A Matter of Circumstance

A Naley Story

Author's Note: Bevin is introduced in this chapter. She is Haley's best friend from college.

Chapter 2

Three months later…

Haley sat with her head in her hands, "What am I going to do Bevin? Grace and Father are going to fire me when they find out."

"Can they do that?"

"It's in our contract that we cannot act against the doctrine of the church. And getting pregnant out of wedlock is DEFINITELY against the doctrine of the church."

"You're still not really showing. And you only have a month of school left, right?"

"Yeah."

"So I'm guessing they'll let you finish the year. And you can spend the summer searching for something new."

"Yeah, I guess. But the whole unknown father thing is really bothering me too. It's not that I want or expect anything from him. I just think he should know."

"Still no leads, huh?"

"No. But I think Peyton knows more than she's telling. I don't know why she's protecting him."

"Maybe she's protecting you."

"Maybe…"

"I think we're being watched."

"What!" Haley hissed.

"He's sitting over in the corner, and I swear he hasn't taken his eyes off our table."

"Well, I have to pee, so I'll check him out on the way to the bathroom," Haley stood and didn't make it far before she froze in place, staring at the man in the corner.

"Hales?"

Startled out of staring, Haley smiled, "Right, the bathroom, I'll be right back."

Haley returned to the table and tried to ignore Bevin's questioning stare.

"Haley, are you okay?"

She looked up, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"No you're not. You look like you've seen a ghost. You know him, don't you?"

"Know who?" Haley asked innocently.

"We're playing that game then," Bevin rolled her eyes, "Alright, the man in the corner; the one watching us."

"Nope, don't know him."

"Then what was with the way you just stopped on the way to the bathroom?"

"Alright," Haley hissed before dropping her voice to a whisper, "if you must know, that's Nathan Scott."

"The guy you stalked and drug me to games in college to watch? THAT Nathan Scott?"

"Yes," Haley paused, "And I'm pretty sure he's the father of my baby."

"What!"

"Shhhhh…"

"Sorry. What do you mean the father of your baby? I thought you didn't remember."

"I didn't until I saw him. Then it all came flooding back to me. This can't be happening Bev."

"Why not? You've always wanted to be with him."

"Because he's married."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, that's one thing I know for sure."

"So why's he here?"

"I don't know. Last I knew, both he and his wife lived in Chicago."

"Maybe his job relocated him, and he knew you lived her, so he wants to clear the air about what happened before there's an awkward run in with you and his wife."

"You're right. That's got to be it. He's continuing to be an ass, and is covering his. Should I talk to him?"

"If you want to."

"Wish me luck."

"Luck."

Haley approached Nathan, who pretended not to notice, "Why Nathan Scott, fancy seeing you here. What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

Nathan suddenly realized this might not go as smoothly as he's originally hoped, but smiled anyway and stood to greet her, "You do. Care to sit?" He pulled out a chair for her.

"You always were a gentleman, to bad you're an ass," she sat, and wish she hadn't said that last part, "So really, why are you here?"

"To see you."

"And where's your wife?"

"Rachel is in Chicago."

"Does she know you're here?"

"Not exactly. She thinks I'm in Tree Hill."

"So you lied to her to come see me. Why?" Silently she was thinking, 'when did he become such an ass?'

"Because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I wanted to come before. But it took longer than I thought to get my affairs in order."

"That's sweet, but what are you talking about, getting your affairs in order?"

"Rachel and I are separated. And I've filed for divorce."

"What? Why?" This definitely changed things.

"Because we wanted different things."

"Please tell me you didn't leave your wife because of one night," Haley knew that was being self-centered, but she wouldn't be able to handle that.

"No, you just helped me get to where we were heading a little sooner. I want a family, she wants a career, and she wasn't willing to compromise."

"And now you're here."

"Now I'm here. I needed to talk to you. I need to ask you about that night."

"I don't know how much I can tell you. I was pretty drunk. In fact, until I saw you today, I didn't even remember who I slept with that night."

"But you remember now?"

"I remember that I had a great time."

"I did too. But I need to ask you about what you said to me at the bar."

Haley grimaced, "I tend to rattle on when I'm drunk and say things I probably shouldn't, and often that aren't true."

"Did you really want to be with me?"

"See, I say things I shouldn't."

"Just answer the question, please."

"Fine, yes, I wanted to be with you."

"For more than eight years?"

"Not continuously during that time, but yeah."

"When did it start?"

"8th grade."

"We were in the same block class rotation," Nathan smiled, remembering that.

"And homeroom."

"What about high school?"

"Not until the middle of the season junior year."

"I remember you in 8th grade, but for me it was the Greenville game."

Haley smiled, "I remember that game. We all had a blast." She paused, "Wait, you liked me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Seriously? You don't know?"

"No."

"Because you were so nice. And you sat there listening to us, pretending we weren't idiots."

"You were big idiots. But I enjoyed being there."

"That's the other thing. You truly seemed to enjoy a task we all despised doing. And you didn't try to make us behave. You laughed at out antics."

"How could I not," Haley smiled, "as we've already agreed, you guys were idiots."

"Senior year wasn't as fun."

"Shy not?"

"Because they had you up in that press box. And we only goofed around to get tour attention."

"You are so full of it."

"That night three months ago, when you said no one wanted you… That's not true. We all did, some more than others."

"Then why did no one say anything."

"Junck and I argued about it."

"About me?" Maybe he wasn't as much of an ass as she was thinking.

"Yeah, and it seemed as if he was going to make his move, so I backed off."

"And now?"

"Junck's not here. He lost his chance."

"I see."

"Haley, I want to be with you."

"How can you know that? We're both much different people than we were back then."

"But I know I liked that version of you. And I definitely liked the person I was with three months ago."

Okay, never mind, he was still an ass, "Yeah, because I had sex with you. I've never done that before."

"What, picked someone up at a bar? It's not like we were strangers."

"Yeah, but still…"

"Haley…"

"Look Nathan, I think I should go. My friend is waiting."

"I can take you home."

"No, I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Haley, please."

"Good-bye Nathan."

"So what happened?"

"I don't know exactly. I told her everything."

"Maybe you freaked her out."

"Maybe. She did seem to be acting a little weird."

"Weird how?"

"I don't know. She seemed a little uncomfortable when she sat down. But then things seemed fine. Until I said I wanted to be with her. Then she got all weird again. And even said I only wanted to be with her because she slept with me, something she doesn't normally do."

"You're not going to give up are you?"

"No. I'll try again once I get settled in down there."

"Did you tell her you were moving to Charleston?"

"No. but the firm wants me to start Monday. My things are supposed to arrive at the new house on Saturday."

"So you liked the place?"

"Yeah. It'll be nice to have a house. It's more than twice the size of the place I shared with Rachel, and about half the price."

"A place that big will get awfully lonely."

"Hopefully I won't be alone long."

"I hope so too, for your sake."

"Has he tried to contact you since you saw him?"

"He added me to his MySpace friends."

"Don't you think you should tell him?"

"No."

"Haley, he's already admitted that he wants to be with you. AND he told you that his marriage ended because she didn't want kids. This is perfect."

"But I'm not the girl from that night. Drunk me is nothing like everyday me. You know that Bevin."

"But there's enough of you that is the same."

"But what if he's not who I think he is? Who I thought he was?"

"He's sounding okay so far."

"But what if he's a cheater?"

"I guess it's possible. But seem unlikely."

"But…"

"Haley, you're scare, I get that. But you have to tell him."

"I suppose…"