Chapter 1: The Lovers

Haley bit her lip and bounced on the tip of her feet. The game was tied. Their was 20 seconds left. Nathan stepped to the line to inbound the ball and she took a step forward. "If you win tonight, don't bother showering." She said giving him incentive to win. Knowing either way they would end up at her house. He smirked and threw the ball into play. Tim got the ball and faked a dribbled but passed it to Nathan as he ran onto the court.

Nathan caught the ball with ease and dribbled around the three point line to the other side, taking his good ole time. Haley smirked at him as he made eye contact with her. Finally, stopping Nathan halted and shot the ball in the hoop. It glided through the air as the buzzer rang and swished into the net perfectly, yet, Nathan, not once, broke eye contact with his girlfriend.

She threw her pom poms on the ground and ran to the court, into his arms. He had just gotten them into the semi finals. "You are so getting lucky tonight." She whispered in his ear before pulling away and noticing his smirk. He leaned in and kissed her while he felt all the other players patting him on the back.

"Great game man." Tim said, which pulled the pair apart. Haley moved from being up against Nathan to leaning into his side. His arm wrapped around her waist. Nathan held out his fist cockily as Tim pounded it and walked off.

"That was amazing Nathan." A scantily clad girl said walking up to them running her hand along Nathan's bicep.

"Are you serious?" Haley asked "His girlfriend is right here, so go flirt with someone else unless you want your ass kicked."

Nathan laughed as Clarissa stomped off. "That" He said pulling Haley against him once more and wrapping his arms around her waist "was hot."

"She's such an airhead. I mean, how long have we been dating and she still tries to flirt with you...in front of me!"

"Don't worry, I would never cheat on you baby."

"I know, I trust you."

"Good" He smirked "Now let me go get my things so we can get out of here. Your parents aren't home right?" He asked.

She leaned up to kiss him "No, they're gone, all weekend."

"We aren't going to leave the house all weekend are we?"

"Not if everything goes as plan. I pre-ordered a pizza to get there in an hour."

"Yum" Nathan said but before he could kiss her Lucas walked up.

"Brother is within ten feet, please separate." He practically begged grimacing. "Thank you." He said as Nathan sighed and Haley hoped up to give him a hug.

"Great game buddy!"

"Thanks Hales, you guys coming to the party at Fede's tonight?"

"Nah, I don't think so" Nathan said.

"Oh yeah, your parents went to visit Vivian this weekend in Tennessee right?"

Haley bit her tongue and nodded trying not to smirk knowing Lucas could tell what was up.

"Eww" He said shaking his head "I'll be going and leave you to...that then."

"Bye Luke, catch you later" Nathan called out as he walked off. "Let's get going."

"Leaving before you say hello to your favorite uncle?" A man said behind them.

Nathan turned around and pulled him into a hug. "Uncle Coop, what are you doing here man?"

"I have a few weeks off at the track and thought I would stop by. So I presume this is Haley?" He asked sticking his hand out. Haley took it and shook it.

"Hi, nice to meet you."

"How long have you two been together and I just met you."

"Two years"

"Wow Nate I never knew you had it in you."

"Yeah me either." He joked.

"I feel like for Haley it was much like training a dog." Cooper said sarcastically.

"Yep, I got him neutered and everything."

"Funny" He said rolling his eyes. "We have a pizza coming to Haley's house, why don't you come back with us and we can catch up, or you two can just make fun of me more."

"Aww honey don't be so sensitive, it doesn't suit you well." She joked putting her hand on his cheek. "Besides what else am I here for?"

"Are you sure, I don't want to ruin your plans?" He said cautious of the young couple.

"No, I would love to get to know the uncle who let Nathan drive a race car at fifteen and crash it." Haley said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Ahhh" He flinched "He told you."

"She saw the scar."

"While you were swimming right?" He said sarcastically.

"Mhhmm" Nathan nodded.

"Nate, go get changed okay, you smell" Haley said trying to avoid the awkward conversation. "If you don't mind Cooper, why don't you wait for Nathan and you guys can head over to my house together. Nate, I will take your car and head home so I can change."

Nathan bit his lip, "I guess."

"You just don't want me to drive your precious baby."

"You have a lead foot!"

Haley gasped "I do not, you always yell at me for driving too slow, liar!"

"Fine, be careful with it," he sighed. "Let me go grab my keys."

Once Nathan got into the locker room to change he smirked and texted Haley.

"Here you go" He sighed walking out and handing her to them.

