Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or OTH characters – so sad. : (

AN: So I think I've figured out where I'm going with this story, but who knows I could come up with something better tomorrow. I really like this chapter – I just think it's cute. Another Naley scene. Fun stuff. Thanks to everyone who's reading, and especially to those who review – you always bring a smile to my face when I read what you have to say! Andnow, without further ado……

Chapter 10:

"Haley, drop it!"

She took one step closer to him.

"Don't do it! You'll regret it!"

She grinned fiendishly, and took another step towards him.

Nathan, realizing that she had backed him into a corner, could only put up his hands in front of him and start begging.

"Come on Hales, you really don't want to do that. I mean, it wouldn't be nice at all…"

Whoosh.

A handful of white powder flew threw the air.

And landed on Nathan's head.

"Not cool Hales," Nathan deadpanned while Haley burst into giggles. He had to admit though, that he probably did look pretty funny with flour all over his face and in his hair. "You realize I'm going to have to get you back now."

"Nope. That was my revenge for earlier," Haley said in between giggles, referring to his tickle attack. "Now we are even."

"Oh I don't think so missy. We are sooo not even." He slid past her, and it only took Haley a split second to realize what he was doing.

She rushed after him, trying to stop him before he reached the bag of flour.

But a fistful of flour in her hair told her she was already too late.

She tried shaking the powdery substance from her hair, but Nathan was apparently not finished and only threw more flour on her.

Haley just glared at him, but he only laughed at her attempt to look angry. It was a little pointless seeing as how she was covered in the white powder from the shoulders up.

Haley glanced around the kitchen, and her eyes lit up as she found her next weapon. Nathan watched her from the other side of the island as she moved toward the counter.

And picked up the bowl of the goopy chocolate cake mix.

"Uh-oh." His eyes widened as he tried to move out of the line of fire, but he was too slow.

Thus the food fight began.

Since they had been planning on making dinner and dessert, there was quite an array of ingredients and food readily available to use in the war.

Nathan was having the time of his life, ducking behind the island and tossing various foods at Haley. Haley always seemed to bring the good times with her. No matter what they were doing, it guaranteed fun. Even having something so third grade-ish as a food fight.

Finally, when it appeared that they had thrown everything available, Nathan heard Haley call out a truce from the other side of the kitchen island. They were both crouched down on either side of it, waiting for the other to make a move first.

"If you're trying to trick me, you're going to get it," Nathan smirked at the egg he held in his hand.

"I promise I'm done. I don't have anything left," Haley crossed her fingers at the blatant lie and grinned at the egg she held in her hand.

"Okay then, on the count on three."

"1…."

"2…"

"3…"

They both slowly stood up and faced each other, both holding one hand below the counter.

They eyed one another, not trusting that the fight was truly over.

Not breaking eye contact, they slowly took steps closer to each other, until they were standing inches apart, staring deeply into each other's eyes.

They both looked completely disgusting, with unidentified foods dripping from them, and yet, they couldn't tear their eyes off of one another.

Until Haley reached up quickly and cracked the egg of top of Nathan's head, surprising him so much that he crushed the one he was holding. He groaned as he brought his dripping hand up, then rubbed in on Haley's shoulder, more yoke running down the back of his neck.

"Well that was fun." Haley grinned.

"Yeah." Nathan looked around the messy kitchen. "I guess dinner's out." He matched her grin. "You sure do have a thing for throwing food," he teased.

"Call it a hobby," she shrugged her shoulders and laughed.

She stopped laughing suddenly, as she realized how intensely Nathan was looking at her. He reached up and swiped his thumb down her cheek to wipe off a brown substance, then brought it to his mouth and licked it clean.

"Mmm, chocolate cake." Haley could only watch him, spellbound.

Nathan took the opportunity to pull Haley closer to him, and lowered his lips until they gently met hers. Haley's eyes fluttered closed, but Nathan pulled back before she could respond to the kiss.

"Is this what you really want?" He asked as he searched her eyes, hoping to find the answer he wanted in them.

She glanced away, trying to figure out how she felt, wanting to know if this felt right. But before she could decide they were interrupted.

"Get the hell away from her!"

Instead of obeying the harsh command, Nathan only held onto Haley tighter, and glared at his half-brother.

