Finding The Way Back
Chapter 25
Haley blinked quickly after her hand connected with Renee's face, immediately wishing she could take it back. She looked over at Brooke, who looked just as shocked as she did.
She let out a deep breath, hurrying past Renee, and outside, using the back exit, keeping her head down. Her body connected with Nathan's, looking up at him quickly. "We need to leave." Haley said, grabbing his arms, turning him around.
"What?" Nathan asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I just bitch-slapped someone." She said quickly, "And we have to go."
"Who did you slap?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
She looked at him, grabbing his hand quickly, tugging him along the sidewalk quickly. "I'm not this person, Nathan. I use my brain, and think rationally."
"Haley, who did you slap?" He asked asked, stopping in his tracks. "I won't continue on until you tell me."
Haley looked at him, sighing softly. "Renee." She grumbled.
He raised his eyebrows, "She was here?" He questioned.
"Yeah, she showed up, and I don't know what happened." She let out a deep breath, beginning to pull him along.
"You slapped her?" Nathan said, laughing loudly.
"Nathan, this isn't funny." She said, running her fingers through her hair. She let out a deep sigh when they turned a corner and were met with a bunch of paparazzi.
He pulled off his suit jacket, wrapping his around her shoulders. "They probably don't know yet, so just act natural."
"Nathan, I don't know what I was thinking. She was being such a bitch." She grumbled.
"Hey, you don't have to explain it to me." He shrugged, wrapping his arm around her, pulling her closer to him, moving so his body was blocking her from the cameras. "The car should be here soon, we can start walking and meet it somewhere else if you want."
"Yeah, let's do that." Haley said quickly.
They ended up back at Nathan's home a little while later.
Nathan dropped his tie on the kitchen counter, shaking his head and laughing loudly.
"It's not funny." Haley sighed, running her fingers through her hair, sitting down at the counter.
"It's a little funny." He pointed out, smiling at her.
"I slapped a pregnant woman, Nathan." She sighed, putting her face in her hands.
He stepped behind her, gently rubbing her shoulders. "There's worse things."
"Like what?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Give me a second." Nathan laughed, kissing the top of her head. "I've never had anyone slap a pregnant woman for me before."
"She was being such a bitch." She grumbled, letting out a deep breath.
"I love you." He said softly, smiling down at her.
"I love you too, Nathan." Haley responded, resting one of her hands over his.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. He laughed again, resting his chin on her head.
"Stop laughing." She laughed, leaning back against him and shaking her head.
"I'm not laughing." He hummed, looking down at her.
"Yes you are." She pointed out, standing up slowly.
"Don't slap me, I'm sorry." Nathan laughed, smirking at her.
"I do what I want." She said, stepping towards him, slapping his cheek lightly.
"You want to do that again?" He asked, taking a small step towards her.
Haley laughed, slapping him again. "I think I do. I'm getting good at slapping, you know."
"You asked for it." Nathan smirked, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder.
"Nathan!" She laughed out, gripping his shirt tightly. "Put me down!"
"Nope." He smirked, shaking his head quickly.
"Nathan, put me down." She said again, tugging on his shirt.
"You want me to put you down? I'll put you down." He smirked, hurrying into the bedroom, dropping her down on the bed. He hovered over her, beginning to tickle her.
Haley laughed loudly, pushing on his chest. "This is not what I meant."
"What? I can't hear you." Nathan responded, laughing and looking down at her.
She felt Nathan's hands slow when their eyes connected, a small smile forming on her face.
"I'm sorry." He said softly, looking down at her. "You're right. I'm being a little ridiculous. A baby? I don't know what I was thinking."
Haley reached her hand up, gently stroking his cheek. "Nathan, I love you so much, okay?" She grabbed one of his hands, resting it over her heart. "My heart races when ever I'm near you. I'm so in love with you. And trust me, I want everything that you want. I want to marry you, and have kids with you. But I just think we should wait a little while longer."
