Author notes: Again sorry the long the delay between chapters. Work actually stressed me out so much that I am on stress leave, lol. So I have a few chapters done now and I'll be posting them after I proof them. And Shelley if you are still out there this is for you.
Chapter 5 – Tutoring or something else…
Devon got to the tutoring center at about 7:25am. He looked through the window to see if Haley had arrived. She was there already, sitting at the table and staring out of window. She was wearing an oversized hoodie that Scott's Auto Repair and a faded pair of blue jeans. Haley had that same look on face that she had yesterday when he mentioned the ring on her finger. How could anyone leave her behind? Haley looked so beautiful with sun coming in from the window and reflecting off of her hair. Whatever happened between her and Nathan must have been terrible. He took a deep breath to try and calm the butterflies in his stomach. Why was he so nervous about talking to Haley? He opened the door and walked inside.
"Good morning, Haley."
She turned around from the window and gave him a warm smile. "Morning, are you ready to get started?"
"I guess so. I have to admit, I am a little nervous about being here with you right now."
Haley looked to be a little confused by the statement. "Why is that?"
"Because you look amazing and it's making me feel like…"
Devon paused for minute. He couldn't tell her that he had listened to her cd all night long and on the way to school this morning. Or could he say that she had been dominating his thoughts. Although Brooke and Peyton were also tumbling around in there in as well but Haley was definitely in first place. And before he could stumble even further into his thoughts, he felt Haley's hand touch his arm.
"Don't be nervous. And saying I look amazing gets all kind of brownie points with me. I haven't heard that in long time."
Haley motioned for him to sit down. He took a seat next to her and the nervous feeling that was sitting in his stomach was replaced with a calm that made him relax. Devon smiled at her.
"How many brownie points did I get? You know in case I am keeping score."
"Well, I let know you after we finish study the big bad world of calculus."
"Doesn't seem so tough with you here, I think we can handle it."
****
After an hour and twenty minutes, Haley had managed get through the first three chapters of the book. Devon wasn't that happy about starting with his weakest subject but Haley thought it was a good place to start. She never made him feel stupid or tried to rush him through anything. It made him feel like she really cared about him doing well and was willing to help him. During the study session, there were these little moments were they would catch each other's eyes or they would brush against one another's arm. Haley would just say excuse me and brush her back behind her ear.
There was an air of attraction between the two. But neither one knew how to act on the feeling. Neither one of them wanted to but themselves out there for fear of rejection. Devon looked at her as she went to grab a practice test from the file cabinet. She was so careful with everything she did. He could hear it in her music. Haley's voice so powerful on the song, it made him get goose bumps. It was so hard to believe that the voice came out of such a quiet girl.
He couldn't stop watching her. Watching the way she moved, the way the light dance through her hair as the sunlight hit it and the way she asked him are you ready for the test and he didn't say anything. He snapped out it again and focus back on the business of calculus.
"Ok, last thing for the day. Practice test. I think that you can handle this. In fact, I know you can."
"Well I'll take the test but you have to do something for me."
Haley smirked at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"If I pass, you have to answer this question that I have."
"What kind of question?"
"Just something I was wondering about." Devon grinned.
"Ok then, you're on." Haley said grinning right back.
And with that the test began.
****
"How did I do?"
Devon was not the greatest test taker in the world but he had a good feeling about this one. Something about having Haley there was comforting and calming. He could hear Haley's voice in his head telling him how do each problem. Plus, he really wanted ask Haley this question.
"Hang on a sec, almost done…" Haley said.
Haley sat her pen down and her eyebrow quirked slightly. "93."
"Wasn't worried at all, I knew had that on lock." Devon stood up and took a victory lap around the table, doing his best Ali shuffle as he passed by Haley each time.
She smiled. "Ok 'champ', nice work. I think we should wrap it for today."
Devon stopped his victory lap and sat back down next to Haley. "I passed the test so you have to answer my question."
"Deal is a deal, right? So fire away." Haley looked a little nervous like she might be getting in over her head. Maybe Devon was going to ask her something that she wasn't ready to answer. She could feel herself getting nervous about the whole idea there were so many things that he could ask. Then she felt his hand on her hand.
"It's ok. I just was at the record store yesterday and I saw this…" Devon reached in his bag and pulled out the copy of Haley's CD and put on the table.
"It's amazing, Haley. Why did you give it up?"
Haley picked up the case. Her fingertips traced across the front and she took a deep breath. Looking at the case Haley could remember everything about making the disc. She could remember the tour and the screaming fans. Then she thought about the person she lost because of it.
Nathan.
"It was an amazing experience making the album and meeting Michelle Branch. But during the tour, I just realized that none of it mattered."
She traced her fingers over her picture. "It was my dream. Making music and playing it in front of people. I wish that everyone could have that feeling. I wish that everyone had someone to share it with. And I lost my person to share it with. So I gave it up. I gave it up for that person and they…."
Haley paused. She hadn't thought about what she actually gave up for Nathan and how he didn't even acknowledge it. He didn't even care that she walked away from the …
"It was great time. Ok, well I have class in a few minutes so same time tomorrow?"
Devon quickly stood up. "Haley, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to…"
Haley smiled and shook her head. "It's ok. I just wasn't ready for that today. Not your fault."
Devon pulled a sheet of paper out of his notebook and wrote down his email address and his cell number. "I know we just met and stuff but, if you need someone to talk to or if you ever need to change our tutoring session, you can call me or email me. Anytime."
Haley took the sheet of the paper and nodded. "Thanks."
"Ok. Then, I'll see you here tomorrow morning." Devon said as he got up from the table.
Haley watched him walk out of the door and whispered.
"Tomorrow."
More to follow...
