The Seeds of Love (Chapter 3)
Nathan walked into the James' kitchen and grabbed two Pepsis out of the fridge. Taylor and Joe walked in and she was shocked to see him there. "Nathan, what are you doing here? I have plans tonight," Taylor said. Nathan laughed.
"I know, Tay. I'm hanging out with Haley," he said. Taylor looked at him in surprise and confusion.
"Really? I didn't realize you two were so close," Taylor said.
"Well, we weren't before. But, uh, we've gotten to know each other a little over the past month," he said.
"Huh," Taylor commented, nodding.
"Is that a problem?" Nathan asked. Taylor laughed.
"Problem? There's no problem. Why would there be?" Taylor asked.
"I don't know. There shouldn't be," he said, shrugging. He walked out of the kitchen and into the living room where Haley sat at the piano.
Taylor stood at the doorway and watched how they interacted. "That for school?" he asked. Haley shook her head.
"No, just something I made up," she said. He laughed at her.
"So, this is how you resolve all of the craziness in your family," he said, chuckling. Haley stopped playing and turned around to look at him in shock.
"My family is not crazy," she said.
"Your parents had, um, six kids and adopted another. There's definitely something wrong there," he said. Haley laughed.
"Well, at least mine aren't obsessed with a sport and trying to relive their glory days through their kid," Haley said, laughing.
"Touché," he said. He started laughing. She clenched her fists in frustration. She could see the sparks flying between them and it made her nervous. Nathan had always been hers and while she was happy with Joe, it was painful to watch Nathan be so happy with another girl. Especially her little sister.
Haley walked into the kitchen a week later and grabbed a cucumber and began cutting it up. Taylor walked in and smirked when Haley put the cucumber slices into a container and closed the lid and then put it in a shoulder bag. "Going somewhere?" Taylor asked. Haley jumped and looked at her sister in surprise. She smiled.
"Uh, yeah, actually. Nathan and I are going to school. He's going to help me move in, show me around campus so I don't get lost," Haley replied. He also joked and said that he would show her exactly where all the stairs were, potholes and little chips in the sidewalk so she wouldn't fall flat on her face. Then he had pointed out that it probably wouldn't make a difference in her case.
"You two seem to be spending a lot of time together," Taylor said. Haley looked at her.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Haley asked.
"No, of course not. It's just surprising to see you getting along with him. I didn't think he was the type of person you hung out with," Taylor said.
Haley laughed and nodded. "Uh-huh," she commented. Taylor's brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you jealous, big sister?" Haley asked, smirking in amusement.
"That's ridiculous," she said.
"Is it?" Haley asked, looking at her suggestively. Taylor looked at her in shock and then disbelief. She knew what Taylor was thinking; that Haley and Nathan had started dating. Taylor looked at her warningly.
"You're busted," Haley said at her expression. Taylor regained her composure.
"Don't worry, Tay. Nothing's going on," Haley said. She nodded. "And, even if it were, I don't see how that's any of your business," Haley said firmly.
"Nathan was my boyfriend, Haley. For four and a half years," Taylor said.
"Was, Tay. He was your boyfriend. And, feel free to stop me if I'm wrong here, but you were the one who broke up with him and started seeing someone else," Haley said.
"I know that, Haley, but…" Taylor said. Haley shrugged.
"But what? Are you telling me you want him back?" Haley asked.
"Of course not," Taylor said. Haley nodded.
"Right. You just want him to stay in love with you," she said.
"That's not…" Taylor started.
"True? Yes, it is, Tay. It's the way you've always been. You want what you want when you want it, but you don't want to lose anything either. That's what this is about. You don't want to lose Nathan, even though you're the one who wanted to see other people," Haley said. Taylor looked at Haley in shock.
"Are you happy with Joe?" Haley asked. Taylor nodded. "Do you want to stop seeing him?" Haley asked.
"No, I don't. I love him," Taylor said.
"Then stop living in the past. Trust me; it's not going to get you anywhere. Let go," Haley said. Taylor laughed.
"When did you get to be so aggressive?" Taylor asked.
"I lived alone for six years, Tay. I was a young girl in two big cities," Haley replied, shrugging.
"Well, keep it up. This side of you is refreshing, Haley. Don't ever lose that strength," Taylor said.
"What took you so long?" Nathan asked. Haley smirked and looked at him.
"I was talking to Taylor," she said. Nathan looked at her in concern.
"Haley," he said sternly.
"What?" she asked.
"Taylor isn't lying on the floor unconscious by any chance, is she?" Nathan asked, smirking.
"What!" Haley asked and looked at him as if he were a lunatic.
"You and Taylor don't talk. You have arguments. I'm surprised you haven't killed each other," he said.
"This one was completely civil," Haley said. He looked at her carefully. "It was about you," she admitted.
"Me?" he asked. Haley nodded. She started to explain. Nathan burst out laughing. "I swear Taylor's the craziest one in your family. She actually thought you and I were dating? That's ridiculous," he said. Haley's smile disappeared as she looked at him.
"Why, thank you," she said flatly. He caught the offence in her tone.
"Look, I didn't mean it like that, Haley. I just meant that you and I are friends. We're not… I don't feel… You don't…" he started to explain, but her face just hardened. "I'm sorry," he said. She cracked a smile and started laughing hysterically. He rolled his eyes.
"That is not funny," he said, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Oh, yes, it was. The look on your face was priceless," she said in between laughing. He shook his head and started driving.