A Way of Working Out

Chapter 8

Once they were all inside, Nathan, Tim and Jake headed to the bar while Haley stood with Peyton and Teresa, searching for somewhere to sit. Amazingly, they quickly found one and sat to watch people dancing.

Teresa turned to Haley, "So Haley, are you happy with Nathan?"

Haley paused and looked at Peyton, the question was unexpected, "Yes, he makes me very happy."

"What about Lucas? Does he make you happy too?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have asked him to move in otherwise."

"Nathan told us about Mouth. I'm just curious, if you were happy, what made you do it?"

"I don't know. He was vulnerable, and I happened to be there to comfort him. We knew it was wrong, but yet it felt so right."

"How can you know it won't happen again."

Peyton watched the interaction. She felt like she should say something to defend her friend, but was unsure of what.

"I saw how much it hurt Lucas, and I just couldn't do that to anyone ever again."

"Sorry to be pushy, I'm just watching out for him."

"I know."

"So if they both make you happy, how are you going to choose?"

"I don't know Teresa. I really don't. It's something I think about everyday. I haven't been with Nathan long enough."

"You were with Lucas for like a year. Are you going to make him wait that long to know your decision?"

"God no, that's not fair to anyone."

"I was just curious. Oh, here come our drinks now."

Nathan kissed Haley on the cheek before sitting next to her and sliding over the drink that he'd picked for her. "Thought you might like a mudslide to start."

"Thanks."

Nathan looked out at the floor, "Would you like to dance?" He held out his hand.

"Certainly," she smiled at Peyton and Teresa and followed him onto the floor.

As a slow song began, Haley looked up into Nathan's eyes before leaning up against him. She felt so safe as he wrapped his hands gently around her waist. She felt something different when Nathan held than when Lucas would hold her. She couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but it was definitely different.

Nathan looked down at Haley's head resting softly on his shoulder. "I like this," he whispered in her ear.

She looked up at him with a twinkle in her eye, "Oh yeah?" She placed a kiss lightly at the base of his neck, "What about this," she continued to kiss his neck lightly.

"Mmmmm," Nathan murmured, "That feels great," and he began nibbling her ear. One of his hands brushed her ass and pulled her even closer.

The song ended and Haley lingered in his arms, not wanting him to ever let her go. But the next song gave her an idea. Maybe she could get him to consider leaving. She felt the beat take over her body and began to dance.

Nathan watched her in amazement. Whether she knew it or not, she was doing bad things to his body. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to just stand by. Just touching her during the last song had made his groin grow tighter. He gasped as she began rubbing herself up against him. As she turned her back towards him, he grasped her hips, and guided the movement of her ass against him.

Teresa whispered to Peyton, "Look at those two go. You'd guess that there wasn't anyone else in the place."

Jake overheard her, "Oh come on now. Give them a break. You and Tim over here have been culprits of the same dance floor game."

Tim nodded, "It's true babe."

She lifted her eyebrows, "So what's your point?"

Tim laughed, then elbowed Jake and pointed at Peyton who was watching her friend out on the floor, "Are you gonna ask her?" He hissed.

Jake stood up and approached Peyton, "How about a dance?"

She grinned shyly, "Sure."

Teresa held Tim in his seat, "Lets sit this one out." Once the pair was out of ear shout, Teresa commented, "I think Haley loves him."

"Oh shit," Tim mumbled.

"I thought it was a good thing."

"Oh, it is," Tim said looking back at her. "But I think tonight's about to get a little bit more interesting. Lucas just walked in, and he's followed closely by Skills, Fergie, Edwards, and Barry."

"They're gonna convince him to do something, aren't they."

"Only if they spot them. But we shouldn't tell Nathan and Haley either. They could unknowingly create their own problems."

"We've got out work cut out for us, if we plan on creating distractions."

"I've got a plan," Teresa led him out onto the dance floor, in search of Jake and Peyton. Tapping Jake on the shoulder she whispered, "We've got trouble. Lucas is here. We have to keep them from seeing either Haley OR Nathan."

"We're on it."

Tim was the first one to encounter Lucas and his posse. It was apparent that Lucas wasn't wasting anytime drowning his sorrows. "Lucas, hi, how's it going there man?"

