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Chapter 5

Haley groaned coming out of her sleepy haze as she stretched her body immediately feeling weighed down. She scrambled a little before opening her groggy eyes feeling the weight of his arm across her body. Somehow during the night he'd not only managed to steal all her sheets off her but also decided to hog the whole bed given where he was currently sprawled across her and damn did he smell good in the mornings.

'Nathan…' Haley whisper talked as she began to shove him lightly hearing him grumble incoherently as he came out of his sleep.

Nathan peeled his heavy eyes open in confusion as he noticed his arm draped across her. What the hell? He certainly wasn't a cuddle type of guy whatever the hell this was.

Haley almost giggled at the complete look of confusion on his face, her body shaking as she tried desperately to hold it in and then he noticed her and pulled his arm back rather quick. 'Sorry…' He mumbled and she wondered for a moment if he was actually embarrassed by it, which he was and that was kind of cute.

'Have you your clothes on?'

And just like that the real Nathan was back.

Haley scoffed. 'I do remember and FYI Nathan Scott came into my room last night not looking for sex…no' She gasped. 'Oh no he came in because he missed me and he was being all needy…'

'Don't make me barf Hales.' Nathan semi-joked groaning as he sat up. He was a little perturbed by the possible truth in her words cause he had being missing her and his drunken ass probably seen the logic in stumbling into her room at an ungodly hour in the morning to see her and tell her that.

She let out a small laugh.

'I guess I should say thanks for not kicking my ass out of the bed.'

'Oh I tried.' Haley said with a smirk. 'Not to literally kick you..'

'I wouldn't put it past you.' Nathan goaded her.

'I texted Lucas to come drag your ass out of bed which was a mistake considering he was drunker than you.'

'I think Luke was still up drinking when I left.' Nathan said holding his head in his hands before he glanced across at her. She couldn't help but smile at the messy bed head hair he was sporting. 'Look I am sorry Haley I know you had a long day in work I remember Luke saying something about that…'

'It's ok. You want my hangover cure?'

'That already sounds amazing and I don't know what it even is.' He said with a smirk.

Haley came back into the room no more than 5 minutes later with a big bowl of captain crunch and a large glass of orange.

'Captain crunch…..that's your hangover cure?'

'And the orange.' Haley pouted at his dismissal. 'Also…it can't just be any cereal it has to be this one!' She emphasised.

He chuckled as she handed it over to him. 'I'm not really in any position to complain am I?'

'You know how you did something really nice for me the night of the beach party?' She asked rhetorically. 'Well this is me doing something really nice for you…its special not everyone gets it.'

'Hales in fairness it's just dunking cereal into a bowl and tossing milk over it.' He teased her.

She glared at him then.

'Relax I'm joking with you.'

'You better be, you know Luke didn't get this until he received best friend privileges.'

Nathan chuckled. 'So what title earned me this?'

'How about the oh maybe he isn't as much as a dick as I thought he was?' Haley quipped back confidently as she slipped back into bed beside him then pulling the covers back up over her bare legs.

Nathan just shook his head at her before he scooping the cereal into his mouth. 'Want some?' Nathan said as he placed the spoon back in the bowl gathering up more.

'No….I'm not really comfortable sharing.' Before she finished her sentence he had the spoon right by her lips almost scooping it into her mouth for her laughing as some of the milk dripped off from her reaction. 'Nathan…you're spilling it, besides that's kind of gross.'

'You think way too much sometimes you know that.' He said to her as he took the spoon back dipping it into the cereal and eating some more with not a care in the world.

He continued munching on the cereal until both of them heard the incredibly loud belching from across the hall.

'Ugh…' Nathan moaned his mouth full of captain crunch as he placed the unfinished bowl by the bed. 'Jesus…'

Haley laughed then. 'Is that going down good?'

'Stop Hales..' He said shaking his head and Haley just laughed more.

'God someone is going to die today.' She grimaced at the sound coming down the hall.

'Serves him right Mr. yea Brooke bring your friends and let's get a little party going.'

'Well he's lucky he has got nowhere to be today…'

'Yea until…..' Nathan groaned then as if it just dawned on him.

'What?' Haley questioned softly.

'We've dinner with mum tonight, me Lucas and Brooke.'

'That's alright though if it's just you 4?'

'Well yeah.' Nathan said. 'I'm just not really feeling it that's all and I'm on the lunchtime shift.'

