Hi everyone! Here is Chapter 4 of Final Rose. I have to worn you that updates may be further apart now as I havn't had a chance to write ahead any more chapters then this, I am working on the next one and hope to have it up soon. Thank you all for your continued support of this story. I love reading your reviews so please keep them coming. As always if you have any ideas of where this story could head please tell me, you never know I may add them in.
IN THE HOUSE WITH HALEY
I started to wake up the next morning and looked around the room. Emma and Maddie were gone, Kiera was looking in a closet and Amanda was still sleeping. I got out of bed and headed over to the closet I had. "Morning." I said to Kiera
"Hey, good morning." Kiera said. "I figured I better get up and get ready before the date card comes, although I have a feeling that you may be having a one on one this week miss first impression rose." She said joking around.
"God how can you be so chipper in the morning." Amanda said rolling over in bed and looking at her. "She's right thought Haley, If I were you I'd be on cloud nine right now."
"Guys I highly doubt that I get a one on one." I said as I pulled out a cute casual outfit that Brooke made for me a while ago.
"Gosh those girls are already driving me nuts and its not even 9 am." Maddie said as her and Emma came into the room carrying cups of coffee in their hands. "Just a tip for you all get your breakfast in the kitchen fast and get the hell out."
"That bad?" I asked from the bathroom as I was getting ready.
"It's horrible, between the girls who are not morning people and then the ones who are hungry and oh lets not forget Rachel and Renee running the show." Emma said rolling her eyes.
I came out of the bathroom in my outfit for the day after brushing my teeth and washing my face. I sat down at the vanity they had in our room so I could do my hair and make up.
"Not that I'm trying to pry but Haley we saw you kissing Nathan last night. You have to tell us, how it was!" Maddie said as the other girls agreed and waited for me to answer.
I turned around and looked at them. "It was actually really sweet and nice." I smiled thinking about last night. "It was one of the best first kisses I have ever had."
"Did you feel any sparks." Amanda said still laying down but looking over at me and smiling.
I bit my bottom lip, a nervous habit that I do. "Oh look she's blushing and bitting her lip." Kiera said all excited.
We heard quite a bit of commotion downstairs and saw some of the girls run past the room. We all looked at each other. Emma stood up and went over to the door. "Hey, what's going on?"
"We just saw a car pulling up, we arn't sure if it's Nathan or just a date card but we wanna get ready incase it is him." Erin yelled from her room.
Kiera and Amanda started to run around like crazy to finish getting ready and me, Emma, and Maddie headed downstairs. I went into the kitchen to grab a muffin and cup of coffee while they headed into the living room. I sat down at the end of the couch with Maddie beside me.
"Has anyone said what or who it was yet?" I asked the girls in the room.
"There hasn't been a knock at the door yet so everyone is just kinda waiting." Harper said as she sat beside the couch on the floor. "I thought last night was bad at the rose ceremony, this is just as bad waiting to hear about the dates."
"Oh please." Rachel said as more of the girls came into the room. "I can only imagine how you are going to be if you make it any further. It just gets worse from here." She said to Harper.
"Wow, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Aria said.
"I'm not here to make friends, I'm here for Nathan." Rachel said and rolled her eyes.
"Like we arn't here for Nathan?" I asked.
"Wow, the little school teacher speaks." As Rachel said that, there was a knock on the door and she got up to go answer it.
"She's right, Nathan is the main thing, nothing else." Renee stated.
Rachel came running back in the room with a date card.
"Well what does it say?" Emma asked.
Rachel rolled her eyes and opened the envelope and read 10 names off of the card.
"Harper, Aria, Erin, Kiera, Maddie, Emma, Renee, Rachel, Heather, Nicole B, and Haley... If you're looking for my love, then light it up. Nathan". Rachel read off the card.
"Yay!" Nicole B said and ran out of the room to get ready.
"What do you think that's suppose to mean? Light it up?" Heather asked looking at the card.
"Maybe with basketball, a lot of announcers say that a player light up the score board when they score a lot during the game." I said.
"Whatever it means let's go get ready." Renee said pouting as her and Rachel sulked out of the room.
