First off I want to apologize for the insanely long wait on an update, especially with how I left things. It's just that I've been giving this story A LOT of thought. I know I said I had it all thought out but I kind of changed my mind a little bit LOL Basically I'm regretting making Kevin a new character and not just making him Jake because he's supposed to be Jake-like especially with the Peyton connection which wasn't planned it just sort of came to me as I was writing. Anyways that being said I'm not going to change that. Kevin is Kevin but he's like Jake I suppose.

Anyways I noticed how the replies were drastically smaller in number after chapter 5 LMAO you don't have anything to worry about with Kevin. Anyways I hope you enjoy and please tell me what you think. Like I said, feel free to tell me "this sucks" that's the only way I can improve it.

Authors Thoughts: I've been giving this story a lot of thought and I'm sort of changing the direction in this a bit. Plot points will still be mostly the same and basic underlying things are still there I'm just changing one aspect of it because I think it'll work better this way. Anyways I hope the transition is smooth and that if you notice it, it doesn't throw you for a loop. Of course if it does then that's ok too, as long as you're still interested in reading more. It's interesting for me that the story has evolved in my mind into something new and I hope it evolves into something better on the page as well. That being said this chapter is sort of filler, sorry about that.

Chapter 6

"That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest." - Henry David Thoreau

"I don't know he just sort of took me by surprise, I wasn't expecting it," Haley spoke as she tried on the third top that night, trying to figure out which would look best with her black denim skirt and white tennis shoes. She was going for a casual look, because in her mind this was still just a casual date. She couldn't really feel like this was anything more than just hanging out with her buddy Kevin. She understood that it was supposed to be a date but her mind couldn't quite wrap itself around that fact.

"The red one Haley," Brooke told her from her lying position on Haley's bed. Haley was trying on a different shirt but Brooke had already made up her mind that the red one was best. "Well," she continued the previous conversation, "maybe he's always had a little crush on you and just finally worked up the courage to ask you?"

"Yeah maybe," Haley pulled the red top back over her head and moved to the bathroom to go brush over her hair one last time, "but why now?" she called back into the room.

"I don't know its senior year, maybe he was thinking that if he didn't do something soon he wouldn't get to do anything at all."

As Haley walked back into the room practically ready a knock came on the door. "Oh will you get that for me I just have to finish getting my purse ready."

"Yeah sure," Brooke stood up expecting to see Kevin but instead was greeted by her boyfriend and his cousin.

"Hey, figured I could find you here," Lucas whispered to Brooke before kissing her quickly.

"Hi boyfriend," she grinned at him, "and Nathan."

Haley looked up suddenly still holding her purse, "oh hey guys, hey Nathan," she specified, offering him a smile.

"Going out?" he asked taking in her appearance. It was the first time he'd seen her dressed up a little more than usual and he knew there had to be a reason.

"Actually…"

"Kevin asked her out," Brooke interrupted giddily.

"I can talk Brooke," Haley huffed out. Nathan's mind sped up as soon as the words had left Brooke's mouth. He tried to register them in his brain. Kevin had asked Haley out. Suddenly he remembered that night at the café when Kevin had his arm around Haley, and the way he was with her, he knew something was up, and hearing now that he'd asked her out wasn't too much of a shock. Neither was the fact that Haley had obviously agreed.

"Have fun," he told her, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"We will," a voice called from behind them as the door was still opened and they all turned to see Kevin standing in the doorway. Walking a little further into the room he smiled taking in Haley's appearance. "Wow you look great."

Nathan silently agreed.

She blushed in response a small smile playing on her lips, "thanks, I'm ready to go," she informed him. Holding out his hand to her, he waited for Haley to take it before leading her out of the room. As they walked by the doorway where Lucas, Brooke, and Nathan were still standing Haley sent a small smile his way, which he reciprocated, smelling the perfume she had put on. Turning his head he saw Brooke and Lucas had already distracted themselves kissing each other so with a silent chuckle he turned and left the room.

