Once again, thanks for the reviews guys! :D Pleased with them :) I love you guys to bits, you're amazing! So I'll reply in a minute but first a quick AN...
I'm SO sorry I haven't updated in over a month! I've been so busy revising for this one freaking exam. But good news is, I have a free period on a Thursday now seeing as I've completed all work/exams for that subject. My periods are 2 hours each so I dedicate a whole 2 hours to writing on a Thursday! I will sort my time management, I swear.
I kinda had some personal stuff come up over the last week and I took it quite hard even though I really shouldn't have, and it upset me for a while, but I'm alright now, promise. And so in light of that, I kinda wanted to ask you guys something personal...do you ever worry about what people think of you? Or that they're talking about you when you're not there? Or that you feel when you ask them to hang out, they're busy? I know that last one's stupid, but to me, at least in my case, it's like they're making excuses. So yeah, just wondered. You don't have to answer, I was just curious.
I also read Shantels "True Beauty" interview last night, cried for an hour then read it again and cried some more. I had no idea, like literally, no idea what she'd suffered. Or that she'd suffered at all. She's really inspired me and a lot of other girls to share their stories and know that it gets better.
So review replies!
Libby: Hi again! Hahah. Honestly it didn't offend me, it's just a work of fiction. I love to know other peoples opinions, especially when it comes to my work. Good or bad. I know what you mean, and I had originally planned to write it like she was the National Champ, but not much good at anything else. I'm trying to write more scenes with them together, but this chapter is a sole Naley focus. Sorry about that...ha. Hope it's okay still! I'm writing Chapter 18 right now and because of some of the things happening, there's more Haley with others and not just Nathan. But I'll try and re-edit some chapters after this to include other characters. :) Hope you enjoy this chapter and review again! :)
naley12: Thanks for the review, I'm sorry I made you wait so long! :(
ObsessivePrincess/Ashley: Thanks babe! :) Seeing as you already read the heat in this chapter..well I hope you like it :P If I need more help, I know who to ask ;) x
hannahssmith: I know I've PMed you but thanks again! I won't write another essay but thanks for your review! :) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Hope you enjoy this chapter, PLEASE review, thanks! :D
Chapter 14
Pretty much as soon as the words had left his mouth, his grandfather was tearing into him.
"You quit the team? What do you mean you quit the team?" He demanded answers, and he demanded them now.
"He didn't quit the team, dad. He's just taking some time off." Dan answered, trying to spin an even bigger web of lies.
"No, he's not. Please stop lying, Dan." Deb finally spoke up, looking towards her husband.
"Were you ever going to tell me this, I mean that's a hell of a thing to keep to yourself." Royal cut in once more, directing his gaze in Nathans direction.
"Yeah, you're one to talk." Nathan angrily replied. I could already sense an argument beginning, before it even happened.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I know you visit Karen at the café, alright? What's that about?" He questioned.
"Nathan-"I interjected, not wanting to be the cause of this argument.
"That is none of your damn business. I guess somebody's got a big mouth." He argued back, now staring in my direction. He obviously knew I had said something to Nathan. What was I supposed to do, keep it to myself? My boyfriend's grandfather had visited my best friend's mother at her café; I couldn't exactly keep it quiet.
"Just shut up, Grandpa!" Nathan yelled, squeezing my hand under the table. I squeezed it back in an attempt to calm him.
"Don't talk to me like that young man!" Royal yelled back with an equally annoyed tone.
"Back off, Royal, I've had enough of your crap. Nathan is not the problem." Deb spoke up, lowering the volume in the room.
"Would someone please explain?" Mae asked.
"Dan has been riding Nathan for the past 6 years about that damn sport." She started.
"Deb, stop." Dan cut in, obviously not liking the direction in which the conversation was headed.
"Riding him so hard, Nathan took drugs so he could measure up." She continued.
"What do you mean, he took drugs!" Royal exclaimed, not knowing about Nathans collapse.
"He had to be rushed to the hospital. He could've died because of this…this…insane pressure to be the best. But none of that is my son's fault, Royal. It's your son's." She finished, looking at Royal. Everybody looked to Dan in that moment to see what he had to say for himself.
"Danny?" Mae questioned. "I can't believe it, you of all people! How dare you! You know how much you hated it when your daddy bullied you to be better." She spoke, before being interrupted by Royal.
"I never bullied him!"
