Nathan looked up as Haley walked down the stairs. "Wow, you look beautiful." He said then handed her a single white rose.
"Well, don't sound so shocked." She retorted then took the rose. "Thanks."
Nathan held out his arm for Haley. "You ready?"
Haley nodded and linked her arm with his. As they were walking down the front steps she looked over at him. "So are you going to tell me where you are taking me?" She asked. She was very curious to know where they were going. It was all very exciting and mysterious. But Nathan just smiled and opened the car door for her. She took a deep breath then got in.
10 minutes later he was pulling up at a park. Over by the water was a table set up with candles and another rose, red this time, in a vase in the center of the table.
Haley gasped. "Nathan, this is gorgeous. I can't believe you did all this for me." She said as they walked over to the table.
Nathan pulled out her chair for her and she sat down with a smile. He walked around the table and sat down on the other side.
Haley looked up at Nathan. "I can't believe you went to all this trouble for me." She said then noticed that there was no food…anywhere near them.
"Umm are we supposed to eat the candles?" she asked laughing.
Nathan looked into Haley's eyes. "Well, your worth it."
He then laughed as Haley mentioned the lack of food. He turned his head, looking off into the distance. Haley turned to see what he was looking at and saw a few of the younger basketball players coming towards them.
"I didn't know what you liked…so there are a couple of choices."
Tim walked over with a bottle of what looked like wine. Haley turned and looked at Nathan. "Nathan, I don't think we should be drinking, your driving, and well it's just not a very good idea."
Nathan laughed. "It's not wine. It's sparkling cider" He turned and looked at Tim and nodded. Tim poured some cider in both of their flutes then turned and walked away.
One of the other boys handed Haley a piece of paper that looked like a menu. "This is one of three menu's. If you don't like what's on this one, we can go to the next." said the boy.
Haley looked it over. Salad, pasta and bread. Dessert…surprise was all it said. Haley looked up and nodded. "This one's good." She said to the first menu and the boy walked away. Haley looked over at Nathan. "Okay, I can see Tim helping you…but how did you get all the others to help?" She asked after taking a drink of cider.
Nathan, who had been watching Haley the whole time laughed. "Well, that was the easy part. Their on the team, and most of the younger guys will do anything I ask them to. So I figured why not use my power for good."
Haley shook her head and laughed along with him. She looked over and Tim was walking towards them with two salads and bread, concentrating hard on not dropping them. "He's never waited tables before, has he?" she asked then started to get up to help him.
"No, No. I got this." Tim said, apparently he was told earlier to not let Haley help.
"Okay." She said then sat back down. Tim put the salads in front of them and the bread to the side. Haley took her napkin and placed it in her lap. "This looks really good." She said as she poured a little ranch over her salad. She took a bite and nodded. "It's tastes really good too." she smiled then looked up at Nathan. He hadn't touched his food yet. "What?" She asked as Nathan just watched her.
"Nothing." He said and took a bite of his own salad.
After they finished their salads, the boy that brought out the menu rushed over and took their plates away. Haley smiled then looked at Nathan.
"So how long have you known Lucas?" Nathan asked trying to start some conversation.
"God, for as long as I can remember." She smiled remembering the two of them as kids.
"And have you always liked him?" He asked.
Haley was brought back from her memories and laughed. "Oh no. Most of the time, he annoys the hell out of me.
"Then why do you stay with him?"
Haley thought about this for a minute. "Well, I mean, he's a really great guy." She stopped and looked at Nathan then continued. "Before we got together, I would have never even thought about him like that. And I certainly didn't think he thought about me like that either. Honestly, I don't think he ever did. But, it just kind of happened. All I know is that, sometimes, I wish I had my best friend back…just my best friend. I love him to death, but being his girlfriend brings drama that we would have never had. Like this dinner."
Nathan smile. "So I take it he wasn't happy about it when you told him." He said listening intently on what she was saying. This could be my way in. She just said herself that she doesn't really want to be with him.
"No, he wasn't happy at all. But of course, he probably wouldn't of been to happy about it either way, dating or not, just because it's you." She said then closed her eyes. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay. It's no secret that we don't like each other. He responded.
"Yeah, which I sometimes understand, but by the way you talk to me about your dad…you two have more in common then you think."
"Let's not talk about my dad. Nathan said looking away from Haley
"Okay, we won't" She smiled at him.
"So, if you don't want to be with him…why are you still with him?" Nathan asked looking back at Haley.
"I never said I didn't want to be with him. It's just complicated. It's a totally different type of relationship then we had before." She said.
Tim brought out their food. As they ate, they talked more. They talked about Lucas, Karen, Peyton, the café, among other things. As they finished their dinner they were laughing about something Nathan had said. Tim quickly came over and took their plates. Haley just realized that there had been music playing in the background the whole time. She smiled to herself.
"This song is beautiful." Haley said, more to herself then to Nathan.
Nathan stood up, walked around the table and held out his hand to Haley. "Well then, would you like to dance?" He asked with a smile.
Haley looked at Nathan then looked at his hand. "I don't know Nathan."
"Oh come on, it's just a dance." he said.
