Sorry guys a day late I know I said Monday but I under-estimated writing/editing time, thanks very much for the reviews last chap, really nice to see people have stuck with this story, appreciate it! :)…anyway on with the reading...
The pretty one in the whole place
She was back there where the phones used to be
The subject of some new disgrace
Her whole story was so obvious to me
And would you believe we met on New Year's Eve?
In a chapel of sin, she was dancing with me
You know when a heart's in pain
There's nobody here to blame
The only light under the doctor's knife
Is that we're the same
Heart's in, heart's in, heart's in
Who's to say the muscle's dead?
I gave it all to her when we got married
There were things I never said
But I'm an idiot and marriage is scary
What would you say if I told you so true
That I love her more now that the marriage is through?
You know when a heart's in pain
There's nobody you can blame
The only light under the doctor's knife
Is that we're the same
Heart's in, heart's in, heart's in
There's nothing that I could say
To make this go away
The battles you fight in the war of you life
Will always remain
Heart's in, heart's in, heart's in pain
"So what did you two do all day?" Cooper questioned Nathan as they finished cleaning up the leftovers of dinner. Haley was dragged upstairs by Sophie, the little girl was so excited when she saw she was here and she was adamant she meet Chester. Nathan couldn't help but chuckle at the thought, he knew Haley would be hating on that rabbit just like he was after spending an hour with it.
"Oh we just went down to the Public Garden for a few hours." Nathan said as he finished loading up the dishwasher. "Haley loved it there."
"Yea it's a nice spot that." Cooper said off-handily.
"Coop.." Nathan started a little more seriously and his Uncle immediately looked up concerned with his serious tone. "I'm sorry..for the way I've been all week." Nathan tried to explain. "I was just dealing with everything.."
"Nate you don't have to apologise.."
"No I do." Nathan reasoned. "I just don't want you to think that I'm ungrateful..thanks Coop for everything." Nathan said honestly. He knew he had been angry at his Uncle at first for going behind his back and enlisting the help of an agent but he understood now why he had done it.
"We're always here for ya boy you know that." Cooper said honestly.
Nathan just nodded as he closed up the dishwasher.
"Speaking of.." Cooper started a little hesitantly. "Keith called tonight."
Nathan felt his heart rate pick up a bit at that declaration. He knew it was coming, it's not like he could delay the inevitable any longer. He knew Keith would want answers. "He's mad." Nathan guessed.
"Not mad…just worried I guess."
Nathan shook his head, that's exactly why he never wanted any of them involved in the first place. He knew it was stupid now thinking he could deal with Dan and the trouble alone, ignore it even but he hated everyone worrying, it wasn't fair.
"Look he's just worried how quick Haley found you…he thinks they could too." Cooper said quietly at the end.
"The Wests." Nathan said frustrated. "Haley found me because Sophie left our address with her…that's all." Nathan said exasperated with having to explain every little detail of his life at this stage.
Cooper nodded. "That makes sense. Look just talk to him Nate…he's not going to be mad over this, we just have to be careful with Andy working from here we have to make sure the Wests have no links with him and Boston, as far as they know he lives in Charlotte and he's working for them." Cooper said.
"Was Keith talking to Andy?" Nathan asked not sure if he wanted to know.
"He didn't say anything, I'm sure if there are any developments there he'll tell you." Cooper said as he turned off the main lights in the kitchen and went to switch on the lamp in the corner.
"I better call him then." Nathan muttered tired of it all. They only thing that was getting him through this was that this time after the phone call he wasn't going upstairs to be alone with his thoughts. She was there and at least right now she wasn't going anywhere. Nathan went to grab the phone off the stand going into the utility for some peace. "Nate.." Cooper called to him before he had a chance to close the door.
"Yea.." Nathan said turning to face him.
"I've seen the way you are with that girl and the way she is with you.." He said honestly. "And no one should be denied that. You're doing nothing wrong…don't be afraid to live your life because he's still out there."
Nathan didn't know what to say back to that instead let the intensity of the words swirl around in his mind.
"Keith will understand." Cooper promised before leaving Nathan in peace to make his call.
It only took two rings until Keith's voice came through the phone which did not help to calm his nerves in the slightest. It was strange feeling, usually his uncle had the opposite effect on him, Keith was always the calm one in situations but recently that had all changed and Nathan didn't know to take it. It only served to worry him further when he caught glimpses of how worked up he seemed to be over this which was nearly every time he spoke with him.