"You're right. I mean- we still have so much to figure out." Nathan said, letting out a deep sigh.
"But hey, listen to me. I'm all in this relationship, Nathan. I know you've been all in since day one. And I know it may seem like I'm avoiding you, and maybe I am a little bit. Because you're being crazy. Don't give up basketball, Nathan. Don't do it." She said softly, brushing her finger along his jaw.
He looked down at her, kissing her softly. "I love you, Haley James. So much. I'm so grateful we found our way back to each other."
Haley nodded her head, smiling up at him. "I love you too, baby."
"I'm sorry for letting Alex Dupre hit on me." He said, falling down on the bed next to her, staring up at the ceiling.
She looked over at him, sliding her hand into his, before looking up at the ceiling as well. "It's okay."
"It's not, though." Nathan said softly, closing his eyes and letting out a deep breath.
"I know you love me, Nathan. Not that I want girls all over you... I don't expect you to be rude to anyone that flirts with you." She shrugged, sitting up slowly, looking down at him. She gently rested her hand on his leg, rubbing it softly.
He sat up slowly, brushing his fingers through his hair. "I love you."
Haley smiled at him, leaning over and kissing his cheek softly, closing her eyes and nuzzling her nose against his jaw.
"You know, the season is almost over..." He began, looking at her. "I've been thinking... What if you stay up here for the rest of the season, then once it's over, I can go back down to Tree Hill with you for the off season?"
"You want to live in Tree Hill?" She asked him, raising her eyebrows.
"I want to live with you, and you want to live in Tree Hill." He said simply.
"I was going to tell you that I wanted to move here with you." She laughed, pinching his chin softly.
"No, I've been avoiding Tree Hill. I only go back a couple times a year. Plus, if Luke can handle living there then I know I can." Nathan said, kissing her forehead.
"I'd love to live with you, Nathan Scott. But are you sure you can handle me being here all the time?" Haley hummed, kissing his cheek lightly.
"Seeing you all the time? Oh, I know I can. I have a whole list of people you can slap." He smirked at her, laughing quietly and standing up.
"I take it back, I don't want to live here." She said, shaking her head.
"You take that back." He said, rolling his eyes and chuckling.
"I won't." She shrugged, standing up.
"You'll love living with me, Haley James. Maybe you'll see Quinn more." He said, smirking slightly.
"How much time does she really spend here?" She frowned, curling her fingers in his belt loops, pulling him closer.
"A lot. I don't know exactly what's happened between them, but I'm tired of it." Nathan said simply, sighing. "All Clay tells me about this whole situation is that he'll take care of it."
She rubbed his cheek softly, looking up at him. "Would you like me to talk to them?"
"No, it's fine. You take care of the dirty work, I'll take care of the talking." He laughed, smirking at her.
Haley punched his arm softly, shaking her head. "You're the worst." She grumbled.
"I'm in awe. You're a badass." He laughed, kissing her head.
She laughed, rolling her eyes and turning her back to him, glancing over her shoulder. "Will you unzip me?"
He raised his eyebrows, smirking slightly. "You know I will." He hummed, kissing the side of her neck.
"Since we're moving in together, we're going to have to lay down some ground rules." Haley said softly, glancing back at him.
"Mhm." Nathan hummed, nuzzling his nose into the crook of her neck.
"This isn't going to be your house where you pay for everything. If we're going to live together it needs to be equal." She said to him.
"Whatever you say." He mumbled, biting down on her shoulder softly.
"You haven't listened to a word I said since I asked you to unzip me, have you?" She asked him, chuckling quietly.
"Nope." He responded, smirking slightly.
"Yet you still haven't undressed me." Haley said, shaking her head. "You must be losing your touch, Scott."
"That's not even a little bit true." He responded, smirking slightly. "I just want to apologize to you once more because of the way I acted earlier."
She smiled at him, glancing over her shoulder. "I'm sorry too. Now get this dress off me."