Chapter 26

Nathan was skirting their room like a mad man, fingers running through his ragged hair, tugging on the ends muttering expletives to himself.

Lucas watched highly amused flicking through his study notes.

Even the way his thumb licked the page to turn the paper was driving Nathan crazy.

'Stop doing that.' Nathan said pointedly.

Lucas did it again with a smirk meeting Nathan's deathly glare. 'Did you agree to this?' He spat at Lucas then. He was still pacing heedlessly, hands running through his ravens locks which had grown considerably.

'What?' Lucas said innocently.

'Don't fuck with me Luke….Brooke set this up so that tells me you knew something about it…'

'She didn't go about setting it up. So what? The guy got talking to them at the party last week, he's in my literature class.'

Of course he's in your literature class. 'Great they're probably gonna bond over Gatsy and their love of writing while the world sleeps.'

Lucas smirked. 'Its Gats-By and that's a total cliché but maybe use it on Haley right now it's probably all you got going for you.'

Another deathly glare.

'It's one date Nathan she isn't thrown in her relationship status by agreeing to go out with him.'

'Whatever this isn't good Luke. How can she go on a date with him? '

'I don't know maybe cause he actually went and asked her.' Lucas responded.

Nathan was glaring at him now just as Brooke bounced in the door.

'Could you two be any more obvious? You know we could hear your little girlie spat from Haley's bedroom.'

'Could you be any more of a bitch what you do get her all dressed up and put on loads of nice make up on her?'

Brooke gave Lucas a look and he just smirked bemused by the whole thing before she turned back to Nathan. 'That's exactly what I did maybe she'll even feel a little wanted.'

'What that supposed to mean?

'It means you need to get your finger out and ask her on a real date if you want to! No one is getting in your way only you..' Brooke huffed at him.

'I was…'

'Don't say you were going to…' Brooke interrupted. 'You're waiting for the right time, there is no right time Nathan, Haley has put her heart on the line for you twice might I add and when have you done the same for her? You need to fight for her..'

'I am fighting for her…'

'No you're not, your being the nice Nathan respecting her wishes or whatever…where's the guy from tree hill high who actually had a bit of balls and went after what he wanted?'

'Haley cut them off.' Lucas joked.

'Shut up.' Nathan said glaring at his brother

Brooke softened then. 'Look I know you went down with her to tree hill before Christmas and explained things but you didn't fight for her did you.'

'I started to.' Nathan admitted softly.

'So finish it.' Brooke said as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

'Where is she?' Nathan said as Lucas just started smirking, oh he could see how this was going to end up.

'I don't mean finish it tonight ..' Brooke said with an eye roll. Men. 'I mean tomorrow or whenever, gosh for a guy waiting for the right time you sure know how to pick a bad one.'

'Just tell me Brooke.' Nathan demanded.

Brooke rolled her eyes, knew what the younger Scott was like when he got like this, his hot headedness coupled with his likelihood to act impulsively on his emotions often meant he just would not back down.

'No you're not doing that to her this is her first date since Ed….

'Since Ed…' Nathan frowned then the wheels turning in his head. 'Who is he?'

'Oh just some guy she dated once in college for like a month she promised me to not tell you. Either of you'

'She made a promise with the wrong girl.' Lucas said still smiling.

Brooke shot him a look. 'She was drunk and clearly still hung up on this idiot.' Brooke said waving a hand towards Nathan.

'Jee thanks Brooke I really like having you around.'

'Oh you know I love you like the long-lost brother I never had and wish I never found.'

'That's completely contradictory.' Lucas mumbled.

'So she's been seeing other guys?'

'No she's being sitting on her pretty little ass waiting for you.' Brooke goaded him.

'Just tell me where she is.'

'No…'

'Brooke…'

'No this is her first date in ages and you're not going to ruin it, besides what exactly is your plan Mr I'm a little too late…'

Lucas just shook his head at the familiar bickering between the pair. 'You two do know I'm trying to study here.'

'My plan is to rescue her from this asshat and take her on a real date…' Nathan said breezily.

'Chase is a cool guy.' Lucas interred only to receive a very pissed off look form Nathan. 'I thought you were trying to study.'

Lucas rolled his eyes. 'Oh just tell him Brooke besides this could be funny you do realise you're going to make a complete ass of yourself.'

'Oh you mean like the time you did when you were the first order from Brookes store and then had to lie about it.' Nathan said smugly as he crossed his arms over himself.

'You were my first order?' Brooke said all excited.

'Will you tell him where she is so we both have some peace?' Lucas said dropping the books giving up. 'You do realise if you don't he'll just go looking for her.'

