Chapter 13

Radiant and lustful Halloween night

"You want to do what?" I asked Steven, taken back of his last comment.

"Do you want me to say it slower?" he questioned me, speaking each word laggardly.

"I'm not retarded Steven," I yelled at him as I smacked his arm.

"Haley what did the psychiatrist tell you about using violence as a defense mechanism?" he remarked with a smile.

"He told me to specifically use violence as a punishment towards my siblings," I shot back. "And guess what? You're my brother…not by choice, but what can I do now?"

"I'm really feeling the sibling love," he stated sarcastically.

"I'm glad," I replied. "Now what the hell did you just say again?" I asked making him repeat what he said moments ago, finding out if I heard correctly.

"Well since Halloween is one week away and our caring parents are gone again," he voiced sarcastically. "I decided that I'm going to throw a Halloween party."

"So you're not going to go trick-or-treating this year?" I asked him, surprised. "What are the Parker's going to do?" I added, thinking of the old couple that lived down the street that always anticipated Steven's arrival since he was younger.

"Well I don't think one year of not seeing them is going to hurt them," he said as he sat down on the couch.

"But Steven, they are really old and I don't know if they'll last for the following year. I mean….Mrs. Parker is already blinded and Mr. Parker is really deaf. If you don't show up, I don't know if they'll survive that," I half-joked, but was a little serious towards the well being of the Parker's.

"Fine, I'll visit them before the party," he finally agreed. "Even though they hardly saw me before because of boarding school and all…"

"Whatever, you're not going to kill me," I verbalized as I laid down on the love seat.

"You care for others so much twin sis," he mockingly voiced.

"I try," I commented as I looked at the ceiling. "By the way, about this Halloween Party…who's coming?" I asked him, uncertain.

"Well you know the guys on the basketball team, the cheerleaders, some people from school, and obviously Nathan," he announced as he rapidly faced me. "Why do you ask anyways?"

"Just curious," I replied as I persisted to stare at the ceiling tiles, acting like I was fascinated by them.

Some unusual feeling grew in my stomach, delighted by the mention of Nathan's name and that he was going to be present at the party.

"But obviously whoever doesn't wear a costume isn't going to be let in," he added. "Period."

"I live here, you can't kick me out if I don't wear a costume," I informed him.

"No costume, no entry. Simple as that," he declared as he gazed at my astonished face.

"What the Fuck! I live here!" I repeated.

"Nope, you are not excused of the rules just because you live here," he continued. "So I would advise you to start searching for one because it's only in one week and you know how difficult it is to get one at the last minute. At least one that you'll actually like…" he added as he got up and patted my leg.

"I don't have to Steven," I yelled out.

"Well I guess you won't be attending the party now won't you?" he said as he started to climb the stairs. "Nothing too skanky Haley!" he added as I heard his door slam and The Ying Yang Twins flare inside.

"Steven!" I yelled angrily. "Arg!" I continued exasperated.

And that is the reason why I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a costume. However, I couldn't help but feel excitement as I stared at my reflection, looking strikingly beautiful. I was mesmerized what a pair of clothes, a straightener, a curling iron, some gel, and some make up could do to one's physical appearance.

I persisted to stand astounded.

Soon the music from downstairs started to blast causing the voice of Brandon Boyd from Incubus seem faint. I took it as a cue for me to leave my room and to finally make my appearance at the party. While I strolled down the stairs, my stomach started to get uneasy, worried of what others were going to think of my transformation.

I glanced at the masses of partiers as I finally reached the bottom step. Everyone present in the party had worn a costume. Frankenstein's, Princess', witches', devils', zombies', Fairy's, schoolgirl's, and many others compiled in my house. Although, there was those few costumes that stood out; I noticed a girl wearing a screw costume and her boyfriend wearing a nut ensemble. The nut sticked out of the guy's bottom area and the girl was situated in front of him. I let out a small laugh at the odd couple and their costume choice. Abruptly, I faintly started to hear the voices of drunken males singing along to the current hit.

