Passionate Awakening
Chapter Four
"The games we never win are those
where everything and nothing are at stake.
These are the games that play us."
- Anonymous
"Tell me something that nobody knows"
He thought for a moment then smirked, "I really like you."
A hint of blush reached her cheeks and she smiled, "I like you, too"
"You sure about that?" He asked and she nodded. "I really want to kiss you right now Haley?"
"I-I've never kissed a boy before." She blushed looking down in embarrassment.
He lifted her chin with his hand. "Hey, don't be ashamed. Your innocence is a quality I respect and like about you."
"Really?"
"Yeah" He smiled. Haley gazed in his eyes not knowing what to expect. She didn't know why he liked her, why he insisted they hang out, but as much as she feared the unknown, she knew that as long as Nathan Scott was interested, she would always be his. He closed the gap between them, cupped her face, and kissed her lips lightly.
He gradually slipped his tongue into her hesitant chaste mouth. She remained stoic against him until she felt his tongue act against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost what little control—, who was she kidding, she didn't have any control to begin with…She kissed him back harmonizing with his intensity, with his passion. Their tongues fought for dominance, but as soon as she allowed her fear to take over, she slightly pushed his chest with her hand, and backed away. He smirked at her and lunged back in capturing her lower lip with his teeth, reasoning her to press her body further into his embrace.
She backed away once more, before it went too far, "Nathan…" She whispered breathlessly.
He reached out for her, pulling her body close to his, "I won't do anything that will disappoint your grandma, your parents or your brother Hales." He smirked.
"You are something else Nathan." She smiled before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him again.
"Haley, love the straight hair, did you bring your camera?" Brooke asked hugging her soon to be sister in law. Haley and Julian had finally arrived to the 'engagement breakfast' only to be greeted in the lobby by her brother and Brooke.
"Yes B…" Haley smiled lifting up her camera bag.
Brooke clapped her hands with a huge smile, "Okay, I want you to get pictures of everyone here and get plenty of pictures of Maddy. She looks adorable in that pink dress you bought for her. Oh, and I want to be included in the pictures, mostly action shots though—Hi Julian"
"Hi Brooke, congratulations" He smiled giving her a hug and shaking Clay's hand.
"Thank you." They both uttered with smiles.
"Haley bop, what took you so long?" Clay asked hugging her.
"I—"
"I woke up late. Then I had to make a few calls to my office in California that took longer than expected." Julian cut in. Haley sent him a small smile showing her gratitude.
"Well, next time call Hales, you had me worried."
"Clay, I'm only like fifteen minutes late." Haley shrugged her shoulders.
"But you're never late, so for someone who's never late and always early, I have a right to be worried, you may be grown, but you're still my little sister"
Haley rolled her eyes, "Can we go inside now?"
"Of course" Brooke said clutching Clay's hand wanting to ease her fiancées concern. She knew that Clay didn't really like Julian for the mere fact that he was dating his baby sister. So, to hear that he made her late, Brooke knew this insignificant detail would be another reason Clay would employ for why Julian isn't good for her.
.
~*~
"Uncle Nate?"
"Yes Maddy" Nathan looked down at the little girl that was sitting beside him.
"Remember when I saw you kiss Aunt Haley and she slapped your face?" Maddy giggled. Nathan stared down at the little girl and chuckled a little. Of course he remembered. That was the last time he had seen Haley.
"Yes I remember." Nathan said clearing his throat and shifting in his seat. The only person at his table that heard was his older brother Stefan who smiled and laughed.
"That was funny." She continued to giggle. Nathan glanced at his little sister Lily, but she was too busy talking on her phone, oblivious to what Madison had just said. Lily didn't know about his past with Haley and if she did, he was sure everyone else would, too.
"So, what do you want for breakfast?" He asked trying to change the subject.
"Blueberry pancakes!"
"Maddy— out of curiosity, when Aunt Haley slapped Uncle Nate, who else saw?" Stefan asked the little girl.
"Stefan…" Nathan warned.
He innocently shrugged, "What? I'm just curious"
"Just me and mommy" Madison said coloring the picture that was in front of her.
"Don't start. Not today." Nathan warned again.
"Oh, it's already started" Stefan muttered, Nathan looked up at his brother to see him turned around in his seat. He followed his line of sight to see Clay, Brooke, some tall guy, and Haley walking in the corridor all smiling and laughing. It's as if everything around him had stopped. He couldn't help but keep his eyes fixed on Haley, his Haley.
She looked beautiful, even more so than the last time he had seen her. He watched as her boyfriend helped take off her white pea coat and kissed her on the forehead. He observed in a distance as Haley gazed at this other man with so much love. Nathan clenched his jaw at the sight of this as he took a deep strained breath. Pangs of jealousy shot through his veins.
Stefan turned around to see the anger and hurt swirling around in his brother's eyes. That was the thing about Nathan, although he looked unaffected and unfazed, if one were to look in his eyes, they could see his true emotion. His eyes spoke the only truth he would never admit. He was in love with his best friends little sister.
"I need to go make a few calls. I'll be back, Stefan watch Maddy, since Lily is more interested in her phone call." He said standing up from the table and throwing his napkin on the table.
~*~
"There are so many people here." Haley whispered to Julian looking around the broad dining hall. She noticed most of her family who already greeted her, along with Brooke's family who also said their hellos, a few of their friends, and last but not least some of the Scott family also in attendance. She scanned the room looking for the one person she hoped decided not to show up, but she didn't see him…thank goodness.
"Good thing they have a buffet" Julian stated. "I'm starving"
"Me too, can you fix me a plate? I should probably start taking pictures before Bridezilla Brooke emerges." She smiled.
