Chapter 7

Before Haley knew it six months had gone by. She was renting a small apartment for her and Emily. She had grown to love the small town and the friends she had made. Over the last six months she had become close to everyone and they were all very important to her, especially Jake. Ever since that day in the park she and Jake had become best friends. She trusted him with her secret and he kept it.

"Haley?" Nathan yelled as he walked into her apartment without knocking.

"I'm in my room" Haley shouted.

Nathan walked to the back of the apartment and into Haley's room. He walked in to find her dancing around her room as she cleaned. He stood in the doorway for a few seconds watching her before she noticed.

"Hey" Haley said smiling at him.

"Hi" Nathan replied returning the smile.

"What's up?"

"Did I leave my cell phone here last night? I can't find it anywhere."

"Yeah. It's on my dresser. I found Emily playing with it this morning" Haley said.

"Naaatey!" Nathan heard Emily call from behind him.

Emily was running down the hall and she attached herself to Nathan's legs when she got to him.

"Well, hello gorgeous" Nathan said as he picked the little girl up.

Emily wrapped her arms around Nathan's neck then gave him a kiss on the cheek. Haley smiled as she watched Emily and Nathan. Over the past six months Emily had grown very fond of Nathan and the feeling was mutual for Nathan.

"You ready to go to the café for our weekly dinner?" Nathan questioned turning his attention to Haley.

"Karen's! Karen's!" Emily said excitedly.

"Yeah, let me just grab my purse" Haley said laughing at her daughter.

"Uh, Hales, I have something to ask you" Nathan said.

"What is it?"

"Would you like to go out with me Friday night?" Nathan questioned.

"Like a date?"

"Yeah, like a date."

"I don't know Nathan. I'm not sure that's a good idea, I don't know if I'm ready to date anyone yet" Haley replied, hoping she hadn't hurt his feelings.

"Ok, I understand" Nathan said trying to hide the disappointment in his voice.

Nathan walked out of Haley's room and she followed him. Just as they were about to walk out of Haley's apartment her phone rang.

"Hold on, let me answer that" Haley said turning around and running to answer the phone.

"Hello?" she said into the phone.

"Hey HJ" the voice on the other end of the phone said.

"Hey Gabe. What's up?"

Upon hearing Gabe and having already spent one too many times waiting on Haley to get off the phone with her big brother Nathan picked up Emily and mouthed, "We'll meet you there".

"Ok, I'll be there in a bit. Em, you be good" Haley replied.

Nathan and Emily were out the door in seconds and on their way to Karen's.

"Who were you talking to and where's Emily going?" Gabe questioned.

"I was talking to Nathan and Emily is going with Nathan to the café for our Wednesday night dinner. I'm going to meet them there when I get off of the phone with you."

"Are you dating Nathan?" Gabe asked curiously.

"No. Earlier he asked me out on a date though" Haley replied.

"What'd you say?"

"I said no."

"Why?"

"Gabe, I don't know if I'm ready" Haley explained.

"HJ, it's been six months. I've only met him twice but he seems like a nice guy and if you trust him to take Emily then he must be a good guy. Not every guy is like Connor" Gabe argued.

"I know not everyone is like him. I'm just scared Gabe" Haley admitted.

"Look, it's just a date. Go on one date with him and see how it goes. You should get back out there HJ."

"Ok. One date" Haley relented.

"Anyway, I called because I wanted to check on you. Connor hasn't called has he?" Gabe said his tone taking a serious turn.

"No Gabe. He hasn't called in six months. Well, I have to go, I'm already late."

"Ok, you let me know if he calls. I love you. Bye."

"Love you too. Bye."

Meanwhile at the café Nathan and Jake were having a conversation while everyone waited for Haley to show up.

"So, I asked Haley out on a date" Nathan said.

Jake raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

"Really? What'd she say?"

"No. She said she's not ready to date. Jake, I really like her. I mean we've gotten really close over the last six months but sometimes she acts like she's scared of me. What happened with her ex-boyfriend?" Nathan said sounding defeated.

"Nate, just give her time. Don't push her, and you really don't want to know about her relationship with her ex-boyfriend" Jake advised.

Nathan sighed and said, "Ok".

A few minutes later Haley showed up and everyone sat down and had dinner. When dinner was over everyone went home. Once they were back at their apartment complex Nathan carried Emily up to Haley's apartment because she had fallen asleep in the car. After putting Emily in her bed Nathan walked to Haley's room to tell her he was leaving.

"Goodnight Hales. I'll see you tomorrow" he said, turning around to leave.

Haley's voice stopped him from going any further.

"Nathan, wait."

Turning around Nathan said, "What's wrong?".

