Haley had never lied to Karen before, but she realized that if Karen did go to the dock, which she never did anyway, she wouldn't find Haley there. Haley knew that going to Nathan's house probably wasn't the best decision, considering that he and Lucas were the worst of enemies. Every time that she came to tutor Nathan, she ended up doing way more than teach him things. He ended up teaching her a lot more than she ever taught him.

As much as she wanted to stop coming here day after day, she couldn't resist the Scott charm. Their father, Dan, had passed it down to both Lucas and Nathan, and it always seemed to work on her.

Lucas was intelligent, thoughtful, and always had some sort of poem or quote that seemed to match every feeling she ever came to him with. Most of them involved him, she just had to disguise them with different names.

Nathan was cocky and full of himself, but always welcomed her with open arms. Haley needed that type of security, especially when she came to tutor him. The fun they had, especially when he first kissed her. They were surprisingly at the docks, and she was trying, unsuccessfully, to teach him logarithms.

He was eating a box of cracker jacks. Haley was waiting for him to finish so she could see the prize. When he ripped open the package, it was a rainbow colored bracelet. He slipped it on her wrist and said simply,

"Don't say I never gave you anything."

It started to rain shortly after, and they rode in his car to her house. When they pulled up to the driveway, he shut off the car and slid outside to let her out and so he could use his body as a shield to keep the water off of her. He let her use his hand as an anchor and she tried ineffectively to dodge the water from the storm drain.

Her jeans got completely soaked and he had to carry her inside the house to her room so she wouldn't get the carpet dirty.

After she had changed and made him a cup of extra chocolate hot chocolate, they began talking about his ex-girlfriend at the time, Peyton Sawyer.

"She was unproductive, overbearing, and a slut. She was always trying to get with Lucas, and that really pissed me off because Lucas is an ass. She was only trying to get with him to make me feel regretful since I was the one to break up with her, and she didn't even really like him, she only pretended to to make me feel bad," he said, clearly trying to make himself feel better.

"Nathan, is it obvious only to me that you still have feelings for her? Why don't you just cut your losses and try to get back with her?" Haley knew that this was breaking her heart more than anything could, but she liked the pain. It was like a drug, the more she did it, no matter how bad it hurt, she still kept shooting more into her arm for that extreme high it left her with.

"Haley, it is not that simple for two reasons. One, she most likely doesn't even want me anymore," he bit his lip when he said the last five words.

"You don't know that for sure… and what was the second?" she knew that if she went any farther that the drug would kill her faster than a speeding bullet.

"The second is, I'm in love with someone else… I'm in love with you Haley," he studied her face for reaction.

She was quiet for a moment, then, "Wh… what? How can you be in love with me? You hardly know me!" Shock, complete and utter shock.

"Easily. You're smart, beautiful, you always know what to say, you understand me, I can talk to you for hours about myself and you still ask to hear more, and, I don't know, I guess you're pretty much… perfect."

"I… I can't deal with this right now. This is too much to handle… I mean, you're the richest guy in Tree Hill! No one has ever expressed feelings like that for me. Even at home, my family never says, "I love you," and I can't even begin to understand where I would start, where I would liking you stop and loving you begin…" she was pacing her room now, and her eyes were filled with worry and panic.

"Haley, I can't live without you. I need you." He walked slowly over to her and gently brought her gaze off the floor and in focus with his eyes.

"I love you, Haley James." His fingers were finding their way across her lower right cheek and jaw, and she had to admit, his warm touch sent shivers down her spine.

He lowered his face to hers and lightly kissed her on the lips, waiting for her to respond.

She pressed harder against his lips, glad to finally have someone's warmth soothe her lips the way they should always be. Her arms were wrapped around him, and his arms were running up and down her back.

She felt his mouth open slightly and felt the warm, wetness of his tongue. She opened her mouth and him entwine it with hers.

Whoever came up with the expression that fireworks explode when you find your first love had definitely never seen a kiss between Nathan and Haley.

Because after a couple more minutes they could have made the power go out in every city within a five-mile radius.

She loved every minute of it.

And so did he.

A/N: Perhaps my favorite chapter so far. I read it to my aunt and uncle and they laughed at me, but so what. Apparently some people can't recognize an epic of literature in the making. Hope you enjoyed it! R & R with suggestions on what you want to happen! I love fan input!

Thanks!