Chapter 4: Feeling the Unsaid

Sure, he and Haley have spent a lot of times before but he never really got a chance to look deep into her eyes, up until now. He was nearly getting lost in his thoughts when Lucas called out to him out of nowhere.

Haley and Nathan both turned around, upon recognizing his voice. "Hey you two, what's up?"

Haley smiles when she saw her best friend walking towards them. "Finally, something to bring things back to normal," she thought.

"Hey bro, we were just about to start a little calculus one-on-one. Apparently, it's the only game where Hales gets to outscore me," Nathan joked as Lucas got nearer. Haley couldn't resist poking him lightly with her elbows at the sound of his comment.

"Well, Mr. Scott. I would have to prove you wrong about that," she exclaimed. Her eyes fell onto Lucas' big duffel bag, causing her to have a confused expression on her face.

"Wait, I thought you've already gone home."

Lucas smiles slightly. "Yeah, I thought I was going to get to have the rest of the day with Peyton but apparently, Whitey wants us back in the gym for another practice," he answered as he looked at Nathan.

Nathan just sighs, "Damn, I can't believe this."

Haley understood what this meant, "I guess we'll have to do our calculus thing some other time then." She gave Nathan a very understanding look.

Nathan immediately answered, "No!" He was actually surprised by how defiant he sounded. At the sight of Haley's surprised faced, he quickly made a follow-up to his response, "I meant no, it doesn't really have to wait another day. Well..," he began nervously, "That is if you don't mind waiting for me to finish practice. You can come with us and watch."

For some reason, Lucas felt the need to back-up his younger brother. "Yeah Hales, Peyton and Brooke will be there anyway. They're also having another practice today. C'mon Hales, it will be fun!"

Haley just smiled at both of them, "Sure, I'd love to."

With Haley in the middle of the Scott brothers, the three made their way into the gym.

Brooke and Peyton waved at her as she entered the room with Lucas and Nathan. "Hey girl, we knew you'd still be here," said Brooke as she puts one arm around Haley.

"I didn't know you girls were having another practice today," Haley replied as they sat down at one of the bleachers.

"Well, you know how it is. Where this team is, our team will be too," Brooke said as she grinningly looks over the court to where the guys were warming up. Jake caught her eyes and gave her a wink. Brooke grinned even wider and blew Jake a kiss and winked back.

Haley laughed as she noticed how intimate Brooke and Jake's relationship have become. Actually, nobody ever thought they would end up together before. Being the free-spirited girl that Brooke is, they knew she wouldn't want to go out with a guy who has some "excess baggage." This all changed when she became Jake Jagelski's lab partner. They learned much more than Biology that semester. In fact, they actually realized that they have deep feelings for each other. Nowadays, Brooke looks forward to finishing studies and becoming a mother to Jenny, whom she had grown so much fond of. Haley and Peyton believe that Brooke will become Mrs. Jagelski someday.

Whitey suddenly came out of the locker room and immediately faced his boys, "C'mon now, I 'wanna run our new play again. Everything has to be perfect if we are to win the championship this year!"

Obediently, the whole basketball team went into formation. They immediately separated themselves into two teams. Lucas and Nathan both belonged to the one wearing a white jersey. Lucas stole a glance at Peyton who was then warming up before they begin their routine, "Damn, I love her." As soon as Lucas turned his attention back to his coach, Brooke looked his way and smilingly stared at him. As she did a couple of stretches, she couldn't help but stare at her boyfriend, "God, I feel like the luckiest girl alive!"

On the other hand, Nathan found himself looking for Haley. Seeing that he caught her eyes, he waved at her. Haley smiled and waved back at him while she silently mouthed out, "good luck!"

Nathan recognized the words Haley formed from her lips and mouthed out a "thank you." Upon seeing Nathan do this, Whitey shouted to him, "Son, you'll have plenty of time with your girlfriend later. In the meantime, let's play ball." Lucky for Nathan, Whitey's remark was not loud enough to be heard by the girls on other side. For some reason, he just smiled and never bothered to correct his coach.

Nathan even found himself engaged in a little daydream:

Nathan's spirits were soaring as he left the gym. After practice, he made an extra effort to make sure he does not smell like some sweaty kid who just finished playing with his friends. He was in such a good mood that he had wide grin plastered to his face as he made his way to the other side of Tree Hill High. Right outside the school building, he saw something he's been waiting for all day. Haley James was fixing some stuff in her locker and she didn't notice him coming near. The moment she closed her locker door, she caught sight of a grinning Nathan Scott whose head was resting on the locker next to hers. "Hey babe, I missed you," said Nathan as he pulled Haley close to him.

Haley was delighted to see him as she eagerly placed her arms around his neck, "Hello handsome, I've been thinking about you all day!"

Nathan just laughs, "Yeah, me too...except, I've been dreaming about you too!"

Haley giggles and leans over to give him a long, passionate kiss. After sharing quite an intimate moment, Haley looks up and giggles softly at him. She leans down towards his ear and whispers, "Let's get out of here."

Nathan smiles excitedly, "That's exactly what I was about to suggest! Well Ms. Hales, let me whisk you off your feet."

Haley just lets out a loud giggle as Nathan scoops up her feet into one of his strong arms while supporting her back on the other. Gamely, she puts her arms around his neck and gives him a soft kiss on the cheek. Before they could get away though, Lucas catches sight of the crazy lovers. He stops on his tracks and laughs at them affectionately, "Man, you two look like newlyweds!"

Nathan was very pleased at his brother's remark, "Thanks Luke, you'll be our best man!"

Haley turns to look at Lucas and gives him a very warm smile, "Undoubtedly, you're the only one I can think of to take that role!"

Nathan turns towards the beautiful girl in his arms with eyes filled with hope, "Does this mean you're willing to marry me someday?"

Upon hearing this, Haley leans over to her boyfriend's face again and gives him yet another passionate kiss, "If you play your cards right Mr. Scott, I would want nothing but to walk down an aisle, which leads to you."

With that, Nathan grins at his brother as if to say good-bye. He takes a moment to look at Haley and whisper, "I'll do anything to have you forever." With Haley still in his arms, he rushes towards the parking lot, leaving laughing Lucas behind....

As quickly as the dream had come, it faded from him before he could even question his thoughts. He has no idea why Haley has been on his mind lately. The dream, nevertheless, made him feel extremely happy. He couldn't imagine a more perfect high school life than the one that just played on his head. Wanting Haley is one thing and being wanted by Haley is another. He still looked dreamy as he scanned the bleachers for the girl in his dreams. There she was, right across from where he stood. She was seated near the cheering squad, waving to Brooke and Peyton in between the girls' routines. At that moment, something Brooke had said made Haley burst into laughter. Nathan couldn't help but smile as he watched her eyes lighting up with laughter. "Damn, she's beautiful," he surprisingly found himself thinking as he kept his eyes glued on her.

Lucky for him, Whitey gave them a 20-minute break. Without hesitation, he rushes over to the other side of the basketball court. Haley saw him walking over and waved at him delightfully. "I would kill to see this girl watch every single game of mine," he thought as he got nearer Haley.