Disclaimer: Sadly I own nothing One Tree Hill related. I own only this plot line and Chloe.

Chapter 3: My Kind Of Rain

Two weeks into the steadily growing friendship between Nathan and Chloe found the two juniors walking into the front door of Tim's house. His parents were out of town so Nathan had to make an appearance at the party for his friends sake, and Chloe said that she need a beer and a good time so they decided to go together.

"Yo Nate," Tim shouted over the blaring music as he made his way over to the two, "Chloe, wazzup girl?"

"Not a lot Tim," Chloe giggled at the drunk boy. He was dumb sober but he was downright silly when he was drunk. It was actually entertaining, "How are you doing tonight?"

"Alright, alright, okay so guys, make yourself at home, Nate….you know where everything is, now I'm about to go and get with this fine honey over here, she's banging dude…."

"Tim," Nathan interrupted his rant, "Just say your leaving."

Tim nodded in satisfaction before turning around and heading off to some blonde bimbo in the corner of the house. Poor thing, didn't know what was about to hit her.

As soon as Tim was out of earshot Chloe bust up laughing.

"Poor guy, don't think he has a right brain in his body, it saddens me really."

"He's alright most days," Nathan tried to back the poor guy up, giving him even a shred of dignity at this point.

"R-I-G-H-T," she rolled her eyes playfully.

Nathan smirked in her direction before nodding his head in another one, "Come on, lets get a drink and find Lucas and the rest of them."

She nodded her head in satisfaction before stepping forward, Nathan close to her left side, his hand on the small of her back, leading her into what seemed to be the kitchen.

Upon arriving in the kitchen they killed two birds with one stone as they found their friends standing close to the keg.

"Hey guys," Chloe walked over to them after Nathan whispered in her ear that he would get them a drink. He returned within seconds with two plastic cups, handing one over to Chloe. He nodded in the direction of the others in a gesture of hello.

"So what are you and Clyde up to this fine night," Brooke asked Chloe. She had taken to calling Chloe and Nathan, Bonnie and Clyde. Peyton found it cute. Chloe found it embarrassing. Nathan found it annoying. What else was new?

"Just sticking around here for a little bit, then who knows, maybe a movie or just TV at my house."

"What about tomorrow, any plans?"

"If trying to wrangle Nathan to go grocery shopping with me in the morning is a plan, ever since the new job at the café I've been grabbing something there, but I found out today I have like zero food at my house, and neither does he, besides that I'm free."

"Cool, call me later on, we'll do something," Brooke motioned between her, Chloe, and Peyton.

Chloe nodded her approval, "Sounds good."

Just then one of Tim's fast paced rap songs came on that Chloe actually liked. She smiled widely as her head started to move with the beat, then a smirk came over her face. She turned to Nathan, her eyes pleading. He sighed, two weeks and already he could never deny her.

"Come on," he sighed, setting his cup down and grabbing her hand. Leading her to the make-shift dance floor. She looked over for a second to see Lucas, Brooke, Peyton, and Jake joining them.

Chloe turned back around to Nathan and started to move her hips to the beat. Dipping down and moving heatedly to the beat in just a matter of minutes. She was getting really into it, just feeling the music. She sidled up to Nathan, squeezing as close as possible to him, as she continued to move her hips, making him move in her direction.

Nathan swallowed the lump rising in his throat as Chloe grinded up to him. All he could think about was the effects she was having on his body, specifically the lower region of his anatomy. About the way her hips teased him and her hot breath on the side of his face tickled his cheek. He hadn't been able to feel this kind of feeling in a long time and was starting the think that he had lost all feel for that ever again. She made him wonder, about life after Haley. And to think about anything else, for one single second, made him feel ten feet tall. As she let her hand slide up his chest and around his neck to rest at the base of it in the back, turning around so that her back was to his chest, Nathan let his eyes flutter shut. To feel alive again, it made him feel good. Really good. So he let himself feel that way again, as he let his hands fall on her hips lightly.

On either side of the unreachable coupling were four very surprised people. As they watched the two practically get it on through their clothes they couldn't help but give knowing smiles to each other.

The song came to an end and Nathan and Chloe opened their eyes at the same time. Looking at each other. Nathan's eyes couldn't seem to get moist enough, and he blinked more than necessary. Chloe tried to regulate the rise and fall of her chest as she took in large gasps of breath.

"That was…..," Nathan grasped for a word.

"Fun," she answered for him?

"Yeah," he nodded his head, "Fun."

They just looked at each other for the longest time.

"I got to get another drink," Chloe blew out before turning to go back to the bar.

She was met by the surprised and questioning eyes of Brooke and Peyton.

"Don't say a word," she mumbled for only them to say as she breezed pass them to grab a cup from Tim's hand.

