"So, Nathan." Jimmy James called out to break the silence at the dinner table. "How long have you been playing basketball?"
"Well," He began to speak as Haley squeezed his hand underneath the table. "I've been playing organized basketball since I was about 4 years old."
"Impressive." Clay commented.
Nathan kept a smitten grin on his face the entire night. Haley was snugged in close to him and he had realized that her family weren't all that bad. Brooke stuffed her face in each appetizer and still managed to find room in her belly to finish her entire meal. Haley whispered random things in his ear throughout the dinner that made him chuckle. She found it relaxing being able to witness Nathan having a nice time with her family. It was relieving.
"Hales, you've found a keeper." Lydia winked over at her daughter.
Nathan grinned at the subtlety Haley's mom had.
"I'd like to think I"m pretty cool, too, Mrs. James." Clay joked around.
"Oh, Clay. You're something else." She replied in the same joking manner.
"Hales, Brookie, ladies room?" Quinn stood up and asked for a sidebar moment with them.
The two nodded and followed Quinn to the restrooms.
For the first time of the night, Nathan decided to start conversation. "I really like your daughter."
"I can tell." Jimmy smiled. "For what it's worth, she really likes you, too. I can just see it in her eyes."
"I can see where she gets her brains and wit from." He nodded respectfully.
"You know what, Nate? Marry her!" Lydia winked.
Jimmy chuckled, as did Clay. Nathan slightly blushed but didn't make it too obvious.
"It's a long shot but it's worth a try." Lydia shrugged.
Her family sure were jokesters. It was all in good company, though. Nathan didn't take it too seriously but at least now he knows that if he ever were to have a secure future with Haley, they'd approve of it. It was nice knowing that he was welcomed.
"Nate, I'm really impressed." Clay spoke up. "You're a great athlete with a proper attitude. Stanford would love it, I'm telling you that."
Nathan raised his eyebrows.
"Look, I know Duke offered you a spot but I doubt they want you as much as we do. I'm close with the Stanford coach and we're very interested in you. I'm not saying we need you, but you'd play a very important role in our team."
"Nathan got offered a spot at Duke?" Jimmy asked, seeming very impressed.
"Yes, sir. And Stanford." Clay crossed his arms in his seat.
"Haley doesn't know yet, and I don't plan on telling her just yet. It's a surprise." Nathan whispered as the three girls came back.
"What are you guys talking about?" Haley asked as she got back.
"Nathan was just going on about how beautiful you look tonight, weren't ya, Nate." Clay covered up.
He nodded, "Yes. Yes I was." He grinned at his girlfriend.
"Aw, that's sweet." She smiled at Clay then over to Nathan.
Brooke stepped in with yet another one of her famous fake gags.
"Haley babe, I'm going to ride with Clay and Quinn." Brooke hugged her, "We have some gossiping to do on our way back to your place." She winked.
"Okay. I love you." She squeezed her, "Thank you for coming tonight."
"No problem." Brooke pecked her cheek and waved before she went off with Clay and Quinn.
Haley sighed as she hopped into Nathan's car. "Congratulations. You just survived a James family dinner."
Nathan leaned over his seat and kissed her. He'd been holding that in all night long.
"Thank you for being... well, yourself." She giggled. "You made a great impression."
He high-fived her, "Anytime, Haley James." He kissed her hand. "You know, your family isn't all that bad. They're great, actually." He assured her.
Silence.
"They remind me of you." He sneered. "You're good people." He said, referring to her entire family.
"I love you, you know that, right?" She spoke softly at her handsome companion.
"I sorta kinda love you too, actually." He winked and kicked his head towards the road, "I should take you home now." He groaned as he buckled his seatbelt and began driving.
She dreaded the 15 minute drive back to her house. She felt as if she was so in love, she didn't want to go home. She felt as if somehow, with Nathan, she is home. They didn't even have to talk to know what they were feeling at the moment. Their presence spoke for itself, and it was indicating love and desire.
"Tonight's the night, Hales!" Brooke screamed as she jumped on the bed.
"Prommmm!" Haley joined her in their morning excitement.
This was the night Haley had been waiting for all her life. This was the night she got to feel like a princess.
"We should start getting ready. Peyton's already getting ready at Ellie's house and Lucas and Nathan are brooding up together." Brooke squealed.
"I'll do your make-up if you do mine." Haley offered.
"Dealio, kiddio."
"Mom?" Nathan called out, knocking on her bedroom door.
She opened the door and gasped.
He grinned, now in his tux and suspenders. "I wanted to talk to you before I pick Haley up."
She slightly laughed, tightening his tie. "Your tie is way too loose, Nate."
He chuckled nervously, "Yeah, it's a habit. Haley usually tightens it up for me."
He sat on her desk chair and began rolling in it.
"What's wrong, son?" She asked him.
He stopped spinning in his chair and faced her, sighing. "I just need a little bit of guidance."
She sat on her bed, letting him know she was listening.
"Dad took you to prom, right?"
She nodded.
"How was it?" He asked.
She realized what he was worried about and sighed. "In complete honesty, it wasn't all that great. I was already pregnant with you at the time. Your father used to be so romantic but then.. It stopped." She shrugged slowly and sadly.
