Chapter 12:

Two Days Later...

"Come on, come on. I know they're in here somewhere." I let out an exasperated sigh as I dug through my purse. "Damn it, where are they?"

"Looking for something important?" A familiar voice asked, and I looked up to see the door I had been standing in front of was now open, but now there was the lanky form of a guy blocking my path.

"My fricking keys." I rubbed my temples, trying to fight the oncoming headache.

"Bad day?"

"Try horrible. The whole publishing company's in an uproar. One of my transcripts got lost and everyone's flipping out. I've got a migraine because of it and the Latte machine is down at my coffee shop!" I moaned. "Why does God hate me?"

"God doesn't hate you, he's testing you." He replied.

"First, I have to deal with choosing between two guys and now the damn company lost one of my transcripts." I pushed my way inside.

Flashback

"It took me six years to put it back together, Nathan, six! You know, I've never slept with anyone since the night before you left for California, the night I gave myself to you. No one has ever come close to what we've had. I'm twenty-four years old Nathan and I don't even date anymore. At least, not until last night." I felt the tears spill over, but refused to swipe them away. "Lucas has given me hope, Nathan. What about you?"

He squeezed his eyes shut, as thought struggling with some inner battle. "I can't say that I was that broken over us. I didn't really date through college, but when I met Lexi, things just clicked."

"You loved her." I stated, trying to keep my voice even, although I wanted to scream.

"I loved you more, no wait, I love you more. Seeing you again, it's like those feelings I buried are reawakening. Now it's time to see if the spark's still there." He stopped pacing and turned to face me.

"How do you propose we do that?" I asked dubiously.

"This." He stepped forward, cupped my face in his hands and brought his lips down on mine.

I don't think I've ever been that stunned in my entire life, not because Nathan kissed, come on, you had to see that coming. What was so shocking was that every one of Nathan's kisses had set off fireworks more impressive than the damn fourth of July. Anyone could feel the sparks around us. Except this one, this was just lips on lips. There wasn't even the tiniest od sparks.

Nathan must have felt it too, because he pulled back abruptly, as if stung. He stared at me wide eyed. "What happened?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "Nothing is exactly what happened."

"Why?" He persisted, looking frustrated. "These past few days, all I could think about is how much I need you in my life. How can there not be any sparks?"

I gazed at him steadily. "Once again Tutorgirl has the answers, huh?" I laughed softly. "You need me in your life, Nathan, but not as your girlfriend anymore."

Nathan snapped around, staring at me as if I had grown two heads. "You're my Haley. How can we be in each other's lives if not as boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"A large part of me is always going to be your Haley, Nathan, but we aren't the same people we used to be. I think what we found here was that long awaited closure." I took a step forward and laced his fingers with mine. "We were friends once, Nathan, when you just thought of me as your tutor. We can be friends again."

"I'd like that." Nathan stared at our joined hands. "I really missed you, Haley."

"I missed you too, Nathan." I smiled brightly at him. "I love you, Nathan Scott, we can do anything."

His eyes snapped up to meet mine, a soft remembrance glowing in them. "I love you, Haley James." He bent down and placed a kiss on my cheek. "So what do we do now? Do you go to Lucas?"

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I could end up with Lucas, I could end up with some other guy. You never know."

"If I can't have you, Haley. I think Lucas is the only other guy who should." He returned the squeeze.

"Is that your way of a blessing for Lucas and me?" I teased.

"Laugh all you want, but you're too special Haley, to just end up with some random guy." He said seriously. "Lucas is the only one that's worthy."

"Thank you, for everything Nathan."

"Anything for you, Haley."

End of Flashback

"But you made your choice." He pointed out.

"That I did." I dropped my things on the table, just as Justice skidded to a halt by our feet and began to bark happily. "Hi there." I scooped the puppy up.

"Well, let's make your day better. How 'bout we go out to dinner tonight?"

"Lucas Scott, are you asking me out on a date?" I pretended to be shocked.

"You know it. Besides, isn't that a normal thing for boyfriends and girlfriends to do, go out on dates?" He grinned.

"Luke, since when have we ever been normal?" I rolled my eyes. "There's always too much drama in our lives to make us normal."

"True, but we can always try to be normal." Luke leaned down and kissed me smartly on the mouth.

"Uh! Refrain from the PDA around here!" Nathan shielded his eyes, as he entered the room. Brooke right behind him.

"Shut up, Man." Luke snapped back good-naturedly.

"You guys are just too cute together, it makes us want to barf." Brooke added in, with a smirk of her own.

"Brooke, I can't even count the many times I've witnessed you making out with guys around here." I stuck my tongue out at her, which she didn't hesitate to do the same.

"Very mature, Ladies." Lucas mock scolded.

"Ladies?" Nathan and I questioned in unison, before we broke out in laughter.

"You guys are impossible." Luke rolled his eyes and headed into my bedroom.

I giggled and followed him, closing the door behind me. Before I could turn to find him, he had me pressed against the door, his mouth on mine. Oh yeah, the day had been horrible, but it just got better.

That's right, you did not read it wrong, this is a LALEY fic! I chose Lucas in the end because, well, not only did he get the most votes, but I just like Lucas a little bit better than Nathan, hence my penname being Lucas'sgirl, not Nathan'sgirl. There's still more to come, so keep on reviewing, so you can continue to read.

I apologize to all my Naley fans out there. But, I'm keeping my promise he won't end up alone. I may actually write an alternate version of this story some other time that'll come out Naley instead. So, bear with me and please don't stop reading this story. I'm going to seriously consider the alternate story idea.