Authors Note: This is my first fan fiction. I hope you like it, and let me know what you think.
Haley James was sitting on the floor behind the counter of the café where she worked. She was crying over a guy she had clearly been mistaken about when her best friend walked in.
"Haley, you here?" Lucas asked as he walked around the counter to find Haley sitting on the floor crying.
"You were right, Luke. I deserve a big fat I told you so." Haley said not even looking up at him.
Lucas sat down on the floor next to Haley. "What happened, Hales?" Lucas asked as he wiped a tear from her cheek.
"He played me…once again, the smart girl…is really stupid." Haley said with a slight laugh.
Lucas looked at her. "Hey, don't say that. You are not stupid."
Haley turned her head and looked into his eyes. "Thanks" she said softly. "At least everything worked out with you and Peyton."
"Not exactly…she pulled away. God, everything was so much simpler…"
"When it was just the two of us." Haley finished his sentence with a smile.
"Yeah"
"Well…Welcome back."
Lucas gave her a weird look. "To What?"
"To normal" Haley said with a laugh.
Lucas nodded. "Yeah, they can have their world."
"Yeah" Haley said as the two of them leaned towards each other, putting their foreheads together.
They both smiled at each other. Lucas wiped some more tears off of Haley's cheeks. They looked into each others eyes for a minute. Lucas then leaned in closer and kissed Haley.
She wasn't expecting it…but it was nice. Lucas put his hands on her face kissing her softly as Haley put her arms around his neck.
Haley pulled back with a smile on her face. "Wow," was all she could say.
"I know." Lucas said with a laugh.
"That was…unexpected." she said as she pushed herself off the floor.
Lucas followed suit and looked at her. "Yeah it was," he said, kind of surprised at the kiss himself.
Haley playfully hit him on the arm. "What the hell where you thinking?" She asked trying to play it off as nothing…but even she couldn't deny the emotion she felt in that kiss. But wait, what am I thinking…that wasn't about me at all…he was just in the moment. She thought to herself as she started to wipe down the counters.
"Haley…" Lucas said as he walked over to her, putting his hand over hers, stopping her from cleaning the counter. "We've known each other a really long time." He started.
"I know" Haley said, not looking at him.
"And you're my best friend…"
"I know" Haley said again. "Look, Luke…I get it. It was just…a moment." she said looking at him then turning around to finish closing up the café.
"Haley…" Lucas said following Haley. As she turned around to look at him, he put his arms around her head, pulling her closer and kissing her again, this time with more passion. As he pulled back and smiled at Haley he said. "I love you, Hales. You know I do."
"I love you to." she said, not sure of where this was going. "But are we ready for this?" she asked looking deep into his eyes, searching for an answer.
It had been a month since their first kiss and they were still together. It was great…he was her best friend, how could it not be? However, something felt, off. Haley was in the tutoring center waiting for Nathan to get there. Even after all that happened, she was still tutoring him. She couldn't help it…there was just something about him. Plus, she had promised him she would. Nathan was none to please when he found out about Lucas and Haley…which only made him hate Lucas that much more. He had just gotten out of basketball practice and was hurrying to the tutoring center.
As he ran into the room he said, "Sorry. Whitey kept us late." He sat down at the table next to Haley.
"Yeah well, it's your grades…not mine." she said as she opened her English book.
"Listen. I have that test tomorrow. Do you think that maybe you can come over and help me cram tonight?" He asked Haley with a pleading face.
Haley glanced up at him. "I can't. I have plans with Lucas tonight." she said as she looked back down at her homework.
"Come on, I need your help. You know I can't do this without you." He said with a smile as he watch her close her eyes, knowing he was going to win this.
"Fine. Let me talk to Lucas and see if I can reschedule… or something." she said with a sigh.
"Great, well, you go do that and I'm gonna go. " He quickly got up and left.
Haley watched Nathan leave then put her head in her hands. "What am I doing." She took a deep breath and stood up, putting her things in her bag. She turned out the lights and walked out of the tutoring center. Just as she shut the door and turned around Lucas was right there.
"Hey Hales." he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.
Haley kissed him back with a smile then pulled away. "I have some bad news." She was hoping he wouldn't notice that this was about the fourth time this has happened in the last two weeks. "I have to tutor tonight…so I need to rain check," she said as Lucas let go of her and stepped back.
"It's Nathan…isn't it?" He asked, although he already knew the answer.