"We just pull up the pants and, Do the Roc-away. Now lean back, lean back, lean back," they all yelled in unison.

I followed the voices and at last I found them assembled in the living room.

There they all sat, beers in their hands, leaning back and forth on the couch. I gazed at the ring leader and sure enough, there Steven sat singing drunkenly leading the rest of the mass.

"See we just pull up the pants and, Do the Roc-away. Now lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back," they continued as they leaned back while having an arm around their girlfriends', who all appeared annoyed.

Thankfully, the beat changed and Goodies by Ciara blared through the speakers. I laughed as Peyton and Brooke stood up, getting away from their boyfriends. Their eyes immediately feel on me and extended in recognition.

"Oh my God Haley!" they both exclaimed in unity.

Soon their amazed bodies stood beside me.

"You look fantastic!" exclaimed Brooke who wore a Cat Women costume.

She wore black eye shadow that made her eyes exotic and stand out, as if they were of a cat. A black tight suit covered her entire body, screening off all of her perfect curves. Her brown locks fell on her shoulders, curled in the ends.

"Wow, Haley!" declared Peyton who wore a business suit.

She had on a black coat over a white blouse and a black skirt that showed off her athletic legs. Though, now her hair was straight, unlike the rest of the days that it hung in luscious curls.

"Thanks," I answered as a faint blush appeared on my cheeks. "You guys look great also," I told them.

"Compared to you? I don't think so," Brooke remarked. "You look fabulous. You are going to knock every guy off his feet."

"I don't think so," I denied. "So what are you supposed to be?" I asked Peyton. "A skanky business woman?"

"Louis Lane!" she exclaimed. "Hello, opposite to the hot Clark Kent slash Superman," she explained.

"Right…" I hesitantly agreed.

As if being called, Steven emerged and sure enough, he was dressed as Superman. He had on a red cape, a blue shirt with the Super S embroiled in the middle and some jeans. His hair was spiked up.

"Is someone in need of saving?" asked Steven as he positioned his arms on his hips. "Do not worry, Steven is here to the rescue!"

"Why are you wearing jeans?" I asked him with puzzlement.

"Do you honestly think that I am going to wear tights?" he questioned me. "Hell no…besides I tried them on and damn…I don't know how you girls handle it," he added as he adjusted his pants.

"Are you wearing them?" I asked him, taken back.

"No, just re-living the nightmare," he replied with disgust.

We all laughed at his facial expression.

"It's a gift only we girls could accomplish," Peyton said as she put her arm around Steven's waist because she couldn't reach his shoulders.

Steven put his arm around Peyton and I smiled at what of a cute couple they made. He towered over her a few inches, but she also stood taller then most of the other girls; including myself.

"So I'll just leave it to you guys," he responded as he kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Hey Cat Women," greeted Lucas as he gave his girlfriend a kiss on the lips.

"Hey Sexy Writer," she responded as she put her arms around his neck.

He wore a brown coat, jeans and some nice shoes.

"Would you guys keep the P.D.A. to a minimum?" I told them.

I was starting to get jealous that basically everyone I knew were getting together. Sure I had a boyfriend a couple of times during my previous high school years, but none that compared to the love that radiated off of them. The way they looked at each other, the way their eyes lit up when they saw each other, and the way everyone knew that they loved each other made me jealous because I wanted to feel that same way towards someone.

'God they sicken me,' I told myself being highly envious.

"Wow Haley!" exclaimed Lucas as he observed my appearance. "Wow!" he repeated.

"Lucas, you're drooling again," Brooke voiced. "Told ya," she said to me. "Every guy…"

"So you like?" I verbalized my jealousy fading as I picked up the bottom of my costume and twirled around.

"You look beautiful," he commented.

"Yeah Haley you do look nice," agreed Steven.

"Thanks," I retorted too soon.

"Not as good as me, but you do run a pretty close race," Steven quickly added.

