Loyal Reviewers:
- tardychick06- Be happy, cause the Naley talks are just gonna get longer! Thanks for always reviewing!
- Cap'n Keira Sparrow- Yep, they talked. . .lol. Thanks for reviewing!
- naleyfan4546- Thanks! And don't worry, we're about to bring the Naley in truckloads!
- cherrycheesecake- Yay, two in a row, two in a row! LoL. I'm proud, heh. Thanks for always reviewing!
- OthFanatic129- lol, thanks for the review! Here's your update, enjoy!
- OTHforever03 - OK, next chapter... Tree Hill. This one took a totally different direction than I planned. Enjoy and thanks for the review!
- ROOKIIE- I'm glad you like Luke and April. Thanks for reviewing!
- Ababy99 - A new reviewer, yay! Thanks! But in your review you said you couldn't wait to see what happens between Luke and Haley, did you mean Nathan? I was confused, thanks again tho!
- Sara- Glad you like it, enjoy the update! - OTHlover04- Your fave chappie? Yay, awesome! Thanks for reviewing!
- Nikki- Thanks for loving it, lol. Glad you like the Luke and April, and expect lots of Naley soon!
- LockerRoomBanditt- Wow at the reply, lol! I'm glad you write a novel for me, don't worry I won't tell anyone! I hate when the world get's all in the way, I'm like "Stop, I wanna get off. I'll be back when I read some fic's!" The Naley's coming man, can you feel it? I'm soooooo excited about it! I would love to write you in, one thing... it might be awhile. I've alreadt started planning the sequel so it will probably be in that. But you will be there! :) I still haven't see THE haircut, sigh. I can totally see April and Nathan bonding more since Luke and Haley are so tight, it will be fun to explore. I totally agree that not enough guy's open car doors for girls, but my men (in the fic) know that knights in shining armor didn't go out with the round table! ;) I looove how you notice the little detail's, they can often get lost in the shuffle, I' m glad thats not the case here. The Luke note made me smile too, lol . I read it in a card, I'm the nerd that sits in Wal-Mart or wherever reading card's , I LOOOOOVE it! Isn't remorseful Nate really cute? But so is jealous Nate, funny Nate, sweet Nate, basically any Nate there is. The ending was just one of those like little battery powered truck's so, expect like the Hummer trucks before this is over. Haha. Do not apoligize for the long detailed review, I love it, it helps soooo much. Glad you're laughing, smiling, loving, all those adjectives... those are adjectives right? I never remember. We have to bond, cause I tend to go crazy dork a lot. LOL. Thanks again! Kick ass long review, I am loving you so much right now, lol.
-Jill – Where are ya? lOl.
Enjoy it Y'all. . . and let me apologize in advance, you'll see why. ;)
Chapter 11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Aaaaawwww," AnnaCate squealed. "That's just, like so adorable."
April rolled her eyes at AnnaCate and Haley grinned. Make that continued grinning. She hadn't been able to wipe the damn thing off her face since Nathan had said the words, "I'm glad". It was Saturday night, 11:00 clock, and they were all hanging out at Haley and April's apartment. It felt wrong to be in this early on a weeknight, but they had just gotten home from cleaning up all the fair stuff and were too tired to go back out. The boys (minus Ace, because he had made a "quick" stop at Carrie's, and had yet to show back up) had taken over the Playstation AND the living room, so the girls had situated themselves around the kitchen table gabbing. Haley had been filling AnnaCate in on the Nathan story for the last 30 minutes.
"Oh! And I almost forgot," Haley started turning to April, "The little girl. At the park that day with him. . . not his daughter!" At the end of her exclamation she pumped her fists in the air triumphantly.
"I knooooooow!" April yelped, joining in her best friend's excitement then backtracked on Haley's look, "That you are so happy about that! Yay!" Haley didn't look entirely convinced, but thankfully Mason walked in and her attention was diverted. "How was Carrie?" April asked him deviously and Haley high-fived her laughing.
AnnaCate seemed to still be stuck on the Haley/Nathan saga because she sat back in her chair and appeared to be in deep thought. "Ok, here's my thing. And don't get mad. Someone has to voice this." Her statement caught Haley and April's attention so they turned back to her. Mason's attention on the other hand was being held by the refrigerator because he was peering into it and searching like he hadn't eaten in weeks. He finally pulled out a carton of Orange Pineapple Apple juice and turned it up. "What if. . . OK. He was your high school boyfriend right? First love and all that?"
Haley nodded almost fearing where she was going with this.
"What if that's what this is about? What if. . . ok. My first: Brandon Miller. I can still remember every detail about that night and when I think about him I get this feeling in my stomach. I'm completely happy and in love with Beck, but Brandon . . . he has a piece of my heart. What if that's what this is? What if it's just about him being your first?"
Suddenly, they had Mason's attention. He choked on his drink and started coughing. April's mouth dropped open and she bust out laughing. Haley didn't move as Jet, Ace, and Beck filed in the kitchen obviously hungry. Beck noticed Mason coughing and went and gave him a slap on the back. "You ok bud?" he asked.
He cleared his throat and glanced at Haley. "I'm fine," he squeaked out then cleared his throat and tried again, "I'm fine."
"Well. . ."AnnaCate prodded ignorant to the uncomfortable moment that had filled the room.
"Nathan wasn't my first," Haley relented. "In fact, we never had sex."
"Oh. Well there goes my theory," AnnaCate said, "But, I guess that's proves it's not about the sex." April was still laughing, but it had turned into one of those silent shaking laugh thing's so AnnaCate slapped her arm. "What is so funny?" April looked from Haley to Mason and back again before snorting in laughter. It was at that moment, Ace decided to put his two cents in.
"Who was your first Hales?" he asked. April let out another snort and Haley looked over to see her laughing so hard she was crying.
"You're really enjoying this aren't you?"
"Uuummm . . . yeah," April said once she had calmed herself a little. She snuck another glance at Mason who looked extremely uncomfortable and then at Haley. Ace stepped up behind her and put a hand on each shoulder. She looked up at him and he winked, "Well. . . who was it?" he asked Haley before looking up at Mason. "Mace, do you know who it is?"
"Yeah, Mace. What do you think?" April piped up.
"You told him!"
"You told her!" Haley and Mason both exploded at once. Ace smirked, April snorted. AnnaCate and Beck looked confused.
"Somebody explain," Beck added.
Haley and Mason were having a stare down, so Ace spoke up, "Mason –"he was cut off when Haley jumped up and slapped his arm. "Oooww," he whined. "Fine. You tell them then."
"Tell us what?" AnnaCate asked.
Haley let out a big dramatic sigh then rolled her eyes. "Fine! This does not leave this room ok?" she said and they all nodded.
"Mason," she stated.
"What?" he asked.
"No. Mason."
"What are you- OH . MY. GOD!" AnnaCate yelled. "Mason was your first! When? Where? How? Oh. My. God."
