Back with an update I know I said Monday and I actually meant last Monday sorry for the wait - there will be two this week 😉 thank you so much for showing interest in this story, we are coming near the prologue now. :)

Chapter 18

A light drizzle was cascading around her as she made her way around the cars back to the entrance of the hotel. Haley gripped onto the pole finally reaching the entrance, she squeezed her eyes closed trying to blink away the tears. She waited there, a little longer but he never came.

Peyton was sitting propped up on the bed, sketch book on her knees when her friend came in through the door. She quickly flipped the page over on her sketch book not ready for Haley to see that particular drawing yet and she frowned as she watched her walk in with her head down, her hand running through her locks which were a hot mess and slightly dampened by the rain.

'Where did you two go?'

Haley shrugged as her eyes met Peyton's. 'Are you okay?'

Haley just shook her head signalling no.

'What did he get that mad at you?'

She shook her head again.

'Haley what is it?' Peyton said, the pencil stilling in her hand.

'I had sex with him.' She whispered.

Peyton's eyes bugged out, the pencil falling from her poised fingers. 'You what..you two..….oh my god.'

Haley sat down on her bed, that faraway look in her eyes.

'How did it happen? I mean did you just…'

'We talked, we were ok at least I thought we were and it just…it happened.' Haley spurted as she ran her hand through her messy dampened locks.

'What was it like?'

'Peyton…' Haley said closing her eyes, she wasn't sure if she was remembering or trying to forget.

'I'm sorry it's just….' Peyton paused. 'When you two are together in the room…you can feel it you know…the chemistry..'

'I never thought it was possible to feel that….it was us I could literally feel what he was feeling during it…..I must sound crazy I'm…'

'You're not crazy it sounds like what sex should be…'

'You would know…' Haley pointed out.

'No.' Peyton said easily. 'It's never being like that for me.' She said honestly. 'Jake and I haven't left…'

Haley swallowed hard. 'Oh god Nathan was right, we shouldn't have…you and Jake haven't…we're not even a couple…'

'Haley no that's not it me and Jake haven't because Jenny is in the mix. Besides there are no rules to this if it felt right and it happened stop beating yourself up about it..'

'Then why did he make it feel so wrong?' Haley pondered softly.

'Get over here.' Peyton said tapping her bed. 'Boys can be idiots especially ones that go by the name Nathan Scott.'

'But what you described to me you can be sure he felt it too and probably got the shock of his life.' Peyton smirked. 'Give him time Haley he'll come after you.'

'And if he doesn't.'

'Just go and have sex with someone else.'

Haley scoffed. 'Peyt I'm serious…'

'If he doesn't he's an even bigger idiot than I thought he was.'

XXXXX

Nathan sucked in breath before he knocked on the door. He'd never felt nerves like it in his life as he waited, heard feet shuffling towards the door. It opened and her face quickly softened as she noticed him.

'I'm giving you 15 minutes top and I'm going back in there.' Peyton said.

Nathan nodded. She gave him a small smile as she scooted past him into the hallway. Nathan walked inside just as Haley came out the door that led to their bathroom. She was dressed in a light blue ravens sweatshirt and cotton shorts now, looking even more beautiful than before if that was possible. He swallowed hard and shuffled on his feet a little. 'Are you okay?' It was a stupid question he knew that but it was all he had been thinking about.

He watched her hand playing with that delicate bracelet of his before her eyes washed over his form. There was something about the undone look that made him even more tragically handsome than ever. Made her want him even more. She shook her head signalling no as her gaze fell away from him towards the carpeted floor.

'Hales…' Nathan began softly.

'I don't know what to say to you Nathan. You must made me feel so used..' She took a step back from him as she crossed her arms over himself.

He closed his eyes painfully at the sight of her. He did this. Of course he did. All he ever did was fuck up. It was his greatest fear with her. 'It wasn't like that…' He admitted softly then.

'What so it wasn't just you fucking me in the back seat of your car..' The harsh expel of her words belied her sadness.