'Well it's a good thing you've no barfing.' Haley mused.

'Yet..' Nathan supplied.

'You won't be…I'm telling you that stuff cures you.'

'I sure hope so.'

Nathan pulled himself off the bed then rather reluctantly. 'I better get back. Thanks for letting me crash even though I know I kind of invited myself.' He joked. Haley just smiled back at him.

'Me and Chase are actually calling in for a drink later before our dinner, maybe see you then?'

'Sure I could do with the company to keep me from going insane about later.' He joked but she could tell a part of him was also serious.

XXXXX

Nathan waved over at Haley who had taken a seat on one of the high stool tables, she was wearing a royal blue tank dress which was both simple and yet strikingly beautiful on her petite figure. Her brunette waves were tousled past her shoulders. She was definitely dressed up for tonight which gave him an inkling they were going somewhere fancier for their dinner date.

'Hey you.' Nathan said as he placed the vodka and diet coke down in front of her.

She smirked at the little royal blue umbrella he had placed inside it. 'It matches.' Her face broke out into a wide smile and he chuckled at how consumed she was by the littlest of things.

'Yea I figured you'd be into that.'

She gave him a little shove for his teasing.

'So you've got the guy Hales I thought we were past you showing up extremely early for your dates..' He noticed his words only caused her excitedness to abate as she slumped a little.

'He's not coming, he was supposed to be back but he's on the supply rota and he says this happens a lot or something…' Haley shrugged

Nathan actually felt disappointed for her. 'And you only found out?'

'Right about when his plane landed in Toronto, communication is a bitch with his job.'

'I'm sorry Hales.'

'Its fine I mean when he's off its good because he has a week at a time so it's not like I can complain….I was just really excited for some posh macaroni and cheese.'

Nathan scoffed at her words. 'You're kidding me….you were probably going to be fine wined and dined and your choice was mac and cheese?'

'Yea.' Haley said owning it. 'There's nothing wrong with that.'

'The only thing wrong with that is that you can still have that date at home on your couch out of a microwave packet and maybe even facetime Chase.'

Haley pinched his arm. 'Stop being an ass. You know you should be a little nicer to me tonight… my heart is breaking.' She over dramatized. 'I've been dreaming about it all day.'

'How about I go with you?' The words were kind of out of his mouth before he'd even rationalised it.

'Like in place of Chase…'

'Well it wouldn't be the first time..' Nathan shrugged as though it was no big deal.

'No but….this place is like really fancy Nathan and I'm guessing kind of couplie and well…'

He couldn't help feel the twinge of disappointment at her words and he didn't know where the hell that came from. 'Look if you're uncomfortable we don't have to it's just an idea seen as your all done up and I'm out of here soon anyway…'

'Oh no I'm never uncomfortable with you it's just…' She fumbled with her hands then, how could she voice to him she had a mini panic attack last week thinking she was falling for him. And although, she'd literally just convinced herself things were fine with them and she was harbouring nothing at all, she was still a little reluctant. 'Haven't you a dinner Nathan...' She finally said then, semi-grateful there was actually another excuse.

'Exactly.' He said. 'I don't want to go Haley you'd be doing me a massive favour.'

'So what are you going to say I'm going out with my friend who is a girl but not someone I'm seeing instead of your own family who you made plans with?'

'So I'll spice the story up a little…say you needed my help or something happened. Where's your reservation for?' Nathan asked then.

'La Pazey…..' Haley said watching as his eyes narrowed.

'Seriously?'

'Yea why?' Haley said confused.

'That's where we are booked in for.'

'No way…what are the chances?'

'Slim to none.' Nathan said with an eye roll.

'This is perfect Nathan, how about I just come with you…I can tell them I've a reservation too and then he won't show and wolla…' She gleamed.

'No that's not a good idea, mom will….she'll just run with this Haley.' It had took enough out of him the last day trying to justify that Haley was in fact a friend, if he showed up for dinner with her?

'But we can tell them what happened; besides I've been out for dinner with her and Lucas before, I can handle any comments about us.' She smiled at him kind of enjoying how he seemed to be the more nervous one all of sudden.

'You have?' He questioned.

'Yea here a few times actually and if anything maybe it will make it better for you, you know me there as buffer …'

She could tell he was contemplating it.

'Come on if it's really bad I promise ill play that god awful shooting game you want me to try.'

She could see his eyes light up at her words. Boys were too easy.