"Life sucks, but things are going to get better. I'm gonna fight for what I've lost."

Tim looked at Skills, "What did you lose?"

"My girl," he eyed Tim, "actually a friend of yours took her from me."

"Did you ever think that she wanted a change?" Tim knew he was treading on thin ice.

"Why would she? Things were great until he came along."

"That's not the story I heard," Tim instantly regretted his words.

"Are you here with them tonight?"

"Nope, just here with Teresa, Jake and his date."

Meanwhile, across the dance floor, Nathan pulled Haley close again, "What do you say we get out of here."

"I like the sound of that. But I need to tell Peyton. I can't just abandon her here," she winked, "even though she seems to be having a great time with Jake."

"Okay, I'll call go tell Tim we're heading out and call us a cab. Meet me out front in ten?"

"Make it five," and Haley went in search of her friend.

Nathan approached Tim, unaware of who he was talking to, "Hey Tim, I've been looking for you everywhere."

Tim grimaced, "Well, here I am."

"Haley and I are going to head out. Can you take Peyton home?"

"Haley's here huh?" Lucas glared first at Tim, then Nathan, "I'd like to talk to her."

Tim gave Skills a pleading look, 'Please stop him.'

Skills seemed to understand, "Hey Lucas, why don't you call her tomorrow, when you're sober."

"I want to talk to her now, and here she comes."

The all turned to see Haley approaching, followed closely by Teresa, Peyton, and Jake. Teresa's eyes grew big, sensing trouble.

Haley saw Lucas, "Hey, wow, um, how's it going?" Her eyes shifted quickly back and forth between the people surrounding them. She also noticed when Fergie, Edwards, and Barry joined the group, carrying more drinks.

"Not so hot," he pulled her towards the dance floor, his hand tightly gripping her arm, "Let's talk."

"I'd rather sit down if we're gonna talk."

"No, I don't want him to take you away from me again."

"I'll tell Nathan to leave us alone until we're done talking," Haley said with a steady voice, trying to avoid the scene she was sure was about to ensue.

"It's all about what you want. I'm beginning to realize that more and more everyday."

"How can it be any different? You never had an opinion about anything!" Haley forgot about not wanting to cause a scene, she was just plain pissed now.

"We lived in your house."

"I own the place! Besides, did you expect me to move in with your parents!"

"You wanted HIM!"

"You told me to do it!"

"You wanted separate vacations!"

"Only because you refused to join me in Virginia! And I'd already said I'd go. And I enjoyed myself!"

"Were you cheating on me then too!"

"Give it a rest! It was that one time. I told you that! Besides, Matt's just a friend, you know that! Besides, he happens to be engaged!" She shook her head at Nathan who was looking at her questioningly, silently saying, 'I'll explain later.'

"Mouth was a friend too."

"But that was a totally different situation, and you know it. I can't apologize for that anymore. If you can't trust me…"

"What about now?"

"This isn't cheating! I was upfront with you about the whole thing. I told you what he said to me, and that at one time I would've given anything to hear that."

"Exactly!"

"But I wasn't going to pursue it! You said I should, that we should separate. You brought that much on yourself."

"But you didn't have to agree!"

"How could I not. You practically forced the decision on me. I almost had to wonder if YOU had someone in the wings waiting, and it was the perfect out for YOU!"

"Never. I love you."

"I love you too…"

"But is it the same love you had for me before you slept with Mouth?"

"Listen, I'm not going into that, AGAIN. I still need time, which you gave me, so I'm going to use it."

Lucas slowly let go, "How much longer do I have to wait?"

Haley gently rubbed her arm where he'd been holding her, "I don't know. But what I do know is that you made some things much clearer for me tonight. Goodnight."

She turned to Nathan, "I believe we were on our way out."

Nathan stepped towards her and suddenly fell backwards. Lucas' punch in the jaw took him by surprise. Haley screamed and glared at Lucas. With the help of Tim and Jake, Nathan managed to stand back up and they found their way out of the bar.

"Guess we don't need that cab after all," Nathan mumbled.

As they slid into the backseat, Haley looked at him, "I am so sorry Nathan. This was my fault. I shouldn't have gotten into a shouting match with him."

