A/N: Thank you again for the reviews, story alerts and favorite story. I love to read that you're enjoying or not enjoying this story. I apologize for getting slightly off schedule with the updating. I should have another update before the end of the weekend though.
Chapter 4: Strangers in the Night
When they reached the parking lot of the apartment complex Nathan had released Haley's hand unsure if she all right with him holding onto it. His heart raced at the thought that she might actually have wanted to hold his hand. Then he a wave of worry washed over him as he thought the complete opposite. He immediately began to think Haley hadn't tried to release her hand from his hold because she was polite. Nathan felt as if he couldn't win the internal struggle that had overcome him.
He took a step back from the situation. He had to keep in mind that they barely knew each other. He was always cautious on a first date. Wait, was this a date? Would he have referred to it as a date? Oh, god how he wished he could turn his brain off. When did he turn into a deep thinker? Why the hell did he choose now to analyze a very normal situation — a normal situation to probably every other college boy, but not him? He wasn't the average college boy. He had transformed into a gentleman since his days in high school. He didn't just waltz over to a pretty girl and take her back to his place.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets. Did he want to take her back to his place? That was always the furthest thing on his mind on his first outing with a girl. What exactly had come over him? He rubbed the back of his neck as the tension built. How did a simple walk turn into twenty questions?
The pair finally reached Tent City in K-Ville. Both remained silent and surveyed the area. Nathan timidly peered over at the red head. He felt she had been apprehensive about him, which was why she didn't acknowledge him in the corridor. It was also probably the reason for her silence now. As she turned her head his way, he quickly darted his stare pretending not to have been looking at her.
Haley now looked at the raven-haired young man. She bit the inside of her lip as she stared curiously at him. She wondered what he was thinking. His forehead was crinkled and he wore a pensive look. She surveyed the area and smiled at all the tents and the camaraderie. She would definitely miss Tent City and K-Ville. The Cameron Crazies were a wild bunch and were the epitome of school pride. She always acted like she disliked hanging out among the Crazies, but truth was she loved it dearly. Mouth teased her about being high on herself. He once told her she couldn't complain about athletes having a big ego because she had one to match.
As they continued to walk she returned her attention back to Nathan. She questioned why he was so quiet. She had been around him plenty of times and not just in the presence of the team, but girls as well. She heard he wasn't the least bit interested in the cheerleaders, but she had observed his interaction with them. He was always polite. He would smile and engage in small talk then move on. Come to think of it, she had seen his interaction specifically with the blonde and brunette cheerleaders who were at Vegas' party tonight. She laughed and tried to contain it, but couldn't.
"What's so funny?" he finally spoke. He watched as her body vibrated. She simply dismissed his question and slowly stopped laughing.
Haley had an a-ha moment. Those cheerleaders had seen the hoodie and instantly became jealous. Had she known she would've gladly removed the sweatshirt and thrown it at them. She didn't wear the hoodie to show off, which is exactly what they thought. However, that was not the case. She made a mental note to scold Mouth later, especially if this evening ended in a huge disaster. With the silence she imagined that's where it was headed.
Nathan Scott perplexed her. Here he was walking beside her for the past twenty minutes and he couldn't hold a conversation with her. However, she hadn't made an effort either. Every time she thought of something to say she'd shut her mouth before the words came out. What the hell was wrong with her? She spoke with ease among the team all the time. Nathan had listened in on her debate with Mouth about who the better NBA team leader was Kobe Bryant or LeBron James. She remembered Nathan had laughed at Mouth's argument and commented how ridiculous he sounded then walked away. They could've talked about anything yet nothing had been said. She prided herself on being a good conversationalist, but right now she was disappointing.
"Hot Shot Scott! Hey Nathan, great game." A brown-haired boy came running over and shook Nathan's hand. Nathan smiled and appreciatively said thanks. It was normal for him to be stopped and congratulated. Haley was surprised it hadn't happened more often tonight, but it seemed like everyone was being respectful of his space.
"You were … are amazing on the court," she said finally breaking the silence once their peer had left. She had thought of something to say, but everything else seemed odd. She had wanted to ask him his intention with her, but knew that was completely silly. For one, he might not have any intention. He did after all stop holding her hand. Plus, it was presumptuous of her to assume he had an ulterior motive. Secondly, who asked that? She would've laughed in a guy's face if he had questioned her at the beginning of a date. Wait, was this considered a date?
Haley's heart raced at the thought. Suddenly she was ten times more nervous. She brought her hand to the top of her head trying to smooth her hair out. She could only imagine how she looked. She had been in the same clothes for most of the day. Game days always had her at Cameron Stadium several hours before tipoff. There was no way she looked beautiful or even presentable at this hour. At least she hadn't knocked back several beers and had puffy, glassy eyes. Although she was sure Nathan had seen her at her worse.