He'd hurt her. He knew that.

'I'm sorry…' Nathan mumbled pathetically.

'Your sorry…' Haley repeated. 'Dammit Nathan your sorry you slept with me cause that's doing a really good job now of making me feel better about this whole situation…'

'No you know I didn't mean that..'

'Well what do you mean Nathan?'

''You're nothing like them Haley.' Nathan admitted.

'Then why would you….' She began.

'I want to be with you Haley.' He interrupted her hastily then. She watched his own eyes widen almost in surprise at his own submission as he fumbled on his feet a little watching her nervously.

'What do you mean?' She said softly her heart was thumping in her chest, his words lacing her veins with promise and also hesitation. Could he really be saying what she thought he was.

'I want to be with you….like for real Haley.' He blew out a breath as he stepped forward on the carpeted floor. 'I guess I'm asking you to be my girlfriend.' He said softly.

She was stunned to silence. As she looked into his eyes now she saw nothing but his conviction there.

'I…I wasn't expecting that.' She said softly giving him a small, shy smile nonetheless which he returned as he took another step forward brining him right in front of her. Her heart was beating a mile a minute as she felt him wrap his arms around her pulling her flush against his chest.

'I'm sorry for earlier, I just….I don't regret it but with you…. it shouldn't have…..' Nathan fumbled with his words exasperated with himself.

Haley smiled against his chest. He was nervous. 'I wanted it and if I didn't you would know.'

'Haley…' He began.

She silenced him with a kiss, soft and gentle. Haley pulled away slightly then, her hand latching onto his as she pulled him over towards her single bed with her. Nathan lay down on his back as Haley snuggled into his chest both fully clothed on the outside of the covers.

'Nathan..' She said softy after a few moments passed between them. His hand was rubbing up and down her arm. 'How are we going to do this?'

'I don't know but I'm going to start by trying to be better…

'What do you mean?'

'There's not a lot we can do with our family situation but I'm going to try and at least be civil with Lucas.'

'It's a two-way street and this isn't just on you. I'm sorry If I made you feel like it was. I wish he could know you like I could.' Haley said softly.

Nathan didn't say anything instead just squeezed her a little tighter. He wanted to tell her what she needed to hear, maybe someday he would but he couldn't. Truthfully, he couldn't see a time where they'd ever be brothers, too much had been said and harboured between them now. He hated Lucas for how he made Dan mistreat him, he hated him because he had Haley. He knew in some ways it was juvenile but in others it felt so harrowingly real; he'd suffered a lot at the hands of him. But he was done sitting on the side-line where Haley was concerned, he wanted her, a part of him always had.

XXXXX

Nathan sat jiggling his knee slightly as Lucas sat stiff as a pole beside him. The tension in the small office was suffocating. Both of them cringed when they heard the clipboard slam down on the desk.

'Don't think I didn't hear about your little scuffle at the banquet.' He grumbled and sighed disappointedly.

'It was my fault coach. I'm sorry.' Nathan mumbled.

Lucas near fell out of his chair with that confession.

'Your right your sorry you know you ought to lose that badge of yours for this.'

Nathan just nodded.

'But you're not going to.'

Nathan looked up at him unsure what he meant by that.

'Here.' Whitey said throwing a white piece of material towards Lucas.

He turned it around recognising what it meant. 'I don't get…'

'I'm making you co-captains…'

Nathan visibly paled as Lucas closed his eyes painfully.

'We've only two more games left that's if we make it past semi-finals… think of all the guys on that team how many of them want this now you better learn to put your personal issues aside and work together…'

'Coach…' Nathan began

Whitey held up his hand to him. 'I don't care if you never speak to each other again after all of this but during it you better well start acting like teammates because right now you're both acting like a certain Scott I used to know..'

That comment made them both blanch.

'Lucas I want you to go through the fadeaway with Nathan.'

'What why?' Nathan said crossing his eyes before Lucas could even reply.

'Do you want to play in the semi-final?' White gruffed at the dark-haired boy.