"Hey Keith." Nathan said apprehensively not sure what the heck he was supposed to say right now.
"What's going on Nathan?"
So the million dollar question Nathan thought to himself. How could he answer that when the same question had been mulling around in his mind not only for days but weeks now and even worse he didn't even know what situation to adverse it to. But right now, he knew what Keith was asking and he found himself grateful that he was just getting straight to the point because he just wanted to go up to her. A half an hour has passed already and he didn't want to spend time apart from her when he really didn't have to, wouldn't he have to before long?
"Sophie left her address with Haley the weekend they called down to us and I guess she put two and two together." Nathan muttered down the phone.
"And you didn't think to get this off of her?" Keith questioned. Nathan was a bit taken back by the anger in his voice, ok so he had expected Keith to be put off by this but angry…angry at him? The anger radiating from Keith's tone of voice only served to bug Nathan further and that toppled with the guilt that he knew it wasn't fair to be feeling for letting Haley in last night sent his once calm exterior over the edge.
"How the hell was I supposed to Keith, huh?" He retorted sick of all of this. "You tell me how I was meant to get it off her when first you didn't even want me to see Haley that night and secondly you told me everything like 5 hours before I had to leave.." Nathan sprouted out. "So I'm sorry if I didn't find the time to break into Haley's house and look for an address that I didn't even know about." He spat out sarcastically at the end.
He was met with silence at the end for a few seconds and Nathan took the time to calm his breathing knowing Keith was probably pondering his words in surprise at his outlast. Nathan had been doing his best to keep his calm up till now but there was only so much he could hold in, the anger was simmering at this stage and he was doing everything in him to keep it from bursting and completely taking over him.
"I'm sorry Nathan." Keith said earnestly berating himself for taking this out on his nephew the way that he just did., "I shouldn't be taking this out on you I've just being worried that's all."
Nathan scoffed not able to help himself. "You know contrary to what you might think I've been worried too Keith…I didn't plan for Haley to come up here it just happened ok and I tried to push her away, hell I was even booking flights…lucky for me she stayed, even after all that…so don't even play the worried card on me because you've know idea what I've been going through."
"I know Nate I.." Keith started but was soon interrupted.
"I'm sorry Keith but I don't think you do.." Nathan interrupted frustrated. "Because I know and you know that as soon as you found out Haley was up here you think I deliberately went and called her without telling you….you think I don't know how serious this is well I do because I'm the one who's being living with it my whole life Keith and I'm starting to think it should have been kept that way." Nathan bellowed as he wandered back into the kitchen as if on autopilot and aimlessly sat down at the table wringing his free hand through his hair willing the irritation to seep away from him.
He wasn't sure how long passed until he heard Keith speak up again. "You calm?"
"Yea." Nathan said quietly as he sighed letting the air fill his lungs again. He was surprised he didn't hang up after that outburst; maybe Keith knew he needed it or something…whatever the reason for it he was grateful he hadn't left him. Nathan hadn't meant to go at him like that he just couldn't help it. "Keith…" Nathan said quietly.
"No you're right Nate." Keith stated knowing he was probably going to apologise and there was no use in apologising for how you actually felt. "You're right….truth is I've been so worked up in what's been going on with Dan and the wedding I haven't even thought about you in all of this and how it's affecting you…I guess, I just didn't know how serious it was between the two of you." Keith implied.
Nathan visibly flinched when he heard the w word. "Still I shouldn't have shouted at you like that it doesn't make it right…I know you're doing everything you can…I'm sorry for ruining the wedding plans." Nathan said quietly at the end hating himself for bringing all this trouble on Karen and Keith.
"You're not ruining our wedding plans Nate, we only wanted a small ceremony anyway and we are not letting this affect our plans at all…Karen suggested we push the date forward but I said no, Dan's done enough messing around in our lives..it stops here."
Nathan wished he could feel the calming effect of his words but he just couldn't. He couldn't let himself go there because he found it so hard to believe. It would never stop not until his father had paid for what he done. "So I'm guessing I'll be able to go back by then?"
