Chapter Twenty Six
All You Want
Haley
Nathan is already here. Seriously, it's 6:45 in the morning and Nathan is already here. I really needed those forty-five minutes to get my head together, to convince myself that I don't care about Nathan. As it is, I feel like I'm walking into an exam unprepared. Not a good feeling.
He's just sat there, like he's not a complete… Ugh, just calm down Haley. If I go in there worked up, then he's going to fluster me easier and then we're all in trouble.
Oh, but does he have to look so hot? I mean, it's 6:45 in the morning for Gods sake! He's looking all clean and freshly shaved, with his hair in perfect place. He's wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a pale blue shirt that looks great with his eyes.
Me, on the other hand? I do not look hot. Or even cute. Or even moderately attractive. I will admit that I tried to make a tiny effort this morning because I knew I was going to see Nathan, but I refused to straighten my hair or wear any eye make-up other than the basic mascara. The result, a messily clipped up pile of hair, a slick of barely-there lip gloss and a pair of tatty jeans with a nice green sweater. Yeah, we'd make such a cute couple. Not.
Okay, so I need to do this. I could run away somewhere and come back in fifteen minutes, but that's just silly. And also, not the actions of a girl who is clearly over Nathan Scott.
I take a deep breath and walk into the tutor centre. I wonder how Nathan even got in here. I have an agreement with the janitor that he lets me in early in case I've got a student, but Nathan… actually, he's Nathan Scott. He'll always find a way.
"I was wondering when you would come in."
I look up and see that Nathan is smirking at me. I narrow my eyes. What is he talking about?
"What?"
"Well, you've been stood out there for like, ten minutes," he says, his eyes reading total innocence. Damn. I've been caught out.
"Um…" I can't think of anything to say. "It's a good job you're early, actually…"
"It is?" Nathan asks, and I can't help a victorious smirk at the look of excitement on his face.
"Yeah, I've looked at some of your old test papers and Jeez, do you need work!"
Ha! Cruel, me?
Nathan looks down at his hands and sighed. "I guess I'm not the smartest person in the world, huh?"
He looks so forlorn that my face softens as I sit down opposite him. "Look, it's not a total write off. I mean, sure, you could do better, but I think most of this is a lack of understanding, not being 'dumb' or whatever."
Nathan looks up at me and for a second, our eyes meet. A pure zing of electricity passes between us, and surprisingly, it's Nathan that looks away.
"Uh… so, tell me tutor girl, whats on the programme?" Nathan asks.
"What?" I say, sounding a little like an idiot. "Um…" I try and sort myself out. "Well, we'll try and tackle math first."
"Ah, my worst subject."
"Well, not all lessons can be Gym," I say, a little bitchily. "Sorry."
Nathan shrugs. "No, you're right. I suck, pure and simple."
"Nathan, are you being self-deprecating?"
"Um… no?"
I laugh. "I guess our next port of call will have to be English. But for now, Math."
LINE
It's amazing. We just got through an hour and ten minutes without mentioning anything but Math. Well, actually, there was a little period in between where we walked to the snack machine and talked about next Friday's game, but apart from that, nothing.
I'm starting to think that maybe this wasn't some rouse to win me back. A part of me feels a little disappointed, I must admit. And not a thing was mentioned about our deal about him making up with Lucas. Well, to be fair, I didn't hold him to it. He said that thing about his dad an I just melted. I always knew how much of a jerk Dan Scott was to his oldest son, but I never really realised how he affected his youngest too.
"Thanks Hales," Nathan is saying now, packing up his things (pencil, notepad, eraser). I look up at him and shrug. It's on the tip of my tongue to say 'It's Haley', but I just can't say it. It's like, now that he's been a semi-normal person, the part of me that loves to be nasty to Nathan and to hurt him like he's hurt me is fading away a little.
"It's nothing. After all, it's my job."
"No but, you actually made me understand some of that stuff. Like integers and crap like that."
