"Okay so I was thinking we could go to the River Court first because that's where the guys like to hang out and play basketball. I know how much you love basketball so I'm sure all of you will get along. Then we can go back to my place and I'll introduce you to Peyton, my second best friend." Brooke talked the whole way back to the car, informing them on her plans as to what they were going to do when the left the airport. She was really excited to introduce everyone to Nathan and she hoped that they could soon be good friends.
"Brooke, slow down. Okay?" Nathan interrupted Brooke while she was in the middle of explaining her plan because he could no longer take all the babble. He loved his cousin to death, but sometimes she talked way too much. "Would you mind if we stopped for lunch because I'm starving."
"As long as Haley doesn't mind, it's fine with me."
Haley looked up from her phone. She had been trying to distract herself with it the whole car ride to keep from looking at Nathan. "Of course not, how about we go to the café?"
"Sounds great!" Brooke was trying not to overwhelm her cousin but she had been so excited to see him. It was hard to calm down. When they were younger, about five or six, Nathan and Brooke were inseparable and they were basically best friends. Once Brooke moved to North Carolina, it had been hard to stay in touch but they were still really close.
It took about twenty minutes to get from the Tree Hill airport to Karen's Café. It was a quite yet comfortable ride with only a little amount of talking. The radio was playing and there were a few times that Haley had to stop herself because she knew that if she didn't her singing would get carried away and that would just be embarrassing.
They pulled up in front of the café and they all got out. "You're going to love it here! Haley and I and all of our others friends, come here all the time. My boyfriend, Lucas' mom, Karen owns it and she is a fantastic cook. Lucas!" Brooke ran off to talk to Lucas in the back.
"So you're Brooke's cousin. It makes sense; I mean you two look a lot like each other!"
"Haha, yeah I guess so. How come I've never met you before?"
"Well I lived here when I was like six years old and then I moved to Charlotte when I was twelve. I just moved back earlier this summer."
"And you and Brooke are still best friends? I'm impressed." Nathan looked over and smirked at her, making her stomach turn in the best possible way.
"Yeah, well Brooke is amazing so it's easy to be her friend. Although, I do wonder often way she's friends with me."
I can see why. You're gorgeous. Hey, stop thinking that! Nathan Scott does not think girls are gorgeous. Why are you even thinking about her? You just met her. Knock it off! Nathan and Haley walked over to a table and waited for Brooke to come back.
"Okay, Nathan, I want you to meet my boyfriend. This is Lucas Roe. Lucas this is Nathan Scott, my cousin. You two are going to love each other. Nate is like… a basketball GOD! He's amazing! And Luke is fantastic! Cheering for the two of you this year is going to be so easy, right Hales?"
"You're a cheerleader?" How was it that she seemed to be getting more and more attractive the more he learned about this girl?
"Oh… yeah… well I did last year." She couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed but she wasn't sure why she did.
"Yeah and if you say you aren't this year, then I'm sorry, we can no longer be best friends!" Brooke was so dramatic.
"Of course I will." Nathan couldn't help but smile wide at that thought. A hot girl in a short skirt cheering him on… this was going to be an interesting year.
"So, are you excited; first day of junior year at a brand new school?" Haley ran over to Nathan as soon as she saw him enter the high school.
"Oh god, I forgot that you were a nerd!" Nathan noticed that he couldn't help smiling whenever she was around.
"You don't know what you'd do without me, mister!"
"Yeah you're right. Actually, I think I'm a little scared! Looks like you're going to have to stay with me all day and protect me!" Nathan and Haley and spent the remainder of the summer together and had actually gotten pretty close.
"As much fun as that sounds; I'm excited so I'll be going to my classes! Although, I'll totally meet you for lunch and I'll even walk you to your classes."
"Careful, Hales; people might start thinking that you love me or something. And I might not stop the rumors."
"Do you want people to believe that I'm dating you, Scott?" Haley loved messing with him and couldn't deny the sparks she felt due to his last statement.
"Absolutely! It would definitely help out my reputation if I were dating like the hottest girl here." He actually believed that but he knew Haley thought he was messing with her.
"Well then, congratulations! You officially have your first fake girlfriend." She grabbed his hand when she said that. The feel of their fingers intertwining actually caused both of their hearts to race; not that they'd ever let the other one know that.
"Good. Although, I do feel a little like you're using me."
"Oh yeah, and how's that?"
"Well I am by far the hottest guy here and I'm definitely going to be the star of the basketball team. It looks like you're trying to claim me before the others girls can. Is that really fair?"
"Someone's a bit cocky this morning!" Haley walked Nathan to his class and they stopped in front of the door when Nathan grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, you're my girlfriend. I kiss my girlfriends. Although we better be careful because if we aren't, pretty soon you're going to be falling insanely in love with me."
"I'm willing to risk it."
Nathan looked her in the eyes and he knew that he was slowly falling insanely in love with her. He pulled her even closer to him and captured her lips with his. His grip on her waist tightened even more as he pulled her even closer. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head closer to her. They needed to stop now; but they couldn't. Nathan ran his tongue along her bottom lip implying that he wanted inside her mouth. She quickly obeyed and he slipped his tongue in her mouth. Just as she was about to do the same, the bell rang.
They quickly pulled apart. She was just about to walk away when he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Nathan went to her ear and whispered "Or maybe it'll be me falling in love." He pulled away and winked at her followed by that trademark smirk of his. With that, Nathan walked into his classroom leaving Haley to stand there completely stunned. What just happened?