Every Day I Like You a Little More
Day Fourteen
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Nathan was walking around his house as if he had never been in an accident at all. His mother had told him a few times to take it easy, but his answer would always be the same. "I have to be prepare for tomorrow" he would say. Deb knew he wanted to walk, but she also knew that if he didn't take it slow today he might not feel so good tomorrow. Walking towards the kitchen he turned around when he heard the doorbell. He knew who it was, or at last hoped it was her. The only other possible person was Dan, and no one in the house really wanted to see Dan at the moment.
As he opened the door he was faced with her. There she was looking as pretty as she always did. Her brown hair was down in soft curls and she wore her usual skinny jeans and boots, this time she had a purple long sleeve shirt and a white jacket on top. He smiled at her and asked if he could take the bag she was carrying.
"Let me help you with that" he said.
Haley shook her head and took a step back, "no, you need to be resting" she pointed walking passed him. She placed the bag on the counter and smiled at Deb who was walking by, "good morning."
"Hey, Haley."
Haley smiled politely and walked back to the front door, where Nathan still stood. She pulled him by the arm and walked him to the kitchen, pushing towards the stool she order him to sit. "Stay put."
"But-" he was about to protest.
"No buts, you need to rest, Nathan."
"At least he listens to one of us" Deb said.
"What's in the bag?" he questioned, wanting to know so bad what she had brought. Knowing Haley it might be books, something he didn't really want to see at the moment.
Haley began to pull things out and grinned, "I'm making pancakes."
"Pancakes?" Deb asked, putting her coffee mug down.
Haley turned to face the older woman, "yeah, Nathan mentioned you didn't cook… I don't want to step over you, I just thought you might want breakfast."
Deb shook her head, "no, it's fine" she said. "Pancakes actually sound nice."
Haley grinned one more time and began to prepare the pancake mix. She was happy that Deb was up to her doing so. She really want to step over Deb, she just wanted Nathan to have a good breakfast. Haley knew that it was the most important meal, and Nathan sure needed to have a good healthy one to get better soon.
"Did someone say pancakes?" Lucas asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Yeah" Deb responded to her son, "Haley's making pancakes."
"Good, I thought you were" he joked, "we don't want the house to burn down."
They all laughed. Haley actually found it offensive that they made fun of their mother for not cooking. But seen how Deb reacted to it, she knew that they were use to it. Deb wasn't a cook, and her kids were well aware of that.
"Want any help?" Lucas asked, pouring himself a glass of juice.
Haley nodded, "that would be great. Umm, can you heat up the pan for me?"
Lucas nodded and did as asked. He smiled at his brother. He could tell that Nathan was happy, and it had been a long time since he had seen that smile on Nathan.
After Haley had finished the pancakes, she had helped Deb was the dishes while both boys watched some TV. Haley could tell that Deb and her boys were really getting close, and that they were all really making an effort to be the family they had wanted to be.
"Haley" Deb said, putting the last plate away. "I just wanted to thank you, for telling Nathan to give me a second chance… I'm sorry about your mother."
Haley felt a pain in her heart at the mentioned of her mother, but quickly put it back. She didn't want to breakdown in front of Deb. She smiled and nodded, "everyone deserves a second chance."
"Thank you" Deb said one more time, she turned around and walked to her sons.
Haley watched as she walked towards them and walked behind her, only a few steps behind. She smiled when Deb placed a soft kiss on each of her boys' head. She smiled at Lucas, "watch your brother, I have to go get some things for the week." She then turned to Haley, "I hope to see you again soon, Haley."
"You, too" Haley said, waiving goodbye to the older woman walking towards the door.
Was she was out Lucas stood up and walked towards the window, he waited until the car was out of sight and turned to his brother. "I know I have to watch you and all, but do you mind if Haley stays with you."
"It's fine, Lucas" Haley said, "I'll take good care of him" she tapped his chest, "you go."
"Thank you" Lucas said, and just like his mother he was gone.
