Haley made her way down the long staircase leading to the hallway that connected into the dining area. She collected her damp hair in her hands and worked her fingers through the troublesome knots, while replaying everything in her head.

She'd woken up in a sticky mess of sweat – shirtless and alone; hoping she hadn't made too much a fool of herself. Not that she couldn't remember the day's events, but she didn't want Nathan thinking of her as some lightweight amateur who couldn't handle her alcohol – which is pretty much exactly what she was.

After dragging herself out of his glorious bed that she was certain was made of hopes and dreams, she'd decided to take him up on his offer to get a shower. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to rinse the day's shame away.

When she'd stepped out of the shower, she looked around everywhere trying to remember where she put her bra and tank top. She knew she must've pulled it off and chucked it somewhere on the floor before she passed out.

Then it hit her, that she'd fed half her outfit to the fishes. So seeing as she had no other clothes with her other than a pair of soggy underwear and shorts, she'd opted for a random grey shirt lying on Nathan's closet floor.

Haley stepped off the final stair and looked around, finding Nathan nowhere in sight. She began to play with a frayed piece of fabric at the bottom of the shirt.

She felt kind of weird being in Dan Scott's beach house alone. It was strange, as if she was intruding in on his property and he might burst through the door at any given second. In the little time she'd known him, she'd never been able to feel comfortable around him. He was kind of just...well, creepy.

And she felt even stranger, in nothing but one of her boyfriend's shirts; completely exposed underneath. If Dan were to walk in at this moment, she was sure she'd die on the spot.

As she turned the corner into the kitchen, a familiar smell wafted into her face, but she couldn't quite place it.

So there's food but no Nathan? Okay...

She noticed that the clock on the wall read 8pm. Had she really been asleep for over four hours?

Just then, something caught her eye out of the window across the room. She moved closer to get a better look.

The second she saw the bulge of muscle, she knew it was Nathan. She could spot those arms from a mile away! She approached the door and stood there, taking in the beautiful sight before her. He was doing bench something or other. She couldn't remember what it was called, but damn did her guy look fine!

Haley's eyes lingered on the glistening beads of sweat running down his arms and chest under the deck lights that shone a sort of sexiness spotlight on him, and with each pump of the bar and all his protruding bumps and veins, she couldn't help but allow her smile to get wider and wider.

The vibrant mixture of dusk's deep purple and orange that was painted across the sky only embellished her already incredible view.

"Dear God." She murmured to herself and bit down on her bottom lip.

She was just about to attack the door handle when she jumped back a bit, realizing how underdressed she was. She needed to do something about that. Then she remembered what Brooke had given her when she'd apologized profusely for screwing things up between her and Nathan after reading her note to everyone at the party. She'd come to the cafe to say sorry again, even after fixing her and Nathan up on their first date. And she'd brought with her some sort of lame gift bag that included a matching hideous hot pink bra and underwear set, a condom, and a can of whip cream. Of course, leave it to Brooke to cover all the sexual bases.

She'd said that Nathan wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her if he caught her in that, and that it would fix all their problems. Yea. Right! Haley was still irritated with her, but she'd accepted the gift with a friendly smile, and then threw the items in the back of her school bag, never giving them a second thought until now.

"Brooke Davis..." Haley rolled her eyes. "She's always there right when you need her."

She scanned the livingroom for her bag, and noticed it in the corner near the TV, right where she'd left it when they first arrived at the house.

After locating the crumpled garments, she slipped them on; feeling at least a bit more ready to face Nathan.

Haley noticed that he was still taken up with his workout, so she opened the door as quietly as she could. She thought it would be fun to surprise him.

"So I was thinking you should trade that weight in for me." She stuck her hip out and crossed her arms.

"Hey!" Nathan struggled to reply, almost completely out of breath.

"Yea, okay. Hop on." He laughed.

"I was joking." Haley sauntered over to him. "I just want a kiss."

"I wasn't." Nathan declared.

He tipped his head back a little to see her upside down form approaching him, but his arms immediately started to give out when her bare thighs and a hint of hot pink lace appeared only inches above his face.

"Shit!" He gritted his teeth. "Haley help, please!"

"Oh yea, whoa!" She placed her hands around the bar and helped Nathan ease it up from his chest.

"What just happened? I thought my boyfriend was supposed to be big and strong?!" She teased.

Nathan sat up and wiped the sweat from his face with his towel, almost as if he was also trying to wipe the sexy image of her from his mind.

She's doing it again! And half the time she doesn't even try. Why does she have to be so sexy?

"Just lost my grip for a second. Thanks, though." Nathan stood up and gave Haley her kiss, as requested.

"So I see you raided my closet." He looked her over quick and gave her a nod of approval.

"Hah! If you consider this raiding." Haley tugged at the bottom of the shirt, willing it to stretch out a few inches in length. "I'm wearing barely anything."

"Yea, I noticed. Where are your clothes, anyway? Well, what's left of them... You chuck those in the ocean too?" He took a swig from his water bottle and sprayed the last bit of water on his face.

"Oh, you're just soo funny!" Haley narrowed her eyes at him and slid her hand down his bicep, but cringed and pulled it away when it became saturated with sweat.

"Okay, here's the deal... You're looking all hot like this, but you're dripping and kinda reaally stink. I think it would be a very good idea for you to take a shower. Like this minute!"

"You say the sweetest things to me, Haley James." Nathan chuckled. "Anyway I was going to, but first, I have a something for you." He took her hand and led her back into the house.