'Fine..' Brooke sighed 'They're at landspark outdoor cinema…..' Nathan was already hedging towards the door. 'And please don't be a dick…'

Lucas scoffed at that.

'Thanks Brooke.' His voice was already in the distance.

'You owe me big time…I mean like 5 nights with the scrunchie on this door for me and Lucas.' Brooke hollered after him.

'Well if tonight goes to plan for him maybe he will be sharing with Haley.' Lucas said then.

Brooke just shook her head. 'He's going to make an ass of himself isn't he.'

'I'd nearly go down just to watch it play out.'

'Honey we've got the apartment to ourselves for the first time in forever.' Brooke winked at him.

'On second thought.' Lucas smirked as she walked over towards him.

XXXXX

'Hey…'

Haley started choking on her soda the icy drink juggling in her hands as she coughed before glancing to the side, there was just no way. Absolutely no way.

And yet there was.

Nathan sent her that cocky smirk of his the one what made her go weak in the knees. And she couldn't help but check him out, call it natural instinct, automatic reaction or whatever - her eyes were always drawn to him. Always. Why should tonight be any different even if she was on a date with this lovely guy who was dressed so well - still her heart hammered at the sight of the other boy beside her, dressed rather casually in a Gilmore basketball hoodie his hair completely askew he still looked unfairly sexy.

Chase looked across at the guy bewildered by the fact he'd pulled a beanbag up beside them when clearly couples were in pairs across this particular piece of quad.

'You know this guy?' He said to Haley who seemed completely thrown off.

'Eh…'

'I'm her boyfriend..' Nathan said easily.

'Boy-friend…' Chase said slowly not really understanding.

'He's not my boyfriend…' Haley said speedily which really made it seem like she was lying now. Just bloody great.

'Well I was we just had a little break but we're back on track now.' Nathan teased igniting that fire in her eyes, god it had been a while since he'd seen such anger directed at him, almost felt nostalgic for how they'd denied their feelings for so long as teenagers.

'A little break.. ' Haley said glowering at him. He seemed to smirk more. What the hell is he on? She briefly wondered if he got some of that weed from their whacky neighbour next door and smoked it.

'Nathan what the hell are you doing?' Haley gritted out.

'So he is/was your boyfriend?' Chase said growing impatient now as he heard Haley call him by his name.

'Yes…was..but it's not what you think, it was 2 years ago…excuse Nathan's concept of time he was never really good at Math.' Haley said before she turned back to her old flame giving him that look.

Oh how he used to receive that look from her all the time has teenagers. There was something oddly thrilling about the fact he could still wind her up like he used to years ago.

'I never had a chance man. My tutor was really hot.' He quipped to Chase who was halfway between getting properly rattled off or laughing at this completely bizarre situation.

'Haley…'

'Chase it's ok. Nathan will be leaving now.' Haley said pointedly as if she were talking to a child.

She waited for his defiance, his cocky remark, something, anything but what he said had her completely floundered. Trust Nathan to pull the rug out from under her just when she was finding solid ground again.

'Oh no I think I'll stay this could be quiet entertaining.' He said wiggling his eyebrows at Haley. Her eyes widened; she couldn't believe the nerve of him. He was properly pissing her off now.

'You look beautiful.' Nathan whispered and she did. The smoky eye look was ravishingly alluring on her and yet the teal lace hemmed long sleeve top she had on accentuated her beauty even further. Her blonde locks were pinned in a side pony. She really was just beautiful.

Her heart may be dancing but her eyes lit with fire. 'What are you trying to prove Nathan?' Haley whispered heatedly.

'Nothing I was just planning on asking you out here tonight too you know.'

'To this exact movie at this exact time?' She quipped an eyebrow raised at him.

'Yea…'

'Do you even know what's showing?..'

''It's about dogs…' Nathan said then smugly having glanced quickly at the screen to which Haley just rolled her eyes. 'Talking ones.'

'You wouldn't even like this.'

'How do you know I wouldn't like this?' He said not really caring but just grateful he could keep conversation going with her in some way even with this douche beside them.

'Cause you hate movies where animals talk…'

'From the girl who told me she finds outdoor cinema dates cringey…' He challenged her with a raised eyebrow of his own.

'That's so I wouldn't have to go with you.'

He just smirked at that. 'I think you just knew you wouldn't be able to do anything with me in public and you couldn't resist me so that's why we never went…'

'No its cause I hate you..'

'Well look at that we've come full circle..' Nathan teased enjoying the fire speckling her amber eyes even more. Passion, even if it wasn't the outlet he wanted it would always be there between them. They both knew it.

