Passionate Awakening
Chapter 3
"Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate, or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems painful, evil, unattainable, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such. "
Henry Miller (1891 - 1980)
Haley woke to the noise of tatter sounds being hit against her window. She moaned in response. "Five more minutes" Still, the noises wouldn't cease. She grouchily sat up in bed and checked her clock. It was exactly 12:00AM "What in the world?"
She drew her eyebrows together and got out of bed. She walked to her window and found Nathan looking up at her, smiling. Haley's eyes bugged out in shock. She quickly opened her window and whispered, "Nathan! What are you doing here, how'd you get past the guards?"
"I have my ways," He smirked. "Were you sleeping?"
"No," Haley stated sarcastically, "I was awake."
"Oh."
"Of course I was sleeping!"
"Sorry. I just…" Nathan shrugged helplessly. "I wanted to see you."
Haley softened a bit. "That's sweet. But it's so late. Couldn't you wait to see me tomorrow, you know, when people are awake?"
Nathan smirked. "Well technically it is tomorrow"
"Nathan Scott, you are one crazy boy." Even though it was supposed to be an insult, it sounded more as a compliment.
"Yeah, but you like that don't you?" Haley blushed and thanked God that it was dark. Nathan smiled and jerked his head backwards. "Come on. Let's go."
"Go where?" Haley asked, a little bit nervous.
"Does it matter?"
"What if we get in trouble?"
"Don't worry so much. We'll be fine. Your dad is out of town, Clay's still at Damien's party…"
Haley hesitated, knowing that if they were to get caught, Clay would definitely lose his temper, be pissed off, and she wouldn't be able to see Nathan ever again. On top of that, if her father found out, he would most likely ground her for life; tell her grandmother who would make her attend church every day, all day, along with adding extra guards around her room and outside the estate.
"I have church in the morning and you know how my grandma is…" She whispered.
"I'll bring you back. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." Haley knew he meant every word.
Suddenly, the thought of getting in trouble didn't matter.
Haley let out a slow smile. "Okay."
~*~
"So where exactly are you taking me?" She asked Nathan for the millionth. They had been driving now for about thirty minutes.
"It's a surprise…"
"I hate surprises." She stated.
"This one you'll like." He smirked confidently.
A few minutes later they arrived at East Hampton Beach, known as one of the world's most beautiful seashores. Nathan pulled his SUV on the dunes and parked so their view was of the wide, white, sandy seashore.
"What are we doing here?" Haley looked over at Nathan.
Nathan took the key out of its ignition and opened the car door. "Come on…"
"It's freezing cold Nathan, I really don't want to get sick, why are we here?"
"Just live a little James" He smirked before stepping out the car and closing the door. Haley sighed then opened the car door and stepped out wrapping her sweater tightly around her body.
"Here" Nathan said, placing a blue blanket around her shoulders. He clutched her hand and they walked further onto the beach. They stopped midway on the white sand as Nathan lay out a red blanket then he quickly collapsed on it lying down.
Haley creased her eye brows and crossed her arms. She took a seat next to Nathan.
Nathan closed his eyes briefly, knowing full well Haley would lie right next to him at any moment."Relax," he soothed. "Why don't you come lie down next to me"
"I don't know…"
Nathan opened both eyes and stared into hers. "Come on, I'm not going to hurt you" He held out his hand for her to take. The weird thing was; Haley trusted Nathan so easily. There was something trustworthy about him that she couldn't explain. It was his integrity that she admired. It was his confidence and ease when he was with her. Hesitantly, she took his hand and lay next to him.
"There," he said, "this isn't so bad, right?"
She sighed. "I guess."
He nudged her with his shoulder. Both of them looked up at the night sky, admiring the myriad of stars in the atmosphere. "Hey, look." He pointed to a set of constellations. "See those group of stars right there?"
"I see many groups of stars," she said lamely, making a point.
Nathan then took her hand and pointed to the direction of constellations he was referring to. Haley didn't know why, but she felt a little jolt once their skin touched. He held it still and used her hand to trace the group of stars. "You see, that's the Little Dipper. And over there," he directed her hand in another set of stars, "that's the Big Dipper. Do you see the handle?"
"Wow!" Haley said in disbelief. "I see them!"
Nathan smiled. "You want to see Venus?"
"We could see Venus?" she asked, turning her head to look into his eyes. Then something struck her. She noticed for the first time, how wonderful his eyes were. They were a hazy blue, like the ocean, and in that moment she felt like she could've drowned in them.
"You bet." Looking up, he took her hand again and pointed it to the far right, where a single bright star was located. It was the biggest and brightest of them all, flickering, and the faintest color of yellow. "There it is," he whispered.
"That's beautiful…" she said, almost to herself. She kept staring at the lonesome star, secluded from the rest. She wasn't able to take her eyes off it, as though the star was hypnotizing her.
For some reason, Nathan couldn't take his eyes off her either. He was thankful that her eyes were trained on the star, not noticing his gaze upon her.
