Chapter Thirty-Three: Reaping the Benefits

Author's note: SO sorry for the delay. I'm suffering from mild writer's block and major homework anxiety. So yeah, I'm trying to speed up, but they won't come as quickly as they did over the holidays.

Nathan slowly let Haley down to the ground, afraid to remove his arms from her. He was afraid she'd shoot him down, as she had so many times. Maybe she hadn't felt it. Maybe they were one way fireworks. Maybe she was about to say something mean again. Unconsciously, he tightened his hold on her.

"I don't actually hate you," she said eventually. He smiled and leaned down to kiss the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo as he did so.

"I know. You're a terrible liar," he said.

"I think it might be just that I can't lie to you," said Haley, leaning back in his arms to look into his eyes.

"You never could," said Nathan.

"You're a good kisser, you know?" she said.

"I'm good at lots of things," said Nathan. Haley rolled her eyes emphatically.

"You know…" Nathan abruptly cut off her flow of words with another kiss.

"That's going to come in handy when you're babbling on about something," he said.

"Or when you're being a jerk," she said, leaning up to kiss him again. Nathan shut his eyes and opened his lips to prolong the kiss. God it was good. It was everything he'd ever imagined. He wanted more, he wanted everything, but for the time being, having her there with him was enough. It was everything.

"If we kiss every time I'm being a jerk and every time you won't shut up, we're going to end up kissing a lot," he said.

"That's fine with me," said Haley.

"Good. Because this has gotten to bet the longest it has taken anyone to get together. Ever," said Nathan. Haley laughed.

"Or I'm just the only girl you've ever wanted that wasn't willing to put up with your crap," she teased.

"Or maybe you're just the only girl I've ever really wanted," said Nathan. Haley continued gazing into his eyes, hypnotized by their warmth.

"You know we don't have to be talking right now. We could be kissing instead," said Haley.

Nathan didn't need to be told twice.

"God, she's just so frustrating! I try and talk to her and she just denies everything," ranted Peyton.

"Peyton, she's your best friend," reminded Jake.

"You're my best friend," said Peyton, allowing herself to be pulled onto his lap.

"No, I think we've affectively ruined our friendship," he said. She giggled uncharacteristically.

"Most definitely. But you don't see me complaining. Ugh. I have to find her and apologize. I was being judgmental. Or something," said Peyton.

"Come on. I'll go with you, it won't take long," he said comfortingly, leading her downstairs to her car.

Peyton stared silently at him as they drove through Tree Hill. Conversation came easily to them, but they'd passed the point years ago that they required it. At times like this, their friendship mingled with their less platonic relationship and made it stronger.

"So this is becoming kind of cliché, but…" Peyton stopped when Jake briefly turned his head toward her, an eyebrow raised in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"I got a letter from the NYU people today. I got turned down for a spot in the residence because I applied too late," she began.

"That's too bad. I told you to respond faster to those letters," he said, faux sternly. She smiled.

"Yeah. And I know you have a spot in the residence. But it got a call from Taylor, Haley's big sister, and she told me she graduated a couple months ago and was going to move and wanted to sub-let her apartment because she knew I was moving out to the city," explained Peyton.

"That's great. It's impossible to find housing in New York," he said.

"So I've heard. And she says it's nice and near campus and everything. The only problem is that it's a two bedroom place. And I definitely can't afford it by myself," said Peyton. Jake nodded slowly, comprehending.

"You mean it would be ideal for you to get a roommate?" he prompted her.

"Yeah. Definitely," she said.

"Maybe of the boyfriend variety?" he asked. She turned to face him in her seat and smiled.

"Perfect."

Haley smiled as she and Nathan fell onto the bed in his hotel room. His weight on top of hers was so right, somehow.

She quivered slightly as he slid his hand up her shirt, slowly exposing the bits of herself that she'd kept hidden for so long.

With practiced hands he slowly undid the buttons of her shirt and unclasped her bra. When he got this far, Haley known they'd done enough, even if she wanted desperately to continue.

Haley slowly pushed him off of her, reclasped her bra, and took several calming breaths.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not ready," she said.

"That's okay," said Nathan, running a hand through his mussed hair.

"For what it's worth, I think you're going to make me change my mind," she said, smiling at him.

"I'm famous for that," said Nathan proudly. She lazily slapped his arm. Leaning toward her, they began to kiss over her shoulder.

Haley didn't hear Petyon's footsteps, nor did she hear her gasp of alarm. All she felt were eyes.

"God, Peyton. Uh, hi," she said awkwardly, tearing her lips away from Nathan's.

"Hi. I came here to apologize…" Peyton glanced at Nathan. "But I'm guessing it isn't necessary anymore?"

"I guess not. Is Jake with you?" asked Haley. Instantly, Jake appeared in the doorway beside Peyton.

"Hey. She wouldn't let me come in case you were na…" Peyton sharply elbowed his ribs and he called out in surprise and pain. Nathan held back a laugh.

"Well I'm not, so it's all good," she said, smiling at him.

"We're getting an apartment together in New York," said Peyton.

"I know. Taylor figured you would. But that's great. Want to go out to celebrate?" asked Haley. Peyton looked between Nathan and Haley.

"Sure. Do you guys need a few minutes, or..?" Haley blushed before running a hand through her hair and grabbing Nathan's hand to lead him out the door to follow the other couple.