WARNING: NALEY-NESS! Hehe, enjoy!

Chapter 9: Eyes

After squaring everything off with Mouth, Nathan couldn't help but be giddy—it was a side of him that he didn't even know he had. Nathan was used to being who everyone else wanted him to be… a star athlete for his dad, the jock "it" boy for his peers, but never the true Nathan Scott. Now however, he had met someone who didn't care that he was Mr. Big Shot, she would have been just as supportive of him if he was some guy named Lenny with a snaggletooth and one arm. The fact of that matter was that Haley James didn't care who Nathan was, but who he could be… someone better than the front he's been putting up for everyone. Nathan went through his day with one thought in mind "tomorrow," for that is when his next tutoring session was, and that's when he was going to talk to Haley. Hopefully she was still feeling that same way about him as that day in the tutoring center when they almost kissed, but he could never tell with her since she was a nice person in general. That night Nathan went to bed with a smile plastered on his face and was for once in his life, actually excited to go to school.

That morning, Nathan woke up with a little less excitement and a little more nervousness. "Today's the day," he thought to himself, "but am I really ready to do this?" He got out of bed and put on a pair of khaki shorts and his red collared shirt. As he looked in the mirror he couldn't help but notice the framed picture hung up on wall behind him. It was of him Lucas and Skills from a couple years ago. "Lucas," he thought to himself, feeling a knot start to build beneath his six-pack abs. His name had been like taboo between he and Haley ever since the incident last summer, but he hoped that now that things were better… not great, but better, that Haley would stop holding back. He went through school that day keeping his eyes out for Haley, but he didn't see her. Nathan started to get scared she wasn't in school so they wouldn't be tutoring, but once he opened the door to the center there she was sitting Indian-style on one of the chairs working on her homework. The sun was shining down on her, illuminating the stray hairs that weren't in her bun which was placed messily on the top of her head, as well as illuminating the flecks of gold string on Haley's "ugly-ass" poncho… Nathan made a mental note to tell her not to wear that once they started dating. He was no fashion expert, but he knew that poncho was about as nice looking as his grandfather's hairy back. In a way though, Nathan liked the poncho. It was unique, and it was known fact that no one else would wear that but Haley; he loved the fact she was unique.

"Hey," she said after looking up upon hearing the door open.

"Hey yourself. I didn't really see you in school today I was scared you weren't going to show."

"Nathan. Have you forgotten who I was? Haley James does not miss school. I think the last time was sixth grade when I had bronchitis, strep throat, and the chicken pox all at the same time. And even then my mom had to practically tie me down so I wouldn't go to school."

"This is true, I don't know what got into me," he joked.

"I'll let it slide this time buddy. So anyway, you're fifteen minutes late. I was scared you weren't showing cause you hadn't talk to Mouth of something."

"Oh no, I did that, all is well with both Lucas and Mouth, so you, my Haley, still get the pleasure of teaching me," Nathan replied after conveniently sidetracking past the fact that he was fifteen minutes late, not wanting to explain to Haley that he was aimlessly walking around the school trying to calm his nerves. "Did I just say i my Haley /i ?" Nathan thought to himself.

Haley looked at him smirking, "My Haley? Huh Nathan didn't know I was yours."

"Uh, you now what I mean. It's like that saying, you my friend, but instead you my Haley. Uh, yeah," Nathan said his face obviously getting a little red. "Is Nathan Scott blushing at me?" Haley thought to yourself.

"Well whatever Scott, i your Haley /i is about to help you with some biology, your teacher told me you failed your quiz today. What unit are you guys on anyway?"

"Well… the human reproductive system."

Haley couldn't help but laugh. "Please Nathan, please. Don't tell me I'm going to have to give you 'The Talk,' that's what parents are for and I really would have thought you knew about pen-"

"Whoa, whoa. I'm good Haley. I'm good. I know about all that stuff thank you very much. I was just not really paying attention today so when they gave the pop quiz I just cheated off of Tim. Which of course was a horrible mistake considering well, he's Tim."

"Nathan. When are you going to learn? Cheating is no good. Plus if your going to cheat, then do it off of someone like me, not Tim. Anyways, get your book out buddy, your teacher said you can retake the quiz tomorrow, but we have to study."

"Sorry, I was daydreaming about you," Nathan muttered to himself, but then let out a loud "Okay," as he got his biology book out of his bag. As he began to open it up, Haley grabbed the book out of his hands so she could quiz him, their hands touching ever so slightly, but staying like that for what both seemed like eternity. Haley of course being Haley, had to ruin the moment.

"Ew, Nathan, you hands are so damn clammy!"

"Thanks, Haley. You really know how to compliment," Nathan said, feeling embarrassed.