"And you're the one to talk?" I questioned him. "The person who was just singing to Terror Squad Lean Back and actually leaning back," I continued. "And lean back, lean back, lean back…" I mocked him as I leaned back. "Lean back," I persisted as I inclined backwards, but bumped into someone else.

I turned around to apologize, but as I noticed who I slammed into I abruptly stopped and stood speechless. In front of me, Nathan stood in a black suit with a blue shirt and some black shoes. He did look handsome…

'Damn,' I told myself as I stared at his striking figure.

Immediately, I felt his eyes roam around my body. They wondered from the bottom of my dress, to the deep neckline of the dress, to my exposed neck, then finally to my face. My dress was brown with ivory lacy designs embroiled in it. The dress fell all the way to the floor, dragging as I walked.

"Well hello Princess," he greeted me after he finished examining me.

"Queen of England," I corrected.

"Well excuse me your majesty," he replied as he bowed.

"So what are you supposed to be?" I asked him.

"Who else do you think?" he questioned me. "I am Nathan, Nathan Scott," he said with a British accent. "0023" he finished.

I started to laugh, hard.

"Oh very slick," I retorted after I got a hold of myself. "So you're the knock off of James Bond? Figures…"

"What the hell are you talking about?" he questioned me. "James Bond copied me," he responded.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night," I shot back as I turned around and faced the group again.

"What's up man?" greeted Nathan as they did their 'manly' handshake.

"What took you so long to get here?" asked Steven as he once again put his arms around Peyton's waist.

"Ran kind of late," he explained. "But what the hell are you wearing?" he voiced as he glared at his costume.

"Superman obviously," Steven remarked. "But who the hell are you? A telemarketer? Or how about a CEO? No…how about the guy who host Jeopardy, are you him?"

"Ha, ha, ha, funny," he sarcastically answered.

"He's the knock off of James Bond," I answered for him with a grin.

Nathan turned around and glared at me.

"What?" I verbalized with a smug look. "Aren't I correct?"

"And you aren't a knock off of Queen Elizabeth?" he questioned me.

"No," I replied. "Hello, do you see me wearing one of those frilly things on my neck? I don't think so…I am simply a lady during the Victorian Era."

"Did you research your costume or something?" questioned Steven jokingly.

"Well I was forced to wear a costume so I decided on one with some history behind it," I told them. "Why is it a problem?" I asked accusingly.

"People usually don't research their costumes Haley," he told me in a worried tone. "They tend to choose one that they like or something that they always wanted to be. But hey your Haley, enough said," he finished as he held onto Peyton once again. "I got my Louis Lane by my side. So everything is all right," he stated as he kissed her on the neck.

"Okay enough of this lovey-dovey stuff…I'm going to get something to drink so I'll see you guys," I announced to the group, departing.

I began to get envious once more. I wished to have someone who would look at me with the same intensity that they gazed at each other with. Although, at the rate I was going I was starting to believe that that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

So I eased my way through the crowd to take a breath of fresh air outside…

I sat on the bench inside the gazebo that was situated in the backyard five minutes later. My dad constructed it when my brother and I were about 5 years old. He built it before he spent a great deal of time in the office and traveling; back to the time when my mom, dad, and my brother were an extraordinary part of my life. Back to when we were all a big and compassionate family. Though now, I only see my parents no more then a couple days a month. My brother has rapidly taken a superior part in my life since the absence of my parents and his return from boarding school.

I look around the structure and observe that the white paint has rusted off with age.

'Tarnishing away…just like my parents…' I reflected.

It took my dad, brother, and me 3 days to paint the entire gazebo white, but I smile as I notice that it still stood tall with grace. I glance at the stars; they were bright and radiated with dynamics. The moon prevailed amongst them, round and white while it exposed luminosity among the Earth.

"Kind of ironic that it's a full moon and it's Halloween isn't it?" asked a voice from behind me, not startling me.

I have begun to get used to the voice. It appeared in the most unexpected places and most of the time when I was in a pensive state. Nonetheless, the tone did not have the same effect on me anymore. It used to shock me, but now I waited for it to emerge when I sat in these kinds of situations.