"Definitely Nate, that is what Andy's working towards….he's got the tape, he just has to take it step by step..can't come on to strong or they will suspect something." Keith said.
Nathan swallowed hard remembering what he and Andy had done in Charlotte, not that he wanted to remember it. It was all part of the plan, that's all and he washed it out of his mind as quick as it entered.
"Look I know this sounds impossible.." Keith started. "But we won't know anything for a while yet so try and forget about it Nate or at least distract yourself because it's not healthy letting this consume you all the time…I don't want that for you." His uncle said honestly.
"I know, I'm trying." Nathan said knowing Cooper must have been talking to Keith during the week because he sounded really concerned. "I'll be alright." He conceded but the words left a bitter taste in his mouth as though they never belonged there in the first place or never would belong there.
"Will talk to you during the week ok." Keith said casually but Nathan knew what those words meant. They'd talk to him whenever they heard news. An update. Why bring it up though? What was the use? So, he did what he always did and muttered up the best ok.
"We miss you Nate." Keith said.
"Yea I miss you guys too." Nathan replied before hanging up and going to put the phone back on the charger not allowing himself to think of those last words because he was past the point of hurting now and his outburst at Keith only proved that. He was angry, angry at Dan for everything and most importantly for making him this way…into this angry person. Because Nathan wasn't sure what he might do if he ever got his hands on Dan again and that was a scary thought. He didn't like that part of himself, it was an ugly part…a part he didn't want Haley to see; a part she shouldn't have to see. So he had to push the fury aside because it would do no good; revenge was an ugly emotion, thwarted in its roots. He didn't want to feel that way.
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Nathan stepped in the door quietly and couldn't help smiling to himself as he watched her potter around the bed and fix the cushions in her own Haley-like way propping them up until she was satisfied with how they looked. He stood there allowing the calmness to wash over him and felt the anger previously flowing through his veins dissipate as he simply watched her in her element. As soon as she looked up she smiled almost shyly at him and he wasted no time pacing across the room to where she was standing and pulling her in for a hug.
Haley felt Nathan wrap his arms around her tightly and she ran her hands up his back in comfort, she knew something was up the moment she caught him watching her at the door. Like her she presumed the weight of everything was finally taking its toll on him because as carefree and lovely as today had been they had more pressing issues to discuss and figure out and it couldn't be delayed forever. Somehow, just feeling his strong arms around her now made it seem ok, she needed this just like he did.
They stayed like that for a couple of seconds until Nathan hesitantly pulled back to gaze down at her all the while keeping his hands around her lower back. "I kind of snapped at Keith." He said regretfully.
Haley could see the anguish in his eyes and she brought her hand up from where it was resting on his back through his hair snaking her fingers against his scalp in an effort to calm him down. She knew in a way she had only made everything harder on him not telling Keith or Lucas for that matter where she was going but she also knew she never would have got here. "I should have talked to him." She said quietly.
"Hales I told you this is not your fault, you didn't know what was going on." Nathan pressed feeling the calmness once again wash over him just from her nails raking through his hair.
Haley just nodded as she leaned her head against his chest breathing in the musky scent of his aftershave that was all Nathan; his scent.
Nathan breathed heavily thinking about what he had to tell her. Just going through it again in his head was enough to both physically and mentally wear him out but she deserved to know what was going on now. He didn't want to leave her in the dark anymore.
"Hales.." He muttered from where his head was resting on top of hers his voice muffled by her hair. When she didn't respond instead bringing her hand down from his hair and running it along his arm he knew he had to initiate the talking before things got any further between them and they ended up doing no talking at all. As his mind fluttered back to last night he felt the thirst, the need run through his veins again and it only served to snap him back to reality. Nathan reluctantly pulled out of their embrace and sat down at the edge of the bed. "There's some things I have to tell you." He said quietly.
Haley could tell the reluctance in his tone a mile away and the exhaustion the words themselves carried. She sat down beside him turning to face him sitting with her legs underneath her. "I'm not asking you to tell me everything Nathan." She said softly. "I just want to be here for you and if talking helps then we can talk but if it's too much we don't have too."
