Hey guys, I'm loving your reviews. Thanks so much. Someone asked if I would be writing another Naley fic. I actually do have another one I will be posting probably early next week. It's a lot longer than this story is. That fic is called Secrets of Love. That was actually the first fanfic I had ever written but I wanted to post this story first since it's one of my all time favorites. But don't get me wrong, I love that other story, too. Secrets features Naley and a lot more Brucas and Jeyton. So keep your eyes open for it.


Chapter 9

"Hello?" Haley answered her cell phone. She was on her bed painting her toenails. Ever since that near-kiss incident, she couldn't get her head straight. She knew she was in love with Nathan. She didn't know how, but somewhere along the way she had developed those intense feelings for him. The only thing Haley did know was that Nathan was vulnerable. He still had feelings for Peyton. If she told him how she felt, and he didn't feel the same way, then she could completely lose him. And that for Haley was not worth the risk.

"Hey, it's me," Nathan stated.

"Hey, how did things go with your Dad?"

"Not so good. We got into a huge fight and I stormed out of the house," Nathan explained.

"Wow, that bad. Where are you now?" she questioned.

"Don't freak out—but I'm right outside your window."

"What?" Haley asked shocked. She quickly got off her bed and walked over to the window. When she pulled up the blinds, she came face to face with Nathan. She laughed out loud when she noticed that he was sitting on a tree branch.

"Are you crazy?" she scolded as she shut off her phone and opened her bedroom window to let him in. "You could fall and break your neck."

"Thanks for the concern, Mom," he mocked as he entered her room.

"Hey, if you get injured then we won't go to the state championships. And even worse, I'll have no date for the Centennial Ball," she teased.

"Well you better pray that I don't get hurt. You'll probably have to pay the next guy to take you," he joked.

"That was hurtful," she replied sarcastically. Nathan laughed in response. It's now or never, Haley thought.

"Look Nathan," Haley began in a more serious tone. "About earlier, I just want you to know it's ok."

"What's ok?" Nathan said.

"Before, in the kitchen, when we…" she trailed off. "…when we almost kissed. I know deep down that you still have feelings for Peyton."

"Haley…," he tried to interrupt.

"No, let me finish. We're friends now. I'm really happy about that and I don't want it to change."

"Haley, listen…"

"We got caught up in the moment. That's all. We're pretending to be together so often that it's become second nature to us. I just…I just don't want us to forget why we originally started this." As Haley said those words, she could feel her heart breaking. And for a second, it looked as if Nathan's was, too. But she knew she had to do this.

"I don't know what to say," Nathan replied.

"Then don't say anything. I'll understand if you don't want to continue with this. Since I seriously screwed up today with Peyton. It's up to you," she informed him.

Nathan let out a long sigh. "Haley, you didn't mess up today. If any thing, you probably fueled Peyton more. When someone says she can't have something, it makes her want it that much more. I'd like for us to keep going with this. And besides, I promised to take you to the dance. I'm not going to back out on that." I was hoping he'd say that. Well, the last part—not the rest.

"That's if it's ok with you," he quickly added.

"Yeah, that works," she smiled. She then went back to her bed and started to finish painting her toes. "So um, what exactly happened with your dad?"

Haley really wanted to change the subject. The way Nathan was looking at her was intense. She always felt as if those piercing blue eyes of his could see right through her.

"Oh, he basically said that he originally thought I had no talent and that now, without his help, I'll lose the games," he informed her. He took a seat at the end of her bed.

"I'm so sorry Nathan. You don't deserve that," Haley stated looking up at him. "Even when we were kids, you were an awesome player. Don't let your dad take that away from you."

"It's just so unfair. He got to play in high school and college. He even refers to those years as his 'glory days.' Why can't he just let me do the same and be happy for once?"

"Maybe he's jealous," Haley suggested.

"Yeah right," Nathan scoffed.

"No, I'm serious. Think about it. Your dad's best years of his life were when he was playing basketball. Then after that knee injury, it was all taken away from him. Now you join the team and have a shot at winning state. You're even close to breaking his record. It's like you're erasing his legacy."

"I never thought of it like that," Nathan mumbled. "If that's true, then what should I do?"

"Just continue to play. You can't sit out on your life because your father is insecure. Do what makes you happy," she advised.

"You're pretty smart, you know that?" he laughed.

"Well, I am Tutor Girl."

"Since you know everything, what's going on this weekend with the gang?" Nathan asked. He no longer referred to them as her friends because they were his now, too.

"Oh, Brooke wanted us all to go to the beach on Saturday. Which reminds me," Haley said. "I was wondering if you wanted to invite Lucas to come with us."

"Why Lucas?" Nathan questioned. He knew that Haley and Lucas got along but he didn't understand what would possess her to invite him out with their other group of friends. Does she have a thing for him? Am I mad that she has a thing for him?

"Do you like him?" Nathan tried to find out nonchalantly.

"Yeah, as a friend. But I'm asking for Brooke. She has a major crush on him."

"Doesn't Brooke already have a boyfriend?"

"Actually, she and Felix broke up a few days ago. He was a sexist jerk so she dropped his sorry ass," Haley informed him.

"Oh," Nathan muttered. "Um, yeah, I'll talk him into it. Do you think everyone else will mind? After all, he doesn't roll with that crowd. And I don't want him to feel left out."

"Well, we'll both be there. And Brooke will be, too. Believe me, she'll make him feel welcomed," Haley laughed.

"Aren't you done painting your toes yet? You've been doing them for ten minutes now," Nathan teased.

"Hey, I don't want to mess up. I had to do a second coat, too."

"Well, when you're done with the second coat, you feel like watching a movie?" he proposed.

"Oh, can we watch Tristan & Isholde? I love Medieval movies," Haley exclaimed.

"Is that a chick flick? No way," Nathan protested as he vigorously shook his head.

"Please? Pleeeaaaase?" Haley begged as she crawled down the bed to where Nathan was. In that moment, he couldn't help but think that she looked amazingly sexy. Focus, Nathan! She then looped her arm through his and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"There are guys fighting with swords. People get stabbed," she tried to convince him.

"Nope."

"The lead actress strips down," Haley pointed out. She's not totally naked but he doesn't need to know that.

"Fine," he relented. "But I get to pick next time."

"Deal," she promised as she grabbed Nathan's hand and pulled him off the bed.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered.