Hey guys!! Thanks to LucasnHaley for checking out my story! Hehe!! And to MisFaith1029 and barbra for reviewing again!! Wow! I didn't know there were sooo many Laley fans! Hehe.. well, I updated this next chapter... this is the longest chapter yet, coz I love you guys so much! Hehe! hope you guys like it... read the whole thing first before reacting... hehe..

Chapter Six

Part I

"Quick! Hide!! I'll distract Luke!!" she pushed Nathan out of the couch. "Where?! Like I know where the best hiding places are.." asked Nathan as he looked around amused.

"Hey Hales, I'm putting it on the stove to heat it ok?" said Luke as he made his way about the kitchen.

"I dunno, anywhere!" said Haley as she bit her nails. "Go up to my room! Don't you dare come down until I say so!"

"And what if I don't want to go into your room?" Nathan raised his eyebrow.

"Ugh!! You promised, Nathan! Get your sorry ass up there!!!" she said, frustrated.

"I'm going, I'm going!" Nathan said with a laugh.

He disappeared on the top of the stairs just as Lucas found Haley by the staircase.

"Hey. What are you looking at?" Luke asked. Haley turned around and saw Luke by the side of the kitchen door.

Barely made it, she thought. "Oh, nothing. Hey, thanks for bringing some soup over. Um, I forgot to see if the lights in my room are out. I'll just go up and check."

"Shouldn't you be resting? Why don't you sit down? I'll check on the lights." said Luke.

"NO! I mean, I'll check on the lights. Watch the stove for me Luke, ok?" she said as she made her way up he stairs.

If Nathan so much as squeaks up here, he's dead! She thought as she practically ran across the hallway to her room.

She opened her door and found him lying on her bed, flipping through her Vogue magazines.

"What is it with chicks and dating tips?" Nathan asked himself absent-mindedly as he looked at the magazine.

"The dating tips are there to warn us against guys like you who only have one thing in mind on first dates" she said as she snatched the magazine from him.

"Yeah? And that would be?" he asked with an innocent face.

"Don't try to act dumb, you know what I mean!"

"I didn't know you were interested in what guys like me think about on first dates Haley. You surprise me." He said with a smirk.

"Whatever! You really are a creep! Get off my bed! We need to think of a way to get you out of here! Knowing Luke, he probably won't be leaving soon." Haley said with a scowl.

"What's with all the glaring? It isn't my fault Lucas showed up when he wasn't supposed to."

"Don't you dare try to blame this on him!" she screamed at Nathan.

Nathan just shrugged and said "You know, you really should keep your voice down. Lucas might hear you and come up here, and then he'll find out about our little agreement"

Haley was feeling guilty already and she didn't need this moron to tell her to keep quiet. She couldn't take it anymore! "Ugh! It's your fault I even have this problem in the first place!" she clenched her fists and lunged at Nathan.

"Woah! Take it easy!" Nathan said as he tried to jump out of her way, but he wasn't fast enough. Haley still managed to hit him in the arm.

"Ouch! That hurt! Are you crazy or something?!" he said as he rubbed his arm.

"I'm not crazy, just pissed!" she said as she lunged at him again. It felt good to punch Nathan. She wasn't about to stop yet.

Nathan saw her raise her fists again, but his time she was aiming for his face. "That does it!" Nathan shouted as Haley swung her right arm at him. Nathan was able to grab her arm, so she swung her left arm but he grabbed that one too. Nathan pulled her around so that her back was flat against his chest. "Stop it Haley! Calm down!" he said as she struggled. He held her tighter.

"Let go of me you moron!" she said as she tried to get free.

"I'll let go of you if you promise to calm down." He said to her.

Haley kept on struggling but then she suddenly went still.

"Ok, I'll stop. Just please let go of me." She said.

Nathan hesitated. He wasn't sure if she had completely calmed down yet. He let her go after a moment's hesitation. Big mistake.

As soon as Haley felt Nathan's arms loosen their hold on her, she swung around to face him and got ready to punch him.