"And when you wanted a way out, I gave you one. All these years, I protected you. I lied for you. And now you're doing the same thing to your son." She said, clearly disappointed in her son's behaviour.
"What are you talking about?" Royal questioned.
"Remember in college, his knee injury. It wasn't permanent. Danny quit. And I helped him." She said, showing no sense of regret or guilt.
The table was silent as the shocking revelation came out. All of this time, people had believed that Dan Scott was going to be Olympic champion one day. If only he hadn't of hurt his knee. Now, the truth was out. Royal, Mae and Dan argued for a while longer, as Royal was clearly angry that his wife and son had lied to him for such a significant amount of time. Eventually, Royal had enough and walked off. Nathan followed suit and told me to get my coat; he would take me home.
The drive home was a silent and awkward one; neither of us quite knew what to say. I tried to console Nathan; he stayed silent so I figured it best to leave that tactic. As he walked me to my door, he interlinked our fingers, while walking up the stairs to my front porch.
"I'm sorry you had to see that." Nathan said, breaking the silence.
"No, it's okay. It helped me understand, you know?" I replied, following his lead and leaning next to him against the side of the banister.
"You know, growing up, there were just certain things that were carved in stone. And the main one was that Dan Scott would've been Olympic champion if he didn't blow out his knee. So, all this time, he's just been feeding me this line of crap about how great he would've been, and how I'd never be as good as him." He said. "What a bastard."
"At least you know the truth though, right?" I questioned, as I looked up at him.
"I just don't know what to do with it." He sighed, and I hugged him before pulling away and telling him I should go. I leant forward and hugged him once again, before pulling back and speaking.
"Goodnight, Nathan." I said quietly. "Call me if you need anything, okay?" I kissed his cheek lightly before turning away and heading towards my door.
"Hey, remember how I said my family is so screwed up, nothing would make a difference?" He questioned.
I nodded, looking at him from my doorway.
"I was wrong." He smiled, as he walked away, back to his car. I hung back in the doorway for a moment, before walking inside and closing the door. As expected, nobody was home. I took off my coat and hung it in the cupboard as I headed upstairs to my room. I grabbed a book I had recently started, and sat on my bed, beginning to read.
I checked my phone every so often, to see if Nathan had texted or called, but nothing. There was nothing to worry about; he was just confused and angry as to why his father treated him like he had, even more so now that he knew the truth.
I decided to text him after a while, I was worried for him; he had a lot to take in tonight. His whole world had been rocked by the revelation that his dad quit gymnastics, and his injury did not prevent him from training again, of course he was going to be shaken. His dad had treated him like crap his entire life, but what neither of us understood was why. Why did he do it? He knew exactly how it felt, he knew exactly how much Nathan hated it, hated him. Yet he still continued to work him to the bone.
I put my book down, marking my place, before grabbing my phone from my bedside table and composing a message.
I need to know you're okay. I'm worried. Come over? Parents are out, I need to see you. X
I sent the message, and hoped that he wouldn't ignore it. Right now, he was vulnerable. He needed somebody, and I'd feel so much better if he came to me. I couldn't do much to help him, but at least he'd have somebody. It would put my mind at rest, and seeing as my parents weren't home, we could spend time together without being under the watchful eye of our coach, his family, or anybody.
It would just be the two of us together; no interruptions.
I locked my phone shut as I waited for a reply; before going back to reading the book I was previously reading. The words on the pages were not making any sense, that's all they were. They were just words on a page. I was so worried about Nathan; I couldn't lose myself in the book as I had done previously. He had me. I couldn't think of anything or anybody but him.
I picked up my phone as I heard it vibrate, and typed the passcode to unlock it. I looked at the screen in front of me, reading the alert.
1 New Message – Nathan
Can't, busy. I'll pick you up for training in the morning. Are you working tomorrow? X
I quickly typed out a reply, and sighed at his response.
Please? I need to see you, and I can't wait until tomorrow. I miss you already. I need to know you're okay. X
I replied, not bothering to answer his question. I had to convince him to come over. I couldn't wait until tomorrow to see him. And I want to tell him it will be okay; even if it's not. He needs to know that I'm here for him, no matter what happens. Almost instantly I received a reply.
I miss you too, you know I do. X
I decided that with the short response, he must be giving in, so I text him once more to see if I could convince him to come over.
So come over, for me, please? I miss you, just for a while? X
Several minutes after I sent the text, I received my reply.
Alright, I'll come over. You sure your parents are out? X
He clearly needed a final convincing to come over.