'Just excuse us…' Haley said to Chase as she all but dragged Nathan around the back of the large cinema screen.

'You know this is the first nice date I've had in a long time where I've got dressed up and have felt good so you better have a damn good reason for ruining my entire night ….' Haley huffed crossing her arms over herself as she watched him.

'Haley you made a mistake going on that date..' Nathan said softly then gearing himself up for what he needed to say although now he couldn't even coherently gather his thoughts yet alone express them. She looked even more beautiful now directly under moonlight.

Her eyes flared .' I made a mistake.' Haley scoffed. 'Tell me which time Nathan, did I make a mistake going on this date or maybe I made a mistake going on our first ever date cause you know it's been a real shit show since then..'

His eyes closed painfully.

'Not what you wanted to hear huh is it Nathan? God I put myself out there again and you try and knock me and make a mockery of my date by the way.'

'I wasn't trying to make a mockery of it.' Nathan promised softly.

'Then what are you trying to do Nathan?' She pressed.

'I'm trying to win you back.' He said stepping a little closer to her.

'You never lost me you pushed me away .' She said softly then watching the flash of hurt cross his features it's not she was trying to hurt him - she didn't want to. But it was the truth.

'I know that Haley god I've spent every minute these last few months with you wishing I hadn't….I've struggled so much in this state of limbo we're in trying to be your friend while trying to hold back from kissing you every time we cross paths in the kitchen and you get a little too close or hug you when you come in the door from work…..and I know the last time we were in a state of limbo you put yourself on the line for us and now it's my turn…' His hands slipped into his pockets then, his feet shuffled with the drabs of grass beneath their feet; a sure sign he was nervous.

'Nathan we can't do this here…' Haley said meekly.

'I'm done waiting for the right time Haley there is no right time….I'm in love with you, madly actually.'

Her eyes met his then in wide surprise, twinkling over with surface heartfelt tears.

'I always have been…so much so that I wanted you to have everything even if it meant sacrificing what we had, I know I was wrong and I spent all summer thinking of ways to tell you that. Then when I saw you at Karen's wedding all of that left me, I just couldn't even formulate words you just looked even more beautiful than I remembered.' He said softly, there was a raw hoarse edge to his voice.

'Nathan..' Her voice broke with emotion.

'I want to be with you Haley and look you can date Chase or whoever all you want I'll be third wheeling every single one of them until I prove that I'm not going to step out on us again, I couldn't.

'Please say something.' He said softly after too much time had passed in silence between them, he shifted nervously.

'I don't….god Nathan…' Haley said tugging at the hair in her side ponytail. 'You can't just rock up here when I'm on a date no less and say all these things to me, things I've always wanted to hear ….'

'I know that.' He countered.

'And yet you still did it…'

'Of course I did Haley…..god I know I have had to do a lot of grown up since we were last together but with you…sometimes I just feel like that boy in high school again and it's kind of exciting but it also scares the hell out of me….you make me nervous, you always have….I'm trying here Hales, I know my timing sucks it does but I just can't just be friends with you anymore, its near impossible..'

'Even if that's what I wanted..'

His eyes implored hers. 'It isn't though is it?' He said stepping closer to her finally closing the gap between them. 'I can feel it.'

She let out a shaky breath as she felt his warm breath whisper across her cheeks, her temperature sky rocketed. Her eyes lifted to his as he leaned closer. 'We can't…' She got out somehow and she didn't for the life of her know how she managed to break out of the pull between them. 'Not here…I'm on a date Nathan, I can't do that to him.'

He closed his eyes as he took a step back.

'I can't.' She iterated again. 'Look I've got to get back.'

He looked dejected as he nodded his head. 'I'm sorry.' Haley said softly as she watched him, she wasn't even sure what she was apologising for now when he's the one that really shouldn't have initiated this conversation at this time, still knowing all that it was hard to turn away from him after what he said.

'Me too, more than you'll ever know.' Nathan said softly before he turned and walked away.

XXXXX

Nathan continued skimming stones out across the surface of the water, only the sound of droplets permeated the cool night air now, the moonlight paving a way across the slightly rippled waters.

'Well if basketball doesn't work out maybe you can make a sport out of water skimming.'

Her voice carried even more serenely in moonlight, the hairs on his arms weren't raised from the cold. Nathan glanced to the side where Haley was walking towards him her hands resting casually in the pockets of her denim jeans her blonde waves now flowing freely from her discarded ponytail.

'How'd you find me?' He said softly skimming another stone across the water.

Haley smiled. 'You did always go to the water you know.' She noted.

He looked at her again before peeling his eyes back onto the lake before him.

'So did you date let you walk home in the dark?'