"Sooo, how was it?" Peyton asked happily as she caught up to Haley and looped her arm with hers. She'd spotted her as she walked out of one of her classes and quickly ran toHaley.

"How was what?"

"Don't be coy you know exactly what I'm talking about."

Just as they turned a corner they met up with Nathan and they just barely avoided a collision.

"Oh sorry," he quickly said as the trio laughed, "what's up?"

"I was just trying to get the juicy details out of Haley but she didn't budge and I have to run to my next class because that Professor totally hates me and if I'm late, I'm dead."

"He doesn't hate you Peyt," Haley told her. Peyton said this every time but Haley was sure it was just Peyton's overactive imagination.

"Whatever Hales, I'm the one who has class with him," she called out as she was already quickly walking away.

Haley laughed, "That girl, I swear she makes things up in that pretty, curly-blonde head of hers."

Nathan laughed as well. "So how was it?" he began as both started slowly strolling towards the lawn on the east side of campus.

"How was what?" Haley played innocent again as she looped her arm through Nathan's.

"Your date."

Haley laughed, "Why is everybody so nosy?"

"Oh I'm not I mean I was just curious you don't have to…uh…tell me anything or anything," he quickly huffed out the words in practically one breath. He didn't mean to pry he was just curious like he'd said, and the last thing he wanted was Haley thinking he was nosy or butting into her business. It was after all, her business.

Haley laughed once again, "It's ok Nathan don't worry I was just teasing you." She paused as she sat down on the grass and Nathan followed suit. "It was," she stopped as if she was trying to choose her words carefully, "Kevin's a great friend to me, he always has been. But that's just it, he's a friend, and it felt like I was just hanging out with a friend. Throwing in the romantic vibe just made it kind of awkward and I think he sensed that too. We sort of agreed at the end of the night that it wasn't exactly a date, or that it didn't feel like one so…"

"You're just going to be friends," he finished for her.

"Yeah," she nodded her head, "I mean it was sweet of him to ask me out and I kind of feel bad but I just don't see him as more than a friend."

"Don't feel bad Haley, you can't choose who you like anymore than you can choose who you don't like. As your friend, he should respect that," he stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back on his hands.

"Yeah," Haley said slowly as she let herself lie down all the way on the grass, allowing the sun to hit her face, "I just can't help but feel like maybe I didn't give him enough of a chance, maybe if I let him take me out on another date or something…"

"Haley…"

"I know, I know that probably wouldn't change anything but I can't help but feel guilty," she squinted up at him.

"For what? Not liking him?"

"Well…yeah…it's just that he likes me and I don't feel the same way and whenever somebody doesn't like you back I mean that's gotta hurt right? And I hate being the one to hurt him."

"Haley," Nathan stated simply looking down at her, "Kevin's a big boy, he'll get over it. Even if you had gone on more dates and still didn't feel anything for him then that would have just been leading him on and that would hurt worse. You did the right thing, and you shouldn't worry."

Haley could hear the honesty in his voice and thinking about it what he said made sense, "you're right I shouldn't worry," she looked at him. "Besides," she stretched her arms over her head closing her eyes, "it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, I don't have anymore classes today, it's all good."

Nathan laughed laying down himself next to her, "yeah it is all good," he closed his eyes as well.

Feeling him lay down she popped one of her eyes open and turned her head to look at him. The sun shining on his face highlighted his cheekbones, which she suddenly noticed were very well defined. His eyes were closed as if he was asleep but she knew he was just resting, and she noticed how his bottom lip had a slight pout to it. She'd once heard that boys lose the innocent look on their faces when they sleep around the age of 13 but Nathan still seemed to have a little bit of that. He had that baby face look to him and she couldn't help but giggle at it.

Hearing her slight laughter made him repeat her earlier action and pop one eye open looking to his side where she had a smile on her face and was looking at him, "what are you looking at that's so funny?"

"Nothing," she kept the smile as she rolled her head back to the grass once more.

