"FINALLY!" Haley yelled as she exited the doors of Tree Hill High.

"excited about the weekend are we Hales?" Nathan asked as he walked up behind Haley.

"yes! I mean tonight is the big game and I'm cheering varsity and you're gonna be there and it's Lucas' last year playing and you're gonna be there to watch with Brooke and Peyt aren't you?" she finished in a nervous tone.

"course. Wouldn't miss it for the world," he answered giving her a reassuring hug.

"alright, well want a ride home? Luke's got pregame so I can take you home or you can come over and hang out and I can drop you off at home on my way to the game."

"your house then home. Nothin better to do than hang out with you," he answered smirking.

"loser just get in the car."

Sliding into the car, Haley started the engine and lowered the top. Nathan slid in next to her and fastened his seatbelt waving to their friends as Haley pulled out of the parking lot. Once again her hair was down and it blew out behind her as she drove down the main road of Tree Hill. Her white framed over sized sunglasses sat on top of her head and she had her left arm hanging over the driver's door. Nathan couldn't help but laugh at the site. She looked so girly sitting there singing along to Mariah Carey's new release, Shake It Off. Sighing to himself he realized that she was indeed becoming girlier, trading her classic t-shirts in for tank tops and tighter more form fitting shirts. He wasn't complaining because he certainly enjoyed the view the shirts gave him, but he didn't like the words spoken by his fellow teammates as well as his brother's teammates. Knowing that she would be standing on the sidelines tonight in her cheerleading uniform cheering those boys on was enough to make him want to scream. She wouldn't be cheering for him until early December, when basketball season started. "Remember my first game?" she asked breaking him from his thoughts.

"how could I forget? You spent like a year straightening your hair and doing your make up and getting ready and then forced me and Luke to be in a million pictures with you." He replied laughing.

"shut up," she instructed him, "I was a freshman starting varsity, that was a big deal."

"I know and you know I'm proud of you."

Smiling she settled back into the seat. Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye she was shocked to see his ice blue eyes looking in her direction. Even with her quick glance she could see the definition of his muscles under his Tree Hill Ravens T-shirt. She knew he was wearing his faded Abercrombie jeans that made his butt look so yummy in Brooke's words along with his classic shell-toed Adidas. He was the poster boy for the stereotypical high school jock. His left ear hosted a small diamond stud that he had gotten only weeks before much to the dismay of both his parents. She had been the one there with him when he decided to get it and he had held her hand as she got her tattoo. The 23 that she had right above her ass. His basketball number and Lucas' football number. It held a lot of meaning to her. It was also the first day she ever noticed him, the first day back to school in the 7th grade. Forgetting that she wasn't alone she let out a sigh. Noticing his head turn toward her she just smiled and said, "long day." With a knowing look he nodded and let her mind wander back to its previous thoughts. Pulling into her driveway she grabbed her backpack and cheerleading bag from the backseat and got out. She threw him the keys and he went on up, unlocking the door and walked inside. Leaning into the car she struggled to reach her stray pom-pom.

"Hales!" she heard him scream from the house.

"What do you want?" she yelled back.

"you're outta food."

"wonder who ate it all," she shot back sarcastically as she finally grabbed the pom-pom and began walking inside. The site that greeted her was nothing new. His feet were propped up on the island as he balanced on 2 legs of the barstool. Throwing her cheerleading bag at him she saw him crash back down to the floor completely shocked.

"what the hell?"

"I'll be in the shower," she said ignoring his previous question as she walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Making her way to her bathroom she grew anxious for the cool water. The air conditioning at school had been broken making the building unbearably hot. She couldn't help but smile though when as she remembered the site that greeted her in her 5th period gym class. When she walked into the gym she had seen shirtless Nathan playing a quick game of basketball with a few other boys in the class. She had skipped over to him when the game ended and wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a big hug. Little did she know that his stomach had flipped when he had seen her in her cheerleading shorts and simple T-shirt. The cool water pounded down on her washing away the disgusting remnants of the day without air conditioning. After she had washed and conditioned her hair and shaved she shut off the water and climbed out. Wrapping the fluffy pink towel around her body and a matching one around her hair she walked into her adjoining bedroom. Written on her mirror in hot pink lipstick was a note. 'Think you took a long enough shower? Went down to the River Court, text my cell when you're all girlified.' As she read the last line she cracked up laughing. She quickly dried and straightened her hair and applied her make-up. Grabbing her cell phone she typed him a quick message telling him she was done. Just as she was pulling her skirt up she heard his footsteps on the stairs. Quickly buttoning the skirt she bounced over to the door and grabbed him into a big hug. "All ready!" she chirped.

"food time?" he asked still with his arms around her.

"of course!" she answered. Grabbing her bag and purse they both made their way back out to her car.

"café?" she asked him

"Uh where else?" he answered with a teasing tone.