'No he walked me here.' Haley said easily as Nathan tired hard not to roll his eyes. 'He didn't want anything more to do with me after my crazy ex appeared…'

'Crazy huh?' Nathan mumbled.

'Just a little.' Haley teased softly. Nathan slid his hands into his pockets, he noticed from his side profile her stepping closer to him, her scent was wafting around him now.

He didn't know what to make her of her being here, he liked it but he also wasn't sure he could take another encounter tonight which would lead to one of them walking away from each other.

'Who would have thought you'd end up being the Brooke in this relationship….' Haley mused as she stepped right up beside him. He was acutely aware just how close she was.

'Relationship?...' Nathan said with questionable eyes as he turned to face her. He couldn't help but smile at how tiny she was standing before him now; it had been a while since they stood this close.

'If you'll still have me..' She said softly offering him a playful smile.

His heart riveted in his chest. His eyes widened, lightened almost like the young boy she once knew. 'You mean….we…' He stuttered and she saved him.

'Everything you said….I want all of that Nathan I do..' Her heart was pounding as she watched his eyes reacting in astonishment, the smile tickling his lips. 'But if we're to do this Nathan we have to let go of the ways things happened, no more holding on….these past few weeks we've just been who we are now without all of that and in ways it's what brought me here tonight.'

Nathan smiled at her words slipping his hands from his pockets he grasped onto her much smaller ones relishing in the warmth of them, the feel of them enclosed in his again. The simplest touch, action and moment with Haley was always his undoing. 'This version of us…away from our dad's and all of that messy history is what matters Haley.' They shared a smile with each other then, the gravity of this moment and the simple gesture it was entwined in not lost on either of them.

'You know I think if we didn't have all that history with our dads I might have married you in high-school..' He teased then, that boyish smirk of his ever present.

Haley scoffed. 'So what are you proposing to me now?'

'Maybe.' He goaded as the two of them laughed. 'God I missed that sound.' He said softly then as one hand came up to frame back the loose blonde wisps of hair framing her face.

'I missed laughing with you.' Haley said softly and his lips softly captured hers, she moaned gently as their lips fell into a slow rhythm neither pushing for more just lingering gentle kissing that belie the softness of the moment between them.

After several minutes Nathan reluctantly pulled away smiling softly at the blush that tinted her cheeks, it was magical after all this time.

'I guess I should get you home.' He said softly then as his hand grasped onto hers again ready to walk her alongside him.

'Or we could stay here just a little while longer.' Haley pondered. 'I kind of want to hold onto this moment for as long as possible.'

Nathan answered with that gorgeous grin of his as he pulled her in against him and captured her lips once more.

XXXXX

Haley giggled as his hands ran further up the back of her blouse fingering the back strap of her bra. 'Nathan…' She said playfully as they made out heatedly.

'What?' He mumbled against her lips knowing exactly what he was doing.

'Hands..' She said coyly as she pulled back a little giving him that not so innocent smile of hers.

'Your evil you know that?' He goaded giving her a not so innocent grin of his own.

'Oh I'm the evil one I was just sitting on my couch innocently watching tv when my boyfriend came along and not only took my seat but pulled me up on top of him…'

'It's much comfier this way..' Nathan smirked.

'Not really.' Haley countered. 'This hard thing keeps poking into me.'

'Oh does it huh?' He said raising his eyebrows playfully at her.

'Yea must be the remote although it feels too small to be the remote…'

Nathan shook his head at her. 'You don't want to go there Hales you know I'll prove you wrong every time…' He teased as he pulled her further into his lap pressing her centre right against him so she could feel all of it. Haley's gasp was swallowed by his mouth on hers again as they devoured each other oblivious to anything else around them.

'OH god….' Lucas grimaced wanting to pull out his eyes again. 'What's that the fifth time in the past two days…'

'you know that couch hasn't been stain guarded and I'm calling dibbs on it.' Brooke mused as she came in behind him with the shopping bags.

'Has it only being 2 weeks?' Lucas mumbled to Brooke refusing to look at the loved-up pair.

Nathan chuckled as a deep blush spread across Haley's cheeks.

'He's seen us loads I don't know why you're embarrassed.' He teased only to receive a slap on the arm.

'You know I'm not into Pda…' She countered.

'Could have fooled me Hales you're the one that seduced me in my car all them years ago at a very public event…'

'Nathan…' she admonished feeling her cheeks flush even further despite herself.

'What's going on with you two now?' Brooke said easily as she sauntered into the living room just as Haley scrambled off his lap. 'He's being a jerk..'

'So what's new?' Brooke mused. 'Some things never change.'