Nathan reluctantly dropped his gaze to the floor and nodded.

'Well stop asking questions. Practice is at 5.30 meet in the gym and start going through it beforehand.' White rolled his eyes at their silence. 'Ok I'll see you later co-captains.' He said with a smile.

Nathan rolled his eyes pulling himself up from his chair. Lucas had already gone.

'Hey…' He said sprinting after him.

'What?'

'What time will we meet to practice?'

'So you actually want me to coach you?' Lucas said.

'Not coach me…'

'That's not what Whitey said..'

'You're showing me a shot Lucas that doesn't mean your coaching me..' Nathan snarled closing his eyes as he willed himself to calm down.

'Well this is going to be a real picnic.' Lucas griped.

'Just meet me in the gym at half 4.' Nathan retorted.

'Nah if we're doing this it's the rivercourt.'

'Fine the rivercourt, whatever.' Nathan mumbled as he walked on ahead of him. He spotted Haley as soon as he entered the classroom an automatic smile appearing on his face. He hadn't seen her since they woke up in their crumpled clothes yesterday morning and had to scurry back to his room. He couldn't really grip how he was feeling around her now, almost like a hesitant freshman, he was usually fluid in his movements and his conversation, now he felt awkward and clumsy. He'd told her he wanted to be with her and that was it. His head was still reeling over what had happened between them. He was nervous as he watched her doodling on her notebook, he wondered now that she had time to think would she have started to regret it. Almost on instinct she lifted her eyes from her notebook as he passed her row and gave him a reassuring smile.

He paused as he passed her, people were still shuffling in the room creating enough commotion for him to talk to her. Nathan grabbed one of his graded tests from his schoolbags placing it on her desk as if he was showing it to her. Haley smiled catching on to what he was doing.

'Are you free tonight?' He asked her quietly.

'I've got to work the evening shift at the café.' She whispered.

'How about I walk you home?' He said softly.

Haley smiled. 'I'd like that.'

His hand slipped over the page in a rather innocent move barely brushing against hers but still a touch enough for the scurry of butterflies to cascade through her.

XXXXX

'Fadeaway is weak man…' Nathan grumbled as he wiped the sweat from his brow with his training top. They'd been practising almost an hour and were no better for it.

'You're just saying that cause you can't make the shot…'

'Oh and you can..' Nathan said with an eye roll.

'Yea and Whitey needs you to.'

'Whatever I won many games before you came on the scene.'

'You know what maybe if you came down off your egotistic Dan Scott throne every once in a while you would see this isn't about you winning it's about the team..'

'Whatever you're no martyr you practically froze me out since you joined the team..'

'Because you hog the damn ball but hey I'm including you now and you refuse to play the damn shot.'

Nathan just rolled his eyes before he spotted the black Mercedes turning and driving back down the road by the court before coming to a halt. He sighed softly as he walked over there.

'Where are you going?'

'We're done here.' Nathan quipped easily as he walked over towards the car trying to carry that blasé attitude with him although his nerves were shot.

'You're a hard man to reach…' Daunte commented from the driver's seat.

Nathan slipped his hands into the pocket of his basketball shorts. 'I got you the ledger didn't I?'

'It wasn't there.'

'What?'

'You heard me. It wasn't there.'

'It was right where I found it. Nobody would have moved it I was the last person in that house before you.'

'Well it was gone and I'm trying to figure out if you were lying to me seen as you haven't even bothered to answer my call.'

'Fine I'll get it for you again but after that I'm done.'

Daunte just chuckled. That made Nathan feel even more uneasy.

'We made a deal Nathan.'

'I know and you said I didn't have to pay for you this but I'd rather pay you back the money instead I've already half of it saved.'

'You're sure?'

'Yea..' Nathan said feeling the tightness in his chest release a little.

'Right well it's tripled…'

'What?' Nathan blew out…'You…you can't do that.'

'Just call it interest for wasting my time. You have 2 weeks.'