I laugh and stand up at the same time he does. "Well, as long as you're understanding 'integers and crap like that' I'm sure we're going in the right direction."
"So, tomorrow? Same time?"
I nod. "See you then."
We reach the door at the same time, and reach for the handle. Our hands touch and that little zing appears again. This time, Nathan doesn't pull away. Our hands stay where they are, his on top of mine. I lick my lips and look up at him, he's staring down at me, his blue eyes soft and sparkling. He lowers his head…
"No," I say softly, and it kills me to do it. I pull my hand away and shove it in my pocket. Sure, I could kiss Nathan now, but then what?
"I'm sorry," Nathan says.
"What is this Nathan?" I ask, and am horrified to note that my voice is rising. "One of your silly little games? Let's get Haley alone in the tutor room and I'll try and mess with her again?"
"What? No!" Nathan shouts, sounding indignant. "You said yourself I needed help! Why do you always think the worst of me? You're just like Da…" he stops and seems to check himself.
I bite my lip and take a step away, just in case. "Just like who?" I ask, because I'm honestly curious, and also because I know he was going to say 'Dad'. That makes no sense, I know, but part of me really believes that the only reason he is the way he is, is because his dad is Dan Scott. How could you let anyone in when you're the apple of that mans eye?
Nathan stares at the space between us that I've just created by stepping away. He gives a small smile that doesn't have any life to it and shrugs. "Everyone, Hales. Absolutely everyone."
He opens the door and walks away.
LINE
"Saturday night, be there or be square."
I look up and see Brooke smiling down at me. I hate being this short.
"Uh, where? And square? Who says that?"
"Me, Brooke Davis," Brooke goes on. She leans on my locker, which I was just trying to open and hands me a flyer.
"What's this?" I ask, looking down at the glossy piece of paper. The words, TREE HILL TRI-CENTENNIAL CHARITY BALL scream out at me.
"The Tri-Centennial charity ball that my dad's hosting on behalf of his company," Brooke explains.
I raise an eyebrow. "Gee, I'd love to, but I've got plans."
"Yeah right!" Brooke laughs. I throw her an indignant look and she straightens her face. "Uh, I mean, this is the place to be, how could you possibly have any other plans?"
I do have other plans. My older brothers and sisters are coming over and during the day we're going to the Tri-Centennial Fair, and on the night we're having a family dinner. A 'getting to know you' if you will, because my family is so big and so far flung that it gets hard to remember who's who.
I'm only slightly joking.
"Family thing," I say, in the way of an explanation.
"Haley!" Brooke says in a whiney voice. "Do both! You can do your 'family thing' during the day, and then come to this ball on the night! Perfect!"
I about to protest, and then I see Lucas come out of the library. "Um, I'll think about it," I say absent-mindedly.
Brooke looks to where I'm staring and looks uncomfortable. "Uh, Haley, I need to talk to you…"
"Yeah, tell me later," I say, already running towards Lucas.
He's walking over to his locker around the corner and I grab his arm. "Hey," I greet.
Lucas turns to me but doesn't say anything. Okay.
"Um… I wanted to apologise. For being so mad at you, I mean. I was the worst girlfriend ever and then I go and be mad at you like you were the problem, and you really weren't. So… I'm sorry."
Lucas nods. "It's okay Haley. I was a jerk, what I did with the phone… that was low."
I shrug. Yeah, it was, and I'm not completely ready to forgive him for letting me find out that way, but whatever way you look at it, it's better that I knew.
Only, well, now Nathan's not looking as bad as he first did.
"Are you going to this ball thing?" Lucas asks when I don't respond.
"What?"
"Brooke asked me if I was going. I'll go if you do."
"Uh…"
"As friends," Lucas adds in quickly.
I stare down at my hands. To be honest, I haven't really been looking forward to this family dinner, and my parents wouldn't be too mad if I didn't go. They have enough kids there anyway.
"Sure. I'll go," I say.
LINE
