Here is the update! Hope I didn't make you wait for too long.

So before you start reading, I'll warn you about something. So, normally, the characters in this story are in Junior Year, so they're like 16 going on 17, right?

Anyways, this chapter is a flash-back to 3 years back, so they should be 13 going on 14; And before you read it, I would like to let you know that this is not what 13years old people do. But please bear with me and imagine that they are older or able to do this things at 13; after all it's a fanfiction.

I was thinking about changing the story's rating to M. But not for now: maybe in the future. Tell me what do you think about that.

Disclaimer : I do not own the characters.

Enjoy your reading!

Three years ago.

« How about we play a game of "I have never" ? » Rachel proposed.

The group was at Brooke's house on a Friday night, trying to find something to do. They had spent the past four hours talking about nothing and everything, just passing the time. That was their ritual; every Friday night, if they're not at a party, they would get together and talk, and play games, to pass the time and have fun.

"No." Lucas said "With you and Brooke it always ends in a mess."

And he was right. The last time they ended up playing a game of 'I have never' some secrets got out, secrets that weren't supposed to be discovered. Of course, they never meant it, and it never was extreme, but nonetheless, because of it, Peyton stopped talking to Nathan for almost a week.

"Oh come one Scott; don't be a buzz kill." Rachel pleaded

They all kept quiet for a second to try to embrace themselves before the questions began.

"We play my version, or we don't play at all." Brooke smiled.

"Oh come on!" Lucas said.

Brooke's version of the game was slightly different from the original version. The alcohol (not that they drunk that much since they were 13 going on 14) and the daring aside, her version required explanation and a demonstration if possible.

"Take it or leave it."

"Ok. Stop." Peyton said before Lucas had anything to say back. "We're doing it."

"I'll go first." Brooke said clapping "I never have I ever cheated on someone."

"Bite me." Rachel teased.

Rachel, Peyton and Nathan took a sip.

"Shocker!" Haley said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

It has been a week since Nathan had talked to her about his feelings, and she still didn't give him an answer. He got that she had time to think. After all, she has a lot to think about. He had a lot of factors playing against him, and that one didn't help. Of course she knew about it, but she never really had a confirmation, not that she needed one, Nathan Scott had a reputation, and it certainly didn't build up from rumors. But seeing him admitting it did hurt her a little.

"Hales-" He tried, whispering.

She was sitting next to him, almost touching him, and upon seeing him drink she moved from him a bit, unconsciously. It was like a mechanism for Haley, and he knew it, but that didn't help the sadness that started taking over him.

"Ok, explain." Brooke said "All of you."

"Oh please." Rachel said. "When have I ever been faithful?" She went on, earning a laugh from the rest of them. Rachel being unfaithful was a common knowledge. She didn't do monogamous relationships.

"How about you, Scott?" Haley said before realizing it. "I mean, Nathan." She corrected. She knew Nathan hated it when she called him by his last name. When it wasn't her flirting with him- which clearly wasn't the case here- it usually meant that she was hurt or mad at him. And she really didn't want him to think that she was. She had no reason to be, did she?

"I'll do it for both of us." Peyton jumped, before he had the occasion to talk. "It was when we were together. We were always on and off as you all know it, that somewhere along the line, we didn't care about the other hooking up with other people while we were together."

"Oh" Rachel said "Well that's a good thing. Marry me, Scott?" She teased.

They all laughed, genuinely. But Haley's bitter laugh didn't go unnoticed.

"Sorry." Rachel said

"You have nothing to apologize for." Haley answered, smiling truly at her friend, because she knew that she didn't have any reason to hold anything against her. Nathan wasn't hers. At least, not yet.

"My turn" Drew said "I never have I ever puked on someone else's mouth."

Nobody drank; which surprised everybody causing them to look at Haley.

"What?" She said innocently "I know that I don't control my liquor yet, but that much I can control." She defended herself "Besides, the only guy I ever kissed while being drunk, was Drew." She said turning to face Drew "And for my defense, it was the first time I ever drunk and it was Brooke's fault that I ended up being wasted."

"And?" Rachel tried.

"And what?"

"Oh come on. How was the kiss? Was he good?" She asked.

"I don't kiss and tell." Haley said "Besides, I was drunk."

"Oh please, you can't forget how kissing Drew Patterson was." Peyton said.

"Drew Patterson, who by the way, is right here you guys." Drew tried.

Rachel waved him off with her hand not turning her attention from Haley. Which made them all laugh. But Haley wasn't budging, and Rachel wasn't having it.

"Ok." Lucas intervened "Can we not have this conversation while I'm here? Haley's like my sister. So I'd rather not picture her having her tongue down Drew's throat thank you very much."