"What?!?!?" a loud voice boomed. That shut everyone up and Haley buried her face in her hands. Apparently Logan and Tyson had entered the "confession room", formerly known as the kitchen. Mason took a step back against the counter at Logan's out burst. "You and Mason slept together?" he yelled incredously.
Neither of the two guilty said anything so April went for it, "Yep."
Mason shot her a look and she responded, "And by the way Mase. . . No, she didn't tell me. As roommate and due to the thin-as-a-sheet wall's, I had the lovely opportunity to hear it happening, so when I grilled her about it she couldn't exactly deny it."
Haley looked at Ace pointedly who shrugged his shoulders apologetically, "Mason told me." That won Mason a death glare.
"So, you slept with my girlfriend?" Logan yelled as he took a step toward Mason.
Haley put a hand out to stop him and, "Chill Rocky." Jet grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
"She's not your girlfriend," April pointed out and Mason chimed in.
"And you weren't together then. It was a long time ago." He noticed Beck had a disgusted look on his face. "What?" he asked him.
"Isn't that incest?"
"Oh my God. NO! She's not my sister."
"But she's like a sister to you, to all of us, so that's like I don't know, incest twice removed or something. And, as hypothetical brothers, shouldn't we kick your ass?" Jet mused.
"I'm for it," Logan muttered and Mason decided he had about enough.
"OK. You know what? I am not the bad guy here. I did not force her. She wanted it!" he pointed a finger at Haley blamingly.
"I wanted it!" Haley yelled. "You make it sound like I raped you!"
"You had the final decision, is all I meant," he told her then turned to Logan, "And if you're so ready to TRY and kick my ass then come on. Let's go. Right now."
April rolled her eyes, "I can barely breathe through all the testosterone in here. Everybody just chill. Especially you," she pointed a finger at Logan. "We're all adults. We need to act like it."
AnnaCate stepped in "She's right. Now," she started as she clapped her hands together," Tell us exactly how it happened."
"Yeah," Tyson repeated and Jet added.
"Exactly."
"Should I take this or you want to?" Mason asked her as they all settled around the kitchen.
"By all means," Haley said sarcastically. "Feel free to discuss my sex life."
"Sex life?" Tyson repeated. "So there was more than one occasion?"
"With him? No," Haley threw in hurriedly and Mason threw her a pointed look as if to say, 'Whatever.' Haley let out a loud sigh, "Fine, twice."
"What do y'all wanna know?" he asked them.
"When did it happen?" April said.
"You already know that," he told her.
She gestured around the kitchen, "But they don't."
"A little over a year ago was the first time then a couple of month's later was the second," he allowed.
"Where?" Tyson asked.
"Haley's room," Ace supplied.
"And Mason's room," April said.
"Drunk or sober?" Beck questioned.
"Sober the first, drunk the second," Haley said.
"HOW did it happen?" Logan spit out.
Mason raised his eyebrows and Logan huffed," You know what I mean."
"It just happened ok."
. . . . . FlashBack . . . . .
"Hales?" Mason knocked on Haley's door and entered. "What are you doing?"
She was stretched out across her bed face down. "Nothing really," she admitted. "I thought you and April were watching a movie."
"She fell asleep."
"Oh," she said as she sat up and leaned back onto her pillow cushion's and sighed. He noticed she had been crying.
"What's wrong?"
"Bad day," she relented as the tears threatened to spill over.
"What happened?"
"Basically if it could go wrong, it did. I had a quiz. Totally not prepared. Got an essay back, made a C. My mom called and we got into it. I asked a cute guy in my class if he wanted to study together for an upcoming test and he replied with 'I have a girlfriend', like I asked him to date me or something. Also, I just found out I don't even get a Fall Break so I can't go home to see my family." The tears begin to spill, "And then, my Dad just called and my cousin was in a wreck. He's ok and everything. They didn't even take him to the ER, but he's my little cousin and it just freaked me out." She shuddered and then, started crying silently.
"Hey. . . Hales, baby. Don't cry. It's ok, it'll be alright I promise." He moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her. They sat there like that, him just holding her for a few minutes and then Haley looked up at him. He couldn't help himself. He kissed her and she kissed him back. A few minutes later she pulled back, "What are we doing?"
"Comforting each other?" he supplied.
"What do you need to be comforted about?" she asked.
"Don't rain on my metaphor Hales," he whispered and then moved in for another kiss. They seemed to be content with making out for the next half hour, but then as it goes . . . hands got a little explorey. A lot explorey. Haley briefly contemplated if what they were doing was supposed to feel this good . . . and bad at the same time. Mason was not her boyfriend. Mason was not even someone she was dating. But, Mason was here. In her bed. Kissing her. Rubbing slowly up and down her body. Paying special attention to the important parts. And Mason wanted her. Not like that jackass she had asked to study with, who seemed repulsed by her. Not like the guy she had gone on a blind date with last week who had shook her hand at the end of the night. And not like Nathan, who left her. Mason was here, now, and wanting her. And Mason was hot. So when he tried to remove her shirt slyly, she let him and then removed his. And that suited them for awhile. When she felt the tug on her short's she knew she had to make a decision. And fast. She knew she could lose her to virginity to Mason tonight, to someone she loved. Sure, it was purely platonic, but it was still love. And it was better than losing it to any of the loser's she had dated lately. And Nathan? Well, it wasn't like he had even made an attempt to be in her life in the past few years, so . . .he was out of the running. Out of the running when he should have gotten the gold medal in the first place. Maybe. God, she didn't know. But she knew she wanted this. She was 22, very soon-to-be 23 and as far she she could see, there was no Mr. Right in sight. So. . .Mason it was. He had started trailing kisses haphazardly down her stomach and farther. . .farther down. Oh. God. When he came back up about 10 minutes later he had searched her eyes for signs of how much farther this was going to go. She had reached into the bedside table and pulled out a condom tossing it to him. 'Obviously. . .a lot farther', he thought. She sent a telepathic 'Thank You' to April for shoving those in her drawer last week and pulled Mason down on her. A few minutes later and all of Mason's clothes later, she looked at him shyly. "This is my first time Mason." His eyes had taken the size of baseball's and he had rolled over and reached for his boxer's pulling them on.
"What are you doing?" she questioned.
"I can't take that from you Haley. Your first time . . .I don't deserve it."
"I'm giving it to you Mason," she told him.
"It should be with someone you love," he preached.
"I do love you."
"Haley."
"Mason."
"I can't do this."
"The bulge in your boxers says otherwise sweetie and your eagerness up until a minute ago does too." He laughed and she smiled. "See? This is why we can do this. You're my best friend Mace. And in the morning when the moment's over, it won't be awkward, we won't let it. We'll make a joke and laugh and smile because we both know what this is."
"And what's that?" he asked. She could hear his resolve melting.
"Comforting each other," she echoed him and smiled.
If he had been truthful, he would have told Haley she was losing it to someone who loved her. Because he did, and he was –in love with her that is. But he never told her. He knew he didn't stand a chance. He wasn't sure who, but someone had Haley's heart. Lucky bastard. So he let it go and he never told her, and aside from that second time, nothing happened. And it was weird, because Haley had been right- it wasn't weird. And Mason found that he was glad for it, having Haley as his best friend was better than not having Haley at all.
