Friday, October 26th 2012.
These two days were not what Haley had imagined. Nathan was distant and spent his time with Jake and Lucas. Peyton, Brooke and her stayed all together talking about everything and nothing. Emily tried to talk to Nathan but he didn't seem to be so... receptive. Josh spent his time near of the lake, taking sunbathes... bare chest. Sometimes she went to see him and they talked. He was nice even if he was pretentious. He was a mix between Nathan and Lucas. He was very clever and serious but he liked having fun. Severals time, Haley had felt Nathan's gaze on her when she talked to Josh. It bothered her. It was like if she felt him jealous and that he wanted to hit Josh til he die, only because he was talking to her. But they're just best friends so why he would react like that? It wasn't like Nathan and her had been together... as a couple...
Haley stretched herself.
« Hey Tutor Girl. »
« Hey Pretty Girl. »
« Did you see Nate? »
« No why? »
Brooke smiled mischievously. « It's worth while to go near of the lake. »
She said before joined Peyton. Brooke had lit up Haley's curiosity. Haley walked there and stopped. The sun reflected onto the water. She saw him, standing there, fishing. He was bare chest and his skin was tanned, she could see the muscles of his shoulder and of his back. She could see the waistband of his boxers just above this jeans. He sweated. Haley had difficulties to breathe. He turned a little but faked to not have seen her. Haley lowered her head and turned her heels ready to joined the others. But she felt a hand grab her right arm and make her turn. She was surprised, but calmed seeing Nathan's face. He smirked and grabbed her by the waist. She screamed surprised when he began to run in direction of the lake.
« Nate! »
Everybody turned their head to see what was happening. Nathan held her stronger and digged into the water. Few seconds later, Haley emerged, drawing backward her wet hair. She tried to breathe and looked for Nathan. The water was quiet around her. Where was he?
« Nate! It's not funny! » Nothing. She threw a gaze to the group who was watching. Haley looked around again and again and then when she turned she saw him smirking.
« You idiot! »
She splashed.
« Don't dare to do this again! »
He laughed. He splashed her back. They played splashing about into the lake and laughed. It was a moment like they used to have when they were children. They calmed and he moved to her and grabbed her by the waist. He knew the group was watching them, but he didn't care. They couldn't see his hands. He touched her waist, Haley looked up at him in eyes.
« You're a jerk. »
« I know. » He said breathless. His right hand slid under the back of her shirt. He felt her chest touch his.
« I'm a stupid damn jerk... » Haley didn't know if they still talked about his stupid joke or he talked about something else. She escaped from his hands and stared at him.
« You should have thought about it before, Nathan Scott. »
« It's for so many years I think about it... »
She lowered her head and swam to the bank, without a word and went out of the water. Her shirt stuck against her skin, her hair waved and drops fell along her face. Nathan felt this ball inside his stomach and he closed his eyes.
May 2007.
It was a rainy day. Nathan and Haley went out of the car and precipitated toward the beach house. They were wet. Haley arrived inside followed by Nathan.
« God! »
« You have some clothes upstairs you should take a shower and change. » Nathan proposed.
« Yeah. You should also do it. » She went up. Nathan put their wet bags on the floor and went up. He crossed the corridor and stopped suddenly attracted by something inside the bathroom. The door was half-opened. He saw her taking off her shirt. His heart bounced when he noticed the back of her bra. He made a step forward. She began to undo her pants and let them fall onto the floor. His heart bounced again in his chest.
It was the first time she had this effect on him. He felt a ball inside his stomach. She was so beautiful... sexy... He shook his head and turned. He heard her hum under the shower. Nathan felt himself nervous and aroused. He tried to breathe, repeating to himself she was his best friend and he couldn't have such thoughts about her. 'Come on dude, it's Haley... Haley James... you can't. You just can't.' Five minutes later, he came in the bathroom without thinking. Haley screamed, she had just gone out of the shower tub and she wrapped quickly the towel around her. They looked at each other surprised, paralyzed. She had her hair waved because of the water. She was pretty with her light auburn waved hair. She was wet and drops were falling along her skin.
« What are you looking at? » She asked.
« You... you're so beautiful... »
She smiled and turned red a little.
« Take advantage... it's the first and the last time you see me like this. » She smiled with a mischievous smile to ease the situation. He didn't know what to say. He nodded, his hands trembled. He could control himself anymore. He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Nathan watched where Haley was few seconds later and then he saw Emily standing and waiting for him with a towel. He went out of the water. She gave him without saying a word. But he could felt her jealousy. Nathan turned his back to her.
Saturday, October 27th 2012.
Haley and Brooke came in the James' house. Lydia and Jimmy were in the living-room playing Scrabble.
« Hey girls! »
« Hey Mom! » Haley said moving to her and hugging her. Brooke greeted Jimmy and Lydia and dropped into the couch.
« How was your trip? »
« Not what I'd imagined. » Haley said. « Missing. »
Lydia looked at her surprised. « What? »« Your word... you can do 'missing'. »
Lydia smiled. « Oh thank Haley-bop. »
« Welcome. » Haley joined Brooke onto the couch.
« You okay? » Brooke asked.
« It was so weird. »
« What? The fact we was a group but two groups?.. No three groups... »
« It should be a reunion... and we were separated. »
« Thanks to Emily... and her brother, Josh. »
Haley sighed.
« Nathan wasn't good either. »« Because she was there... »
« He's not himself anymore when she's around.. why? »
Lydia couldn't help listening the girls' conversation.
« Maybe because he never wished this situation. »
Haley frowned to her mother.
« Mom... he wished it as he proposed her. Why didn't he assume his decision? »
« Because he never really proposed her. » Lydia turned to Jimmy. « Typical. 45 points. » She said proudly. Jimmy rolled his eyes sighing.
Nathan was stretched on his bed, watching the white roof. Emily came in.
« I'm really sorry. »
He didn't move.
« What about? »
« To have screwed up your trip with your friends. I promise the next time I'll let you go alone. »
He looked at her. « Never mind. »
She sat on the edge of the bed and took off her shoes.
« Josh had a crush on Haley. He told me when we were driving home. » Nathan sat up.
« Emi... »
« I did nothing! I swear. When you left angry because of this. I talked to Josh right after and I told him to let Haley alone. »Nathan stood up when Emily laid down. She sighed frustrated. Nathan looked through the window. He saw Josh walking toward Haley's house. He knocked and the door opened. Nathan noticed it was Haley who had opened the door and she laughed... why did she laugh? Nathan's jaw contracted and he plunged his nails into his palms.
