Chapter 31- In Your Arms
Haley was just lying around, watching some television when she heard a knock on the front door. She waited for a few minutes, hoping to hear her mother or father go to answer it. Realizing that she was probably the only one home, Haley started to get up and head downstairs. Before she was even off the bed she heard the door open and heard the distinct sound of high heels on the hardwood stairs. She knew what that sound meant, Brooke.
Brooke appeared in the doorway of Haley's bedroom, took one look at Haley and shook her head.
"Seriously Haley, since Nathan left your fashion sense has like left the building. Do you ever wear anything besides sweats anymore?"
Brooke walked over and sat next to Haley on the bed.
"Ha ha," Haley's voice dripped with sarcasm, "It's not my fault I like sweats, they're so comfortable. What does it matter anyways, it's not like I'm trying to impress anyone."
"But you can, remember? Nathan isn't the only one who can go around kissing other people, you can too. So come on, get up, and let's go kiss some boys."
Haley laughed, "Remember that thing you have, called a boyfriend, named Lucas? You can't go around kissing any boys besides him."
Brooke rolled her eyes dramatically at Haley. "Obviously. It doesn't mean I can't go and help you pick out boys to kiss."
"True, but what if I don't want to kiss other boys?"
"What kind of open relationship is that then? If Nathan can do it so can you."
Haley thought for a second. When she had opened things up she hadn't really thought about what she could do now. The thought really didn't appeal to her though, she couldn't imagine being with anyone besides Nathan, she didn't want to be with anyone besides Nathan.
"I guess I just don't want to." Haley sighed, "I just can't wait to see him Brooke, and I've never been more excited for anything in my life."
"I forgot, he'll be home for Thanksgiving Break, how's he getting home? I thought he didn't take his car with him."
"He didn't, he's flying home. He comes in tomorrow morning actually."
Brooke smiled, she was excited for her friend. Haley had been so down lately, she knew that seeing Nathan was just what she needed.
"Are you going to go and pick him up?"
"I can't, both my parents work so I can't use either of their cars. I'm sure he'll come over here as soon as he can though."
Haley had begged and begged but her parents had said there was nothing they could do, they both needed their cars.
"Okay, tell me I'm fabulous and the best best friend a girl could ask for."
Haley gave Brooke a puzzled look, "You're fabulous and the best best friend a girl could ask for."
"You can borrow my car, I don't need it until the afternoon."
Haley squealed in delight and lunged towards Brooke, hugging her fiercely.
"You definitely are the best best friend a girl could ask for. Thanks so much Brooke. Oh, I need to call Nathan."
Brooke stood up off the bed, "Well, it looks like my good deed is done here. I'm off to spread joy elsewhere, I was thinking Lucas might want a little joy, if you know that I mean. Call me later."
With that Brooke was off and Haley was frantically dialing the phone, she couldn't wait to tell Nathan the news.
ooooOoooo
Haley couldn't believe how nervous she was as she walked through the airport. Seeing the metal detectors just up ahead she glanced down at her watch and realized she had a few minutes before Nathan's plane would land, so she ducked into a nearby bathroom.
Haley straightened her clothes, choosing an outfit this morning had seemed near impossible. Brooke was right, Haley had been wearing lots of sweats while Nathan had been gone, and today sweats just wouldn't do.
Haley had finally caved and taken Brooke up on the offer to borrow something of hers. Searching through her purse, Haley found her brush and pulled it out. As she ran it through her long hair she hoped Nathan would like the highlights she had added.
Anxiously glancing at her watch, her nervousness started to grow even more. She hadn't seen Nathan in three months, and now she was going to see him in three minutes. All she wanted was to be in his arms, she couldn't wait for the feeling of safety those arms afforded her.
Nathan stepped off the plane and walked through the tunnel leading to the airport. His pace quickened once the metal detectors came into view. Nathan knew that Haley was standing right there, on the other side.
As much as Nathan loved school, he hated that it meant he had to be so far away from Haley. Things had been going well for them the past couple of months. Since Haley had opened up their relationship she had relaxed a lot. They had even started talking on the phone more often, usually every other day, and their conversations went for hours sometimes.
Nathan had felt bad when he first got to school because he had so little time to talk to Haley. He knew that no matter how many times she said it was okay, it still bothered her. Nathan had been relieved once he settled into a routine and became better able to set aside time to talk to Haley. He knew that that eased her mind a lot.
After what seemed like miles of walking, Nathan finally approached the metal detectors. As he walked through he scanned the crowd. Finally, he spotted her, walking towards him, the sight of her took his breath away. She looked up, and locked eyes with him.
Haley broke out into a smile and started towards Nathan. He looked different to her, older somehow. He was wearing his hair a little messier than usual, but she thought it made him look adorable.
Once Haley made it to Nathan she threw her arms around his neck, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. For that one moment it seemed to Nathan and Haley that time stopped, that everything else going on around them paused. It seemed that the only thing that mattered was the two of them holding each other for the first time in months.
Nathan pulled away just enough to lower his head and capture Haley's lips. He had forgotten how soft they felt. Realizing that they couldn't stand in the airport kissing all day, Nathan slowly released his hold on Haley.
"Hey." Nathan said as he looked into her eyes.
"Hey yourself, how was your trip?"
"Long, it seemed like it was going to be forever until I got to see you."
"I know that feeling. Last night felt like the longest night of my life, I couldn't wait to just get up and come here and get you."
Nathan led them over to the baggage claim. After grabbing his luggage he took Haley's hand and they headed outside. Nathan took a deep breath of the North Carolina air he had missed so much.
"I've missed this weather. The winter in New York is terrible. I have never seen so much snow in my life. It's so nice to walk outside and not have to feel that bitter cold."
"It's been cold here too, it's been in the forties most days."
Nathan laughed out loud, "Well it's been about negative forty up in New York!"
"Oh poor baby, do you get cold?" Haley teased lovingly, "It's not that cold up there."
"Okay, so maybe negative forty is exaggerating a little bit, but it does get cold, much colder than here."
Haley smiled at Nathan. "So what do you want to do today?"
"Well, I want to stop at my dad's and unload all this stuff, and I promised my mom I would go out to dinner with her, and she also invited you to come. But besides that, whatever you want to do is fine with me."
"Good, let's drop your stuff off and go from there. Oh yeah, can we grab your car from your dad's? I have to get Brooke's car back to her before this afternoon."
"Yeah, that's no big deal. He probably washed it and gassed it up for me."
Haley opened the trunk and Nathan put his bags inside. Haley started towards the driver's side of the car when Nathan grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.
"I don't think I've told you how good it is to see you. I've really missed you Hales. I've missed you like I didn't know it was possible to miss another person."
Nathan leaned down and kissed Haley softly on the lips.
"I've missed you too Nathan, so much."
Haley smiled at Nathan and it melted his heart. He pulled her into him and wrapped her in another hug. Haley let herself melt into him and enjoy the feeling of him. Haley relished in the fact that no matter what was to come, she could always look back on this moment and cherish it, because everything was perfect.