'And your being a bitch.' Nathan smirked. 'So when are you heading back to New York?'

Brooke crossed her eyes at him before grabbing the nearest pillow.

XXXXX

It was later on that evening now as Haley pottered about the kitchen stirring the pasta sauce before going back to thumbing through the brochures on the countertop.

Nathan smiled as he watched her, she hadn't even noticed him as she was bopping about in her Haley like way. He found himself caught up in all the giddiness and disorientation almost of a first love lately, in ways they'd never allowed themselves to get lost in that before.

'Need a hand?' Nathan said as he closed the front door to the apartment.

Haley turned sharply her hand resting on her heart as she shook her head at him. 'You frightened me..' She scolded him playfully. Nathan just smiled at her as he walked over dropping his gear bag at the foot of the counter before leaning in and leaving a gentle kiss on her cheek.

'College brochure huh?' He said with a smile.

Haley peeled herself away from the counter going to check on the sauce before she walked back over. 'Yea you know how in March colleges do that crazy thing where they want you to get your life decisions made for the next 9 months in like the space of a week….' Haley rambled out. 'which I'm like totally surprised by the way that no union has ever kicked up a fuss….'

'Woah…ok…' Nathan chuckled at her incessant rambling and fussing she couldn't even turn the page in the brochure.

Haley lew out a breath. 'Sorry..' She smiled as she felt him slip his arms around her from behind.

'It's different this time, whatever you decide we are together.'

'I know.' Haley mumbled softly. 'I just don't want to leave.'

'Well maybe I could come with you we have options Hales..'

'No your doing so well here with the team and Whitey and if your transferring into the physio course here it's all working out.'

'It would work out anywhere I can do physio in another college granted it won't be ivy league.' He teased her good naturedly.

Haley cracked a smile at that.

'See my stupidness has you smiling.'

'You're not stupid.' Haley admonished him.

'You used to think so.' He teased her.

Haley just elbowed him from behind and his hands grabbed onto her sides even harder tickling her. She giggled and fussed against him begging him to stop.

He eventually did just that as he turned her around and in one smooth move hoisted her up onto the kitchen countertop. Leaving a button kiss on her nose he turned back around to check the sauce stirring it once more as he turned the cooker off.

'You finishing dinner for me now?' Haley watched him amusedly.

He smiled as he walked back over his arms coming to rest on the counter boxing her in. 'Anything for my girl.'

'Hmm anything…' Haley practically purred against him as she slid her arms around his neck. She could feel his lips curl into a smile as he kissed her neck.

'Anything.' He repeated in between a series of soft, succulent kisses.

Cause there is one thing I really want…' Haley sighed as he started nipping her neck.

'What would that be…' Nathan barely got out as he bit down on her weak spot. Haley moaned as she felt him marking her.

'Pasta…hmm it smells so good..' She moaned into his ear her body shivered at his husky laugh.

'Funny Hales…' He whispered hotly as he licked a trail right up her earlobe. She could feel the wetness pooling in between her legs just from his slick voice and succulent ministrations, insanely turned on and he hadn't even touched her body.

'God Nathan…' Haley whimpered as his continued to nip and lick at every part of skin in his way.

Nathan felt his member go painfully rigid from the combination of her heady moans, heavy breathing and the sweet, honey and salt taste of her skin. It was maddening how much he could combust without her ever putting her hands on him aside from the subtle grazing of her fingers at the nape of his neck.

He almost whined like a child pulling back from her but didn't' show it as he left a chaste kiss on her lips before he pulled completely away. 'We should probably heat this before it gets cold.' He said nonchalantly as he went back towards the counter.

Haley sat there her mind completely frazzled. What the fuck? The only thing that would be getting cold would be herself in an extremely cold shower after that….make out, or non-make out…hell she didn't even know what had just transpired between them but it was hot.

'Eh….Nathan…' She found herself almost beseeching him.

He turned around. 'Yea…'

Yea. Yea….is he serious I'll give him yea. 'I was joking.' Haley said giving him a look like he was losing it when clearly she was.

He smiled. 'I know but we probably should eat.'

'Ok what gives?'

'What?'

'You. I mean one second your all heavy petting and now you just want pasta..'

Nathan chuckled at her sitting there her legs swinging for added dramatic effect.

Haley looked even more like a petulant child as she pouted at him. 'Why are you laughing at me?'

'Heavy petting….I don't think I've heard that since the 8th grade.' Nathan teased her.

'Well how about you go all 8th grade on me and get back over here.' She mused.

Nathan opened his mouth to speak but the words wouldn't come out.

'Nathan…' Haley prompted softly.