The rest of the night went as expected. Embarrassing situations were created, secrets (not so secret) were revealed, teasing was ensued. But at the end, they all had fun. When they all got tired, they decided to go to sleep.

"Can I talk to you?" Haley asked Nathan when they were alone.

He looked at her quizzically "Yes, of course." He said.

She took his hand and went to the couch with him, sitting him next to her. She took a deep breath before looking at him deeply.

"So, I had time to think about it." Haley said. "What you said, I mean." She clarified, even if she knew he understood.

"Look, Haley, about earlier-" He tried.

"No." Haley interrupted him "You had your chance to say what you wanted to say. Now it's my turn." She continued "I know you Nathan. I know who you are, what you've done, and what you're capable of. I know all that. And I'm sorry about the way I reacted earlier, it just…. It took me off guard." She sighed, looking down for a moment, before looking back at him "But that doesn't mean anything. It doesn't change anything. Because it doesn't change the fact that I like you." She paused for a second to take a deep breath. "I like you a lot Nathan Scott. And it scares the crap out of me, because I never liked anyone that much. So what I'm try to say is that… I want you too. I want to be with you too." She smiled at him, the smile that was only reserved to him.

He looked at her like she was crazy. Like he was in a dream and in a moment he was going to wake up in his bed.

A part of him knew that Haley liked him too, Brooke kept telling him that to encourage him to go talk to her first; but the biggest part of him refused to believe that someone as selfless, as amazing and as wonderful as Haley would give someone like him the time of a day.

They met in 6th grade, and needless to say that they didn't get along immediately. It sure took them sometime to get along, but once they did, they were inseparable. They got to know each other and care for each other. And from that day on, they never left each other's side. Nathan knew everything about Haley and she knew everything about him. He was very protective of her, more than he was with any of the other girls in their current group.

Everybody knew. They all knew that eventually Nathan and Haley would end up together; Brooke even started teasing them about that when she had the chance, earning death glares from Haley. But, neither of them ever said anything about it. Yes, at first, there were times when they would tell them that they were just friends, but nobody believed them, so they just stopped trying.

When they started middle school, Nathan gained his playboy persona, dating a different girl each week; which drove them apart at first, since Nathan was ignoring Haley most of the time, but they quickly found their way back to one another. They always did. He even stopped dating for a few months to get back Haley's trust. But that didn't last very long, since he got back to being the playboy he was very quickly, earning Haley the place of his trusted best friend. That is, of course, until he discovered his growing non-platonic feelings for her. It did take him sometime to admit those feelings to himself before admitting them to her.

"Are you sure?" Nathan asked, still not believing it.

"Positive." She smiled widely. "As long as you don't cheat on me or hurt me."

"I would never." He said hugging her "But I want to do this properly." He got her out of his embrace to look at her "As much as I want to kiss you right now, I want to follow the rules, by taking you out on a date" He semi-asked "Tomorrow."

Haley nodded. "Tomorrow then." She smiled.

[..]

"So you and Nathan." Brooke said.

"What about us?" Haley answered as innocently as she could.

Brooke, Haley and Peyton were at the mall. It was Saturday morning, the day after the sleepover. It was as Brooke liked to call it their "best-friends bonding time".

Before leaving that morning, she noticed something different about Nathan and Haley and the way they were with each other. Brooke knew that Nathan told Haley how he felt a week ago, so, when Haley took some time to think, she noticed that they were not their usual selves around each other. Haley did her best to be herself and not be too transparent, and by doing so, she was starting to act really weird.

But this morning, something had changed. Something was different. They were more touchy-feely than usual, even more than before his "declaration". When she woke up this morning, she was planning on going to check on Haley first, and what was her surprise when she saw her sleeping on Nathan's chest while he had his hand around her waist. They looked like a cute little couple, and she wasn't letting it go until she had details about what happened last night.

"You finally told him how you felt, didn't you?" Brooke said.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Haley said avoiding her friend gaze.

Brooke turned to look at Peyton giving her the 'she's hiding something from us and I will know soon what it is" look.

"Oh, ok" Brooke said "So, you guys are not together?"

"No." Haley tried to convince her "We're just friends."

"Ok, great then." Brooke said causing the two girls to raise their brows at her "No, I'm just asking because Sarah from our English class has that huge crush on him and she wanted me to help her get him." She said, nonchalantly.

"I know what you're trying to do, Brooke." Haley said smiling at her friend. "And it's not working."

"Moi?" Brooke said in mock-offence "I'm just doing my job."

"And what would that be?" Peyton, who until now was quiet and smiling at her friends amusing banter, asked.