"I changed my mind" Haley said.

"About what?" Nathan questioned in confusion.

"Going on a date with you. My answer is yes, I'll go on a date with you" Haley clarified.

"I'll pick you up at seven on Friday night then" Nathan said coolly.

Nathan came across as cool and collected but inside he was shocked. Just a few hours earlier Haley had said no and he was disappointed. But, something happened in the last few hours to make her change his mind and he wasn't about to question what it was.

Haley smiled at Nathan and said, "Ok, goodnight".

"Goodnight" Nathan said smiling before he walked out of the apartment.

Thursday passed quickly and it was now Friday night. It was six-fifteen and Jake had just arrived at Haley's to pick up Emily.

"Are you sure it's ok for her to spend the night? Cause I can pick her up after my date with Nathan" Haley questioned.

"It's fine Haley. You know Jenny loves when Emily sleeps over and you know Brooke and I love Emily. Go out and have some fun, you deserve it" Jake assured.

"Jake, I'm so nervous. I haven't been on a date in years and my last relationship was far from good" Haley stated.

"Hales, chill out. Nathan is a good guy. I've known him for years and he's nothing like Connor, I promise. Just give him a chance."

"You sound like my brother. He's the one who convinced me to go on this date. He said it's time I get back out there" Haley laughed.

"Well your brother is a smart guy" Jake smiled.

Emily and Jenny ran into the living room with Emily's overnight bag and pillow.

"You ready to go Em?" Jake questioned.

"Yep" Emily shook her head vigorously.

"Ok, Em, give me a hug. Be good for Jake and Brooke, ok? I love you" Haley said as she gave Emily a hug and kiss.

"I love you too mommy" Emily said.

"Alright girls, let's go. Bye Hales, you have fun tonight. I'll see you tomorrow" Jake said.

"Thanks Jake. Bye" Haley said as she hugged Jake.

Jake left with the girls and Haley quickly turned her attention to getting ready for her date. Before she knew it was seven o'clock and she heard a knock on her door. She walked over to the door and opened it to find Nathan standing on the other side. He was wearing khaki shorts and a blue button down shirt that brought out his beautiful blue eyes.

"Hi" Haley said smiling shyly.

Nathan's breath caught in his throat when he saw Haley. She was wearing a white cotton skirt and a pink tank top. Her hair was curled and loosely pulled back into a pony tail.

"Hey," Nathan finally said "you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let me just get my purse and keys."

Within minutes they were at Nathan's car. Nathan walked over to Haley's side and opened the door for her.

"Thank you" Haley said.

After closing the door Nathan walked over to his side and got in.

"So, where are we going?" Haley questioned, a curious look on her face.

"I figured we could go to Mario's and eat some pizza then go miniature golfing" Nathan replied.

"Sounds good to me," Haley told him smiling. "But what's Mario's?"

"Oh. It's a pizza parlor in the next town over. It's not that far though. I just, well, I figured you'd be more comfortable if we weren't running into people we knew," he explained almost nervously.

"That's sweet Nate," she started. "But since Jake is keeping is Emily tonight that means Brooke knows we went out, so all of Tree Hill will probably know by tomorrow."

"Do you want me to take you home?" he asked seriously fearing she was having second thoughts.

"What? No, I was kidding," she told him quickly. "Well not about all of Tree Hill knowing because Brooke probably will tell everyone, but I don't care."

He grinned. "We could blackmail her with her crush on Jake."

Haley laughed and felt her nervous feelings leaving. This was Nathan, one of her best friends, there was no reason to be nervous. "Seriously is Jake blind or something? How does he not see it?"

Nathan laughed, but also recognized the irony in the statement. He knew Haley had no clue just how he much liked her.

"So why'd you decide to move to Tree Hill Hales? I mean, from New York? That's a big difference," Nathan said after the waitress took their order.

"I just did," she told Nathan politely.

"Do you have family in New York? Friends? I know you've got people out there missing you somewhere," he said teasingly.

"Yeah, maybe," she said cryptically. Nathan could tell he was bordering on pushing her too far so he quickly changed the subject. "I can't believe you like ham and pineapple pizza too. Everyone always gives me hell about it."

She smiled noticing how he had changed the subject, obviously noticing her discomfort.

"Well everyone else is crazy," she stated and he laughed.

"Emily told me her birthday is coming up, so I was thinking of what to get her. . .," Nathan started and Haley knew from the look on his face he was about to spring something on her.

"Her birthday isn't for another two months," Haley laughed.

"Can I get her a puppy?"

"Nathan! She's only going to be 4," Haley told him. "She isn't old enough for a dog."