He sighed running a hand through his hair as he paced back over to her leaning into leave a gentle kiss on her lips. 'After what happened in Brown I told myself that the next time would be different..' He said then as he pulled back from her.

'Us?'

'Well yeah sleeping together…'

Haley smiled knowingly. 'Okay but I happened to think the last time was pretty good…' She said playfully.

Nathan cracked a smile at that as Haley laced her arms around his neck.

'What's wrong?' She said softly as she observed the internal struggle play out across his face.

'I just….I left after we slept together the last time and I regretted how that happened Haley I never wanted you to feel like I used you for that.'

'You didn't.' Haley said earnestly.

'How could I not?'

'Because it's never been just sex at least not for me….don't you feel that?' Haley said as she ran her hands from the back of his neck slowly down his arms. Nathan tilted his head down as he watched her rake her nails over his bare arms leaving a trail of goose bumps in her wake until she reached his hands interlacing them with her own. 'We're not holding onto the past anymore Nathan.'

'I know…' He said softly.

'Kiss me.' Haley whispered the words barely carried in the air before his lips were on hers, their breaths mere grunts, the bodies instantaneously sparking at the touch as hands fumbled with buttons and zippers until both of them were scantily dressed. Haley gasped into his mouth as it opened wide over hers just as his calloused hands lifted her off the counter clumsy walking them over to the couch.

'I….don't think…..its stain guarded..' Haley barely got out between pants as he nipped and suck on her neck within an inch of his life. His laugh against her salty skin has shivers wracking her body as he mumbled against her neck. 'If you're worried about the couch Hales maybe we can just go back and eat the pasta..' He goaded her as he stopped walking but didn't halt on his ministrations on his neck.

Haley moaned in pleasure as she pushed her body into his enjoying the his low mewls on pleasure.

'It's not me whose going to have a big problem to take care of.' She whispered hotly in his ear smiling as he started walking them towards the couch again.

'Keep talking like that and I'm gonna have an even bigger problem.'

Haley giggled against him. Nathan smiled as he lay her down on the couch crawling over her watching her.

'What?' She said self-consciously then as she hovered over her his eyes tracing the features of her face like he was about to attempt her portrait.

He smiled softly, she felt her heart race even further as the atmosphere shifted between them from one of lust and impulse to soft, tender yearning.

'I just missed you, that giggle, your little mood swings, I missed how happy you make me…' He said softly.

Her tummy felt like liquid lava the kind that gushed from the heart. She wasn't sure if it was even possible to feel like this, to love him even more than before but here she was. 'I love you so much..' Her voice choked with emotion, she sighed contentedly as he leaned down slipping his tongue into the warm caverns of her mouth kissing her with everything in him. Haley whimpered as she felt him finally push inside of her his body pressing hers further into the couch as her legs wrapped around him, their sighs of contentment and pleasured whispered blissfully through the vacant space as they succumbed to each other after so long.

XXXXX

Her hand ran in soft circles around his chest as she blew little air bubbles down his navel.

Nathan shifted a little coming out of his sleepy haze. 'What are you up to?' He mumbled playfully.

Haley smiled. 'I'm hungry.'

Nathan chuckled at that. 'Well so was I but you had other plans.' He teased her.

'You couldn't even make it to the bedroom with me you were so…..' She smiled as his chest heaved under her from his laughing.

'So…' Nathan prodded could practically feel the heat from her cheeks. 'Horny is it Hales?' He chuckled further as she didn't say anything. 'I love how you can practically sit on that counter swinging those little legs of yours demanding sex and then you can't even say that word.'

'I did not demand sex.' Haley huffed as she leaned up from where she was curled inside the couch.

'There's those little mood swings I love.'

Haley crossed her eyes at the teasing grin on his face, that damn grin that used to drive her mad as teenager. 'Well it's a good thing I make you happy then cause your mood swings as a teenager gave even Peyton whiplash.' Haley goaded back.

Nathan's eyes widened in surprise the smirk ever present on his face 'OH you're gonna go there Hales.'

'I just did.' She countered smugly.

'Is that why you wanted me so bad? Did it turn you on?'

'What are you in 8th grade?' Haley threw back on him now.

Nathan just chuckled.

Haley just rolled her eyes playfully at him until he spoke up again.

'I did want you Haley but I never let myself…there was one night I almost.' He spoke softly then.

Haley just glanced at him curiously her lips parted in a whispered when.

'You remember my dad's annual kiss his ass Chambery?' Nathan mumbled rhetorically. 'Well it was junior year Lucas joined the team…'

'That was the first time I went to Dan's house to support him.' Haley mumbled softly.

