REVIEWS

I. bergin 94

Love this chapter. Can't believe Nathan is still turning up at her house. Its soo funny. But at least he is kinda talking to her. I really like how he can bring out the fiesty, flirty side in Haley as seen by her forwardness of saying he sucks in this chater and game on scott. So sweet. Can't wait for more. The near eye roll was classic Haley also.

Crazygirl (guest)
the lack of reviews on your story is rather disappointing. I really like it. Its really finny to imagine nathan just sitting there in haley's home.
I hope we find out more about haley's past and also waiting fot some cute naley scenes

Eve (guest)

Great! they are making Progress :) they talked like two sentences...please Update ...i like how this Story is going..eve

A/N thank you so much for your continued support – you guys keep me going! =) I. bergin 94 your great articulation makes me think you should be a writer as well – you really get the characters which makes me really proud.

Crazygirl I'm crazy about your comments ;D Great to know that you can see the humor in the story – sometimes I worry about how it translates.

And Eve thank you for your reviews as well. I know, I am so excited that they are actually (sort of) talking as well! =D

… And for all of you, I am happy to announce that the next two episodes are actually going to involve some Naley-moments, VUHUUUU =D

Can't be Anyone Else

S01e32

Episode: Awkward sound

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"Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts."

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Something had shifted between them that day, on that couch. It was subtle, it was quiet, but it was definitely there: The way they now would smile knowingly at each other when Nathan would randomly show up. The way Haley would automatically make an extra sandwich. The way Nathan would automatically pack up his things when it was time for Haley to go to work. They knew and did all of this without being told. Like they were tuned into each other in some weird way.

There were still silence and much was still… unresolved. But at least they knew they were there – maybe not for each other just yet – but by eachother, which was a huge deal for both. The rest of it had seemed to fade into the background for now.

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Nathan and Haley sat on the couch together. There was nothing unusual about that by now, though Haley still had a habit of putting extra space between them.

Nathan watched her as she hunched protectively over her bowl of popcorn that she had in her lap. Apparently Nathan's huge, greedy, basketball-hands made the popcorns an easy prey – so she tried to keep them out of his reach…. It usually didn't work! Nathan couldn't help but grin at the sight.

He watched her giggle softly at the TV, which dimly lit up the room and their faces.

This house, her house, felt more like a home than his ever did: It wasn't flashy by any means, and a lot of the furniture had probably been picked up at a thrift shop; like this off white-flowery-couch they were sitting on right now. But somehow all of these mismatched parts made a whole.

His home in contrast often felt… cold. It was made up by the newest and the best and the most expensive. It should work, especially with what they were paying for it… but the one thing money couldn't buy was the feel of the room.

Haley giggled once again, and this time he was quick to take advantage while she was distracted and grabbed another huge handful of popcorn and shoved in his mouth.

"Hey!" Haley automatically protested, as she tried to move the bowl even further away. She looked at Nathan with an annoyed scowl. He just looked immensely pleased that not only had he managed to get the popcorn, but also managed to spur a reaction from her: It seemed that the only way to get her talking was to bait her - which quite frankly Nathan enjoyed doing, he had realized.

"Get your own popcorn!" she muttered under her breath – not sure if Nathan was supposed to hear it or not... But he did and immediately responded cheekily:

"Haven't your mom taught you to share?" He asked as he chewed on the delicious salty popcorn.

"It's not exactly sharing, when you empty the bowl whenever you take a handful!" She defended with forced calm, and looked accusingly at his big hands.

Nathan just rolled her eyes at her dramatic exaggeration, and withholded his joke about 'you-know-what-they-say-about-guys-with-big-hands' . Somehow he didn't think that was going to help the situation.

Haley eyed him cautiously. He was never usually like this with her – so open – and actually talking! When he had first stepped into her house he hadn't said anything, but instead he had seemed to be sizing her up. With the way she had deceived him she couldn't blame him. Despite his otherwise calm demeanor, she could tell that he too had been extra cautious: Could she be trusted?

Now he seemed to have made his mind up.

Why? How? She had no idea!

She couldn't help but wonder what had changed? Sure things had become more pleasant since they had started to acknowledge each other's presence, and played a few rounds of NBA together... but still.

As if he hadn't even noticed the change between them Nathan just sat there and grinned happily with her popcorn showed in his mouth, which made Haley give another attempt of a scowl, before returning to the television.

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"Can I ask you a question" Nathan's voice sounded through the darkness. They had finished yet another movie and he was still there by her side – like a shadow lingering to her. She wanted to laugh at that image – usually it was Nathan who was followed around.

She smiled cautiously at him, still unsure where this sudden need to talk came from.

"Do you ever leave here?"

Haley blinked in surprise and was taken aback by his rather crude question. Suddenly she liked it better with the awkward silence instead.

She could feel her defenses rise, as the question felt more like a judgment more than anything else. Wasn't she allowed to enjoy her home? Did she have to be a weirdo because she didn't go out the way other people did? She wanted to raise these questions, but the honest and curios look on his face, made her bit back her rant as she carefully crafted her sentence together.

"I leave home…"

"I mean other than for work or school?" Nathan still prodded. He had her there; she never usually did, other than for the basic stuff – but so what? Was it really so bad being at home? Nathan shouldn't think so, since he always showed up there anyways!

"As I was going to say; I leave home when I feel like it. And most of the time I don't feel like it" Haley reasoned, but it was hard to explain to a boy who basically had lived his life out of a suitcase – always chasing a better offer. Or rather his father was.

"So if I asked you to go somewhere with me now, you would say…?" He teased, but Haley promptly answered: "NO".

This was not up for discussion. These four walls were safe. Within these four walls their relationship could be handled. If things were to... Expand… how was she supposed to react to that?! Besides she still wanted to have a normal (high)school experience for once in her life – and Nathan would surely destroy her chances of that.

"And you won't do that because…?" Nathan again prodded his blue eyes sparkling mischievously in the dim light.

Haley shifted uncomfortably in the couch, as she put the bowl of popcorn down on the table, only to cross her arms protectively across her chest.

"I don't feel like it" She said like a stubborn child, and avoided eye-contact at all costs.

"Riiight" Nathan said sarcastically "And it has nothing to do with the fact that you are scared?!"

Ohh, he so knew how to push her buttons. Why couldn't he just sit still and look pretty like before?!

She decided to meet mischievous stare this time, while trying to explain to him once again that she didn't feel like it – and that she especially didn't feel like getting killed by his adoring fans!

Basketball was like a religion in these parts – making him a God-like creature in most eyes. This made Haley the lamb they would happily sacrifice! And she wasn't having any of it.

Of course Nathan thought she was exaggerating – but this shit was serious. He was like the Justin Bieber of this town – and she had seen the death-threats Bieber-fans had sent out. Seriously, death-threats?! To people who had just been seen with him. She did not want to end up on the receiving end of that scenario!

When the arguing angle didn't work for Nathan, he decided to change tactics: He was going to plead:

"Please come with me James. There is something I really want to show you"

Don't do it! Don't do it! Haley tried to convince herself – but in the end, she too fell for his undeniable charm and looked into his now soft blue eyes. Damn him?!

"I don't want to" she said meekly, though it felt like the decision had already been made for her!

TBC (To be continued)

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