"You're new at this, aren't you?" She giggled a soft, warm breath along his neck.
"How are you so sure?" He replied, rubbing her back.
"Because I'm new at this, too." She traced a trail of kisses from his neck to his mouth.
He flipped them over against the wall, kissing her nose delightfully and softly. She scrunched her face, containing her giggles in. She couldn't remember a time when she was so comfortable with someone. They were in a closet, playing 7 minutes in Heaven. It may be a pretty childish game, but you're never too old to make-out in a closet with a person by chance.
"But just so you know, I'm not new at this. I'm just new at all of this with a girl that I actually like."
"Be careful, Nathan." She whispered up at him. "Don't fall in love with me."
Don't fall in love with her? It's not like he could control his feelings if they ever became something more for her. She was by far the prettiest girl he's ever encountered at school.
"Our 7 minutes are up." She patted his chest and walked out of the closet.
Chapter 1
Don't Fall For Me
AN: This is a major AU. Almost all of the characters are completely different personality-wise. Haley comes off as bitter and serious, kind of like the way she was in the show towards the end of season 7 when Lydia died. Just a fair warning. Hope you like this short story!
"Whooooh!" Brooke held her hands up as Haley and Nathan made their way back to their circle of friends.
Haley didn't bother to look at Nathan for the rest of the game. He knew because he had been staring at her since the second they walked out of the closet. Him and Haley had such a history together.
They've known each other since they were in diapers. Haley had always been the fun out-going type, but she knew her boundaries. For someone so brilliant, she realy was the life of a party. Lucas was Haley's best friend, and Nathan's half-brother. They grew up pretty well together since Karen and Deb shared a mutual hatred for their father, Dan. It was easy for Haley and Nathan to become friends and it's not like they had much of a choice. But they wouldn't have it any other way.
"Tutor-girl.." Brooke thought for a moment, rubbing her chin for an extra effect. "Truth or Dare?"
She shrugged. Brooke already knew basically everything about Haley-all her secrets, thoughts, and feelings. "Dare."
She smirked, "That's why I love you, Hales. I dare you to drink 4 shots of vodka."
Haley giggled. She was a lightweight and everyone knew it. 2 shots of vodka and she'd already be wasted. "It's on, Davis." She shook her head before taking 4 shots of the devil's blood.
"Damn, you're a trooper, Hales." Lucas rubbed her back as she scrunched her face.
"I'll be out cold in a few hours." She tied her blonde hair in a ponytail. "Alright, Luke. Truth or Dare?"
He eyed his best friend for a moment before answering, "Dare.."
She wiggled her eyebrows as she smirked, "I dare you to kiss my lovely Brookie."
Brooke gasped, "You've got some balls, don't ya, Tutor-girl?"
Lucas squinted his eyes. Everyone knew he had feelings for Brooke and vice-versa, they just never did anything about it. He leaned over to kiss the brunette. He kept it light and gentle, not wanting to dig in too deep.
"Okay." Lucas clapped as he pulled away. "Nate, Truth or Dare?"
"Truth."
Brooke shook her head, "Way to break the dare streak, Nate."
"Hahahahahaahahaahahaaahah!" Haley slurred out, laughing at Brooke's sarcasm. Her sloppiness caused everyone to laugh out. It's only been about 10 minutes and she was already full of it.
"Who would you date in this circle of friends?" Lucas gave him his famous smolder.
Nathan didn't hesitate for a second to answer. "Haley."
"You were pretty quick with that one." Mouth commented.
Nathan shrugged, "It wasn't that hard of a question."
Haley was too drunk to even pay attention to Nathan's answer and he knew it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have answered.
"Hey guys, I gotta get going. Ellie's waiting for me at the house and I don't want to do anything too scandalous." Peyton said, nodding her head towards Haley as she got up.
"Same here." Skills said as he followed Peyton up.
Lucas checked his watch, "I should leave, too. Curfew calls." He shrugged.
Brooke waved at everyone as they got up to leave, "I'll see you at school on Monday."
Nathan stayed seated as he watched Haley fumble around on the hard-wood floor.
Brooke giggled, "She's so cute when she's knocked out."
"I can take her home." He offered.
"Okay. But be careful for her parents. They most likely aren't home right now but if they are, try to sneak her up." Brooke patted his shoulder as she stared at her good friend. "I know you like her, Nathan."
