Chapter 10- Loving You

Things had been going well for Nathan and Haley, especially since she had confronted him about his "extracurricular activities." Nathan had kept his promise of not getting Haley involved in that part of his life. He had also kept his promise to not put that part of his life before Haley, she had never, not for one second, felt that the drugs came before her. All Haley could do was hang on to the hope that Nathan was really trying to wean himself away from all of it.

Normally something like this would have been a deal breaker for Haley. She was always against drugs and was shocked that she could look past that. The truth of the matter was, Haley was beginning to think that she was in love with Nathan. So when he told her about all of it she knew she couldn't just walk away, it wasn't that easy. Not liking that part of his life was not enough to make Haley feel any less in love with him.

Loving Nathan made Haley nervous. She was pretty sure that guys like Nathan didn't fall in love with girls like her. On second thought, she was pretty sure that guys like Nathan didn't fall in love, with anyone. Nathan had shown Haley a sensitive side that she was surprised to see. A sensitive side that Nathan was even more surprised he had. But that sensitivity came guarded. There were times that Nathan seemed as though he was going to really open up and feel, but then he would shut himself off. Haley was patient though, she never pushed him because she knew, deep down, how much Nathan cares for her.

Haley wasn't one to take leaps of faith, but with Nathan she couldn't help it. She wanted to keep her heart guarded but it was impossible, it was as though Nathan could knock down all of Haley's walls with just one look. She wasn't sure how he did, or even how much she liked it, but she did know was that when she stared into those baby blues of his it was all over for her.

ooooOoooo

"Ready to go Hales?" Nathan asked as he walked up to Haley's locker after school.

"Yeah, carry this for me?" Haley handed Nathan a text book. "Having you around really is useful. I hate carrying my own books." Haley teased as she leaned in and kissed Nathan softly on the lips.

"So what's on the agenda this afternoon?"

"Well, I have to get home by 5, but before that I am up for whatever. Why Mr. Scott, what did you have in mind?" Haley winked at Nathan.

"Well, since we won't get to see each other over Thanksgiving break at all, I figured we could grab a little alone time this afternoon. If that is okay with you of course."

"Sounds good to me." Haley took Nathan's outstretched hand and they headed towards the parking lot to leave school for the day.

Haley was a little disappointed that she would get to see Nathan over Thanksgiving break, but she was going with her parents to visit her sister Quinn in Virginia Beach, where she was for college. She had fought them to let her stay in town, with Brooke or Peyton, but she knew her parents would never give in. It wasn't often that Haley got to see her brothers and sister and she knew her parents would make her go, so she had decided to skip the complaining and just suck it up.

Nathan and Haley arrived at Nathan's house, grabbed a couple of sodas, and headed up to Nathan's room. In all of five minutes he was laying on top of Haley and the two were making out passionately. Haley began to pull away.

"What's going on Hales?"

"It's just that, we keep doing this. And it feels great, but there is something I have to tell you. It's something I don't think you will like." Haley bit her lip, now knowing what kind of reaction to expect from Nathan.

"Just tell me." Nathan knew that whatever it was, the two would be able to deal with it.

"I am a virgin. So, sometimes all of this makes me nervous. I had always thought that I would want to wait, but sometimes, when I am with you, I don't know how I could ever wait. When we aren't together though I think about it and know that I want to wait. I guess what I am trying to talk around is that I can't have sex with you Nathan, I am just not ready for that." Haley looked up at Nathan wondering what his response would be.

"I understand and respect that Haley, it is fine. I don't want to do anything that you aren't completely comfortable with, I don't want you to ever feel as though I am pushing you."

"I am grateful for that Nathan, and I never do feel like you are pushing me. I just want you to know that the whole thing does make me kind of nervous, and that I do want to take it slow." Haley paused for a minute, "We have never talked about this before Nathan, and I am curious. Are you a virgin?"

Nathan looked Haley deep in the eyes and confessed, "No, I'm not. I have slept with two people."

Haley wasn't surprised. Nathan was so popular, it made sense that he had experiences before her. She really didn't feel as though Nathan was upset about her wanting to wait though. She was so relieved, she had been worrying about this for a little while now.

"Hales, we won't do anything that doesn't feel okay to you. I promise." Nathan leaned down to kiss Haley again. He wrapped her around her tight.

They began feverishly making out again. Before long it was Nathan that pulled away from Haley.

"What's the matter Nathan?" Haley asked with a tone of worry in her voice, what if Nathan was still thinking about what she had said and he wasn't okay with it? What if Nathan didn't want to wait?

"It's just that, well, I love you Haley. I have never said that to anyone before. I have never felt this before, ever. The little things that have always mattered to me before don't mean anything to me now. Nothing makes me happier than being with you."

Haley looked at Nathan as a feeling of glee ran through her, she had been wondering about this for so long, and now, there it was, right in front of her. "I love you too Nathan."