Haley stared at him for a minute then asked "Why does it matter to you if we have been having sex."

Luke's heart sank. He did not know why it did this nor did he think about it too much. Instead he replied "Because Hales you are the one that has always talked about waiting till you are in love with someone and how important it is to you. "

"Yeah I have said that a hundred times, and I mean it Luke. He loves me, Nathan honest to god loves me."

Luke sat staring at his bowl of soup for several seconds. He finally asked the question he did not want to know the answer to. "And do you love him?"

It was Haley's turn to sit thinking about this question. She finally looked up and met Luke's eyes. She tried to read what he was thinking as she finally said "Yes I do Luke. I love Nathan." She watched and thought that there was hurt in his eyes before he turned his head away.

Luke cleared his throat and said "So you two are having sex then?" He did not turn his head back at her instead he was playing with his spoon.

"No we aren't. In fact I have not even told Nathan that I loved him. I think I have known all this time but I have been too afraid to tell him. I don't know I am always waiting for things to fall apart I guess. I never thought that this would be the guy I would date." There was an awkward pause as they both thought about this. Haley thought about who she had wanted to date, Luke, and Luke about Haley dating Nathan. "I just am not sure that this is what he wants and if it's not than I don't want to get hurt."

"Not what he wants? You just said that he loves you right?"

"Yeah, he does."

"And yet you think that he will all of a sudden stop loving you because of...... what Dan or the guys or.... I don't know cause he finds a new girl."

Haley looked down at the countertop and said quietly "That about sums it up."

"Haley! Why on earth would you think that?"

"I don't know I kind of feel like it is too good to be true. I never thought I would be dating the star basketball player and most popular guy in school. I always thought that only the beautiful cheerleaders got that guy. Hell I don't even think I really wanted to date that guy. I never thought that he would be so interesting or caring. So I am just kind of waiting to wake up."

"Haley!" was all Luke could manage at first. He could not believe that she doubted herself that much. She was confident in every aspect of her life why should it be different with whether or not she was desirable to a guy. He finally got over this shock and went on "Do you look in the mirror ever?"

"Yes," she laughingly said a little confused by the question.

"Then you should have noticed sometime over the last 16 years that those cheerleaders you are talking about have nothing on you at all. I know I have ummm kissed two of them. You are every bit as good as any of them. Plus I have seen Nathan with you, and seen him with a cheerleader and let me tell you he is two different guys. I can almost stand this Nathan." He playfully leaned into her. "Trust me on this one he is the lucky one to have you. Oh and so am not saying this just because you are my best friend and it is what I should say. So no more talking like he is too good for you cause if anything it is you who are to good for him although he is getting better."

Haley smiled shyly at him. She was embarrassed by everything he had said but at the same time it was nice to know that he cared so much about her and that he thought that much about her. She did have a small complex about her looks but that was because all the boys always seemed to want the cheerleader type, and not the smart book worm. She finally said "Thanks," and got up to clean up after them. Luke got too. They started to work in silence just enjoying being together. Haley flipped the sign to closed and was half way around the counter when they heard the door jingle open and turned to look. As she turned Haley said "Sorry we're clos....." but stopped in mid sentence when she saw that it was Roy. "Umm hi." She looked between Grandfather, and Grandson. They were just standing there staring at each other. Haley cleared her throat and mumbled something about hearing the oven buzzer.

Luke could not understand why Roy had shown up here, and now of all times. He was staring at him waiting for him to say something trying to decide if he should act as if he knew he was his grandfather. He heard Haley say she had to go into the back for the oven and turned to protest. He was going to tell her she did not need to leave. Their eyes met and he bit back his protest.

Haley went into the back of the café. Roy cleared his throat and started to speak. "Nathan said that Haley would be with you tonight, so I thought I would stop by on the off chance you were here. You are here." He finished rather lamely. He had decided to do this without thinking it was rather a spur of the moment type of thing. Now that he was here face to face with Luke he was not sure what to say. He tried another approach "I saw you play in the game last night."

Luke just nodded. He was not making this easy on Roy. He still could not figure out what he was doing here.

"You were really good. You have a better fade away then your dad did."

This finally set Luke off. "What are you doing here and what do you want?"

"Here not sure about thought it was a good idea before I actually opened the door, but what I want I do know. I wanted to tell you that though I have not been your grandfather I am proud of the man you are becoming and the ball player you are."

Luke wanted to accept this but he was suspicious of anything a Scott did. "Yeah well you don't have anything to be proud of you had nothing to do with the person I am."

There was a loud crash, "Crap" from the kitchen as Haley dropped the pan she was carrying because of what Luke said. Luke and Roy both chuckled at this. It also helped to relieve some of the tension they both were feeling.

Roy tried again "I know I don't have a right to be but I am. Take it or leave it. Your mom is a good woman. She and I have been talking since you were born."

"Yeah I know Hales told me already. Is that supposed to some how make everything better though? You checking up to make sure we are ok, makes up for me not having a family?"

"No. It does not make things right. I am not saying what was done to you was the right thing, but I can honestly say that it may have been the best thing. Especially after seeing everything that I have seen this last couple of days with Nathan and Dan."

Luke had nothing to say to this. He had been thinking this more and more as of late. He had been happy as a child and though he did not have a father he had always had Keith who was better than half the fathers he knew, and his mom who words could not describe. Nathan on the other hand had had Dan who had spent years trying to mold him in his own image, and in doing so making Nathan miserable and mean.

Roy seeing his window of opportunity went on, "I know that I can not make up for the lost years, but I was hoping that we could start fresh maybe and get to know each other. I am only in town for tonight and then we are leaving again, but May and I are going to be back in town again for the championship. I was just hoping that maybe you and your mom would like to have dinner with us and we can talk."

Luke thought about this and finally said "Yeah I think I would like that."

At this Haley appeared around the corner with a plate of cookies and set them on the counter. She grabbed a couple of mugs and poured coffee for two. Roy started to say her goodbye thinking that this was a hint for him to leave, but Haley interrupted. "Mom always says that there is no time like the present to meet new people so... would you like cream or sugar with your coffee Roy?" She was already adding lots of sugar and cream to the other coffee just the way Luke liked it. Roy looked nervously between the two best friends trying to decide what to do.

Luke on the other hand was giving Haley a questioning look. He finally gave in though and looked back at Roy and shrugged as if to say why not.

Roy took the cue and said "Nothing I drink it black." He started towards the counter and sat down; Luke came and sat down too. Haley on the other hand went back out back and grabbed her coat. As she came back out with it Roy protested "Wait you don't have to go you and Luke had plans that I am interrupting. I can leave."

Haley did not listen she came over and kissed Luke on the cheek and said "Rain check?"

"Yeah, defiantly Hales."

She then went to Roy and gave him a hug and said "It was nice to meet you. I am sure that I will see you next time you are in town." With that she walked to the door calling "Have a good night guys, and have fun."