-1The Pros And Cons Of Breathing

Chapter Six

Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad to know that people are still reading this!

Dedicated to Mary-023 (Not beating… It always does that) LOL! Lets hope so Mare Mare!

"What is this?" Brooke shrieked.

"Uh, then you do this…" Haley started, and gently twisted Nathan's arm. Nathan groaned in fake pain, and bit back a laugh.

"Whoa Hales teaching him some moves huh?" Lucas laughed as Haley nodded and Nathan rubbed his arm. Brooke and Lucas walked into the kitchen as Haley and Nathan got up from the couch.

"I'm so sorry!" Haley apologized quietly. Touching his arm, both pulled back as Brooke walked over to Haley.

"Sorry for leaving you with him." Brooke laughed.

"No, It's okay, I didn't mind." Haley told her honestly. And gave a small smile at Nathan who winked in return, which went unnoticed by Brooke and Lucas. As everyone ate their lunches while watching TV. Brooke laughed randomly.

"Brooke, this isn't a funny moment! The girl just got murdered!" Haley exclaimed pointing to the TV and the guy's laughed at the both of them.

"No, It's not that! Just, do you remember the constant trips to the store we had to do?" She asked chuckling slightly.

"Oh god! I remember that!" Lucas groaned. "Don't say you don't remember! You're the one who always dragged us to Quick Mart, the only funny thing was, It was never quick." he laughed, and Haley rolled her eyes.

"Yes guys, I remember." She told them. Nathan's eyes watched them all as he became interested.

"Why'd you guy's always go?" He asked, and Haley looked at him for a second and smiled.

"Well… My dad was always REALLY lazy, so he'd always ask me to go to the store and get him some Coke, or something. And he'd always ask me, when it was REALLY late, and I was afraid of the dark-"

"Still are." Brooke butted in, and Haley glared.

"Uh, I AM afraid of the dark, So I'd always call Brooke, Lucas and Peyton, to come to the store with me, I didn't think it was THAT big of a deal." She smirked. Nathan chuckled slightly as Brooke scoffed.

"Oh well how bout that one time… We were 9... It was the last time we ever went, ever again."

"C'mon guys, Your too fast. I don't like the dark!" An 9 year old Haley shouted, her arms wrapped around her body as they walked the streets at night.

"Haley, Relax, you know, the thing that makes you breath normally and stop freaking out? Yeah do that." Peyton told her, walking faster. Haley kept walking looking everywhere.

"Peyton… You're not funny. Lucas! Come here please!" She whined. Lucas laughed at the desperate sound of her voice. He slowly walked towards her and wrapped his arm around her.

"Your okay Hales, how many times do I have to tell you, the joke I said, where I said that the guy with no head would haunt you at night, was a joke!" He told her, Haley shook her head. "Haley it's a joke."

"Okay, you tell yourself that when he kills you." She mumbled, walking into the store.

"Why Miss James. Back again? At least 4 Times a week you come here." She smiled, Haley nodded, she wasn't the talker she was quiet, and shy.

"My dad wants a different soda now." Haley told her, laying a dollar on the counter. "All I haves a dollar… Is that enough?" She asked quietly. Brooke laughed at how quiet she was to everyone else, as Peyton and Lucas wandered the small store.

"That's more than enough, you also have enough to get slushies for each one of your friends!" She exclaimed. That, was a lie, she didn't have enough, not even enough for a soda, But the girl saw Haley come in all the time, needing something else from her parents, and never getting anything for her self.

"Really? Guy's! We can all get slushies! I CALL BLUE!" She shouted raising her hand. The other looked at her weird.

"Haley, more than one person can get blue you know." Brooke told her. "It's allowed." Haley blushed.

"Oh… I didn't know that… sorry…"

"Relax it's okay!" Lucas laughed. Haley nodded and skipped to the machine. She read the poster. 'Hold down the button for ice to come out'. Haley nodded to herself, proud she read it. She took her small hand and held the button down, while doing so she looked back at everyone else.

"Haley! Stop the machine! It's all over the place!" Brooke whispered harshly. Haley's eyes widened.

"Oh god! Let's go guys!" She yelled, as they all ran out the door.

"You just left? Leaving the mess for the poor lady?" Nathan laughed. Haley shrugged.