"Well we know who thought they were getting one on ones this week." Maddie said as the other 7 of us walked out of the room to finish getting ready for our date.
After we were all ready we headed outside and saw something like a mini bus waiting to take us. The 10 of us got on and talked about what the date with Nathan might be, well not everyone talked, Rachel and Renee were in their own conversation. I looked out the window and saw the streets of LA filled with people zip by as the bus headed to out date.
"I propose a toast, here's to Nathan and our first group date." Heather said holding a glass of champagne we all just pored.
We all clicked glasses and took a sip of our drink when I looked back out the window and saw The Staples Center come into view and the bus start to slow down.
"You guys, I think we are going to The Staples Center!" I said excited. We were going to get to see where Nathan played his home games.
"Why would we go there? Oh maybe Nathan is taking us to a concert!" Renee said.
"No stupid, this is where The Laker's play, Nathan played for The LA Lakers his whole NBA career." Maddie said looking at me, Emma, and Kiera rolling her eyes.
"Whatever we're here for let's go find out." Nicole B said and started to run off the bus after it stopped. I looked at the window and saw her run right up to Nathan. He was dressed in gym clothes, that boy could look good in just about anything and have all of us girls falling over him. I was the last to get off the bus and Nathan was giving everyone hugs. I walked over to him with a big smile on my face. After getting to talk with him last night and getting the first impression rose I don't think even Rachel could ruin my mood.
"Hi Nathan." I said as he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.
"Hey Haley." He smiled at me as we pulled away from the hug. "Ok everyone, so I brought you here because this place was basically my second home when I was in the NBA so I wanted to show you all a little part of my world. I thought maybe I could show you all some basketball and then we'll divide up into 2 teams of five, whoever the winning team is, will get to go with me and spend some time after the game."
"'Alright' and 'Sounds fun!'" Were all said and then we headed into the stadium. When we walked in you could see Nathan relax. We were all on the gym floor and looking around. This place was huge! I could only imagine the roar of the crowd that you could hear during a game.
Damn did it feel good to be back in this place, Nathan thought. He could feel himself relax as he saw the girls looking around. 'Wow this place is huge.' He heard one of the girls say behind him. One of the main reasons he wanted to do one of his dates here was because he wanted to see who knew some things about basketball. It was a big part of who he was. Even though he's retired from the game doesn't mean it is leaving his life.
"Ok let's get everyone a ball, we can practice free throws, shots, and maybe some lay ups before we try passing and dribbling while moving down a court." Nathan said.
"Wait, you mean we don't throw them into a goal post?" I heard Renee ask. Many of the girls chuckled. I was ready to roll my eyes when I saw Haley doing the same.
"No Renee, in basketball they shoot for baskets for 2 points with a lay up or other shots or they shoot for 3 points when they are on or about the free throw line." Haley explained to her.
"Someone knows about the game." Nathan said and then we headed over to get some balls. "Have you played Haley?"
"I never played, my brothers are into it. My friends at home are really into it as well. When we were in high school we use to always be at the river court, the guys would alway be playing and us girls would watch and do homework on the benches." She said as I walked by her. "I've come to love the game from that."
"That's pretty awesome." I said and started to talk to Rachel as she asked me a question.
We were all on the court and the girls were all practicing shooting. I looked over after I got done helping Emma with doing a lay up and saw Haley struggling. "Was that your jump shot? If it was I don't think I can keep you around any more." I said joking to her as I grabbed her ball as it bounced toward me.
"Haha very funny, this is embarrassing, I want you to think I'm not embarrassing, especially after falling out of the limo last night."
"You don't embarrass me Haley, it just needs a little work."
"I'm going to be honest with you. I may know and enjoy the game but to play I suck. In high school to pass gym class we had to be able to shoot a basket from the free throw line. My friend Mouth, who loves the game and went on to become a sports caster showed and helped me so much, he told me I was better off shooting it granny style by the time we were done."
"Did you pass at least?" I asked chuckling as I handed Haley the ball back.
"I did. It wasn't graceful at all but I passed." She laughed and took that ball from me and dribbled it a few times and tried to shoot again but missed by a mile. "UGH! I can't do it."