Haley took a deep breath. It's just a dance Haley, She thought. She put her hand in Nathan's and stood up. Nathan led her over closer to the water, where she could hear the music a little louder. Nathan placed his hand on Haley's waist as she put hers on his shoulder, their other hands together. Haley soon laid her head down on Nathan's shoulder and closer her eyes. This is nice…it feels right. She smiled as she let herself get carried away, dancing with Nathan. They danced for what felt like forever, but was really only a couple of minutes.
As the song ended, Haley opened her eyes and then looked up at Nathan. "Thanks." She said then turned to walk back to her seat.
"For what?" Nathan asked as he followed.
"For the dance…the dinner…this whole evening. It's been amazing. I never thought I would have this much fun, just eating and talking." She smiled at Nathan. Then, in a effort to change the subject she looked over to where Tim had come from with their food earlier. "So, where's this surprise dessert I heard about?" she asked with a smile looking back at Nathan.
Nathan smiled back at Haley. He looked over and Tim was bringing one piece of chocolate cake. Haley followed Nathan's eyes and smiled seeing the cake. Tim placed the cake in between the two and handed each a fork.
"Thanks Tim" Haley said then took a bite of the cake. "This is delicious."
Nathan smiled and took a bite himself. They ate as much of the cake as they could.
"I am so full." Haley said as she sat back and smiled.
"Good. So, you ready to head home?" He asked Haley standing up and walking over beside her and holding his hand out to her again.
Haley looked at his hand. She wasn't really ready for the evening to end, but figured it was probably best, seeing as she was supposed to meet Lucas afterwards. She took his hand and let him lead her to his car. No one said anything on the way back to her house. When Nathan pulled up in front of her house, he got out and opened the car door for her.
"Thanks" Haley said as she stepped out and walked to the front door with Nathan. "I had a great time tonight." She said with a smile. She leaned over to hug Nathan but instead, he leaned down and kissed her.
Haley kissed Nathan back for a minute then quickly pulled back. She looked at Nathan, "You shouldn't have done that." She said in a whisper. She turned and unlocked her door and walked inside.
Haley shut the door and turned off the porch light. She leaned up against the door and sighed. She wasn't angry at Nathan for kissing her. On the contrary, she enjoyed the kiss. She slowly walked upstairs to her room and laid down on her bed. Tonight was magical. Every part of it, and especially that kiss. She sat up and took her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Lucas's number.
"Hey Luke. Sorry I didn't come by tonight. I'm tired and I'm just gonna go to bed. Call me." She left the message then hung up. She laid back, putting her hands over her face. "Oh God. What am I going to do now?" she said aloud.
Monday morning, Haley met up with Lucas so they could walk to school together.
"Sorry I didn't call you back this weekend. I was helping mom at the café." Lucas said as they walked up to the school.
"It's okay. I had a lot of homework anyways." She said distracted. She hadn't seen or talked to Nathan since Friday evening.
"So did you have fun on your date with Nathan?" Lucas asked when Haley didn't say anything for a while.
"Umm, yeah it was fun. I mean, we ate dinner and he took me home." She opened her locker and put her things inside, taking out her binder and a book.
"Well, I'm glad you had a good time." Lucas said then leaned down and kissed Haley's cheek. "I gotta go. You wanna meet me for lunch?" He asked
"Yeah, sure." She said quietly before he turned and walked away.
Haley met Lucas for lunch but didn't really say much. Lucas kept trying to make conversation but Haley wasn't much into talking so he finally gave up. After school was over, Haley was going to the tutoring center as usual when Peyton walked up beside her.
"So, how was your date?" She asked jokingly.
Haley looked at Peyton with a grimace then walked into the center. Peyton followed and sat down at a table in the corner with Haley. "That bad, huh?" She asked.
"No…that good." Haley frowned and looked at Peyton. "He set up this whole dinner by the water. Candles, good food. We talked and danced…it was wonderful. Then he took me home, and kissed me."
"He didn't" Peyton sat up a little straighter.
"He did…and I kissed him back. Then I pulled away and walked inside." Haley put her head down on the table. "The kiss was the perfect end to a perfect evening." Haley told Peyton then looked up at her.
"So. What are you gonna do about Lucas?" Peyton asked. "I mean, if you don't want him anymore, can I have him." Peyton said laughing.
Haley gave her a look then rolled her eyes. "How am I supposed to tell Lucas about any of this. He will hate me forever, Peyton." Haley said.
Peyton sighed. "I don't know what to tell you."
Haley looked at Peyton, "Thanks" She said sarcastically. She looked over Peyton's shoulder as Nathan walked into the center. Peyton turned around trying to find out what Haley was looking at.
"Okay, umm, I'm going to go. I'll talk to you later Haley." She waved and then turned and walked out.
Haley watched Peyton leave then started to get her things together also. "Yeah, I should go too. I have to meet Lucas tonight." Haley said trying to avoid looking at Nathan.
Nathan walked over beside her. "Haley. Look, I'm sorry if I upset you Friday night. That wasn't my intentions…and I really wasn't planning on that."
Haley looked up into his eyes. "I know you didn't. I'm not angry." She picked up her bag and turned to leave, but Nathan stopped her.
