Nathan cupped her face. Then he wrapped one arm around her slender waist, he anchored her against him as he continued to explore the inner workings of Haley's mouth. Haley was lost in the kiss and the new emotions overcoming her. Nathan pulled away from her and leaned his head against hers. His breathing came out in sharp, ragged breaths. He smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her again.
Haley shrank back and un-entangled herself from him. She walked a few feet away from him, into the kitchen and kept her back to him. He walked to the doorway and studied her posture. It wasn't very revealing. "Is something wrong?" he asked. Haley sighed and faced him.
"Nathan, I think you got the wrong idea about me," she said. His eyes clouded with confusion. "I don't know how to say this, but it needs to be said." Nathan nodded.
"It's ok. I understand," he said.
"You do?" Haley asked.
"Yeah. You don't look at me like that," Nathan said. She cocked her head to the side.
"Like that?" she repeated.
"Well, I am attracted to you, Haley," he admitted. Her eyes widened slightly but Nathan didn't notice. "I've been waiting for the right time to make a move and I thought that was it. But I realize that you don't share my feelings so I'm sorry." Haley was silent. They held each other's gazes for a while until Haley started laughing.
"You think I'm not attracted to you?" she asked.
"Yeah. I admit that I'm not used to rejection from females but it has happened once or twice. I do recognize that some girls just aren't into jocks," he said. Haley was slightly offended.
"Nathan," she started but he ignored her.
"I usually know when a girl likes me. I thought that you did. I'm surprised that I was so wrong," he babbled. Haley chuckled at him.
"You're cute when you babble," she commented.
"I guess now I should really pay closer attention. Wait. Did you just say I'm cute?" he continued and looked up at her questioningly. Haley's smile widened.
"You weren't wrong," she said.
"I wasn't?" he asked. Then he looked at her. "About what?"
"Me. I do share your attraction only I'm attracted to you. Not myself," Haley said, scrunching her eyebrows towards the end of her sentence. Perhaps she realized how unusual it sounded.
Nathan digested her words and then straightened his posture. "So then why did you pull away?" he asked. Haley avoided his gaze. "Are you scared?"
"Not exactly. I don't think you're ready for another relationship, Nathan," Haley said.
"What? Of course I am," Nathan said.
"No. You want to be. But," she said, casting a knowing look in his direction, "you're not quite there yet."
"I appreciate the concern, Haley, but I think I know when I'm ready for something," he said. Haley shook her head dismissively.
"Except that you're not. You can't see it because you're in it," she said.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Nathan, you were with Brooke for a long time and your relationship meant a lot to you. I know you cared about her a lot. You became a completely different person in order to be with her. Those kind of feelings don't just disappear over night," Haley said.
"Well, when your…" Nathan started, but it was as if she could read his mind.
"Not even with a betrayal as big as cheating on you with your brother," Haley interjected. Nathan shook his head in disbelief.
"You're wrong," he said.
"When the shots rang out, where were you?" Haley asked.
"I was in the weight room with Lucas," he replied.
"That's on the other side of the school," Haley pointed out. She was talking about the tutoring centre.
"Well, I went to look for Brooke," he said. Haley's eyes widened and nodded.
"Exactly. And you knew about her and Lucas then. But when there was trouble, she was the first thing on your mind. Your instincts were to save the one you love," she said.
"That was a long time ago," he said. Haley smirked.
"It wasn't that long ago," Haley pointed out.
"Even if I still have feelings for Brooke, that doesn't necessarily mean that I want her back," he said.
"And I'm not saying that it does," Haley said.
"I'm confused," he admitted. Haley looked at him. "What exactly are you trying to tell me?"
"I'm saying that you need to figure out what it is that you want. If you really want to be with me, you can't have doubts about your relationship with Brooke. I refuse to be what you settle for," she said. Her voice was breaking a little.
"Haley, you could never be what anyone settles for," he said. She smiled at him.
"Thanks. But if you do decide to be with Brooke, I'll still be here for you. In the capacity of a friend of course. I won't hold it against you and I won't hate you," Haley said and Nathan knew that she meant it. One of the first things she had ever told him was how she didn't judge people. Nathan nodded.
"That's nice of you, but it's not necessary. I don't want Brooke. I want you," Nathan said.
"And I sincerely hope that's true, but I need you to be certain, Nathan. Because I don't think I can handle a broken heart on top of everything else," Haley said. He nodded.
"All right. If that's what you want," he said sadly.
"It's what I need," Haley said. Nathan looked up at her. "I like you a lot; Nathan and I want to be with you. But I need to know that you really want to be with me."
"I get it and I'll think about it really hard. Just don't be surprised if I end up being right," he said confidently. There was a self-assured gleam in his ocean-blue eyes which caused Haley to roll her own hazel eyes.
"Overconfident, cocky, son of a…" Haley started but he silenced her with a kiss. When the kiss ended, she glared at him. "That's not fair." He smiled and looked at her for a second.
"See you later, Hales," he said with a wink as he left her apartment. That wink made Haley's smile widen as she turned back around and busied herself.