'What is Nathan doing talking to that guy?' Keith commented as Lucas slid into the passenger side of the car.

He shrugged. 'I don't know we don't particularly chat you know.' He watched Keith's gaze linger on the car. 'Why?'

'Whatever he wants with Nathan it can't be good.'

XXXXX

'Go on…' Karen nudged Haley as she noticed the other Scott standing outside the door waiting for her.

Haley just smiled as she finished totting up the register. She didn't know why she had lied, had told Karen that she was tutoring him late on. Karen had been accepting of her giving Nathan a chance ever since she had decided to help him but she wasn't sure how accepting she would be of anything else progressing when Lucas didn't even know of their friendship. She wanted to involve Karen as little as possible in this mess although she had a feeling Karen knew what was going on, call it mother's instinct or something, Karen had always been like a second mother to her.

'night Karen.' Haley said with a smile.

'Night Haley, tell Nathan he can come in next time' Karen said smiling at the pair.

Nathan offered her a small smiled as she stepped outside. 'Hey..' Haley said softly.

'Hey…' He said, their eyes met intensely seemingly holding each other's gazes for longer than necessary.

'So…eh Karen said you can come inside you know..' Haley said breaking the staring contest between them. Was she imagining things or was this kind of awkward?

'OH yea….I just…' Nathan shrugged then his words falling away.

'It's too weird I get it.' Haley said.

'No…well yea.I just I don't want to make things any more difficult than they have to be.'

'Karen is catering the night of the finals win or lose, the afters is in there.' Haley said nudging her head inside. 'So it's not like you can't be in there and Luke knows that.'

Nathan nodded shuffling his hands into his pockets he offered her a reassuring smile. 'So you ready to go?'

'Yea..' Haley said softly. They fell into step beside each other as they walked through the town, the late spring evenings keeping the light and warmth late into the evening as they walked along, every now and again the path would narrow and their arms would brush against each other, even with the fabric coating his arms he could feel her. It felt nice.

'Eh Hales….'

'Hmm…' Haley hummed distractedly as she watched the ducklings in the water. They'd reached the docks now he couldn't help but smile at her juvenile ways. Something he found he was coming to really admire about her, the sense of lightness in her heart. 'Sorry…' She said as she caught him looking at her.

Nathan just smiled spotting the desk in the distance. 'Let's take a little detour.' He said as he walked further down the dock instead of crossing over to the other side of the road in the direction of Haley's house.

Haley followed along observing the bench he'd walked to, watching as he pulled himself up onto the top of it.

'You don't actually want a lesson do you?'

Nathan just cracked a smile at her. 'This can be like our bench.'

She smiled at his words as she used the seat to hop up beside him keeping a small space between them. They were in very public place after all, she knew them even sitting together like this would raise questions. In fact she knew Keith and Lucas were gone out of town tonight to a game but she wasn't taking any chances. If people were to find out about this she was going to the one to tell them.

'I was nervous earlier….I am nervous.' Nathan admitted then.

She watched his gaze looking out towards the water, he seemed even a little hesitant to look at her and when he did he saw the slight smile on her face. 'You're enjoying that…' Nathan said almost squirming even more.

'It's just funny seeing you this way….nervous with me.'

'I thought you might regret what happened Haley.'

Haley sighed running her hand through her blonde locks. 'Nathan I don't know what to say because part of me thinks no matter what I say you'll still be hung up on how it happened.'

'It should have been more for you.'

'Says who? If I wanted roses and candles I would have waited. I didn't want that, I wanted you why does it have to be more than that?'

'It doesn't.' Nathan said quietly his hand covering her at the edge of the table out of view. They smiled at each other.

'You know I'm beginning to think you're hanging around me too much…' Haley teased softly. 'Who would have thought you'd be the one to overthink this?'

That got a smile on his face. 'I missed you after I left yesterday I didn't want to leave it like that.'

She felt the warm sensations wash over her from his words, somedays it felt like she was discovering parts of him piece by piece, puzzle by puzzle, simultaneously full of adoration for him and saddened by the fact he somehow felt he had to hide this version of himself from the world.