"She owned the store, she wasn't poor." She mumbled. Nathan smirked slightly.

"She never went back." Brooke laughed. Haley just shrugged.

-Couple minutes later-

"Hey T.G."

"Yeah Brooke?" Haley answered.

"Tutor-Girl." Lucas told a confused looking Nathan.

"Have you set up your room yet?" She asked, Haley looked at her like she was stupid. The guys laughed. "What!"

"Brooke, the minute I realized I was staying, we went to Wal-Mart remember?" She laughed.

"We should so go and set your room up Hales!" Brooke squealed. Nathan looked at all of them and once again, was confused.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Haley smiled at him.

"Oh I forgot to tell you. I'm living with you guys." She smiled, Nathan widened his eyes.

"Really?" He asked, a little surprised, Brooke nodded.

"Isn't it great! 3 girl and 2 boys!" Brooke smirked.

"Yeah it is." He agreed smiling. Brooke looked at him, then at Lucas, they both exchanged confused looks. 'Why was he being so nice?' And 'why was it actually fun for them to hang out with him and Haley?'

"Oh god!" Nathan laughed. They all looked at him confused. "Does my dad know about this?" He laughed, Brooke chuckled and shook her head. "Oh god, I wanna see his reaction!" Haley looked at him worried.

"Is he gonna hate it?" Haley asked, wide eyes. Nathan fought the urge to take her in his arms.

"Well, maybe at first." Brooke started. "But then… well, he'll still hate it, but he'll get over it sooner or later."

"Oh…" She replied.

"Actually, we are having dinner tonight and it's…" Brooke checked her watch and her eye's widened. "Whoa, It's 7:10, We're having dinner at 8:00" Lucas nodded.

"What? Why didn't I know this!" She asked, Brooke and Lucas just ignored her as Nathan told her it was okay.

"I better get going then. See you guys later." Lucas kissed Brooke on the cheek, and developed Haley in a hug. "It's cool to have you back stranger."

"No stranger than you." She smirked. Lucas laughed, and gave her a high-five. He turned towards Nathan and gave a nod.

"Later man." Nathan called out and Lucas waved his hand, and he was out.

"Well, If you don't mind, can I use the shower?" Haley asked politely. Nathan laughed slightly.

"Haley, you're going to be living here, I think you can use the shower." He smirked, and Haley just rolled her eyes.

"Fine." She huffed. "I'm taking a shower." She called out, walking up the stairs. Nathan watched her. He suddenly missed her presence.

"Don't get any ideas." Brooke muttered.

"I'm not…" Nathan told her.

-After, 7:50, Haley's sitting on her bed, reading.-

Knock Knock Knock.

"Come in." Haley called, the door opened and she smiled. "Hey you" She smirked. Nathan smiled.

"Hey yourself." He smiled, walking closer to her. He noticed her hair was wet, from the shower she just had, and how it curled at the ends, he would have never guessed, because she had her hair straight earlier. She wore a low-cut pink fitted shirt, with a green tank top beneath that, covering any cleavage, and a pair of faded jeans.

"What are ya reading?" He asked, taking a seat at the edge of her bed, She smiled.

"Oliver Twist."

"Hey, we have to read that in English." He told her, she smirked.

"That's why I'm reading it, I wanna be where you guy's are, so I'm not behind." She explained. He looked at her weird. "What?"

"Haley, I think it'd be an exception if you hadn't read to where we were, you haven't even gone to the school once!" He laughed, she shrugged smiling slightly.

"Oh well! Your just jealous, that I'm probably ahead of you."

"What page?"

"56." She told him smiling.

"Higher than 3, so yeah." And she bubbled with laughter. "Hey! I don't like reading!" He told her, defending himself. After a few seconds, he just laughed with her, loving her laugh. He leaned towards her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She blushed slightly and he smiled. "Hales…" He started. Haley looked up slowly, Nathan's lips and inch away from her. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Nathan groaned slightly, feeling Haley's hot breath on his lips. Haley closed her eyes. "Ah… Haley…"

"Screw the Haley Policy." She muttered. She ignored her policy and leaned in, the lips met in a soft kiss, Haley circled her arms around his neck. Nathan moved closer to her, kissing her harder. Nathan licked her lip, Haley parted her lips as a slight initiation. Nathan's tongue. entered her mouth, the kiss started off slow, but got more intense and passionate as they kept inching closer to each other. Nathan's arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer. Haley smiled against his lips, and Nathan did the same. Never before had either of them felt like that. They could both honestly say, that it's the best kiss they'd ever gotten. Haley bit Nathan's bottom lip lightly and Nathan moaned. "Mmmmm." They continued making out for a few more seconds, then parted, both breathing heavily.

