short chapter. only three more left :( hope you enjoy. read and review

PS I own nothing


The next morning Haley was sitting with Brooke and Peyton at their usual table. So far Damien wasn't there, which was fine by the girls.

"So Hales. Spill. How was the date?" Brooke demanded.

"It was perfect. He was a perfect gentleman. We went to that restaurant by the river and then walked through the park. An older couple then for a picture of us on Nathan's phone, for us. He texted the picture to me before I went to sleep last night. He drove me home, kissed me goodnight." she said remembering last night.

"I want to see the picture." Peyton said.

"Here." Haley said handing them her phone.

"Wow." Peyton said.

"That is so cute." Brooke squealed.

"I'll be right back. I'm gonna go invite them to sit with us." Haley said nodding over to Nathan's table.

"Great idea Tutor girl." Brooke said happily.

"Yeah. It'll be nice to spend even more time with Jake." Peyton said.

Haley walked over to the table.

"Hey Nate you're girlfriend is coming." Lucas said.

"Hey." she said walking over to stand by Nathan's chair.

"Hey, how are you?" he said turning to face her.

"Great. But that's not why I'm here. Do you all want to come sit with us? You're all probably better company than Damien West." she said.

"Haley James, Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer are inviting us to sit with them?" Skills asked jokingly.

"Yes. And it's a one time offer so you better come now." she joked.

"Lets go." Skills said jumping up. Everyone smiled and walked over to the table. Haley waited for Nathan and linked their hands together.

"I get to sit at the popular table today?" he joked.

"Yeah, and if you're lucky I'll let you sit here Monday too." she told him leaning in to kiss him softly. Haley walked around her chair beside Brooke and instructed Nathan to sit in the one next to hers. She loved seeing everyone talk comfortably.

"What the hell is this?" Damien asked when he walked up to the table.

"We kinda invited them to sit with us today Damien. Didn't think you'd care. Oh wait it doesn't matter if you care or not." she said.

"It's not okay. This is my table." he squealed.

"No, its our table." Haley said gesturing between Brooke, Peyton and herself.

"Fine. They can stay." he said sitting down dejectedly.

"Enjoy your day of popularity Scott." Damien said.

"I don't need popularity. Which is the big difference between us. You need it. I don't really care." Nathan said.

"Whatever Scott." Damien said turning away from Nathan. The bell rang a few minutes later and the groups dispersed to their individual areas.

"So what are we talking about today?" he asked as he pulled her down onto the floor in their hallway.

"Just tying up lose ends. Anything you want me to know, you can tell me. And vice versa." she said.

"Okay. How about my dad's a dick." Nathan said grimly.

"What did your dad do?" she asked.

"Just what he always does. I got hell for taking you out last night, and for going to the party tonight. He thinks I'm not paying enough attention to basketball, and too much attention to more "trivial matters." he said bitterly.

"Well don't listen to him. You know how much time you need to spend on basketball. And granted I know next to nothing about the sport despite the fact that I am a cheerleader, but I think you are amazing at basketball. I have never seen someone throw a ball through a hoop like you can Nate." she told him squeezing his arm.

"You know they should name a drug after you. You always make me feel better." he said.

"Hmm what would they call me?" she asked.

"I don't know. But you would definitely be an illegal drug with how good you make me feel." he said lacing their fingers together.

"Well you're pretty addicting too.' she told him smiling.

"Now what about you?" he asked.

"My parents, especially my dad still treats me like a child. I think its because I'm the baby and all. But I'm 16 and the only rebellious thing I have ever done is that night with Brooke and Peyton." she said.

"At least your parents love you." he said.

"Your's do too. They just show it in different ways." she said.

"Sure. Hmm what else can I tell you? Hmmm. I secretly wanted a dog since I was young." he said.

"You want a puppy?" she asked.

"Yup. I don't know what kind. I've changed back and forth between a husky and one of those really cute fluffy ones." he said.

"A Pomeranian?" she asked trying to stifle a laugh.

"Yeah that one. What's so funny?" he asked noticing her holding back her laugh.

"You want a Pomeranian. Big basketball star owns Pomeranian." she said bursting out in a fit of giggles.

"It's not that funny." he told her.

"Yes, yes it is. Usually only girls want a Pomeranian. It is very much a girl dog." she said.

"Sure. I want a Pomeranian. They are so warm and cute." he defended.

"Whatever you want." she said calming herself down.

"Tell me something about you now." he said.

"Um I used to have the hugest crush on Justin Timberlake circa NSYNC. Ask Brooke and Peyton, I used to go around calling myself Mrs Haley Timberlake." she said cringing at the memory.

"When was that? Last year?" he teased her.

"No! When I was like 10. I haven't liked him in a long time." she said defending herself.

"I bet you liked Leonardo Dicaprio too circa Titanic." he laughed. "Of course I did. He was like the hottest guy on the planet in 1998. Brooke and Peyton also liked him. We shared him." she said fondly.

"I am much better looking than those too." he told her confidently.

"Whatever you say." she said.

"I am. You don't believe me?" he asked.

"You are much prettier than them." she said kissing him.

"Good answer." he told her before kissing her again.

Mouth and Rachel were sitting at the table talking. Rachel couldn't believe that in the course of a week, she went from not knowing who Mouth McFadden was, to liking Mouth McFadden. She really started to care for him. She loved how much he loved his family. She wished she felt like that about her parents. Rachel loved how much he liked his friends, but how having so many friends he still made time for her whenever she needed him. Which recently had happened quite a bit.

"Can I tell you something Mouth?" she asked.

"Of course Rachel." Mouth said to the girl he had the hugest crush on.

"This is going to be awkward and so unexpected. But remember that I never expected it either. But in the past week, I have really started to like you Mouth. I went from not knowing you, to not imagining what it would be like not to know you. Will you come to the party with me tonight?" she asked.

"You're inviting me to the party? The parties that only the popular people are invited too." he asked shocked.

"Yeah. Mouth I want to go with you. And if you don't want to go, I'll skip it and hang out with you somewhere else." she told him touching his shoulder.

"I'll go. I've never been to a party before." he admitted.

"That's okay. I'll take care of you. I wont even touch a drop of alcohol tonight, just to make sure you are taken care of." she assured him.

"I don't want to be a burden Rachel." he said frowning slightly.

"You would never be a burden Mouth. It wouldn't hurt me to not drink for a night. It'll be good for me." she told him smiling.

"Alight." Mouth said excitedly.

Everyone talked animatedly for the rest of the period. All excited about the party that evening. No one knew that the party would be a turning point for several couples though.