"Why don't you ever begin a conversation with me when you are facing me, rather then coming from behind?" I asked, not bothering to turn around towards the figure.

"Now what's the fun in that?" it asked me as I heard its oncoming footsteps hit the grass gradually.

"The fun that I would recognize whomever is trying to speak to me without surprising me," I told him while I persisted to stare forward, the steps coming severely close.

Rapidly I heard the sounds of the old wooden floors creak at the sudden weight of its body. One, two, three… it stepped on each stride steadily till I swiftly felt the body heat of the figure sit beside me on the bench.

"But we all know that Nathan Scott can't follow the book, am I right?" I asked him as I turned my head and faced him.

"Of course," he answered with a smirk. "No fun in doing what is expected which we both should know something about, right?" he asked me with a grin as he got closer to me. "The closeness…" he recalled.

"The cut of air…" I corrected for him.

"The damn clothes…"

"The cold water I was dared to jump into…"

"The sexual needs wanting to be met," he said as he got closer to me.

"The anxiety of wanting to leave…"

"The kiss…" he continued as he got dangerously close to my lips.

I was now able to feel his hot breath on my face; my breathing suddenly becoming uneasy by his closeness; my stomach knotting in nervousness and my needs finally wanting to be met.

"Almost," I responded uneasy, millimeters away from his lips.

"Completely," he replied, finally closing the gap between us.

Our lips crashed sweetly on each other, taking everything at a slow pace. The kiss was slow and sensual as I felt his left hand settle on my side. His hand abruptly began to move from my side, to my neck, to lastly my hair. I quickly felt him searching for something until finally he clutched my clip and pulled it off. He drew away from me, watching as my straight hair fell to my shoulders and the curled ends framed my face in an alluring matter.

"Now the moment is a replica," he said as he gazed at me one last time and kissed me once more.

We persisted to kiss hungrily, not being able to get enough of each other; each kiss more passionate then the next as we explored the unrecognized corners of each other's mouths with every individual kiss. Though, it suddenly dawned on me.

"We shouldn't be doing this," I declared, reality finally settling in as I stood up.

Quickly, I heard him mumble a couple of things under his breath.

"What does Steven have to do with anything?" I asked him accusingly as I apprehended him mention his name.

"Nothing," he answered defeated as he got up and looked away.

"Nathan, what did Steven say?" I asked him as I grabbed his arm and forced him to look at me.

His blue eyes were glossy and I could tell that he was trying to hide his emotions. Through his cascade, I saw that his eyes were filled up with sadness and displeasure.

"Nothing Haley, he didn't say anything," he replied as he yanked his arm free. "I have to go…" he declared as he started to walk away.

"Nathan," I called out after him, knowing that he was lying.

"Haley just leave it okay? I'm Steven's best friend and you're his sister, nothing can happen. Ever," he declared. "It just can't happen…" he added as he looked at me.

For a brief moment, I was able to see something in his eyes.

Could it have been disappointment?

For the first time I became aware that the Nathan Scott wasn't able to get what he wanted.

"Just can't…" he voiced as he turned back around, opened the sliding door, and walked inside the house; out of my sight and reach.

"But what about what I want?" I muttered as I surrendered and sat back down to the bench confused of all the sensations running through my body.

I continued to sit, contemplating my emotions, never getting up and running after him.

AN: What's up u guys? I know that it's been a hella long time...but I've been busy. As you know I have school to deal with it and it being my last year and all...well kind of makes it difficult to update so much. But anyways, I also have a Website to run and and I have been making banners like mad. And guess what u guys? I have gotten a hella lot better! So whenever u guys have time...go check out my Website and my Fanart is included in it...so whenever u have time! And please leave a comment!

But anyways...well i hope that u guys like the update. I had to include the Lean Back song! I was once at a party and we were all playing games and then this guy was leaning back on his chair...well then he started singing to that song so i had to include it into the fic! Well i had to include it and...oh yeah, what Nathan wears is what he wore in the episode 'Life in the Glass House'...just to give u guys an idea. Oh and I recently went to a costume store and well...I saw all these interesting costumes...and well...One of them wuz that Nut and Screw thing...so i had to include that! LOL...well i hope u all liked the update!

