Thanks for all the feedback. It made my day. :) So enjoy this chapter and review if you want to. Take care. ~*~*Nina ** After awhile, the café began to get crowded with people of Tree Hill. Mostly older people, since most guys and girls my age actually had a life and weren't about to hang out at the café. As I waited on people and got their drinks, I began to become tired and pissed off. Why did I have to be here? Why? I hated working, but Karen was like my second mom and I would do anything for her. Plus, I needed the money and was not one of the rich kids in school.

"Haley..."

I looked up from the latte I was mixing and was surprised to find it to be Nathan Scott whom I was tutoring. We didn't have a session tonight, I was sure.

"Hey Nathan," I said, distracted as I handed the latte to a young girl whom I saw sometimes in school. "What are you doing here? We don't have a session tonight, right?"

Nathan took a seat at the counter and smirked at me. "Nope. Just came by to see what you were up to."

I looked confused at him and shrugged. "I'm working."

"Obviously," he said, looking at me. I knew tutoring Nathan was one thing- but having the guy come to visit me at work? That was quite another. I was quite aware of the fact that Lucas was extremely upset with my tutoring him. He and Nathan had this constant competition towards one another and if it hadn't been for their half brother thing, by now, they would have killed each other.

"So, what can I do for you?" I asked, finally getting a break and running my hand through my hair.

Nathan began to trace with the same crack in the table that I had fiddled with earlier and looked coyly up at me. Something in his eyes sparked something in mine, and I couldn't help feel a bit dizzy. I had admitted to myself not too long ago that I had started to like him a bit, despite his asshole ways. But once he had started showing some interest back, I was always nervous around him. Lucas would kill me if he knew how I felt, and I wanted to keep it away from him for as long as possible.

Nathan grinned a bit and looked at me. "I was wondering if you wanted to catch a movie later or something."

My heart stopped. Nathan Scott asking me out to a movie. I knew I wasn't going to let myself get all hopeful because of it, but still...I wasn't used to guys asking me out. If he even was asking me out.

I looked into his eyes and frowned. I wanted to say yes-I really did-but I had already told Lucas I was going to hang with him. But, then again, me and Lucas could hang out anytime and Nathan asking me out was once in a lifetime it seemed. But I didn't want to get myself twisted and decided to decline his offer, however much it made me angry.

"Oh, Nathan," I said softly. I watched his face fall as he knew I was going to tell him something he didn't want to hear. "I wish I could, but I already have plans." I decided to not bother telling him that Lucas was my plans. Why worry over trivial matters?

He decided to play it off like no big deal, typical male. But I saw the disappointment in his eyes and it made me ever more baffled.

"It's cool," he said, sighing and standing up. "I understand. Maybe another time?" he added, looking hopeful. I smiled.

"Sure." I didn't take it too seriously; chances were he was going to forget all about it. But I didn't want to make myself have anymore problems with this whole Nathan-Lucas-Peyton-Brooke crap. I knew Brooke was always throwing herself at Lucas, and it made me angry. I also knew she wanted Peyton to be with Nathan, though Peyton's heart had chosen another...Lucas. It was so confusing, and it pissed me off.

He gave me one last smile and nodded. "Okay. See you around, Haley."

I smiled weakly. "Okay. Bye."

He walked out of the café and I decided to not watch him go, unable to make my head clear.

**

I closed the café earlier than I normally would have, anxious to have my Friday night. Walking down the cold street, towards my home, I heard a basketball dribble behind me and smirked. I turned around and grinned when I saw Lucas.

"Hey Hales," he said, grinning his carefree yet mysterious grin and caught up with me.

"Can't resist basketball, eh?" I teased, pushing my hair behind my ears and walking still, Lucas at my side, dribbling that damn ball.

"I needed to get some stress out of my system," he said, looking far ahead of us. "Things were getting to me."

I nodded. "So, stress free now?"