Haley reached across leaving a gentle kiss on his cheek, lingering there inhaling his delicious scent, relishing in the roughness of his jaw against her lips.

'So this is our bench now.' Haley teased pulling back.

'I guess it's where we started.'

'Remember you brought that cup of coffee to try and sweeten me up..' Haley mused.

'It worked.'

'It wasn't the coffee.' Haley teased him.

'What was it my looks?'

'Nah I'm just a sucker for guys who are terrible at math.'

Nathan scoffed shaking his head at her words. 'That's cold Hales.'

She giggled, the sound sending shivers through him.

He smiled as he felt Haley rest her head on his shoulder.

'I like this version of us.' Haley teased then but the truth carried more honesty than playfulness.

'Me too.' Nathan said as he left a gentle kiss on the side of her head before looking back out towards the lake again.

XXXXX

'Ok Haley will you sit down if you fiddle with that bow anymore it's going to snap.' Peyton said.

'Sorry….ugh..' Haley said as she pulled the bow out of her hair. 'I'm just nervous I haven't really being at a party like this since…'

'Since what..you had hot sex with Nathan?' Peyton laughed at the glare Haley sent his way.

'Since we got close.' She corrected.

'Close is one way of putting it.' Peyton mused sarcastically.

Haley just gave Peyton a look.

'He won't be able to keep his hands off you tonight you look hot.' Peyton said eying her friend's ensemble. Haley was wearing a blue halter, ravens colour alongside a black denim mini skirt.

'I can't believe all girls have to wear blue just to get inside the door.' Haley said as she grabbed the blue ribbon again placing it into the crown of her hair. The guys had won their semi-final game tonight and won their place in the state championship. It had been a big night for the town, Whitey, and the boys themselves. It had been years since Whitey had led a team to the state final.

'I swear Brooke did that so I wouldn't come, she knows I only wear black.' Peyton pointed out as she fussed with the ridiculous blue-ribbon Brooke had gave them for their cheer routine and insisted they keep on for the party.

'Please I actually think she has a girl crush on you.' Haley quipped. 'Didn't you two bond in the hotel last weekend?'

'Yea and if I remember correctly it was because you and lover boy hogged my hotel room.'

Haley just smiled as she tossed back more drink from the flask.

'Your drinking that awful fast.' Peyton mused.

'I need it.'

'Haley what are you so nervous about?'

'I'm nervous about seeing him…I dunno why I'm excited to see him I didn't get to after the game but it's it won't be the same in a house full of people you know..'

'Well you could always pounce on him in his car again..'

'Shut up..' Haley said pretending to fire her hair brush Peyton's way.

'It's kind of funny.'

'It's not I knew I shouldn't have told you that.'

Peyton just smiled. 'Just give him a hug when you see him like I will. Maybe now's your shot to take that step forward in public you know…'

Haley nodded. 'I guess. We just need to be careful.'

XXXXX

The party was well underway in Brooke's house by the time the team arrived, music booming, sticky drink stained floors, couples grinding - it felt like another lifetime since he'd been at a party like this and he was quickly rediscovering he never really was a fan anyway. It had just being another distraction from his life.

Funny how he used to anticipate their encounters at these parties, they'd actually provided him with some fun. Now he just wanted to see her because he simply missed her and hoped that people were drunk enough that they could find some borrowed time together without it becoming a thing to other people.

Nathan scoped out Brooke's large kitchen and dining room seeing no sign of Haley or Peyton. He glanced to his right where Lucas was already heading out the door no doubt looking for them also and Nathan scurried through the crowd behind him. He stopped as he made it to the dining room door barely able to stop his jaw from dropping open at the sight of her dancing in the living room with Bevin and then Brooke of all people. He could hear her laughter across the sound system, he was pretty sure his ears had always autotuned that perfect sound.