"Come on tell me."

"No its nothing."

Every girl he'd ever known was ticklish and if he had to guess he'd say that Haley was too. Reaching his hands out to her stomach and sides he began to tickle her which immediately caused her to shriek and laugh hysterically begging him between laughs to stop.

Laughing at her squirmy behavior he told her, "Not until you tell me what's so funny."

"Oh my God…Nathan…please…" she tried prying his hands away but he was so much stronger than her. He couldn't help but grin at the wide smile on her face that kept changing as the laughs erupted from her. He wasn't sure if it was the sun, or if it was tears from the tickling, but her eyes were shining. They were shinning in a way he hadn't seen them shine yet. With a light that seemed to emit forth truth, because there was nothing fake about it. Her smile and her laughing was real and he knew that in that very moment, she was happy.

Pulled from his thoughts he suddenly stopped, "saved by the buzz," he said as he pulled out his vibrating cell phone from his pocket as Haley tried catching her breath.

"Hello?…Oh hey dad…yeah I'm good how are you?…how's mom?" he laughed, "all right, all right I'll call her…You're what? Oh ok…ok just give me a few minutes…ok bye."

"That was my dad," he said sitting up.

"I can see that."

"He's here."

"What?"

"He's at parking lot C…wants me to go see him."

"Oh cool, go say hi to your dad."

Nathan was about to stand up before a thought hit him and he turned his head to Haley, "Do you want to come with me?"

"To meet your dad?" she asked confused.

"Well yeah I mean you're Lucas' best friend so I'm sure he'd love to meet his favorite nephew's best friend," he laughed, "besides if he starts asking me too many annoying questions you can be my escape."

"Nathan!" she slapped his arm sitting up, "he's your dad don't say that."

Laughing he stood up holding his hands out to help her stand. Smiling at his gesture she whispered, "thanks."

"Come on you said you had no more classes so why not?"

"Ok what the hell," she chuckled and he led the way.

As Nathan and Haley approached a tall dark haired man who Haley knew had to be Dan Scott, Nathan's dad, she saw that Lucas was already there, hugging his uncle.

"There's my son," Dan said cheerfully pulling Nathan into a hug.

"Hey dad." Nathan was glad to see his father. Despite whatever disagreements they got into Nathan knew he was lucky to have a dad who cared so much about his family. Dan always made sure that his wife Karen and his son Nathan were happy. For years they'd lived down in North Carolina next to family. He enjoyed living so close to his brother Keith and his family and therefore he was close to Lucas as well. The men in the family all bonded over basketball but Dan and Keith also bonded over cars. Dan had started up a car dealership meanwhile Keith started up a repair service Auto Shop. Karen's work in advertising had landed her a more prestigious position up north, which was why the family had moved. Dan's whole life was in North Carolina, but he knew what the job meant to his wife so he'd been the one to push her to take it, even if it meant moving the family. They knew they'd visit often and always at holidays and they'd always be a family no matter what the distance was. Partly for that Dan had pushed Nathan to go to Duke so that he could reconnect with his older cousin and of course so that he could play basketball for one of the best basketball schools in the country.

"How are my two favorite boys?" Dan chuckled slapping both boys simultaneously on the back.

"I don't know Uncle Dan, Nathan here's been getting into some trouble," Lucas chuckled quickly moving out of the way before Nathan could punch him in the arm.

"Would you shut up man!" he laughed knowing Lucas was just kidding around with him because he was the younger of the two boys.

"Oh!" Dan stopped suddenly when he noticed the short blonde standing a little away from their group, "where are my manners? Hi I'm Dan Scott, Nathan's dad and Lucas's uncle," he told her holding his hand out.

"Haley," she smiled politely shaking the man's hand.

"Nice to meet you Haley."

"Haley is Lucas' best friend," Nathan explained.

"Oh really, well I remember a time when my nephew claimed girls had cooties," he teased as Nathan and Haley laughed and Lucas rolled his eyes.

