Title: Made Easy

Author: gigi2

Genre: Naley

Rating: PG-13 for now.

Etc: Sorry it's short but you're lucky that I update hardcore in one day! LOL!

Chapter 4 :::

He took her hand into his willing and clamped his grip around hers. "Nathan Scott."

"Yeah, we've established that." Haley quickly removed her hand from his grip and tugged the bottom of her shirt down. She looked up and saw that Mr. Grabaldi was pleased and he didn't hesitate to shove several papers into their hands. Someone didn't waste any time, Haley mumbled.

Nathan scanned over the papers, leering at a questionnaire: When's your birthday? What's your favorite color? What's your favorite food? The list went on and on. He was sure that there were more than 200 questions to fill out. Either way, he figured it was a piece of cake. One meeting with Holly, Hillary, whatever her name is, and it would be all over with.

"Well, that's it. Three weeks, my underlings. Remember, I expect quality work from both of you."  Mr. Grabaldi grinned and bid them a good weekend, ushering them out the door.

*********************************************

By 2:45 PM, Tree Hill High had been cleared out. Everyone would be back on campus by 7 in the evening --- basketball was just about the only exciting thing that ever happened in the small town. In the meantime, Haley had to head out to work to help Karen out at the café. On her way there, Haley thought about how she would tell Lucas about her current assignment. Her forehead scrunched, imagining the possible outcomes. But she let her faith in Lucas calm her nerves. Of all people, she knew he wouldn't judge her.

Lately, she found it difficult to comprehend her changing friendship with Lucas. They had been best friends for so long, she almost found it impossible for her to realize that he could like other girls --- be with other girls. Jealous was ugly, oh indeed it was. Last week before a game, she foolishly poured her heart out to Lucas and he took the news with calm composure.

Of course, he turned her down. Why else would she be thinking about it?

But he let her down gently, as if that were possible and yet it was. Peyton wasn't so bad --- she seemed like the compatible brooding partner for Lucas. It was just going to take time getting used to. For now, Haley was Lucas's best friend but the idea of her being replaced with not only a friend, but a girlfriend, took her off guard. Haley prudishly kicked the leaves on the sidewalk. Maybe she couldn't laugh at it now, but she could laugh at all of it later. At her final destination, she pulled open the door to see a bashful Lucas sharing pie with Karen.

*********************************************

"So Haley James, huh?" Tim howled in the locker room. "Not my idea of Lean Cuisine but I see a work in progress." Tim maneuvered his way to Nathan's end of the locker.

School was left out of the picture when Nathan got immersed in the game. There was nothing else he thought about except the game. It was about the only thing that didn't set him up for disappointment. But no one else knew that, not even his best friend. "Tim, what the hell are you talking about?"

Laughing, he whipped Nathan over the head with his t-shirt. "I said Haley James. That girl in your English class. She's your partner?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Clearly annoyed, he whipped back Tim's shirt. "It's just some stupid project. Baldy wouldn't get off my case on my grades, so he flinged me onto her."

"Can I have her when you're done with her?"

"I'm not that cruel, Tim. No, see…this girl, makes me want to stab my eyes out profusely. That alone, is a crime. I have pretty eyes by the way, see?" Nathan batted his eyes and motioned for Tim to throw him another towel.

"Ouch. At least you'll have some fun and games with this one."

"By all means, this one is no fun. She probably doesn't even know what it is."

"I beg to differ. You're telling me you got set up on a project with a person you don't even know?"

"Pretty much." He really didn't know who she was. The first time he ever made contact with her was when she, well, rather, he, ran into her on his way to the gym the other day. The only time he ever got a good look at her was when she was glaring into his eyes. Today, towards the end of English class, only then did he realize that the same feisty girl in the hallway was in his class. And just about an hour ago, he knew for sure she couldn't stand him. Not that it was a problem --- he couldn't stand her, either.

"Well my friend, Haley James is no other than Lucas Scott's lap dog of a best friend." Tim slapped Nathan's back and walked out of the locker room, leaving Nathan by himself to his thoughts.

Something good just might come out of all of this, Nathan rubbed his chin.

*********************************************

After managing to survive the busiest hour in the café, Haley threw her apron onto the barstool. She didn't want to waste anymore time withholding this "assignment" and agreed that it was best to tell Lucas as soon as possible. She walked up the stairs and knocked on Lucas's door. Normally, she'd outright open the door but something told her otherwise.

"Come in?" Lucas's response came out sounding more like an exclamation. The door peeked open slowly to a petite figure, which leaned against the doorframe. "Hey, what's with the knocking?"

Once inside, she closed the door behind her. "Sorry, force of habit."

Lucas chuckled softly, "Since when?"

"Today. Umm…is this a good time to talk to you? I mean, I could come back another time." Liar. She didn't understand why she was so nervous. Whenever she tutored someone or lent her help, she openly told Lucas everything. "You know what, nevermind, I'll tell you later. I'm sure you've got a lot of things on your mind. School. The game tonight. Peyton. Dan. Peyton. Unfinished work at the garage. Peyton." Haley turned to open the door when Lucas sprung off the bed closed it shut.

"Peyton, yes. All of the above you just listed, yes. What's going on Hales, you were babbling." Taking her hand, he led her to the edge of his bed.

His hand on hers. She looked down at their hands. They had held hands as children all the time and growing up, they occasionally held each other's hands to pull one up or to drag around. But looking down at their hands, she saw how they didn't fit. It was like looking at the hand of a mother holding her child's tiny hand.

Before she had the chance to sit down, she chose to stand up and placed her right hand over her heart. "Ok, Lucas, I swear I have never hidden anything from you. I tell you everything. I'll always tell you everything. And I know you would do the same for me. So, as your best friend, please allow me to say everything I can without you interrupting, ok?"

"Ok." He leaned back with keen interest and rested on his elbows. "Shoot."

"After school, I went back to Mr. Grabaldi's class because I left my notebook and planner in there. When I got there, Nathan Scott was also there. I meant to leave but somehow, Baldy suckered me into staying. Ok, umm-" Why is this so hard? Just say it Haley. "So, I got set up on this project with Nathan. Lucas…"

She would've continued except for the fact that his keen interest had turned into an ill grimace. "It's a recipe for disaster Haley. Even you know it."

"Lucas, let me finish."

He didn't want to hear any more of it but he did for the sake of her. "Fine, continue."

"He's failing, Lucas. His eligibility to play relies on this next paper. I'm not thrilled about the idea myself but it's strictly for grades. And you know I can't pass up anything that concerns my grades."

A brief silence passed before either one said a word. But he beat her to the punch. "I trust you. But if he tries anything-"

"Which he won't-"

"But if he does, can I beat him up until he's black and blue?"

"Until he's purple. I hear blue is just a bit too dramatic." She flashed her best-friend smile and got one back in return.