Nathan looked over meeting her sincere eyes and felt himself getting lost in them. Haley could see the inner battle he was having with himself and she reached out to grab his arm tracing small circles over it hoping the touch would at least calm him a bit. He wanted to tell her everything, absolutely everything that Dan had made him done and how it eventually led it to him leaving Tree Hill. He had never told anyone about the severity of that night because he was ashamed. He had been weak, he was scared and his father had become so twisted that even in that situation the one thing he reprimanded him for was been scared and not fighting back when it had been impossible for him to do so. Nathan felt his chest constrict in pain at the mere thought of that memory and he knew there was no way he could go there tonight. Talking about that was opening up a whole other wound, one that had never really healed. He hadn't had an attack in a long time but simply thinking about that night was causing his breathing to become laboured, the only thing helping him was the soft circles Haley was drawing against his arm. He closed his eyes and just concentrated on the swirl of her fingertips against his skin and willed all the bad thoughts and memories of Dan to go away.
He opened his eyes grateful for the patience Haley was showing and felt his breathing come back to normal as he tried to tackle a safer subject. "You remember last night when I told you about The Wests.." Nathan said a little hesitantly remembering how vulnerable he had been in that moment.
Haley nodded silently as she continued to trace the patterns on his arm not sure if she was doing more to help herself than him in this particular moment because she was nervous with what he was about to tell her.
"Well Keith enlisted the help of an agent Hales, his name is Andy and he actually is from here, Cooper knows him….he's.." Nathan stammered for a moment as he wrung his hands together. "He's working undercover with The Wests and that's how they figured out they were after me."
Haley had hundreds of questions milling around her head but nothing compared to the panic she felt rise within her throat, she knew this was serious but just hearing the words for themselves only enlightened how bad this situation actually was. She had heard Nathan say those very words last night. The Wests were after him. But an agent. Suddenly everything became more real. An agent. The word resonated through her mind. "B..but why.." Haley stammered becoming worked up herself now as she hopped from her position on the bed. "W..why you?.." She said the one thing that tormented her the most and although she never wanted him to see it she was scared for him and her strong wall was already crumbling. She started pacing unknowingly trying to figure all this out.
"Hales…please." Nathan reasoned hoping his softened tone would stop her insistent pacing across the floor. She stopped putting her hand to her head as she bit down on her lip trying to hold it all in, he didn't understand how it happened but all of a sudden the tables were turned and he was the clam one and she was a mess.
"Remember I told you Aaron was looking for Dan?" Nathan said catching her gaze looking for that flicker realisation in her eyes.
Haley's mind instantly flashed back to the night of the storm in the basement.
"You remember when I asked you about Damien?" Nathan said after a few minutes.
"Yea…at the hotel last week." Haley remembered.
"He is involved in something Haley…I don't know what it is but I think his Dad is working with Dan in some way." Haley's eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. "Aaron, Damien's Dad called to the house one evening…I was just coming home…he was asking for Dan. It was weird. I just told him he wasn't there and I went inside and of course there Dan was. We got into a fight…and he left."
"Yea…" Haley stuttered. "It was the night of the storm." She said quietly.
Nathan nodded before swallowing hard. "Yea well I was right, well sort of…Aaron is like a major drug lord in Tree Hill." Nathan said carefully watching Haley's reaction; her face was set in stone but he could see the ever growing worry shining within her heavy eyes. "And Dan was involved with him but all along had been using is in with Aaron to do his own business alongside them….now they're after Dan."
"So where do you come in…" Haley started but suddenly put her hand to her mouth.
"They're using me as bait to get to Dan." Nathan revealed observing Haley and if he was honest with himself watching her freak out over this only implemented the fear further in his mind.. Every time it hit him he just blocked it out and it worked but right now as he focused on Haley and could see the fear swirl in her eyes at his revelation it was getting tougher and tougher to obstruct its overwhelming power on him too.
Haley turned from Nathan's penetrating gaze as his words wrapped around her mind in their perilous torture. "That monster.." She said angrily her voice breaking off at the end, god if she hated his being just from watching her best friend grow up knowing he had a father that didn't want him it was nothing compared to the anger she felt for him now seeing what his other son was going through. Haley felt the tears prickle at her eyes as much as she didn't want them too and she looked out the window willing them to subside but it was useless as one treacherous tear rolled down her cheek.