'You really just want posh mac and cheese don't you?' He couldn't help but shake his head at her with a small smile.

'So bad.' Haley said giving him a playful, pouty look.

'Okay…' Nathan drawled hesitantly. 'But I'm still not sure about this…'

'Relax and have a beer before you go…' Haley teased.

'You know it's a bad idea when you're the one telling me to relax.'

XXXXX

And it was a bad idea. A terrible idea in fact. Because who knew their scrutinising Aunt Victoria was going to join them and was sitting right across from him with Karen to her left while Haley was directly across from Karen to his right. Lucas and Brooke were the other side of them.

It had kind of worked explaining why he had brought Haley along; her reservation was for 7:15 after all so she just had to show up and appear like she didn't know Chase wasn't coming. When they came in to be seated for half 7 Nathan just feigned shock at seeing her here and casually invited her to join them.

Yet that didn't stop the curious looks from both his mother and his aunt every time he whispered something to her or she nudged him and the two of them laughed.

He was just waiting for it. Victoria could never keep her mouth shut for long and she was drinking white wine. It was inevitable.

'So Nathan what exactly is your plan now your back here?' She said and he couldn't miss the familiar sharpness in her voice. And bingo. Just like he expected.

'Well I've only just got back so…'

'Oh don't tell me you came back without a plan…kind of juvenile of you wouldn't it be what age are you again?'

Karen just rolled her eyes at her sister's questioning, all of them pretty much used to it.

Haley caught her look and Karen just shook her head softly at her.

'25…'

'Oh yes just 3 months after Lucas you know sometimes I forget you two are in fact the same age.'

Nathan just glanced down rolling his eyes at her obvious dig.

'Nates doing the accounts for the business..' Lucas supplied easily, always one to stand up for his brother and try to ease the tension at the table. He was the peacemaker, after all.

'Oh so you've a degree in accounting?'

'I've a degree in business.' He gritted out.

She just sucked snottily on her wine then deciding not to dwell on that matter any further. 'So Lucas, things seem to be going swimmingly well between you two? Maybe we will get our first and possibly last family wedding from your side Karen.' She tried to joke, another obvious dig.

'Well at least that means there will be less divorces huh Victoria?' Karen said back lightly but everyone at that table could tell she was ready to smack Vitoria for her constant picking especially with Nathan.

The boys smirked at that knowing full well Victoria as much as she liked to scrutinise everyone else's lives, her lips remained sealed on her own failed, loveless marriage.

'Well that's delightful.' Victoria said ignoring her sister's comment as she listened to Brooke ramble on about them possible moving into their own place next year.

And that's me roomless and alone. Haley couldn't help but sarcastically think.

'And still not holding a steady one pet?' She said rather belittlingly as she turned to Nathan again.

How could the word pet sound so bloody evil? 'No Victoria, I'm not.' He answered without hesitation.

'So countless women appears to be what you were doing over in Philadelphia…' She teased but it just angered Karen.

'Victoria leave my son alone..' Haley grimaced as the conversation got a little more heated and she put her hand on Nathan's thigh as she felt him tense up beside her.

He almost jumped when he felt her hand land there. He hadn't being expecting her touch but it felt good. 'I'm sorry about this.' Nathan said whispering in her ear.

She sent him a small smile as she stroked his tight absentmindedly. What had he to be apologising for? he was the one under attack. 'It's ok I'll get us that bottle of wine your mom was after and maybe some poison for the witch.'

Nathan smirked at that as Haley stood up and he immediately felt the loss of her hand. He shook his head trying to get it together, where did that thought even come from?

'I'm just going to get that bottle of Malbec; I think they've forgot it.' Haley said to them all but Karen and Victoria were too involved in a bitching contest to even notice.

XXXXX

Haley turned slightly surprised hearing the footsteps behind her.

'Don't worry I'm not going to ask you what you are doing with your life or if you've a steady partner.' Karen teased slightly

Haley smiled. Karen was such a warm person it was hard to imagine that cold bitch was her sister.

'We were beginning to think you'd run away.'

'I did think about it but it's just too far to jump down.' Haley joked as the two women laughed. 'So your sister she's…

'A bitch I know.' Karen said. 'She actually lives in Boston, rarely ever see her and when she does come back she intrudes on everyone's lives as though she never left.'

'I have one of those.' Haley said quietly as Karen smiled.

'You know it takes some people a little longer to warm up to Nathan you seem to have rather quickly.'

