Chapter Eighteen

"Did you have a good time last night?" asked Nathan. By the time my girls evening had ended it was three o'clock in the morning and he hadn't stirred as I'd crawled into bed beside him and placed my head on his shoulder.

"Yeah. Brooke and Peyton both got wasted and we needed to call a cab. Peyton got a tattoo," I revealed.

"Oh yeah? What, a 3?" he joked. I glared at him. "What? I'm just kidding around."

"It's not funny anymore-they kissed again. And I feel so torn-she's my girl best friend and he's my guy best friend and part of me wants them together but another part wouldn't wish him on anyone else I loved," I admitted.

"Yeah. Who knew he'd turn into such a chick magnet?" wondered Nathan.

"I did. I grew up with Lucas, and part of him are so incredibly endearing. Like he's so sweet, and he seems like the kind of guy who'd treat a girl like she's a goddess," I said.

"Only he doesn't," said Nathan.

"Oh, he does. Girls love him, he just likes girls a bit too much," I clarified. Nathan was looking decidedly worried by this time-he took my hand, pulled me over to where he was sitting, and settled me on his lap. I kissed him.

"Not for me," I promised.

"Oh yeah? You're sounding awfully positive," he said, though laughing slightly.

"You're for me," I promised. He kissed me. I decided that right then wasn't the time to tell him about the appearance of Chris.

"Yeah. You too. Do you think Peyton will be with Luke? Or Jake?" he asked.

"I don't know. When Luke started to get popular and they began to get to know each other I thought she'd stay with you, but then she didn't," I admitted.

"Thanks."

"Anytime. So by that theory I'd go for Luke again but Peyton loves Jenny so much, and Jake's so good to her, even if she doesn't like being married," I said.

"She doesn't?"

"No-she never lets Jake kiss her and they haven't done it in weeks. Since before their wedding. And he does all these lovely romantic things and she just turns away from him," I said.

"I think that the decision to get Jake's number when she's completely wasted. However, speaking of which-we haven't done it in about an hour," he said, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

"I can't-I was up all night and I'm exhausted. In fact I think I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life right here," I said, pointing downwards, toward his lap and hugging him.

"Are you tired? Or just immobile?" he asked.

"Immobile. But who knows what could get me walking again," I said provocatively.

"No need," he said. Hooking his arm under my knees he swept me into his arms. I giggled and clung to him.

"That's so weird-Jake did the same thing to Peyton on their wedding night and after the Nikki thing," I commented.

"I know-she told me, and it sounded as though she didn't mind it," he said.

We made it to the bedroom. As he dropped me on the bed and got on, my mouth met his, our lips on fire. Without hesitation I pulled off my shirt, revealing a lacy bra that I'd bought several days previously. Quickly he responded and tugged off his basket ball jersey and then my jeans and his. His lips slid from my mouth down my abdomen as he held off just long enough for me to desire him incredibly.

"Off all the things that I've missed in this year, I have to say that that's near the top," he said. I giggled, not bothering to pretend to be offended.

"Me too," I admitted.

"Oh yeah? What happened to your sacred virginity?" he asked playfully.

"Shut up," I responded easily.

"Oh, I forgot to ask-how was your prom dress outing? Did you guys find what you wanted?" he asked.

"Yeah. Peyton's is the best," I admitted.

"I'm sure I'll like yours better. Anything else happen?" he asked carelessly. It was now or never.

"We ran into Chris," I said quietly.

"What? Yesterday? What the hell is he doing here?" demanded Nathan.

"Tormenting me," I said.

"Right."

"Nathan nothing happened. He came, he hugged me, he said some stupid things that attacked my character, called me Haley James, I called myself Haley Scott, Brooke and I left and Peyton hung around to say something about rabbits," I said honestly. "Cross my heart."

"He hugged you?"

"Yes. He hugged me. Then he did this thing where when he dropped his arms he felt all of me-it was gross," I said. Slowly Nathan dropped back onto his pillow and put his arm around me again.

"Bastard. I can kick his ass for you, if you want," he volunteered.

"Please. You wouldn't believe all the time he spends getting his hair to stick up," I said, giggling.

"Sure I would. I mean I live with you, don't I?" he teased.

"Hey! Curling the ends takes twenty minutes, tops," I defended.

"Straightening takes twenty minutes longer," he reminded me.

"Fine, you win that one. But what about shaving? You spend twice as long shaving, more than any guy I've ever met. And I grew up with four brothers," I retaliated. "And Luke."

"First of all I do it for my job, and second of all Luke doesn't shave often enough."

"Yeah he does. Scruffy works on him. On you, not so much," I said. He reached to tickle me and I quickly rolled away. As I did he softly reached out to touch my tattoo.

"Did you ever consider getting it removed?" he asked.

"Never. I once said to Lucas-I'm in love for the first time and if I look at this in twenty years and think of how I feel right now I think I'm going to be okay with that," I quoted.

"Probably when Lucas look's at his tattoo he thinks of the hangover he had the next day," joked Nathan.

"Yeah. Or the first time he had sex," I slipped.

"What? Luke lost his virginity to Brooke? As a junior?" asked Nathan, snickering.

"Yes, you win. You win that all important race, are you proud?" I asked sarcastically.

"I'm just surprised, that's all," he said.

"Hey, do you want to move?" I asked him suddenly.

"Well, that was on topic."

"No, seriously. I mean we have lots of money now and we could, if we wanted to. Get a house like Peyton and Jake," I suggested.

"I'm good here, honestly. This place represents so much to me-our first home, my first place free of my parents. And by the way, Peyton and Jake are married in name only and they're raising a daughter," he reminded me.

"I know but you know, someday… who knows?" I said innocently.

"Let's live for right now, shall we?" he suggested.

"Yeah. And let's start with getting new curtains," I said, blinking in the sunlight. I watched as he got up and pulled on a zip up sweater and a pair of jeans, admiring the effect.

"I'll be out in a sec," I promised, relaxing onto the soft pillows, trying to shake off the feeling that I'd forgotten something. Something critical.

Author's note: I'd like to make something clear-a reviewer pointed out that Peyton's tattoo read 21 and not 00, which is Jake's tattoo number. But seriously, who wants a 00 just above their ass? So I changed it. As always, review review review! The end is in sight…