Ch. 20

Nathan's POV

Life is all about taking risks and making that extra leap. Well that old man really got me to thinking about how much I actually do love Haley. I've never even thought about it before; it was just something that he brought out of me. I don't show emotion very often and when I do it's just to people that I am close to. Wow! I am a guy with insecurities and I'm a guy who's admitting those insecurities. So yes I am in love with Haley James, but the real question is…is she in love with me, as well?

End of Nathan's POV

Haley's POV

Oh the joy of California weather! Right now it is fall and there's a light breeze. Of course, I can't actually feel the breeze do to the fact that I'm in an air-conditioned hotel room. The guy's first game in the tournament isn't until tomorrow so according to Whitey we're free to roam around the area until midnight. He wants to make sure that his boys get a good night sleep, because they're playing North Gate Cougars. The Cougars are not as good as Tree Hill, but of course I think that our team is the best. Hello my boyfriend is one the team!
Everyone wanted to go somewhere different tonight. Brooke said that we had to put our idea on a piece of paper, mix it up in a hat, and choose one. Well the boys being basketball players didn't have any hats so we had to resort to the next best thing. A coffee cup! I heart coffee and so does Brooke. We are trying to convert Peyton into drinking it every morning, but she's a lot tougher than she looks.

"Okay everyone since I'm the prettiest," Brooke said with a flip of her hair and a wink in the direction of Luke, " I get to pick out of the cup."
"Alright Tigger, if that's what you need to hear." I teased, "Pick already"

Rewind….err….stop. I never told you what some of the choices were. Okay so Brooke said we should go to this new club called Platinum. How she knew that the club was having it's grand opening today still amazes me. Let's see I want to go to Disneyland, because it is the happiest place on earth. Well when I mentioned that idea I got Nathan and Peyton's vote, too. Lucas and Jake wanted to go play some basketball, but aren't they going to play enough while they're here. I guess boys will be boys. Okay now we can resume to where we left of, which is me telling Brooke to pick. Dun. Dun. Dun.

Brooke reached her hand ever so carefully into the coffee mug and pulled out a folded white piece of paper. Everyone in the room held their breaths for the final decision. Would they go to the happiest place on earth or to a place full of horny teenagers listening to good music while having a great time? Okay so it wasn't that dramatic, but it sounds good in my head.
"Haley. Hales? Snap out of it." Nathan chuckled when I came back to reality.
"Huh?" I questioned. I was clearly very deep into my thoughts to not have noticed everyone staring at me.
"Stupid brain!" I yelled in my mind
"Hales what land were you on?" Jake teased
"Okay enough of make fun of Haley. Where are we going?" I asked
"To the happiest place on earth." Brooke grumbled
"Yippee! Brooke you don't sound too enthusiastic about going. Why is that?" I playfully teased with her.
"Yeah whatever Tutor girl. Let's go get changed I smell like airplane." Brooke suggested. All three of us girls left and went to get changed and showered. After about a million hours of Brooke trying to find the perfect sunglasses that went with her outfit. Yes you did read this right; she was trying to find the perfect sunglasses…let me repeat it so you fully understand…the PERFECT SUNGLASSES. Heaven forbid you have the wrong shaped or colored sunglasses that don't match your outfit. Anyways moving on from that! So back to Disneyland. Isn't that exciting…I've never been to Disneyland only Disney World, but from what I've heard they aren't the same.
After about a twenty-minute ride from the hotel we arrived to the full parking lot of Disneyland. After driving around the parking lot for another twenty minutes we actually found a parking spot. Then we hopped onto the shuttle bus that takes you to Downtown Disney. Disneyland is very complicated if I must say! First you got to fight the soccer moms for a decent parking space. Then you got to take a shuttle to Downtown Disney, which isn't even the entrance of the park, next you have to walk five minutes to actually get to the entrance, finally you buy your ticket and wait in the line forever. So there's my gripe on Disneyland. You probably didn't want to hear it, but well your stuck so you have to. Once we entered the park Brooke went crazy.
"And I thought she didn't want to go." I whispered to Nathan, which got a chuckle out of him. Nathan and I made our way away from the crazy Brooke who wanted to go everywhere. We tried to go on every ride possible and tried to eat as much as we could. Hey it was on my dad…soo why not take advantage of that. We stayed until the park closed, which was at 11:00 and then made our way to the hotel.
"Phew…just in time." Jake said. It was exactly 11:58 and we made it back right before Whitey was making bed check. Each of us hurried into our rooms and pretended to be asleep. Of course Whitey wasn't born yesterday and he yelled a little at the boys, but he was very nice to us. It might be do to the fact that Brooke told him that we got caught in traffic and that there was no way out of it. That's Brooke for you, always finding the best way out! Yawn. Wow I am soo tired. Well tomorrow is the first game, I'll let you know how that goes considering it's Nate's first game since the accident. Dun. Dun. Dun. Actually he has been training and practicing since the last game that he didn't play in. Let's hope everything goes well. Until then goodnight I thought as I drifted of into sleep.