Nathan stared at her processing her statement He watched as she brushed her hair with her hands. He wondered what she was doing. He wanted to laugh at how adorable she was. There was something endearing about her and it was a major turn on. He cleared his throat getting her attention.
"I've played since before I could walk. I had a little hoop and ball that my father bought me. He would place the ball in my hands and carry me to the hoop. Then he'd tell me to drop the ball in through the net." Nathan pressed his lips into a weak smile. He had never shared this story with anyone. "He taught me the fundamentals at a very early age and drilled into me that I had to be the best."
Haley listened intently. She heard the pain in his voice. All these years she thought Nathan had it all together. It turned out that was just his on-court alter ego. He had every right to be cocky, confident and have swagger with the basketball in his hands. She had seen dozen of basketball games at every level and Nathan truly was one of the best. Lucas was right. Nathan was just misunderstood.
"You don't sound happy when you talk about your father." She stopped walking and took a seat on a bench slipping her hands into the hoodie pockets. She hadn't noticed the drop in the temperature until now. The walking managed to keep her warm. Plus, she occupied her mind with a million questions about Nathan and the evening.
Nathan ran his hand through his short hair and shrugged. He hated that basketball tied him to his father. Neither he nor Lucas had spoken to Dan in years, but the game often brought back memories of their father. He never spoke about it with his brother mainly for fear that he'd reprimand him for thinking about another lifetime. And it had been another lifetime, about twelve years since he had lived with the man he once called dad. Lucas would tell him to stop looking back in the rearview mirror. He would say Dan was left on the side of the road a million miles ago and there was no use in turning back now.
Lucas hated that Dan lingered on Nathan's mind. He wanted his brother to be free of their useless father, but Nathan couldn't be and didn't think he would ever be completely void of Dan. He understood Lucas was being the overprotective, big brother and he appreciated it. He wished in return he could let the good and bad memories of Dan go. He deserved to be happy and part of that meant letting go of everything related to Dan. However, basketball would forever be tied to the man, who he once called dad.
"My father wasn't the best. It pains me at times to know I'm this good because of him," he said softly and she watched his strong facial features tense under the lamppost light. He was vulnerable. Her chest tightened seeing him in such a state, but at the same time it drew her to him. His vulnerability attracted her. There weren't many guys — none that she had ever gone out with — who showed their sensitive side. She appreciated this side of him.
"Luke is good, but not because of Dan. He was lucky enough to learn the game on his own with sheer determination. He didn't need Dan to shove a basketball in his hands and put him on a training regime. Dan … I don't know he thought I needed an extra push and because of that I'm here now. So it's difficult for me to say I'm the best because I did it all on my own. Unfortunately, he had a hand in what I've achieved."
Haley never asked Lucas what exactly happened when they were children. From what the older brother had told her and things she heard from Mouth she had formulated her own story, but she knew it wasn't accurate. The facts were that Nathan and Lucas were three months apart. Each had different mothers and attended the same high school. She didn't know anything about their father other than he was estranged. She never asked because it was none of her business. Even know listening to Nathan talk so sadly, it was still none of her business. She would gladly offer the young man her ear. Eventually when Nathan was ready, if he felt she needed to know or wanted to share with her, he would tell her the entire story.
"Maybe you shouldn't be too hard on yourself because of your father." Haley patted the spot beside her on the bench and he slowly sat down. "Just because he taught you a few things about basketball doesn't nullify your natural talent. What you do on that court is all you. There are things both you and Luke do that can't be taught. It's instinct and that's something your father couldn't have taught you."
Nathan smiled and slowly scooted closer to her. He saw her shiver and he carefully wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her into his chest. He had dated over the years, but he hadn't gotten into anything too serious, and nothing that he would've felt inclined to discuss his father. His focus was school and basketball. He wanted nothing more than to play in the NBA and he wanted to be a role model much like his older brother was to him. He admitted he was somewhat of a jerk in high school, but Lucas kept him on the straight and narrow. Almost four years later and the Nathan Scott everyone knew in Tree Hill was just a memory.
There were some mornings or even before games when he would stand in front of a mirror and not recognize the reflection. It wasn't that he didn't like the person he saw; it was just hard to believe the man he had become. He knew his mother and Karen, Lucas' mother, were proud of him. He wished one day he would have someone else to share in his transformation because he knew for a fact the reflection now wouldn't be the end result. He was very aware that he was far from the man he wanted to be, but definitely a work in progress, a step in the right direction.
Haley snuggled into his chest hesitating for a split second. As she settled into his embrace she swore she felt the pounding of his heart against his chest. She blushed knowing she was responsible for that. She wrapped her arms around his torso. Her eyes snapped shut at the electricity that flowed from him to her. She had experienced butterflies before, but not an electric current. She read about such ideal attractions in silly chick lit books she often indulged in, but never had she witnessed the sensation for herself.