. . . . End Flashback . . . .
"It 'just happened'," Logan mimicked.
Haley had reached her breaking point. "What is your deal Logan? Yes, we slept together, he was my first. Get. Over. It. It has nothing to do with you."
"Yes it does!" he erupted.
"Oh my God, no it doesn't!" She threw her hands in the air exasperated. Logan's eyes flashed and upon noticing it, everyone made their way out of the kitchen quietly. Everyone except April. She stood defiantly in the corner, ready to back up her best friend.
"You can go," Haley told her and smiled. "I can handle this."
April raised her eyebrows, but did as she was told. She started to walk to the living room, but Ace took her hand and led her into her bedroom. He shut the door behind them and she turned to him wildly, "When did Logan become such an ass?"
He sank down onto her bed and reached out for her. She ignored him. "What do you mean?"
"He's being so stupid about that. Haley's right. It doesn't have anything to do with him."
"You're telling me that if you were put in his position you wouldn't react that way?"
"You would?" she asked him.
"Right person. Someone I loved, yeah."
"He doesn't love her," April said stubbornly.
Ace raised an eyebrow, "You don't know that." She snorted and he sat up and grabbed her waist, pulling her to him. "I didn't bring you here to argue about this."
She shot him a look. "I'm not making out with you."
He laughed, "I didn't bring you in here to make out." She gave him a disbelieving look and he added. "I just want to talk. If it leads to making out, well I probably won't stop it."
She rolled her eyes, but allowed him to pull her down beside him. "I'm so tired," she whined. He didn't say anything, instead just laid back once more and pulled her head onto his chest. She allowed it and cuddled up next to him.
"So, about the whole us dating thing. . ." his voice trailed off as her eyes popped open. She cursed herself for forgetting she still had to deal with all that mess.
She took a deep breath and raised up, propping her head up in her hands. She had no clue what she was going to say, the stuffed puppy dog Luke had bought her caught her eye. "I don't know," she admitted.
"You don't know?" he echoed.
"That's what I said," she snapped and he jerked up from his position.
"This is about that guy isn't it?"
"What guy?"
"Don't play dumb, I know better."
"Yes," she admitted.
"Who is he?"
"Luke, he's a friend of Haley's."
"How long have you been seeing him?" he asked her tersely.
"I'm actually, kinda, not." He looked at her blankly. "We hooked up, once. After you and I broke up. He lives in North Carolina, nothing ever came of it."
He huffed. "North Carolina? What are you gonna do? Go on imaginary dates?"
She rolled her eyes. "We haven't talked about it yet. I'm going to see him next week. With Haley, for their friend's wedding. I guess we'll see what's gonna happen then."
He stood up abruptly, "Don't kid yourself. It won't work. North Carolina is over 13 hours from here April. I'm right here, and you know we work."
"We work?" she echoed his words. "Yes, Ace we work, as friends. We broke up for a reason, or are you completely spacing on the night we got into it so bad Mike threw us out of Tonic. All because I smiled at a guy! And tell me, was it working when I found you making out with that Leslie skank!"
"I was drunk and I only kissed her once!" he yelled. "You know that, I apologized and I took full blame for that night at Tonic."
"I don't want to do this right now. I'm tired, you're tired . . . and we're just blowing everything out of proportion because of it. I don't want to fight."
"I don't either," he told her genuinely.
"I just want to go to bed," she admitted.
"Can I go with you?" he asked her.
"I don't think that's the best idea right now."
"Right, ok. I'm going home," he stalked out of the room.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"So, explain to me how you think this has something to do with you?" Haley asked as she stood before Logan with her arms crossed.
"You slept together," he pointed out.
"Point?" Haley questioned.
"And you didn't tell me, neither one of you did."
"You didn't tell me anyone you slept with."
He rolled his eyes and began ticking them off, "Allison, Laura, Katie, Michelle, Amanda-"she stopped him.
"I don't want to know."
"In case, you didn't notice: none of those girls were your friends."
"Logan -not that I need to explain myself to you- but I didn't even know you when Mason and I slept together."
"But why didn't you tell me when we started dating?"
"Because, yes it's a big deal. But it's not a big deal at the same time."
"What?"
"It was just sex and I didn't just not tell you, I didn't tell anyone." She sighed and sat down at the table, where he followed suit. "What's really going on? I refuse to believe this is all that's bothering you."
"Give me another chance Haley," he said fast. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "We can do a long distance thing. I'll come back as soon as we stop shooting and we can decide what to do from then. I want to be with you. Haley. . .I lo-"
"Don't Logan, please don't do this."
"Why not?" he asked incredously.
"I don't feel the same way," she whispered. His eyes flashed with pain and anger and he stood, "I'm going." At that moment she heard a door slam and saw Ace take off out the front door. Logan followed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I'm guessing you had a talk with Ace that was just as successful as the one I had with Logan?" Haley questioned as she stepped into April's room and curled up on the big bed beside her.
"Breaking heart's is not fun," April joked.
"But we're so good at it," Haley reasoned before laughing. She looked over at April seriously, "Do you think I can't let go because Nathan is my first love?"
"I don't know," she admitted truthfully. "I prefer to think neither one of you can let go because you're made for one another."
Haley smiled. "You know, we actually almost had sex once."
"You and Nathan?" she asked.
"Yes."
"The summer after Freshman year. We were up in his room, just making out, fooling around. It got really heated and as things go," she blushed, "before we knew it there was nothing between us besides a condom. Not to overshare, but I still remember the look on his face as he was hovering over me. It was complete adoration and in that moment, everything was sunny side up again."
"What happened?" April asked curiously.
"That would be the point where his Mom walked in," Haley deadpanned. "Needless to say, the moment was ruined.
"Are you shitting me?!?!"
"I wish. But no. It was really late, like 2 in the morning and she had woken up. I guess she was still half asleep, 'cause she was meaning to go check on Kolby, but she walked in Nathan's room instead."
"What'd she do?"
"Nothing really. She didn't like cause a scene. She just let out a little yelp and was like 'Sorry!' then she got the hell out of there."
"That's hilarious Hales."
"Now it is, I couldn't exactly fine the humor in it then. I swear, I thought I was going to die. I used to spend the night over there all the time, but that night, I remember," she chuckled obviously recalling the memory, "I grabbed the clothes closest to me, which just happened to be my panties and one of Nathan's t-shirts. Nathan just laid there staring at me like 'What-the-hell-are-you-doing?'. I tip-toed down the hall to Peyton's room. Her and Jake had been watching a movie, they were just friends at this point, so I kicked him out and told him to go sleep with Nathan or go back to his house. Then Nathan decides to follow after me so he like walks into the room in his boxer's and is all, 'Haley, what are you doing? I think it's safe to say the damage is done.' Of course Peyton and Jake want to know what he's talking about so he starts telling them about it. And picture this, I'm standing there in panties and a t-shirt, Nathan in his boxer's, Jake had lost his shirt sometime during the movie so he's in a pair of basketball short's. Peyton has on a little tank top and a pair of guy's boxers. Well, Peyton squeals when Nathan mentions Deb walking in and I guess their parents thought something was wrong, cause not 10 seconds later Larry and Deb bust in the room, and see us all sitting around, barely dressed. I know it must have looked like we were having some big orgy. Props to them though, cause they just shook their heads and walked out."
