It's been a while, I know. I just got back from London, and now I'm working and taking more summer classes online— it's safe to say I've barely had a second to relax, but I've been dying to write this for the past month. I heard this song and instantly pictured Naley. I stayed up late tonight to bang it out and I'm absolutely in love with how it turned out (very rare for me, I must say). Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this. It's based on Taylor Swift's 'You Are in Love.'
I'm hoping to write some more stuff in the near future. I'm not done yet, just want to make sure I have proper time before I commit to anything new. Thanks a bunch!
One look
Dark room
Meant just
for you
She feels his gaze on her back before they can even meet. The room is dark but those blue eyes are like two distinct stars hanging high in the night sky. A quiet gasp leaves her lips.
Time moved
too fast
you play
it back
Next thing she knows, he's walking towards her. He's magnetic. She can't turn away— though, she'd never actually want to. A future memory yet to have formed flashes through her mind. This would be the night they tell their children about; the night they met. She clings to it feverishly, desperate to recall every second.
Buttons on a coat
lighthearted joke
"Hi," she hears his breathy whisper tickle inside her ear. Bashfully, her brown eyes begin to drown in his blue orbs. She blushes and nervously fumbles with the buttons on her coat, only then realizing it was much too warm in there to even be wearing it.
"Hi. I'm Haley James."
"Nathan Scott," he smirks. "My mom always told me not to stare. I hope it didn't creep you out."
She giggles at his light hearted joke, "Just a bit."
"Well, it was impossible to look away," he says, unblinkingly.
Haley gulps, wishing her cup was filled with wine and not water.
No proof
Not much
But you saw
Enough
Looking back now, she knows that was the moment everything changed. Call it hindsight-bias, but one encounter was enough to know— she was in love.
Small talk
he drives
coffee at midnight
Nathan and Haley stand there making menial small talk, filling the fast approaching seconds flowing between them. He's charming. She's laughing. He knows his jokes are lame, but appreciates her enthusiasm.
"Wanna get coffee? I'll drive." He suddenly says, not wanting her to leave.
"It's midnight," she protests weakly. She doesn't know why. The thought of parting makes her heart start to shed.
"Do I have to worry about you turning into a pumpkin or something?" He chuckles with child-like humor, and Haley can't help but admire the crinkles crunching around the corners of his eyes.
"Nope, you're safe there. I'll have to stick to decaf though otherwise I won't sleep. I've got work tomorrow."
He nods and grabs her hand. She ignores the voice in her head reminding her they've only just met and he could be a serial killer. The louder voice in her head screams 'shut up. He's the one.'
She's glad she listens to that one instead.
They find the only cafe still open, a little place on a corner hidden somewhere in North Carolina.
He listens to her talk and hides his giddy smile behind the coffee lid.
She tells him about her job. She's an English teacher. Went to Stanford, but born and raised in North Carolina.
Haley knows she's rambling, but she can't stop the words from flowing. She knows he doesn't mind. He's smiling and doesn't interrupt.
Blue light
reflects
the chain
on your neck
They stay until it's time to close— three in the morning. He gently grabs her hand again and walks outside. The pale moonlight reflects the chain on Haley's neck. She's glowing.
He says
'Look up,'
and your shoulders brush
no proof
one touch
but you felt
enough
He can tell she's nervous again and finds it quite endearing. Watching enamored, Haley studies her heels against the pavement.
"Look up," she hears him say softly. Immediately, her eyes find his and their shoulders brush.
Slowly, his lips lean down to touch hers and they share a gentle kiss. Something inside of her, a feeling she has never felt before, stretches and reaches the tip of her soul. One kiss was all it took for Haley to know exactly what it is.
You can hear it in the silence
in the silence
You can feel it on the way home
way home
A comfortable silence settles among them on the car ride home. His right hand never leaves hers. She has her lower lip tucked between her teeth to keep from screeching like a sixteen-year-old girl.
You can see it with the lights out
lights out
lights out
You
You're in love
true love
you're in love
She gives him directions to her house. He drives slowly and gets out of the car first, then runs to the passenger side and helps her out of the seat.
Haley can no longer contain her blissful smile. She feels like she's in a dream.
Nathan walks her to the front door. The porch light is off, and it's dark. She can still see those eyes though. The eyes she knows she's already in love with.
Her stomach flips with the realization.
He leans down again— he's at least a foot taller than her— and kisses her delicately at first. She throws his arms around his neck and outlines his lips with the tip of her tongue, seeking entrance. He smiles then reluctantly pulls away.