Nathan heard her sniffle very lightly and felt that familiar pang in his chest. Was she crying? "Hales…" He prodded after another few seconds had passed. He then got up and slowly walked over to her putting his hand on her shoulder a little put out when she recoiled away from his touch as she turned around and it was if someone twisted that already painful feeling in his chest to its extremity when his eyes fell on her moistened orbs.
"This is really bad." She said so quietly he wasn't even sure he had heard her and he watched as she angrily swiped the tears away from her face.
"Haley…" Nathan tried again reaching for her hand.
"Nathan.." Haley started feeling she needed some space at the moment only she felt her eyes well up again too soon and gave up the resistance allowing him to pull her into him as the fresh tears soaked into his navy polo. Nathan rubbed his hands up and down her back as he felt her gripping onto his shirt as though he was going to leave this second.
A few minutes later she pulled back berating herself for feeling so weak, he needed her now more than anything and she was crying into his arms. "I'm sorry.." Haley muttered weakly and Nathan pulled back in confusion. "Don't apologise.."
"No…" Haley cut him off weakly. "You need me now and here I am crying like a pathetic.."
"Haley stop it." Nathan said seriously as he brought his hand lifting her chin up ever so lightly and she knew there was no point even trying to retaliate when he used that tone of voice. "If you're angry or upset or whatever you are you tell me alright…I don't want you hiding or…or pretending to be strong just for me because that just makes it worse.." Nathan admitted.
Haley nodded softly keeping her gaze fixed on him after he lowered his hand. She knew he was right even though part of her didn't want to let Nathan see how scared she was for him because surely that wouldn't help him in the slightest?..She wasn't going to hide her feelings, she was just going to try and be brave for his sake.
"Promise me Haley…" Nathan urged watching the flurry of emotions that were crossing over her features as she took in his words.
"If you promise to do the same." Haley said quietly as she ran her hand up his arm again. She knew this was a lot to ask from him and she could see the immediate panic that washed over his features as she voiced her thoughts. But he had let her in last night, he had let her see every inch of him beyond that durable exterior everyone was apprehensive to pass. But she had so why now was the admittance of it so hard?
"I'm trying Haley." Nathan admitted honestly as he watched her trail her hand up his arm before bringing his gaze back to hers hoping she could see the truth in his eyes. It was the truth but most the time without realising Haley was the one letting herself in because he just couldn't control his emotions around her, he couldn't control that guard that he had up for most people, it was harder somehow under her penetrating gaze because he knew she could read him and it was comforting yet scary at the same time. He was wondering could she see it now the inner panic he felt because amidst everything Haley had seen there was the one thing he didn't want her to see; the anger, the rage. That was a part of himself he had to keep buried.
"We're in this together right." Haley said as she pulled him closer immediately feeling him tense up under her touch those words hitting a little too close to home.
"Nothing's going to happen to you." Nathan said tightly and Haley could feel the hardness behind those words, the protectiveness and the strength that if he said it so powerfully no action could be taken against it. "Nothing's going to happen to you either." Haley said back not wanting him to throw himself in the firing line because this time she was going to keep him safe, why was he worried about her? He was the one that needed protecting and for once he deserved to the one that was taken care of, the one to be protected.
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Two hours and half a bottle of wine later Nathan and Haley were perched on the sofa in the sitting room where they had sat chatting to Cooper and Lauren for the evening by the fire until the other two retired to bed. It had been nice and relaxing and well-needed but Nathan could tell something was bothering Haley throughout their conversations from the way he would catch her glancing at him repeatedly throughout the night and every time he caught her she would offer him a small smile and look away. She was acting strange and he'd been itching to call her out on it. He was sure she was probably driving herself mad replaying everything he had said to her earlier over and over in her head, it was just the way she was. She would dissect every little thing, pick it apart but he didn't want her thinking about it. About Dan. About The Wests. He just didn't.
The crackling of the fire on the log only seemed to add to the deafening silence that had penetrated the room since the others left. Nathan cleared his throat looking over catching her gaze again. "You wanna tell me what's been bothering you all evening beautiful?" Nathan said softly.
Haley felt her stomach flutter at his words if possible heightening the already strengthened emotions that were residing in her all evening. She knew he was going to question her, he had caught her gaze one to many times tonight for her to just be looking that way. She couldn't help it every time she peeled her eyes away they just roamed back against her will. His smile and that laugh, she'd never get enough of that….she hadn't seen enough of that lately, so she remained paralysed almost watching him just interact with everyone without a care in the world and it was endearing.