I ran after the ball and came back to her. "Yes, you can. Here, square your shoulders to the basket. And bring the ball right up past your nose like this, ok." I looked over and saw Haley copying me as I did this. "Ok, bend your knees a little." I handed her the ball and went to stand behind her. "Just relax your hips." I put my hands on her hips. "And just shoot." She shot the ball and it hit the rim. "Alright it wasn't perfect, but it definitely wasn't embarrassing. It was actually kinda sexy." I went to get her, her ball back and saw her smiling at me.
"You're the first person that has actually been able to help me get even close to that."
"It sounds like your friend Mouth did."
"He gave up and told me to do granny style." She said laughing as she tried and hit the rim again.
"Nathan can you come help me? I just can't seem to get this." I turned around and saw Aria having trouble doing a lay up as well. "I'll be right there." I called out. "Just keep practicing, it makes perfect." She smiled up at me.
"Thanks Nathan."
"Of course, I'll talk to you later." I said and walked over to Aria.
I watched as Nathan walked over to work with Aria. If I thought I felt a spark last night when we kissed, I definitely know that I did now after when he touched my hips to show me how to shoot.
"Someone seems to be getting comfortable with Nathan." I heard someone say behind me. I turned around and saw Emma.
"I'm sorry what?"
"I'm kidding Haley, I just saw how he helped you try to make that shot. He was trying to show me to make a lay up and didn't touch me. He was sure touching you there." She said as she made a shot into the basket.
I bit my lip and blushed. Even after last night knowing that others saw me kiss him it was still weird for me to think that other girls who were here for Nathan were watching how we interacted with each other.
"Yeah, I love the game and all but I can't make a shot to save my life." I said and actually made a basket. "Oh my God I did it!" I exclaimed and started to jump around as Emma laughed and gave me a high five and some of the other girls that were around laughed as well. I looked over as I heard Nathan laugh and saw him give me a thumbs up. I saw that my ball rolled out into the hallway and walked out to get it. I could feel like someone was behind me and when I turned around I saw Rachel.
"What do you want Rachel?" I asked as I tried to walk past her.
"I don't know what you are doing or why your even trying with Nathan, he's not that into you, and if he is, I'll make sure that he isn't." She said and started to walk away.
"I have no secrets Rachel, if you tell Nathan anything and he asks me, I'll be more then willing to tell him. Whatever it is you have planned, I'm willing to work them out with him. You on the other hand, I don't. I'm here to follow my heart, not to worry about what others think of me or what others are going to try to do to me like you are doing. Plus if Nathan wasn't that into me then why would he give me the first impression rose last night?"
"Wow, if only Nathan could see you now and see how much of a bitch you're being." She said and started to back me into a corner. "Even if I don't end up with Nathan I'm fine by that, I get my name out there. No one can resist, if I were to get with Nathan, which well I think will happen, he's just for now until someone else comes along. So little miss school teacher I would keep your mouth shut about this little run in that we had."
"She doesn't have to keep her mouth shut, I think we've heard quite enough." We both turned our head toward the door way and saw Nathan and the other girls standing there.
"Nathan you don't understand she made me say it." Rachel said running over to him trying to hold onto him.
I looked over at the 3 girls on the date that I would consider my friends as the other girls started to wonder away they came over to me as I started to cry.
"I saw you following Haley out into the hallway and heard you and headed over here. I said this last night I'm not here to play games." Nathan said raising his voice. "Rachel, you got your wish people will definitely know who you are, but not because of you being my fiancé at the end of this, but for bullying the girls around the house, from what I've heard in a matter of 2 days you have done quite enough of that. I want you gone, now. There is a car outside and someone will meet you at the airport with your bags from the house. Now leave." Nathan said angry and walked away.
Rachel started to scream and follow Nathan until a producer of the show came up and escorted her out of the arena, not without one last dirty look at me.
"Are you ok Haley, that was a lot?" Maddie asked me.
I wiped away the tears that were falling. "I just don't understand how someone can be so cruel like that. He even said last night that if you weren't here for love to leave."