End of Haley's POV

CH. 21

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"God this is boring." Nathan thought to himself. It was three o'clock in the morning and he couldn't go to sleep. The game started at 10:00 and he was all jittery. Since the accident all he did was practice and train. He wanted to make sure that he was ready. Problem was, was he really?
"Guess we'll find out in…"Nathan looked over at the blinking red clock. 3:03. "Six hours and fifty-seven minutes. What am I supposed to do for seven hours? Oh yeah think about the other thing that's bothering me. Haley. Well she's not bothering me, but admitting to her that I love her, is." Suddenly his phone vibrated on the side table. The caller I.D. read 'Jackie Poo'
"Stupid Brooke, she's never allowed to touch my phone again." Nathan muttered to himself and then answered the phone. "Hello."
"Hey. Dude I can't sleep. Do you want to go grab some coffee or something?" Jake asked
"Yeah sure. I would ask Luke to come, but he's sleeping like a baby. He's freaking me out with all the moaning of Brooke's name." He stated which earned a laugh from Jake. They decided to meet in the lobby of the hotel and go to the nearest Starbucks. God knows that there's a Starbucks on every corner in California. Turns out the Starbucks was actually on the corner right by their hotel, fairly ironic.

We got more bounce in California
Than all y'all combined
We got more bounce in California
We like to party all the time

"Do you think that you're ready for the game?" Jake asked as they exited the hotel lobby.
"I've been practicing and training everyday since the accident. I guess we'll find out in the game today." Nathan told him
"You'll do fine. You're more dedicated to basketball than Kobe Bryant." Jake teased
"Ha. Ha. You're soo funny." Both boys entered the very empty Starbucks. Jake checked his watch and laughed.
"It's only four, no wonder it's so empty." They went up to the counter and ordered their coffee.
"A caramel frappachino? Jake you're such a girl." Nathan joked
"Oh and you're all manly with your black coffee. You gotta live a little and plus my drink will keep me awake and energized. Your drink will just make you have bad breath." Jake joked back
"Yeah whatever you say," Nathan muttered to himself, "Girl." Cough. They got their coffee and sat in the big plush purple chairs and continued to talk about what was going on in their lives.
"Nate you have the look." Jake informed him
"What look?" Nathan asked
"The I-love-her-but-I'm-just-too-scared-to-admit-it look." Jake said
"That is the longest name for a look I have ever heard of. And you have it too." Nathan stated
"Yes, but the difference between mine and your look is I'm not too scared to admit it."
"I'm not scared." Nathan lied through his teeth
"Sure buddy. Keep telling yourself that, but don't wait too long to tell her cause she won't wait forever." With that Jake got up and left the coffee shop to let Nathan think by himself."
"Okay now I really have to tell her, because I'm not willing to let her go." Nathan thought to himself and got up.

