Chapter 7

Haley and Max both followed Brooke and Jake who were in front of them leading the way. Brooke was so engrossed in everything that Jake was saying and it slowly started to annoy the crap out of her. One of the things that Haley could never understand about Brooke is how she could stomach her flirtatious behavior. It was always so obvious. Some of the things she did like lick her lips or flutter her eyelashes just made her cringe because of how blatant it was.

"So Jake, what is it that you do?" Brooke batted her eyes and smiled widely waiting for his response.

"I write for the New York Tribune, and write songs on the side. It's kind of a hobby."

"Oh really, that is soooo interesting, do you sing too?"

"Yah, but not outside of my room."

"Well, I think you should sing for me sometime."

That was it! Haley had enough. She had to interrupt. "Hey Jake, are we almost there?"

"Yah, in fact there's my friend right there." Jake pointed to the guy that was standing at the beach trying to start a fire on the bundle of sticks hat he piled up. Haley couldn't tell what he looked like but she prayed to God that he wasn't ugly, because she had a feeling by the way that Brooke was flirting that she would be stuck with these people for a good chunk of time.

"JAKE!! Man where've you been?" Yelled the man.

"Hey Nate!" Haley stopped in her tracks. It couldn't be. "I brought us some company. Nate, this is Brooke and Haley, oh yah and Max there too."

"Haley?" Nathan said surprised.

"Hi Nathan!" Haley said somewhat embarrassed about the situation.

"Do you two know each other?" Jake asked noticing the exchange.

"Yah, well we've bumped into each other a couple of times." Nathan said with a smirk.

"Well this should be a lot of fun then!" Brooke said excited. This was exactly what Haley needed to forget about Lucas and his whore-bride.

"yah, Hey Jake is this your dog?" Haley question looking at the black lab that was laying down on the sand by the fire.

"yah, her name's Sadie. She's pretty cool. I'm sure her and Max will get along great."

"So, do you girls want a beer or something?" Nathan asked as he made his way to the cooler.

"yah sure I'll take one." Said Brooke

"yah me too." Haley chimed in. Nathan grabbed a couple of beers and handed them to Brooke and Haley. They all then sat down near the fire and began talking to each other getting to know each other. Jake and Brooke had really hit it off. They seemed to have forgotten that Nathan and Haley were even in the same region as them. Haley and Nathan were talking too but their conversation was not nearly as intense as Brooke and Jake's was.

"Hey Haley?" Brooke said, finally acknowledging her presence.

"yah?"

"Me and Jake are going to go take a walk on the beach. Don't wait up ok? I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Ok Have fun!" Haley smiled at Brooke as did Brooke to Haley. She could tell her friend was happy.

"So I guess it's just you and me then." Nathan said

"I guess so."

"Do you want to go inside and get some coffee or something?"

"That sounds good." Nathan got up from his spot on the sand and reached his hand out to Haley to help her up. They both made their way to the beach house.

"Your house is really beautiful." Haley said, admiring the view of the beach.

"Thanks." Nathan said and then walked over to where Haley was. "You know this is really kind of weird. Don't you think?"

"What?"

"You know. I mean 3 days ago I didn't even know you existed and now, it just seems like everywhere I go you're there. It kind of makes me think that maybe someone is trying to tell me something."

"like what?"

"Like maybe, I don't know, we should go out or something." Nathan said somewhat unsure of what he was asking her.

"really?"

"yah why not, I mean it just feels right, ya know? Like maybe it's fate that has brought us together."

"You believe in fate?"

"yah, I mean you have to believe in something."

"yah I guess so."

"besides your dog loves me so much, I don't think he'll let you pass up this chance. Right Max?" Nathan turned his attention to the dog.

"Bark!"

Haley giggled and smiled in the direction of her dog and then to Nathan. Nathan smiled back at her. She had an infectious smile. Haley looked really beautiful to Nathan at the moment.

"Ok, so why don't I walk you home and we can talk about our plans?"

Haley smiled, "Ok"

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"Well this is me." Haley pointed to her apartment building and stopped.

"Oh ok." Nathan said somewhat disappointed that their walked had ended. They had really hit it off. Haley was not only beautiful but she was funny, kind and you can tell that she was genuine. Not fake like a lot of the girls that he went out with.

"I had a really good time, Nathan."

"Yah me too, I'm sure I'll see you around and I'll call you later." Nathan looked in her eyes to make sure she was just as excited as he was about their new found relationship.

"Ok." When Nathan got his confirmation he turned around and headed back to his house. "Nathan, wait!" Haley yelled back at him. Nathan stopped in his place and turned around to face Haley. Haley looked at him for a minute than began walking towards him. He was confused as to why she made him stop but then he quickly found out when Haley jumped in his arms and pressed her lips against his. Nathan was unresponsive at first because of shock but quickly recovered and wrapped his arms around her waist responding to the kiss. There was sparks with that kiss and both of them felt it. When air became a problem they both pulled away staring into each other's eyes, smiling because of the kiss that just occurred. "Goodnight Nathan." Haley whispered and turned around to head into her apartment, Max following close behind.

Nathan just stared at her retreating form still recovering from the kiss. When Haley reached her door she turned around and smiled at Nathan then made her way into her apartment. When the door closed behind her, Nathan finally found his voice. "Good night Haley."