Brooke gave her an annoyed look "Matchmaker duh!" she said before turning to Haley once more "So, are you ok with it?"

Haley laughed at her friend's persistence "Ok, fine." She said "I did tell him how I felt."

Brooke clapped with enthusiasm "I KNEW IT!" she said "We should so get you something to wear for your date tonight!"

"Yeah, that's what I've been doing for the last fi.." Haley started before realization hit her "Wait a second. How do you know about the date?" she said raising her brow at her friend

"Oh please, I'm Brooke Davis." She answered matter-of-factly "Did you really think I would let Nathan go without grilling him?"

"Why did you ask me, then?"

"Oh, just wanted to see how much it will take you before you spill the beans"

Haley just rolled her eyes at her friend before getting back to looking for the perfect outfit, leaving behind her a very satisfied Brooke and an amused Peyton.

[..]

"Have I told that you look beautiful tonight?" Nathan said "Not that you don't look beautiful every day, but you are really beautiful tonight. I mean you are always beautiful-"

Haley laughed "Is the great Nathan Scott nervous? I never saw that one coming." She teased him, looking up to meet his eyes.

It was Saturday afternoon; Nathan went to pick up Haley from her house at 6pm, surprising her. She was ready of course, Brooke had insisted on that, but Haley just brushed it off blaming it on her best friend's insanity. Because everybody knew it, if Brooke said something then it should be done or else you would unleash Brookezilla, and you might want to think twice before unleashing her.

They went to the docks, where they first met. Nathan was more nervous than he thought he would be. This was not like every other date he had in the past, matter of fact, Nathan Scott didn't do dates, and everybody knew that. The longest "girlfriend" he had, was Peyton, and they have been together on and off for about a year. But it wasn't serious; their relationship was like a contract. Everybody knew they were together, but nobody paid attention.

Half an hour had passed since he picked her up, and they were still walking in the docks, hand in hand. It was peaceful, they both felt good, except for Nathan's nervousness.

"Remember the first time we met?" Haley asked looking up at him.

"Yeah, how can I forget?" He looked down to meet her eyes "You were such a brat!" He teased

"I WAS NOT!" Haley said with mock offense "You were the jerk!" She accused back hitting him in his arm with her free hand.

"Jeez Haley" He rubbed his arm "We haven't been together for a day and you're already hitting me." He teased "That's abuse, you know?"

She rolled her eyes at his exaggeration looking back ahead "Yeah, well now you know better than to misbehave, mister" She half-teased

"Oh, you like it rough I see" Nathan teased back

Haley opened her mouth in mock shock looking at him once again "Perv!" she scolded rolling her eyes.

Nathan laughed at her expression, taking his hand from hers to side hug her, kissing her on the side of her head, taking on her scent at the same time, as if he was trying to convince himself that he wasn't dreaming. He broke the contact, taking back her hand in his, stopping them both from walking and turning her gently to look at him. She met his eye with a questioning expression on her face, their hands not breaking the contact from the other. He put his other hand gently on her face as to erase the questioning expression from her face; he then put his hand on the side of her face and began stroking her cheek with his thumb.

"You are beautiful." He whispered, as if he was out of breath; and she blushed. "How did I get so lucky?" It was a rhetorical question, even if he was really wondering how he was so lucky. He looked deeply in her eyes before lowering his face and kissing her cheek. Looking back at her, he saw that she blushed even more than she did. "You get even more beautiful when you blush." He teased.

"Stop! You're embarrassing me." She said looking at her feet.

He used the hand that was still on the side of her cheek lifting her head to force her to meet his eyes once again.

"Hey!" He said softly "You have nothing to be embarrassed about." He smiled at her which caused her to smile back at him. "You hungry yet, beautiful?" He asked.

"Starving" She laughed.

"That's my girl." He said before kissing her cheek one last time and turning around heading to their direction.

It wasn't a restaurant, which took Haley by surprise. He took her to a place at the end of the docks, it was a private place, she had told him once that she wanted to go there, but she didn't expect him to remember. It was like a private park. It had only one table at the middle of it, which was surrounded with a small iron fence with a semi-sharp end. There were candles; a lot of them. Most of them were forming a circle inside the fence; but not in front of the little door.

In the middle of the table were two red candles, still not enlightened contrary to those on ground. We could also see two plates hidden with something that looked like a cloche, in front of them were two glasses and two bottles in the middle of the candles. One was a water bottle, and the other was a bottle of juice.

Needless to say that Haley was speechless. She looked dumbfounded, he looked back smiling at her; and she knew that the smile he had now was the one reserved for her.

"You like it?" He asked.