Nathan turned to Haley and grinned. He loved that she was there with him, and that she cared enough to be the one to take care of him when his family had left. He had to admit that it was a little sad to know that your mother and brother could leave so easily, and people who were not your family were there for you no matter what.
She smiled at him. Just seen him grin brought a smile to her face, it meant that he was feeling good and that he was happy. She placed a soft kiss on his lips and pulled back. Standing up she walked towards the exit of the living room, she would have kept going if she hadn't been interrupted by Nathan.
"Where are you going?"
"To get our books, you still have work to do" she told him. And just like that she was gone. She had gone to his room to get the books and hopefully finish his homework later that day. Getting the bag she walked right back downstairs and placed the books on the round coffee table. She handed him what he needed to do and began to read a book she needed for her class.
They worked in great rhythm for a while. He would get most of his answers correct and Haley was blazing through her book. It was as if they had taken some sort of smart pill and they couldn't stop working.
Nathan had been concentrating for a long time on the next problem, but still he couldn't get passed it. He wanted to ask Haley, but she looked to be so lost in her book. He kept watching her as she read. He couldn't help but realize that she was concentrating an extremely long time. She had been reading the same page for a while and that's when he realized that something was wrong. He looked at her and noticed that she wasn't actually reading, but she was just looking at the page absentmindedly.
"What's wrong?" he asked. He wanted to know what was going through her head, he needed to know what she was thinking, what had her so deep in thought.
She moved her eyes from the page and looked at him. Haley hadn't even realized that she was just staring, that she was pretty much gone. She shook her head and smiled at him, well, tried to smile. "Nothing, why would you ask that?" she said, putting the book down and scooting closer to him.
"Hales, you've been reading the same page for over ten minutes. So, what is it?"
Haley looked down at her feet and clasped her hands together. She looked at him, "it's tomorrow."
"What's tomorrow?" he asked, confused. He didn't understand what she meant, or what tomorrow was. To him it was a regular day, but maybe she knew something about tomorrow that she didn't.
"Nathan" she said, tilting her head sideways. Noticing that he still wasn't getting it she told him, she decided to get it over with. Peyton had mentioned it yesterday and she had thought about it all night. "School. Tomorrow we have to go back to school."
"So?"
"We're not exactly your normal couple, Nathan. You're Mr. popularity, and I'm… I'm just a tutor" she whispered the last part lowering her sight.
Nathan pulled her head up with his hand on her chin, "hey" he said, and scooted closer to her. He looked straight into her eyes, and saw the fear in her eyes. "I don't care what people think or say. I love you" he assured her.
"But-"
"No, Haley. I love you, and if people can't learn to deal with it, than they're not people I want in my life." He looked at her straight in the eyes and held her hands in his.
"Nathan you're like the most popular guy in school, I'm-"
"The most popular guy in school's girlfriend" he finished her sentence.
Haley's head snapped at the word girlfriend. They had never made their relationship official, but by him saying it, it meant that to him it was official. "Girlfriend" she said, softly.
"Yeah" he said, excited. "Unless… you don't want to… I –"
"Yeah" Yeah said, "I want to."
"Okay, then. Haley James, would you be my girlfriend."
She nodded and leaned closer to him, "yes. I would love to" she said, and let her lips crash with his.
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After leaving his house Lucas had only one place to go. He needed to see her and tell her what he had been thinking, the things that would not let him sleep at night. Lucas knew it was a long shot, but he needed her to know.
As he walked towards her house he couldn't help but think of what Peyton would say. He had once let her go for Brooke, and even though Peyton had said she was fine with it, he knew she wasn't.
Lucas knocked on her door and waited patiently for her to open. Still, he was nervous and his keep rubbing his palms on his pants. Then he saw her. The girl he hoped would hear him out, the one that he had once loved and let go, the one he wanted to be with. She was standing in front of him, with her messy morning hair and her pajamas.
"What are you doing here, Luke?" she asked. The tone come out a little rude, but it was only because he had woken her from what seemed to be one great night sleep.
"I'm sorry" he apologized, feeling horrible for waking her. "I just wanted to talk to you."