Haley smiled. 'He's been good to me.' She said simply.

Karen smiled knowingly. 'Nathan has always been more like his father on the outside; stubborn, defensive, play it cool..' Haley met her eyes then. 'But on the inside he's like me, I see it in him every day.'

Haley smiled at her words.

'I think Victoria knows that and she plays on it.'

'That's horrible.' Haley said.

'I know but we never saw eye to eye Haley, she's always had it out for me. I mean I could understand it when we were younger and I met Dan and had the boys but my marriage ended just like hers and you think that would have changed things It didn't''.'

'I'm sorry you've to put with that Karen she doesn't deserve you.'

Karen let out a small sigh. 'Our friends are our family right?' She mused. 'And it looks like you made a good one with my two boys.'

'You found her….' Nathan said as he too stepped outside into the fresh night air.

Haley gasped. 'Was it that obvious me leaving?' She said amused by it.

'Pretty much Victoria knows you hate her.'

'Well good.' Haley said and both Karen and Nathan laughed.

'Speaking of…' Karen said reluctantly.

'She's chatting up the barman..' Nathan said with an eyeroll.

'Think she'll notice if I….'

Nathan chuckled. ''Not if you go now mom.'

Karen glanced between the two noticing the small reactions shared between them she was sure they didn't even notice themselves.

'Night Haley I hope we haven't scared you off for good.'

'Not at all Karen, I'll see you at the book fair.'

'Oh yes you're going to love it.'

Nathan watched amused between the two. 'You're making dates with my mom now?' He said after Karen left them alone.

Haley just shrugged. 'She told me about this fair in Senna village…'

'Oh..' Nathan said with a playful eyeroll. 'She used to drag to that when I was small, hated it there.' He mused.

'What a surprise..' Haley teased. 'So you ready to beat my ass in this silly videogame?' She registered the look of surprise on Nathan's face. 'What I figured this night was pretty bad for you so the least I owe you is one round…'

He smiled at that, an actual genuine, loveable smile she noticed. 'This night was terrible and you owe me two rounds now for calling my videogame stupid.' He teased. 'How about we stop off at the off-licence and get some drink and crisps on the way.'

'Sounds perfect.' Haley mused. 'But first we have to scape bitchtoria…'

'Bitchoria…' Nathan chuckled. 'How did we never think of that one?'

XXXXX

'Damn it why does that keep happening?' Haley cried out as she tried to duck her guy down only resulting in him getting shot in the back again. Once again game over flashed across the screen.

'Damn I'm lucky I never let you log in with my account or you'd seriously kill my credits'

Haley just rolled her eyes playfully. 'So what even your player has an inflated ego.'

Nathan just chuckled as he handed her over her shot. 'Drink up.'

'Nathan this isn't fair, the game is totally in your favour…' She scowled as she knocked back the shot of sambuca. 'I really regret buying Lucas that bottle.'

'Ok how about after this round we watch something on tv because you only seem to be getting worse at this Hales.' He goaded her.

'Oh and the sambuca has nothing to do with that?' She admonished playfully before reaching across to grab the remote as she switched it back to tv mode.

'Hey….' Nathan gave out. 'I said another round.'

'Oh come on we've played 3 which is so many more that what I owed you.' She said as she filled his shot glass brining it towards him.

He knocked it back before glancing at her. 'What was that one for?'

'Oh I dunno for being an ass.' She teased as she stood up to try and fix some of the drink shed spilled.

Nathan grabbed onto her hips then pulling back against the couch as he began tickling her enjoying as she kicked and squirmed out of his grasp obviously getting nowhere. She screamed his name out between pants, the way she was battling against him only causing her to become even more worn out.

He let up on her then and she sat up on the couch glaring at him as he laughed at her, breathing hard, hair a complete mess.

'You know I hate being tickled.'

'Sounded like you were enjoying it.'

She just poked her tongue out at him as she combed her fingers through her hair. 'I don't know what I did to deserve a full-on attack after being there for you tonight….' She teased him gently.

His laughter abated then as he spoke. 'Yea I guess you were there for me.'

Brown met blue then as the banter that was so common between them gradually dissipated.

'Come here you're a mess.' Nathan said as he leaned across fixing a wayward piece of hair.

She was suddenly very aware of his hot breath fanning out across her neck, her body involuntarily shivered from his proximity.