"I had an amazing time tonight, Haley James."
"Thank you, Nathan. So did I."
"I hope we can do this again soon," he pleaded.
She nods quickly and he chuckles at her haste. "I'd love to."
They exchange numbers and part with one last long kiss.
Haley watches from the door as he walks back to his car and drives off. It's only when she's safe inside does she start squealing.
Morning
his place
burnt toast
Sunday
You keep his shirt
he keeps
his word
and for once
you let go
of your fears
and your ghosts
They go on dates for the next four weeks before he asks her to be his girlfriend. She can't think of any word other than 'yes' and they fall into his bed that night.
The next morning she wakes to the smell of burning. Nathan's not next to her but she finds the blue t-shirt she pulled off of him last night still lying on the floor. Quickly she slips it on and runs into the kitchen, finding her boyfriend fending off black smoke from the toaster oven. She almost laughs, but decides to help him instead.
"I tired making breakfast," he admits embarrassingly.
She brushes a kiss against the scruff of his beard. He forgot to shave last night but she finds it sexy.
"We can have cereal," Haley smiles.
He laughs and pulls her to his shirtless chest. "You look good in my shirt."
A blush tints her cheeks. "Thanks."
"Hey," his voice deepens after pressing a kiss in her strawberry scented hair.
"Yeah?" She looks up.
"I meant what I said last night, Hales. I'm not going anywhere."
She nuzzles her nose in his neck. "I know." And she believes him. It's not the first time someone has told her that, but this time she knows it's true. He's not going anywhere, and neither is she. She's no longer afraid.
One step
not much
but it's said
enough
Okay, so maybe she's a little afraid to tell him. All she has to say are those three little words. The three words people speak every single day. And yet, she still hasn't mustered the courage to tell him what she's been feeling ever since the night they first met.
You kiss on sidewalks
She almost slips and says it a few weeks later when they kiss in the rain on the sidewalk outside his house.
"I-,"
"What?" He brushes a damp curl out of her eyes.
Haley shakes her head and leans back on her tip-toes to kiss him again, not caring who sees.
You fight and you talk
Their first fight is stupid. Neither know how it started or what it is even about. Haley rolls her eyes and Nathan bangs his fist against the counter.
She grabs her bag, ready to leave, but he jumps in front of her.
"Don't go."
She nods and they talk at the kitchen table. He apologizes for his irrational behavior and Haley says she's sorry too. They kiss and make-up before ordering Chinese take-out and act like nothing ever even happened.
One night
he wakes
strange look
on his face
pauses
then says
'you're my best friend'
and you knew what it was
he is
in love
It is three months into the relationship when it happens. She stirs when she feels him rustling beside her in the bed. Sitting up, Haley looks at the clock and notices it's past one in the morning.
He's looking at her strangely, almost like the first night he was staring at her.
"Nathan?" She prompts.
He laces their fingers together and smiles. A short pause fills the air. "You're my best friend, Haley."
She smiles and they share a short, passionate kiss. The look says it all. She doesn't question it any longer. He is in love.
And so it goes
you two are dancing in a snow globe
round and round
and he keeps a picture of you
in his office downtown
Nathan finds himself getting lost in thought as he stares at the picture of Haley he has on his desk. He took it in December when she dragged him to go ice-skating in the park. It was the first snow fall of the winter and it looked magical.
She doesn't know he has it but it's his favorite picture. She's staring up at the sky, mid-laugh, and looks absolutely breath-taking. God, he's so in love with her.
And you understand now
why they lost their minds
and fought the wars
and why I spent my
whole life
trying to
put it into words
'cause you can hear it in the silence
you feel it on the way home
you can see it with the lights out
you're in love
true love
you're in love
you can hear it in the silence
you
you can feel it on the way home
way home
you
you can see it with the lights out
you
you're in love
true love
Nathan leaves work early and ignores his boss's cries. He has to tell her. He doesn't know why he hasn't yet, but he can't possibly wait any longer.
He speeds to her house and finds her getting out of her car. She's just getting home from the school.
"Nathan?" She's surprised to see him, knowing he doesn't get off until five. They have dinner plans at six, but she's excited he's here early.
He runs to her, out of breath and watches as a look of confusion drapes across her face.
"I have to tell you something," he breathes heavily and she stares.
"What is it?"
He inhales deeply and a slow smile traces his lips. "I love you. I'm in love with you, Haley James."
She giggles freely and throws herself into him. "I know. I love you, too."
Finally.