Letting out a huff, Peyton took a step to the side and allowed him to walk in her house. She watched as he sat on the couch and she walked behind him. "I'll be right back, let me change and we can go out for a walk or something." Seen him nod she walked towards her room.
Lucas waited for her to appear again, and once she had they had both walked out of the house. He expected her to want to drive somewhere, but Peyton had told him it would be better to walk, so he did as she requested. They had made it to the pier near the river and they walked along the edge of the semi frozen river.
"So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?" she asked. They had been walking in silence for a while, and Peyton was beginning to wonder what was so important that he felt the need to wake her up.
Coming to stop he watched her turn to face him. He looked her in the eyes and smiled, he missed just being around Peyton, it had been a long time since they had actually just talked. Maybe Nathan's accident wasn't such a bad thing. In the end, it helped him find Haley, his mother get closer to them, and now Lucas was talking to Peyton.
"I want us" he said bluntly. He wasn't going to beat around the bush, he was going to rip the band aid and say it.
Peyton was shocked, she never expected those words to be the ones to come out of his mouth. She looked at him and turned her vision to the river, eventually looking at him again. She could see that he was serious about it, and that was the worse pat. She wanted him, she really did, but she didn't want to get hurt again.
"Peyton…"
"Lucas, I … I don't think it's the right time."
"Why" he asked. Inside he was hurt. He knew he would get that answer, he knew she would say no, but hearing it sucked even worse than thinking it.
"What about Brooke?" she asked, not caring that it sounded rude. The first time around she had been hurt, and she was protecting her heart this time, no matter how rude her words sounded. "Last time you chose her. How do I know you won't do it again? How do I know that you are truly over her?"
He took a step closer and caressed her cheek, "Peyton you are the one I've always loved, I was just too stupid to see it. What I felt for Brooke was a friendly love, and I misunderstood it for the love I feel for you. I know I've done stupid things, but letting you go was the stupidest of them all." He paused for a second letting her take in all his words, "you're the one. It's you, it's always been you" he assured her.
She listened carefully, but still couldn't quite let his words sink. He was picking her, telling her that it had always been her, yet Peyton couldn't let go of what had happened with Brooke. It had hurt her, and standing in front of him listening to what he was saying she wanted to say she loved him too, but the words wouldn't make their way out of her mouth. She leaned into his touch and let a tear roll down her cheek.
"It's not that simple, Lucas" she said, "I should go." She turned around and walked. Letting go of all the tears she was holding in as he spoke to her. She didn't want to run, but she needed to know that he was serious, she needed to think about what had just happened and allow it all to process.
Lucas looked at her as she walked away. He knew he should have gone after her, but it was hard when you had poured your heart and soul and all she had done was stomp on you heart.
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Haley was sitting with Nathan just watching TV. They had finally finished all their work, and now all now they had nothing else to do. She knew she should have gone home, but she didn't want to leave Nathan alone. Besides, she wanted to ask Deb something.
He looked and saw Haley paying close attention to the screen, which made him want to laugh. It was so cute how she concentrated so much, even when she didn't know what was going on. He draped his arm over her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, wanting to feel her near him.
She looked up at him and smiled, "hey."
"You like the game?" he questioned, amused.
Haley lightly hit his chest, "I was trying to see if I could understand it."
"I could see that" he said, tapping his finger on her nose. "But if you want to change it, you're more than welcome to do so."
She shook her head, "it's okay, you can watch it. I should-" just as she was about to finish her sentence her phone went off. She pulled it out of her pocket and picked up immediately.
"Haley, I am freaking out" the voice on the other side said, upon her picking up the call.
"Julian, calm down" she order, snuggling closer to Nathan. She let her head rest on his shoulder and felt Nathan's head get closer to hear what the conversation was about.
"Calm down!" he yelled, "Haley, Brooke asked me to go to her house."
Haley hit Nathan lightly on the side when he started to laugh, and returned to her friend. "When?"
"Now Hales, why do you think I'm freaking out?"
"Hey, why are you yelling at me for? I didn't tell her to invite you" she joked.