"Nathan?"
"Yea?"
"Why do you like me? I mean whatever this is, I'm only fifteen, I don't hang out in the same crowd as you or Clay, we're complete opposites, and you're my brother's best friend and my brother would probably kill you if he knew that we were hanging out behind his back…"
"Maybe that's why I like you, because I'm not supposed to…" He smirked. Nathan found her hand and intertwined their fingers. He couldn't explain it. He was merely drawn to her.
"You're going to get me in a lot of trouble Nathan Scott." Haley smiled staring back at the stars.
Nathan stirred in his slumber. The annoying sound of a ringing telephone was gradually deafening his ears. Still laying flat on his stomach, he reached over to the nightstand feeling around for the hotel phone, he finally felt the smooth device on his fingertips and picked up the telephone off its receiver.
"What…" He muttered into the phone, his eyes still closed.
"Hello Mr. Scott, this is your 7 a.m. wake up call." A woman's annoying voice chimed through his ear. He opened his eyes and sighed before hanging up the phone without saying thank you. He turned to lie on his back and noticed two very naked women tangled in the covers beside him. He smirked to himself remembering when he arrived back at his hotel room last night, Kelly or whatever her name was, invited a friend. He didn't complain it only made his night more interesting.
He moved to sit up, placing his bare feet on the crimson colored carpet. He stretched his arms over his head; unconsciously defining his muscles in the process.
He stood up, the thick white bed sheet sliding off his exposed bottom half. He grabbed his navy blue boxers that were thrown on the chair last night and slipped them on. He noticed a few condom wrappers scattered around the large hotel suite as well as empty beer and wine bottles. He sighed, content that he didn't have a hangover. His body was so immune to alcohol it didn't really affect him in a negative manner anymore. He walked over to the other side of the disheveled bed and tapped one of the blondes on the shoulders. She stirred a little at first then finally woke up and smiled up at him.
"You and your friend need to leave." He said with a straight face as he crossed his arms.
She crinkled her eye brows and yawned, "What…" She managed to say as she cupped her forehead with her hand.
"I said that you sluts need to leave…" He said picking up the items of clothing around his room and tossing them on the foot of the bed. The blonde sat up confused and obviously hung over.
Nathan grabbed his wallet and pulled out a hundred dollar bill, "Here's breakfast money…" He said flicking it on the bed, it was the least he could do, "By the time I get out my shower, I expect you to be gone…" He voiced walking into the bathroom slamming the door behind him causing the other blonde to pop up, now wide awake.
~*~
Haley looked at the clock on her nightstand and sighed.
7:23a.m., it read.
After leaving the Hamptons with Julian last night, they headed back to her small apartment in Manhattan where they ended up making love again in her comfy queen sized bed. Julian was only in town for the week, so she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible before he was to go back to California.
She had promised Brooke and her brother that she'd meet them for breakfast in the city at nine thirty to celebrate their now infamous engagement. A breakfast that she wasn't really looking forward to because she knew Nathan would be there too. She assumed that her family along with the Scotts, and Davis' would also be in attendance. After all, the news of her brother's engagement already made its way to half the newspapers in New York. Haley knew that when Brooke did finally accept her brothers proposal, she would do it big, meaning a big engagement, a big party, a big wedding. That's just how Brooke Davis did things. If she were to be the center of attention, she would make sure that everyone remembered.
Haley turned over in bed to see her Julian sound asleep; their bodies still tangled beneath the sheets. She began planting kisses all over his handsome face as his eyes stirred open and a grin spread on his lips.
"Morning sunshine" She smiled draping her arm over his chest.
"Morning" He yawned before placing a kiss on her forehead.
"We have an engagement breakfast to attend this morning."
"What time?" He yawned.
"Nine thirty."
"Wait, an engagement breakfast?"
"Yes, Brooke insists that every time we meet for a meal now, she has to throw engagement in front of it."
"Does that mean when she's actually married, she's going to throw married in front of every meal you guys meet for?"
"I wouldn't doubt it." Haley chuckled, "I'm going to take a shower, want to join me?"
"I have to call the office actually, so you go right ahead, I'll take one after you." He said sitting up.
"Okay" She said getting out of bed and wrapping her beige silk robe around her body. She crawled back on her bed to where Julian sat and kissed him tenderly "I love you"
"I love you too beautiful." He smiled.
~*~
"Nathan! It's so good to see, we've missed you!" Brooke said hugging him tightly.
"Aw, thanks Brooke, I've missed you guys, too. Congratulations." He stated sincerely. Surprisingly he had arrived at Norma's early. A pricey breakfast and lunch American restaurant that resided in the Le Parker Meridien, a classy hotel in uptown New York. Some called Norma's a five star diner; others said it was breakfast over the top. Either way, Clay and Brooke had booked the entire dining area for their family and friends to celebrate their engagement. Brooke insisted because she wanted to be different from every other bride who threw engagement parties and dinners. It didn't hurt that Brooke's family knew the owner of the restaurant.
