A/N: I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, it's a big step for Naley. It's not that long, but it's all Nathan and Haley and a big surprise at the end.
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CHAPTER FOUR
it's all shallow and all so appealing now
I'm up to my ankles and I'm drowning anyway in a sea of
sarcastic faces
familiar places
everything looks quite the same here it's
all confusingly amusing
bitter and tainted
the picture you painted to me
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Ever since Haley admitted her feelings about Nathan, she had been avoiding the subject. That night when she broke down in Peyton's room was the worst. She didn't mean to cry, but something about the whole situation scared her. It's not like she hadn't liked anyone in the past, but this time it was different. She had been trying to avoid Nathan as much as possible, cancelling tutoring sessions, ignoring phone calls, she just couldn't talk to him.
Haley stood at her locker, she sighed deeply as she began to put her books into her bad. Nathan walked over to her "Hey Hales, tutoring after school?"
She looked at him then quickly turned away "No, today's not a good day"
"Hales, you've been blowing me off for over a week now, what's going on?"
"Why do you keep calling me Hales?!"
Nathan just shrugged, he didn't understand why she was so mad "It's your nickname?"
"Yeah, that my friends call me" she sighed.
"Did I do something to make you pissed off at me?"
She shook her head "no you didn't, it's just me.. I just.." she slammed her locker shut "why are you even talking to me in public? Lucas might see.."
"Stop fucking worry about Lucas" Nathan was growing annoyed "Haley stop worrying what others will think of choices you make.."
"Just leave me alone Nathan.. Please" She looked at him sadly, then turned and walked away.
"Dammit" Nathan kicked Haley's locker and walked away.
Little did either of them know Lucas was standing a few feet away. He may not have heard what exactly was said, he knew something was going on. He started to walk down the hall trying to figure out why was Haley and Nathan talking to each other, and why did it seem like they were arguing. All of a sudden someone touched him "What the hell.."
Peyton looked at him and laughed "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine.." he sighed "just some stuff on my mind"
"Wanna talk about it?" Peyton asked with a smile as she linked arms with him.
"Not really" he shook his head then looked at Peyton "has Haley been acting funny to you?"
"Funny how?" Peyton asked trying to keep it cool.
"I don't know, it's like she's keeping something from me.."
"Haley? Never.. You got nothing to worrying about"
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Haley laid in Peyton's bed with her back to the door and just stared at the wall. Brooke was sitting next to Haley and just looked at her and shook her head, she looked back at Peyton who was painting her toe nails.
Peyton sighed "Haley are you ever gonna talk to us about what happened with Nathan today?"
Haley just shrugged "There's nothing to say"
"Tutorgirl I hate to say it, but it was your own fault" Brooke added.
Haley turned over and looked at them "What the hell does that mean?"
Peyton looked her friend directly in the face "It means you've been completely blowing him off to avoid your feelings for him"
"Who cares if I blow him off, he's mister popular.. He doesn't care if me the nerd blows him off."
"Apparently he does care Haley" Brooke never used Haley's name unless she was trying to get a point across.
"Maybe he likes you Haley.." Peyton smiled.
"I can't deal with this right now" Haley sat up and ran her fingers through her hair "Peyton can you please take me home" she just needed to sort things out.
"I Cant.. I have something I need to do" She looked at Brooke who nodded knowing exactly what she meant.
"I'll take you home, and we'll get you some ice cream on the way tuorgirl.." Brooke smiled sweetly.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom" Haley got up and walked over to the bathroom and shut the door.
Peyton and Brooke looked at each other "are you gonna go talk to him?"
"Yeah.." Peyton nodded.
"Good, project Naley is on the go.."
"Project Naley?" Peyton laughed.
Brooke smirked "yep, Nathan and Haley equals Naley"
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Nathan was in the kitchen searching for something to eat, but was seeming to have trouble. Lucas walked in and went over to the fridge getting himself a bottle of water.
"What the hell!" Nathan yells "Who the hell leaves one slice of bread! You can't even make a sandwich!" he threw the slice of bread against the window.
"Bad day I take it?" Lucas asked as he sipped his water.
"Yeah.." Nathan sighed and finally pulled out a bag of chips and started to eat them.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No" Nathan answered with a mouth full of chips. "I don't understand girls, they are way too confusing"
"Does this have to do with that mystery girl from you room that day?"
"Huh? Oh yeah her.. We've been hanging out for the last few weeks and this last week she's been completely blowing me off. And today she told me to leave her alone" He sighed, he didn't know why this was bothering him so much.
"Maybe you should.."
"What?" Nathan looked at Lucas in disbelief.
"Maybe she's too good for you"
"Maybe she needs to stop caring about what other people think" Nathan glared at Lucas. "I'm gonna go shoot some hoops" Nathan threw down the bag of chips and exited the kitchen.