"Haley, I'm serious. I don't know what to do. I really like her. Oh god, maybe she wants to be friends, maybe she wants me to be like her little brother."
"Julian, calm down. Just go. I'm sure she wants to see you. Just take a movie or something. Hey, I have to go, I love you."
"But, Haley I-"
Haley heard the beginning of his sentence, but she knew Julian all to well to not hang up. If she kept listening to him, he would eventually not go to see Brooke, which will only mean Julian talking about her even more. Now that she was with Nathan she didn't really see him, but he would call everyday and talk about how pretty Brooke, and how he really liked her, and anything else that was Brooke related. Haley didn't want to be the mean friend, she just wanted him to tell Brooke how he felt.
"He's really something" Nathan commented, earning a scold from Haley.
"Hello" Deb said, walking in with some bags. She looked around and backed to the couple on the couch. "Where is Lucas?"
"He had to do something" Nathan said, trying to sound hurt that his brother had left him.
"That boy is something."
"Deb, Umm… Can I talk to you?"
Deb nodded and walked towards the kitchen, she was getting a little worried. She really didn't know much about Haley and she didn't know what the girl wanted to talk about, and that scared her a little.
"I'll be back, stay put" she said, placing a soft kiss on his lips and following his mother to the kitchen.
A very confused Nathan sat on couch wondering what Haley needed to talk to his mother about. Maybe it was about him, but he really didn't think so. Whatever it was, it must be important for Haley to be so nervous about it.
Deb was taking the items out of the bags when Haley waked in. she put the bag to the side and sat on one of the bar stools, and waited for Haley to do the same. Sitting in front of the girl she smiled and waited for Haley to speak, but nothing was coming out of the girl's mouth.
"What is, Haley?"
Looking down at her intertwined hands she lifted her head, "I… I was wondering. Umm, I wanted to take Nathan out" she finally told her. "I just wanted to know if that was fine with you."
Deb nodded, "well yeah. I mean, he really shouldn't be out, but I know you'll take care of him. Where did you want to go?"
"My house" Haley said, biting her bottom lip. "I want him to meet my dad."
Deb was taken back by the girl's confession. To her it was a little soon for Haley to want to introduce Nathan to her father, and she didn't really think it was a good idea. But the look on the girl's face told her to just let him go, yet she wanted to know why Haley wanted Nathan to meet her father.
"Haley… Well, I just. I think it's a little soon for that."
Haley nodded, "I know. But my dad was the reason why Nathan and I got so close. My father is in a coma. He's been in it for years. The point is that if my dad wasn't in a coma than I would have never been there every day to see Nathan, even though just seen him smile would make me want to return. But still, I had to be there and having Nathan there made it that much better."
Deb felt for the young girl. She never knew that Haley's father was in a coma. She nodded and reached for the girl. Placing her hand on Haley's lap she looked into her eyes, "if you ever need anything, you can always count of us."
Haley nodded, "thanks."
Deb once again hugged her, and once again she was shocked. She had never been the affectionate one, but Haley made her want to be, she made he care. "Now go tell Nathan, I'm sure he wants to meet him."
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"Hey, I brought a movie" he said, stepping into her room. He had never really been inside a girl's room, unless you count Haley and Peyton, but they were more like his sisters.
"What movie?" she asked, walking towards him and pulling him to her bed by the hand. She pushed him so he was sat and took the DVD box from him. "Ooh, I like this one."
"Haley recommended it" he said. Then kicked himself mentally. He knew that Brooke knew that they were only friends, by Peyton had said to never talk about other girls when you were with a girl.
Brooke placed it in the DVD player and walked over to him, taking a seat next to him. "Thanks for coming" she said, rubbing his hand.
"No problem" Julian said.
"Julian, lighten up. Have fun. Come on" she order, sitting further in her bed so that her head was against the head rest and tapped for Julian to sit next to her.
He looked around and back at her, "won't you parents be mad?"
Brooke shook her head, "they don't even know I exist."
"I'm sorry-"
"Don't be" she assured him. "Now come on, let's watch this movie that Haley recommended."