April bust out laughing, "Oh my god, that's great! I would have died of embarrassment."
"Yeah, I did, a little bit." She smiled and laughed, continuing her trip down Memory Lane. "There was this other time, when we were still in high school. Deb and Larry went out of town and took Kolby with them. So, Nathan and Peyton decide to have a few of us over. It was like, me, Nate, Luke, Brooke –who were back together at the time-, Tim, Peyton, Heath, the guy Peyton was dating, and some girl that Tim invited. Someone had the bright idea we should go skinny dipping and naturally, we were drunk and agreed. You know how eager boys are? They like basically stripped in less than 10 seconds and jumped in. Us girls ran in the house to get towels and when we did the guys got daring, they started a dive contest. Little did we all know, the neighbors had called Keith complaining about the noise, because he knew Larry and Deb were gone. Thank god, they didn't call the cops. So, Keith comes barreling over there pissed cause Luke had told them he was spending the night with Nathan and no girls would be there. Imagine his surprise when he finds four naked guys in the pool!"
"Oh My God! What happened?"
"About that time we walked out with the towels and Keith actually sighed in relief. He was like, 'Thank God. I thought y'all didn't have girls here and I was getting real worried.' He just told us to be quiet and not to go anywhere then left."
"Wow, I love this Keith dude."
"He's Luke's dad you know?"
"He is? Ok, so Nathan's dad right too?"
"No. Keith is actually Luke's stepdad, but he raised Luke. From the time he was born he helped Luke's mom out. Then they got married when we were Junior's and Luke started calling him Dad. Dan is their real dad."
"I think maybe you should explain all this to me so I don't make a fool of myself at the wedding."
Haley laughed, "Yeah. It's kinda confusing. OK. Karen, Luke's mom, dated Dan in high school. She got pregnant right before graduation and Dan left to go play basketball in college. That's where Keith stepped in, but only as a friend at the time. So Dan goes off, meets Deb, and she gets pregnant too. Unfortunately for Nathan and his Mom, he sticks around. They moved back to Tree Hill when we were all about three. Fast forward to our sophomore year. You know the whole drill with Luke joining the team?" April nodded her head. "Well, up until then Deb had traveled a lot with her job. She took some time off and came home only to have her marriage fall apart. But, on the plus side, her and Karen became best friends and between them and me, we basically forced the boy's to accept each other as brother's. Deb and Dan divorced, she married Larry the summer after of our Junior year. Larry is Peyton's dad and Peyton's mom was killed in a car accident when we were younger. Larry and Deb had Kolby our senior year and a few months later, Karen and Keith had Lacin. Um, who else?"
"Jake. . .Peyton's fiancé, right?"
"Yeah, and he has a daughter."
"With Peyton?"
"No. He got his girlfriend, Jenny, pregnant. She was 18 at the time, but Jake was only 16. She took off as soon as Jenny was born and didn't show back up till about 7 months later. Threatened to take Jenny away and scared Jake to death. He actually took Jenny and ran off to his cousin's in Savannah for about a month, but then came back. He agreed to let Nikki see Jenny, but it wasn't long before she took off again with some guy. When Jenny was 3, she tried to come back, but Jake fought it. Nikki was so drugged out the court gave Jake full custody and took away all of her visitation right's. They haven't heard from her since. Peyton's the only Mom she knows really."
April sighed, "See? That's why I do what I do. Jenny's lucky to have a dad like that, I see so many cases where both parents are 'Jenny's'."
"Jake's a social worker too," Haley told her.
"Really? Cool, I can't wait to meet everyone."
"I can't wait to see everyone," Haley said then they drifted off to sleep.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Oh my Gosh, so y'all are getting back together?" Peyton yelled
"What? I didn't say that Peyton," Nathan's voice rang out across the speakerphone.
"But you're going on a date?" she asked.
"Yeah, but. . ."
"And you already admitted you want her back," Luke added from his spot on the couch. He, Jake, and Peyton were hanging out at Larry and Deb's watching Jenny, Lacin, and Kolby while the adults went out to eat.
"So, actually it's all in Haley's hands," Jake said.
"Yeah," Nathan said somberly. "Anyway, I gotta go finish packing. Who's picking me up at the airport?"
"Me or your mom," Luke told him.
"All right, see y'all tomorrow."
"Bye Nate," they called out simultaneously as the kid's walked into the living room.
"What are you troublemaker's doing?" Luke asked them.
"Jenny has a boyfriend," Kolby reported. She shot him a look and he climbed into Peyton's lap. "She does have a boyfriend Pey, she told me," he whispered.
"Excuse me?" Jake asked. "A boyfriend?" Peyton shot a look at her fiancé, she could tell he was on the verge of yelling.
"A boyfriend?" Luke said as he stood up. "And who is this boyfriend?"
"Jeffrey," she said defiantly as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Little Jeffrey, that comes to the house and plays all the time?" Jake asked.
"Yes, he's my best friend."
"They're getting married one day!" Lacin piped up. Luke and Jake both jerked their head in her direction and she ran over to Peyton, trying to fit in her lap too.
"Where's this kid live?" Luke whispered to Jake.
"Right down the road from us, I'm thinking we could knock on his window, scare the crap out of the kid. Put the fear of God in 'em. He'll think twice about calling my baby his girlfriend." Jake whispered back.
"Oh, I am so in!" Luke said excitedly. Peyton stood and knocked them both in the back of the head.
"Owww," they whined.
"Y'all are ridiculous." She turned to Jenny, "You'll have to invite Jeffrey to the wedding ok Jen?"
The little girl nodded her head and looked up at her Dad sweetly, "See Daddy? I'm gonna marry my best friend just like you are!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AN: Please review! I'll be your best friend or give you a cookie! ;) To all the lurker's, reading and not replying. No pressure, but it would mean so much if I could get a small shout-out, just to let me know you're reading. Thanks.
Let me just go ahead and say I'm probably just pissed more than a few of you off with the First Time. Apology, but I had to play it this way. I went over it and over it in my head and then Crystal (thanks soooo much for all your help!) and I went back and forth between the two idea's for awhile. I weighed the pro's and con's and all. As much as I love the idea of Nate being Haley's first, I wasn't feeling it. One reason, being the one AnnaCate brought up. I wanted it to be clear that this is not about the emotional attachment that comes along with your first. It's deeper than that. It's about soulmates. ( So, I hope you all aren't to mad, hah. . . and I hope you enjoyed it. (And don't worry. . . just cause he wasn't her first, doesn't mean he won't be her last.)
