Chapter 3

Nathan stared at his computer screen and more specificaly the little box on it. In it read "Are you sure you want to make this purchase?" And underneath it were two choices: Yes and No. What am I doing, Nathan asked himself? He moved the mouse over to the 'No' choice, but didn't click. This would cost him that weeks pay from his job. But then again... He really wanted it and wanted to see Haley's reaction when he showed her. He moved the mouse to the 'Yes' choice and clicked before he could change his mind.

"You're purchase has been made. We will send you an e-mail to verify that it went smoothly. Thank you." Nathan read this over and over on his computer screen. He knew he wouldn't regret this.

It was Thursday and last period. Nathan and Haley had a tutoring session after school. When the bell rang for the end of school, Haley got out of class, stopped by her locker to get the books she needed and then headed for the tutoring session. Normaly Nathan would be there already waiting for her, but today he wasn't. Haley figured that he was probably held up in class or something and she took a seat at their usual table and waited.

Twenty minutes later, Haley started to worry. Nathan still hadn't arrived in the tutoring center and this was so unlike him. Maybe he had been absent that day or something? She figured she should go see Principle Turner and ask him.

Haley knocked on his door, just before it opened. Haley was surprised to see none other than Nathan walk out of there with a cut on his cheek. Haley gasped.

"What happened to you?" She said fighting the urge to put her hand to his cheek. Before Nathan could answer for himself, Mr. Turner showed up.

"Nathan here, got into a fight, Ms. James." Mr. Turner said. Haley couldn't believe it, but she was actualy surprised by hearing this. Spending time with Nathan and having fun and him being nice to her, made her completely forget who he was? That he was exactly the type to get into fights at school.

"Oh," Haley didn't know what to say. She knew Nathan was that type but she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed in him. "Well, we still have forty minutes left for tutoring if you want." She said to Nathan, but once again, Mr. Turner answered for him.

"Yes, that would be great. Thank you Haley." Haley just nodded and left the office, Nathan following her. Nathan and Haley walked back to the tutoring center in complete silence. Haley wanted to say something but didn't know what to say and same with Nathan. Once they sat down at the table, Haley decided to be the first to talk.

"Nathan, what happened?"

"Look, I know you're probably disappointed in me and all, but I actualy did have a good reason for fighting, not that I always do, but this time I do." Nathan said and Haley nodded for him to continue. "This guy, Jared Gabriel, he was being an ass to me for no reason. So I just shoved him to get out of my face and then he kind of went at it so... I fought him back." Nathan explained.

"You were fighting Jared Gabriel? Wow, he is an ass." Haley didn't really know him that well, but he was in her English class and he seemed so smug and annoying. She didn't see why everyone thought he was so great. It was obveous that he was jealous of Nathan's popularity. Haley, who was completely anti-violence, could actualy see why someone would want to fight with him.

"Yeah. And of course, the teachers had to come right when I was tackling him, so now I'm the one with the punishment." Nathan said. He was obveously still pissed off by this.

"What's your punishment?" Haley asked.

"A week without basketball. Which means that I miss the game of Friday. But I guess that also means that I won't have practice tonight, so we can make our tutoring session an hour long after all. It'll just end a little later. Sorry you had to wait, by the way." Nathan said.

"Oh that's OK. I think I had it better than you did." She said, pointing to his cut. "You know, you should really clean that up."

"Yeah, Okay. I'll just go to the bathroom to do it-"Nathan said.

"No no no." Haley interupted him. "We've waisted enough time already. Here, " Haley said, handing him the math textbook. "Go over some problems. I'll be right back." Haley said.

A few minutes later, Haley came back into the room with a First Aid Kit. Nathan watched her take out the bottle of rubbing alcohol and poor some on a cotton ball. She brought it up to his cheek.

"Ow." Nathan said, remarking about the stinging feeling. But it was actualy kind of nice. Having Haley take care of him like that.

"Ooooh, so tough-guy Nathan Scott, is not so tough after all!" Haley teased. She couldn't believe she was actualy doing this. HER? Flirting with Nathan? It was so weird... but she kind of liked it.

Nathan laughed. "Hey! I'm tough enough to get this cut in the first place." Nathan said trying to defend himself.

"Well, I hope Jared Gabriel is more beat-up than you are."

"Hell Yeah!" Nathan yelled a little too loud. He was getting carried away. Some other people in there shushed him. "Sorry," He whispered. Who would think that people were actualy studying and tutoring in here?

Haley laughed at him. She was finishing up taking care of his face. She placed a band-aid on his cheek. "There," She said, trying not to laugh at how stupid he looked like that.

"What? It looks that bad...?" Nathan said.

"No!" Haley said still laughing, "You look like... Nelly?" Haley said taking her hand away from his face but staying in front of him. She stopped laughing. Their closeness was making her nervous but she didn't want to more. There faces were litteraly just a couple inches apart.

Oh, what Haley would have given, just to kiss him right then and there. All the other people in the tutoring center just dissapeared to Nathan and Haley. Nathan slowly leaned his face closer to hers. And now there lips were litteraly just an inch apart.

This is it, Nathan told himself, go for it! And right when he was about to kiss her...

Haley made the mistake of looking up for just a second and she noticed the clock on the wall and stood up abruptly. "Oh my gosh! It's already six?" She hated doing that but she needed to. Her parents were expecting her home at five-thirty.

Nathan closed his eyes and sighed. He was THAT close. He cursed himself for taking so long and watched Haley gather up her stuff quickly and mutter things about being sorry for cutting their session short and that she'd see him tomorrow and then she ran out the door.

Man, he thought, they hadn't even gotten any tutoring done!

AN: OK I hope you liked it! Please Review it would mean so much to me! thx a bunch! This one wasn't too long either, but with both this chapter and chapter 2 at the same time, it makes a pretty long update! thanks for reading! I appreciate your feedback!

NEXT:

You'll find out what Nathan was buying online.

You get to meet Haley's parents and maybe Nathan's mom.

Will Nathan or Haley mention their almost-kiss?