Second Time Around

Chapter 15

Haley awoke when her alarm went off and grabbed her purse and keys. She drove to the salon and had her hair done and then drove to pick up her dress. She went back to the hotel and did her make-up before grabbing her purse and dress bag and heading out the door. When Haley got to the Tree Hill Country Club she walked back into the ladies locker room, which had become the changing room. When she opened the door she had found that all her sisters were in there except for Taylor and her mother. They all looked at Haley as she walked in, each with a hint of admiration in their eyes. Their little sister was able to do what they wished they had been strong enough to do. She was able to follow her own dreams and go against her mother's wishes without backing down. Haley sent each of them a small smile before walking in and setting her bag down. She zipped open the bag to reveal the dress. She changed into her dress and was ready just as her sister and mother came walking in. Taylor and her sisters all had their hair done in beautiful updos, each a little different from the other. Taylor sent her sisters a smile as she walked in and immediately put her dress on. As soon as they were all ready they had a glass of champagne before getting ready to walk down the isle.

Each of the sisters walked down the isle with a groomsman. The small band then began to play the wedding march as Taylor walked down towards Ryan. The ceremony was over quickly and the pictures were taken. Finally everyone gathered inside for the reception. After the toasts Haley and Jake walked on the small stage that was set up with the band. They began singing Take My Breath Away as Taylor and Ryan had their first dance. Haley watched them with a ping of envy, hoping that one she too can be that happy. After the song Haley walked outside while the rest of the traditional dances were going on. She sat down on a chair at the end of the isle and stared up at the gazebo Taylor and Ryan had stood under. She couldn't help but wonder what her wedding would be like. She's always dreamed of the different kinds of wedding she could have, even if she would never admit that aloud to anyone. She had dreamed of having a big wedding at a church, a medium sized wedding outside, and her favorite, a very small wedding on the beach. But a part of her had almost believed that this would never happen. That somewhere along the way she lost the chance to be married and to be happy. Almost as if when she went against her mother's wishes of being married younger, she also went against the universe's wishes and has now lost her chance. She finally stood up and went inside to find that the food had already been served. She sat down and ate her dinner, only conversing a little with those seated around her. After a couple of hours of the boring talking with her relatives she decided it was time to leave. She said goodbye to those she saw and wished Taylor and Ryan luck. Just as she was walking into the dressing room to change a voice stopped her.

"Haley." She turned around and saw the person walking towards her. "Can I talk to you a second?" Haley just nodded her head, silence due partly to being stunned, and partly to being scared. They walked into the dressing room and sat down on the chairs that were in there. "I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I know you haven't done as I wished, and I'm glad. Your father and I, we were married young. We weren't even in love. Our parents arranged the marriage, each believed that we needed to be married to someone of a certain status. In the end, everything did turn out alright. We eventually had six wonderful daughters and we fell in love along the way. I'm sorry if I have pushed you too hard to lead your life the way I lead mine. I'm sorry for the comments I made yesterday. They were out of line. Honestly, I am jealous that you are leading the life you are, …but I am also so proud."

Haley's eyes immediately began to build tears as her mother finally opened up to her. She had been hoping for something like this for years and years now. She couldn't think of anything to say. Lydia opened her arms and hugged her daughter. It was a real hug, not one of those fake patting hugs she would give her in front of other people, but a real hug filled with real emotion.

"You looked beautiful today Haley-bub. And if you decide to get married, well I'm looking forward to that day. And if you decide to have kids, I definitely wouldn't mind that either."

"Thanks mom." Lydia hugged Haley one more time before leaving Haley alone in the dressing room. Haley changed into the clothes she was wearing earlier before leaving the country club and driving back to her hotel. When she walked in she checked her messages. Nathan had called and instructed her to come to the beach house as soon as she was back. Haley hung her dress up before grabbing her purse and going back out to the car. When she got to the beach house there was a note on the door that said to come in and go out to the back deck. She walked through the house and onto the back deck were she found a bottle of champagne chilling on ice in a bucket, a platter of chocolate covered strawberries, and a dozen pink roses. She smiled as she remembered Nathan got her those same flowers on their first date before. She looked around the deck and noticed a dozen candles lit, washing the deck in a soft glow.

"How'd I do?" His voice asked from behind her.

