Chapter 18

"I wanted to tell you a while ago but I wanted it to be special."Nate told Haley

"Nate, it would have been special no matter how you told me, but this is really extra special, especially sense I didn't even think I was gonna get to see you tonight." Haley replied kissing him again.

"I'm gonna go talk to the girls for a sec. Will you get me another drink?"

"Anything for you babe. What do you want?"

"Smirnoff Twist please."

Right after Nate walked into the room Peyton and Brooke came running out onto the terrace and shut the doors behind them. As soon as the doors were shut Haley started jumping up and down.

"He loves me, he loves me!" she screamed at her two best friends and they all hugged and jumped up and down at the same time. What they didn't know was that the boys could see the whole thing.

Once Haley was done freaking out they all went back inside and drank a little more but they started to wined down, each couple took a room, they shared beds at school so it wasn't really a big deal. Nathan and Haley just cuddled and talked until they fell asleep.

The next morning Peyton and Haley took their friends and boyfriends around Beantown because none of them had ever been there in the winter before. They had a nice morning and then packed up the car to head back to the Cape. Jake drove and Luke sat in the front and then Nate sat in the back next to a door and then Haley next to him and Peyton next to her and the Brooke behind Jake, next to the other door - it was a tight squeeze but they didn't want to rent a car.

The 3rd day on the Cape Haley had to work another of her high school's hockey games : it was the D-Y Dolphins vs. the Randolph Knights. They got to the rink an hour before the game was to start because that is when Haley needed to be there. When they got there Haley punched in and then introduced her friends to her boss - who was very glad to have her best worker back for break. Then everyone except Haley and Nathan went out into the rink and sat in the bleachers waiting for the game to start. Meanwhile Haley set up the cash box in the lobby so that people could start paying to get into the game. Nathan sat in a chair beside her and they talked when there were lulls in the line, when she was busy taking peoples money, stamping thier hands and giving them their change back he just watched her in amazement - he would never be able to be so cordial to some of the people he went to high school with and after the stories she had told him about some of her fellow "dolphins" he was so proud of her and the way she always handled her self, it was one of the reasons why he fell in love with her.

"So you gonna give me a whose who or what?" Nate asked just as Haley was getting ready to pack up and head into the office to count the bank and drop it into the safe.

"Yea once I'm done counting the money and stuff, we can go in and sit with everyone else, I just have to move the nets for the zamboni driver between the periods." Just as Haley finished explaing what she had to do another costumer walked in and she looked up.

"Hi Haley."

"Hi Brett. Five dollars please."

"I'm a student" Haley was starting to get ticked and so she quipped back,

"Last time a checked you graduated in 2003, that would mean you no longer attend D-Y so you don't get the student rate."

Nathan vaugely remembered Haley telling him about some kid named Brett and he could see her tense up so he put his hand on her thigh.

Brett gave her a 20 and she stamped his hand and then gave him his change and he left. Haley immediately started cleaning up and going into the ofice, with Nathan right on her heels.

"You ok babe."

"Ya, we'll talk when I'm done."

With that they sat in silence while Haley counted the money and filled out the paper work.

"I have to go grab the nets so that they can clean the ice."she said

"Do you want some help?"

"Sure."

With that they walked out to the rink just in time to make it on the ice and get the nets out of the way of the zamboni. When they got off Haley dragged him upstairs before they made their way to the group. When they got into the conference room at the top of the stairs she pulled him into a kiss.

"I love you"

"and I love you. So was that THE Brett that you had a crush on for foever and basically broke your heart?"

"The one and only. To be honest I'm kinda surprised that he tried to pull the whole 'I'm a student' thing, I was expecting it from Casey or someone."

"No worries babe. We both finally have what we've always wanted - love. What do you say we go watch the game."

"Ya"

When they got to the bleachers Peyton rushed over to Haley and gave her a questioning look - having seen Brett sit down a few seats over.

"I'm fine Pey, I swear. H can't get to me anymore, I'm in love." She said squeezing Nate's hand. They all sat down and chatted and watched the game - cheering of course for the dolphins. Towards the end of the 2nd period Haley once again made her way over to the doors to the ice so that she could move the nets again. Whne she was done she met up with everyone in the snack bar, where everyone was waiting in line to get hot cocoa. She simply went behind the counter and grabbed a drink and said thank you as the worker wrote down what she took.

"Hey no fair" Luke said

"I work here so its plenty fair - I get a free drink for every shift." Haley replied smirking "So ha"

They all laughed and Nate stood behind Hales and put his arms around her waist. Just then Ashley and her little posse cam in the snack bar and of course Ashley got all in Haley's face, but Nate came to her rescue.

"Excuse me, but what exactly is it that you have against my girlfriend? Because from everything I know about her she couldn't harm a fly, she worked her as off for your class. What did you do for your class or anyone for that matter."

He was met with silence, "Ya thats what I thought" and with that they left the snack bar. The gang went to the bleachers except Haley, she said she had to do stuff in the office, Nate stayed behind too.

"Thanks for sticking up for me Nate, it really meant a lot to me."

"Hales she had no reason to be a bitch to you. I love you and I would do anything for you."

They just sat in the office and talked until Haley had to do stuff. When the game was over and the rink cleaned they all went back to Peyton's house and told high school stories.

A/N Ok that chapter was kinda just filler/ kinda to give light into Haleys life. Incase u forgot Brett was mentioned in ch 1 - he was haleys long time crush...Hope you enjoyed. PLEASE PLEASE REPLY!

MEL