Nathan wasn't expecting her to react so quickly so he lost his balance. He instinctively grabbed Haley and they both fell on the bed with a big THUD! Haley landed on top of Nathan, and they both took a moment to catch their breath.

Part II

Haley blinked once to clear her head. She looked up and found Nathan's face inches from her. Their eyes locked and for the first time since he could remember, Nathan was speechless.

Nathan's eyes traveled down her face to her lips just as Haley unconsciously licked them; and he groaned inwardly.

"Nathan, I---" Haley said but was interrupted by Luke's voice from the hallway outside her room.

"Hey Hales! Are you ok? I thought I heard you scream and fall or something." Luke said.

Haley's eyes pleaded with Nathan, silently telling him to stay quiet. Nathan nodded his head.

"Uh, yeah Luke. I'm ok! You know how clumsy I could get!" she said as she looked at Nathan.

They weren't making any move to get up from the bed. It was like they were stuck there, or their bodies had a mind of their own.

"Can I come in Hales?" came the voice from outside the room. Luke was already turning the doorknob.

"Wait! I'm still changing Luke! Could you just wait for me downstairs?!" she said frantically.

"Alright Hales. But hurry up! And be careful!" Luke said with an amused voice. It was just like Haley to be falling down and tripping or something. She was always so clumsy, even when they were kids. But still, there was something that was telling him there was something wrong. But he shrugged it off and went down the stairs to the kitchen.

The two heard Luke's retreating footsteps. Haley let out a sigh of relief. She silently thanked whatever higher being there was for getting her out of that sticky situation.

Nathan finally found his voice. "Um, Haley.. I just.. what I mean is, I..." he said as he stuttered.

"I should probably hurry up and get down before Luke comes up here again." Haley interrupted.

"Yeah, you probably should." Nathan said as he and Haley awkwardly tried to stand up.

When both of them were on their feet Haley faced him and said "Listen, Nathan, Luke means a lot to me.. I agreed to help you with your studies so you'd lay off Luke.. but if things like this keep on happening..." she let the sentence hang.

"Please don't ruin this for me. He's my only real friend.." she said after a while.

All Nathan could do was nod his head in response.

"Stay here. I'll try to get back as soon as possible." She said as she took one last look at Nathan and went out of the room.

Part III

Haley made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She saw Luke near the stove, stirring his chicken soup. It was so natural for him to be there that her heart ached. Luke had always been sweet and caring. I can't do this to him, I hate lying to Luke!, she thought.

"Oh, hey Hales! Didn't know you were down here already. Want some soup?"

She nodded her head and made her way to the table.

"You don't look too good Hales. You look like crap!" he joked.

I feel like crap, she thought. "Yeah, its just this blasted cold."

"Maybe you should see a doctor tomorrow." He said worriedly.

"No, its ok. I'm fine, really. Sorry to make you worry, Luke." She said as she smiled at him. "Hey, you mentioned on the phone that you wanted advice on something.. What's up Luke?"

"Oh, that.. Uh, its nothing really." He said, his cheeks blushing a little.

Haley raised her eyebrows. "Come on Luke, spill!"

He laughed at Haley's persistence. "Alright, but you've gotta promise not to make fun of me."

"I promise!" she said.

"Ok, here goes. You know Brooke right? Well, I think she kind of likes me. Well, actually, she asked me out on a date."

"Kind of likes you? Luke, the girl is nuts over you!" Haley said with a laugh.

"See, you're making fun of me already!"

"Ok, I'll shut up." She smiled. "What about Brooke?"

"Well, should I go out with her? I mean, she's nice and everything, but I'm not sure. And besides, there's this other girl I kind of like."

Haley had to admit that she was getting annoyed about Brooke wanting to be with Luke, but she never really thought he would take her seriously. But him admitting that he liked a girl was something else. It was getting on her nerves.

"Really? What's this girl's name? Do I know her?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah, you know her. But I won't tell you her name first. It's kind of, well, complicated."

"What do you mean? Who is this girl anyway?"

"It doesn't matter. So, what do you think I should do?"

"Hmmm... I really don't know Luke. Do you think this other girl likes you back?"