"No way. A surprise? For me?!" She was in awe, like a kid on Christmas day, and wiggled her hand around in Nathan's excitedly.

"Bring it on baby." She added with faux arrogance and stuck out her hands. "Oh, and I take back what I said about you stinking."

"Sit, you suck up." He ordered her down, and pushed her chair snug into the dining room table.

Haley waited impatiently, wondering what she could possibly be in for. And then an unexpected thought crossed her mind - is it too early in our relationship for him to be doing sweet things for me? We barely just started dating...

Haley pushed her foolish hang-up aside when Nathan placed a piping hot bowl in front of her. "Since I know you love acting like a five year old."

"Mac and cheese!" Haley gleamed. "The food of the gods. Aww, Nathan. I knew I recognized the smell when I first walked in here."

"Yea, well I still can't believe you made me eat that on our first date, and I might have to hold that over your head for a while, but I just felt like doing something special for you. I mean, we had all the ingredients and you were asleep, so I thought why not?"

Haley was absolutely famished and couldn't wait a moment longer to shovel the heaping fork into her mouth. "Mmm. This is...soo...damn good!"

"How's the ratio of mac to cheese?" He inquired humourously; he never really understood her obsession with this meal – if you could call it that. But he loved making her happy.

"Perf-" She attempted through her mouthful, then waited until she'd swallowed most of it. "Sorry, I must look like a cave woman. It's perfect, thank you."

"No problem." He smiled and sat down next to her; a mound of ribs piled sky-high on his plate.

"Well, well. I see this is a total recreation of our first date." She looked pleasantly impressed.

"Yea. Minus you calling me a son of a bitch and storming off... Hopefully." Nathan considered, and broke out into a grin.

"Sorry about that." Haley continued to chew. "Actually no, I'm not sorry. I had a right to say and do what I did. You were embarrassed to be seen with me when Tim and your other friends showed up. That's pretty jerky if you ask me."

"I guess it's a good thing you're not bitter then." He said sarcastically and they found each other's teasing eyes. "I'm just glad that you gave me another chance. Was I worth it?"

"I'm not sure yet." She moved her face toward his. "I'll have to get back to you after this-" Their lips pressed softly together.

"What about now?"

"Still not sure. I think you may need that shower first." Haley patted him on the leg.

"Wow, way to shoot down a guy's confidence. Thanks. And just for that-" Nathan caught Haley in his arms.

"Ewww! You're all sticky!" She screamed, but accepted his big bear hug anyway.

When Haley really thought about it, she knew she shouldn't complain. If she had to choose any sweaty body to be touching hers right now it would be Nathan's, no doubt!

They enjoyed the rest of their food and playful conversation for the next couple minutes, but Nathan eventually grew quieter because of other things weighing on his mind. He knew they needed to talk about the sexual vibe they had going all day, and more importantly, what went on in his bedroom. He couldn't ignore it and act as if it didn't even happen.

He watched Haley pick at the leftover pieces of mac and cheese in her bowl. Not knowing where to begin with any of it, he decided to just dive right in. "Haley, I was just wondering... I think it's important that we talk about this, and uh...did you hear any part of what I said to you in my bedroom before you fell asleep?"

The atmosphere suddenly changed. For most of the day it had been light and easy between them but now all of the fun seemed to be sucked away, and everything felt way too serious.

Haley cowered inside as Nathan asked her the one thing she'd tried to avoid since waking up and seeing him. She'd hoped that she could bypass this impending conversation and they move on with the rest of their evening together, but here it was...

Maybe this won't be too uncomfortable, though. At least he wants us to communicate and get things out in the open.

Haley turned his way and looked him straight in the eye, desperate to sever the awkward silence. "I heard you up until the point where you said something about me being blitzed. I think that's when I passed out." She looked down.

"So...what are your thoughts on it? On what I said?" He pressed.

"I don't really know what you want me to say, Nathan. We both know I was pretty drunk, and we both know I wasn't making things easy for you. But do you want me to say sorry to you – for being a tease, or whatever it is you think I am? Because let's face it...you wanted to take me right here. Isn't that what you said? I mean, you're the one who's just waiting around for me so you can drop your pants, so why didn't you take your chance today? I was trying to give you what you so obviously want."

"Hold on a second. Why are you making me sound like such a horny asshole?!" Nathan retorted. "I told you before that I'm trying to respect you. I'm trying to not do anything to pressure you or drive you away, so when did I become the bad guy in all this? And yea, you have been a tease. It's like, you're throwing yourself at me, and I know we're only gonna go so far, so all you're really doing is trying to rub it in my face that I can't have you in that way. It's all bullshit, Haley!"

The silence returned with a force and Haley felt the room closing in on her. How had things managed to take a turn so quickly?

Nathan awaited Haley's response but all that came were tears, streaming down her hurt and confused face. She swiveled in her chair so that her back was to him.

Shit! I totally just fucked up.

Nathan closed his eyes to try and regain his composure. "God, Haley, I'm sorry." He reached out for her but she shook his hand away. "I want to keep talking about this. We need to figure this all out. Please?"

"I don't want to talk to you." Her voice quivered and she choked back the full flood gates that threatened to erupt.

"Fine, I'm gonna take a shower, and hopefully when I'm done we can fix whatever this is and put all of it behind us?"

Haley didn't answer, so Nathan took that as his cue to give her some space. He walked away, leaving his crying girlfriend by herself, and feeling like the biggest jackass on the face of the planet.