He picked the petite blonde up into his arms, "I know I shouldn't like her but I do." He mumbled loud enough for Brooke to hear as he watched Haley fall into a slow, deep sleep.
"She's just going through a lot right now, with her parents leaving and stuff. Just try not to hammer her with your feelings yet."
He nodded as he made his way out. "Thanks, Brooke."
Nathan understood that she was going through a lot and that she wasn't interested in having any type of relationship. That's why he hasn't spoken up about his feelings for her yet. He knew it'd be just another weight on her shoulders and she didn't need the extra pressure.
"Hey, Lucas..." Haley whispered, still half-asleep in Nathan's arms. She didn't bother to open her eyes.
Nathan didn't reply. She thought he was Lucas.
"Don't tell Nathan I like him." She spoke softly before quickly passing out again.
He chuckled softly, lightly brushing his thumb across her forehead, moving her hair out of her face. God only knows how much he wants her.
"Close the blinds." Haley groaned as the light of day interrupted her dreams.
"Get drunk, much?" Taylor snickered as she opened the window up, exposing even more sunshine into the room. "The sun's not even that bad."
"I'm not groaning at the sun I'm groaning at your hideous FACE." Haley yelled as she tossed into her bed sheets, covering her face with her pillow.
Taylor shook her head, "I was a senior in high-school once and you know damn well I got drunk all the time, too."
"The difference is that I don't even drink all the time, only occasionally." She said as she popped her head out for a moment to reply.
Her older sister crossed her arms, trying her best to be stern and forceful. "Just because you don't have a date on a Saturday night doesn't mean you have to get yourself wasted, Hales." She said, trying to get under her skin.
"Go away, Tay." She sat up, rubbing her forehead. She really wasn't in the mood for a confrontation with her older sister, especially when her head was practically throbbing.
"Knock-knock." A deep voice called out as he knocked on the side of her bedroom door. "Coffee for Haley James."
Haley turned around and saw her good friend standing with two cups of brewed heaven. "Hi, Nathan." She moaned, reaching out for her coffee.
"Mocha with 2 cubes of sugar." He proclaimed persistently.
"Just the way I like it.." She slightly smiled through her aching forehead. "Thanks, Nathan. You really didn't have to come over on a Saturday morning to deliver coffee."
"Try not to get pregnant." Taylor hissed as she left the two alone.
Haley rolled her eyes. Boy, was Taylor something else. Nathan just chuckled. He was used to Taylor being sarcastic and insolent.
"I hate her." She shut her eyes and leaned against the foot of her bed.
"She's not that bad.."
"More like inconsiderate and barbarian." She shook her head, "She acts like I lost my virginity or something when all I did was have a little fun last night."
Nathan adored how pure Haley was. She wasn't like all the other girls at school and she didn't try to be. Guys stereotype her just because she's a cheerleader and that bothered him because she wasn't like them. She respected her religion and beliefs and wanted to wait until marriage, when she was in love and a little bit older.
"She's just being a big sister, Hales." He watched as she sipped her coffee.
She sighed and opened her eyes to catch him gazing at her, "Listen, buddy, I know I'm acting like such a prick right now but I'm just really exhausted." She spoke with no emotion. "My parents are moving out so I supposed I should just get used to being smothered by Taylor."
"It's fine." He spoke quickly. "I should get going, anyways. You should get some rest." He got up and fluffed her pillow for her.
He knew she liked him, she admitted it when she was drunk. A drunk diary is a true diary. But she sure didn't show it.
"Thanks again, Nathan." She grabbed his hand and patted it. "You're the best."
"I know." He said before she drifted into a peaceful sleep again.
"Don't get drunk tonight, Hales." Taylor shouted when she saw her little sister swinging her keys around on her way to the front door.
"Don't count on it." She replied dispassionately, shutting the door behind her.
Lately, she hasn't showed much emotion, and when she did, it usually came off as cold and unpleasant. But who could blame her? Her parents were on the brink of abandoning her.
She was always close with her parents, especially her mom. Haley got her mom's brains and her dad's humor. But they've always dreamed of backpacking the country in a motor-home, and with Haley now 18 and legal, they figured she didn't need them anymore. So, they followed their dreams, and now they're leaving.
