"Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed and to those who still love even though they've been hurt before."
"I'm serious, Brooke. It was awful. I threw water on him." Haley bit her lip to stifle back a laugh. Brooke just sat there in horror, not even sure how a date could go so wrong. "Then we talked afterward like it never happened."
Brooke sighed, grabbing the nail polish she was currently using. "I really don't understand your relationship with this guy. He treats you like crap, yet he treats you like you are a queen." Haley sighed. Was that true? "He is obviously too scared to admit his true feelings for you. Maybe he feels like he isn't worthy enough?"
"Who knows." Haley mumbled into her pillow. "Brooke, it's just - I can't let him go. No matter how hard I try, I want Nathan in my life." Brooke sighed loudly; apparently Haley was too far gone. "He has been calling me since the date. I haven't answered or anything because I just don't even know what to say anymore. Being with Nathan hurts because he makes me admit that I am not who I thought I was. He forces me to reveal who I really am."
The brunette couldn't help but feel her friend's pain. Sure, Brooke had guys, but never had she let them take over like this. "Haley I have to ask you a really important question. Do you -"
"I love him, Brooke." Haley admitted without any hesitation. "Not just that regular 'I love you crap', but the kind that makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs."
Brooke couldn't help but laugh. "Hales, I love you, but that was the cheesiest thing you have ever said in your entire life!"
"Oh shut up. I was feeling giddy." Haley groaned, laying back on her bed in exasperation. "This isn't going to go away is it?"
As they sat on her couch watching old movies and enjoying one another's company, Haley heard a knock on the door. "Who the hell - ugh, I bet it's Paul. He has totally switched into stalker mode on me."
"Ew! Don't answer!" Brooke protested. Haley didn't listen and walked up to the door. She might have only been in a pair of sweats and a Duke basketball shirt, but she was not about to try and impress Paul. He was so pathetic. "Ugh, you know what? Fine. When you are dead I will not be making your eulogy at the funeral, because I will probably be dead too!"
Laughing, Haley opened the door, but the person who she saw was not Paul. "Nathan?"
"You weren't answering your phone." He whispered.
Brooke gaped at the man standing in the doorway. That was Haley's man? Damn, that was Haley's man. A smile spread across her face, showing that she knew this was about to get interesting. "Nathan, I was - busy."
"Look, I feel like such a tool. I want to take you out right now and go have fun. Dinner was a disaster, but I really just want to take you out and be like how we use to be."
Haley blinked, maybe she was dreaming? "You mean back to dysfunctional?"
"Yep, that is exactly what I mean."
Haley turned to look at Brooke, who was currently wrapped in a blanket and trying to look as calm as possible, but she knew on this inside that Brooke was dying with excitement. Brooke nodded and told Haley to go, which only annoyed Haley more. How was she going to spend the rest of the night with Nathan Scott and survive? This was either going to be a disaster or the best night of her life. Haley was truly hoping for the latter, but with Nathan she was never sure how things would go.
Brooke watched as they both walked out of the apartment. When they left, she immediately picked up her cell phone and dialed. "Lucas, yeah it's Brooke. I have to say, you are a genius..."
They sat in silence as Nathan drove to his unknown destination. She looked over at him and couldn't help but smile. They were both wearing Duke t-shirts and it showed how alike they were. Haley couldn't help but love him more. Plus, he looked so cute. Maybe it was the way his hair wasn't all gelled up. It was just tossed all over the place, but he still looked amazing. Haley sighed; she was falling so hard and there was no one there to catch her. It was strange to be there with him now after the disaster of a date they had, but maybe things were going to be all right. "Tell me, Ace. Where are we going?"
"If I told you, would it make you be quiet?" Nathan fired back with a smirk. "Kidding. I am taking you somewhere fun."
Haley rolled her eyes and looked eagerly out the window. She hated surprises and clowns. Hopefully there were no clowns involved. Nathan pulled up to a dimly lit place and Haley felt slightly worried. "Alright, I'm scared and confused."
"Can you ice skate?" Nathan asked as he hopped out the car and walked around to the other side to open Haley's door. "I found this place last week and I thought it looked like fun." Haley looked at him skeptically. "Don't worry, I checked the ice. We are not about to have some Titanic scenario."
She giggled, sometimes he knew her so well. "I'll never let go Nathan..."
