AN: Alrighty guys, here it is. Not much to say about it, only that I
enjoyed writing it and I hope you guys enjoy reading it! Hehe. Let me know-
thanks for all the support, as always.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. Well...maybe the characters of young Haley and Lucas? I dunno bout that, but either way, I only own this story.
Opportunities by: grace
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haley flipped through a magazine, not really looking at the pages. The warm sunshine was dancing across her back through the window as she lay facedown on Lucas's bed. She had talked to her parents earlier that week, and lets just say they weren't as thrilled as Karen was.
"I can't believe your mom is letting me live with you guys." Haley said.
Lucas looked up from where he was struggling to get his shirt on. Haley watched him as he frowned at the blue fabric.
"Yeah, I know. But I guess she figures that nothing worse can really happen." He smiled. She gave a small chuckle.
"I guess she's right." Haley sighed. "Then there's the fact that my parents don't really want me in their house right now." Her bottom lip trembled, which Lucas knew was a danger sign...any second she could start crying...
"Hey, help me with this?" He gestured to his shirt. "My arm's still pretty sore."
Haley hopped off his bed and lifted the shirt back off of him, laughing. "You know, most people learn how to dress themselves before they get to high school." She then frowned at the fabric and gave Lucas an incredulous look. "You had it on backwards." She expertly flipped it back so that the shirt was right, and smoothed out a crease.
"I hate wearing these stupid button-ups." Lucas grumbled. "I have to wear them for these basketball dinners. I swear, Whitey does it to make us suffer."
"You look good in them though," Haley said mildly. She glanced quickly at his bare chest and a little surge rushed through her.
God. It was only Lucas. She shook her head.
"Really?" Lucas perked up. Haley pulled the shirt around his bare chest, Lucas only wincing slightly. When she reached around him, he stopped breathing for a minute when she got close to him. Warmth radiated off of him. She looked into his eyes, stunned to see an emotion she hadn't seen there before.
Longing.
Wait, she had seen that look once before.
FLASHBACK: Lucas's room
"Haley James, you are a cheater!" A young Lucas Scott stuck his tongue out at his best friend, who was snickering.
"I am not! Besides, it's only fish."
"So? It's still cheating."
"You're just a sore loser!" She shot back.
"Butthead!"
"Wait, why am I the butthead? You're the one who can't stand to lose!" Haley laughed, her (very) long brown hair falling past her shoulders.
"Well...fine you can be a worm-eater then."
"Eww!" Haley's small hands flew to her mouth.
"Then don't rub it in..." Lucas threatened. "Besides, I let you win."
"I won...you lost..." Haley stood and did a triumphant kind of dance, swinging her hips like she had seen on MTV. Lucas laughed at her.
"At least I can dance." He giggled at her attempt. Haley frowned and put her hands on her hips. She hopped down from the bed.
"What's wrong with the way I dance?" Haley asked him self consciously, folding her arms around her thin frame.
"Nothing, except for you stink."
"WHAT?" She sputtered.
"Don't act like it's the first time anyone's told you that," Lucas said mildly, shuffling the cards on his bed.
"Well, actually, yeah."
"Oh." He looked ashamed for a moment. "Sorry."
"It's not like you can do any better."
Lucas looked at her.
"Oh? And you know this for a fact?"
"Yes." Said Haley, sticking her nose in the air defiantly.
Lucas hopped down from the bed and went into a kind of jig. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. Haley wanted to laugh at the expression on Lucas's face, the one of set determination and mixed triumph and embarrassment. He sat down, exhausted.
"That was horrible." Haley lied. Really she thought it had been quite good.
"It was?" Lucas's flushed face went suddenly pale.
Haley giggled. "No. It was fine. Actually, I think you're the first boy I know that can actually dance."
"Well thank you."
"But I bet you can't slow dance."
"Huh?" Lucas looked dumfounded.
"You know, when girls and guys dance together? Like at school dances and stuff?" Haley looked at him incredulously.
"Oh. I don't 'slow dance'."
Haley giggled.
"You're going to lead a lonely life then."
"Whatever." Lucas shrugged, looking shiftily at her before crossing his arms.
"Suit yourself."
Silence.
"What if...I don't know how to dance?" Lucas asked, his cheeks flushing again.
"I can show you," Haley offered, holding out her hand. Lucas took it, unsurely, and she pulled him to the middle of the room. She put on a CD, letting the notes drift into the air. Lucas gulped, suddenly nervous.
"Now you put your hands here," She instructed, pulling his hands to her waist. "And then I put my hands here," She placed hers on his shoulders. Lucas was tense. "And then you just sort of sway."
"Oh."
The music played and Lucas grew more comfortable, remembering that it wasn't a girl that he was dancing with, it was his best friend. The one who had always been there for him. Always taught him things that he hadn't known, showing him the way things worked, what he was supposed to say and when.