- tardychick06- Be happy, cause the Naley talks are just gonna get longer! Thanks for always reviewing!
- Cap'n Keira Sparrow- Yep, they talked. . .lol. Thanks for reviewing!
- naleyfan4546- Thanks! And don't worry, we're about to bring the Naley in truckloads!
- cherrycheesecake- Yay, two in a row, two in a row! LoL. I'm proud, heh. Thanks for always reviewing!
- OthFanatic129- lol, thanks for the review! Here's your update, enjoy!
- OTHforever03 - OK, next chapter... Tree Hill. This one took a totally different direction than I planned. Enjoy and thanks for the review!
- ROOKIIE- I'm glad you like Luke and April. Thanks for reviewing!
- Ababy99 - A new reviewer, yay! Thanks! But in your review you said you couldn't wait to see what happens between Luke and Haley, did you mean Nathan? I was confused, thanks again tho!
- Sara- Glad you like it, enjoy the update! - OTHlover04- Your fave chappie? Yay, awesome! Thanks for reviewing!
- Nikki- Thanks for loving it, lol. Glad you like the Luke and April, and expect lots of Naley soon!
- LockerRoomBanditt- Wow at the reply, lol! I'm glad you write a novel for me, don't worry I won't tell anyone! I hate when the world get's all in the way, I'm like "Stop, I wanna get off. I'll be back when I read some fic's!" The Naley's coming man, can you feel it? I'm soooooo excited about it! I would love to write you in, one thing... it might be awhile. I've alreadt started planning the sequel so it will probably be in that. But you will be there! :) I still haven't see THE haircut, sigh. I can totally see April and Nathan bonding more since Luke and Haley are so tight, it will be fun to explore. I totally agree that not enough guy's open car doors for girls, but my men (in the fic) know that knights in shining armor didn't go out with the round table! ;) I looove how you notice the little detail's, they can often get lost in the shuffle, I' m glad thats not the case here. The Luke note made me smile too, lol . I read it in a card, I'm the nerd that sits in Wal-Mart or wherever reading card's , I LOOOOOVE it! Isn't remorseful Nate really cute? But so is jealous Nate, funny Nate, sweet Nate, basically any Nate there is. The ending was just one of those like little battery powered truck's so, expect like the Hummer trucks before this is over. Haha. Do not apoligize for the long detailed review, I love it, it helps soooo much. Glad you're laughing, smiling, loving, all those adjectives... those are adjectives right? I never remember. We have to bond, cause I tend to go crazy dork a lot. LOL. Thanks again! Kick ass long review, I am loving you so much right now, lol.
-Jill – Where are ya? lOl.
Enjoy it Y'all. . . and let me apologize in advance, you'll see why. ;)
Chapter 11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Aaaaawwww," AnnaCate squealed. "That's just, like so adorable."
April rolled her eyes at AnnaCate and Haley grinned. Make that continued grinning. She hadn't been able to wipe the damn thing off her face since Nathan had said the words, "I'm glad". It was Saturday night, 11:00 clock, and they were all hanging out at Haley and April's apartment. It felt wrong to be in this early on a weeknight, but they had just gotten home from cleaning up all the fair stuff and were too tired to go back out. The boys (minus Ace, because he had made a "quick" stop at Carrie's, and had yet to show back up) had taken over the Playstation AND the living room, so the girls had situated themselves around the kitchen table gabbing. Haley had been filling AnnaCate in on the Nathan story for the last 30 minutes.
"Oh! And I almost forgot," Haley started turning to April, "The little girl. At the park that day with him. . . not his daughter!" At the end of her exclamation she pumped her fists in the air triumphantly.
"I knooooooow!" April yelped, joining in her best friend's excitement then backtracked on Haley's look, "That you are so happy about that! Yay!" Haley didn't look entirely convinced, but thankfully Mason walked in and her attention was diverted. "How was Carrie?" April asked him deviously and Haley high-fived her laughing.
AnnaCate seemed to still be stuck on the Haley/Nathan saga because she sat back in her chair and appeared to be in deep thought. "Ok, here's my thing. And don't get mad. Someone has to voice this." Her statement caught Haley and April's attention so they turned back to her. Mason's attention on the other hand was being held by the refrigerator because he was peering into it and searching like he hadn't eaten in weeks. He finally pulled out a carton of Orange Pineapple Apple juice and turned it up. "What if. . . OK. He was your high school boyfriend right? First love and all that?"
Haley nodded almost fearing where she was going with this.
"What if that's what this is about? What if. . . ok. My first: Brandon Miller. I can still remember every detail about that night and when I think about him I get this feeling in my stomach. I'm completely happy and in love with Beck, but Brandon . . . he has a piece of my heart. What if that's what this is? What if it's just about him being your first?"
Suddenly, they had Mason's attention. He choked on his drink and started coughing. April's mouth dropped open and she bust out laughing. Haley didn't move as Jet, Ace, and Beck filed in the kitchen obviously hungry. Beck noticed Mason coughing and went and gave him a slap on the back. "You ok bud?" he asked.
He cleared his throat and glanced at Haley. "I'm fine," he squeaked out then cleared his throat and tried again, "I'm fine."
"Well. . ."AnnaCate prodded ignorant to the uncomfortable moment that had filled the room.
"Nathan wasn't my first," Haley relented. "In fact, we never had sex."
"Oh. Well there goes my theory," AnnaCate said, "But, I guess that's proves it's not about the sex." April was still laughing, but it had turned into one of those silent shaking laugh thing's so AnnaCate slapped her arm. "What is so funny?" April looked from Haley to Mason and back again before snorting in laughter. It was at that moment, Ace decided to put his two cents in.
"Who was your first Hales?" he asked. April let out another snort and Haley looked over to see her laughing so hard she was crying.
"You're really enjoying this aren't you?"
"Uuummm . . . yeah," April said once she had calmed herself a little. She snuck another glance at Mason who looked extremely uncomfortable and then at Haley. Ace stepped up behind her and put a hand on each shoulder. She looked up at him and he winked, "Well. . . who was it?" he asked Haley before looking up at Mason. "Mace, do you know who it is?"
"Yeah, Mace. What do you think?" April piped up.
"You told him!"
"You told her!" Haley and Mason both exploded at once. Ace smirked, April snorted. AnnaCate and Beck looked confused.
"Somebody explain," Beck added.
Haley and Mason were having a stare down, so Ace spoke up, "Mason –"he was cut off when Haley jumped up and slapped his arm. "Oooww," he whined. "Fine. You tell them then."
"Tell us what?" AnnaCate asked.
Haley let out a big dramatic sigh then rolled her eyes. "Fine! This does not leave this room ok?" she said and they all nodded.
"Mason," she stated.
"What?" he asked.
"No. Mason."
"What are you- OH . MY. GOD!" AnnaCate yelled. "Mason was your first! When? Where? How? Oh. My. God."