He watched as she gave Lucas a big hug, she hadn't seen him after the game either and then they pulled back and Lucas seemed to be in conversation with Brooke. Brooke's eyes were sparkling at Lucas, a different kind of happy on her features and Nathan wasn't sure what to make of that. He was worried for Brooke. They weren't together, they were just having fun. His eyes shifted over to Haley again finding her giving him a cheeky wink , he couldn't help but break out into a wide smile at her and in seconds she had made her way over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She ducked her head down breathing in his scent, her hot breath had tingles shooting through him. To onlookers it was a simple congratulatory hug, to them it was a moment they'd waited all evening for.

'Haley…' Nathan hedged his face forming a slight frown as she pushed her body closer into his. This was going to start looking like more if they didn't separate..

'Hm…' She said as she pulled back smiling at him. Then he got a proper look at her, noticing her slightly glazed over eyes, her usually cautious stance completely relaxed as her hand trailed down his arm.

He didn't want to pull away from her but he dropped his arm immediately. Lucas was only a few feet away.

'How much have you had to drink?' Nathan wondered.

'Hmm not enough.' Haley teased with a big smile as her hand not so subtly found his. She glanced up at him through those beautiful doe-like eyes of her, subtly biting her lip and he felt that compelling rush of adrenaline run through him. Fuck. He wanted her bad. Her hand barely grazed his and had electric jolts passing through him. The way she was looking at him now…

'Whoa ok you do know you two are totally having eye sex and Lucas is across the room..' Peyton teased as she came up with Jake.

'Jake you're here….' Haley said getting all excited.

Jake's eyes widened a little barely catching onto her as she jumped into him.

'Well so much for being inconspicuous.' Peyton mumbled to Nathan.

'Watch her will you I'm going to get some water.' He said as he side stepped through the crowd and made his way back into the kitchen.

Haley pulled back from Jake then. 'Where did he go?'

'Who?' Lucas said as he'd now appeared at the doorway.

'No one.' Peyton quipped. 'Hey Jake, this is my friend Luke from school…' She said watching as realisation hit him. Funny there was definitely a similarity there between brothers but they also looked starkly different. 'Hi man congrats on tonight.'

'So what's your story?'

'OakLake don't worry I never played on the team I'm all for ravens.'

'go Ravens.' Haley cheered as the other laughed.

'Haley do I need to remind you what happened in Raleigh?' Lucas chuckled

'What happened in Raleigh?' Jake said amused.

'Oh nothing we just went on a late-night trip for ice cream.' Haley filled in.

'Ice cream..' Lucas scoffed.

Nathan came back as the gang of four of them were laughing in the hallway, he paused in his step. Peyton noticed him tilting her head telling him to come over and join, he hesitated and then just slipped the red cup of water into her hand as he turned back around and went into the kitchen.

Peyton sighed as she handed the cup to Haley.

'What's this?' she said.

'Nathan's special.' Peyton said with a knowing look as they two boys beside them were engaged in conversation.

She caught the look on Haley's face and tilted her head back mouthing the words. 'He's in there.'

Haley slipped away quietly into the crowded kitchen.

'Oh did you get my special?' Brooke said all excited as she glanced in grimacing at the see-through liquid in Haley's cup. 'Eww…'

'Are you ok?' Nathan said as he walked up behind Brooke now holding a red cup himself.

'Yea this isn't very nice.' Haley mumbled sheepishly.

Brooke smirked knowingly. 'Ok knock it in girlie then you can have my special.'

Haley wondered if she was really that floozy or had Brooke just called her girlie. Were they becoming friends?

'She's had enough.' Nathan said.

'She can speak for herself.' Brooke teased Nathan.

'I feel great.' Haley mused with a smile as she left the red cup on the counter and went closer to Nathan only she stumbled a little.

'Woah…' Nathan said, his arms reaching out to steady her hips. 'Ok you sit.' He said as he effortlessly lifted her up onto the counter. 'Jeez Hales what were you drinking?'

'Peyton had this like special vodka from Russia.'