Nathan took in a deep breath. "See, I don't want to be like that with Haley. I want her to have her dream prom."
"Nathan, you are not Dan." She said as she hugged her son.
He looked down and shut his eyes. "Can I ask you for a big favor?" He asked.
Deb looked at him curiously.
"Babe, what time is it?" Brooke asked as she curled her hair. She examined herself carefully in the mirror, making sure she didn't miss a single strand.
"It's already 5:30." Haley mumbled out as she fixed her hair as well. "Did Lucas, Nathan, and Peyton say they were picking us up together in one van? Or is Nathan going to take me in his corvette because no one's telling me anything."
Brooke tried not to spoil the surprise. "Uhm, I think Peyton said that Lucas rented a van for all of us." She shrugged. "But I'm not sure."
"You guys look stunning." Quinn walked in. "I remember prom.." She grinned a hazy grin.
"Was it amazing?" Brooke asked.
She nodded. "The best night ever."
Haley held her squeal in.
"But some people literally have the worst prom experiences. It's really sad."
Haley sighed. She hoped she had a good prom experience. She hoped Nathan was a good date. Although, she didn't doubt it. Nathan was almost perfect to her and she couldn't imagine him ruining her fairy-tale night. She had high hopes and expectations for her night with Nathan so she didn't dwell too much into it.
"Ooh Nathan texted me." Haley checked her phone. "They'll be here at 7."
"7? That's pretty damn early.." Brooke muttered loud enough for her to hear.
"I really like Nathan for you, Hales." Quinn patted her sister's shoulders as they stared at the prom princess in the mirror.
Haley stared at herself in the mirror and began wondering. "Am I pretty enough?"
"You're beautiful, Tutor-girl. Don't ever worry about that."
"Are you saying that as a normal high-school girl or as my bestfriend." She sighed, setting her curler down as she finished her hair.
"I'm saying it as a girl who's admired you for so long now." Brooke set her curler down as well, finishing up.
"I'll let you two finish freshening up." She left with that said.
"Hales, you may not know it but you're so graceful and so gorgeous. If anyone deserves to have the best prom night it's you."
She was doing it again. She was feeling insecure and she had to shake it off before Nathan came.
"You're the best, Brooke Davis." Haley half-smiled. She was happy. It was prom night and she couldn't think of anyone better to get ready with.
"I love you, Haley James." She hugged her tightly, enjoying the sudden sap. "Now let's get out of these robes and into our dresses." She ordered, smacking her friend's butt.
Haley giggled, following her lead.
6:55pm. He was nervous. Was he too early? Was she even ready yet? Does Brooke have the limo yet?
He rung the doorbell, sucking in his nerves. He really wasn't the exclusive type and for him to be so smitten about Haley was completely new for him.
He smiled, seeing the prettiest girl in the prettiest dress reveal herself as she opened the door for him.
He was speechless, not knowing how to express just how stunning she really was.
"Hi." He said as she took his breath away.
"Hi." She gave him a half-smile.
"You're beautiful." He kept a smile on his face, entering her house.
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, already in a trance. He looked damn good in his suspenders and suit. "My parents are in the kitchen getting the camera ready. They're polaroid types of people so, we're probably going to spend a really long time here taking pictures." She laughed. "But we have to wait for Brooke, Lucas, and Peyton. Brooke forgot something at her house so she'll be here soon."
Nathan was glad knowing that the plan was in motion. She had no idea what she was in for tonight.
"Oh, by the way.." She faced him and held his hands. "I trust you, but I want to check." She whispered, beginning to roll his sleeves up a bit.
"You two are precious." Lydia come bursting in, causing Haley to jump back from Nathan's wrists. "Picture time!" She clapped.
Nathan re-buttoned his sleeves, getting ready for a full-on photo-shoot. "Wait, I have something for you." He reached in his pocket and took out a cute, white corsage in a small box. "For you." He gave her a cute smile as he placed it on her wrist.
"I have yours too." She said, pinning a white flower onto the pocket of his button up.
Nathan licked his lips, placing his hand behind her back, pulling her close to his side and smiling for the many pictures. For one of the pictures he sneaked in a quick kiss, causing her to laugh in the next photo frame as the pictures came to roll in continuously. To her, it was perfect. To him, she was perfect.
After a few some minutes of picture taking, Brooke rang in for Haley.
"Hey, Brooke. Where are you guys?" Haley asked, answering her cell.
Nathan's heart began to race.
"Oh, alright. We're coming out." Haley said, keeping her phone on her ear, holding her clutch in her other hand with Nathan on her arm. She pulled him outside, locking the door behind her.
Nathan smiled, waiting for her to turn around to see what he'd been waiting for.
"Okay, Brooke, we'll-" Haley began to speak, as she turned around and stopped in her tracks. "Be right there.." She whispered, shutting her phone, staring at the limo that was parked in front of her house.
"For you." Nathan smiled, holding his arm out for her to take.
Haley took in a trembling breath, as she clung onto Nathan's fit arm. She really didn't expect a limo, she didn't even expect a van. She could already tell that this was definitely going to be a night worth remembering.
AN: I'm so sorry I haven't posted in like a week, I usually try to post every other day or so but I didn't get to this week because of school and all that crap. I'm actually in the mood to post this weekend soooo keep looking out :)