Author's Note: I hope you liked the first two chapters. Please review!
Haley was nervous as she drove to Nathan's house. They agreed she would drive to his apartment and leave for Brooke and Lucas's house together. She was nervous and excited to see Lucas and Brooke again. She didn't know how they would react after being apart for 10 long years. As she drove Haley thought over the night she had had with Nathan. Did they rush things? Were they ready to jump back into a relationship so soon? Haley knew she had missed him and the excitement of having him in her apartment was too much for her. She knew that before they left for Brooke and Lucas's they would have to talk things out.
Haley approached Nathan's apartment and pulled into the parking lot. She walked up the stairs and knocked tentatively at his door. Nathan opened the door wide, smiled at her, and bent down to give her a kiss. "Come in." he said motioning inward towards his house.
Haley looked around the apartment; things sure had changed since she'd been here last. It was freshly painted, but it was definitely a bachelor's pad. Since Nathan was rich and famous it was obvious to Haley that he had his apartment furnished with the most expensive items. "Wow, this place is unbelievable." Haley finally spoke.
Nathan moved towards her "I've missed you," he whispered in her ear sending chills down her spine. Haley knew that if she wanted to talk she'd have to do it before things got to the point of no return.
"Look Nate, I think we need to talk about this. Don't you think we're moving a little too fast. We only saw each other for the first time in 10 years yesterday and we've already had sex. I'm just thinking we should slow down so we don't mess anything up again. Maybe we should start out as friends and work our way up."
Nathan felt his heart drop. He knew they had been moving fast but just friends? "Hales, I don't think we're moving too fast. I know how I feel about you, but I guess if you want to start off slow, we can be slow. I only want you to be happy."
Haley smiled, thinking about how lucky she was to have such a great guy in her life. "Thanks Nate, you're the best." She quickly kissed him on the cheek and headed out the door. "Hurry up, we don't want to be late."
As they drove to Brooke and Lucas's, Nathan and Haley made small talk. Nathan discovered that being friends wasn't so bad. Haley was still fun to talk to and he just enjoyed the time that they spent together. He was just lucky she was giving him a second thought. The only problem he had was she looked so good in her short skirt and tight top that it took all his self-control to not pull over to the side of the road and have his way with her.
Haley didn't know whether she made the right choice or not. Nathan looked so hot in his button up and jeans that she wanted to jump his bones. She had to keep telling herself over and over that she didn't want a relationship based around meaningless sex.
Finally, Haley and Nathan reached Brooke and Lucas's house. "I hope they don't mind you bringing me along," Haley said as they walked to the front door.
"I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see you." Nathan crossed his fingers and hoped it was true. Luke had been just as upset as Nathan when Haley left. After all she was his best friend in the entire world and Nathan knew Brooke was upset because she also lost a friend and had to put up with brooding Lucas and angry Nathan.
Nathan rang the doorbell and Lucas answered "Hey Nathan, right on time which is unusual…" Lucas stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the person that Nathan had brought with him. "Haley?" he questioned.
"Luke, man, I brought Haley with me to dinner I hope you don't mind. We ran into each other over at UNC."
"Hi Luke," Haley smiled hoping to break the awkwardness.
"Oh sorry come in guys," Lucas in shock forgetting to let them in the house. He moved out of the doorway so they could step inside.
"Luke honey is that Nathan," Brooke called as she walked to the door. "Haley?"
"Hey Brooke, Nathan brought me along for dinner I hope I'm not intruding."
"Get out." Brooke stated firmly.
"Brooke," pleaded Nathan, knowing that his nightmares were coming true. Brooke was still angry and everyone knew that she was impossible to deal with when she was angry.
"No Nathan. I can handle this," Haley spoke up. "I know I should have never left you all the way I did. Just because me and Nathan were fighting didn't mean I should leave all my friends and family. I tried to call so many times, but I was always too scared to call. Even if I may not have showed it over the past years, you two have always been my best friends and I regret the mistakes I've made in the past. I love you guys and I would do anything to make you forgive me. "
Both Lucas and Brooke were obviously touched by Haley's heartfelt apology. They both reached over to hug her. Despite how she had treated them, both Lucas and Brooke were happy to have Haley back in their lives. Hopefully she wouldn't break any of their hearts, including Nathan's, again.
Over dinner the four friends caught up. Haley learned that Brooke and Lucas had gotten married straight out of college and Brooke was 2 months pregnant. Haley was happy that her friends had found their true love and made a life together, but she couldn't help but be jealous. Nathan and her could have had that same life if they had not blown it over some stupid argument all those years ago.
After dinner Nathan and Haley drove back to Nathan's apartment. Nathan wanted to ask Haley to spend the night but he thought that might be moving a little too quickly for her liking so he kissed her on the cheek goodnight. "See you in class tomorrow Nate," she called to him as she left his apartment.
"Looking forward to it," he flirtatiously replied.