Title: Just Hold My Hand
Author: Kristen a.k.a Italian Kitty
Rating: PG-13, R
Chapters: 3/8
{AN: I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. I also hope everyone knows what's going on or at least has some sort of idea. I think I have a tendency to run with ideas and then not make sure they make sense or not! Forgive me! Also I did add on so it's a little longer than the other chapters! Enjoy.}
Surprisingly a week after the "accident" everything had turned back to normal and things were going smoothly, or at least as smooth as things could go when involving Nathan and Haley. Haley was back in school, and still working at Karen's café afterwards. However, for some reason unknown Haley never remembered that specific incident that happened the night of the accident: the proposal. You would think someone like Haley, who had been waiting for this said proposal from her delicious boyfriend for a very long time, would never forget. On the other hand, Nathan kind of hoped that she would remember. He had been so unbelievably nervous the first time that he thought he would have had a stroke for sure. One time an oddly perverse thought struck him to think maybe she did remember and was just toying with him, but it was indeed not so. A couple days later when he realized it was no use at adding little hints here and there to see if they would magically spark her memory, he had decided he'd have to give Lucas a call. Lucas always knew what to do in these types of situations. He had always been the charmer that one.
Or so he thought.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Lucas yelled.
Nathan rolled his eyes and mumbled some sort of obscenity as Lucas continued to laugh over the phone. He didn't find the situation all that amusing personally.
"Wait, wait, wait! Of all the things she doesn't remember, it's you proposing!" and again it was followed by a new round of laughter. It was at times like these Nathan had the urge to really punch Lucas. He'd had just about enough of this, "Ha, Ha. Real funny, now seriously, what do I do?"
Lucas stopped laughing just long enough to come up with the perfect plan to help his brother out. "Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, the way to any woman's heart is so simple." He chuckled and paused just waiting for that exasperated sigh Nathan always let out when he was getting annoyed.
"Lucas", Nathan warned.
"Look man, all you have to do is cook a nice romantic dinner, have everything all set up, and you know candles, music, the works, and bam! Works like a charm!"
Pffft.like he would know.
Later that night Nathan made sure he got home extra early and that he knew the exact time Haley was planning on coming home. He was rushing around like a mad man trying to get everything just right. He planned to make a nice romantic meal, even though he secretly felt like kicking Lucas for his brilliant ideas. He figured Lucas knew he couldn't cook, and was getting a real good laugh knowing he would most likely burn something.
So there he stood with a pretty 'kiss the chef' apron tied around his slim waist, and a nice juicy roast cooking in the oven and some pasta boiling on the stove. He was trying to focus on what this god-awful woman on the screen was telling him. Stupid Food Network. He had no idea what he was doing. He should have just ordered in the damn meal, but then again, it was supposed to special and he might as well go through all the trouble, after all this was a big moment in their lives. He figured they would laugh over this many years from now.
At about the same time across town.
"Bye Haley! Have a good night!"
Haley looked back and gave Karen a friendly smile and a wave, telling her she would see her tomorrow. She made her way towards the car and started heading home. The week had gone by smoothly and things were seemingly going well. Nathan had been acting extra weird, even for him. She found it kind of amusing, but she still wondered what he was up to.
Unfortunately while driving into the driveway that night Haley never expected to find something like this. The first thing she noticed was the bright red and white flashing lights of a fire truck and ambulance. Panic coursed through her veins making her stop the car to a screeching halt, jump out, and sprint the rest of the way. Her beautiful one story house had huge bright orange flames blasting their way towards the night sky from the kitchen. Her first thought was Nathan and his safety.
"Oh God!" She cried.
Completely not thinking she started to dash for the house, until being restrained by a fire fighter and being led over to an ambulance wear she found Nathan. He was wrapped in a blanket, covered with bits of ash here and there, and his head rested in his hands. Almost as if she was in shock she slowly made her was closer to him. He looked up feeling her near, and his heart broke at the look in her eyes.
"N-Nathan. What happened?" her voice wavered and the low whisper barely made it to his ears. Her eyes shined with the tears that were starting to form as the emotions started rolling off her. She ran for his embrace and he welcomed her. Squeezing her tight he kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry" he whispered. Haley looked up at him, the tears rolling down her cheeks. "No, Nathan, it's alright. I'm just glad you're OK" She smiled through her tears and hugged him closer. She laid her head on his chest, and could feel his heart racing. It made her close her eyes and savor his warmth and rhythmic breathing that was slowly calming her. Nathan's head rested on top of hers as he helplessly watched the fire fighters control the blaze.