He pouted. "But she really wants one. She's been begging me. How am I supposed to say no?"

She laughed, "Welcome to my world."

"Wait. . . Emily's birthday is in two months? You said you had her a few months after you turned 18, so when is your birthday?"

"Next Saturday," she told him casually.

"Next Saturday! Why didn't you tell us?

"It's not a big deal," she told him.

"Not a big deal my ass," he smirked. "We're taking you out. And since you didn't tell us I'm appointing Brooke in charge of the operation."

Haley groaned good-naturedly then got an idea. "I won't have anyone to keep Emily if we all go out."

Without commenting he pulled out his cell phone and dialed. "Hey Mom, what are you doing? . . . Oh ok. . . .Yeah, I am. Who told you that? . . . . Are you kidding me? . . . It's good. . . Listen, can you keep Emily next Saturday night so we can all take Haley out for her birthday? . . .OK, thanks. I'll talk to you later. . . Love you too, bye."

Haley stared at him, "You're very devious."

"Thanks," he shot back with a smile. "Now you have a babysitter, next excuse please?"

"I guess I don't have any, besides that I'm being forced into this."

He frowned, here he was pushing her again, "If you really don't want to do it, we don't have to Haley. We can all hang out at my apartment and order in if you'd rather."

She stared at him, amazed of his innate need to make her comfortable. "No, I appreciate it Nathan. It'll be fun."

"Weren't you a big basketball star in high school and college?" Haley questioned as Nathan set up his 4th putt on the 2nd hole.

"Yes," he stated tersely not even trying to be modest. He missed the hole once again and turned toward her. "Make your point," he prodded.

"Well, it's just that, you're. . .well, you're not very good."

"Thanks Hales," he responded dryly. She smiled at him before walking towards the ball and knocking it in with her foot.

She pulled the score card out, "That was 2 right?"

"Nuh-uh," he argued. "Don't spot me any favors! I'm going to beat you fair and square."

"Whatever you say Nate," she said as they walked to the next hole and she set her ball down, then putted. She got a hole-in-one and turned toward him, "Whatever you say."

"Man, with all this teasing, it's like everyone's here with us," he joked as he putted. And missed.

"Why's everyone always teasing you about your relationships?" she asked him candidly.

He shrugged his shoulders, setting up his next putt. He wasn't exactly comfortable talking about that with Haley, but on the other hand he knew if she was ever going to open up to him he would have to open up to her first.

"I haven't really been in a serious relationship for awhile," he finally said after he knocked the ball in. They proceeded to the next hole, but instead of putting, took a seat on a bench.

"Define awhile," she said.

"3 years," he admitted and her eyes widened in disbelief.

He sighed. "Her name was Tessa and, God, was I ever in love with her. I met her Freshman year and we dated for 2 years."

"What happened?" Haley questioned quietly.

"She cheated on me," he paused and she noticed the far off look in his eyes. She realized this wasn't something he told just anyone. "With my best friend. . . and I should have walked away right then, but I didn't. She cried and pleaded, said she'd never do it again, told me how sorry she was, and I believed her." Haley just nodded. "A week later I caught her in one of my other friend's bed."

Haley half smiled at him, "Not all girls are the same."

"I'm beginning to realize that," he told her with a smile as he stood and pulled her up too.

"I can't believe you beat me," Nathan said sinking into Haley's couch.

"I can!" she told him as she sat down.

"You're going to tell everyone aren't you?" he asked.

"Why shouldn't I?" she asked.

"Because I don't want you to," he stated factually.

"That's not really going to stop me Nate," she joked as she stood and crossed to the kitchen. "You want a beer?"

"Yeah, thanks," he called out as he leaned forward and grabbed the remote. She returned a minute later with two beers and handed him one. Nathan had been flipping through the channels, finally settling on one.

"Oh my gosh! Old School! This is my favorite movie!" Haley squealed.

"No way," Nathan said.

"Yeah, why?"

"This is my favorite movie," he said.

She turned toward him, "What's your favorite line?"

"I can't choose just one," Nathan laughed, "but man, I love when that waiter's like 'Love, it's a mother f ucker, huh?' "

Haley laughed, "Oh I love that part! And when, at the wedding Mitch is giving that speech and he's like, 'True love is hard to find, sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blindfolded like a goddamn magic show ready to double team your girlfriend!'" Nathan bust out laughing shaking his head and Haley continued, "You know what? We should have a contest, whoever can quote the most lines wins!"

He stared at her in awe and impulsively reached out a hand to push a few stray hairs behind her ears, "You are the perfect girl Haley James." She blushed as he sat back against the couch. "But I'm going to kick your butt on this."