But then there was a whole other side to Haley he had not seen before. The one who wore lip gloss occasionally, when her mother gave her an old tube. The one who for the first time had worn a skirt, whom he had convinced that no one could see the knick she had on her leg from her first time shaving.
The one who was now teaching him to dance, handing him yet another useful tool for the future.
Haley looked into his eyes and that's when she saw it. A longing, one she had not seen before. Unfamiliar territory to both of him. He looked at her in a way she had only ever seen actors look at actresses, lover to lover. Then, bringing her closer with his arms, he closed his eyes.
Numb, speechless, Haley had closed hers, and allowed herself to be pulled forward. His lips were about to brush against hers when they heard Karen calling Haley from the kitchen. They broke apart, not looking at one another, not really knowing what had happened.
"Haley?" Karen's head popped through the door and she smiled at the blushing pair. "Your mom called. Dinner is ready."
"Okay, thanks Karen."
"Anytime, sweetie."
Haley grabbed her stuff and fled from the room, blushing madly. That was the last time she would ever teach Lucas anything.
END OF FLASHBACK
The next time they had seen each other, they had pretended that it had never happened; sinking back into the comfortable co-existence they had together. But still, Haley knew that she would never forget that day. They had looked the possibility in the face, and then turned from it. From then on, Haley had always wondered what would have happened...
They had been 13 years old.
And her she was, staring the possibility in the face again, so many years later. The prospect of her best friend. The one that had taught her to ride a bike and to dribble a basketball, in exchange for a lesson on tying ties. The one who slept with a blanket until he was six, and had accidentally swore during a sermon in church once because he had stubbed his toe on a pew.
These memories rushed to her mind and she smiled, and shook her head, stepping back for the second time from the opportunity. The possibility. Naw. Not Lucas. Not now.
Lucas cleared his throat uncomfortably, and shifted. Haley buttoned his shirt quickly for him, and stepped out the door, not saying a word.
But then again, she really didn't need to. Her stepping away from him had told him everything he needed to know. Which was fine with him, he hated confrontations. And besides, it was Haley for crissakes, what was he thinking? Just missing Peyton was all.
But he still couldn't help but wonder why he was even a tiny bit disappointed.
Stupid hormones, Haley thought, making her way to the guest bedroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Like it? Hehe let me know, as always! I luv all of the wonderful responses, thank you!
Next time: You know who the father is, but Haley doesn't. You will be surprised on who does find out...
Review review! If you want more!
Much luv, The Review Whore (i.e. me) tehe
Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. Well...maybe the characters of young Haley and Lucas? I dunno bout that, but either way, I only own this story.
Opportunities by: grace
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haley flipped through a magazine, not really looking at the pages. The warm sunshine was dancing across her back through the window as she lay facedown on Lucas's bed. She had talked to her parents earlier that week, and lets just say they weren't as thrilled as Karen was.
"I can't believe your mom is letting me live with you guys." Haley said.
Lucas looked up from where he was struggling to get his shirt on. Haley watched him as he frowned at the blue fabric.
"Yeah, I know. But I guess she figures that nothing worse can really happen." He smiled. She gave a small chuckle.
"I guess she's right." Haley sighed. "Then there's the fact that my parents don't really want me in their house right now." Her bottom lip trembled, which Lucas knew was a danger sign...any second she could start crying...
"Hey, help me with this?" He gestured to his shirt. "My arm's still pretty sore."
Haley hopped off his bed and lifted the shirt back off of him, laughing. "You know, most people learn how to dress themselves before they get to high school." She then frowned at the fabric and gave Lucas an incredulous look. "You had it on backwards." She expertly flipped it back so that the shirt was right, and smoothed out a crease.
"I hate wearing these stupid button-ups." Lucas grumbled. "I have to wear them for these basketball dinners. I swear, Whitey does it to make us suffer."
"You look good in them though," Haley said mildly. She glanced quickly at his bare chest and a little surge rushed through her.
God. It was only Lucas. She shook her head.
"Really?" Lucas perked up. Haley pulled the shirt around his bare chest, Lucas only wincing slightly. When she reached around him, he stopped breathing for a minute when she got close to him. Warmth radiated off of him. She looked into his eyes, stunned to see an emotion she hadn't seen there before.
Longing.
Wait, she had seen that look once before.
FLASHBACK: Lucas's room
"Haley James, you are a cheater!" A young Lucas Scott stuck his tongue out at his best friend, who was snickering.
"I am not! Besides, it's only fish."
"So? It's still cheating."
"You're just a sore loser!" She shot back.
"Butthead!"
"Wait, why am I the butthead? You're the one who can't stand to lose!" Haley laughed, her (very) long brown hair falling past her shoulders.
"Well...fine you can be a worm-eater then."
"Eww!" Haley's small hands flew to her mouth.