'Russian vodka huh..' Nathan said amused as he and Brooke laughed at her silliness.

'I love her when she's drunk.' Brooke teased as she filled up a cup of special for herself and decided to leave Haley's out. She was sure Nathan would have a canary if she filled her up with more drink.

'yo Nate…' Tim said as he shouted him across the kitchen. 'Teams having a vodka pong competition get over here..'

'Looks like you're being called up superstar…' Haley teased him her hands coming to rest on his shoulders, she was slightly less cautious with the drink flowing through her system.

Brooke smiled at the interaction between them, the closeness, the comfort they seemed to get from each other. She'd never seen them together only that one time at the bar for Jake's gig and that night they hadn't being that close. Now it was as though they craved each other's touch ,needed it almost, even in her house jam packed with people they were subtly or in Haley's case not so subtly trying to be close to one another.

'You hear her super star you better go.'

Nathan crossed his eyes at Brooke's words reluctantly pulling away from Haley. He picked up the red cup of water then handing it to her. 'Will you finish that..'

'Ok.' She said smiling softly, her eyes catching his.

'Nathan…' Another guy from the team shouted now. He gave her leg a gentle rub before he pulled away from her.

Brooke smiled as she watched them. 'So do you want ice with that water?'

'I'm going to try your special it looks nice.' Haley said.

'Oh no I do not want to be on that side of Nathan tonight.'

'He's not my boss.' Haley mused.

'No but he cares about you a lot,. I've never really seen that side of him, it's sweet.'

XXXXX

It was well over an hour later by the time Nathan made it back into the kitchen after several rounds of vodka pong challenges in the garden he felt a little tipsy himself. He clumsily walked over to the faucet filling his cup up with water drinking it back. He noticed Brooke place the key beside him.

'Upstairs last bedroom to your left. I told her to lock the door incase any horny jocks tried to get in.' Brooke said brazenly before adding softly. 'I thought you might like to take her home.'

Nathan smiled a little at that. 'Thanks Brooke.'

Nathan made his ways upstairs grateful it seemed much quieter up here. He came to a halt at the door tapping on it softly and waited. not a sound. Nathan slipped the key in the door turning it glancing behind him before slipping inside and locking it behind him. He chuckled a little at the sight of her laid out on the bed her legs curled up at her side giving him ample view of her bare legs. Nathan slipped off his runners before laying on the other side of the bed next to her. He slipped his arm around her waist cuddling her into his side. 'you're really not a drinker are you?' Nathan teased her softly.

Haley came out of her alcohol induced haze then. 'Why am I so crap at these parities?' She mumbled.

His body shaked a little as he laughed. 'I happen to think your good fun…'

'Oh well that's cause you and Brooke were laughing at me…'

Nathan smirked; they were simple words really but they were nice to hear. It felt like they weren't as separated as they once were, Haley had been hanging around him and Brooke tonight and it felt normal. 'Are you feeling ok?' He said then.

Haley shuffled a little turning in his arms. She nodded as she reached up kissing him gently, she didn't push for more and was just about to pull back when she felt his lips slant over hers, his tongue snaking through lips. Nathan moaned, her inherent taste mixed with the subtle hint of gin and elderflower had his senses his overdrive and the way she was whimpering, he involuntarily pushed his body against hers pressing her back into the mattress as he moved over her, his tongue dualling harder with hers, their kisses becoming more frantic, heated panting and breathing only spurring their lust further. Haley whimpered as she felt his hard member pressing against her thigh, a delicious tremor of anticipation building within her, the alcohol flooding her veins only seemed to heighten her sense of desperation for him, his movements were wanton and frantic and had the wetness pooling between her legs for him.

Nathan groaned loudly against her as he felt her hook her leg over him as she began to gyrate against him creating the most succulent friction. 'fuck….' He panted, his cock painfully hard at this stage, he knew if she touched him with her bare hand he would explode. Alcohol could attest to that, he was barely able to control himself now with her, there was something so erotic about being with her in this way, two lustful teenagers at a party, he knew this wasn't something Haley would do with just anyone but she would with him, that only turned him on even more, sometimes he'd had imagined it would be just like this; loose, no inhibitions, it only ramped up his desire for her even more and made it literally painful to pull away but somehow he did.

