah, the meteor shower is beautiful too."
A nervous chuckle escaped her lips and she returned to watching the meteor shower, choosing to ignore the obvious tension that was building.
He finally turned his eyes to the sky, completely confused. How was this happening to him? How was she having this affect on him? If someone had told him at the beginning of the summer he would be feeling this way about Haley James, he would have laughed in their face and told them to lay off the crack.
In fact he had been completely annoyed when his half brother had shown up with her at their father's beach house on that first day of summer vacation. He had been looking forward to a whole summer with his brother, chilling at the beach during the day, partying all night, picking up all the girls they could handle.
Lord knows the road with Lucas had been a long, hard one to brotherhood. They had grown up in different cities, with different mothers, both blaming the other for why their father wasn't in their lives. It was just in the past 2 years that they had finally bonded through basketball when their father Dan had finally reappeared in their lives and tried to make up for lost time. And this would be the first summer they would finally spend together.
"What is she doing here?" Nathan remembered asking Lucas as they stood on the front doorstep of the sprawling beach house, bags in hand. Nathan glanced at the small, mousy girl standing next to his brother who was in a crocheted beanie, long sleeved shirt and jeans despite the 88 degree weather and he smirked meanly. The girl was weird. Kind of cute in her own way, despite how plain she was. But still weird. Definitely not his type.
"It was a last minute change of plans, Nate. Something came up with her parents and they had to go out of town for a couple of months. So she's staying with us for the summer. And I wasn't going to leave her in Tree Hill with my mom so—"
I choked, I mean literally choked, on my own saliva, and then glared at Lucas. Who, in turn, looked at me strangely.
A chick was staying with them. All summer. This wasn't fair.
This was so not fuc—
"Hales, give us a sec." Lucas said over his shoulder and grabbed me by the elbow to spin me around so that "Hales" wouldn't hear us.
"Look dude, I know you're annoyed. This was supposed to be our guy's summer and all that, and I'm sorry that plans changed. But she's my best friend, so you better attempt to be nice to her." He said threateningly. Then he smiled and let go of my arm.
"Besides" He said. "She's really awesome once you get to know her. She won't cramp our style. Promise. Right Hales?" He shouted over his shoulder.
"Hales", who at that moment was attempting to walk down the driveway to go grab the other bags waiting by the car, turned her head at the sound of her name and…BOOM!, tripped over her own feet and landed hard on her hands and knees. She then laughed nervously and jumped back to her feet.
I snorted and looked at Luke who gave me a sheepish grin. "Yeah, man, I can see that."
Nathan sighed as the memory concluded. Somehow she HAD grown on him. In fact she had more than grown on him. It had been a month since that first day, and now he wanted to spend every waking moment with her. She was all he thought about.
He had never felt that way before about a girl.
Until this point he had looked at girls as toys. Something to be played with and tossed aside for a newer, better, hotter toy.
But with Haley it wasn't like that.
Haley was pretty. Haley was sweet. He respected Haley and was actually interested in the things she said.
What the hell? Did he actually just say that? Did Nathan Scott actually just say that he was interested in what a girl had to say? Better yet did Nathan Scott just say he actually respected said girl?
"Face it Scott, you're in unchartered territory here." He mumbled and propped himself up on his elbows.
"Hmm?"
"Oh" Nathan said surprised, not realizing he had spoken out loud. "Nothing." He flipped on his side so he was facing her and she smiled at him. He was stunned for a moment. Haley James was gorgeous. How had he not noticed that before?
"You know, you're probably gonna think I'm the biggest dork ever for saying this—"
"Too late, James." He interrupted. "I already think that." He snorted and she swatted at him playfully.
"That's just rude." She giggled for a moment and then her face turned serious again.
"No, but really, what I was going to say was I wish this moment would never end."
Nathan glanced back at her and she smiled shyly, unsure of herself as always. Not even aware of how beautiful she really was. Unaware that she blushed and started playing with her hair when she was nervous. Unaware that with the slightest smile she could completely calm his nerves and make him at peace with himself. Unaware that she was the sweetest most incredible creature on this planet.
And at that exact moment he just knew. It hit him like a ton of bricks and suddenly it felt as if all the air had been sucked out of his lungs.
Nathan Scott was falling in love with little Haley James.
He reached out and placed his thumb under her chin and guided her face towards his. When their gaze collided she was startled at first. But after a moment, she just smiled that Haley smile and he could tell. She felt it too.
As he placed his lips softly to hers, fireworks ignited. Unlike anything he had ever felt before. And he was sure in that moment that they were shining.
Shining brighter than any meteor shower ever could. That was for sure.
"Earth to Nathan Scott, do you read me?"
Nathan was snapped back to reality by his older brother's voice. He shook his head trying to clear some of the fog the memories had left behind. He noticed his breathing was shallow and he felt beads of perspiration gathering on his forehead, which he swiped at absentmindedly.
Damn memories.
"Yeah, Lucas, I'm here. Sorry about that." He all but stuttered out.
Luckily, due to his current excitement, Lucas didn't pay much attention to his brother's weird behavior.
"I thought you would be a little more excited to hear your brother is getting MARRIED! Or at least give me the "what the hell are you thinking?" speech. Something!" Lucas chuckled good-naturedly.
Nathan finally pulled himself together and grinned for the sake of his brother. "That's awesome Luc! I'm really happy for you man."
"Thanks little brother. I've never been happier in my life." Lucas stopped talking for a moment and Nathan knew his brother was smiling on the other end of the line, obviously thinking about his girl and how crazy happy she made him.
"So will you be my best man?" Lucas finally chipped back in.
Nathan felt a stab of pain attack his heart.
"Of course, dude!" Nathan spit out with as much enthusiasm as he could manage.
"Aw, man, thanks Nate! You really have no idea what it means to me. So we'll see you in New Orleans for the wedding then?"
That was about the last place he wanted to go. Could he really handle this?
It didn't really matter. He would have to. This was his brother. He couldn't let Lucas down on the happiest day of his life.
"Yup, I'll be there."
"I love you, little brother." Lucas said, and he sounded so genuinely happy Nathan knew he couldn't break his heart.
"I love you too Luc." Nathan smiled and hung up the phone.
He couldn't break his brother's heart. Unfortunately, that meant he was going to have to break his own.
Because seeing her again would most definitely shatter his heart into a million pieces.