"What?!?!?" a loud voice boomed. That shut everyone up and Haley buried her face in her hands. Apparently Logan and Tyson had entered the "confession room", formerly known as the kitchen. Mason took a step back against the counter at Logan's out burst. "You and Mason slept together?" he yelled incredously.
Neither of the two guilty said anything so April went for it, "Yep."
Mason shot her a look and she responded, "And by the way Mase. . . No, she didn't tell me. As roommate and due to the thin-as-a-sheet wall's, I had the lovely opportunity to hear it happening, so when I grilled her about it she couldn't exactly deny it."
Haley looked at Ace pointedly who shrugged his shoulders apologetically, "Mason told me." That won Mason a death glare.
"So, you slept with my girlfriend?" Logan yelled as he took a step toward Mason.
Haley put a hand out to stop him and, "Chill Rocky." Jet grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
"She's not your girlfriend," April pointed out and Mason chimed in.
"And you weren't together then. It was a long time ago." He noticed Beck had a disgusted look on his face. "What?" he asked him.
"Isn't that incest?"
"Oh my God. NO! She's not my sister."
"But she's like a sister to you, to all of us, so that's like I don't know, incest twice removed or something. And, as hypothetical brothers, shouldn't we kick your ass?" Jet mused.
"I'm for it," Logan muttered and Mason decided he had about enough.
"OK. You know what? I am not the bad guy here. I did not force her. She wanted it!" he pointed a finger at Haley blamingly.
"I wanted it!" Haley yelled. "You make it sound like I raped you!"
"You had the final decision, is all I meant," he told her then turned to Logan, "And if you're so ready to TRY and kick my ass then come on. Let's go. Right now."
April rolled her eyes, "I can barely breathe through all the testosterone in here. Everybody just chill. Especially you," she pointed a finger at Logan. "We're all adults. We need to act like it."
AnnaCate stepped in "She's right. Now," she started as she clapped her hands together," Tell us exactly how it happened."
"Yeah," Tyson repeated and Jet added.
"Exactly."
"Should I take this or you want to?" Mason asked her as they all settled around the kitchen.
"By all means," Haley said sarcastically. "Feel free to discuss my sex life."
"Sex life?" Tyson repeated. "So there was more than one occasion?"
"With him? No," Haley threw in hurriedly and Mason threw her a pointed look as if to say, 'Whatever.' Haley let out a loud sigh, "Fine, twice."
"What do y'all wanna know?" he asked them.
"When did it happen?" April said.
"You already know that," he told her.
She gestured around the kitchen, "But they don't."
"A little over a year ago was the first time then a couple of month's later was the second," he allowed.
"Where?" Tyson asked.
"Haley's room," Ace supplied.
"And Mason's room," April said.
"Drunk or sober?" Beck questioned.
"Sober the first, drunk the second," Haley said.
"HOW did it happen?" Logan spit out.
Mason raised his eyebrows and Logan huffed," You know what I mean."
"It just happened ok."
. . . . . FlashBack . . . . .
"Hales?" Mason knocked on Haley's door and entered. "What are you doing?"
She was stretched out across her bed face down. "Nothing really," she admitted. "I thought you and April were watching a movie."
"She fell asleep."
"Oh," she said as she sat up and leaned back onto her pillow cushion's and sighed. He noticed she had been crying.
"What's wrong?"
"Bad day," she relented as the tears threatened to spill over.
"What happened?"
"Basically if it could go wrong, it did. I had a quiz. Totally not prepared. Got an essay back, made a C. My mom called and we got into it. I asked a cute guy in my class if he wanted to study together for an upcoming test and he replied with 'I have a girlfriend', like I asked him to date me or something. Also, I just found out I don't even get a Fall Break so I can't go home to see my family." The tears begin to spill, "And then, my Dad just called and my cousin was in a wreck. He's ok and everything. They didn't even take him to the ER, but he's my little cousin and it just freaked me out." She shuddered and then, started crying silently.
"Hey. . . Hales, baby. Don't cry. It's ok, it'll be alright I promise." He moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her. They sat there like that, him just holding her for a few minutes and then Haley looked up at him. He couldn't help himself. He kissed her and she kissed him back. A few minutes later she pulled back, "What are we doing?"
"Comforting each other?" he supplied.
"What do you need to be comforted about?" she asked.
"Don't rain on my metaphor Hales," he whispered and then moved in for another kiss. They seemed to be content with making out for the next half hour, but then as it goes . . . hands got a little explorey. A lot explorey. Haley briefly contemplated if what they were doing was supposed to feel this good . . . and bad at the same time. Mason was not her boyfriend. Mason was not even someone she was dating. But, Mason was here. In her bed. Kissing her. Rubbing slowly up and down her body. Paying special attention to the important parts. And Mason wanted her. Not like that jackass she had asked to study with, who seemed repulsed by her. Not like the guy she had gone on a blind date with last week who had shook her hand at the end of the night. And not like Nathan, who left her. Mason was here, now, and wanting her. And Mason was hot. So when he tried to remove her shirt slyly, she let him and then removed his. And that suited them for awhile. When she felt the tug on her short's she knew she had to make a decision. And fast. She knew she could lose her to virginity to Mason tonight, to someone she loved. Sure, it was purely platonic, but it was still love. And it was better than losing it to any of the loser's she had dated lately. And Nathan? Well, it wasn't like he had even made an attempt to be in her life in the past few years, so . . .he was out of the running. Out of the running when he should have gotten the gold medal in the first place. Maybe. God, she didn't know. But she knew she wanted this. She was 22, very soon-to-be 23 and as far she she could see, there was no Mr. Right in sight. So. . .Mason it was. He had started trailing kisses haphazardly down her stomach and farther. . .farther down. Oh. God. When he came back up about 10 minutes later he had searched her eyes for signs of how much farther this was going to go. She had reached into the bedside table and pulled out a condom tossing it to him. 'Obviously. . .a lot farther', he thought. She sent a telepathic 'Thank You' to April for shoving those in her drawer last week and pulled Mason down on her. A few minutes later and all of Mason's clothes later, she looked at him shyly. "This is my first time Mason." His eyes had taken the size of baseball's and he had rolled over and reached for his boxer's pulling them on.
"What are you doing?" she questioned.
"I can't take that from you Haley. Your first time . . .I don't deserve it."
"I'm giving it to you Mason," she told him.
"It should be with someone you love," he preached.
"I do love you."
"Haley."
"Mason."
"I can't do this."
"The bulge in your boxers says otherwise sweetie and your eagerness up until a minute ago does too." He laughed and she smiled. "See? This is why we can do this. You're my best friend Mace. And in the morning when the moment's over, it won't be awkward, we won't let it. We'll make a joke and laugh and smile because we both know what this is."
"And what's that?" he asked. She could hear his resolve melting.
"Comforting each other," she echoed him and smiled.
If he had been truthful, he would have told Haley she was losing it to someone who loved her. Because he did, and he was –in love with her that is. But he never told her. He knew he didn't stand a chance. He wasn't sure who, but someone had Haley's heart. Lucky bastard. So he let it go and he never told her, and aside from that second time, nothing happened. And it was weird, because Haley had been right- it wasn't weird. And Mason found that he was glad for it, having Haley as his best friend was better than not having Haley at all.
