I got too excited and wanted to post another chapter! So, thanks to mistydm, mary-023, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, AngelLuva, JPNeverlosetheButterflies, and naleyluv for reviewing!

Chapter 23

Nathan woke me when we arrived at my apartment. I was happy to finally be home! I missed Millie, Brooke and Lucas. I know I'm going to miss Peyton and Larry, but I realize now that they aren't going anywhere; I can go and see them any time I want to.

I got out of the truck and ran inside. Brooke was nowhere to be seen. I was kind of sad that she wasn't there to greet me, but I realized that she didn't spend ALL of her time here. I heard a yipping and turned to see Millie crying to get out of her cage. "BABY GIRL!" I exclaimed and her tail wagged.

I laughed and too her out. "How are you? Oh, I missed you!" she gave me kisses as I took her to the couch. I layed down and she sat on my stomach. Nathan walked in with our bags and then sat down on the couch. "I don't think I ever thanked you for coming with me, Nate."

He looked over at me with a smile. He moved my feet so they were on his lap. "You did thank me, but I was happy to go, Hales. You needed someone to support you and I'm always going to be here for you," he replied.

I sighed, content to be home again. Millie had jumped down and began playing with one of her toys. I looked over to Nathan who had his eyes closed. I grinned and sat up, moving onto his lap. He smiled, but didn't open his eyes. I kissed his lips softly. "I would start something, Nate, but Brooke will probably come in so we might as well stop," I said and got off of his lap.

He groaned. "Why did we come home again?" he opened his eyes and looked right at me.

I smiled. "Because we would've missed Brooke and Luke too much and you know it."

He layed on top of me and began kissing my neck. I laughed but didn't stop him. "We wouldn't miss them that much. We could've spent an extra day there and stayed in a hotel room the entire time."

"You could have but then I wouldn't be there to interupt you two!" We looked towards the door where Brooke and Lucas stood.

Nathan got off of me and helped me to stand. "TIGGER!" I yelled.

"TUTORGIRL!" she replied and she ran into my open arms. "I missed you sooo much! Ask Broody how often I talked about you. Millie missed you soo much, too! We would sit and watch sad movies and cry for you while you were gone!"

I laughed. "Brookie, I was gone three days!"

"So? I missed you!" she said and pulled back. "How was the trip? Anything exciting happen?" she wiggled her eyebrows at me.

"Brooke!" I exclaimed and looked to Nathan and Luke.

"What? I was just asking!" she shugged and then turned to the boys. "Hey, hotshot. How's it going?"

"Pretty good, Brooke. How was everything here?" he asked.

"Just fine, but terribly boring at times," she replied.

I realized that I neeed to be completely open with them and tell them everything from my past with Chris. I think this is what is holding me back from more with Nathan, from telling him I love him. "Guys, I really need to talk to you all," I said and they all looked at me.

"Whats up, Haley?" Luke asked.

"I think we should all sit down," I replied and motioned to the couch. Brooke and Luke sat on the lazy boy recliner and Nate and I sat on the couch. Nathan grabbed my hand.

"What's going on, baby?" he asked, concern in his eyes.

I gave him a small smile. "I haven't been completely honest with you guys. It's been hard to open up, but you most of all, Nate, deserve to know this. It's about my past with Chris," I started. I took a deep breath. "You see, I thought I would never find someone to love. Chris told me he loved me and I was kinda forced into telling him I loved him. I mean, I never thought I would find someone else that loved me as much as he said he did. I just figured I would eventually learn to love him. After I told him that I did in fact love him, he started.. expecting more of me. I figured, he loves me, right? So, I just let him have what he wanted, even if it wasn't what I wanted. It made me feel so dirty and so violated, but I let him do it in fear that if I didn't, I'd spend the rest of my life alone," I finished and they all just stared at me.

"Haley, have you ever told anyone about this?" Brooke asked and I shook my head no. "Haley, you have to talk to the police! He had no right to make you have sex with him! That's rape!"

I shook my head again. "I never told him no, Brooke. It's not rape if you don't say no!" I replied but she wouldn't hear it.

"Haley, you didn't want it, that is rape! I don't care if you said no or not! He will not get away with this!" she practically yelled.

I stood up. "Don't you think I have the right to say that or not? Listen, all I want is for Chris to be out of my life for good! That's all that I want!"

"Then send him to jail, Haley! Thats the only way he's gonna leave you alone!" she exclaimed. We were right in each others faces by now.