His eyes continued to stare into the fire as he went back to half an hour before. He remembered the woman on the screen going too fast in giving her directions. He forgot he had layed the towel on the stove and somehow something sparked sending one simmering star of flames bursting from the pot. It engulfed the rag instantly. He freaked and jumped back, slipping on the wet tile and hitting his head on the counter behind him. The rag fell off the stove and onto a large pile of papers. The rest he couldn't remember until he saw a large fire fighter dragging him out. He would find out later that a nosey neighbor had seen the fire and called the police.
After what seemed like forever a sigh escaped Haley's lips. "Nathan I think we should find somewhere to sleep tonight. Let's give your parents a call."
His parents? His eyes starting darting back and forth between invisible objects as his mind started rejecting the idea. Yeah right, that was all he needed to deal with tonight. Aside from everything else, he could enjoy the mocking condescending tone in his father's voice when he explained what had happened. His father. 'What a Jackass!'
"Nathan?"
"No!" he shouted causing her to jump back and out of his embrace. She searched his eyes wondering what had caused his reaction. "Nathan, what's wrong. We obviously can't stay here tonight." Her face was a mixture of confusion and sadness, and she was getting just a little bit tired of everything.
"God!" She stopped with a sigh and ran a hand through her hair, the night's anxiety finally catching up to her. Looking down she continued, "I just thought since your parents have extra room they wouldn't mind if we stayed for a couple of nights. I mean look at our house Nathan!" Her emotional outburst echoed in his ears and stabbed at his delicate heart. Her shoulders slumped and he could hear her quiet sobs.
Nathan's eyes went from her back to what was left of their house. He shook his head wishing there was someway to turn back the clock. He didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry. All of his plans were going so wrong. How did this perfect, special, wonderful night turn into such a disaster? Why did he always have to be such a damn failure in life? Nothing he did was ever good enough. Nothing he did would ever be remembered as something good, or great, or grand. The only thing in his life that he felt he actually could say was amazing was her. And everything he was doing was all for her, and yet all he managed to do was hurt her. Stepping forward with a defeated sigh he pulled her into a hug, which she willingly accepted.
"OK" he whispered, dreading the night ahead of them. Holding her tight in his arms he could still feel the weight of the ring box still waiting to be opened in his pocket. Looks like it would have to wait.
{AN: I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. I also hope everyone knows what's going on or at least has some sort of idea. I think I have a tendency to run with ideas and then not make sure they make sense or not! Forgive me! Also I did add on so it's a little longer than the other chapters! Enjoy.}
Surprisingly a week after the "accident" everything had turned back to normal and things were going smoothly, or at least as smooth as things could go when involving Nathan and Haley. Haley was back in school, and still working at Karen's café afterwards. However, for some reason unknown Haley never remembered that specific incident that happened the night of the accident: the proposal. You would think someone like Haley, who had been waiting for this said proposal from her delicious boyfriend for a very long time, would never forget. On the other hand, Nathan kind of hoped that she would remember. He had been so unbelievably nervous the first time that he thought he would have had a stroke for sure. One time an oddly perverse thought struck him to think maybe she did remember and was just toying with him, but it was indeed not so. A couple days later when he realized it was no use at adding little hints here and there to see if they would magically spark her memory, he had decided he'd have to give Lucas a call. Lucas always knew what to do in these types of situations. He had always been the charmer that one.
Or so he thought.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Lucas yelled.
Nathan rolled his eyes and mumbled some sort of obscenity as Lucas continued to laugh over the phone. He didn't find the situation all that amusing personally.
"Wait, wait, wait! Of all the things she doesn't remember, it's you proposing!" and again it was followed by a new round of laughter. It was at times like these Nathan had the urge to really punch Lucas. He'd had just about enough of this, "Ha, Ha. Real funny, now seriously, what do I do?"
Lucas stopped laughing just long enough to come up with the perfect plan to help his brother out. "Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, the way to any woman's heart is so simple." He chuckled and paused just waiting for that exasperated sigh Nathan always let out when he was getting annoyed.
"Lucas", Nathan warned.
"Look man, all you have to do is cook a nice romantic dinner, have everything all set up, and you know candles, music, the works, and bam! Works like a charm!"
Pffft.like he would know.
Later that night Nathan made sure he got home extra early and that he knew the exact time Haley was planning on coming home. He was rushing around like a mad man trying to get everything just right. He planned to make a nice romantic meal, even though he secretly felt like kicking Lucas for his brilliant ideas. He figured Lucas knew he couldn't cook, and was getting a real good laugh knowing he would most likely burn something.