He smiled and my heart fluttered. Damn it, I thought. Knock it off James, get a hold of yourself. "Yep, stress free. So, what do you want to do tonight?"

I shrugged. Honestly, I didn't feel like going out, just hanging.

"I dunno Luke," I said. "I'm really tired from work. Mind if we just hang?"

Lucas nodded and tousled my hair. "No problem Hales. We can rent some movies."

I smiled. "Yay! Can I pick them out?"

Lucas groaned and shrugged. "Promise, no chick flicks?"

I sighed. "I suppose." He laughed and I grinned. I loved making him laugh. For some reason, it made me feel important.

"Come on, we'll go now. I'll drive."

I grinned and we walked the rest of the way to his house. He dropped his basketball somewhere in the yard and I climbed into the passenger seat of his truck.

When we got to the video store, I scanned the rows for movies. I was having a real problem trying to find them. I knew Lucas liked action type movies with hot girls. And those were just the ones I hated. I enjoyed intelligent films that made me use my mind. I enjoyed moving films, emotional films. Like my favorite, American Beauty. Sighing, I didn't know what to pick.

I was in the drama section when Luke came up behind me and squeezed my sides, making me jump. He laughed at my surprise.

"Luke!" I swatted him and he snickered. "So, anything in mind?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"I have no idea. But I know for a fact we are not watching a drama."

I frowned. "Awwe, come on Luke! I can't stand to watch another action movie with sex, drugs, alcohol, oh, and did I mention sex?"

Lucas laughed and shook his head. "Whatever Hales. I just have to make sure I stay awake through the movie."

I glared at him and plucked 'Donnie Darko' out of the shelf.

"Oooh, this looks good," I said, reading the back. "It's got Jake Gylenhaal in it! Yum. And look-Drew Barrymore for you."

Luke shook his head and laughed. "Whatever, come on. I'll grab some candy."

I smiled happily and walked to the front of the store with Lucas. He grabbed some candy and we put our things on the counter. I looked expectantly at Luke.

"What?" he said, grinning. "You think I'm paying for it all? I drove you here AND we're watching it at my house."

I grumbled and went through my pockets trying to find some money. I came up with around six bucks and threw it on the counter. It was most of my tips and I grimaced as the cashier put the money in the register. Luke had paid for most of it, but he noticed my sulking face and I thought he almost felt guilty. I knew he knew that I had to work hard for that money and I had a big family which couldn't afford that much of things.

We walked back out to his car and I pretended to not be bothered by the loss of my tips. I leaned my head back on the seat as he started the car and we drove back to his place. I stuck my hand out the window and played with the air, loving the sensation.

Luke laughed at my entertainment. I grinned at him, but didn't say anything. I loved being in his company, and I didn't want to ruin it.

We finally arrived at his house and went into his living room. The house was quiet. He looked at me and said, "My mom's out to dinner with Keith." I nodded and smirked.

"Nice."

He grinned evilly at me. "No ideas, missy." I smiled but swatted him playfully as I plopped on the couch. Lucas popped the movie in and sat next to me and I swung my legs over his, getting comfortable. He smiled and hit play.

I loved the movie. It was intriguing and mind bottling. Lucas, however, when the movie ended, looked at me with painful eyes.

"That has got to be the most confusing movie ever," he sighed. I laughed.

"I like it," I said, leaning my head against his couch and watching him looking at me.

"Well, I'm glad you did." He smiled and pushed a strand of hair away from my face. I felt my body tingle at his touch and held his gaze for maybe a little too long. I got lost in his eyes and could feel myself falling away. I realized how awkward this was and cleared my throat, just as he ran his hand through his hair and turned back to the TV.

I wasn't sure if he felt what I did, but at that moment, I wasn't sure what had happened. Shrugging it off, we watched TV the rest of the night and acted like nothing happened.

**

Review please! Don't worry; I'm not going to rush this. It will take a bit longer until their friendship starts to change. So...take care, everyone. :) Love n Strawberries Nina