We got more bounce in California
Where all the hustlers all reside
We got more bounce in California
Rollin' easy when we ride

Back At The Hotel

"Haley do you think Lucas loves me?" Brooke asked from the other bed
"Brooke I honestly don't know. I can't read him that well, but you should wake up Peyton and ask her if you really want to know." Haley told her. Brooke shot out of bed and ran over to the door, she opened it, went next door, and knocked repeatedly until a very pissed off Peyton answered it.
"What do you want?" Peyton asked with a dirty look. If looks could kill Brooke would've been dead in a heartbeat.
"Peyton take that look off your face; it makes you look all old and grumpy. Now down to business; come on next door my sweetheart we are having a girl talk!" Brooke exclaimed and dragged her through her own door. When Peyton got into their room, she immediately jumped into bed with Haley and tried to drift off back to sleep.
"No way Pey. We're having a girl talk and you have to participate." Brooke told her
"Brooke I'm tired, just let me sleep." Peyton whined
"Peyt let's just get this over with and then we can go back to sleep." Haley assured her
"Yay! Okay two questions for you Peyton. Do you think Lucas loves me? And do know if Nathan loves Haley? I can clearly see it in his eyes; she just doesn't believe me." Brooke asked while she stuck her tongue out at Haley.
"Brooke, you did not just drag me out of bed to ask me those questions. Of course they love both of you. It's freaking written in their eyes and on their foreheads! Get a clue Tigger. Now I am very cranky when I don't get enough sleep and Michelle is snoring loudly next door. Haley if you don't mind I'm going to sleep here." Peyton told them
"Go ahead. I'm actually gonna go take a walk down the street, you know clear my head, get a coffee, stuff like that." Haley told them
"Want some company?" Brooke asked.
"Nope. I want you to go visit your boyfriend, because you're way too hyper. Go release some of that energy." Haley giggled
"Ah Haley I don't want to be reminded of Lucas and Brooke's sex life." Peyton groggily whined. Brooke stuck her tongue out at Peyton and left to find her boyfriend. Haley walked out of her room and out of the hotel and made her way towards Starbucks.
"Oof!" Haley ran straight into a hard chest and they both fell. "Oh I am so sorry." Haley continued to apologize. When she looked at him he had the all too familiar blue eyes.
"Haley?" Nathan questioned. She just giggled when she realized it was Nathan.
"Sorry babe, I didn't see you there" Haley said in between giggles
"Obviously." He teased her while helping her up.
"I was just taking a walk. Wanna join me boyfriend?" Haley asked
"God I do love her." Nathan thought, "Sure I'd love to join my beautiful girlfriend."
"It's like 5:00 what are you doing up mister?" Haley asked as they walked around the block.
"Well I couldn't sleep. I get thinking about a certain girl I know." He teased as he looked at her.
"It better be me or I will not be a very happy person." Haley joked
"Nope it wasn't you, it was Carmen Electra."
"Ew Nathan! First off she's married and second off her boobs are fake. That's just sad." Haley told him
"Joke Haley. It was you, it's always you." He then kissed her lightly. After their walk Nathan was feeling much better about telling Haley that he loved her. He said his goodbye to her at her door and told her he couldn't wait to see her in her sexy cheerleading outfit.
"God I love him. OMG I do love him." Haley said to herself

CH 22

Well guys this is it...the last chappie...tears...so i am doing no personal replies...because I just wanted to thank everyone who read and replied to this story...this was my first fan fic and you guys were amazing readers...soo thanks too everyone...your replies encouraged me to write more...so this chappie is dedicated to EVERYONE!...enjoy!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

This is finally it---you're in love! He's popular, handsome, caring, and a little cocky at times; she's beautiful, sweet, irresistible, and known as the innocent tutor girl. Is this love real or not? First of all, what is love? Is it that giddy feeling you get inside your stomach whenever they walk by? Is love the thing that makes your palms sweaty when he gives you that smirk? Does it make your breath catch in your throat whenever you hear her laugh? Love makes all of your senses come alive to the point of overload. The question still stands, what is love? Who actually knows, but we're about to find out.