Having realised she'd had to wait long enough all evening and that need to get close to him was stronger than ever so she scooted over on the couch closer to him feeling him wrap his left arm around her lulling her into him even further. Haley glanced up enjoying even more this view of his face lightened in an amber bliss by the flames of the fire. "You're hairs getting long." She commented off handily as she ran her hand through his raven hair. It wasn't that it was long, it was just heavier than usual, for as long as she had knowing Nathan he usually kept his hair cut neat. She was liking this look on him through, it was cute almost. Not that she'd tell him that, he'd probably high hitch it down to the barbers right now even though it was 11 o'clock at night or else demand she chop it. She chuckled to herself at the thought and noticed his questioning face.
"So that's what I caught you looking at every 2 seconds tonight, all that and you came up with the observation that my hair's long." Nathan teased running his hands through it realising it had in fact got quite heavy.
Haley playfully scolded him. "I was not looking at you every 2 seconds."
"Don't even argue with me on this one Hales." Nathan prodded. "I caught you and I caught that same blush that is creeping up your face right now."
He was right. He knew it and she knew it. Nevertheless always with their stubborn ways she couldn't resist. "It's the fire Nathan, I'm really hot."
"Little high on yourself don't you think going around saying things like you're really hot."
Haley just shook her head at his silly ways. "Look who's talking." Haley scoffed.
"Well I got to hand it to ya Hales I think my cockiness as you so called it is rubbing off on you." Nathan chuckled.
"Oh god if that's the case kill me now." Haley teased as she rested her head back in his lap pushing her feet out to the end of the couch.
"Watch it you." Nathan teased back as Haley laughed.
"Well you were rambling the other day so I guess that makes two of us."
"How many times do I have to tell you I was not rambling." Nathan emphasised.
"You so were." Haley laughed back. "It was sort of cute actually." She teased.
Nathan nearly spit out the wine that he just picked up. "Cute?..Gee hales way to knock a man's confidence."
"Cute is a good thing you know." Haley tried reasoning.
"I can't believe you just called me cute." Nathan scoffed.
"I guess things really have changed." Haley said laughing at the irony of it, if someone had said to her a year ago, hell 6 months ago that that word cute and Nathan would go in the same sentence she would have sent them down to the doctors for a good check-up.
"I just don't know how you do it.." Haley started softly thinking back to the question Nathan asked her earlier about what had been on her mind all evening. "Just watching the way you are with them…you're just so strong with everything that's going on."
Nathan took in her words that familiar feeling rushing through his veins sure enough that the warmth wasn't coming from the fire. It was weird to hear her say those things. All his life, he heard from Dan that he was weak and he never would be any other way. It was drilled into him even after everything he'd done for his father it had never made him strong in his eyes.
"You don't believe it, do you?" Haley questioned as if reading his mind. His silent thoughts spoke volumes.
Nathan hesitated for a minute not sure whether he wanted to go down this path of conversation before giving up entirely, something greater inside of him, some unknown force just wanted to reach out to her, to search for that comfort that Dan had shielded away from him, that comfort he was sure was impossible to feel a long time ago. "I don't feel strong Hales." Nathan admitted honestly as he ran his fingers through her hair which was fanned out from where she was lying on his lap. "I feel weak…I feel like I should be in Tree Hill doing something about this but I'm powerless and I have to sit on the side-lines and wait and I'm just immobile I can't do anything."
Haley looked up at him relishing in the touch of his fingers running through her hair. "But maybe that's just how you see it because I see it as one of the hardest things having to leave it all behind, I mean it must have took some strength to just leave that night once again because something your father had done…that's not weak Nathan. Weak is giving up and letting him have it, you're not doing that." Haley emphasised hoping in some way or other those words would ease the doubts he had in his mind someway. He was so insecure in some ways which was a shock to most people but she could see it all now, all the sickened doubts in his mind and who planted them there.
"It was so hard to leave you that night." Nathan said softly his mind flashing back to him holding her tight against that pillar, her perfume filling his scenes for one last time. Haley closed her eyes remembering the painful, sorrowful expression on his face. It hurt even more now she knew the reasons behind it. "You know I went back but Keith caught me."