Later on that night the six teens were standing around chatting when a friend of Brooke's from the cheerleading team, Bevin, bounced up to them.

Chloe rolled her eyes. She knew it was stupid but she saw the way that the girl eyed Nathan. It made Chloe uncomfortable. Heck it made Nathan uncomfortable. It was just all around uncomfortable.

"Hey guys," she beamed at the group. Sending Nathan a little wink of his own.

Nathan rolled his eyes and moved farther away from her. Closer to Chloe's side.

"Hey Bev," Brooke smiled at the girl, giving Chloe a look with 'sorry' written all over it, "what's up?"

"We're playing truth or dare, you guys in?"

They all looked to each other and shrugged. Brooke answered for all of them.

"Sure," she grabbed Lucas' hand, "Why not?"

The six less then eager teens followed Bevin to where Nathan knew Tim's living room was. A few more people had gathered in the room, including Tim himself, with the poor blonde bubbling on his lap.

"Alright," Bevin said, as she plopped down on Nathan's left side. Chloe on his left, "Lets do this."

She smirked as she looked around the group, her eyes landing pleasingly on Nathan.

"Nathan," she blew out his name like it was some kind of candy. He flinched at her tone. Chloe sensed him tensing up, he hated these kinds of games. She moved her hand to rest on his. He looked first at their hands, then up to her. She gave him a comforting smile. He thanked her in his mind. Bevin noticed.

"Nathan," she repeated his name, "Truth or Dare?"

Nathan sighed, "…..Truth."

Bevin grinned, it was a little eerie.

"Tell me the truth," she giggled before she turned to him, getting up on her knees and sticking her stomach in front of him, "What do you think of this belly button ring?"

Nathan was sure his eyes were going to bug out of his head as she thrust her navel almost under his nose. He closed his eyes and frowned before leaning as far back as possible from her, "Dare! Dare! DARE!"

Her mouth opened slightly in shock before she went back to sit down, pouting her bottom lip and folding her arms in front of her.

Before she had a chance to think of a dare Tim spoke up, "Dude, I got your dare, I dare you, to make out with Chloe."

Chloe's eyes raised in shock at this, "Oh Tim, you know Nathan doesn't want to…."

She couldn't finish her sentence as she felt a pair of firm but soft lips on top of hers. It took her only seconds to realize that A) this was Nathan, B) it wasn't a dream, and C) he felt really good on top of her. She took his bottom lip in hers and gave it attention before swiftly moving up to his top lip. Only seconds later Nathan's lips parted slightly, Chloe followed his lead and let his tongue slip into the crevices of her mouth, pleasing her. She returned the favor, dipping her tongue back into Nathan's mouth. She kissed him for the longest time. It felt like they were rapped up in each other forever. She was reeling when Nathan finally let go of his hold on her mouth, purely because of the fact that he had to get some oxygen to his lungs. They panted heavily as they looked into each others eyes, and no where else.

"That. Was. Awesome."

Everyone let out the breath that none of them knew they were holding as Tim spoke obnoxiously. Brooke slapped him in the back of the head but his words broke Chloe out of her revere. What was she thinking? She shook her head as she got up from the floor she had been occupying and moved to walk out of the room.

Chloe knew Nathan was following her even before she heard him shout out her name. So then why did it make her jump just the same when it did. Finally he grabbed a hold of her hand and stopped her walk.

"Chloe stop," he begged her and who was she to say no. She felt herself slow down before she stopped all together. She whipped around to face him.

"What," her voice was edgier then she wanted it to be?

"Don't run away, it was just a dare."

They both knew that wasn't true. They had liked that kiss way to much for that.

"Why did you kiss me Nathan?"

"Because I wanted to."

She bit her lip and looked into his eyes, "Yeah."

"Yeah."

Chloe felt herself leaning into him. No, she told herself, not now.

"Nathan it is really important to me that we are friends, I cant afford to ruin any relationships right now, this town means too much to me. You mean to much too me."

Nathan sighed and nodded, "Then don't let it change anything."

Chloe shook her head slightly and gave him a week smile, "Both of us know theirs no ignoring that."

Nathan tried to smile. He really did. But he couldn't.

"Then don't ignore it, just don't let it change anything."

Chloe nodded, "I have to go."

"Chloe," Nathan tried one more time, "don't go."

"I have to," was all she said before she turned away from him.

He thought about following her. But Chloe wouldn't want that of him. So regretfully he turned back to Tim's house.

Later that night Nathan was walking up the wet steps to his apartment when he passed by Chloe's house. The front window was covered by a curtain but he could still see the soft glow of a lamp from inside and the dull sound of the television seeped out through the door.