You're wasting your time
Trying to tear us two apart
You can't stop our plans
We were destined from the start
He loves me
I love him
And even though we're young at heart, see
You're the one in denial

The Tree Hill Ravens played their first game, in the tournament, like they were on fire! Nathan Scott and Lucas Scott, with the aide of Jake Jygelski, led their team into a sweeping victory. Most fans of the high school were nervous, because Nathan had just gotten out of the hospital. We could see by the way he played, with such vigor and drive, that every little bit of extra training helped. The Ravens have played against many different teams, and so far they have beat every single one of them. The finals are being held tomorrow at 6:30 PM, come out and watch the Tree Hill Ravens vs. the Whitewater Wildcats.

Nathan read over this newspaper article while lying in the uncomfortable hotel bed. It was all true. He had put his heart and strength out into all of the games. He wanted the Ravens to be in the finals, the whole team deserved it. Tomorrow would prove how good of a team they really were.

The gym was jam packed; it had that Closter phobic feeling. Fans from both teams were sitting every where. Cheerleaders were bounding up and down rooting on the crowd to see who could yell the loudest. Little kids were running up and down the aisles trying to get their parents to give them money for the snack bar. All the while in the team locker room Whitey was giving the Ravens his pep talk.
"All right boys this is it. We have made it this far, let's finish it off. Nathan," He said directing the talk towards Nathan, "the Wildcats will use all of their power to stop you from making a basket. Now I know and the rest of the team knows that you can fight through. You fight through and get to that basket. Everyone hands in." All of the boys put their hands in and yelled 'Ravens!'.
"The two opposing teams for tonight's game will be the Tree Hill Ravens and the Whitewater Wildcats. Both teams are excellent and have made it this far in the tournament. Everyone please stand up as we have Kathleen Masters sing our nation's national anthem." All fans quieted down and listened to a young girl's voice boom through the microphone. When the girl finished everyone went back to their little chattering. "And now please welcome the Wildcats!" fans cheered for their team as they made their way out of the locker room. "Now for the opposing team…the Ravens!" Brooke, Haley, and Peyton screamed and cheered for them. Nathan, Lucas, Jake, and the rest of the team made a lap around the gym, which made the fans cheer louder. When both teams got onto the court you just knew it was going to be a gruesome game.

Tired of creeping around when I'm craving for
His kiss
Whenever I'm lonely he is the only one
I miss
You say it ain't right but I think that you got it wrong
It's bliss
And I love him, yeah, yeah
I love him

The referee tossed the ball into the air, thus beginning the game. During the first half the score was tied, 56-56. During half time both cheerleading teams went out and did their thing, which pumped up the crowd more. Like they weren't already on the edge of their seats. The third half was quite boring. It went a little like this… Nathan would get the ball the other team would steal it…Luke would get the ball the other team would steal it…Jake would get the ball. Do you see where I'm going with this? The fourth quarter was more intense than all of the other three put together. At first the Wildcats were ahead, 58-56, but of course Nathan couldn't let that happen. He wanted to win, and according to him 'What Nathan wants, Nathan gets'. Every time he made a basket he'd look over to where the cheerleaders were. Haley would give him a brief smile and a wink, which pumped him up more. The clock was ticking down and the score was 58-58. If Nathan just wanted to win by one basket he could, but he wanted to win by more than a basket. He stole the ball and ran down the court at full speed making a simple lay up, 60-58, and the Ravens take the lead. Now all they had to do was stop the Wildcats from making another basket. Piece of cake, not. The Ravens fought hard and with thirty seconds on the clock, Luke stole the ball, passed to Jake on his left, who looked to Nathan and noticed that he was double teamed. Nathan faked left, went right just as Jake passed the ball to him. He dribbled to the three point line, shot the ball, and waited…BEEP! The buzzer rang, Swish! The ball made it in, perfectly/b63-58/b. Everyone rushed down onto the court and celebrated.
"The Ravens have won this year's annual basketball tournament!" the announcer yelled. Haley rushed up to Nathan and hugged him.
"Nathan you guys did it! You did so awesome out there!" Haley congratulated him
"It was all for you babe." He said with a wink.