"Are you going to make a habit out of this?" Nathan asked, referring to the way Lucas always interrupted them, his voice laced with anger.

"If you don't stay the hell away from Haley!" Lucas stepped into the kitchen, his anger matching Nathan's. He had been looking for Haley all day, knowing they needed to talk, and when he couldn't find her anywhere else, he thought to check at Nathan's. When Deb had answered the door and told him that yes Haley was there, rage filled Lucas, and only grew with every step he took towards the kitchen. And when he found them as they were, he blew up.

Haley stood frozen, wearing a deer in the headlights look as she watched the two. Finally she stepped back from Nathan, but moved even further away from Lucas as well. She really didn't need this right now.

"Just who the hell do you think you are, trying to order people around. Especially after the shitty move you made last night with Peyton!"

Haley visible flinched at the blonde's name, though Nathan and Lucas were too wrapped up in glaring and yelling at each other to notice.

"I didn't do anything! That's what I'm here to explain to Haley, if you would let me." Lucas turned to face Haley, but she would only look at the floor. "Hales, please believe me, Peyton was the one who kissed me. I didn't want it to happen. I don't have feelings for her. Please." He begged, hoping she would understand.

After a moment, Haley slowly looked up and met his gaze. Lucas ached when he saw the sadness and pain reflected in her eyes.

"I know what I saw." She said it so softly that the boys almost didn't even hear her.

Lucas was about to protest, when she continued.

"It doesn't matter anyways Luke. It's okay for you to like her. You can do whatever you want with whomever, I don't really care. It's not my place to tell you who to like. You don't have to ask permission or anything, so stop feeling guilty about it. Do what you want." Haley spun around and leaned against the counter, hiding the tears that were forming in her eyes. She needed Lucas to believe that she was okay with this, but it was becoming more difficult every second.

"Hales…" Lucas tried to move to her but was blocked by Nathan.

"I think Haley would like you to go now," he said quietly, but with force.

"No, you don't understand Hales! I don't want Peyton, I want-" Nathan cut him off, knowing that Lucas was about to confess that he wanted Haley. And he couldn't have that happen.

"You need to go," he said with more force then last time.

"Not until I finish talking to Hales." Lucas matched Nathan's glare.

"Well you're finished. So go. Or do I need to escort you to the door?"

"No, but I just-"

"Goodbye Lucas," Haley whispered from behind Nathan.

Nathan pushed Lucas away and out of the kitchen, while Lucas was too stunned and hurt by how formally Haley had just dismissed him. She had even called him Lucas.

"I'm going, I'm going," Lucas said, and started heading for the front door himself. But before he reached it, he whirled around and glared at Nathan. "I know what you're trying to do Nathan. You're just messing with Haley to screw with me. But I swear, if you hurt Hales at all-"

"I'm not going to hurt her," Nathan cut him off as he opened the door and shoved Lucas outside. "I think you've done enough of that for the both of us." Nathan slammed the door in his face.

Once Lucas was gone for sure, Nathan leaned against the door and thought about what had just happened. He knew Lucas was going to tell Haley that he loved her, but at that moment Nathan made a decision. It was a selfish one for sure, but he felt that he deserved a chance with Haley. So he had made sure that Lucas didn't go through with it by cutting him off before he could say it, then shooed him out the door.

Nathan did feel a little guilty about it, but he certainly wasn't going to go back on his decision now. No, now he needs to prove to Haley that he is good enough for her, that he is the guy she needs in her life. He needs to prove that he's better than Lucas.

With that in mind, he headed back to the kitchen. He watched from the doorway as Haley started wiping down the counters and cleaning up their mess, all while trying not to cry.

"Haley, we can do that later," he said softly from the doorway.

"No, we really need to do it now, before everything hardens and then really gets impossible to get up," she said, her voice wavering with emotion.

He moved and stood beside her, laying a hand on her own to stop its movement.

Haley slowly looked up and met his gaze, and Nathan gently pulled Haley towards him and enveloped her within his strong arms.

Haley burrowed in the warmth and comfort he offered, while Nathan was just happy to hold her.

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I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, with the food fight and all, so I hope ya'll enjoyed reading it too! Thanks so much for reading, and have a great day!

Until next time,

Western