Chapter Thirty-Five: A Shopping Adventure and Some Butterflies

"Haley! You have got to come out of the dressing room!"

"Brooke! You have got to be kidding me. There is no way that I am going to buy this outfit!" Haley exclaimed as she walked out of her dressing room.

"What are you talking about? You look absolutely fabulous!" Brooke stated as she walked over to Haley, who was in front of the full length mirror at the end of the dressing room hallway.

Haley was wearing a short jean mini-skirt, something she definitely wasn't used to wearing and a tight black halter top that had a low neckline.

"Can't you tell that I am not comfortable at all?"

"Haley there is one rule in fashion. In order to be fashionable, you must be at least somewhat uncomfortable."

"Haha...well then I guess I won't be fashionable!" Haley said as she began to walk back towards her dressing room.

"Haley!" Brooke moaned as she followed Haley.

"I'm not going to allow you to win this argument, Brooke."

"How about we compromise?"

"Hmm...what's your proposition?"

"What if you buy the mini skirt that I picked out for you and then you pick out a more comfortable shirt to wear with the skirt?"

"I don't know Brooke."

"Come on Hales! You have such a great figure! Nathan's going to die when he sees you in this skirt. Please at least buy the skirt," Brooke pouted.

"Alright, I give in again!"

"Yay!"

"But you have to promise that I get to pick out the shirt that goes with this skirt, okay?"

"Promise!"

Haley went back into her dressing room and changed back into her beige gaucho pants and plain green tee. She came back out of the dressing room only to find that Brooke with a very curious look on her face.

"Brooke, do I even want to ask why you have that mysterious grin on your face?" Haley said as she began to walk towards the cashier.

"Well, I was just curious when you would be wearing this new outfit of yours. Do you think you'll wear it when you see him right after he gets back from camp?"

"I'm not quite sure yet. Lucas mentioned that there is some basketball game at the end of the camp where all the friends and parents come to watch. I'm waiting for Nathan to respond in his next letter if he wants me to come."

"Of course he is going to want you to go to the game Hales."

"Well then maybe I will wear this new outfit of mine to his game," Haley stated as she paid the cashier for her mini-skirt.

"Nope!" Brooke exclaimed as they walked out of the store and into the main part of the mall.

"Haha Brooke, I bought this skirt to wear. You even said that if I wear this when I see Nathan, he's going to go nuts."

"Exactly!"

"I am not following you."

"Hales, don't you get it? If you wear that skirt to his game, he's not going to be able to concentrate because all he's going to be focusing on is you!"

"I don't think he would react that way."

"Are you kidding me? You're gorgeous Haley! Of course he would go nuts so that's why you should wear it when he gets back home."

"Alright, I guess I'll take your advice."

"Okay so now that we have that settled, we have to go find you a cute top for that skirt of yours."

"Nuh uh, I have to go find a cute top for my skirt. All you can do is watch!"

"I never should have agreed to you picking out the shirt. You know me...when I see a cute shirt, I just can't help but keep my eyes off of it!"

"I suppose you'll just have to work on your patience a little bit. I promise you Brooke, the top I pick out won't be hideous."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Haley and Brooke continued to walk around the mall, searching aimlessly for a new top for Haley. They finally found a store that had what Haley was looking for. She ended up purchasing a light blue and light green striped tee. It went absolutely perfect with the faded jean mini skirt she had purchased earlier, even Brooke approved! Luckily for Haley, there were also some matching light green flip-flops that would go along with her outfit. She purchased those as well. The girls headed back to Haley's home, Brooke driving of course. Haley's parents never bought her a car but Brooke had a nice baby blue Volkswagon Bug that she liked to drive around. After driving for about fifteen minutes, they finally had arrived to Haley's house. Upon getting out of the car and grabbing her shopping bags, Haley trotted over to the mailbox, hoping a letter from a special someone would be in the box. She opened up the mailbox and inside was the letter she was waiting for.

"EEEE!!" Haley yelled as she skipped to her front door.

"Woah! What's with the sudden display of emotion?" Brooke exclaimed as she followed Haley into the house.

"Nathan's letter arrived!"

"Haha...you're adorable Hales."

"I'm just curious as to what he is going to write next."

"Well go on, open up the letter."

Haley slowly opened up the letter and pulled out the letter that the envelope held. She had some butterflies in her stomach. This moment reminded her of the same moment, a couple of months ago, when she was waiting to find out Nathan's response on her moving to Tree Hill. The same butterflies were flying around in her stomach. Oh how this boy of hers made her stomach turn into knots.

Dear Haley,

I'm finally beginning to get used to the workout routine the coach has been making us do. My arms and legs aren't as sore anymore, which is good. I used to go to bed feeling stiff and achy. That's definitely not something you want to feel before you go to bed, especially when you're at camp! I have been working on my jump shots lately. I make about 80 percent of the shots I take. I'm pretty happy! So you and Lucas have been hanging out, eh? I can't even imagine what this story of his is. You know about a year ago, he was standing by the river and dropped the ball into the water when a fish jumped out of the water. It scared him half to death. I of course was laughing and teasing the whole time.

It seems that you are making more friends now, huh? I'm glad that you have found some people to bum around with while I am away. When we start school in the fall, I'm sure you'll fit right in already knowing people. Are Brooke and Lucas still doing well with that relationship of theirs? I think we should all go out on another date again; except maybe this time, a little less drama. Let me know if you would be willing to go out on another double date with them. I'm sure Brooke would be ecstatic. We sure have grown a lot since that last date of ours, don't you think? Who knew that going out with Brooke and Lucas would help us strengthen our relationship! Lucas mentioned to me before I left, that he and Brooke also re-evaluated their relationship that evening. I think that night was good for them too. I suppose you will find out the details when you have your girl-talk with Brooke.

Now, to answer your question from your previous letter, of course I want you to come to my basketball game! I was going to mention it to you in my next letter. You beat me too it! I'm glad Lucas will be able to take you, that way I know that you're in good hands. It happens three days before camp ends. We are all split up into two teams and then we play against each other. It's probably my favorite time of camp. It's kind of like a celebration type thing like, "Hey! We actually made it!" haha. It's always fun for me because then I can look back to the beginning of camp and see how much I have improved.

I know this letter is a little short but I have to go eat dinner now. Coach is being all cool and is taking us to some pizza place down the street. Cafeteria food is getting very old and it will be nice to have some pizza for a change! I hope you are able to write back soon. I miss you!

Nathan

Haley looked up from her letter with a huge smile on her face.

"I take it from the look on your face; he wants you to go to the game."

"Yup, he sure does!"

"Haha...I knew he would want you to go. Now we have to find you an outfit for his game!' Brooke said cheerfully.

"Uh oh...here we go again!" Haley teased as her and Brooke walked upstairs and into her bedroom to listen to some music.