"I'm not sure. I hope so."

"Well, whatever you do just remember to be careful. I don't want either of these girls to hurt you. They've got to go through me first!" she said with a smile.

Luke laughed and shook his head. Haley looked at her best friend of nine years and felt really bad for the first time in their history together. This whole Nathan business is really getting her worked up.

"Hey Luke, promise me something. Whatever happens, we'll still be best friends, ok?" she said as she hugged him.

Luke chuckled and hugged her back. "Sure thing Hales. You're my bestfriend too.."

"Hey, you gonna be ok? I gotta go back and help my mom with some stuff."

"Yeah, thanks for dropping by Luke. You're the best!"

"No problem! See yah tomorrow. Get some rest ok?"

"Ok! Bye!" she said as Luke made his way out of her house.

Part IV

God, it's 9:30! What is taking that girl so long? She's probably still snuggling with Lucas. Man, are they pathetic! I should just go down and walk out of here! Who cares if Lucas sees me! Nathan thought aloud. Haley cares, said his conscience. He had been walking around her room for about thirty minutes now, contemplating what he should do. He finally sat down on her bed and dropped his head on his hands.

Haley. He had to admit the girl was something else.

She sure knew how to punch, he thought with a smile as he rubbed his sore arm. I should get her on the team and she could play defense, he thought with a smile.

He was getting tired of waiting so he lay down on her bed. Bad move, Scott! he thought with a groan. Suddenly, thoughts of Haley began swimming in his head. The way she had felt when she fell on top of him, the way she licked her lips unconsciously, the way her eyes flashed when he said something that set her off...

He was too busy daydreaming that he didn't hear the door open when Haley came in.

"Am I interrupting something?" she said, eyebrows raised at the guy on her bed.

"Uh, I didn't hear you come in." Nathan said as he hastily sat up.

"Luke's gone now" she said as she sat on the bed beside him and slumped. "Thank god that was over."

"Yeah. I thought he was going to catch us."

"You make it sound like we were sneaking around." She said annoyed.

"Well, all I'm saying is that if you want to keep this a secret, we can't stay at your place coz Lucas keeps on popping up and pretty soon he's gonna find out." He said matter-of-factly.

"I know! Don't you think I haven't thought about that yet?" she said, exasperated.

"well, have you thought of another place where we could study?" he asked.

Haley bit her lower lip. "No. I can't think of any place yet. But I will. Just give me a second."

"Well, we could stay at my place..." he said uncertainly.

"What? No way! I'll think of some place else!"

(sigh) "Face it Haley, there isn't anywhere else." He said.

He was right, there wasn't any place left. And Lucas would never pop into Nathan's house, not in a million years!

"Ok, you win. What time do I have to be there?" she said.

"we could go together after school if you want."

"No way, people might see us!" she hissed.

"Alright, alright, jeez, I was just asking." He said with a small smile. "Be there at 6 then. I still need to go to practice."

"Fine." She said.

"Fine." He replied.

There was an uneasy silence before Nathan spoke up.

"So, uh, I should probably go now. It's getting late."

"Yeah, um, you probably should." She said after a while. "Listen, I'm not so good at this kind of thing. I mean, it's kind of awkward, what should I say to my best friend's bully when he's about to leave my house?" she thought aloud.

"I guess you should just say good night." He said quietly as he looked at her.

Haley looked up to find Nathan's eyes on her and nodded her head.

"Good night." Haley said.

Nathan just nodded and walked out of her room, confused. He made his way down. It wasn't until he was outside when he said softly, "Good night, Haley."

Author's note: I know, I know.. hehe.. Luke didn't catch Nathan at Haley's house!! Disappointing huh? Hehe... but I didn't think it was time for them to get caught yet.. don't worry, when they do get caught, its gonna be really full of all the Laley drama.. but not just yet!! Hehe! I like it when Haley gets confused about her feelings for the two.. its exciting! Hehe! did this chapter suck???? You guys gotta tell me!!! Hope you guys continue reading though!! Keep the reviews coming!! You guys inspire me to update sooner! :) tell me what you think!!!