"It was just a phase," he said defensively shoving his hands in his pockets and praying for a subject change.

"I'll bet," Dan mused, "well," he clapped his hands together once, "I didn't just come down here to see you boys."

"You going over to see Uncle Keith?"

"Well that too but that's not what I was talking about." Nathan looked at his father, a confused look on his face as Dan stepped to the side and pointed at the black Jeep he had been standing behind. "Congratulations son!"

"Whoa is that for Nathan?" Lucas asked in awe. His uncle and his dad had given him a car senior year of high school from Dan's dealership and Lucas had always wondered why Nathan hadn't gotten the same. Clearly though he didn't have to wait too long because apparently Nathan was getting his dream car now.

"Is that for me?" Nathan asked shocked.

"Yeah I'm sorry you didn't get it sooner but I was waiting for the new model to come out. So what do you think?" he said stretching his arms out and making a big gesture, a wide smile on his face.

Nathan began to laugh before he jumped up once like an excited little kid at Christmas, "I love it! Thanks dad!" he said before throwing his arms around his dad and giving him a huge hug.

Haley couldn't help but grin at how excited Nathan was at getting his own car. She'd never seen him this happy, not yet anyways and she couldn't help but feel happy for him. She thought back to how he had said his dad was great, just a bit controlling at times, and she could see that he meant it when he said his dad wasn't that bad. He clearly loved his son and enjoyed making him happy. Nathan was filled with felicity and she knew that in that very moment he was indeed happy and it warmed her heart. He had a great dad, she was glad for that, and laughed as Nathan excitedly talked with Dan about all the "extras" the car came with. Chuckling Lucas walked over to where she was standing throwing his arm around Haley's shoulders.

"Hey Nate you going to take us for a ride or what?" Lucas smiled at his cousin who was staring at the car in amazement.

"Oh right the keys," Dan searched in his pockets before tossing the keys in Nathan's direction who caught them on the fly, "you're going to need those!" he laughed.

"How are you getting back to go see Uncle Keith?"

"I'm taking the train, and you're driving me to the train station" he said pointing at Nathan, "If you get me there in one piece I'll let you keep it," he teased eliciting laughs from all of them.

Nathan jumped into the drivers seat as Dan walked over to the passenger's side, "behave yourself Lucas I expect good things from you this year," he told him referring to basketball.

"Ok bye Uncle Dan," Lucas rolled his eyes laughingly, "I'll see you at Thanksgiving right?"

"You bet, it was nice meeting you Haley," he smiled at the girl.

"You too," she smiled in return.

Lucas pulled Haley along, his arm still around her shoulder. "Come on Hales, I haven't had lunch yet, you up for some?"

"Sure," she turned to watch Nathan speed away from the parking lot in the opposite direction and laughed. That was the happiest she had seen Nathan to date, and it was nice to see him smile like that.

"So Lucas is still seeing that Brooke girl then?" Dan turned to his son from his side of the car.

"Yeah," he smiled, "they seem happy."

"So Haley is his best friend then?"

"I know Lucas with a girl best-friend, kind of surprising huh?" he laughed, "apparently they hit it off freshman year and have been friends ever since. Haley and Brooke know each other from high school and he's been dating Brooke for almost a year."

"I see, I see, so," he began, a teasing smile on his face, "when are you going to bring home somebody for the old man to meet."

"Dad," Nathan sighed.

"Oh come on, its college Nate, part of the charm is all the ladies on campus, am I right?"

"Dad," Nathan laughed not looking him in the eye, "No offense but I really never want to hear you say stuff like that."

Dan chuckled in response, "I'm just playing Nathan. I do want you to concentrate on your game but as long as a girlfriend wouldn't be too much of a distraction there'd be nothing wrong with getting one you know."

Nathan looked over at his father and read the mischief in his dad's eyes. He sure loved to tease him. "Thanks dad, I'll uh…keep that in mind."

Dan laughed heartily at his son, "whatever you say son, whatever you say."