Ch. 4
Waking up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. Panicking, she quickly got up, but soon remembered that she was in a hotel room in California. But she wasn't in the living room. That meant only one thing. Someone carried her to her bed and there was only one person who it could have been. He was making a habit of carrying her to places. Not wanting to think about the bad impression he was probably getting about her, she got up and looked in the mirror at her disheveled hair. Retrieving a brush from her purse, she combed out the tangles. Taking one last look in the mirror to make sure she appeared decent, she walked into the living room.
"What time is it?" she asked Lucas who was setting out some Chinese containers on the table. Her mouth began to water as he opened boxes that contained chow mein noodles, orange chicken and broccoli and beef.
"It's seven in the evening," he scooped out some of the food onto a plate and handed it to her along with a pair of chopsticks.
Taking the plates in her hands, she chattered, "Oh my gosh! Why didn't you wake me? You must have had a million things you needed me to do." Haley was embarrassed that she overslept. Taking a three-hour nap on the job wasn't in the job description. She hated being late and not fulfilling her duties in any of her jobs.
"Don't worry about it. There wasn't much for you to do anyways. Besides, you looked so peaceful that I didn't want to disturb you, although I did carry you to your bed. I thought it's ten times more comfortable than this couch."
"Thanks," she mumbled out of awkwardness. Inhaling the food in front of her, she released a heavenly sigh. "This smells great."
"Don't just stand there. Grab a seat."
The only available seat by the table was on the couch next to Lucas. Sitting as far away from him as she could without making it seem as if she was doing so, she placed her plate on the table. Grabbing some food with her chopstick, she started to devour the food as Lucas did the same. Both didn't talk but enjoyed the silence. After they weren't as hungry, Haley struck up a conversation, "So is Chinese food your favorite?"
"Yes. How can it not be?" Lucas grinned. "What's your favorite?"
"Macaroni and cheese, but Chinese food is a close second."
"I could tell. You were salivating as soon as you saw the food."
"At least I had a good excuse. What's yours for drooling while you were sleeping?"
Lucas contemplated his accusation. 'Do I really drool?'
"Yes you do and don't deny it."
Shocked by her ability to read his mind, he remained quiet, not wanting her to realize that he didn't say anything. He didn't like this...her reading his mind that is. No one had been able to do this before and it scared the heck out of him that she was able to so and not realize it. But then again, it wasn't like she was reading his inner thoughts, which was definitely a good thing. 'Okay, good! I'm glad that's settled.' Looking up, he saw two chocolate orbs staring at him with concern. "Are you okay? You sorta spaced out on me for a second."
Pushing the comment away as if it was nothing, he smiled, "Sorry. I must be more tired than I thought." Then he picked up his fork and began eating his food.
"I'm glad that's the case." After savoring a few more bites of her dinner, she commented, "I just realized that you aren't using chopsticks."
"So..."
"Do you know how?"
"No, but it doesn't manner. I can use a fork instead."
"But eating Chinese food isn't as fun if you don't use chopsticks." Haley picked up the other pair of chopsticks still lying in the bag. Handing it to Lucas, she picked up hers. "So put your hands like so," Haley modeled her instructions. "You almost have it. Here let me help you." As soon as her fingertips touched his hand, she felt electricity run through her spine, but pretended like nothing was out of the ordinary. 'Must be the air or something,' she told herself. She knew how illogical it was, but she didn't care because she forced herself to believe it was true. "Great." She continued her instructions and not long after than, Lucas was using the chopsticks, not expertly of course, it was still early, but good enough.
"Thanks. You're a great teacher. Have you ever considered working in that profession?"
"Actually I have. I am always amazed at how much love, dedication and hard work it takes to be a teacher." She failed to mention that she was a tutor at Tree Hill high for four years and kind of knows what that felt like. She loved the challenge of helping the students excel in their area(s) of need and the smiles on their faces when she knows they had a better understanding of a topic.
"I think you would be great at it, but don't you dare try to quit to become a teacher. I need you...your help that is." Upon hearing the compliment, she couldn't help but blush.
They continued to converse about surface stuff like most conversations were between to acquaintances. The topics ranged from family and friends to hobbies.
After they finished dinner, Lucas gave his trademark smile, causing Haley to feel lightheaded. "Well I think I'm going to head off to bed. I'm suddenly not feeling well. I'm probably still tired from jetlag."
"Okay, but remember..."
"Let you know if I need anything."
Lucas remained silent for a moment before responding, "How'd ya know?"
"Hmm...I don't know. You've only been saying it since the second I've met you."
"Oh, right," he was once again relieved.
"Well good night."