"Thank you, I will make sure to get it washed and waxed on the way." She said smirking at him. "Alright, see you in a little bit, love you." Haley got onto her tippy toes and kissed his cheek.

"Love you too baby."

"Nice to meet you Coop." She said bouncing off towards the girls locker room to grab her stuff.

"You too!" He called out. "I like her Nate" Cooper said slapping a hand on Nathan's shoulder as Nathan smiled.

Haley reached into her gym bag for her sweater and saw her phone flashing.

'Nice way to get out early, you had something set up didn't you.-N'

She smirked at how well Nathan knew her.

'Maybe ;) Lots and lots of candles. I was going to sneak into the house early in order to light them. Don't worry i'll save the ice cream for later.-xo'

'Yum ;)' He texted back moments later.

'Cooper seems nice'

'Yeah, he's pretty awesome, I always used to love when he visited'

'Alright enough of this, go get ready so that way I can see you sooner'

'You're missing me already huh?'

'Nice grammar, and of course. I'm always missing you.'

'Me too, and you like that my tutor taught me it.'

'I do, now chop chop!'

'yes ma'am'

Haley hopped around her room singing softly to herself. "Hey baby" Nathan said knocking lightly on the door.

"Hi" She said walking over and kissing him gently. Haley pulled at his light blue button down shirt with his rolled up sleeves "I love this shirt on you."

"I know." He smirked with a glint in his eye. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks" She said taking his hand in hers. She had left her hair in the high ponytail from cheerleading but switched out her uniform for a pair of jeans and a peach tank top that had a lace cut out in the back. "Let's get this over with."

"Hold on a minute." Nathan said pulling her back. "Cooper's question reminded me of something."

"Oh yeah?" She asked.

"Our two year anniversary is coming up this month."

"It is, boyfriend," she replied smiling. "I'm so excited."

"What do you want to do for it?"

"Whatever you plan I'm sure I will love it."

"I love you so much Hales."

"I love you too, Always and Forever" She said before leaning up to his him.

"We are going to get married some day." He said.

"We are going to spend the rest of our lives together. And have lots and lots of babies."

"Definitely" He said leaning down to kiss her once more.

"By the way, I love when you're sensitives" She said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Really?" He asked, pushing a hair out of her face.

"Mhmm" She noddeds "It makes me feel special because I know you're not like that with anyone else. You don't let most people in to see the real you, but you let me...and I love you for that." Nathan smiled looking down at Haley while she spoke with awe.

"You're something special Haley James almost Scott."

She smiled and chuckled. "It couldn't come fast enough."

They were now just about done eating pizza. Isabelle, Cooper's girlfriend, had joined them half way through having come straight from the airport.

"So where did you fly in from Isabelle?" Haley asked taking the last bite of her pizza.

"Mulan, I was there for work. I am a clothing designer."

"We have to introduce you to our friend Brooke. That's what she wants to do."

"Really, it's a hard industry to get in to, but I would love to take a look at some of her stuff." She said with a smile.

"What about you Haley, what do you want to do after high school?" Cooper asked.

"I'm hoping to get into Duke."

Nathan huffed, cutting her off. "Please, you will get in in a heartbeat. She's number one in the class, they would be lucky to have you."

Haley blushed as she continued "And I want to major in literature to eventually teach high school English. Either that or become a recording artist."

"Oh you like to sing?"

"Yeah"

"She's great." Nathan said pulling out his phone. "Watch"

"You recorded me?" Haley asked turning to him. "When, how?"

"All the time when you aren't paying attention. I need something to show people so I can brag about my girl."

She rolled her eyes "You're lucky your charming"

Nathan then pulled up his most recent video on his phone. Haley's voice boomed through the speakers.

Haley leaned over and watched as she sat at her desk writing a paper and singing.

"What were you doing Nate, just watching her do homework?" Cooper questioned.

"No, I'm not her stalker, I was reading but she was distracting me."

"Wow, your great Haley." Isabelle complemented.

"Thank you" She smiled.

"So we rented some movies to watch if you guys want to?" Nathan suggested.

"Are you sure, we don't want to ruin your night." Isabelle said.

"No, it'd be great." Haley assured "We have 21 Jump Street, The Avengers, and Friends With Benefits."

"Oh I've really wanted to see 21 Jump Street."

"That it is then." Haley said reaching for the dvd case. She moved to the other room, everyone following, she put it in the dvd player before getting situated on the couch. Nathan and Haley instinctively settled into their usual position, Nathan sat with his feet propped up on the coffee table, and Haley laid sideways with her head on Nathan's lap. No words were said.