"Haley, Rachel had all of the wrong intentions and she wasn't going to leave, you heard her, she just wanted Nathan until someone came along that was more convenient for her." Kiera said and rubbed my back.
"You can't let what she said get to you, she's gone now, none of us have to worry about that anymore. I'm sorry that it was you she had it out for, but she's gone and hopefully no one else is like that." Emma said comforting me.
"Thanks guys." I said and wiped some more tears away. "You all should head back out there. I just need a few more minutes to get myself together and I'll be back out there."
"Are you sure?" All three girls asked.
"Positive." I gave them a smile as they headed back to the gym.
I spun the ball around in my hand as I tried to get myself to calm down. I don't think that any bullying I got when I was in high school for being the nerd that I was as bad as what I have experienced with Rachel in the past two days. I walked back to the court and looked around to confront Nathan about what happened and to thank him for saying something when he did, Rachel was on a roll and I don't know what she would of done if Nathan hadn't said something when he did. He wasn't on the court playing or practicing with any of the girls. I looked up into the stands and saw him sitting up pretty high looking over toward the score board. I started to climb the steps up to see him.
"Wow, I can see why you came all the way up here, the views pretty amazing." I said and saw him snap out of his daze. He softly smiled at me and patted the seat beside him. I sat down beside him and looked out for a minute.
"Nathan, I need you to know that if Rachel has told you anything about me and you want to ask me I will tell you everything." I said starting to get upset again.
He looked over at me and grabbed my hand and rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. "She didn't tell me anything Haley, she's was just being a bully and threatening you. I don't think I would have believed her even if she did tell me anything." He said trying to comfort me.
"Gosh I feel like such a baby crying over this." I said trying to wipe my eyes but Nathan stopped me and wiped them away for me.
"Haley you don't have to feel that way."
"I guess beside the fact she treated me like that, it brought back memories from high school that I thought were behind me. I was bullied like I told you last night, never as bad as Rachel treated me, but it still brought back that memory." I said starting to calm down.
"I can see why you would be upset I understand. I do have a question though, how would Rachel know anything about you if you never met before?" He asked still stroking my knuckles.
"I have no idea unless she heard some of the things I have told some of the other girls but it's nothing I haven't told you or plan to tell you."
"That's all that matters. I want an honest relationship. I've seen what it can do to start a relationship on a lie and I definitely don't want that." He said and put his arm around my shoulder.
"I agree with you there." I said putting my head on his shoulder. This felt right. I need this talk with him and I'm glad we got to talk. "I wanted to thank you for following her. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't say something when you did."
"I'm glad I did to, as much as it hurts me to know that even after last night when I told you all that if you weren't here for love to leave that there may still be some here after Rachel, it hurts knowing that I could end up alone."
"I hope that you don't. You deserve happiness."
"Thanks Haley."
"I did mean it though, thank you again for following her."
"I had a bad feeling when I saw that and something told me to follow her. I was afraid though when I saw her back you into that corner what she would do if I didn't step in. I don't want anyone to get hurt from another one of the girls."
We sat there for a few minutes in comfortable silence watching the other girls play around and shoot. I looked up at Nathan and saw how into it he was watching.
"You really miss the game, don't you?"
"I do, but I don't. I want to find love and start a life with someone but basketball is always going to have a part of my life."
"Could you do something with basketball after this, when you settle down with whoever you chose?"
"I guess I never really thought about it. Haley James you really know how to make a guy think."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked.
"I honestly don't know." He said and we both laughed.
"I have an idea. Since the game isn't going to be even why don't you sit with me on the side line and keep the score. With everything you went thought and not getting to practice it's only fair. Plus I want you to come tonight no matter what. Kinda like a I'm sorry I kept a bitch around that did that to you apology." Nathan said.
"I'll tell you what. If the other girls are good with that then yes, I'd love to do that and go on the date tonight."
"I was hoping you would say that." He said and leaned in and kissed me. I kissed him back. When he pulled away I looked up and smiled at him. Lord help me, I think I just maybe falling for this guy.
