Chapter 22

Recap:

Nathan and Haley grabbed the bowls and placed them onto the table closest to the couch they would be sitting in. Nathan went back and grabbed a bottle of coke and two glasses, while Haley already had Finding Nemo in the DVD player.

Nathan sat down first and Haley sat down, her back against his chest. She grabbed the remote and pressed play.
END CHAPTER 20

+22

"I didn't know one person could remember and entire movie's lines for every character."

Haley shrugged. "It's a talent I have. You have to just keep swimming just keep swimming!" Haley sang and started to laugh. "I love Dory."

"I liked that fish that was obsessed with the bubbles," Nathan laughed. "My bubbles!"

"Aha!"

"Aha what?" he asked.

"You liked it! Admit it. You liked Nemo," Haley demanded.

Nathan shrugged. He knew he wasn't getting out of this one. "Ok, it was as much of a kiddie movie as I thought. And yes I did like it."

"I knew it! I knew it!" Haley exclaimed in a sing song voice.

Nathan looked at her. "You know boasting in not becoming of you."

"Oh as if you are one to talk Mr. Scott."

"Hey," he said defensively. "All that bluster and BS was part of the old Nathan Scott. The one math doesn't care about."

She laughed thinking about that first tutoring session. She absently started playing with her bracelet he had given her. Immediately she felt a pang of guilt for being here, laughing with Nathan and having a good time...while her grandmother couldn't.

Haley thought she might cry again. She had broken down once in front of Nathan already today. She didn't like losing control over her emotions. She tried to push back the tears that ignored her silent pleading.

Slowly tears started to spill down her cheeks. She was trying to be as silent about it as she could.

Nathan felt her body shaking. He pulled her into his lap without saying anything and just held her tightly in his arms. "What's the matter baby?" he asked, so low, he wasn't sure if she heard.

But she did. As much as she didn't want to say anything, she felt she owed it to Nathan to give him an explanation to her second breakdown today.

"I...it's just that...well I feel guilty. Actually being happy a few minutes ago when..well you know."

"Haley," Nathan said softly. He repositioned himself so they were looking at each other. He brushed a tear off her cheek. "Would your grandma want you to be sulking around miserable or would she want you to try and be happy?"

Haley started playing with her hands and looked down. "She'd want me to be happy. But it's just so unfair! Why can't we both be happy?"

Nathan tilted her head up so their eyes met. "Haley, maybe she is happy where she is. I once heard that it is a selfish act to keep loved ones here. Sometimes they need to move on. Is your grandfather still alive?"

Haley closed her eyes and shook her head.

"See then. They are both up there together again, probably happy together."

She looked up at him again. "I know Nathan...it's just so hard. There is so many more things that I wanted her to see be a part of. Prom, graduation, college," Haley said each word, her voice getting softer and softer.

Nathan laced his fingers in hers. "I know Hales. It's going to be hard. I'm not going to pretend that it isn't. Just know that I'm here for you, Karen, Lucas," he said trying to offer her comfort and support. "Speaking of, why don't you give Lucas or Karen a call? Maybe it might make you feel a little better?" he suggested. "I called Luke a little while ago and left a message. Maybe when he saw it was my number he wasn't in any rush to check the message."

Haley tilted her head to look at Nathan. "Thank you," she said with sincerity. She disentangled her fingers from his and wrapped then around his neck. "Thank you," she said again. "For sitting here with me, talking with me. You are the best." Haley pulled Nathan closer to her and kissed him once on the lips and then hugged him tightly.

"Anytime."

After a few minutes, Haley reluctantly detached herself from Nathan. "I owe you," she told him.

He handed her his cell phone. "My room's straight down that hall on the left if you want."

She smiled at him and wiped her eyes trying to compose herself as much as possible. She took the phone. "I'll be back," Haley said as she went down the hall.

"I'll be waiting."

END PART 22