'It was the first time I felt like cracking under the pressure of it all…my dad, the team…Luke being on in the teams, being in my world…with you. I just felt like giving it all up and Brooke knew that. She knew I was cracking.'

Haley looked at him curiously

'We got into a spit with each other which wasn't unusual for me and Brooke but this was just nasty even for us. I knew she was after Lucas so I tried to spoil that and she always had a hunch I was after you…she tried so hard to get me to crack that night…'

'Where the hell do you get off spreading that rumour about me? I never went around saying that about Luke and you know it.' Brooke fumed as she all but stomped over to Nathan in front of the crowd of young ones outside.

Nathan rolled his eyes. 'Oh I dunno probably since you told me you supposedly had my back.'

'Yea with Dan not with all the crap you've been pulling trying to get your own flesh and blood off the team?'

'Ah what's this the ice queen melting cause she fancies the poor boy?' Nathan scoffed.

Brooke's eyes were mere slits slicing through him standing there in her red halter dress, a cup of what Nathan would describe as poison sitting in the plastic cup by her waist. 'Kind of like the rich bad boy going after the girl next door don't you think?'

'Whatever.' Nathan growled lowly.

'What you gonna hate me now too cause of Lucas we both know that's the only reason you hate Haley.'

'You'd want to tone it down Brooke…' Nathan gritted out as they started getting the attention of their school mates around them.

'You finally fessing up or you finally denying it?' She quipped coolly.

'This has nothing to do with Haley.' Nathan spat back.

Brooke just smiled that wicked smile of hers before calling in the crowd around them. 'How about a game of truth or dare?' She hollered and of course the team started hollering like a crowd of chicks. Nathan rolled his eyes.

'Let me see I'll start and I dare Nathan.' She said pointedly.

'You're up man.' Tim shouted.

'I dare you…to show tutor girl how you really feel.' Brooke spewed with a smirk; the little reference of Haley's name lost on their teammates anyway.

Nathan just challenged her with a hard stare before walking away.

'Nathan….' Dan shouted after him as he stepped out the back of the house. Nathan kept walking.

'Nathan…'

'What?' He fumed turning around.

Dan rolled his eyes at his son's usual snarliness. 'Has that boy left yet?'

'That boy.' Nathan scoffed. 'You mean your son.'

Dan gave him the look.

Nathan just rolled his eyes. 'No he's out mingling with the team dad you know bonding maybe you should try it.'

'Don't use that tone on me. I told you to put the work in you little shit.'

'I'm off the court dad what the hell do you expect me to do?'

'Get him out of the way or you'll be off the court for good.'

Nathan turned away from him going down the steps of the patio onto the green where he kicked at the grass so heavily he unrouted it from the ground.

'Watch the daisies.' Haley said almost petulantly from where she was sitting in the shadows on their old wooden swing.

He almost found himself smiling at her words. Funny how'd she was the person he'd been running from at Brooke's words and she showed up anyway. Part of him felt like to hell with it, he didn't even know what the truth was to tell her.

That he was sorry? That he didn't want this life anymore. He stuck to shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his dress pants as his shoe worked over the grass he'd uprooted.

'I'm guessing you still make ridiculous bracelets with them flowers.' He said.

She chose to ignore his rebuking and defended herself without hostility. 'Yea.' She said easily watching as he stepped closer to her.

He looked so handsome. Always did but especially on nights like this when his suit jacket would be long discarded and his shirt cuffed up, a few buttons undone. It was sinly. Almost made her feel like throwing caution to the wind.

She could feel his eyes on her as he stepped closer his feet shuffled with the grass a little. Nathan couldn't stop his eyes from glancing down her petite body, oh so Haley in a simple blue denim skirt and tank top, her flip flops tossed underneath the swing, her hair in wild waves flowing down her back.

He swallowed hard. His throat felt incredibly dry now. 'What are you doing out here?' He asked her.

'I had a fight with Lucas.'

Her honesty was something he adored, even around him.

'You can smile now.' Haley told him.

He couldn't help but smile then. 'I'm not smiling at that.'

'Oh sure.' Haley refuted.

'I'm just smiling that you told me that. Why walk yourself into these things Haley?'

'I'm swinging can't you see and it's not like this night could get any worse.' She commented dryly then.

'That was lame.'

'What?'

'The swinging reference.'

'I liked it.' She refuted giving him a glare that was friendlier than more she sent his way.

'I had a fight with Brooke.' He admitted then.

'What you tell her she was changing too…' Haley said all too freely.

He quirked his head at that, an air of understanding over what had possibly transpired between her and Lucas. She didn't like that Lucas was entering this world.