"I didn't apologize for not knowing you," Nathan said shamefully. She stared up at him through her eyelashes confused. He began combing his hand through her hair. "I don't think I've ever spoken to you. It's not because I'm high on myself. I just never," he paused sighing as he tried to choose his words carefully. "It wasn't …" he sighed and ran his hand over his face. He couldn't look into her big, brown eyes and without getting lost.
He realized when he had previously spoken to her at the party he hadn't looked her in the eye, at least not for long. He couldn't. He fell into a trance because her eyes held her emotions. Her eyes told him how she felt and said things she had yet to say. Most importantly, he knew her eyes saw right through him.
"I figured you were too into basketball to care. You know I wrapped your ankle a few times during that stretch of games in late January early February two years ago."
He closed his eyes finally seeing her as she meticulously wrapped his ankle. She had shoulder-length brown hair then. He inwardly cursed. He remembered thinking she had a beautiful smile. She had finished wrapping his ankle and her hands moved over her work, double-checking. When she deemed her work satisfactory she bit her bottom lip and the corners of her mouth turned up into a smile that stretched wider showing her teeth. His heartbeat sped up at the memory.
He didn't want to admit to her now that he had noticed. He just didn't do anything about it. If she knew would she think he was a jerk or worse a coward for not speaking to her?
"You were so focused. I don't think you noticed anyone during that time. I saw your concern when you rolled your ankle in the game against North Carolina State."
He recalled he lay on the hardwood floor for about a minute before wincing in pain as he got to his feet. He thought for sure he would be out longer than two games, but luckily the team doctor said he could play with his ankle wrapped after the two-game rest.
"I know you're a completely different person on the court than off. You take the game, your game very seriously. There's no need to apologize." She reached up and caressed his cheek. He leaned his head down shutting his eyes tightly reveling in her touch. She had the softness hands he ever felt against his face. He opened his eyes and locked on her gaze. She looked at him with a dreamy gleam in her eyes. As he stared his breath caught in his throat and he momentarily stopped breathing. She literally took his breath away.
She sat up a little pressing her body into his more. Her eyes slowly moved across his face as if memorizing the way he looked at that very minute. She waited to meet his bluish grey eyes because she already knew what would happen once their gazes met. Her fingertips danced ever so lightly over his jawline. Nathan closed his eyes and tucked the corner of his bottom lip between his teeth relishing the delicate touch. His senses were heightened causing her touch to feel intense yet soft.
Haley's eyes focused on his and she waited for his eyelids to open. As Nathan's eyes locked on her eyes he lazily dropped his head meeting Haley halfway tenderly touching her lips.
Their lips barely touched yet Haley felt a slight burn. Nathan jerked away afraid he had miss read the signs. If this were a basketball court he would have instinctually known what to do, but it wasn't. There were no x's or o's. It was real life. He had to read Haley's body language and her reactions to his actions.
Haley's hazel eyes fluttered open hoping to see his face centimeters away, but that wasn't the case. Her brow furrowed and her stomach knotted. She used to be good at this — whatever this was. She couldn't believe she didn't know what the hell was happening. The night started out as a celebration then she ended up here with Nathan confused. She badly wanted to put a label on whatever had transpired. She sighed.
"I'm sorry," he breathed out shifting on the bench. He definitely wasn't as smooth as he used to be. There was something about Haley that made him self-conscious. No girl had ever had such an affect on him. He wanted to scream in frustration. How had he misread their exchange?
Haley attempted to read his face searching for a sign that he wanted her. At the smallest touch of their lips, the red head yearned for more. At first look, she recognized his confusion. It definitely mirrored hers. She then grinned spotting the slightest glimmer in his cobalt blue eyes. Without faltering she cupped his cheeks and brought his head to hers. She closed her eyes tightly sighing in satisfaction when their lips fused together.
Nathan jolted at her touch. He responded by moving his lips with hers and brought his free arm around her waist. Finding the hem of his hoodie he glided his hand under it and came in contact with her smooth skin. Despite the temperature her skin was incredibly warm.
Haley bit his bottom lip and he hissed. She smiled at the sound then probed his mouth with her tongue. With her eyes still closed she swore she felt the Earth spinning. The kiss made her absolutely dizzy in a good way.
The younger Scott grunted softly at her action. He couldn't recall any girl having such control over him or even a kiss. He liked her aggressiveness. His mind snapped and he wondered if she was always this way or just with him. He tangled his hands in her hair encouraging her on not caring if she did indeed take such a forward, bold move with other guys. He wanted to enjoy her confidence and in the moment he would believe she was just this way with him.