AN: Thanks so much for the awesome reviews to: Liz457, Nathanlvr, Hera Agathon, mistydm, chelle2911, Lorilozz, AngelLuva, and OTH.daddy'sgurl.06! I think you guys will like this chapter!
Chapter 28
Haley was drowning in her favorite Green Day compilation and not even paying attention to how she was getting ready. She had done this so many times that she could do it in her sleep. Put on tights, dress, shoes. Put up hair. Put on blush. Fake a smile. That was the routine. Fancy dinner, after fancy dinner, and Haley was getting sick of it. Before she could weigh out these long evenings with the good things in her life. But these days there weren't any good thing anymore. And it was her own fault.
She had been really miserable lately. Cries, regret... But once she got home, none of that even mattered. After applying the cover-up for this nights evening, you couldn't tell she was crying. When she flashed her pearly whites, it didn't matter that her smile was just a disguise. Her love tragedies would mean nothing to careless business men who are closer to her parents than she is.
Haley got dressed, put up her hair and put on her make-up. She skipped the smile part. It was too much trouble. She turned off 'Wake Me Up When September Ends', the song only making her more sad, and after a deep breath, she stepped out of her room. She forced herself to go down stairs and into the living room, where the dinner was being held. Two dozen or so people were sitting or standing there, chatting away about what Haley could only imagine must be just about the most boring thing ever.
"Haley, hello dear, you look wonderful," Some woman Haley barely recognized said to her. Yeah right, Haley thought.
"Thanks," Haley said with no specific tone or expression. She hadn't put a smile on, completely forgetting about the whole concept.
"My, you've grown," Some man said as Haley passed him.
"Uh... Yeah, I guess," Haley said, swearing that the last time she had seen that man must have only been a couple of days ago, and Haley doubted that she'd grown since then.
---
"Mom? You home?" Nathan announced when he got home from work that evening. He doubted she was going to be home yet. She was almost never there. But to his surprise, she was standing there in the kitchen, waiting for him.
"Hey, honey," She said walking to him. "How are you?" She said not-so-casually. She had a concerned face, and Nathan knew that it wasn't just an every-day 'how are you?' She was really saying, 'I know you've been suffering. Do you want to talk about it?'
Nathan sighed and sat down at the table. His mom sat down across from him. "Not so good," Nathan answered, honestly. He could always talk to his mom about things.
"Is this about Haley?" She asked, knowing the answer. Her son could never be this torn up unless he had one hell of a broken heart. "Her not living here anymore?"
"It's not about her not living here anymore." Nathan said, "It's about her not being able to see me anymore. Mom, I don't know what to do. It's been over a week since she left my life, and yet I'm not getting any better. Every second I'm not with her, it just gets worse." Nathan said. It was true. He knew he could never get over someone like Haley. It was either be with her or be miserable forever. He just wanted to be with her. He just wanted to love her.
"I know, honey," She said taking his hand in hers soothingly. "Do you want to hear my advice? Although, I think you're taking this very well, I do have some words of wisdom, as your mother."
"Yeah, actually I'd love to hear it." Nathan said happy that his mother wanted to help. He knew that it was a good thing to talk to her.
"OK," Her mother said taking a deep breath, "You know I love you. And I know you very well. You are so deep in love with Haley, it kills you in times like these. And it kills me to see you like this. Yes, Haley did leave. And yes, you two are not together right now. But while Haley was here, if there was one thing that I learned it was that that girl is just about as crazy about you as you are about her. A love like the love you guys have is one that can never be broken. So my advice is this: Don't let her go. Fight for her. Get her back. Don't let anything stand in your way."
"I've tried that-" Nathan started to say.
"Try again." Nathan's mother said simply, interrupting him. "And try harder." She gave his hand a squeeze and then left Nathan alone to think about things. He sat there for a while. But he was unable to think clearly. Sitting in his kitchen his thoughts were too jumbled up and he needed to clear his mind and figure out what to do. And there was only one place where he could do that.
"I'm going out!" He shouted to his mother in the next room.
"Mhm," his mother said trying to act disinterested, but she had a broad smile on her face.
---
Haley was finally able to free herself from the questions and comments about her from her father's business associates when she was sent into the kitchen to get more drinks. She went into he kitchen and only her mom was there, preparing appetizers.
"Oh, Haley," she said when Haley got there, "Honey, sit down for a minute, will you?" Haley looked at her weirdly. She was tired, and just wanted to rest, the last thing she needed was a conversation with her mother. Because those always ended badly. But, seeing no way out of this one, Haley sat down.
