Chapter 3-You were all by yourself, staring up at a dark grey sky.
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After much deliberation, Haley decided to walk to the left toward the parking lot. She wasn't in the mood to face him. She continued down the hallway and was walking down the path to her car when she felt guilt develop inside of her. i What am I doing? I am Haley James, the most prestigious tutor. I don't back down from a challenge and Nathan Scott is definitely that. Besides, leaving him would mean I'm stooping down to his level, something I never hoped to do because the feeling, well, sucked. /i So, with that Haley turned around and made her way back into the school.
As she continued down the hallway she couldn't help but regret her last decision, the last time she saw Nathan had ended in a throbbing head and a broken heart. She wasn't quite sure why it hurt so bad though. Over the past two days since the incident Haley had gotten a chance to evaluate what happened. Sure, what Nathan said was totally out of line and uncalled for, she just didn't understand why it hurt so much. I mean, she tutored him and they were friends, or more like secret friends, but it wasn't like they were dating. Haley was pulled out of her thoughts as she reached the tutoring center and opened the door. Upon opening the door she had an epiphany on why it hurt so bad, something she had never actually said out loud till now, "I like him," she mumbled.
"What?" Nathan said, looking up from his papers.
"Huh? Oh uh, nothing, nothing." Haley replied.
"So I wasn't expecting you to show, I mean I've never gotten here before you and then twenty minutes passed, but now you're here, and I'm glad."
"Uh, thanks Nathan. Yea about that, I err, got caught up in something in my last class and yea, sorry for being late," Haley stated, attempting to keep her cool. He was acting as if nothing happened.
"No its okay. So listen, what do you want to work with me on first today?" Nathan asked.
"How about English, wait actually you're really good at that. I got a first hand look two days ago. You really have a way with words. So instead let's work on your calculus." After saying this Haley instantly regretted it. i So much for keep my cool i , she thought.
"Wow, uh, alright. So I'm guessing you still hurt from the other night," Nathan said.
"Yes Nathan. Just a smidge," Haley retorted, she couldn't help but roll her eyes, he could be so thick sometimes.
"Look Haley, what I said to Tim. I know it was a little out of line, actually a lot out of line, and I'm not really sure why I said it. It's just, well I have this persona to uphold to my fellow peers, and to my dad and they aren't exactly the most understanding people."
"I know Nathan, and I get that, but did you really have to say such horrible things. It really hurts to think that that is how you perceive me."
"Haley, it's not like that at all. I like you, a lot. And contrary to what I said to Tim and the guys, you are more than just my tutor. I consider you a friend." Haley couldn't help but melt at his words.
"Man," Haley mumbled to herself, "why does he always say what I want to hear."
"What's that?" Nathan questioned. i Crap, did I say that out loud /i Haley thought.
"Nathan you can't just say things like that. I thought we were friends too, but friends don't talk crap behind the others back, or their front in my case."
"Haley I'm sorry. I can't explain why I do the things I do sometimes. I'm a screw up, there's so much pressure on me to be the basketball legend my father war, as well as the 'big guy on campus' as Tim refers to me. It's just that, I don't know if I'm that guy. I was a jerk to you, and being that guy everyone expected me to be made me treat you the way I did. I'm not proud of it, and I'm not proud of what it does to me. I guess what I'm saying, is I don't want to be that guy. I want to be your friend, not your enemy." Nathan paused, there was something more he wanted to say, he just didn't know if he could.
"Well Nate, I wish I could just forgive you but-" Haley began to say.
"Wait Haley I'm not done. I lied before. I do know why I said the things I said. Lately Tim has been hassling me about liking you as more than just my tutor, more than just my friend or whatever we are. And for a while now I've been pushing this feeling I get around you to the back of my head, but I can't do that anymore. You're my release. I can be the person I want to around you, and you don't ridicule me for it. You're understanding and you just let me be me. I'm not Nathan the ball player or Nathan the "it" boy, I'm just plain Nathan Scott when I'm with you. I guess what I'm saying is that I like you, and when Tim pointed that out it scared me, because I was trying to deny it. I didn't plan on feeling this way for you, but I do, I'm sorry."
"Wow." Haley replied. i Did he really just spill his heart out to me? I'm in shock. All I wanted right now was to be the kid's friend, and now I guess I was wrong again… Nathan actually does like me, I knew it! i
"Thanks Haley, I spill me feelings out and all you can say is wow."
"Sorry Nathan, I just wasn't expecting that."
"I don't think I even was, but it's all true. I can't deny it anymore."
"Yeah, me either," Haley said.
"Wait, what?"
"Oh my God. Did I just say that? Well I guess there it is. I like you too," Haley said. Nathan just stared at her in disbelief. i Was this really happening, have I really just told my feelings to Haley James, and has does she truly feel the same way for me? This can't be real. No one's going to believe this, and even more… no one is going to accept this. Oh well, sometimes I need to do what I want to do. /i With that Nathan began to lean forward toward Haley. He needed to feel her lips, taste them. As he leaned across the table Haley looked at him in anticipation; she had never kissed a boy before.
Their faces were but inches apart as Nathan breathed out one single word, "Hales." And with that one single word Haley retreated. Nathan looked at her in surprise.
"Haley, wait what's the matter?"
"I uh, I have to go."
"But Hales, wait," Nathan pleaded.
"Nathan just let me go," Haley cried as she grabbed her things, " and please don't call me that." There was only one other person who called her that, and that one other person is whose face just flashed through her mind at that moment. That person was Lucas, Haley's best friend, and Nathan's worst nightmare.
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