"That's not the only way to get rid of him, Brooke. See, we graduate in 3 months. After that, I can move again and get far away from Chris! I'll never have to think about him again!"

"Oh, so you're gonna just forget about me, Lucas, and more importantly, your boyfriend, Nathan!"

"No, I would never do that, Brooke. You are my best friend and I love Nathan! I would never just up and leave without either taking you with me or moving somewhere close to you!" I screamed and then we became quiet. Wait a minute. Did I just say I loved Nathan? I looked at him and it seemed like he was stuck on the words, too. I sat down next to him. "I do, Nate. I love you with all my heart. I am so in love with you! I never felt anything like this with Chris and I definately know that, that wasn't love."

He pulled me to him, his lips crashing into mine. I was so happy in that moment. Nathan knew that I loved him; that I was in love with him and I knew he loved me. I couldn't be happier. He pulled back, suddenly and we were both breathing heavy. "Haley, I'm glad that you can tell me things and I'm so happy that you love me, but I thought you've been thinking it was too soon to tell if you loved me or not."

I smiled. "When I'm with you, my knees go weak. When you hold me, theres no place I would rather be. When I'm lonely, all I have to do is call you and you'll be there by my side. I'm so in love with you, Nathan Scott. I just had to admit it to myself before I could tell you," I said and I've never seen him so happy.

He looked away with a grin, but looked back confused. "Where did they go?"

I completely forgot about Brooke and Lucas! "I don't know," I replied and went to look outside. I opened the door and saw no Brooke or Lucas. I just happened to look down at the door knob to see a black scrunchie. I laughed slightly, but thanked Brooke in my mind. I walked back over to Nathan and sat on his lap.

"Were they out there? Did they leave? When are they coming back?" he wrapped his arms around my waist.

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Lets just say that we determine when they come back again," I replied and began kissing him. This was not like any ordinary kiss I had given him. This kiss was filled with love, passion, need, want. This was filled with more feeling than I've ever put into anything.

Nathan returned it wholeheartedly. I could tell this was it; the right time. I reached my hands down to the hem of his shirt and began tugging it up. He lifted his arms to help me and we quickly threw it aside, our mouths moving back together as soon as it was flung. I ran my hands along his toned abs, wanting to feel more, and not afraid to do so.

His hands were under my shirt, gently caressing my skin. I pulled back from the kiss to take my own shirt off. All of a sudden, Nathan stood up with me in his arms. "What are you doing?" I asked, breathing heavy.

"We are going to the bedroom," he replied. "Our first time together is not going to be on a couch. I want to make it as special as I can." I smiled at him. He was too sweet.

I began kissing his neck; sucking and biting, to make sure my mark was left. I could tell he was enjoying it when he moaned. He threw me on the bed and just looked down at me. I gave him a smile. "What?" I asked, reaching out my hand to him.

He took it and sat down beside me. "Are you sure about this, Hales? I don't want to make you do something if you're not ready," He said softly. Then added, "I don't want to be another Chris Keller to you."

I sat up immediately and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Oh, Nathan, you are so far from Chris! Don't ever compare yourself to him!" I pulled back and put my hands on his cheeks, making him look me in the eye. "I love you, Nathan. Chris forced himself on me, and you aren't doing that! I want this. I want to be with you so much! For the first time in my life I'm not scared about something because I'm going to be with you! Whenever you're around, I feel safe," I said and he still looked slightly sad.

I leaned in to kiss him, slowly at first, but indeed the passion grew. He layed me back and we continued our little makeout session. I grabbed his hand and moved it down to my jeans. I knew I was being bold, but I didn't care. I needed him. I needed to feel him inside of me; to make love to me.

He instantly began undoing the zipper, helping me slip out of them. He looked down at my body and, I admit, I felt slightly selfconscious. He looked back up into my eyes with a smile. "You're absolutely beautiful."

My heart melted and I pulled him down to kiss me again. I helped him pull off his shorts and we lay there in just our underwear. Slowly, the three barriers were slipped off, leaving us completely naked. Nathan pulled the cover over us both then reached over to his pants. He moved back over to me with a condom in his hand.

I looked up at the ceiling. This was it. I was extremely nervous, but excited at the same time. What if I was horrible? What if this truely does break us up? My thoughts were silenced by his lips on mine. "Stop worrying, Haley," he whispered and I managed a small smile. "I love you."

All my fears washed away with those words. "I love you, too," I replied, my voice confident. That afternoon was spent in my bedroom, showing each other just what we meant to the other. Safe to say, it was one of the greatest afternoons of my life.

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