"Is something wrong?" her mother said. But it wasn't out of concern. Haley knew that it was just out of curiosity.
"No," Haley lied.
"Well then why aren't you smiling?"
Haley sighed. Why wasn't she smiling? Maybe because her own parents are stopping her from the love of her life. Maybe because for the last week, she's been nothing but miserable and alone. Not to mention the fact that even since she'd moved back into her house, her family had been nothing like a real family. She suddenly snapped.
"Why won't you let me talk to you about Nathan?" She said, her voice raised a little.
Her mother looked taken aback. "Haley," She said replacing her shocked expression, with a serious one, "Let's not talk about this now. This is hardly the time or the place."
"It's never the right time or place! But we have to talk about him sooner or later," Haley said.
"No Haley, that is where you are mistaken. We don't need to talk about that boy. Ever. Now, we have guests so-" Her mother tried to continue but Haley interrupted her, getting teary-eyed and upset.
"That boy! His name is Nathan, mom! And that boy," Haley said lowering her voice, "is in love with me."
"So you may think, but-"
"And I'm in love with him, too," She said whispering now. A single tear rolling down her cheek.
"Haley, we can't have anymore of this nonsense. Now, go wipe your face and go back to the dinner party. We'll discuss his later," Her mother said and Haley knew that she would never discuss this with her again. Haley sighed.
"No, mom." Haley said calmly, making up her mind. "You are right about one thing, though. We can't have anymore of this nonsense. So just admit it, you and dad didn't ask me back to this house to be a family again." Haley said, trying to stay put together, but she was struggling.
"What are you saying? Of course we did."
"No, I mean a real family. Not the fake family to show off in front of your friends. That's all you wanted. For you and dad not to be known as the family who's daughter moved out and moved into a poor family's home, where her boyfriend happens to live." Haley said. "God, why do you care so much about your image?"
"We're only doing what's best for you. If you stay with Nathan Scott, imagine yourself ten years from now. Poor and unhappy. Love fades, Haley, don't be so naive. Your father and I are only trying to build a life that you won't regret living." She said.
Haley could not believe that her mother had just said that. Love fades... Sure, it does, and Haley knew that. But not the kind she had. Not what her and Nathan had. And she wasn't going to doubt that for a second.
"Yeah, well you've done a great job," Haley said sarcastically, before getting the hell out of there.
---
Tears running down her cheeks, Haley ran out of her house and onto the street. She knew where she was going. Nathan's. Why hadn't she talked to him that day at school? She was the one who asked to talk to him and then she ended up running away. It was all just too much. She was tired of running. She loved Nathan. With all her heart. And she had never doubted that. So why had they not been together? Why had she let a stupid thing like her parents get in the way of that?
You can't know, oh no
You can't know
How much I
Think about you, no
It's making my head spin
Haley stopped running at a certain point and stopped to catch her breath. She wiped the tears from her face and looked around, noticing that she had stopped right at Echo Park. Considering this as a sign or something, or maybe just because she loved this place so much, she decided to stop there for a bit. The one place where she felt safe. Even when she wasn't with Nathan. Of course, this place used to just be a place for her to sit and think and escape from her parents and her boring life. But over the last couple of months it became so much more.
It became a place for her and Nathan to share their love. A place where everyone else on the planet except them two, disappeared. It had become their little corner of the universe, and Haley wished more than anything that they could have that again.
She had been sitting there for a while, just staring into space. Her mind filled with thoughts of only one person. The same person that occupied her heart. And the same person that now, Haley saw walking towards the park. She sat up, surprised to see him. The sight made her heart race and her mind turn foggy.
He didn't notice her until she got up and started walking towards him. When they were maybe ten feet away he finally turned his head and saw her there. His breath got caught in his throat. He hadn't expected to see her there. Her hair was up, but it was messy. Her clothes were formal, and her make-up was smeared; she had obviously been crying. In fact, she still was crying a little bit.
Looking at you
And you are looking at me
And we both
Know what we want
hmmm So close to giving in
Haley bit her lip. Inside she was yelling at herself to stop crying and pull it together. But the sight of him and the way she was making her heart ache, the way he looked so torn up, that all just made her cry harder.
Suddenly her legs stopped moving and she couldn't continue walking towards him. Something inside her stopped and she just stood there, sobbing into her hands. She crashed down on the ground. Nathan, with an alarmed expression on his face, raced over to where she was and bent down right in front of her.