. . . . End Flashback . . . .
"It 'just happened'," Logan mimicked.
Haley had reached her breaking point. "What is your deal Logan? Yes, we slept together, he was my first. Get. Over. It. It has nothing to do with you."
"Yes it does!" he erupted.
"Oh my God, no it doesn't!" She threw her hands in the air exasperated. Logan's eyes flashed and upon noticing it, everyone made their way out of the kitchen quietly. Everyone except April. She stood defiantly in the corner, ready to back up her best friend.
"You can go," Haley told her and smiled. "I can handle this."
April raised her eyebrows, but did as she was told. She started to walk to the living room, but Ace took her hand and led her into her bedroom. He shut the door behind them and she turned to him wildly, "When did Logan become such an ass?"
He sank down onto her bed and reached out for her. She ignored him. "What do you mean?"
"He's being so stupid about that. Haley's right. It doesn't have anything to do with him."
"You're telling me that if you were put in his position you wouldn't react that way?"
"You would?" she asked him.
"Right person. Someone I loved, yeah."
"He doesn't love her," April said stubbornly.
Ace raised an eyebrow, "You don't know that." She snorted and he sat up and grabbed her waist, pulling her to him. "I didn't bring you here to argue about this."
She shot him a look. "I'm not making out with you."
He laughed, "I didn't bring you in here to make out." She gave him a disbelieving look and he added. "I just want to talk. If it leads to making out, well I probably won't stop it."
She rolled her eyes, but allowed him to pull her down beside him. "I'm so tired," she whined. He didn't say anything, instead just laid back once more and pulled her head onto his chest. She allowed it and cuddled up next to him.
"So, about the whole us dating thing. . ." his voice trailed off as her eyes popped open. She cursed herself for forgetting she still had to deal with all that mess.
She took a deep breath and raised up, propping her head up in her hands. She had no clue what she was going to say, the stuffed puppy dog Luke had bought her caught her eye. "I don't know," she admitted.
"You don't know?" he echoed.
"That's what I said," she snapped and he jerked up from his position.
"This is about that guy isn't it?"
"What guy?"
"Don't play dumb, I know better."
"Yes," she admitted.
"Who is he?"
"Luke, he's a friend of Haley's."
"How long have you been seeing him?" he asked her tersely.
"I'm actually, kinda, not." He looked at her blankly. "We hooked up, once. After you and I broke up. He lives in North Carolina, nothing ever came of it."
He huffed. "North Carolina? What are you gonna do? Go on imaginary dates?"
She rolled her eyes. "We haven't talked about it yet. I'm going to see him next week. With Haley, for their friend's wedding. I guess we'll see what's gonna happen then."
He stood up abruptly, "Don't kid yourself. It won't work. North Carolina is over 13 hours from here April. I'm right here, and you know we work."
"We work?" she echoed his words. "Yes, Ace we work, as friends. We broke up for a reason, or are you completely spacing on the night we got into it so bad Mike threw us out of Tonic. All because I smiled at a guy! And tell me, was it working when I found you making out with that Leslie skank!"
"I was drunk and I only kissed her once!" he yelled. "You know that, I apologized and I took full blame for that night at Tonic."
"I don't want to do this right now. I'm tired, you're tired . . . and we're just blowing everything out of proportion because of it. I don't want to fight."
"I don't either," he told her genuinely.
"I just want to go to bed," she admitted.
"Can I go with you?" he asked her.
"I don't think that's the best idea right now."
"Right, ok. I'm going home," he stalked out of the room.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"So, explain to me how you think this has something to do with you?" Haley asked as she stood before Logan with her arms crossed.
"You slept together," he pointed out.
"Point?" Haley questioned.
"And you didn't tell me, neither one of you did."
"You didn't tell me anyone you slept with."
He rolled his eyes and began ticking them off, "Allison, Laura, Katie, Michelle, Amanda-"she stopped him.
"I don't want to know."
"In case, you didn't notice: none of those girls were your friends."
"Logan -not that I need to explain myself to you- but I didn't even know you when Mason and I slept together."
"But why didn't you tell me when we started dating?"
"Because, yes it's a big deal. But it's not a big deal at the same time."
"What?"
"It was just sex and I didn't just not tell you, I didn't tell anyone." She sighed and sat down at the table, where he followed suit. "What's really going on? I refuse to believe this is all that's bothering you."
"Give me another chance Haley," he said fast. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "We can do a long distance thing. I'll come back as soon as we stop shooting and we can decide what to do from then. I want to be with you. Haley. . .I lo-"
"Don't Logan, please don't do this."
"Why not?" he asked incredously.
"I don't feel the same way," she whispered. His eyes flashed with pain and anger and he stood, "I'm going." At that moment she heard a door slam and saw Ace take off out the front door. Logan followed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I'm guessing you had a talk with Ace that was just as successful as the one I had with Logan?" Haley questioned as she stepped into April's room and curled up on the big bed beside her.
"Breaking heart's is not fun," April joked.
"But we're so good at it," Haley reasoned before laughing. She looked over at April seriously, "Do you think I can't let go because Nathan is my first love?"
"I don't know," she admitted truthfully. "I prefer to think neither one of you can let go because you're made for one another."
Haley smiled. "You know, we actually almost had sex once."
"You and Nathan?" she asked.
"Yes."
"The summer after Freshman year. We were up in his room, just making out, fooling around. It got really heated and as things go," she blushed, "before we knew it there was nothing between us besides a condom. Not to overshare, but I still remember the look on his face as he was hovering over me. It was complete adoration and in that moment, everything was sunny side up again."
"What happened?" April asked curiously.
"That would be the point where his Mom walked in," Haley deadpanned. "Needless to say, the moment was ruined.
"Are you shitting me?!?!"
"I wish. But no. It was really late, like 2 in the morning and she had woken up. I guess she was still half asleep, 'cause she was meaning to go check on Kolby, but she walked in Nathan's room instead."
"What'd she do?"
"Nothing really. She didn't like cause a scene. She just let out a little yelp and was like 'Sorry!' then she got the hell out of there."
"That's hilarious Hales."
"Now it is, I couldn't exactly fine the humor in it then. I swear, I thought I was going to die. I used to spend the night over there all the time, but that night, I remember," she chuckled obviously recalling the memory, "I grabbed the clothes closest to me, which just happened to be my panties and one of Nathan's t-shirts. Nathan just laid there staring at me like 'What-the-hell-are-you-doing?'. I tip-toed down the hall to Peyton's room. Her and Jake had been watching a movie, they were just friends at this point, so I kicked him out and told him to go sleep with Nathan or go back to his house. Then Nathan decides to follow after me so he like walks into the room in his boxer's and is all, 'Haley, what are you doing? I think it's safe to say the damage is done.' Of course Peyton and Jake want to know what he's talking about so he starts telling them about it. And picture this, I'm standing there in panties and a t-shirt, Nathan in his boxer's, Jake had lost his shirt sometime during the movie so he's in a pair of basketball short's. Peyton has on a little tank top and a pair of guy's boxers. Well, Peyton squeals when Nathan mentions Deb walking in and I guess their parents thought something was wrong, cause not 10 seconds later Larry and Deb bust in the room, and see us all sitting around, barely dressed. I know it must have looked like we were having some big orgy. Props to them though, cause they just shook their heads and walked out."