"Not bad at all Mr. Scott. I see you still remember all my favorites." Nathan smiled at her before going and pulling out one of the chairs for her. Haley sat down and Nathan sat down in the chair opposite her. Nathan poured them each a glass of champagne as Haley took one of the chocolate covered strawberries and ate it. As they drank their champagne they stared at the waves crashing into the shore and Haley talked a little about the wedding. When they were done Nathan suggested a moonlit walk along the beach. Haley nodded in agreement and they both took off their shoes and began walking along the ocean, hand in hand. A silence hung over them, but it was a comfortable silence. They were each basking in the happiness of being with one another like this again. After a little while they finally turned around and headed back towards the beach house.

"Do you want to come inside and watch a movie. I'll even let you pick."

"Sure." They walked in and Haley started to look through his DVDs. "No wonder you told me I could pick, all you have are movies guys like. I dunno, you can pick." Haley sat down on the couch while Nathan got up and looked through the movies. He pulled out House of Wax and put it into the player and pressed play. He grabbed a blanket and sat down next to Haley. He put the blanket over their legs before putting his arm around her shoulders. Every time something scary or gory happened Haley would curl up a little more and turn in towards Nathan. By the time the movie was half way over Haley had both her legs pulled up the her chest and was as close to Nathan as she could get. The next time she got scared by the movie she buried her head into Nathan's chest.

"Do you want me to stop the movie Hales?"

"No."

"Are you sure cause you can't really watch it with your head buried into my chest."

"Sorry." She lifted her head up and looked at him in the eyes.

"Hey, I'm not complaining, I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable"

"Nope. I feel very comfortable here." She smiled up at him and he smiled in response. He dipped his head down and captured her lips with his own. Within seconds the kiss heated up and they moved so that Haley was lying on her back as Nathan hovered above her, teasing her lips before he began to make his way down her neck. He nipped at the hollow area above her collarbone before soothing it with his tongue and lips. Haley moaned in response as she raked her fingers through his hair while he continued along her neck. She pulled his head up with the need to have his lips once again on hers and their tongues began dueling again and their hands began to roam. As air became an issue they pulled away, and in that split second reality hit them both and they sat up.

"Sorry. I'm sure that wasn't you idea of taking it slow."

"Don't be sorry Nate. I was a willing participant. Let's just be glad we stopped when we did. If we hadn't I'm sure we wouldn't have been able to stop later."

"Yeah…Hales? Um…have you…I mean after we…"

"You always this articulate?"

"No. Yes. I mean, ugh, why is this so awkward to ask? Okay, so I know in high school you wanted to wait until you were married, what's going on with that?"

"Like am I still a virgin?" Nathan nodded his head. In high school he had been a little annoyed that she wanted to wait, after all he was a teenage guy, but he loved her so much he was willing to accept it and wait until she was ready. A part of him wanted to be her first, to show her how wonderful it can be, and a part of him still does. "No." Haley looked at Nathan and saw his eyes widen a bit in surprise.

"Oh."

"Um, the first time was to be my best friend, Chris. We were both totally wasted and it just sorta happened." Haley shrugged her shoulders unsure of what else to say.

"Oh. Was that the only one?"

"The only guy, yes. The only time, no. I had gotten really really depressed a couple of times and would just kinda breakdown. Chris came over one time to talk and right before he had caught his girlfriend of a year, which is like an all time record for him, in bed with guy from his old band. We were both so screwed up mentally and emotionally that we tried finding comfort in each other. In a sense we did because we did love each other, but we knew it was just a platonic love."

"Are you still friends."

"The best, but no benefits." A small part of Haley wanted to ask Nathan the same question, but she wasn't sure she wanted the answer. Plus she figured she could ask Brooke later. "You aren't mad about that are you."

"No, I'm not mad at all. Just a little shocked. I guess I always thought and sorta hoped I would be your first. I guess that's kinda selfish or whatever."

"That's not selfish. That's sweet, sorta. Well, I guess I better get back to the hotel. Jake's probably will bombard me with questions when I get back. So, do you want to do something tomorrow?"

"Sure. What do you want to do?"

"Um, I'll work on it. Are you free all day tomorrow?"

"Yup."

"Okay. I'll see you then." They both stood up off the couch and Nathan walked Haley out to her car. Haley opened the door and turned around to face Nathan again. "Bye Nate." She leaned in and kissed him.

"Bye Hales." He leaned down and hugged her. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."