"Haley!" He yelled, although it really wasn't necessary. She was just crying very hard. Without thinking, he automatically pulled him close to him and she just sobbed into his shoulder, holding on for dear life. He felt so good.
Feel so nice
Of yeah you feel so nice
Wish I could spend the night
But I can't pay the price
Oh no, no
Nathan breathed heavily, trying not to cry himself. Haley was crying enough for the both of them. He was holding on to her so tight. He never wanted to let go, but he knew he would have to at some point. It wasn't his responsibility to hold her anymore. And like it or not, he had to accept it.
But I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
And I can feel your high
Rocking me inside
It's too much to hide
Haley knew that she owed Nathan an explanation. She needed to tell him how she felt. What had happened. How she ended up hear. Crying on his shoulder. But she couldn't right now. Feeling Nathan's arms around her, she just couldn't let go. Not now.
I know, oh yes
I know, that we can't
Be together
But, I just like to dream
It's so strange
The way our paths have crossed
How we were
Brought together
Hmmm It's written in the stars it seems
"Haley," Nathan whispered into her hair, not even sure if she heard him.
Haley did heard him and she was brought back to reality, unfortunately, and she forced herself to pull away from Nathan's embrace and look at him.
"Why'd you run away today?" He asked.
Feel so nice
Of yeah you feel so nice
I'd love to spend the night
But I can't pay the price
Oh no, no
Haley sighed, her sobs slowing down now and she was able to speak. "I..." Haley started. But the truth was she didn't know why she ran away. "I guess..." Why did she? "I'm so sorry, Nathan. I don't know why I ran away. I should have talked to you." She said.
"I mean, were you going to say something, and then decided not to say it? 'Cause I with you would." Nathan said.
"No, I wanted to talk to you, but I just... I didn't know what to say. You were right." Haley said looking him in the eye. "About... everything. My parents, they don't want to be a family, they just wanted me back home for their reputation and every time I brought you up-" Haley said.
"They changed the subject?" Nathan answered for her.
And I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
And I can feel your high
Touching me inside
And it's too much to hide
Haley nodded shamefully. "God, Nathan, I never should have doubted you. I'm so sorry." Haley said as tears started to fall once again. Wow, these tears were just falling out of nowhere today. She felt so ashamed, Nathan was being so strong and she was falling apart right in front of him.
"Shhh, Hales, it's OK," Nathan whispered soothing as he wrapped Haley into a tight hug again.
"Nathan, what are we going to do?" Haley said. As much as she just wanted to live in this moment forever. She knew that she couldn't. It seemed like here, in their little corner of the universe all was fine. But out in the real world, they couldn't be together.
Back to earth
Where did you take me to
I know there's no such thing
As painless love
Well it'll catch us up
And we can never win
But ohhh
I feel so alive
Ohhh Just wanna hold you
Hold you so tight
"I don't know," Nathan admitted. He felt Haley pull away and she was about to say something. But he decided to talk first, "But we'll figure something out. Look, Hales, all that matters is that I love you. And I'm not giving you up."
Haley was about to say something. That no matter how much she wanted to, they couldn't be together in the real world. It just wouldn't work. But then he said those words. Those three mesmerizing words that made Haley's heart soar and all her doubts melt away. Tears were falling again, but this time they were tears of joy.
Suddenly, on impulse, Nathan just reached out for Haley, cupping her face in his hands and just kissed her all over. Kissing her tears away. He tried to avoid her lips, though, knowing that those were all Haley's shots to call. She needed to decide if she wanted to be with him. Haley wasn't even thinking anymore. She was drowning in Nathan's kisses, in his love. When she couldn't take it anymore, she grabbed Nathan's waist and kissed him hard on the lips.
It wasn't long before Nathan parted his lips and their tongues were battling it out. Call it making up for lost time. But in that moment the world was revolving around them. Their bodies pressed together, joined at the lips, not ever wanting to let go, they expressed their love in that simple moment.
And I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
And I can feel your high
Touching me inside
And it's too much to hide
Haley was the first to pull away after a long while. Panting hard, and their eyes locked on each other, filled with love and passion. "I love you," Haley said. She had to say it. "I love you so much."
And I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
---
AN: Hey! I hope you liked that long update! That song was 'Flying High' by Jem. If you guys don't know that song you should really read the lyrics because they're really beautiful and the song is amazing! It was actually in an episode of OTH. Anyway, please review! Thanks for reading! Only two more chapters left!