BTW, I know that i kind of suck with those comebacks...but hey it's the best i could do!

Lysser8312- You read it and didn't review?! LOL…it's alright, it happens to the best of us! Glad that you are enjoying the story and the pool scene. Yeah it wuz a little hot! LOL…
Sara- Yeah I could have written more, but arg that means wasting more time revising and typing. A lot of the times I just want to get rid of it! LOL…though I do spend like 2 or 3 days most of the time on a single update. Yeah it takes that long for me to do it…cuz I revise everything till it sounds good for me. Hell why would I want to post a crappy chapter? LOL…well glad that u liked the last update!
HaleynNathan23- Yeah I know that a lot of ppl were disappointed that they didn't kiss…but hey they finally did! Yay! Something slutty? Nah…she's a wholesome girl! Yeah like I said, don't try the Hulk, but the thing is…I didn't like it cuz I don't like Hypnotiq. It is just nasty to me…Wo-ho! Parents out of town tomorrow so I get to party! LOL…so that is why I updated today instead of tomorrow, have to focus on the house…LOL…Well I started skool on august 9th I believe…and yeah today is late September 9th.
Volleygrl710- Thanks! You wouldn't believe how many people were ticked cuz they didn't kiss. But hey it wuz worth the wait, right? I had to make it right and not pushed on…u know? Well I hoped u liked it!
Ally37- Well what do u think Steven's talk did to the Naley? Well…we'll see how the next update goes. Heck I still don't know what I am going to do for it! LOL…darn!
Superpinkie- So change the fight scene to Steven and Nathan? Ha, ha, ha…u crack me up! Sorry that I couldn't update sooner, hell right now I should be working on my College Algebra homework, but I am hear replying back to you guys! So be happy! LOL…Well glad that u liked the Sexual tension between the duo!
OTHLover04-Well I hope that u liked the update.
Unknown- Oh is it u LockerRoomBandit17? LOL…forgot to put in ur name? LOL…Well glad that my update kicked ass! She got alcohol poisoning? Damn that suxs for her! Yeah I would kind of laugh in their face after I found out that they were fine cuz…come on they should of taken me! Right? LOL…Hey I don't party that much…well nah I'm lying to u. I have to say since this is my Senior year that I am living it up! I actually just went to a party on Saturday and now I am throwing one tomorrow cuz my parents r going to be out of town! So fun for me! Yay! Well wish me luck for tomorrow!
Tardychick06- Kiss already? My grasshopper u have to wait for the right moment… LOL…well I hope that it wuz worth the wait!
Bluuj- Well I hope that the kiss didn't disappoint! LOL… But I am glad that u r back and u better be back for good! I will be waiting for ur replies! LOL…I understand from experience…trust me. I have a lot of things going on but I still find time for u guys! See how much I love u guys!?

Spoilers:

Nathan's 18 birthday
-New car?
-Party?
-Some banter!

Yeah so I really don't know how the next chapter is going to go so i can't think of a question. So that means that the next update is probably going to take longer. Well it took me over 4 hours to finally revise this thing and I have to say that it wuz an alright update! Though, once again i think that i could of done better, but I have to say that I LOVED how the Naley part of the chapter ended up. It wuz so cute! But anyways...Oh I had to get the update up today cuz I wouldn't have any time to do it tomorrow cuz I will be busy all day...cleaning...well those of u who check out my Xanga site would know why I would be busy tomorrow...but anyways...

Hope that you all enjoyed this update and I can't wait to read ur feedback. So plz review!

Next up is an update for The Eye of the Beholder: A Nathan Scott Story. For those of you who didn't check out my update for The Spanish Experience...well go check it out!

Well till later my friends! Bye! Wo-ho! Party!

With much love ,
Sleepneeded911