"Aww, you guys are so cute." Isabelle said, as they settled on the other couch.

"This is how we spend most Saturday nights. Fridays it alternates, most of the time we go to parties if we like the person throwing it. If not we hang with friends or just on our own."

"Oh to be young and careless." She laughed.

As the credit rolled through Isabelle let out a loud yawn "Oh excuse me...jet lag."

"Let's get going then, I'm tired too" Cooper said getting up.

"Where are you staying?" Nathan asked.

"We are actually renting a place over in Masonboro, I forgot to tell you."

"That's awesome man, well in that case you should stop by Sunday morning, Haley makes really good pancakes."

Cooper cocked an eyebrow.

"She makes breakfast for me every game day, to make sure I start the day right."

"Yep, today it was eggs and bacon." Haley smiled.

"Does she bring it over or come to the house and cook?"

"Normally I come over here, her and Dan...he doesn't like that she distracts me from basketball."

Cooper rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about him Haley, he doesn't like anyone...no one likes him either. Anyway, we should get going, but I will let you know on breakfast."

"Alright, I'll see you later."

"It was nice to meet you both." Haley smiled.

"You too." They said before leaving the house.

"I like her." Haley smiled up at Nathan, "She's funny."

"She fits him...theiy're great together."

"Think they're gonna get married?"

"Yeah...I can tell he's serious about this one. He talks about her like I talk about you." Nathan said looking down at her.

Haley listened for Cooper's car to drive off before kissing Nathan. Not wanting to be interrupted or walked in on.

"Good job not inviting them tomorrow morning." She smirked.

"We just lost a few hours, we will have to make them up, we will be busy tomorrow morning." He smirked back before kissing her. "If you know what I mean."

"Oh I know what you mean."

"Good morning" Haley said when she noticed Nathan opening his eyes the next morning.

"Morning gorgeous." He smiled.

She stretched out her back before he pulled her close to him. "Hey" He said as they faces came close, before leaning in to kiss her.

"I love you"

"I love you too" He smiled.

A loud noise split them apart. Haley heard a clatter and a clang as she said "Nathan..."

"Shh, stay here" He whispered slipping on his basketball shorts. Haley moved to put on his t-shirt and slowly crept behind him through the house.

"Damn, what were you up to baby sis?" She heard Taylor say from behind her.

"What...what are you doing here Tay?"

"I'm gonna stay here for a few weeks."

"Do mom and dad know?"

"Not yet."

"Tay..."

"Yeah I know I ruined your weekend with him, whatever, get over it its my house too."

Haley narrowed her eyes at Taylor in confusion before rolling them. "Whatever" She sighed "Let's go for a walk Nathan."

"In that?" Taylor asked raising her eyebrow.

Haley ignored her and dragged Nathan up to her room "Let's just get changed and get out of here okay, I just..."

"Alright that's fine." He said trying to calm her down by rubbing her arm.

"Well...get ready then!"

"Hales...you're wearing my shirt."

"Oh" She said realizing "She drives me crazy."

"I know" He said slipping on his shoes as Haley changed and handed him his shirt. "Don't forget I've been your boyfriend for two years, for a year and a half of that she was living here."

"I know." She said back pulling him in for a hug "And I love that you have been there no matter what to help me deal with it."

"Always and forever, babe"

Babe. It was still little things like that that made her heart throb. As they walked outside he wrapped his arm around her and lead off towards town. "I just...don't know why she bugs me so much. We used to be so close but then she just became so fake you know? Like she needed to show off, the person she is right now, that's not really her. She puts up this front and I don't know why."

"Maybe she thinks people won't like the real her."

"But people don't like the fake her."

"Maybe...she just needs time to figure that out on her own. She needs to realize that by herself or else...she'll never really know or believe in it."

"Look at you Mr. Psychologist." She laughed.

"I learned from the best." He smiled kissing the top of her head. Nathan wrapped his arm around Haley's small figure. "Listen I was thinking..."

"Okay. That's a surprise." She said sarcastically.

"Shut up." He chuckled. "I'm being serious. I was thinking that we both need to take our dreams seriously. I know that at this point you don't know if you want music to be your dream, but just know if it is I will support you, no matter what it takes. Even if it takes you away from me I will deal with it because it's your dream. We will make it work and I wont let it drag us apart. We just need to go after our dreams or else we might resent each other later."

"I could never resent you." She whispered.

"You don't know that." He sighed before Haley tugged on his arm, stopping him from walking.

"I do." She said looking into his eyes. "Besides my dream is and always will be you. I have nothing to worry about, but thank you."