"I'm the king of the world." Nathan replied, uninterested, as he put on his skates. "Honestly, why do we always quote movies?"
Haley shrugged. "It makes us special!"
It was strange being there with Nathan, feeling like she was seventeen again. Haley knew that being there was risky. She was letting her heart feel so much, but it was a risk she was more than willing to take. "We need music!" Haley replied happily as she popped in a mix cd that Nathan had in his car.
Life is beautiful When you run into my arms Do I hold you too tightly?
We live until we die
We steal a perfect moment
Let the monsters see you smile
Let them see you smiling
When will the hurt kick in?
Nathan looked at Haley and his heart ached for her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Everything about her was special and unique. and he regretted never seeing it until now. Ten years was an awfully long time but he needed her. "Hales," She looked up at the sound of her nickname. "Give me your hand." Haley held out her hand and Nathan grabbed it, squeezing it tightly. "God, you're gorgeous."
"Nathan..." She whispered. "I - I don't know."
He gave her a warm, but hopeful smile. "Don't think about it. Don't think about who we were or where we have been. It's here and now. Just us. Together. For this one perfect moment."
"I wish it were that simple, but life isn't like that."
Life is beautiful Yeah, life is beautiful "You changed, Haley." Nathan replied with hurt in his voice. " I thought I told you not to change." He softly caressed her face. Haley longed to kiss him to again. Feeling Nathan was something she could never forget, and something she needed in her life. "I've missed you Haley James."
But it's complicated
We barely make it
We don't need
To understand
There are miracles
Miracles
Our hearts
They beat and break
Haley choked back a sob. "I know." Sighing, Nathan pressed his forehead against hers, staring down into her eyes. "I thought about you everyday."
"We can't do this." Nathan whispered, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I wish we could, but we can't."
Haley pulled away from his grasp. He was always messing with her head and making her feel like she never mattered. "I'm going to go skate now."
When you run away from harm, I will hold you tightly
Will you run back into my arms,
Like you did when you were young?
Will you come back to me?
When the hurting kicks in.
Nathan knew what he said had upset her, but he couldn't lie. Sure he wanted to be with Haley, but Nathan couldn't be who she needed. There was so much about his life he needed to change in order to be the man Haley needs. He watched as she skated around the lake, wiping fiercely at her eyes every few moments. Sitting on the ground, freezing, Nathan realized that he couldn't wait around, but he had to make things happen. He quickly jumped up and skated over to where Haley was.
"Nathan, I am really not in the mood. Could you please just -"
He wasn't sure what caused him to do it. What emotions motivated him to kiss her, but there it was. Kissing her was the single most perfect thing he had ever done in his entire life. They fit together like a perfect work of art; all of their colors contrasted to make such a masterpiece. Despite their differences, they fit together. Her witty humor and his laidback attitude made them the perfect match, although they couldn't see it. Their kisses were always slow and passionate. Even when things got heated, their kisses stayed slow. It left such a lingering taste that they would remember the kiss hours after it ended.
Haley was too shocked to react so she went with it, kissing him like she kissed him when they were seventeen. It all felt so right and wrong at the same time. Her hands ran through his hair as they fell back on the ice, Nathan quickly climbing on top of her. She let out a soft moan as he begin to trail kissing down her neck, slowly lifting up her shirt. His cold hands ran up her stomach to cup her breasts. Haley gasped, loving how it felt to have a real man touch her again. "Na - Nathan."
"You make me so hard." He huskily whispered in her ear. Haley smiled as she kissed him; it was time she took control. She slowly unzipped his jeans, letting her hands wander to stroke him. "God - Hales - you feel so good baby."
Her lips caught his once again and even though it was wrong, she loved feeling him.
Stand where you are. It's amazing where I'm standing,
We let all these moments pass us by.
There's alot that we can give.
This is ours just for the moment,
There's alot that we can give.
Suddenly, it hit her. Nathan wasn't always going to be around and he wasn't going to change his entire life for her. "Hales, what is the matter? Why'd you stop?"
"I – I don't know." Haley replied honestly, running a hand through her now messy hair. "Things that feel so right have a habit of being what's worst for us." Nathan nodded in understanding. "I mean - I haven't seen you in ten years and when I do – all of this happens. I think taking it slow would be the best option."