Peyton watched out of the corner of her eye as Nathan placed his hands over Haley's, "Don't blame yourself. It should be me doing the apologizing. It's my fault the two of you aren't sill together. If I hadn't acted upon jealously and opened my big mouth, you two would still be happy, and together."

"If you hadn't opened your big mouth," Haley smiled slightly, "I never would have known what it was like to love anyone else, and truly decide for myself if he's the one for me. You've given me that freedom. And I had a great time tonight. No matter what my decision, I'll always be grateful for that." She leaned over and kissed him gently.

Nathan sat quietly, reminding himself to ask about her trip to Virginia.

Back at the bar, Lucas had been shoved into a booth by Skills and Fergie. "What WERE you thinking?"

"Fighting for what's mine."

"Punching out the new boyfriend is NOT what we meant."

"I hadn't planned on doing that. It just happened."

"Did it also just happen that you got into a shouting match with the girl you're trying to win back?"

"No. It just kinda happened."

"Seems like a lot of stuff 'just kinda happened' tonight."

Barry spoke up, "You need to call her first thing tomorrow morning and apologize. This incident isn't going to help your situation any."

"Barry's right man," Fergie commented, "We should get you home, before you do anything else to get yourself into even more trouble."

Tim pulled away from the curb after dropping Haley and Peyton off. Teresa turned around immediately after shoving Jake into the back and said, "She loves you."

Nathan looked at her with suspicion, "How do you know that?"

"I can tell. The way she looks at you. She told me that you make her very happy…"

"Woohoo Nate!"

"Get your head out of the gutter. We haven't slept together yet," then he mumbled, "although that's where we were heading before our encounter with Lucas."

Tim nodded knowingly, "I knew it."

"Timothy!" Teresa scolded.

"We were going to try to wait, but out there on that dance floor…"

"Say no more. We could all see you."

Jake smirked, "Hey, maybe that will be the deciding factor, which one of you is better in bed."

"Both of you stop it!" Teresa scolded again. Then she turned to Jake, "Besides you don't have much room to be talking mister. I saw you out there with Peyton. You better be careful." She glared at the boys, "Now, as I was saying, she hates the idea of hurting you. And I mean she wouldn't be facing this huge decision if she'd stayed with Lucas. There's a reason she's with you now."

Peyton sat with Haley at the kitchen table, "Want to talk about what happened tonight?"

"Where do I even start?"

"Start with the good stuff," she grinned at her best friend, "You appeared to be having a pretty good time until your encounter with Lucas."

"I was. He's absolutely wonderful Pey. I felt so safe in his arms. The feeling I had when he was holding me differed so much from when I'm with Lucas."

Peyton snickered, "Maybe because Lucas would never grope you in public."

"I know he wouldn't. But I wasn't ashamed."

"Nor should you be. It's not like you're the only ones who do it."

It was Haley's turn to smirk, "I noticed."

"Noticed what?" Peyton asked innocently.

"You were getting pretty friendly with Jake out there."

"He's really sweet. And you did NOT tell me how fine he was."

"He picked on me when we were in middle school, and I guess I just never saw him that way. Even years later," seeing Peyton eye her, "Don't worry, he grew out of picking on me. He's grown to be a really great man. Do you think you're going to go out again?"

"Guess we'll see. He has to make the first move."

"Come on Pey, it's the 21st century, girls can make the first move."

"He seemed like the first move kinda guy, so I wait."

"Fine."

"Now, enough with changing the subject. What are you going to do about Lucas?"

"I thought he'd gotten over the whole Mouth situation. But it appears as if he still doesn't trust me. I don't know what more I can do to apologize. Is he always going to wonder? I can't live the rest of myself trying to prove everyday that I made a mistake, and I'm sorry."

"You've made your decision, haven't you."

"I think maybe I have."

Okay, so I majorly added to this chapter. Upon request, I added some Naley stuff outon the dance floor. I also added Haley's conversation with Peyton at the end. i hope it plays out as well as I'm hoping with everything else that I already have written (yes, the story is done, just needs to be typed.

I hope to get out another update tomorrow night. So, look forward to that, and in the meantime, please review!