Julian scooted back and sat right next to her. He felt her snuggling closer and eventually he gave into it and let her near him. It felt so good to have her so close, but it also felt bad. He didn't want this to be the one night and nothing more. Sure, they had a date, but he was afraid that Brooke was just using him, and after getting what she wanted she would leave him. Shaking that feeling off he decided to enjoy the moment, Haley had told him to have fun, and that's what he would do.
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After telling Nathan she had drove them both to her house. They were now entering and Nathan had to admit that he was a little shocked at the size of her house. Seen the way she dressed and acted he never expected her to have such a big house. Her care was also nothing out of this world, it was a regular sedan. He looked at her and allowed Haley to take his hand and lead him inside the house.
"Nico, I'm home!" she yelled, and walked towards the heart of the home (the kitchen).
Nathan smiled as Haley pushed him on one of the chairs near by, she walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a water bottle and tossed it to him, then she walked over to him.
"Haley"
Haley turned around and saw Quinn, she smiled politely and held Nathan's hand. "Hey… Um, is Nico home?"
Quinn shook her head, "she went to pick up some medicine for your father."
Haley nodded, then realized that Nathan was standing behind her. "Oh, Umm, this is Nathan. Nathan this is Quinn."
Quinn reached out to him, "nice to meet you. Haley talks about you all the time."
Haley looked at her confused and wondered how Quinn knew that when she never talked to her about him, but quickly shrugged it off when she remembered why they were at her house in the first place.
"Nice to meet you too" he said, looking at her strangely. He couldn't help but think that she looked familiar, but he couldn't remember from where. He felt Haley squeeze his hand and he was brought out of his thoughts.
"We're going to see dad" she said, and pulled him along.
Nathan turned to face Quinn one more time and smiled, "it was nice to talk to you" he said. And then it hit him. Quinn looked like someone. He hadn't seen her before she looked like someone he saw often, but was it possible. He stopped her right as she was about to open the door by pulling on her hand. "Hales?"
"What is it?" she asked, worried.
"Are you… Is Quinn… Are you related?" he finally asked.
Haley looked at him confused, then she shook her head. "No. She's just the nurse. Why?" she asked, wondering where the question had come from in the first place.
"Nothing" he quickly added, "let's just go see your father."
She nodded, but still wondered as she opened the door. She pulled Nathan inside and she walked up to her father. Letting go of Nathan's hand she held onto her fathers. "Hey, daddy" she said. She turned to face her boyfriend and smiled, then turned to her father. "This is Nathan, my boyfriend" she said, smiling at the thought that he and her were and item.
"Hi, Mr. James."
"Nathan, you can talk to him. I'm sure he can hear you" she assured him.
"I know" he said, "I could hear you."
"You could?" she asked, incredulous.
Nathan nodded, "every word."
She mouthed and I love you and he did the same. Then she returned to her father. "Anyways, I just wanted you to meet him, and for you to know that he's a good guy" she looked at Nathan, "just like you told me to find when I was little."
Nathan stood behind her and hugged her from behind, letting her head tilt back and rest on his chest. He placed a kiss on her head and watched as Haley looked at her father.
"I love you, daddy. Please wake up soon."
He saw her let go of her father's hand and a tear roll down her cheek. He pulled her closer and felt Haley hug him back. She pulled away and smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I just miss him"
"You don't have to apologize" he said, "he's your father."
"Haley, are you home?" they heard Nicolette scream.
He could see her face light up at the sound of the older woman's face. He felt her get a hold of his hand and pulled him out, "I'm coming."
Walking through the house she saw Nicolette handing Quinn a paper bag and begin to pull out some pots. Haley smiled at her and walked closer to her and kissed her cheek. "Hey."
Nicolette turned to Haley and noticed the boy standing not far from them on the other side of the island. "And who is this handsome young man?" she asked.
"This" Haley said, walking to him and getting a hold of his hand. "…is Nathan. Nathan, this is my nanny. Nico."
"It's nice to meet you" Nathan said, "Your French toast is great."