He makes me go ooh-ooh-ooh
When he looks at me
Ooh-ooh-ooh
And it's plain to see
Nothing you can do-ooh-ooh
To discourage me
And I love him
I really love him, ooh

Whitey let them stay out all night to celebrate. His exact words were, "Go have fun, but if you get into trouble it's all on you!" Brooke grabbed Haley and Peyton and told the boys to get ready for a night of clubbing.
"That game was intense!" Brooke said in her hoarse voice, "I'm losing my voice." She pouted. They got in the elevator and made their way to the room.
"Let's get all dolled up girls." All three girls showered, changed into more 'comfortable' outfits, and finished getting ready.

Haley's Outfit:
Jeans

Shirt

Brooke's Outfit: Skirt

Shirt

Peyton's Outfit:
Jeans

Shirt

They went to new club Brooke found out about, called Platinum. All of them pulled out their fake I.D.'s and the bouncer let them in with out a hassle. It could have been due to the fact that he was at the game and was rooting for the Ravens, but he wouldn't let his boss know that. Brooke dragged Lucas on to the dance floor, Peyton and Jake went off to find a table, and Nathan and Haley went and got some drinks.
"Nathan, come on dance with me…please?" Haley stuck out her lip and pouted. Nathan couldn't resist that look and immediately gave in.
"Fine." The made their way through the crowd and started dancing.

You're wasting your time
Trying to tear us two apart
You can't stop our plans
We were destined from the start
He loves me
I love him
And even though we're young at heart, see
You're the one in denial

Things started to heat up between Nathan and Haley. Nathan pulled Haley into a dark corner and pushed her up against the wall. Then he kissed her roughly, not getting enough of her. Haley gradually lifted her legs off of the ground and wrapped them around his waist. He lightly pushed his tongue against her lips begging for access. She eagerly accepted. Without breaking the kiss Nathan went out the back exit into an alley. They broke apart needing more air. With no car and no taxis they were forced to walk back to the hotel. Once the reached the lobby they got into an empty elevator and latched onto each others lips again. They reached their floor and the doors dinged open.
"Ahem," a lady cleared her throat. Haley stopped kissing Nathan and looked around. She noticed that the elevator doors were open and a mother and her daughter were staring at them; she blushed profusely. Nathan grabbed her hand and led her to his room, opened the door, and pushed her lightly onto the bed. She ran her fingers through his hair, lightly scraping the back of his neck. Some how during this whole 'make out' time Nathan and Haley's shirts had "mysteriously" come off. Haley tugged on the waist band of his pants. Immediately Nathan stopped what he was doing and looked at her. In her eyes he could see want, love, and trust.
"Haley we don't have to do this." Nathan assured her
"We don't have to, but I want to." She told him with a smirk of her own. She untangled herself from him, stood up and started pacing around the room. "Nathan from the first time we talked on the basket ball court I knew there was something different about you. You opened my eyes to a whole other world. A world filled with love. And through this whole time that we have been together I fell for you, pretty hard, too. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I love you Nathan." She rambled and looked up nervously. When she did she saw Nathan's blank face. He stood up and kissed her. When he broke away he had the biggest smile that went from ear to ear.
"I love you, too" he told her.

Said I would cry for him
Lie for him
Hell I'd even die for him
Cry for him
Lie for him
Hell I'd even die for him
Cry for him
Lie for him
Hell I'd even die for him, oh

Who knew you could fall in love with your dream person?

"Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one."

So that's it...feel free to cry...lol...leave many replies and tell me how i did...please!