Chapter Nine: Schemes and Plans

Once upon a time, Haley had been able to read Nathan's eyes, but now looking into the complexity of the cobalt blue was more akin to looking into the eyes of a stranger. She couldn't tell what he felt when she took her own cautious step toward him.

As Haley stepped away from him again, Nathan felt his arm automatically reach out for her, but he could not recall his mind giving permission. He immediately wondered if Haley had even noticed his movement, for her eyes still fastened on his. Her eyes wide, sad, yet so full of hope.

Haley indistinctly heard Taylor yell something at her from the next room. Part of her hoped that Taylor would interrupt, make the moment less personal, less intense, but more of her hoped that Taylor would never find them. Then all of Haley came to sharp realization-Nathan hadn't stopped by by chance. Taylor always would be a meddler, whether it be for good or for evil.

She forced herself to close her eyes for a moment, to regain thought, before looking back into the intensity of his gaze. She forced a smile.

"Hey," she managed to whisper. Somehow the word sounded incredibly foreign and harsh to her, more so than any word she'd ever uttered. She tried again: "Hey."

It was a comfortable word. Nathan felt he could manage it, even in the presence of his ex-wife, still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

"Hi," he said. Subconsciously she twirled a lock of her light brown hair around her index finger. Immediately his eyes fastened to it. She dropped her hand.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked. He sent her a blank look, and instantly she regretted her simple invitation: of course he didn't want to come in to the home of the girl who'd broken his heart so thoroughly. This was not a social call. This was maybe a booty call.

"Taylor told me to come… made up some story. I knew she was lying, but…" began Nathan. It was more than they had previously managed to say.

"She didn't tell you I'd be here?" asked Haley, her lips thin, her voice empty.

Nathan silently shook his head.

"Sounds like Taylor," said Haley. Nathan amazed the both of them by almost smiling.

"I heard you talked to Lucas," he said suddenly. Haley's eyes widened at the tint of jealousy in his voice.

"We're trying to be friends again," she said briefly. This was true.

"Brooke told me. She's pretty pissed," said Nathan.

"Brooke has a tendency to be, I guess," said Haley briefly.

"Right, because Brooke overreacted to how you…"

"Don't start," said Haley, sighing. She had understood his anger nine years previously, but not when they were both completely detached from their young selves, thriving in their adult lives.

"So how about you tell me what I am allowed to do?" demanded Nathan.

"Calm down," she pressed, placing two reassuring hands on his chest. She gasped at the warmth that seemed to spread through her, and quickly backed away.

The two stared at each other for a moment longer, drinking the sight in. Nathan was more built, Haley noticed, his hair slightly more "grown up" looking, dressed in khakis and a button up shirt instead of basketball shorts.

She, he noticed, was showing off her curves more than she once would have done, in a pair of low-rise jeans and a Juicy sweater only half zipped up to expose her breasts, almost spilling out of her camisole. Her hair was light brown, almost golden, and curling slightly. He hadn't forgotten her. It was impossible, with her picture on every magazine in the newsstand.

"Are you in a relationship?" he asked simply. "With Chris," his eyes said.

"Not right now," she muttered. She tortured him by not returning the question-she knew that asking him would give him the chance to gloat about a girl. And Haley didn't disillusion herself-she knew there was a girl, whether it be his girlfriend, his wife or the girl he hooked up with at his last after party.

"Look, I have to go," he said eventually.

"You don't think we should talk, or something?" asked Haley timidly. Nathan almost smirked-it was sick, it was almost sadistic, to take pleasure in the obvious power he still held over her. He held back a sigh.

"Tomorrow. We'll meet for dinner. I'll have my assistant contact you with the details. We can talk," he said. As Haley noticed his eyes glance to her exposed cleavage, she knew that talk wasn't what he had in mind. Uncomfortably, she remembered the virginal girl she'd been before him, and she zipped up her sweater with the 'J' zipper pull.

"That's great. I'll let Lannie know," she said distractedly.

"Lannie?"

"My secretary. Alanna Shaw," said Haley, with dignity. Nathan shrugged, but said nothing before turning back to walk down the hall.

Haley stared down the hallway, long before his tall, broad frame had retreated. She sighed. It was what she'd been wanting for years, yet it was so unsatisfactory. Haley trembled slightly, thinking of the ordeal of the next night, alone at a table. With Nathan in his suit, his crisp white shirt, possible ironed by a maid, possible a younger blonde girl… Haley shook her head vigorously to block out an image that still pained her after so long.

"Gabby doesn't have anything so you need to come shopping with us," said Taylor, after Nathan had left. Her words were blunt, but her tone was gentle.

"Do you really need me, or do you just need my credit card?" asked Haley, still staring out into the hallway she'd been standing in only a moment before.

Taylor stared at her little sister, wondering if her scheming really had worked out for the best.

"I need both of you. So get some shoes that actually match your outfit and we'll go," ordered Taylor, stomping off toward her bedroom.

2