Chapter Four

Wednesday afternoon was tutoring day for Haley. It was turning out to be a stressing week for Lucas and her. She sat at her table at the tutoring station wondering who her next protégé would be.

She looked up as she heard footsteps coming towards her. What she saw made steam come out of her nose and ears. "What are you doing here? I didn't think Mr. I'm-so-popular-girls-can't-get-their-hands-off-me Scott would have any interest in studying!" she exclaimed as he got nearer.

"Well you thought wrong Ms. I'm-such-a-snotty-teacher's-pet." he retorted. "Say hello to your new student." he said with a triumphant smile.

"No way, you're kidding right? You aren't even flunking in any of your subjects! You don't need a tutor and even if you did, there isn't a chance in hell that I would tutor you!" she bit back.

"First of all, it isn't my fault that the teachers recommended that I take tutoring classes and that they unfortunately recommended you to be my tutor. And second of all, how would you know that I wasn't flunking in any of my subjects? Have you been spying on me like all the other girls?" he sneered.

"Grrr! You are such an ass! Give me that!" she said as she snatched the form from Nathan. True enough, it had her name on it and said that she needed to give him 5 hours of her time a week. This cannot be happening to me, she said. What have I done to deserve this? "I can't tutor you, but I'll get you another tutor. Fair enough?"

"Nope. It has to be you. I hate to admit it but you're the best tutor in school. You even made Tim pass his Biology exam when you tutored him a couple of months back."

"I only tutor people who have potential." she said.

"Are you saying that I don't have potential?"

She gave him a look that said—DUH!

He looked a little hurt.

Maybe I bruised his big ego, Haley thought.

"Well, now I've got to prove you wrong. Just give me a chance. I need your help Haley. Please." he gave her his boyish grin.

"I'm not like other girls, Nathan. So you could stop smiling at me now. It's kinda creepy."

Actually, it was kinda cute but she could never tell him that. No wonder girls keep falling all over his feet, she thought. He sure knows how to get a girl's attention. Luckily I'm not falling for it, right?

She looked away from Nathan, confused.

"Look, I thought you wanted to help people who needed your help. I need your help Haley. Don't give up on me now." Nathan pleaded.

Haley looked up at him and felt her resolve breaking. Maybe he did need her help and she was just being biased about it. Then an idea hit her.

"Oh alright. You win. I'm not the bitch that you think I am. I want to help people who need my help, even if it means helping you." She said defensively.

"I never thought you were a bitch Haley." Nathan said quietly as he looked in her eyes. Being the ass that he was, he never actually wanted to hurt a girl by making her think he saw her as a bitch. Haley saw the look he gave her and groaned inwardly.

"On two conditions Nathan."

"What conditions?" he asked.

"First, you have to lay off Luke. I mean it Nathan! No more thrashing his locker or throwing him in the pond!" she eyed him suspiciously.

Nathan watched her intently with a frown on his face. "Okay, I can deal with that. What's the second one?" he asked.

"You have to swear no one is going to know about this tutoring thing but you and me. Especially not Luke." she finished.

After a few seconds, he smiled and said "Deal. Shake on it?" he extended his hand and took hers into it.

His hand was warm. It was so big that it covered her hand entirely. She looked down on it and thought, what am I getting myself into?

"Where do we study if we don't want anybody to see us?" Nathan asked her.

"I haven't thought about it yet." she admitted.

"We can study at my place if you like." He gave her a suggestive smile.

Haley shivered. "No way! We're studying at my place!" she blurted out.

"Ok. Suit yourself. See you after practice!" he shrugged and walked away. "Wait! You don't even know where I live!" Haley said as she called out to him.

"Don't worry, I'll find it. Be there at 6."

Haley looked down on her desk and hit her head on the table. Nice work Haley, you've just invited Nathan Scott into your house. Whoppie...,she thought.

Nathan was smiling as he walked out of the room. This is going to be interesting. The best idea you've had yet Nathan..., he said to himself.