Nathan thought for a minute about what he should do but gave a sigh and knocked on the door. A few seconds passed before the click of the lock sounded and the door flew open to reveal a puffy eyed Chloe in her pajamas, a pint of Ben and Jerry's in one hand and a spoon in the other. When she caught site of Nathan she visibly tensed. It made Nathan feel awful.

"Hey," he broke the ice.

"Hi," she said simply.

"I was wondering if you wanted to talk," he asked?

"Not really," Chloe sighed, "but my guess is that you're going to anyway."

Nathan half laughed at this but one look at her all but happy face and he stopped. She let out a breath, set her ice cream down on a stand next to the front door and grabbed a jacket laying across from it. She slipped it on as she walked outside into the drizzle that was coming down upon them.

"How appropriate," Nathan cursed the weather as he followed her to the rail to lean on it and look out ahead.

Before he could say anything he heard Chloe take in a sharp breath of air. She let it out and spoke in an airy voice, "I love the smell of rain."

Nathan nodded, "Yeah, me too."

Chloe's eyes stayed trained on the dark sky and shining stars and finally Nathan knew he was up to speak.

"I'm sorry for whatever it was that I did that scared you tonight Chloe, I shouldn't have just sprung on you like that, it was incredibly immature of me."

Nathan chanced a glance at Chloe. He wasn't sure if the drop running down her cheek was a raindrop or a tear trailing down from her eye. She turned to him then, and took her hand out to cup his face. He let her cradle his cheek as she bit her bottom lip and spoke.

"Oh Nathan," she exhaled his name, "I don't think its any secret of what people think about us. Everyone knows how we are, how you look at me, how I look at you. Even Tim can see it for crying out loud. I loved that kiss."

Nathan took note of this, his face visibly startled. Chloe continued.

"I think its time that I told you about Jeremy."

Nathan was confused. Jeremy? Was he a crush back home? A past boyfriend? A current boyfriend?

"Jeremy Mayfield. Pretty much the only boy that I ever loved. We did everything together. I loved him with my entire heart. He loved me back. We were like that couple in school, in all of the cliché movies, the "it" couple. Everyone either wanted us or wanted to be us. But then it just got so old. So played out. And suddenly it wasn't fun anymore, we weren't fun anymore, and we didn't have fun anymore. Then one day I decided I was going to surprise Jeremy at home because I had gotten off work early. So I step into his room with Chinese take-out and a big smile. And then I saw him….. And her."

Deep down Nathan knew this had been coming. It was typical of people that got to bored to fast, and thought that they were invincible.

"Chloe I would never…."

She wouldn't let him finish.

"Jeremy was my entire world Nathan. The only person who I could turn to from my mom. When I was with him I was more alive then anything. When I found out. I cried for weeks. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. After I got over it I realized what a mess I had been and how much I never wanted to be that way ever again. I wont."

Nathan wanted to beat the living daylights out of this guy that he had never even met before. For even thinking about hurting someone as wonderful as Chloe. For preventing anyone to ever be able to reach her again. But he had faith.

"Chloe I cant say anything to make what that guy did to you better. But I can say that I would never, EVER, hurt you like he did. I couldn't. I would never hurt something so wonderful."

She smiled at him as he said this.

"Nathan I…."

He interrupted, "I'm not saying that we should all up and get together Chloe. I just don't think that there is no ignoring that kiss. So don't. Feel it. Remember it. Maybe some day things will be different. Right now I just want us to be together, any way we can be."

She nodded her head, pleased with the answer.

"You know what Nathan, I like that very much. We have all the time in the world. Lets just take it slow and easy. Slow and easy."

Nathan nodded, he too was pleased with the agreement.

"Alright," he nodded, "Slow and easy."

She finally removed her hand from his cheek. All the while her smile remained.

"So, you want to come in," she turned in the direction of the door? Her hair was all wet and getting wavy. Little droplets of water stained her jacket. Her face was slightly pink from the breezy air. Nathan thought he had never seen her look so beautiful as just then. Smiling up at him, please and awe pouring out of her soul and radiating from those eyes he so adored.

"Nathan," her voice broke him from his trance. He looked at her.

"Do you want to come in," Chloe repeated?

"Oh," Nathan thought about it, "sure, why not?"

She grinned up at him as she nodded her head in the direction of the door. He followed her inside as they both removed their jackets and soggy shoes. Chloe picked up her discarded ice cream and went to the kitchen to get an extra spoon. She handed the spoon over to Nathan as they both plopped down on her couch. He took it and she put the ice cream container to him. They both started to dig in as they watched MTV.

Nathan snuck a glance over at Chloe. She was entranced by the television program. He wouldn't admit it out loud but he was kind of relieved that Chloe didn't want more than friendship right now. He was sure everyone knew what he wouldn't admit. He wasn't ready to give his heart so someone else right now. Not even to this amazing, beautiful, funny girl that he was sitting next too. He just wasn't ready.