'No quite the opposite actually I wish Brooke was changing her games are getting old.' Nathan mumbled as he leaned against the pole this time.

Haley observed him before bringing her focus back to her discarded flip flops as she swung softly. Anything to distract. This was the most they'd talking in years - and somewhat calmly.

It felt strange but what was even stranger it felt nice. IT wasn't lost on her that the last time they were in this garden together was when they were children.

'Only you would come to a party Haley and entertain yourself on a swing.' He goaded her.

She smiled despite his obvious dig, like her own it wasn't hostile and she welcomed it while wondering how easy it was to do so. It was as fresh as the air she breathed in this moment between them.

'Well that isn't much of a party.'

'I agree it is a suck fest. It always is.'

'Nathan Scott agreeing with me?' She pretended to be dumb founded holding her hand on her heart, the other lacing the frayed rope of the swing.

He smiled all too easily. 'Yea enjoy it it's not going to come around again you know.'

'Whatever I know you're always agreeing with me in your head anyway.'

'No you're the only person that has mini conversations in your head Haley..'

The way her name feel so easily , carried so softly in the light breeze had her arms coating Goosebumps despite her not feeling the chill from her swinging. She just gave him a look not trusting her voice before continuing to swing softly.

He smiled at her; she was so unlike any other girl here it was refreshing.

'I better get going.' Haley said softly as she struggled to simultaneously stop the swinging and reach to push her toes into her flip-flops. Damn her clumsiness and inherent lack of co-ordination.

'Here.' Nathan said just as smoothly again as in one swift motion he scooped up her flip flops motioning for her to hold out her feet as he slipped them in between her toes.

She almost felt her entire body shudder at the brief contact of his warm calloused hand against the delicate skin of her foot.

Her throat clamed up.

She wondered if he could feel it. The pull in the air between them.

'There.' He said.

'Thanks.' She said softly letting her legs swing down again as their eyes caught and she couldn't help but notice the night sky shining back at her. God his blue orbs looked even more striking in the black of night. What was happening?

'Nathan…'

The brisk squealing of Brooke had him grimacing.

Haley almost laughed at how he cowered behind the swing breathing out a breath of relief when she didn't come down the garden. Girl wouldn't risk ruining her shoes.

'What you fight over you stealing her hair gel or something..' Haley teased softly then.

He just laughed it off. It wasn't a look she seen often on him especially around her. Again, it was nice.

'Not exactly. Just a stupid dare.'

'What she want you to do?'

You. His eyes caught her again, he felt the night pulling him in as though they were drawn together here for a reason, he wanted to laugh at himself for the poetic crap his brain was spewing but another part of him so badly wanted to give into what Brooke asked of him and to hell with the consequences.

'Nathan…' Haley prompted pulling him from his thoughts.

'Doesn't matter.' He simply said before he walked away.

'Wow…' Haley said softly from where she was now back snuggled into his side. 'I thought it was just me that night.'

'I wanted to kiss you so bad.' Nathan admitted with a smirk. 'When I went back inside Brooke was panned out in my bedroom on the floor.'

Haley chuckled at that.

'And then the next morning she was all sad I didn't do it. She's being meddling for years you know but she was such a bitch about it, still is sometimes.'

'That's Brooke.' Haley agreed amused. 'That night at the swings my heart raced, the way you looked at me…..when you put on my shoes…'

Nathan smiled.

'If you kissed me what would it have been like?' Haley said softly as she leaned up again catching his sparkling eyes.

Nathan twisted around wrapping his arm around her waist pressing her back into the couch slowly as his lips hesitantly landed on hers kissing gently and succulently before running his tongue along her lips teasingly snaking it into her mouth and gliding it against hers just tasting and sucking, their contended whimpers becoming one.

'Hmm that would have been good…' Haley whispered breathlessly as he pulled away nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck.

'Yea…' Nathan agreed huskily as he relished in her delicious scent. He chuckled then as her tummy loudly grumbled. 'I suppose we better actually eat.' He reluctantly pulled himself of her standing up from the couch as he grabbed his boxers.

'Nathan…'

'Hmm…' He said as he caught her watching him. 'I'm just…this is big you know…me and you like this…it's everything really.'

'It is.'

'It's why….I…I want to college here, I want to be here with you.'

'Haley are you sure?'

'I've never been surer of anything.' She said heartily. 'You remember that day in Brown when I told you I didn't feel at home in life….'

He nodded as he sat down on the couch beside her again taking her hands in his.

'I feel at home in my life here, all of it just fits. This could be ours Nathan.'

He pulled her in for a hug at her words squeezing her petite frame tight against him. 'I've waited so long to hear you say that.'