Little did they know but Renee was watching them as she practiced. She couldn't help but think that she got the two girls that were her competition gone but there may be more now. She was the one that kept spiking Carrie's drinks last night to make them stronger then the bartender was making, her taking the first impression rose was just a bonus. She was the one that told Rachel about Haley going into the hallway and what a great idea to threaten her about digging up things in her past, she was hoping Haley would just tell Nathan about what happened to help get Rachel out of here, another bonus for getting Rachel out of here sooner with Nathan hearing and following them. It was time to let her true colors shine now, she was done acting all innocent, the claws were going to be coming out. Nathan was her's.
Later that day after the girls agreed that it was fair that Haley set out. The girls were getting ready. Some Bachelor and Bachelorette fans were invited to watch the game and the girls were getting excited. Both sides hoping that they won so they could get more one on one time with Nathan.
The teams were Maddie, Kiera, Aria, and Nicole B on the blue team and Harper, Erin, Emma, and Renee on the red team. Haley was sitting back keeping score and watching the girls play, she was definitely glad that she sat this out. The girls were really going rough out there. Each one was really trying to impress Nathan. Everyone who looked at Nathan could see that he was definitely at home watching the game and enjoyed yelling out calls to the girls as they went. The blue team ended up winning and now Haley, Maddie, Kiera, Aria, and Nicole B were sitting on top of the roof of a building in downtown LA with Nathan talking about how much fun today was after everything with Rachel was over with.
Since I got to talk with Nathan earlier today while the girls were practicing and a bit about different basketball things while the girls were playing I was sitting back and talking with Kiera, Aria, and Nicole B while Maddie was with Nathan.
"Haley, I have to tell you if I were you and Rachel talked to me the way she talked to you she would probably be flat on the floor." Aria said and took a drink of her wine.
"Seriously, I heard how she was talking to you and I wanted to tackle her." Nicole B said. "Like I heard her talk to some of the other girls in the house like that but to actually have you cornered like that, it was uncalled for."
"Thanks guys, I'm just trying to forget about it. I talked it out with Nathan a bit when I went to talk with him after that happened and to see if Rachel did say anything about me and he wanted to ask me to answer those questions so I feel some better, now that she is gone though I just want to relax and enjoy tonight." I said and took a sip of my wine, relaxing as the cool liquid went down my throat.
"Nathan is a great guy, I really hope that if I make it though this week or next week that I can get a one on one to know him better." Aria confessed to us. "This just a few minutes here and there are hard."
I kept quite as I was the only girl in the group that probably has had the most time with him. Maddie was the last one to talk with Nathan out of us all besides me. If there was time, like I am hoping there is, I will get to talk to him more, if not I am not going to worry to much. I had got to talk to him today, that is more then what some girls may get to say on group dates. I saw out of the corner of my eye Maddie and Nathan coming back over toward the group and saw them give each other a quick kiss before they walked over the rest of the way. I never realized how hard it was going to be see the person that you are falling for kiss another girl. This was going to be rough to see. However, I think that Nathan is worth it.
Maddie came over and sat by me and smiled. I smiled back at her. The way she looked at me made me think that she definitely had some things to tell me that went on. I have a feeling that we would be up late tonight talking.
"Haley do you mind if we talk for a few minutes before we have to start to get ready to head out?" Nathan asked me, making me lose my train of thought.
"Sure." I said and stood up. I sat my drink down on the table that was by the couch I was sitting on.
We walked over to the other side of the building and sat down. I sat down beside him he instantly put his arm about me. My head rested on his shoulder. How is it that only after knowing this guy for two days, and knowing a little bit about him feel this natural.
"This feels so right." Nathan said.
"I was just thinking that. How is it that we have only known each other for two days and don't know a lot about each other and yet we are both thinking that?" I asked him chuckling.
"Maybe it's a sign that we are meant to get to know each other more." He said and rubbed my shoulder that his hand was on."
"All I know is that, I can see why girls go crazy after just a few days over the guys. I use to sit at home with my best friend Brooke and just laugh at the girls thinking that they were crazy. If Brooke could see me now she would think I am crazy." I said with a chuckle.
"So I take it that this Brooke you are talking about is the same Brooke that signed you up for the show with your sister?" He asked.