"Night."
Waking up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. Panicking, she quickly got up, but soon remembered that she was in a hotel room in California. But she wasn't in the living room. That meant only one thing. Someone carried her to her bed and there was only one person who it could have been. He was making a habit of carrying her to places. Not wanting to think about the bad impression he was probably getting about her, she got up and looked in the mirror at her disheveled hair. Retrieving a brush from her purse, she combed out the tangles. Taking one last look in the mirror to make sure she appeared decent, she walked into the living room.
"What time is it?" she asked Lucas who was setting out some Chinese containers on the table. Her mouth began to water as he opened boxes that contained chow mein noodles, orange chicken and broccoli and beef.
"It's seven in the evening," he scooped out some of the food onto a plate and handed it to her along with a pair of chopsticks.
Taking the plates in her hands, she chattered, "Oh my gosh! Why didn't you wake me? You must have had a million things you needed me to do." Haley was embarrassed that she overslept. Taking a three-hour nap on the job wasn't in the job description. She hated being late and not fulfilling her duties in any of her jobs.
"Don't worry about it. There wasn't much for you to do anyways. Besides, you looked so peaceful that I didn't want to disturb you, although I did carry you to your bed. I thought it's ten times more comfortable than this couch."
"Thanks," she mumbled out of awkwardness. Inhaling the food in front of her, she released a heavenly sigh. "This smells great."
"Don't just stand there. Grab a seat."
The only available seat by the table was on the couch next to Lucas. Sitting as far away from him as she could without making it seem as if she was doing so, she placed her plate on the table. Grabbing some food with her chopstick, she started to devour the food as Lucas did the same. Both didn't talk but enjoyed the silence. After they weren't as hungry, Haley struck up a conversation, "So is Chinese food your favorite?"
"Yes. How can it not be?" Lucas grinned. "What's your favorite?"
"Macaroni and cheese, but Chinese food is a close second."
"I could tell. You were salivating as soon as you saw the food."
"At least I had a good excuse. What's yours for drooling while you were sleeping?"
Lucas contemplated his accusation. 'Do I really drool?'
"Yes you do and don't deny it."
Shocked by her ability to read his mind, he remained quiet, not wanting her to realize that he didn't say anything. He didn't like this...her reading his mind that is. No one had been able to do this before and it scared the heck out of him that she was able to so and not realize it. But then again, it wasn't like she was reading his inner thoughts, which was definitely a good thing. 'Okay, good! I'm glad that's settled.' Looking up, he saw two chocolate orbs staring at him with concern. "Are you okay? You sorta spaced out on me for a second."
Pushing the comment away as if it was nothing, he smiled, "Sorry. I must be more tired than I thought." Then he picked up his fork and began eating his food.
"I'm glad that's the case." After savoring a few more bites of her dinner, she commented, "I just realized that you aren't using chopsticks."
"So..."
"Do you know how?"
"No, but it doesn't manner. I can use a fork instead."
"But eating Chinese food isn't as fun if you don't use chopsticks." Haley picked up the other pair of chopsticks still lying in the bag. Handing it to Lucas, she picked up hers. "So put your hands like so," Haley modeled her instructions. "You almost have it. Here let me help you." As soon as her fingertips touched his hand, she felt electricity run through her spine, but pretended like nothing was out of the ordinary. 'Must be the air or something,' she told herself. She knew how illogical it was, but she didn't care because she forced herself to believe it was true. "Great." She continued her instructions and not long after than, Lucas was using the chopsticks, not expertly of course, it was still early, but good enough.
"Thanks. You're a great teacher. Have you ever considered working in that profession?"
"Actually I have. I am always amazed at how much love, dedication and hard work it takes to be a teacher." She failed to mention that she was a tutor at Tree Hill high for four years and kind of knows what that felt like. She loved the challenge of helping the students excel in their area(s) of need and the smiles on their faces when she knows they had a better understanding of a topic.
"I think you would be great at it, but don't you dare try to quit to become a teacher. I need you...your help that is." Upon hearing the compliment, she couldn't help but blush.
They continued to converse about surface stuff like most conversations were between to acquaintances. The topics ranged from family and friends to hobbies.
After they finished dinner, Lucas gave his trademark smile, causing Haley to feel lightheaded. "Well I think I'm going to head off to bed. I'm suddenly not feeling well. I'm probably still tired from jetlag."
"Okay, but remember..."
"Let you know if I need anything."
Lucas remained silent for a moment before responding, "How'd ya know?"
"Hmm...I don't know. You've only been saying it since the second I've met you."
"Oh, right," he was once again relieved.
"Well good night."
"Night."