100% sure, just get over here, now please boyfriend! I need to feel your lips on mine, a.s.a.p. X
I couldn't believe I was even saying this.
I'm already on my way, my beautiful girlfriend. Haley James, are you sending me dirty texts? Xx
I chuckled lightly at his reply; clearly this was a shock to the system.
Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. All you need to know right now is that I want you, here and now. I'm waiting Mr. Scott; you know I don't like to be kept waiting. Xx
Brooke was right, dirty texting is so much fun when you're the one insinuating it.
Well Miss James, I guess there's an impatient side to you I've never known before. All the more reason to hurry, I'll be there in 5, can't wait to see you. Xx
I decided to let him drive safely, so I decided not to text him back for the time being. A few minutes later, as promised, Nathan turned up at my doorstep. I had changed from my earlier attire into something more comfortable, but still enough so I didn't look a complete tramp to Nathan. I wore a pale pink pair of shorts, with a pale yellow cami top. I tied my hair up into a messy bun on the top of my head, with 2 strands hanging either side of my face.
As I walked downstairs to open the door to Nathan, I quickly checked my reflection in the hall mirror to make sure I looked half way decent. I leant against the door frame as I opened the front door, fully expecting my guest.
"You certainly took your time, Mr. Scott." I said, moving out of the way to allow him to come in.
"Sorry, my girlfriend was sending me dirty text messages, you see." He replied, shutting the door and boxing me against it.
"Oh she was, was she? Does this girlfriend of yours know you're here?" I breathed out, getting hotter by the minute with him standing over me.
"Well I'd hope she does." And with that, I leaned up to crash my lips against his. He pressed his face close to mine as our lips met. The scent of his cologne I knew he'd recently put on invaded my nostrils as I pulled him closer to me, my lips still claiming his. Our tongues battled for domination of the kiss, twisting and turning with each other in perfect sync. I wrapped my arms around his neck, keeping me steady and up-right. The intensity of the kiss continued to build as we were still pushed against the door. He moved one of his hands to graze my hip, as I felt myself getting hotter when he touched me. I decided to take things a tad further, and let him move his hand a bit more. I grabbed his hand before placing it under my shirt and then dropping my hand. I moaned slightly at the contact, enjoying his skin on mine more than I probably should.
I pulled away from the kiss to grab his hand, and pretty much drag him to room. I pushed him through the door to my bedroom, before shutting it and joining him in lying on the bed. It was nice to just spend time together, alone. Nobody in the world was there to stop us, it was just us. He wrapped his strong, muscular arms around my small frame, and I buried my head into the crook of his armpit.
"There is actually a reason I came over here. I mean, other than to make out with my incredibly hot girlfriend, of course." He smirked, as I looked up at him.
"Oh right, yeah. What exactly was that reason?" I questioned.
"After dinner, and after I dropped you home, I had another argument with my dad. It just made me realise that the only way I can ever truly be free of him is to beat him. I have to go back, Haley. I've got to beat my dad's score and set a new record." He said, as he looked me in the eye. I knew he was serious, but I couldn't help but try to convince him out of it. It was no use, of course, his mind was made up.
He left a while later, claiming I needed rest for practice tomorrow. It may be a closed National Team practice, but he and I both knew that Tom would allow him to train while we did. As long as he didn't distract us, he'd be fine with it.
A load of good that was, I couldn't stop thinking about the boy. Having him there in practice is just going to make things even harder for us both.
If Nathan was distracting me, I wouldn't make the team that goes to China. I couldn't afford to mess it up. After missing out on going to London; I had to go to China.
I received a text from him a while later, crushing my worries, even if by a fraction.
Are you working tomorrow? I can drop you at the gym if you like, I'm going anyway. X
I quickly typed out a reply, before placing my phone next to me.
You better be picking me up tomorrow; I need to see you before practice. I'm not working, no. X
Several seconds after sending the message, the reply came through.
Of course I will. I'll pick you up and drop you to the gym, as normal. The only difference is now I'm staying too. You're going to do great, I promise. Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight, my sweet girl. Xx
I smiled at the text, realising he was just taking in a lot of home truths, and it was naturally going to be hard for him. Reading the last line of the message was truly amazing. He did care. I didn't bother replying to his text; he knew I got it; what else was there left to say? I settled down in my bed, closing my eyes, and finally drifting off, dreaming of Nathan that night.
REVIEW PLEASE! :)