Title: Made Easy

Author: gigi2

Genre: Naley

Rating: PG-13 for now.

Etc: sorry it's short. It'll get real good as we go :) I'm a recovering Trory but seeing as how CMM will never go back to Gilmore Girls, I'd like to see Nathan and Haley get together. On t.v., I think they're digging one another a little to quickly.

Etc 2: I fixed this up so it would be easier to read. Enjoy!

Chapter 1 :::

English class proved to be made easy once again for Haley James. If not the smartest in her graduating class, she was definitely one of them. She smiled smugly down at her Oscar Wilde research paper --- A+ with an exclamation mark. Although most of her peers found it difficult to form an argument or to dissect an author's subliminal messages in his writing, Haley thought otherwise. All it took was a little bit of reading in between the lines and from there on, everything would be a piece of cake. Haley took her research paper without an overview and slipped it into her folder. 

A few groans were let out by several students. As students ignored the teacher and asked one another 'what they got', two rows over to Haley's left sat Nathan Scott. There, he looked down not so smugly at a rather large 'F'. Normally, he wouldn't care to give it a second glance but this time around was different. This semester alone, 7 research papers would be done, which counted for 75% of his grade. He groaned, realizing his grade in the class would be taking a plunge into academic suicide, also threatening his eligibility to play in the game.

Why did I listen to my counselor and let her talk me into taking AP English?, Nathan thought to himself. Not that there wasn't much he could do about that now. The last paper he turned in was one of the 7. Dually noted, the third research paper and the third 'F'. Rattling himself out of his thoughts, the last period bell of the day had just rang. He was sure he heard the teacher telling the class to get started on their next research paper, as it would be due in another three weeks.

Yeah, right.

Nathan slinged his backpack over his left shoulder and thrust himself into the throng of Tree Hill student body. A lot was going through his mind, in no particular order. Peyton - she's always pissed. Dan - not going to even get started. Mom - she didn't even know who her own son was anymore. Grades - refer to academic suicide. And of course, Lucas. The prodigal Golden Boy, who slowly started taking everything away from him. Nathan knew things weren't going to go his way any time soon.

"HEY! Watch where you're going!"

He was too engrossed in his thoughts to notice that he had just walked right into Haley. Without apology, he looked down at the girl (who was glaring right back at him), rolled his eyes, and walked around her and down the hall towards the gym.

Jerk, Haley thought. You know those times when you think about a great comeback and tell yourself you would say it? Well, Haley couldn't think of anything to blurt out except "What'd you get?"

Her rebuttal rang out in the hall. He cringed at her words; What'd you get?

"What?" he said, as he turned back to walk back to his previous accident location.

Haley bit down on her bottom lip and almost regretted saying anything. "I said, umm, what'd you get?"

"What are you talking about?" as Nathan tugged at his backpack straps.

"I just wanted to know what you got on your Oscar Wilde research paper." Haley asked softly.

As before, he looked down at her, except this time, she was biting her bottom lip and her eyes weren't seething at his own.

My research paper. Nathan had managed to put that fresh 'F' out of his mind for at least a good 15 minutes and this girl managed to bring it all back.

"I don't know you. And frankly, I don't care to know you. I don't discuss my grades or my business with people beneath me." Nathan hastily spat it all out. He saw her eyes glower and felt a bit of remorse for snapping at the girl but he didn't have time to "converse" with some brown-noser.

Ouch, that must've stung Haley. "You're right. I don't know you, Nathan." She looked down briefly at her worn out black Chucks, contemplating whether or not to apologize for asking, and glanced back up to see Nathan's retreating figure.

Wow, another winner here, Haley sighed. Composing herself, she walked down the opposite direction of Nathan towards the Tutoring Center.

Nathan, already at the door of the gym, stood there and looked over his shoulder to see her once more. He was a bit taken off guard, because she knew his name and he didn't know hers.

Just let this day be over.