Sorry for the delay!! I'm glad you all like the Jake-Naley interaction, I really enjoy writing it :) Also, Lucas moving means Brucas interaction nd I'm really excited to write that. Enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 10: When Reality Is Better Than Fantasy
Haley woke up, looked around and smiled. She had fallen asleep in her parents room the night before after she and Brooke went upstairs to give Peyton and Jake privacy and recap the date. Because stairs were no easy feat for the girl on crutches, she decided against moving back to her makeshift dining room and taking advantage of the queen sized bed.
"Good morning baby sis." Jake stuck his head in the door.
"Hi big brother," Haley answered and he walked to the bed, plopping down next to her. "What are you up to today?"
"Nate's mom is dropping him off here soon and we're gonna drive over to practice ." Haley felt a grin creep on her face at the mention of Nathan. "Hey Hales?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't want you to be afraid to be happy about Nathan around me. Or tell me what's happening between you two. I know I'm a little protective of you," Haley gave him a look. "Okay, a lot. But Nate's a good guy and I trust him and I know after ages of liking him you must be happy. I want to see you happy." He said. Haley wrapped her arms around him.
"I really am happy." Haley said, her eyes almost filling with tears with how sweet her brother was being. She pulled back and laughed. "How did you know I liked him for ages?"
"Hales, how could anyone not? I've known since the first day you met him. So has mom and Brooke and even you. Lucas even figured it out last summer." Jake pulled out a pack of gum from his pocket, took a piece and offered Haley the other one.
"Nathan doesn't know though, right?" Haley said, taking the gum and then putting her hair into a ponytail. "I don't want him to think I like stalked him for years-"
" Even though ya did," Jake finished. "I mean I'm assuming he knows you like him since you went out with him last night but I don't think he knows about you writing 'Haley Marie Scott' on the dry erase board in permanent marker freshman year."
"I didn't know it was permanent!" Haley grumbled, burying her face in her pillow. They heard the front door open.
"Hello?" A familiar voice sounded from downstairs.
"Up here Nate," Jake called.
"Jake!" Haley hissed, ducking under the covers. She was in her Spongebob Squarepants pajamas with an old college sweatshirt from her mom.
"He's seen you look worse," Jake teased as Nathan walked up the stairs.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Haley's a little embarrassed of her current attire," Jake laughed. And Haley tried to kick him from under the sheets.
"Aw, it's not the poncho again, is it?" Nathan smirked, walking into the bedroom.
"That was almost three years ago!" A muffled cry came from under the covers. "I get enough about it from Brooke!" Both boys chuckled and Jake got up.
"Be right back man, I gotta find my shoes." He left and Nathan walked over to Haley. Sitting next to the lump under the blankets, he started rubbing her back.
"I'm only kidding Hales," he said softly. "I think you always look beautiful." She peeked her head out from under the covers.
"I'm wearing Spongebob pants," she said, sitting up a little and pulling back the covers to see. "They're the only ones that fit over my cast." Nathan smiled and kissed her forehead.
"I like them." Haley smiled.
"I had a really great time last night."
"So did I." Nathan grinned. "I'd like to do it again soon." Before Haley could stop herself, the words were out of her mouth.
"Are you free tonight?" After she said it, she closed her eyes, mentally kicking herself but Nathan relieved her worry by kissing her lips softly.
"I was hoping you would ask me that. What do you want to do?"
"Hm…" Haley thought. "Maybe watch a movie or something?"
"Or something," Nathan smirked, cupping her face and kissing her again, although this one was not as soft as the first. This kiss brought them right back to the previous night, but was interrupted by a sound at the door.
"Gross," Jake retorted. "And on my parents bed?" Nathan shrugged but Haley's face went red. Her lips started to form into a smile when she looked at the boys.
"So are you guys going to catch up on some OC episodes after practice?" Nathan's mouth dropped and Jake looked confused for a minute. Haley looked right at Nathan. "Poncho payback." She laughed as the realization came to Jake and he lunged at Nathan.
--
"Hello?" Brooke answered her cell phone.
"Brooke, hi it's Peyton." Brooke made a face at her phone in disbelief.
"Uh, hey what's up?" Although Peyton was civil to Brooke on Jake's request, she had never once called her and Brooke detected worry in her voice.
"I'm going to be late to cheer practice today, I was wondering if you could run it til I get there?"
"Yes!" Brooke said readily. "I mean, yeah that'd be fine but do you think Bevin and
Theresa will care?"
"No, I'll just text them and tell them the deal," Peyton said. "Thanks Brooke."
"It's not a problem Peyton," Brooke assured her. She hung up the phone and did a little victory dance around her room but she wondered what Peyton had to go to.
--
"Wow." Haley said. She and Nathan were sitting on her couch trying to decide what movie to watch, but Nathan brought up Lucas and his news of moving to Tree Hill. "That's good though, you two are really close."
"Yeah and it'll be nice to graduate with him. Plus he's got a lot of friends already here, and Whitey said he can play basketball. Which totally rocks. I think he's excited but at the same time…"
"Brooke." Haley supplied. "And I'm guessing I'm the one who is going to tell her?" She asked Nathan, her eyebrows raised.
"If ya do, I'll let you pick the movie," Nathan sweetly offered. Haley rolled her eyes good naturedly.
"You know one of these days Lucas is going to have to man up and face her. He left her broken hearted without one word of goodbye. Four months with no call and then when
he shows up again he's like a hero in my accident. She's probably really confused right now and still pretty ticked off."
"Yeah I know." Nathan said. "So what movie are we watching?"
"My Best Friend's Wedding!" Haley giggled and Nathan heaved a sigh as he got up to put it in the DVD. He sat back down and put his arm around Haley's shoulder and she snuggled into him. This, they could get used to
--
"I would stab myself with a fork." Nathan grumbled as the actors started singing "Say A Little Prayer". Though he and Haley had not necessarily "watched" the whole movie so far, she refused to kiss him during her favorite scene.
"But it's so cute!" Nathan shook his head. Haley looked at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You're a good guy Nathan."
"And why is that?" he asked, turning his head toward her.
"Because you're watching this movie with me. And because you took me out on the best first date." She looked deeper in his eyes, not sure why she was opening up to him like this but glad she was. "And because you stayed with me." Although she didn't say it, Nathan knew she was talking about the accident.
"Your welcome," He said, kissing her lips softly. "I'm just sorry it took me seeing you in a hospital bed to realize I didn't want to hold back my feelings for you anymore. That I wanted to be with you." Haley's heart almost burst from joy and she kissed Nathan like she had never kissed anyone before. A few minutes later they pulled back when the need for air was crucial. He leaned her forehead against hers and neither even noticed the movie still playing in the background. All they noticed was each other.
"Are we together?" She asked softly. She usually wasn't this bold, especially around Nathan but it was something she needed to know.
"Literally? Yes." he asked smirking. "In the boyfriend-girlfriend way? I hope we are because I like this. A lot," he added and Haley nodded.
"I like it too." He brought his lips to hers and they sealed it with a romantic kiss that seemed to go on for a long time.
Yay they are together :)
NEXT: Haley's parents come home, Hales goes back to school and Peyton's secret revelaed. DRAMA