She didn't understand why they were so quick on leaving, though. Were they really that selfish? In a few days, she'd be graduating high-school and she needed to have someone there to celebrate with her- someone other than Taylor.
But in a way, she was grateful to have Taylor. At least she didn't leave her, even though she should be in college and working. Even so, Haley was bitter. She's never felt more alone in her life and she didn't want to add on to the loneliness.
Sometimes she missed her old self. She missed being happy and giddy and care-free. She wasn't depressed or anything, but she missed it when her only troubles were studying for a History exam. She missed a lot of things. But now, she missed her parents, and she wasn't sure if anything can fill that void.
Maybe if she didn't let anyone else in, she wouldn't have to face the trauma of losing them. If she just closed her heart for good, maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to feel the pain of the repercussions of yet another broken heart.
The petite blonde headed towards Nathan's beach house. That was where the party was.
"Hey, Haley." Tim waved at her as she entered the house.
"Just give me a beer, Tim." She asserted. She was pretty close with Tim. Sure, they weren't the best of friends but he always looked out for her and she appreciated it.
"Someone's thirsty." He chuckled. "They're over in the cooler." He kicked his head towards the kitchen and continued to mingle.
She made her way through the crowd of people dancing against each other and grabbed herself a beer or two. She wasn't exactly the drinking type, but lately, she made a few exceptions. And beer wasn't her favorite type of alcohol, but if it buzzed her out, she was all for it.
She didn't usually come to parties alone. Normally Brooke would hop along, and Haley would be the designated driver considering the fact that Brooke was a dedicated drinker. The party never started until Brooke and Haley walked in together, but she wasn't in the mood to party.
Haley found a comfortable spot on some rocks facing the waves. She managed to avoid Lucas, Brooke, and Peyton and drank peacefully away from the party. She began reminiscing the times her and her mom came down to the beach together. From the times they built sandcastles and buried each other in the sand, to the times they got second degree sunburns from laying out on the sand watching the waves. The beach was just one of many of their sanctuaries.
"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice came from behind, interrupting her thoughts.
She recognized the familiar face and shook her head. "You don't have to waste your change. I'll be consumed enough to spill a few of my dirtiest secrets in just a second." She divulged, referring to the four-or-some empty bottles of beer beside her.
He sat next to her on the rock. "Getting drunk by yourself at a party is lousy, Haley. Who knows what you'll do or where you'll end up while you're buzzed."
"Just leave me alone, Nathan." She replied with no effort. She didn't bother to look at him.
"No! Haley, you've been this way for the past week and it's becoming a real bad habit."
"Just-leave-me-alone, Nathan." She enunciated in a rude manner, now facing him. "Just because my parents are gone doesn't mean I need another set of them."
He knew better than to yell or argue with her. He knew she didn't mean anything she was saying. She was going through a rough patch, so he didn't take anything she was saying to heart. He smelled alcohol on her, but it wasn't strong enough to come off as 4 bottles. "Haley, did you really drink 4 bottles of beer?" He questioned her, not believing she was even intoxicated.
She didn't respond for a moment. But given the fact that he wasn't budging, she gave in. "No.." She sighed, throwing the bottles down. "Every time I opened another bottle, I didn't find the will to drink it so I just tossed it out 'till the bottle was empty." She kept a straight, unamused face. I hate beer."
"I knew it. Come on, Hales. You're better than this."
"Nathan, just go." She said in a hush voice, "I don't need your crap right now."
He shook his head and stood from the rock, facing her with the most distinct sense of helplessness. Her words stayed well put in his mind as he walked away. 'Don't fall in love with me, Nathan.' then 'Don't tell Nathan I like him.'
What the hell was wrong with her? How can she tell him not to fall in love with her? Who said that was even ever going to happen? Narcissistic. Who was she to tell him not to fall for her, when she liked him herself? Hypocrite.
He turned back for a moment, staring at her from a good distance. He watched as she ran her fingers through her hair, and his heart almost melted when he saw her break down in tears. She shook, forcing her face into her hands.
He didn't want to see her cry. He didn't want her to cry. She's too beautiful to cry.
AN: So, I've had this idea for this story for quite a while now and I've been dying to share it with you all.. I still have Our Ultimatum in the works and of course I'll continue to update that but I kind of felt like I needed to post this story, too! Please let me know what you all think :)