"But, I'm not sorry it happened, Haley." He looked at her.
"Nathan, we can't do this." Haley said not looking at him.
"I'm not going to hide my feelings for you Haley." Haley looked up at Nathan and sighed. They just looked at each other for a few minutes.
"When your ready, I'm here." He said then turned to walk out. Haley reached out and grabbed his arm. She pulled him towards her and kissed him.
Lucas walked up to the tutoring center. The only thing he saw was Nathan and Haley kissing. He stood there for a minute then turned and walked out. He was so mad at that moment he couldn't even talk.
10 minutes after Lucas had got to the café, Haley showed up for work. As soon as she walked in, he walked up to the roof. Haley looked at Karen. "What's his problem?" She asked
Karen just shrugged, "I don't know. He wouldn't tell me anything. He's been that way since he got back from school. Did you two have a fight today?" She asked looking at Haley.
Haley shook her head then moaned. Did he find out about my feelings for Nathan. She wondered.
"Hey Karen. Do you mind if I go…" She pointed at the ceiling.
"Go ahead" She said then walked off.
Haley walked upstairs and onto the roof. She walked over close to Lucas. "Hey"
Lucas didn't look at her. He just kept playing golf. "Hey. How was your day? Anything exciting happen?" He asked then turned and looked at Haley.
Haley looked at him for a minute. "Umm, no, my day was just like any other day. How about you?" She asked, not sure what was going on, But she had a bad feeling.
Lucas took a deep breath then walked over to Haley, looking her dead in the eyes. "You told me to trust you…and I did." Lucas said
"You can trust me." Haley said. "What's wrong with you…your acting weird."
"Am I?" Haley nodded her head. Lucas walked over to the picnic table. Haley started to follow him.
"Well, Haley, how do you expect me to act when I see you kissing Nathan…right there for anyone to see." Haley stopped. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. "Do you like him?" Lucas asks when Haley didn't say anything. "Of course you do…YOU KISSED THE GUY." He yelled making Haley jump.
"Luke, you're my best friend. I really don't want that to change." She said as she walked over to him, tears swelling up in her eyes.
Lucas just glared at her.
"Lucas, I think we made a mistake." She said as the tears started to stream down her cheeks.
"I know I did." Lucas said. "I can't believe I ever trusted you." He stood up and walked towards the door.
"LUCAS, WAIT." Haley said turning and stopping him from walking away.
"What do you want Haley?"
"Please, just listen to me" She said trying to get him to go back to the table.
"What more can you possibly have to say." He retorted.
"Please." She said through her tears.
Lucas looked at her then reluctantly walked over to the table and sat down. Haley took a deep breath then followed him.
"Luke, you're my best friend. Your like a brother to me, and I love you so much. But I can't love you the way you think you love me."
"The way I think I love you?" He said confused
"You can not honestly tell me that your in love with me. I know you can't. I'm not saying you don't love me, but you don't love me like that. And you know it."
Lucas sighed and put his head in his hands. "Your right. But that doesn't change the fact that you kissed Nathan."
"I know. But Lucas…" she sat beside him. "Have you ever thought about that night in the café? Have you ever wondered what would have happened if you hadn't kissed me. "
Lucas looked up at her. "I still wouldn't like you kissing Nathan." He told her honestly.
Haley laughed. "Maybe not." They sat there quietly for a second. "Luke, I'm scared. I like him so much. And I need my best friend to support me…and to protect me." she said
Lucas looked over at her. "I will always protect you Haley."
"But can you support me?" She asked getting up and standing in front of him.
Lucas laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Haley asked
"Come here." He stood up and pulled Haley towards him into a strong embrace. "If he hurts you…I'll kill him." Lucas said then looked into her eyes.
Haley breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Luke." She smiled at him. "I better get back downstairs before you mom fires me." she laughed. "You coming."
"Yeah" Lucas said putting his arm around her and walking back downstairs with her.
That night after Haley got home, she called Peyton and told her everything that happened with Nathan and with Lucas. After talking to Peyton for about an hour, she decided to go over to Nathan's.
She walked up to Nathan's front door and stopped. She was about to turn around and leave when Nathan opened the door and smiled. "Were you gonna knock or just stand there?
Haley turned with her eyes closed then looked up at Nathan. "Well, I was going to knock, then I decided not to and just leave."
Nathan laughed and then walked out, shutting the door behind him. He led her over to where the basketball hoop was. "What are you doing here Haley?" He asked turning around to face her.
"umm, well, I just came by to…" she took a deep breath then walked over and kissed him passionately. Nathan kissed her back then pulled away.
"What about Lucas?" He asked, his hands on her face.
"It's over. I told him everything." Nathan smiled and kissed her again.
They stood there kissing for a little while. Haley then stopped and smiled at Nathan. "Oh yeah, and if you ever hurt me…he'll kill you." She said laughing. "His words, not mine."
"I don't have to worry about him."
"Why's that?" Haley asked.
"Because I don't ever plan on hurting you." Nathan smiled as Haley laughed.
"Don't make promises you can keep, Nathan."
"I'm not" he said softly in her ear before pulling her closer into his arms.