"Of course baby" He kissed her lips.
"Thank you." Haley picked up her camera bag and set it on the table. "Alright" She muttered to herself getting her equipment ready. She decided to begin by taking pictures of the restaurant's exterior so she excused herself from the table and proceeded out the corridor into the lobby, outside in the cold winter air. She was adjusting the lens on her camera when suddenly she bumped into a firm chest.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She said looking up at the person she jolted into. "Great, out of all the people to run into" She breathed out in frustration. She tried not to look at him, but he was so damn sexy, it made it difficult not to.
There he stood…Nathan Scott, in a pair of black slacks, an open black pea coat that showcased his perfectly creased black button up. His hair perfectly styled and that annoying smirk she hated, but loved and missed so much. That smirk was how she tumbled into his trap in the first place. Damn him and his sexy ass.
"I'll call you back." He said into his phone.
"Who was that, one of your sluts?" She inquired crossing her arms. "Scratch that, I really don't care…why are you here Nathan? Why did you accept my brother's best man offer, you hate weddings, you weren't even a part of your own brothers wedding!"
"You look beautiful Haley." He easily stated. She always did. He couldn't believe she was standing right in front of him in a simple elegant red dress that did wonders for her curves and legs. If she didn't evidently dislike him so much, he would ask if she wanted to go back to his hotel suite.
"Nathan…"
"You know I always liked the fact that you don't bullshit around" Haley didn't say anything she just stared at him with an angry expression. "Clay's my best friend and so is Brooke. I couldn't say no…"
"Yes, yes you could've, you said no to your own brother for crying out loud!"
"It's different…"
"How is that different?"
"Look Haley. I'm sorry if me being here makes you uncomfortable…actually-- no I'm not. I'm glad that I still have an effect on you" He smirked.
"You are such a smug son of a—"
"Oh, you don't want to finish that Ms. James. Isn't cursing against your religion?" He stepped closer to her and shrugged off his black coat.
"What are you doing?" He placed the coat around her shoulders and leaned down placing a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Don't want you to catch a cold." He whispered in her ear. "I'll see you inside." And with that he quickly sauntered off. Haley wanted to scream at him, but she couldn't find her voice. No, she refused to let this happen again. She had to be smart this time. She had to focus on her career and Julian. He was good for her, he was right for her. He loved her and she loved him. Nathan Scott was in the past and she intended to keep it that way.
~*~
"Where's Haley?" Julian asked Brooke placing two plates filled with food on the table.
"Uh, I don't know, probably somewhere taking pictures." She said taking a seat next to Clay who had Madison in his lap.
"How long are you here for this time Julian?" Clay asked him.
"Just till the end of the week." He said taking a seat.
"Are you staying with my sister?"
"Uh—"
"Yes, Clayton he is. Julian is Haley's boyfriend, possibly even her future husband. They stay at each other's places. They go places together. They're in love. They kiss, and even have sex. Get over it. She's twenty three years old and the last time I checked that made her a grown ass woman…sorry baby mommy said a bad word." Brooke said looking at her little girl who just giggled.
"Maddy, I thought you were sitting with me." Nathan walked up to the table.
"I am! Daddy wanted me to say hi to grandma." She smiled getting off her father's lap and walking up to Nathan who picked her up.
"Nathan—have you met Julian?" Brooke smiled.
"No." Nathan stated before walking off not even bothering to look at the punk sitting there.
Clay chuckled and Brooke hit him on the shoulder.
"Was that…Nathan Scott?" Julian asked.
"Yes, wait, what do you know?" Brooke inquired worried that Haley told him about her past with Nathan.
"Haley told me he's the last Scott child I haven't met."
"Oh, well yes, he's the one and only, sorry he's very rude, kind of like my fiancée."
"Hey guys. Sorry, I wanted to get pictures of the restaurants exterior for the photo album" Haley said sitting down.
"Nice Paul Smith coat Julian. I was totally going to buy Clay the same one the other day." Brooke voiced taking a bite of her eggs.
"That's not mine." Julian uttered looking at Haley who was taking off the coat.
"Um, it's Nathan's. I saw him outside and I didn't have mine so he offered me his."
"Oh" Brooke stated. "Well…" She stood up. "I'll go give it back to him, you guys eat, then when you're done, Haley….take pictures" Brooke snatched the coat from Haley's hands and walked off.
"Did you get the shots you wanted babe?" Julian asked Haley.
"Yes, thank you for making my plate." She kissed his lips. She had moved on and nothing or no one was going to make her think otherwise.
"No problem babe."
~*~
"Hi mommy!" Madison smiled from where she sat next to Nathan.
"Hi baby…Hi Lily and Stefan, thank you for coming" Brooke said walking up to the table where Nathan sat in the corner of the large room.
"Thank you for inviting us." Lily said patting her mouth with her napkin.
"Yeah Brooke, only you can pull off an engagement breakfast." Stefan chuckled.
"It wouldn't be me if I couldn't. Besides it's good to be different. Um, Nathan I need to talk to you." She said grabbing his wrist and leading him to the back of the restaurant in the hall, where the bathrooms were located.
"What's this all about?" Nathan said.
Brooke shoved his coat into his chest then crossed her arms. "Leave her alone Nathan, what you guys had is over. She's made that clear. She has a boyfriend now, she's in love, and she's finally happy. I understand that since you're involved in this wedding you will be seeing a lot of each other, but understand this…if you don't stop this game that you play with her…Clayton will find out and I can guarantee you that it won't be pretty. It's time to grow up Nathan, stop risking your friendship. If Clay means anything to you, if Haley means anything to you…just stop," And with those final words Brooke walked away leaving Nathan standing there, hoping that her words would marinate within his thick brain.