A Way of Working Out

Chapter 4

Haley waited several days before calling Nathan. She had to decide if she was doing the right thing. Finally she had come to the realization that she'd lose them both if she didn't do this. Picking up the phone, she dialed the number he'd given her on Saturday. After what seemed like forever, the answering machine clicked on. "Hi Nathan, this is Haley, give me a call when you get a chance, 555-2323."
A few hours later she called Peyton, "My life is such a mess."

"Hello to you too."

"Sorry."

"It's okay. What's wrong?"

Haley started talking at warp speed, "Lucas and I broke up on Sunday and he moved out, at least for now. I went out with Nathan on Saturday. I called him today and left a message but he hasn't returned my call. What if he's screening his calls and doesn't want to talk to me?"

"Hold on. Back up and slow down a bit. You and Lucas broke up and he moved out?" Peyton paused, "but it's not about Mouth."

"Why does everyone keep mentioning that. Honestly. Yes, Lucas moved out. He's giving me the space he thinks I need to make the right decision."

"About Nathan?"

"Yes."

"Nathan Scott?"

"Yes."

"When did he come back into the picture?"

"He was in the store on Saturday, and asked me out for a drink. He said he really likes me. I was so torn. I told Lucas, and HE was torn."

"I can only imagine. Like the rest of us, I'm guessing he thought things were finally great between the two of you after what happened. You're great together."

"But are we really?"

"Well, you DID cheat on him. But that's in the past."

"What do I do?"

"Well, you said you just called Nathan today, right?"

"Yes."

"How do you know that he's not trying to call you right now?"

"I didn't think of that."

"So I'll talk to you later?"

"Definitely."

Within a half-hour, the phone rang. It was Nathan. Haley smiled as she answered, "Hello."

"Haley?"

"Yes."

"This is Nathan."

"How are you?"

"I'm good, and you?"

"Better now."

"I see. So, you called earlier," Nathan said anxiously.

"Yeah. I've been thinking about our talk the other night."

"You have."

Haley could hear him suck in his breath, "Yes, I have. And I was wondering if we could get together again."

Nathan hesitated, "Sure. How's now?"

"Now's fine. Would you like to come over, or meet somewhere?"

"I can come to your place. Wait, isn't Lucas home?"

"No. Not tonight," Haley proceeded to give him directions to her house.

"I'll be over in a little while."

"Okay, see you soon," Haley smiled and looked up as Mouth peeked around the corner.

"Need me to leave?"

"You don't have to. You live here too," she patted the sofa next to her, "Sit a minute."

"Okay," Mouth joined her on the couch.

"You never knew Nathan, did you?"

"No. I really didn't hang with many people from other schools. But I've seen plenty of pictures, and have heard all about him. I FEEL like I know him."

"Oh shut up," she playfully hit him. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

"Yeah, I do." Mouth knew this was hard for her. After everything that had happened before, she had tried so hard to make things work with Lucas. But he'd always wondered if she was doing the right thing. Because, if she was meant to be with Lucas, things never would have happened the way they had.

Haley jumped when she heard a knock at the door, "Coming!"

Nathan smiled at Haley when she opened the door. She motioned for him to come in. He entered and gazed around the room. Haley walked over to one end of the plush couch where she sat down. Nathan followed suit, sitting at the other end. "This is a nice place."

"Thank you. I've worked hard for this."

"You and Lucas must love having this big house to remodel and make your own." Nathan noticed Haley look away and the mention of Lucas, "Is everything okay?"

"Lucas moved out."

"Because of me?"

"No! Well, not totally."

"What happened?"

"I told him about our talk.

"So he left because I have feelings for you," Nathan shook his head, "I don't think I follow."

"No, because we have feelings for each other. That's why I needed to talk to you tonight." Nathan looked stunned, but she continued anyway. "Nathan, I've liked you since eight grade when you crawled under your desk in art class. You were the boy my dreams were made of."

"Then you kept showing up at the leas expected time and place. After I talked to you at the Trick Pony concert, I was certain we were supposed to be together. I waited until April, trying to find a way to tell you how I felt. We even made eye contact at the baseball game. But you did nothing to acknowledge my presence. I was sure you had to know I was there for you."

"I…" Nathan began.

"Please, just let me get this out."

Nathan nodded his head and Haley continued, "After that, I decided I had to move on. Lucas moved home that July, and shortly after school started in August, we hooked up. He helped me through the stress of student teaching. He helped me find this house after I graduated." She paused, "Heck, he was even great when Mouth moved in."

"My friends were excited, I truly had moved on, but they forgot about what I'd said when I 'gave you up.' That if you ever came to me, I'd jump at the chance to be with you. But I never thought I'd be otherwise involved at the time. Or hell, that is would ever actually happen." A tear trickled down her cheek.

"Haley, I am so sorry," Nathan reaches out and wipes away the tear. "I never should have been so selfish. But when I saw you at the reunion with Lucas, I was jealous. And you were all I could think about afterwards."

"Tim and Jake even tried to talk some sense into me. They had never been able to understand why I didn't tell you years ago. They kept reminding me that you were with Lucas now, and he's a friend, someone who doesn't deserve to have his girl stolen away. But I had to tell you."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Was it your friends?"

"No. Tim and Jake, heck even Trent, said I should go for it. First, after Kristi and I broke up, then again during baseball season." Nathan paused, "Do you remember the night I loaned you my jacket?"

"Of course I do. I was on cloud nine that night. It smelled like you. I hated having to give it back." Haley smiled at the memory.

"Why do you think I was so intent on doing the computer thing that night," Nathan smirked, "to spend time with you. Our dugout conversations could be so much fun."

"That they were," Haley had always cherished the memories of those two summers.

"I was going to tell you after that night, but couldn't. And after that, it continued to get harder. Whenever we talked, you had your life planned. And I had no clue. I didn't see how you had room for someone with no idea."

"After the concert, Jake said I was crazy. That if you knew, and were interested, you'd find a place for me in that plan. But I couldn't, wouldn't believe him."

"Oh Nathan, I would have changed my 'plan' completely if it would have meant having you in my life."

"Deep down, I think I've always known that."

"I don't know how anybody couldn't be interested in you. Your so sweet, kind, caring, and considerate. What girl doesn't want that?" Nathan smiled at her, and she thought before smirking and adding, "Plus, a big bonus is that you're DAMN sexy."

Nathan instantly leaned over to kiss Haley. Moments later he pulled away, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so forward."

Haley pulled him closer and whispered, "Don't be sorry," before kissing him again.

What began as a few breath taking kisses soon escalated to much more.

As a near-naked Haley slipped her hands into his pants, Nathan pulled away, suddenly aware of what was happening. "We should stop."

Haley was surprised, "Yeah," she mumbled, then said, "Please don't think I do this to every guy on the first date."

"Don't worry, I don't think that of you." Nathan kissed her lightly before gathering his clothes, "I'll talk to you soon."

"You'd better," she whispered as he retreated from her home.

Okay, so just a little tidbit. Nathan and Lucas were on the same baseball team, Lucas was a year older. Haley was the statistician for the team during her junior and senior years. She'd actually started because she was into Lucas, but her attention quickly shifted to Nathan. It was their senior year when the incident with the jacket and computer took place.

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