"Thank you." She beamed. They were standing in the restaurants lobby being that Brooke insisted on personally greeting all her guests before they walked in the dining area to take their seats. She linked arms with Clay's kissing him on the cheek. "I love this man. Now if only we could get you to settle down Nate"
"Now Dimples, you know that will never happen." Clay chuckled. He knew Nathan and he knew that commitment was one word that Nathan steered clear of.
"He's right Brooke. I'm not the settling down type. Never have been" Nathan stated.
"You sure about that?" Brooke smirked. Nathan knew exactly what she was talking about. Out of all people, why did Brooke Davis have to know? She had been torturing him and giving him a hard time for years about this, especially when she and Haley grew close.
"You know Nathan's never had a serious girlfriend in his twenty six years of living. Hell, he's never even been in love." Clay threw in there. "If he ever was, I would know…"
"Honey, I know you and Nathan are freakishly close, but I'm sure you don't know everything about him."
"It's sad to say, but I do." Clay affirmed confidently.
"I'm sure he's been in love…haven't you Nate?" Brooke asked looking at Nathan with a tilted head.
Nathan cleared his throat, "Uh…I—"
"Sorry to break it to you dear, but my good ole pal here has never been in love. Nathan Scott doesn't fall in love, only into random chicks beds." Clay smirked.
"He's right B. Davis. I've never been in love, just lust."
"Too bad for you, it's amazing…being in love that is." She said looking at Clay with a huge smile. Clay kissed her lips tenderly whispering I love you.
"So Stefan tells me the business deal fell through, I guess that means—"
"Uh, uh, no talk of business today, please…unless it's about the wedding." Brooke declared.
"Alright, I'm sorry Dimples, no business talk." Clay kissed Brooke on her forehead.
"Thank you honey…" She kissed his lips.
"Where's my god-daughter?" Nathan asked changing the subject. He hated lovey dovey shit.
"I'm right here Uncle Nate!" He heard a little girls voice squeal. He turned around to see the only kid that he could truly stand being around staring up at him with her big beautiful green eyes, Madison James.
Nathan picked up the little curly head brunette, "This can't be my god daughter, the last time I saw Madison James she was much shorter than you." The little girl giggled showing off her dimples that matched her mothers.
"It's me Uncle Nate, I promise, I grew a little." Nathan smiled; then hugged the little girl who threw her little arms around his neck.
"You missed my sixth birthday." She pouted.
"I know Maddy, I'm sorry, I had to work, but did you get my gift in the mail?"
"Yes." She smiled. "I'm wearing it right now! See!" She smiled showing him her gold bracelet that had her name engraved on it.
"It looks beautiful." He said.
"Thank you Uncle Nate." She kissed his cheek.
"Anything for my favorite girl"
Nathan Scott may have been ruthless when it came to women, but the important ones in his life, he knew how to respect and treat very well.
"Mama, when we get ready to eat, can I sit next to Uncle Nate?" Madison looked at her parents.
"Of course baby girl." Brooke said.
Clay looked at his watch, "Did you tell Hales nine thirty?" He asked his fiancée. Haley was never late. In fact she was always early to everything because she hated attention.
"Yes, she's probably just getting it on with Julian. She'll be here." Brooke leered.
"Eh, Brooke that's my little sister, I really don't want to think about that, I have a hard enough time accepting that she has a boyfriend" Clay scrunched up his face in disgust. Brooke looked at Nathan who clenched his jaw. She simply smiled in delight.
"I'm gonna go take my seat with Miss Maddy here." Nathan uttered before walking away with the little girl in his arms who started chatting away. This breakfast would be interesting, but as usual, he had to keep his cool.
~*~
"Taxi!" Haley bellowed as she held out her arm eager to catch one's eye. They were running late for two reasons: One, Haley couldn't figure out what to wear and two, Julian's business call lasted longer than expected.
At last, one rolled to a stop in front of them and they quickly got inside.
"Brooke is going to kill me" Haley muttered.
"Just blame it on me. I'll take Brooke's wrath…"
"Aw, you're so sweet." Haley chuckled, touching his cheek. "And brave…"
"Who's supposed to be there?"
"Probably my family, Brooke's family…the Scotts…"
"Oh, the infamous Scotts, I don't think the ones I've met like me very much"
"Don't take it personally, the Scott men don't really like anyone they initially meet. They have a hard time letting people in their circle of trust."
"How many Scott children are there?"
"Well, there's five, you've met them all, except for...Nathan."
"Does he live here in New York?"
"No, um, he lives…everywhere."
"What does that mean?"
"Nathan's the type of person who can't stay in one place for too long. So, I don't really know where he calls home these days. He's sort of a ball of confusion, wrapped in a mystery, you never really know what to expect."
"I see. Well, maybe he'll be at the breakfast…" Haley sent Julian a small smile then turned her head to look out the window, she watched as the city rolled on by. She wondered if she was ever going to truly get Nathan Scott out of her mind, out of her heart, and most importantly out of her life.