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Whenever Nathan was stressed, he always felt relief on his drive way, just playing some basketball without his dad breathing down his neck. This whole Haley was confusing him, why did she blow him off, why did he care.
"Nathan Scott with a basketball in his hands" Peyton smirked as she walked up with her hands in her coat pocket "Nothing ever changes"
"What do you want Peyton?" he came off cold.
"I think you know what I want.."
"I'm not in the mood to have sex right now, but if you come back later" he made a basket.
"Okay gross, not what I meant" Peyton rolled her eyes "I'm here about Haley"
"Haley? Who's Haley? Oh that nerd, what about her"
"Nathan don't act like you don't know.. I know she's been tutoring you"
He stopped and looked at her "You do? Because I was under the impression it was suppose to be this huge secret.."
"Only from Lucas.."
Lucas stood at his bedroom window listening to their conversation. "So do you know why she just up and freaked out on me today"
Peyton sighed and shook her head "I'm amazed you haven't figured it out yet Nathan"
He looked at her confused "figured what out?"
"She likes ya Nate.. And she finally admitted it to herself" Peyton looked at his face, he looked shocked "and she's afraid"
"She's afraid to like me? Why?"
"Nathan, your Nathan Scott.. You have a rep with girls and Haley isn't like those other girls you've dated.. And she doesn't want Lucas to find out and hate her" Peyton explained.
"Well I don't know what you want me to do.." he went to shoot another basket and Peyton grabbed the ball out of his hand.
"Nate as much as you don't want to admit it, you like her too"
"Peyton.."
"Just tell her Nathan" Peyton smiled at him and walked off, she stopped and threw the ball back at him "Just tell her"
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Brooke was right about one thing, ice cream did make you feel better for a little while. When they arrived at Haley's, she tried to convince Brooke to go home, but she wouldn't budge. She invited herself right in and Haley just enjoyed the ice cream. Haley and Brooke weren't that close as friends, but behind the make-up, and the rumors Brooke Davis had a heart.
"Wasn't I right?" Brooke asked as she sucked on her spoon "Ice cream makes everything better"
"It doesn't make everything better, but it definitely helps" Haley smiled, probably the first time she smiled in days. Just then the doorbell rang, Haley groaned and got up to look out her window "it's Nathan.."
"Goody" Brooke smirked.
"I don't wanna see him.."
"Come on Haley, you know you do" Brooke smiled and ran to go get the door.
"Brooke!"
Brooke opened the door and looked at Nathan, who looked really confused "Hi Nate.."
"Uh, this is Haley's house right?" He looked at the house number.
"Yes it is, and I hope that you're here for the reason I think" she smirked.
"Can I talk to Haley?"
"Surely.." Brooke smirked and disappeared for a second. A moment later Haley was pushed outside "you two have fun" Brooke closed the door and smirked "project Naley almost complete"
"Hey.." Nathan said looking down.
"Hi.." Haley crossed her arms and looked at him "what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry Haley.."
She looked at him confused "alright, what are you sorry for?"
"I didn't know.. I really didn't know.."
"Didn't know what?"
"That you liked me.."
"Wha.?" Haley's jaw dropped, she was going to kill Brooke and Peyton. "What are you talking about"
"Peyton came by and talked to me.. And I'm sorry I didn't realize, I'm dumb"
"Well, you're not dumb. But it's fine, it's just not a good idea for us to tutor anymore.." before she could continue Nathan kissed her.
He pulled away "Sorry.."
"You shouldn't have done that" Haley looked at him for a moment, then kissed him again wrapping her arms around his neck.
"YES!" Brooke yelled from inside.
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Haley sat on her bed later that night smiling, a knock came at the door. She looked up to see Lucas standing there, but her smile soon faded when she saw the look on his face.
"Hey Luke.." she said nervously as she pushed a strained of hair behind her ear.
"I know you two were together" Lucas just shook his head "Why didn't you tell me.."
"Wha.. What are you talking about?"
"Haley, today at school.. Then Peyton came by the house. And then when I came to ask you what was going on. I got the nice show of you guys kissing outside the house.." he turned to walk out of the room.
She got up "Lucas it's not what you think"
he turned to her and laughed "then what is it, he was looking for something in your mouth!?"
"Lucas I like him.." Haley's eyes started to water.
"But why Haley! You know what type of person he is!" Lucas shook his head "I don't know what hurts more, you sneaking around behind my back with him or lying to my face about it"
"Lucas why can't you be happy for me"
"Happy for you!?"
"Lucas you're my best friend.." Haley tried to touch his arm but he pulled away.
"I guess best friends doesn't mean forever anymore.." Lucas turned and exited the bedroom leaving Haley there crying.
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