April bust out laughing, "Oh my god, that's great! I would have died of embarrassment."
"Yeah, I did, a little bit." She smiled and laughed, continuing her trip down Memory Lane. "There was this other time, when we were still in high school. Deb and Larry went out of town and took Kolby with them. So, Nathan and Peyton decide to have a few of us over. It was like, me, Nate, Luke, Brooke –who were back together at the time-, Tim, Peyton, Heath, the guy Peyton was dating, and some girl that Tim invited. Someone had the bright idea we should go skinny dipping and naturally, we were drunk and agreed. You know how eager boys are? They like basically stripped in less than 10 seconds and jumped in. Us girls ran in the house to get towels and when we did the guys got daring, they started a dive contest. Little did we all know, the neighbors had called Keith complaining about the noise, because he knew Larry and Deb were gone. Thank god, they didn't call the cops. So, Keith comes barreling over there pissed cause Luke had told them he was spending the night with Nathan and no girls would be there. Imagine his surprise when he finds four naked guys in the pool!"
"Oh My God! What happened?"
"About that time we walked out with the towels and Keith actually sighed in relief. He was like, 'Thank God. I thought y'all didn't have girls here and I was getting real worried.' He just told us to be quiet and not to go anywhere then left."
"Wow, I love this Keith dude."
"He's Luke's dad you know?"
"He is? Ok, so Nathan's dad right too?"
"No. Keith is actually Luke's stepdad, but he raised Luke. From the time he was born he helped Luke's mom out. Then they got married when we were Junior's and Luke started calling him Dad. Dan is their real dad."
"I think maybe you should explain all this to me so I don't make a fool of myself at the wedding."
Haley laughed, "Yeah. It's kinda confusing. OK. Karen, Luke's mom, dated Dan in high school. She got pregnant right before graduation and Dan left to go play basketball in college. That's where Keith stepped in, but only as a friend at the time. So Dan goes off, meets Deb, and she gets pregnant too. Unfortunately for Nathan and his Mom, he sticks around. They moved back to Tree Hill when we were all about three. Fast forward to our sophomore year. You know the whole drill with Luke joining the team?" April nodded her head. "Well, up until then Deb had traveled a lot with her job. She took some time off and came home only to have her marriage fall apart. But, on the plus side, her and Karen became best friends and between them and me, we basically forced the boy's to accept each other as brother's. Deb and Dan divorced, she married Larry the summer after of our Junior year. Larry is Peyton's dad and Peyton's mom was killed in a car accident when we were younger. Larry and Deb had Kolby our senior year and a few months later, Karen and Keith had Lacin. Um, who else?"
"Jake. . .Peyton's fiancé, right?"
"Yeah, and he has a daughter."
"With Peyton?"
"No. He got his girlfriend, Jenny, pregnant. She was 18 at the time, but Jake was only 16. She took off as soon as Jenny was born and didn't show back up till about 7 months later. Threatened to take Jenny away and scared Jake to death. He actually took Jenny and ran off to his cousin's in Savannah for about a month, but then came back. He agreed to let Nikki see Jenny, but it wasn't long before she took off again with some guy. When Jenny was 3, she tried to come back, but Jake fought it. Nikki was so drugged out the court gave Jake full custody and took away all of her visitation right's. They haven't heard from her since. Peyton's the only Mom she knows really."
April sighed, "See? That's why I do what I do. Jenny's lucky to have a dad like that, I see so many cases where both parents are 'Jenny's'."
"Jake's a social worker too," Haley told her.
"Really? Cool, I can't wait to meet everyone."
"I can't wait to see everyone," Haley said then they drifted off to sleep.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Oh my Gosh, so y'all are getting back together?" Peyton yelled
"What? I didn't say that Peyton," Nathan's voice rang out across the speakerphone.
"But you're going on a date?" she asked.
"Yeah, but. . ."
"And you already admitted you want her back," Luke added from his spot on the couch. He, Jake, and Peyton were hanging out at Larry and Deb's watching Jenny, Lacin, and Kolby while the adults went out to eat.
"So, actually it's all in Haley's hands," Jake said.
"Yeah," Nathan said somberly. "Anyway, I gotta go finish packing. Who's picking me up at the airport?"
"Me or your mom," Luke told him.
"All right, see y'all tomorrow."
"Bye Nate," they called out simultaneously as the kid's walked into the living room.
"What are you troublemaker's doing?" Luke asked them.
"Jenny has a boyfriend," Kolby reported. She shot him a look and he climbed into Peyton's lap. "She does have a boyfriend Pey, she told me," he whispered.
"Excuse me?" Jake asked. "A boyfriend?" Peyton shot a look at her fiancé, she could tell he was on the verge of yelling.
"A boyfriend?" Luke said as he stood up. "And who is this boyfriend?"
"Jeffrey," she said defiantly as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Little Jeffrey, that comes to the house and plays all the time?" Jake asked.
"Yes, he's my best friend."
"They're getting married one day!" Lacin piped up. Luke and Jake both jerked their head in her direction and she ran over to Peyton, trying to fit in her lap too.
"Where's this kid live?" Luke whispered to Jake.
"Right down the road from us, I'm thinking we could knock on his window, scare the crap out of the kid. Put the fear of God in 'em. He'll think twice about calling my baby his girlfriend." Jake whispered back.
"Oh, I am so in!" Luke said excitedly. Peyton stood and knocked them both in the back of the head.
"Owww," they whined.
"Y'all are ridiculous." She turned to Jenny, "You'll have to invite Jeffrey to the wedding ok Jen?"
The little girl nodded her head and looked up at her Dad sweetly, "See Daddy? I'm gonna marry my best friend just like you are!"
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AN: Please review! I'll be your best friend or give you a cookie! ;) To all the lurker's, reading and not replying. No pressure, but it would mean so much if I could get a small shout-out, just to let me know you're reading. Thanks.
Let me just go ahead and say I'm probably just pissed more than a few of you off with the First Time. Apology, but I had to play it this way. I went over it and over it in my head and then Crystal (thanks soooo much for all your help!) and I went back and forth between the two idea's for awhile. I weighed the pro's and con's and all. As much as I love the idea of Nate being Haley's first, I wasn't feeling it. One reason, being the one AnnaCate brought up. I wanted it to be clear that this is not about the emotional attachment that comes along with your first. It's deeper than that. It's about soulmates. ( So, I hope you all aren't to mad, hah. . . and I hope you enjoyed it. (And don't worry. . . just cause he wasn't her first, doesn't mean he won't be her last.)
