Author's Note:
Dang'rous-Love.23 – Thank you very much for the review and thank you for the compliment!
TutorWife23 – Well, here's your update and I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
chelle2911 – Thank you for reviewing!
xSmile – I'm happy you liked the first meeting! There will be more flashbacks soon.
Daygoner – Do I have to say anything? Thanks for the review and thanks for helping me write this thing – love ya!
xxbabii – Well I'm happy that you're happy I updated and I'm glad you had fun reading Naley's first encounter.
Nathanlvr – Thank you for reviewing! And we'll have to see about a happy reunion in this chapter now won't we?
WBblued34 – Thank you for reviewing!
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who reviewed! All of the reviews really motivated me to write more and knowing that people like my story makes my week! Secondly, I'd like to apologise for the shortness of this chapter, I just felt that it would be ruined if I wrote anymore and I wanted to end this chapter the way that I did. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter and please review, whether you liked it or not. I'd love to hear what y'all think about it even if you only drop a few words it would greatly appreciated by me!
4. Rhythms of the Heart
'He loves me, he loves me not.'
The soft light of the moon shone softly upon the sandy beach as the pair walked along the shoreline. Haley's head rested gently on Nathan's shoulder as silence washed over the bay. Their hands were slightly grazing one another's – neither daring to move away, neither daring to move closer. Her blood was pumping through her veins with anticipation while his heart was still stinging for the heartbreak he had suffered – and neither attempted to the break the stillness and instead chose to suffer in silence.
Looking up towards the night sky, Nathan exhaled deeply, staring at the moon, almost willing it to turn back time. But he held no such luck. Instead, he continued to walk in silence next to Haley, afraid to speak, fearing his emotions would betray their love.
As he thought this, Haley's emotions conflicted with his. The deathly silence was killing her inside and with each step she took, the faster she heard her heart beat and the more she felt her eyes threaten to well up with tears. His silence was terrifying her. He never hid behind his mask when he was with her – and now it seemed as if they belonged to two separate worlds. Not being able to stand it any longer, she broke the calm, serene atmosphere and let her hurt, angry, scared feelings come crashing down upon Nathan.
But instead all that managed to come out was,
"I'm sorry." Her own words surprised her. They had come out in a soft whisper and were spoken with utmost sincerity. And even though she hadn't intended on saying those words, she still meant them. His reaction though, shocked the both of them even more.
"I know." Was all he said. And with that he walked away, leaving Haley behind him, dazed and confused – but most of all hurt. She felt the pain course through her body repeatedly sending shockwaves down her nerves as she walked home, wherever that was, listening to his deep, hollow voice continually saying 'I know'. He spoke those two words as if he was entirely numb and yet his eyes held a whirlwind of emotions that were indecipherable to her and everyone else for miles around. He had retreated into his old form of a closed book long ago, but Haley was seeing this for the first time tonight. She didn't understand what he meant by this and she didn't want to. All she wanted was for her life to go back to normal, where she could be as carefree as she liked and where she wouldn't have to stay awake all night while her heart shivered with loneliness. She wanted to go back to the times where she would come to a house filled with people who loved her. But most of all she wanted to wake up, rush out of her house and jump into his strong, muscular arms. She wanted to look into his passionate azure blue eyes and kiss him senseless. But unfortunately, as she reached the door to her 'home', all she could think of was the phrase – 'you don't always get what you want'.
"You don't always get what you want." She said to herself, shaking her head and entering the shell of the home she once lived in.
And sitting on the doorsteps of the house next door, Nathan whispered,
"But I'll fight life itself to make sure you get everything you want." And after a pause he spoke again, "Only sometimes my heart doesn't have the strength to carry on fighting because it's weakened by the power you hold over me."