"Yes, but he has this major exam tomorrow…" She started but was cut off by Lucas.
"Damn it Haley. This is the fifth time." He said getting upset.
"Fourth actually" She said with a sheepish smile. Lucas gave her a sarcastic smile. "Look Luke. This is what I do. You know that. Just like you putting so much into basketball, I put a lot into tutoring."
"I don't even know why your still tutoring him." He said his voice starting to get louder.
"Because I promised him I would!" she said with the same loud tone.
"Even after he hurt you. I can't believe this. I'm the one that's always there for you and yet, I'm still getting screwed over by this guy." He yelled.
"Oh god, cut the crap Lucas. Your not getting screwed over by him. It's not his fault if he's not some really smart person who does nothing but play basketball and read all the time. Okay, It's not as easy for everyone like it is for you."
"That is not all I do and you know it." He retorted.
"Whatever Luke. I'm going over to his house tonight and…" Again she was cut off
"YOUR GOING TO HIS HOUSE!" He yelled.
"Yes Luke, I'm going to his house. I'm just tutoring him…that's it." she said now getting really angry with him. "And will you please stop cutting me off."
Lucas took in a deep breath.
"I'm going over to his house and I'm going to help him pass this exam."
"Whatever, but Haley, you can't trust the guy." Lucas said, trying to calm down a little bit.
"You know, he's not as bad of a guy as you think."
"Are you serious. He hurt you the way he did and.."
"And he apologized for it. Brooke even told me that it wasn't his fault. She was drunk and was being a bitch."
"And you believe that?" Lucas asked shocked at how gullible she was being about all this.
"Yes I do. Now I don't have time to stand here and fight with you. I'm going. I'll talk to you later," she said as she turned and started to walk out the door. Before she was all the was out she turned and looked at Lucas. "And you know. You may not be able to trust him…but the least you could do is trust me." And with that, she walked out. Leaving Lucas there to kick himself for being such a jerk.
Nathan was just about to make himself something to eat when the doorbell rang. He closed the fridge and went to answer the door. When he opened it he was a little surprised to see Haley standing there.
"What, did you not think I would come?" she asked seeing the shock on his face.
Nathan laughed softly. "To tell you the truth…no I didn't think Lucas would let you come."
Haley shook her head. "You are unbelievable. Do I really look like someone who would let a guy tell her what to do…no matter who the guy is?" she asked What was I thinking. This guy is such a jerk. Why am I even here? She asked herself.
"No, you don't…I'm sorry. Let's start over please." he smiled at Haley. "Hey Haley. I'm glad you could make it, why don't you come in." he said in a fake tone.
Haley laughed and shook her head. "Thanks." she said as she walked into his house.
Nathan shut the door and turned to look at Haley. Man she is so beautiful. Nathan smiled at her. "Okay, so I was about to make something to eat…you hungry."
"Nathan, I thought I had come here to help you study?" she asked, damn he fooled me again.
"You did, but I figured, since I was about to make something then why not be nice and make something for the both of us. We can work after we eat."
"Nathan…" she said softly.
"Okay, we can work both while I cook, we eat…and afterwards." he said with that sexy smile of his.
Why does he have to be so cute. No Haley James, stop this. Your with Lucas. "Fine, I am hungry…why not." She said with a slightly nervous smile.
"Well, this way." he said walking into the kitchen.
Haley followed Nathan and sat down at the bar.
"Nathan turned around and looked at Haley. "So what do you want to eat?"
"Nathan…can you even cook?" she asked him. The look on his face told her that he really couldn't.
"Right. So Chinese or Pizza?" He asked her as he reached for the phone.
Haley laughed at this. "Chinese sounds fine." she said as she took out her English book.
Nathan ordered some Chinese food then walked over and sat next to Haley at the bar.
Haley took a deep breath. Nathan was sitting so close to her. What was wrong with her. She loved Lucas. Always had…as her best friend.
"So I was thinking that you could just study a little and if you need help…just let me know. I also have some homework to do." She said pulling out her notebook and a pencil.
"Sounds good." he said as he started to study…which wasn't as easy as he thought with Haley sitting right next to him. Man, I think I'm falling for this girl, Nathan thought as he tried to study but couldn't keep his mind off of Haley. He looked over at her writing in her notebook and smiled.
I can't do this. I need to get out of here. What was I thinking coming here again, Haley thought as she tried to work on her homework. She noticed Nathan looking at her and she turned and smiled. "What?"