So there he stood with a pretty 'kiss the chef' apron tied around his slim waist, and a nice juicy roast cooking in the oven and some pasta boiling on the stove. He was trying to focus on what this god-awful woman on the screen was telling him. Stupid Food Network. He had no idea what he was doing. He should have just ordered in the damn meal, but then again, it was supposed to special and he might as well go through all the trouble, after all this was a big moment in their lives. He figured they would laugh over this many years from now.
At about the same time across town.
"Bye Haley! Have a good night!"
Haley looked back and gave Karen a friendly smile and a wave, telling her she would see her tomorrow. She made her way towards the car and started heading home. The week had gone by smoothly and things were seemingly going well. Nathan had been acting extra weird, even for him. She found it kind of amusing, but she still wondered what he was up to.
Unfortunately while driving into the driveway that night Haley never expected to find something like this. The first thing she noticed was the bright red and white flashing lights of a fire truck and ambulance. Panic coursed through her veins making her stop the car to a screeching halt, jump out, and sprint the rest of the way. Her beautiful one story house had huge bright orange flames blasting their way towards the night sky from the kitchen. Her first thought was Nathan and his safety.
"Oh God!" She cried.
Completely not thinking she started to dash for the house, until being restrained by a fire fighter and being led over to an ambulance wear she found Nathan. He was wrapped in a blanket, covered with bits of ash here and there, and his head rested in his hands. Almost as if she was in shock she slowly made her was closer to him. He looked up feeling her near, and his heart broke at the look in her eyes.
"N-Nathan. What happened?" her voice wavered and the low whisper barely made it to his ears. Her eyes shined with the tears that were starting to form as the emotions started rolling off her. She ran for his embrace and he welcomed her. Squeezing her tight he kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry" he whispered. Haley looked up at him, the tears rolling down her cheeks. "No, Nathan, it's alright. I'm just glad you're OK" She smiled through her tears and hugged him closer. She laid her head on his chest, and could feel his heart racing. It made her close her eyes and savor his warmth and rhythmic breathing that was slowly calming her. Nathan's head rested on top of hers as he helplessly watched the fire fighters control the blaze.
His eyes continued to stare into the fire as he went back to half an hour before. He remembered the woman on the screen going too fast in giving her directions. He forgot he had layed the towel on the stove and somehow something sparked sending one simmering star of flames bursting from the pot. It engulfed the rag instantly. He freaked and jumped back, slipping on the wet tile and hitting his head on the counter behind him. The rag fell off the stove and onto a large pile of papers. The rest he couldn't remember until he saw a large fire fighter dragging him out. He would find out later that a nosey neighbor had seen the fire and called the police.
After what seemed like forever a sigh escaped Haley's lips. "Nathan I think we should find somewhere to sleep tonight. Let's give your parents a call."
His parents? His eyes starting darting back and forth between invisible objects as his mind started rejecting the idea. Yeah right, that was all he needed to deal with tonight. Aside from everything else, he could enjoy the mocking condescending tone in his father's voice when he explained what had happened. His father. 'What a Jackass!'
"Nathan?"
"No!" he shouted causing her to jump back and out of his embrace. She searched his eyes wondering what had caused his reaction. "Nathan, what's wrong. We obviously can't stay here tonight." Her face was a mixture of confusion and sadness, and she was getting just a little bit tired of everything.
"God!" She stopped with a sigh and ran a hand through her hair, the night's anxiety finally catching up to her. Looking down she continued, "I just thought since your parents have extra room they wouldn't mind if we stayed for a couple of nights. I mean look at our house Nathan!" Her emotional outburst echoed in his ears and stabbed at his delicate heart. Her shoulders slumped and he could hear her quiet sobs.
Nathan's eyes went from her back to what was left of their house. He shook his head wishing there was someway to turn back the clock. He didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry. All of his plans were going so wrong. How did this perfect, special, wonderful night turn into such a disaster? Why did he always have to be such a damn failure in life? Nothing he did was ever good enough. Nothing he did would ever be remembered as something good, or great, or grand. The only thing in his life that he felt he actually could say was amazing was her. And everything he was doing was all for her, and yet all he managed to do was hurt her. Stepping forward with a defeated sigh he pulled her into a hug, which she willingly accepted.
"OK" he whispered, dreading the night ahead of them. Holding her tight in his arms he could still feel the weight of the ring box still waiting to be opened in his pocket. Looks like it would have to wait.