Nathan gave her a smile. "I know what you mean." Haley couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At least he understood. "Alright Shorty, can I take you to the next place or do you want to go home?"
"Nah, I think I'll stick it out with you for a little bit longer."
"Oh man," Haley shrieked excitedly as she turned up the radio louder. "I love this song!" Nathan couldn't help but burst out laughing. Only Haley James would freak out over a Dean Martin song. "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore! When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine, that's amore!" She giggled. "I cannot believe you have this song on a mix cd. You are my hero!"
Nathan winked. "What can I say? I'm glad my choice of music could service you."
"Seriously, you have the best taste in music. I see that my influence helped, because I have not heard a single rap song. I am so proud." Haley wiped her eyes jokingly." Alright, now where are you taking me?"
"Do you always ask so many questions?" Nathan inquired.
Haley sat for a moment thinking. "Duh, of course I do."
"I'm not even sure why I asked that question." Nathan replied with a chuckle, pulling into the restaurant. Haley gasped when she saw where Nathan had taken her. It was the most expensive and elegant restaurant in Boston. "You're catching flies, Haley."
She shook her head, still amazed. "No way. Nathan, this place is way too much and I am so under dressed. And so are you!" Haley knew she was rambling, but this was just way too much. She hated when people spent a lot of money on her, especially Nathan. "Why are you laughing?"
"All part of my devious charm I suppose?" He replied as the walked up to the entrance. When he opened the door Haley was surprised to see that there was no one else there. "I paid them a little extra for it just to be us tonight."
Never had someone done something so nice for her. It all seemed like she was living another life because things like this were just not possible. Nathan was not supposed to be this wonderful and charming, but there he was. It was strange to finally have what she always wanted with Nathan, but in a way it didn't feel right. It was unbelievably scary to jump into something with him, she was not about to pass this up. Her heart was in risk of being mutilated again, but it was a risk she was ready and willing to take.
They sat in silence, drinking their wine and listening to the soft music playing in the background. Haley was sure that Nathan told them what music to play because all of her favorite oldies were playing. Her heart beat faster every time he looked up and gave her a sweet smile. When had Nathan become the man she always wanted?
It was one of those long days that Haley dreaded. She knew that Nathan was going to be in a rotten mood because apparently someone did something sucky. She was also having a bad day, so it was obvious that a fight was going to break out. When Haley was walking to the classroom they always met in, something unexpected had caught her eye. There was Nathan making out with some girl from the cheerleading squad. Her heart tightened and tears formed in her eyes, but she couldn't cry - she couldn't. Haley quickly walked inside the classroom and sat down at one of the desks, opening up a book she was currently reading.
Twenty minutes later Nathan walked in, and he looked God awful. She couldn't help but notice the amount of hickies on his neck. Ew. Haley gagged to herself as she continued to read the book, not even acknowledging the fact that he was there. Nathan picked up on her hostility and he was curious, but he was not about to ask her. Instead of trying to make civil conversation they both sat in silence. "What is your deal, Haley?" Nathan asked with agitation. He didn't want to waste the rest of his day sitting in a freakin' classroom with some chick. "I know you saw me with her. Jealous?" Haley scoffed. "Right, I'm jealous. I'm so jealous of the fact that you probably have herpes now." Honestly she was a little bit jealous, but there was no way she was going to admit that to Nathan. No way. "You can go home now. I will just tell Principal Turner that we had our meeting." "I'm not leaving." Nathan replied stubbornly. "Apparently we are having a problem and we need to fix this." She couldn't help but laugh. Nathan really was clueless. "Right, there is no 'problem' so whatever drugs you're on I suggest you lower your dosage." "Why did you put 'problem' in air quotes?" Nathan asked with a smirk, mimicking her actions. It surprised him that Haley wasn't laughing or punching or him, or at least fighting back a little. Apparently something really was bothering her. "What's up Shorty?" Haley bit her lip furiously. Why did he have to pretend to care so much? "Nothing. It's just been a long day." "You need to stop lying to me and to yourself." She couldn't take it any longer. Haley grabbed her book bag and walked toward the door. "Nathan, do me a favor. Stop pretending like you care about me."
Haley sighed and looked at Nathan, who was now ordering his meal. Maybe he really did care back then?