Haley lifted her head at that, those words particularly capturing her attention because it was the last thing she had expected him to say. Without further thought she lifted herself from her lying position and straddled his lap leaning in to kiss him softly as it slowly turned into a series of passionate kisses until she felt Nathan tilt his head slightly for deeper access as he slipped his tongue into her ever awaiting mouth sliding it against hers sensuously causing her to groan in response.
They pulled apart breathlessly and overcome with the emotion of it all, the day weighing heavily on the both of them. Haley leaned her forehead against Nathan's feeling the line of perspiration that had formed there more than likely from the combination of the stifling heat in the sitting room and their close proximity.
She hesitated for a moment before asking.."Nathan, when can you go back to Tree Hill?"
Nathan was surprised by that, he hadn't expected her to bring it up, it had been the elephant in the room since she came here but both were so wrapped up in each other facing the very thought of him not going back or her going without him and it was a subject they wanted to keep boxed off.
He sighed heavily to himself not really glad that certain box was opened tonight but nevertheless understanding she deserved some answers as much as he did. "I'm not sure Hales…all I know is I'm going back for the wedding and I'm not sure after that." He said almost defeated feeling the hotness of her breath mingling in with his.
Haley nodded biting her lip. She honestly didn't know what answer she had been expecting and in all the madness the last few days the wedding hadn't even crossed her mind. As much as she just wanted him home with her she knew the seriousness of this situation now. And sadly enough the realisation was that this was as much a waiting game if anything.
"Say something…" Nathan said softly as he brought his hand up to brush the hair that had fallen in front of her face away from her and tucked it behind her hair.
"I just don't want to leave you that's all." Haley said softly leaning into his touch knowing he understood just as much as her that she couldn't stay here forever and she certainly couldn't stay here for the 2 and a half weeks before the wedding especially when she had to help her mother with the catering.
"I know." Nathan said in understanding. "But it's different this time." This time he wasn't lying to himself and most importantly he wasn't lying to her. Nathan leaned in and placed a soft meaningful kiss against her forehead grazing his nose over the contours of her face just wanting to feel all of her.
"Two weeks." Haley said quietly catching his gaze hoping to capture that spark in those deep blue eyes that held the promise that things would be different this time, that maybe in two weeks this might all be over.
Nathan nodded wondering if he'd ever be able to find the strength in himself to let her go again but she said it herself that he had it. And for once he believed that and didn't let Dan's manipulating voice creep into the darkest parts of his mind trying to wash it out. "Two weeks." Nathan clarified as slipped his hand around Haley's waist hearing her gasp at the action as his scorching skin immediately came into contact with hers and he laid her down on the couch carefully allowing every dark thought to fade away as the yearning and desire seeped in.
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Jake sighed heavily as his phone rang vibrating again insistently against the coffee table demanding his attention which only served to annoy him further. He quickly paused the PlayStation game glancing at it expecting to see Peyton's name flashing across the screen for the third time that day but instead seeing a completely different one.
He welcomed the reprieve, he was tired of the worried and anxious expressions his mum and dad and girlfriend put on him every day. Couldn't they see he was trying to cope with this himself, he needed someone that wouldn't put up with his crap like they were. He needed to be kicked back into focus. Maybe answering this phone call would give him someone to be mad at that he knew wouldn't take it.
"What do you want?" Jake sprouted into the phone not really caring at this stage.
"What do you say to some buddy time with you old teammate?"
Jake had to shake his head at his irritating voice, why had he answered this phone call again? He knew how manipulating Damien could be, he only rang when he wanted something, and usually he was up to something. Jake couldn't quite place it, it's not like he was after Haley anymore, Jake had kindly told him what would happen if even the thought of pursuing his sister crossed his mind again. "You never just want buddy time Damien what you trying to pull?" Jake said seriously.
"No wonder none of your friends are bothering with your worthless ass." Damien responded. "Some of us are swinging by Tric later on, few guys on the team…your call Jake." Damien said hastily before hanging up and smiling to himself.
This was almost too easy. Almost. If he just played nice and normal for a few days and got Jake on his side which wouldn't be too hard given the current state he was in he'd be able to take Nathan Scott down for good in more ways than one.
After all they were after him anyway so why not add to the downfall.
And a sweet downfall it would be.
(Song used: Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers - Hearts in Pain)