Both of them were breathing heavily as Nathan pulled back completely off her, he was leaning up on his hands now creating a safe distance between them. Haley was looking up at him through slightly glassy eyes.

'I should get you home.' Nathan said softly as he tucked a peace of blonde hair behind her ear.

Nathan and Haley walked side by side along the pathway from Brooke's house. Nathan smiled as she linked her arm through his. 'I'm a little wobbly.' She admitted.

'I could give you a piggy back.'

Haley smiled as she leant her shoulder against him. 'I'm ok here for now.'

'Nathan.'

'Yea..'

'Why do we never go back to your place?'

Nathan halted then surprised by that question. Truthfully, it had been a no go for him for one specific reason but that didn't really matter anymore.

'I'm sorry I just blurted that out I shouldn't have just sprung that on you…'

'It's ok…' Nathan said as he continued walked then and Haley followed. 'Honestly Hales I didn't ask you because I didn't want you to feel under pressure….and I know that doesn't really matter now.' Nathan sighed; he was really shit at vocalising his thoughts. 'Now I guess I just I'm not sure, it happened so fast between us….'

'I felt like maybe I wasn't enough or….'

Nathan halted again this time turning to face her. She watched his eyes watching hers like he didn't believe her words. 'How could you say that?' His voice was soft, almost as if her words had hurt him somehow. His expression looked a little pained, he felt floundered every time he caught a glimpse of her vulnerability in this way, couldn't understand how self-conscious she could be, how she couldn't see her greatness.

Haley just shrugged shyly. 'I've never been with anyone …in that way before..' She felt her cheeks flush a little with embarrassment, was grateful for the darkened night now.

'Hales I would have slept with you that night again and the next morning, I wanted to….I just this is different.' Nathan expelled a breath knowing she possible didn't want to hear this but he had to tell her. 'I've slept with 3 other girls and that was just once. I've never slept with the same person twice so in ways this is a big deal for me too.'

'Just 3 other girls…I thought it was more.'

Nathan rolled his eyes. 'That's all you heard?'

'What you know everyone called you Fabio.'

Nathan just shrugged. 'So I liked the attention, that was it.'

Haley just rolled her eyes playfully as she linked her arms through his again and they fell into a comfortable silence as they walked.

'Dad's been really angry the last few days, I didn't want to go home tonight but I didn't know how to tell you without inviting myself over.'

'Haley you can always come to me you know that right?'

'I know.' Her voice came out shaky, the strength of his words and the emotions they stirred within her had her feeling like she could combust and sink to the floor all at once.

'I get it you know.' Nathan continued knowing he couldn't push her on this, it's funny how they both always seemed to know when to push further and when to hold back with each other, it was instinctive. 'In ways Jimmy is a lot like Dan, it's funny how we seemed to push back at each other because of that.'

'Do you think it would have been different if we'd being friends? Would they have been different?' Haley pondered softly her head fallen to rest on his shoulder again as they walked along.

Nathan sighed. 'We couldn't be so they wouldn't be.'

'What are we going to do?' She whispered. 'If dad found out about us he'd disown me I know he would.'

Nathan didn't know what to say, felt Haley would be much better off without her father in her life but he was effectively telling her then she would be better off with no family. He wanted to get to the bottom of Jimmy's mind games for that very reason, now he just wanted to separate himself for it entirely, he didn't want anything to do with it. He would protect Haley at all costs and let the world take care of her father.

Daunte was still on his mind, had being hanging around by the rivercourt. Had threatened him. He'd being an idiot to accept his offer in the first place, the money had helped but he wished he hadn't of got tied up in what he wanted.

'It's going to be ok Haley.' He promised her, she gave his arm a slight squeeze and he wished he believed his words himself.