"The one and only Brooke Davis-Baker. She really is a good friend, I wonder sometimes though, like how she can make fun of a show yet sign her best friend up for the exact same show." I shook my head thinking about her. I heard Nathan chuckle thinking about the thought.
"My sister in law Payton is like that too, yet she will yell at the TV til she is blue in the face if she doesn't think that he picked out the right girl."
"Gotta love family and friends huh?" I asked thinking of my family and friends.
"Can't live with them but can't live without them." He said and looked down at me.
"I know you said your close with your brother and sister in law but who else are you close to besides family?"
"I would have to say I'm really close with my friend Skillz and his girlfriend Bevin. I have known Skillz since pre school and met Bevin in high school when they started to go out. Clay, my agent, is like my best friend besides Lucas. He can be completely crazy but he really is a great guy. I'm friends with a guy named Tim that I was friends with since pre school, we use to get into so much trouble together. I remember this one time in high school I think it was our junior year me and Lucas were throwing a party at our dad's and my mom's house and Payton was joking around saying that it would be funny if someone stole one of the school buses. Well me and Tim thought it would be fun to do, so we drove down to the school with a few people from the party and we actually stole the bus. That was probably the worst but I remember always going to the office with Tim for some stupid thing that we did. Then Payton has a girl on her record label that is always around with our group as well."
"That sounds nice." I said thinking of how it is so nice to meet a guy that enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
"Besides your sister and Brooke who do you hang out with in Tree Hill?" He asked.
"Well there is Julian, that is Brooke's husband. Then there is my friend Mouth I told you about earlier today. He is such a nerd but he's been my friend for as long as I can remember. Brooke, him, and I were inseparable in elementary school. He's dating a girl that works for Brooke named Millie that I have gotten close to. Then there is Alex and Chace. I met Alex in high school and we hated each other so much. She was a cheerleader with Brooke and they were constantly going down each other's throats about routines and so she automatically hated me until I had to tutor her and we both realized that we had a lot in common, it took a while for Brooke to get use to but by senior year it worked out. She met this guy Chace our senior year in college and he moved to Tree Hill to try and open up a business, so he fits right in now with us. Him and Alex just started dating right before I left so it should be interesting to see where that goes."
"Sounds like you have a good group of friends." Nathan said and looked down at his watch. "As much as I hate to do this we have to go back over. I have to give out a rose and then we are heading home."
"Ok." I said. "Thank you for listening to me earlier today, I really needed that."
Nathan leaned in and we kissed. Every time we kissed I continued to feel this spark just like I felt during our first kiss.
"Of course. Hopefully there isn't any more sad tears, but maybe some happy tears." He said as we started to walk back over.
"I hope so too, I like the sound of that."
We sat back down as the other girls all welcomed Nathan back and Maddie handed me a new glass of wine.
"Thanks." I said to her once she gave it to me and we sat down.
"Of course. I already warned Kiera but we are having girl talk in our room tonight or tomorrow no matter what!" She said and Kiera looked over laughing and shaking her head in agreement.
"That sounds great." I said taking a sip of my wine. Nathan started to talk then.
"I just wanted to thank you girls for such a great night and playing ball today. I know it was pretty crazy to begin with but I am glad with the way it turned out and really got to know you all more today. So there is a rose to give out and this girl shared something with me that was really nice to hear so, Maddie will you accept this rose." Nathan asked. As happy as I was for Maddie, there was still that thought in my head on how hard it will be to see Nathan form other relationships besides our. I know that I may not make it to the end, but the more and more I got to know him I started to see that.
"I sure will." Maddie said taking the rose and giving Nathan a hug and kiss on the cheek.
After that we all started to head down to the car to take us back to the house. Nathan all gave us a hug and told us good night. I knew one thing, after everything that happened today, I was definitely going to get a good nights sleep.
*I decided to break the week's up into two separate chapters since there will be a lot of dialogue and details on the dates that Nathan and Haley are on together. You will see how Haley spends her time at the house and Nathan on the other dates but just not as much probably until towards right before Nathan could possibly propose to one of the girls.