"Whoa." They said in unison. They both laughed slightly, and Haley blushed. Nathan ran his thumb across her cheek.

"For a 'Shy' girl. You are very aggressive. And may I add, an excellent kisser." He commented, she blushed more turning away slightly. "Hales, you don't have to be shy."

"I know, I don't know, It's a habit." She muttered, blushing more. Nathan smiled, giving her another soft kiss. She smiled, blushing again, he laughed slightly.

"C'mon Haley, before they get suspicious, and, It's 8:00, time for dinner, you ready?" He asked, Haley nodded, as they both got to the door, they met each other in one more heated kiss. They both moaned loudly, and pulled back. "I needed one, so it will last for a while." He smiled, she nodded and blushed again. "Hales, I'll read more of the book, if you learn how to take a comment." He smirked, she nodded laughing.

"I'll work on that."

"Good, because, you look beautiful by the way." He whispered in her ear as they opened the door. Haley blushed again and Nathan rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry! I don't mean to do it! If I could like, physically stop it I would!" She told him laughing. "Thank you though, your beautiful too." She smirked, he laughed slightly.

"I know." He smirked.

"Hey you two." Belinda, Brookes mom called out. (Weird name, I know… LoL)

"Hey Belinda!" Haley called out. Belinda smiled at her.

"Hi Hales, How are you holding up? No one's causing any trouble right?" She smiled, Haley rolled her eyes.

"No, No trouble." Nathan told her, laughing slightly. Nathan led her to the table where everyone else was already sitting. Haley gave a worried look, and Nathan just gave her a smile, Haley took a seat next to Brooke, and Nathan next to Haley. Haley starred at her plate until Dan spoke.

"Hey son, how've you been?" He asked.

"Ah, Good as always…" He replied flatly.

"So, who's this guest?" Dan asked, pointing towards Haley.

"Dan, This is my best friend, Haley James. Remember I told you about her before." Brooke replied happily.

"No, I must have not been listening." He replied, not caring about the hurt look Brooke gave him.

"Dan, honey, She's going to be living with us." Belinda told him. Dan looked at her like she was crazy.

"What! No she will not be!" Dan replied angrily. Haley kept starring down at her plate, afraid to say anything. Nathan noticed Haley's fear, and laid his hand on her thigh. She turned to him and smiled slightly. This again, went unnoticed by Brooke. "If she can give me one good reason. I'll let her stay." He told Belinda, and everyone turned to Haley. Her eyes widened, and she cleared her throat.

"Uh…" She started. Not finding the right words.

"Spit it out." Dan told her.

"Dad, Stop it." Nathan defended, Haley smiled a thanks.

"Well… My parents threw me out." She told him. Brooke and Nathan not knowing this. Felt bad. Not understanding why they would.

"Well, Then, I don't want you here, you must have done something bad to have them throw you out." He told her flatly. Haley sighed and took a deep breath.

"They threw me out, because I complained, they're never around, I saw them twice in the last year. They said I was too needy. They didn't wanna deal with me. That if I didn't find another place to go to, they'd put me in an orphanage until I turned 18. I don't want to, so I came here." She told him, never making eye contact with anyone. Dan nodded slowly.

"Well… As sad as the story is. I don't think my son here would like that. Would you Nathan?" He smirked to him.

"I think it'd be cool." He smirked back. Haley smiled to herself, still not daring to look up.

"You do… really?" He asked again.

"Yeah, she's cool." He told him.

"Alright… You can stay." Dan told them. Haley smiled as Brooke developed her in a hug, and Nathan squeezed her thigh.

"Now dig in guys, I made Steak, very pricy." Belinda told them, giving a plate to each of them, Haley opened her mouth and Belinda laughed. "Yes Haley, there's ketchup in the fridge, help yourself." Haley smiled and hopped up from her seat. Brooke and Nathan laughed.

Maybe It wouldn't be so bad after all.

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