"Then don't rub it in..." Lucas threatened. "Besides, I let you win."
"I won...you lost..." Haley stood and did a triumphant kind of dance, swinging her hips like she had seen on MTV. Lucas laughed at her.
"At least I can dance." He giggled at her attempt. Haley frowned and put her hands on her hips. She hopped down from the bed.
"What's wrong with the way I dance?" Haley asked him self consciously, folding her arms around her thin frame.
"Nothing, except for you stink."
"WHAT?" She sputtered.
"Don't act like it's the first time anyone's told you that," Lucas said mildly, shuffling the cards on his bed.
"Well, actually, yeah."
"Oh." He looked ashamed for a moment. "Sorry."
"It's not like you can do any better."
Lucas looked at her.
"Oh? And you know this for a fact?"
"Yes." Said Haley, sticking her nose in the air defiantly.
Lucas hopped down from the bed and went into a kind of jig. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. Haley wanted to laugh at the expression on Lucas's face, the one of set determination and mixed triumph and embarrassment. He sat down, exhausted.
"That was horrible." Haley lied. Really she thought it had been quite good.
"It was?" Lucas's flushed face went suddenly pale.
Haley giggled. "No. It was fine. Actually, I think you're the first boy I know that can actually dance."
"Well thank you."
"But I bet you can't slow dance."
"Huh?" Lucas looked dumfounded.
"You know, when girls and guys dance together? Like at school dances and stuff?" Haley looked at him incredulously.
"Oh. I don't 'slow dance'."
Haley giggled.
"You're going to lead a lonely life then."
"Whatever." Lucas shrugged, looking shiftily at her before crossing his arms.
"Suit yourself."
Silence.
"What if...I don't know how to dance?" Lucas asked, his cheeks flushing again.
"I can show you," Haley offered, holding out her hand. Lucas took it, unsurely, and she pulled him to the middle of the room. She put on a CD, letting the notes drift into the air. Lucas gulped, suddenly nervous.
"Now you put your hands here," She instructed, pulling his hands to her waist. "And then I put my hands here," She placed hers on his shoulders. Lucas was tense. "And then you just sort of sway."
"Oh."
The music played and Lucas grew more comfortable, remembering that it wasn't a girl that he was dancing with, it was his best friend. The one who had always been there for him. Always taught him things that he hadn't known, showing him the way things worked, what he was supposed to say and when.
But then there was a whole other side to Haley he had not seen before. The one who wore lip gloss occasionally, when her mother gave her an old tube. The one who for the first time had worn a skirt, whom he had convinced that no one could see the knick she had on her leg from her first time shaving.
The one who was now teaching him to dance, handing him yet another useful tool for the future.
Haley looked into his eyes and that's when she saw it. A longing, one she had not seen before. Unfamiliar territory to both of him. He looked at her in a way she had only ever seen actors look at actresses, lover to lover. Then, bringing her closer with his arms, he closed his eyes.
Numb, speechless, Haley had closed hers, and allowed herself to be pulled forward. His lips were about to brush against hers when they heard Karen calling Haley from the kitchen. They broke apart, not looking at one another, not really knowing what had happened.
"Haley?" Karen's head popped through the door and she smiled at the blushing pair. "Your mom called. Dinner is ready."
"Okay, thanks Karen."
"Anytime, sweetie."
Haley grabbed her stuff and fled from the room, blushing madly. That was the last time she would ever teach Lucas anything.
END OF FLASHBACK
The next time they had seen each other, they had pretended that it had never happened; sinking back into the comfortable co-existence they had together. But still, Haley knew that she would never forget that day. They had looked the possibility in the face, and then turned from it. From then on, Haley had always wondered what would have happened...
They had been 13 years old.
And her she was, staring the possibility in the face again, so many years later. The prospect of her best friend. The one that had taught her to ride a bike and to dribble a basketball, in exchange for a lesson on tying ties. The one who slept with a blanket until he was six, and had accidentally swore during a sermon in church once because he had stubbed his toe on a pew.
These memories rushed to her mind and she smiled, and shook her head, stepping back for the second time from the opportunity. The possibility. Naw. Not Lucas. Not now.
Lucas cleared his throat uncomfortably, and shifted. Haley buttoned his shirt quickly for him, and stepped out the door, not saying a word.
But then again, she really didn't need to. Her stepping away from him had told him everything he needed to know. Which was fine with him, he hated confrontations. And besides, it was Haley for crissakes, what was he thinking? Just missing Peyton was all.
But he still couldn't help but wonder why he was even a tiny bit disappointed.
Stupid hormones, Haley thought, making her way to the guest bedroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Like it? Hehe let me know, as always! I luv all of the wonderful responses, thank you!
Next time: You know who the father is, but Haley doesn't. You will be surprised on who does find out...
Review review! If you want more!
Much luv, The Review Whore (i.e. me) tehe