"Aww Nathan, its okay. I know I'm just too sexy. You can't help but get nervous around me," Haley chimed, noticing Nathan's face get another shade brighter.

"Oh yes Haley. I can't believe how hot you look in your sexy poncho," Nathan mocked.

"Excuse me, but my grandmother made this for me thank you very much and I just happen to like it."

"Chill Haley I was just joking… about the poncho," Nathan stated. "Here's my chance," he thought to himself.

"Uh Nathan…" Haley said, starting to get flustered. She never really knew quite what was going on in Nathan's mind. I mean, she knew he liked her, there was no doubt about their flirting, but maybe he had actually been serious about a relationship when he apologized to Lucas and Mouth. She being the naïve one thought it was just because of her tutoring.

"Look Haley, I'm not going to lie. I like you. You know I do. Or at least I thought you did."

"Well you did drop some hints, but those lines? I thought you were joking, I mean 'You + Me Us,' that's pretty cheesy."

"Again Haley, thanks for that confidence boost," Nathan said, noticing Haley was now the one getting red. "Anyway, I know in the past I've acted like a jerk. I've screwed up our friendship-acquintance thing, whatever we are before, but I'm not that guy anymore. I'm sick of being the jerk, and I want to be the person you make me think I can be. This is sounding so cliché but you make me want to be a better person. You don't pressure me and you're the only person I feel I can truly be myself around without apprehension."

"Apprehension, nice word usage, looks like you're learning something," Haley joked. Nathan just rolled his eyes and continued on, "I guess what I'm saying is even though you can be sarcastic, ugly-poncho wearing Haley James, you're still the same person who let's me be me, and with you by my side, I think I'd be ready to show the world the true Nathan Scott. So Haley, I guess what I'm trying to say is… go out with me? I mean, we can start small, maybe go out to dinner or a movie. Okay maybe not the movies since that didn't work out to well last time, but we should go out. I want you to be my girlfriend," Nathan stated, almost as if he was pleading, staring at Haley waiting for an answer.

Haley just stared at him, her jaw open. Had Nathan Scott really just spilled his heart out to her? Was she like deaf or something… did he just ask her out? Ask her to be his girlfriend? What about Lucas? Oh god, what about Lucas? Haley's mind was racing, but she couldn't help but be inspired by Nathan. He was finally doing something for himself for once, maybe she should too. Lucas would get over it anyway, besides him and Nathan are on better terms at this point, and things were cleared up that Nathan wasn't the backstabbing scum Lucas had thought him to be. Then, before she could even finish her thoughts, the words just slipped out, "This isn't some, 'She's All That,' makeover bet thing is it? Cause you are friends with Tim."

"Haley, look in my eyes. Do you really think I would do that to you?" Nathan stated sincerely, staring intently into Haley's eyes as she drowned herself in his icy blues.

"No," Haley replied, immediately fixing herself. "I mean. No you wouldn't do that but…Yes,"

"What?" Nathan said, being thrown out of his thoughts and surprised that Haley had said yes.

"Yes," Haley said, now looking up at him, a big smile plastered on his face. "Gosh, who would of thought me and Nathan Scott. You know you are the only person I know who can make me go through emotions for a person so quickly. First I had no feelings, back in the days of "Scoe", then I liked you... as a friend… then more than a friend... then I hated you... and now…"

"And now…" Nathan said wiggling his eyebrows and giddy at the fact that he could truly call Haley 'my Haley.'

"Well, now I don't hate you," Haley replied smirking at Nathan's confused expression. "Aww Nate, just kidding! You know I lo-..like you!"

"Thanks Hales," Nathan said, feeling the awkwardness come right after it left his lips. "Oh uh…"

"Nathan it's okay. Remember, I said my friends call me that? Well, we're now more than friends, so call me whatever you want. Call me i your Haley /i ," she said obviously teasing him.

"Haha, very funny. You're not going to let that go are you?"

"Don't count on it, but on a more serious note. Can we uh, keep this on the 'DL' for a little. I want to tell Lucas before he finds out from other people; I haven't seen him since you talked to him."

"Gosh, now your afraid to be seen with me?" Nathan joked.

"Nathan you know its not like that, but please let's not reopen old wounds, you were a jackass then ya know that?"

"Yep, but didn't you hear what I was saying before? I'm not that guy anymore."

"I know," Haley said leaning over the table and giving him a little kiss on the forehead. "But you know what you are? Someone who's in dire need to learn about the birds and the bees, so let's get going buddy because you're going to ace that make up quiz tomorrow!"

"Whatever you say Hales…" Nathan said, staring at the side of his new i girlfriend /i , just admiring her beauty as she looked down at the biology book and began to tutor him.

As always, hope you enjoyed! Leave the good, the bad, the happy, the sad. Please leave reviews, they make me happy and are motivational :