Nathan laughed softly. "Nothing, I was just watching you work." Your amazing. Nathan shook his head of that thought. "Your just really…" But just at that moment there was a knock at the door. Nathan sighed. "That's probably the food. I'll be right back"
Haley listened as he opened the door. She put her head in her hands. "What was he about to say?" she asked herself just before Nathan walked in.
"Okay so we have food. Why don't we take a break from work and eat." He said as he set the take out on the counter and started to take the food out of the bag.
" Nathan, I really should go." she said as she started packing up her things.
"Why?" he asked staring at her confused.
"I just really need to go" Get out of here before he convinces you to stay. "I'm sorry. Umm study as much as you can tonight and I will be in the tutoring center before school if you need any other help." she said as she walked out.
She quickly walked down the street and towards Karen's Café.
Nathan stood still, not sure of what just happened or what caused her to leave so abruptly. "Was it something I said?" He asked himself
Haley walked into the café and over to the bar. She threw her bag down onto the floor and sat down.
Karen walked over to her and smiled. "Hey Haley, you okay? You look a little shaken." Karen said as she poured a customer a cup of coffee.
Haley laughed nervously. "I'm fine. It's just been…one of those days." She took a deep breath and tried to push Nathan out of her head. "Anyways…is Luke here?" she asked
Karen smiled. "Yeah, I think he's up on the roof." she said before taking a burger to Keith.
"Thanks" Haley said as she got up and walked past Keith and Karen. She walked up to the roof and slowly outside. She had a frown on her face as she watched Lucas playing putt-putt.
Lucas turned and Haley put on a smile. "Hey there beautiful" he said as he slowly walked over to her…not sure if she was still mad at him.
"Hey" Haley said then wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"I thought you were gonna be over at Nathan's most of the evening." He asked after the hug.
"Yeah, well…I, uh, cut out of their early." she said then shook her head. "I told him if he needed any more help that I would be at the center tomorrow morning before school." She walked over grabbing a club.
"Well, I'm glad you came by." He smiled and watched her walk over and hit a ball into the hole. "Look, Hales. I'm sorry about earlier. You know I trust you. I just…want to see you more, that's all." He walked over and sat at the picnic table.
Haley looked up and walked over and sat beside him. "It's okay. I know you do. It's just been a really…long day."
Lucas wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, giving her a soft kiss. "Anything I can do?" He asked
Haley laughed to herself. "No, but thanks." What in the world could he do. If I told him what was going on he would freak, she thought.
Lucas and Haley had hung out most of the night. When her alarm went off at 5 the next morning, she was tempted to hit snooze and go back to sleep. Haley you have to wake up. You promised Nathan you would be at the center this morning. She slowly got out of bed. She went and took a shower. When she got out, she quickly got dressed and ready for school. Five minutes later she was unlocking the tutoring center's door. Just as she laid her things down on a table, Nathan walked in.
"Morning" He said as he handed her a coffee then put down his bag.
"Thanks" She replied as she reached out and took the coffee. She took a drink of smiled. "This is really good…so lets get started." she said as she sat down.
They spent the whole time until the bell rang for class studying. "You better do great on this exam" she said as they left.
"Thanks for the help Hales." Nathan said before he turned and walked to class.
"Anytime" she responded then turned and watched him walk away. "Did he just call me Hales?" she asked herself. He had never called her that before.
"Did who just call you Hales?" Lucas asked as he walked up behind Haley putting his arms around her.
"No one." She said turning and smiling at Lucas. "Hey. We can't be doing the late night thing anymore when I have to be up so early. It kicked my ass this morning." She said, quickly changing the subject as they started to walk to class together.
"Okay." He laughed, walking down the hall hand in hand with her.
Brooke walked past Lucas. "Hey sexy" she said with a laugh.
"Brooke!" Peyton said then looked back at Haley with a look that said I'm sorry.
Lucas laughed then looked at Haley. "What?" He asked at the look on her face.
"Nothing" she said then rolled her eyes. "I'll see you later." she let go of his hand and walked into her class before he could kiss her.
Lucas sighed then walked away. He got to his class and sat down behind Brooke and Peyton. "That wasn't funny Brooke." He said as he put his binder down on the desk.
"Sure it was." she said smiling at Peyton. Just then the teacher walked in, so Lucas was cut off before he could say anymore.