Haley let out a giggle at his confession.
Nicolette nodded, "I'm glad you like it. Will you be staying for dinner?" she asked.
Nathan looked at Haley, who turned to her nanny. "Yes he will, he needs a good healthy meal."
"How does pasta sound?" the older woman asked.
"Macaroni?" Haley asked, her eyes lighting up just thinking about her favorite food.
Nicolette nodded, "only your favorite."
Haley smiled at her and asked if she could help. After that Nathan watched as the two woman cooked. His mother had never been much of a cook, so to see the way both women worked around the kitchen so effortlessly was surprising to him. Not long after they had started the meals he saw Quinn walk in and help Nicolette with a salad while Haley pulled him a side to set the table.
He helped her set the table and watched as the house of women did everything. It was amazing to him that only women lived there. He felt Haley kiss his cheek and he looked at her.
"Thank you for staying" she said.
"I love it here" he admitted. The place was so different from his house. Even though there really wasn't many people around, it was a very homey place. He wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I'm glad" she said. And just like that they knew that someday both of them would want to have a house like that, except that they would want to have children running around.
They all had dinner together, and Nicolette was actually surprised at what a gentlemen Nathan was. People around town talked all the time, and the things they said about him and his family were never good. But seen him with her little girl she saw the real him, the one that cared and would do anything for Haley.
After eating Nathan had said goodbye to tall the women in the house and eventually Haley had gotten him out of the house to drive him home, something neither one of them really wanted. He looked at her and grabbed her hand, kissing the top of it. "I had a great time today, thank you."
Haley looked at him smiling, and quickly turned to the road. "I'm glad."
He looked at her and the way she concentrated, the way she answered; there was something about her tone. He knew what it was, but he didn't want to push it, especially when she was driving. He waited, he waited until they were outside his house and Haley had turned her car off. Now it was time. He looked at her and smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'll se you tomorrow?" she asked, worried about his answer. She didn't know how she was worried, but she was.
Nathan nodded. "Pick me up?" he asked.
She nodded, "of course."
"Haley?"
"Hmm?"
He lifted her head and made her look into his eyes, he leaned closer and let his lips crash with her. The kiss was sweet and reassuring, there was nothing more to it. "Don't worry about tomorrow. I love you, and I won't let anyone hurt you. Okay?"
She nodded. She knew he was telling the truth, but something inside her still didn't let her just let go of the subject. She leaned close to him and kissed him. She let her forehead rest on his and smiled as she looked at him. "I love you."
"Love you too" he said, kissing her again.
"You need to go" she told him, pushing him back. "I'll be here tomorrow morning."
He nodded and stepped out of the vehicle. Before shutting the door he smiled at her, "I'll be waiting."
Haley laughed at how cheesy that sounded, but it was still cute. She watched him as he walked inside his house and turned her car on and drove home. It was late and she wanted to finish a few things she needed to do before school tomorrow. Besides she couldn't wait to go to sleep to see him tomorrow, but at the same time she could, because she didn't want to see what people would say.
"I guess we'll have to wait till tomorrow" she said, and continued driving off.
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A/N- Alright guys, I really wanted to get this chapter up today. I didn't double check for spelling and other things so I apologize if there are may grammar errors. I feel like POOP today and really didn't feel like reading the chapter again.
Thanks to all those of you who review every chapter; KTxx, windycloudcakes, danni1989, journey17, naley12, and mazzy.
Also thanks to the new reviewers, which I think are new because I don't think I've seen their review before. Hahaha . anyways; blissfullyBroken29-thanks for your review, and I hope you liked the preview. chuckandblairlove- thanks for the review and for reading, I hope you liked the review as well. And naleylove24- I got your review today and I sent you the preview, I really hope you were able to read it before the chapter was up, if not that really sucks.
Mazzy- thanks for the review. I'm glad you get excited about the chapters, to make it easier on you I'll try to add new chapters on Mondays and Thursdays.
Thanks again to all of you guys and don't forget to tell me what you think about this chapter. ;)