She heard his breath hitch in his throat. A silver of sweat coated her chest, her breasts rising and falling from his close proximity…she wanted his eyes dart down to them before glancing back up and catching her gaze again, she subconsciously licked her lips feelings incredibly transfixed by those beautiful blue eyes of his.

He was leaning , she closed her eyes sighing softly as his lips finally and ever so gently touched hers.

The door slamming followed by a loud whistling had the pair quickly jumping apart as Lucas strolled in squinting and smirking simultaneously a sure sign he had more than enough to drink.

Haley felt herself sobering up very fast.

'Hey friends…' He grinned and Nathan couldn't help roll his eyes and he wasn't even sure why he was annoyed at Lucas for interrupting him when he probably just did him a huge favour.

'Where's Brooke?' Haley wondered.

'Brooke left before me and I stayed back…' He said as though that was actually a smart idea.

'Why would you stay back with Victoria?' Nathan said wondering if it was even worth having a conversation with Lucas when he was this steamed.

'She was buying all the drink.'

'Clearly.' Haley mumbled.

'What mum kind of put me up to it we needed some dirt on her.' Lucas chuckled as he came over to flop down onto the couch between Nathan and Haley who moved apart even more not that it was even possible. 'So what did I miss?' Lucas said then noticing the shot glasses and spilt alcohol on the table.

'We were playing a drinking game while playing a video game..'

'You suck at this game Haley.' Lucas chuckled as she rolled her eyes. 'I know which is why the odds were never in my favour.' She mumbled.

'Let's play another game..'

'Didn't you have like the hangover from hell today?' Nathan finally spoke then, her heart only slammed harder in her chest at the sound of his voice.

Luas shrugged. 'I survived.'

'Good for you man. Look I've really got to get back..'

'What's your rush, stay here.' Lucas said easily as he flicked through the channels. Haley bit her lip wanting Nathan to leave, she couldn't gather her thoughts with him here.

'Didn't you stay last night?' Lucas said.

'Exactly I actually want to get home tonight.'

'Whatever man you know I would have beat your ass.'

'Seen as your seconds away from passing out Luke I highly doubt it.' Nathan mused as he stood up wiping his hands down his jeans. 'I'll see myself out.' He mumbled glancing at Haley with a small smile before he went across their open living area towards their apartment door.

'Oh we should so drink every time they say the word answer.' Lucas mused as he left it on some channel which had a quiz show on.

'Sure.' Haley said hopping up off the couch, there was no way she was playing that game and there was no way she was letting Nathan just go like that. She knew she should just let it go, they could easily pretend it didn't almost happen, he probably wanted her to let it go but it wasn't in her nature. She just had to correct things however the hell she was going to do that.

'Nathan….' Haley called out to him as she stepped outside her apartment door after him.

He turned to look at her.

She stared at him

And then..

He was walking towards her, his eyes fixed on her and he pulled her flush against him his lips landing on hers roughly, so unlike the last time as he kissed her heatedly. Haley groaned in response to his impulsive movements opening her mouth up over his as his tongue slipped inside tasting hers the action only emitting an even deeper moan and yearning in them both. She was vaguely aware of him pushing her back against the wall adjacent to her door as he continued to ravage her mouth.

Kissing him was like being with him; it felt compelling, instinctive and liberating. She wanted more, she needed more.

'Haley…' Lucas' whining had them breaking apart, panting heavily. She almost gasped as she looked into his usually blue eyes to see them so incredibly darkened with lust.

'Haley come on.'

Her whole body was so transfixed and heightened with lust for him that Haley couldn't pull herself back to sensibility to even ask him what the fuck they were doing. And so she glanced at him one more time biting her lip before she left.

Nathan could vaguely here Lucas saying something about being unable to play the drinking game alone as he leaned his hand against the wall trying to regain his breathing. Fuck , who knew that he could have shared a kiss like that with her. Haley was hot, hell he had no problem admitting that to himself and her the moment he laid eyes on her but he had sort of out an off bounds sticker on her for being Lucas' best friend and because well she was fruity.

Fuck though….that kiss. Dammit. This was seriously fucked up now, he knew that because he wanted her. OH did he so badly want her. He couldn't just have sex with her because she had become a good friend now, someone he even relied on somewhat and liked. Shit.

Sighing Nathan peeled away from the wall dragging himself away from their door and down towards the ground floor even though the urge to run back, barge in there and take her right on that couch was slowly going to drive him insane.