"Like?" she said, still astonished, looking back at what was in front of her. "Are you kidding me, Nathan? I love it." She said turning and jump-hugging him. Nathan laughed, squeezing her harder, as if she was the reason he was breathing and if he let go he would die. "How did you…? I mean it's a private park, Nathan. Nobody is allowed to.." she asked, breaking their embrace. "How did you do it?"

"That, gorgeous, is none of your business." He said intertwining their hands and leading her to the table. "Your job tonight is to enjoy your night and not worry about anything."

Haley couldn't believe that this was happening to her. She wasn't the kind of girl who believed in this kind of things. As far as she was concerned, her social life was spending time with the girls, listening to their relationship drama, and shopping. And when it came to her love life, expect for the casual and innocent flirting she used to do with Nathan, she had none. Her relationship status was not complicated. It was literally, in every sense of the term, nonexistent. Boys didn't pay attention to her, and she didn't pay attention to them.

And now, here she was, in this incredible first date with not only a boy, but THE boy. They weren't even in their junior year of high school, yet he was one of the top 10 most popular guys in school. And he came close to being the fourth. Maybe it was a dream.

"Mac'n'cheese?" Haley said as soon as she saw what was in the plate in front of her. "You remember that?" She asked, surprised.

"I remember everything about you, Haley James." He said, softly.

Yes, it was definitely a dream. And she didn't want to wake up from it.

Haley was happy, genuinely happy. The rest of the night was everything she ever dreamed about. It went smoothly, but yet wonderfully. After eating their diner, they went for a walk in the park, hand in hand. They talked about everything; from their first conversation to their friend's opinion about their new relationship.

Brooke and Peyton were the only one who knew for now, or at least so they thought; knowing Brooke, their relationship would've been, by now, a public knowledge. It bothered Haley a little, because she wasn't sure yet where this, her and Nathan, would go. But she chose to put that thought in the back of her head for now.

It was 11pm, Haley's curfew, and they were in front of Haley's house.

"I had a good time, Nathan." Haley said, locking her eyes with his.

"Good." He smiled "Because I have a good time too." He said, never breaking the contact their eyes had.

"What?" Haley asked.

"Nothing." He said, looking at her tenderly.

"You have that look." Haley said, smiling at him.

"What look?" he asked smiling back at her, now his hand on her cheek.

"The look you have when you want to do or say something but you don't know how." Haley said, leaning in his hand. "So say or do whatever you want to."

Nathan looked at her nervously, debating whether to say it or not; he then thought about going for it.

"I want to kiss you." He said, as he watched Haley's cheek starting to redden. She didn't trust her voice at that moment, so she did the second best thing she thought about and she nodded.

Nathan leaned in, their face approaching each others, the space between them was smaller and smaller. She could feel his breath on her face now, their face being inches away. He then, connected their lips; at first it was slow and gentle. She could feel butterflies in her stomach and she couldn't stop her heart from pounding, and by the heat she was feeling in her cheeks she could tell that she was blushing more than she ever did. One of his hands was now on her waist, while the other was gently stroking her cheek. She let out a moan when she felt his tongue on her lower lips, asking for entrance; she opened her mouth slightly granting it, which elicited another moan at the contact of his tongue with her. Their tongue battled gently, both of his hands were in both side of her waist, while hers were now around his neck, she could tell that they were breathing in sync; she felt something snap inside of her, something new; she couldn't tell what it was, so she brushed it off. Out of breath, they broke the contact, connecting their foreheads. They stood like there for a few minutes, just breathing each other in, her hand still around his neck and his on her waist.

"I should probably.. get inside." Haley said, never breaking the contact

"Yes, you should" He said back.

They stood like this for another minutes before the broke the contact, deciding that it was better for her not to break the curfew if they wanted to go out again.

"Does this mean I get a second date?" Nathan asked.

"That remains to be discussed." She teased looking in his eyes and getting lost yet again. "Thank you for tonight Nathan."

"Anything for you, Hales." He said giving her a quick, yet gentle and sensual, peck on the lips. "Good night, Haley James."

"Good night, Nathan Scott" She said, hugging him; he hugged her even tighter before letting her go.

He didn't leave the front of her door, before he knew that she was definitely inside, feeling happier than he ever thought he would.

Haley closed the door as she entered her house, letting out a happy sight. She was smiling, the smile that hurt, but she couldn't whip it from her face, and she didn't want to.

"From the goofy expression on your face, I take it you had a good night." Her mother teased.

And her mother didn't know half of it.

A/N : So, just for the information, 3 years ago, the girls didn't know Mandy yet. She wasn't part of their group. This is why she's not in this chapter. You'll learn more in the next chapters.

Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Let me know what you think by reviewing.

xoxo -A