Happy Holidays, everyone! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much for reading.
Haley blinked at Nathan in surprise, her jaw dropped in shock at what had just played out.
Nathan shook out his hand again, letting out a deep breath.
He had not punched Lucas since they were in high school.
And he felt terrible. Lucas had a job, and kids... He didn't need his punk ass younger brother giving him a bruise for people to ask him about.
He glanced over at Haley again, who he couldn't quite read at the moment.
"What the hell, Nathan?" Lucas grumbled from the ground, holding his hand to his face and letting out a deep breath.
He looked at Lucas, then at Haley once again, who was looking at him expectantly, as if he was supposed to actually answer that question.
He wasn't sure what came over him. But... When he thought back to the words Luke had been saying, the anger started rising again. Damn his temper.
Lucas and Haley rarely fought. There was one span during their junior year of high school, they didn't speak to each other for a week, but that was the only real fight Nathan could remember them ever having.
When he didn't say anything, Haley stepped forward and knelt down next to Lucas, pulling his hand from his eye and looking at the bruise that was already starting to form on his cheek.
"You're such a dick sometimes, Nathan," Lucas spit out at him, glaring in his direction.
Nathan kicked at the ground, hanging his head slightly at Luke's words, adverting is gaze.
That stung. Him and Lucas got along most of the time as well. When they were younger, they'd argue a lot, but that was due to them being so close in age, there was a certain competitiveness. But now the fact that they were so close in age was one of the reasons why they got along. It was hard hearing his older brother call him a dick.
"Shut up, Lucas," Haley grumbled to him, looking at Nathan and shaking her head. She helped him up to his feet, looking at the bruise again.
Lucas would apologize to Haley for the hurtful things he said. Eventually. That was one thing Nathan knew. But, it was kinda hard to be anything but angry after just being punched in the face.
"Luke," Nathan said, clearing his throat. "You have to punch me in the face."
"What?" Haley said, looking at Nathan with raised eyebrows. "I'm pretty sure there has been enough punching."
"No, less questions will be asked this way," Nathan said quickly, nodding at Lucas. "Punch me."
Lucas hesitated for a moment, looking at Haley, who was shaking her head quickly. He stepped forward, raising his fist and punching Nathan in the same spot he'd just been punched.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Haley asked, grabbing Lucas by the shirt and pulling him away. She abandoned Lucas, and walked to Nathan.
Nathan was bent over, holding his face and letting out slow, deep breaths.
Haley rested her hand on Nathan's back, shaking her head. "You two are acting like teenagers. You're both in your late twenties, with careers and families. You can't just punch each other anymore."
"I did it for you," Nathan said, standing up straight and looking at her.
"I didn't ask you to do that, Nathan!" Haley said to him, shaking her head and grabbing onto his face carefully, looking at the bruise.
"We have adult conversations, Nathan, because we're adults," Lucas said, shaking his head and crossing his arms.
"Oh, if you're so adult then why the hell do you care that we're sleeping together?" Nathan asked him, shaking his head and glaring at him.
"Because you both were so sure it would end well the last time, why is it any different now?" Lucas snapped, wincing at the pain in his face.
"Lucas, just shut up, alright? This isn't your decision to make. Yeah, it may make a difference in your life a little bit, but this is between Nathan and me," Haley grumbled, shaking her head. "Let's go down to the party and get you two idiots some ice."
The three of them slowly headed down the stairs, eyes moving to them as they made it back into the restaurant.
"You two, go get some ice and try not to kill each other," Haley mumbled, pointing where they need to go, before heading over to talk to Peyton and Deb.
Nathan followed after Lucas, sighing softly and glancing in Haley's direction.
It wasn't long before Peyton arrived on scene, her eyebrows raised.
"What the hell happened to you two?" She asked them quietly.
Nathan sighed softly, looking at Lucas and shaking his head.
Thankfully, he knew Lucas very well, and he knew that he wouldn't scream their business to the whole party.
"I'll tell you later," Lucas mumbled, looking down at Peyton when she finished getting him ice, holding it to his cheek.
Nathan ran his hand through his hair, leaning against the counter and sighing. "I'm going to go," He told Peyton and Lucas, letting out a deep breath.
"We'll see you back at your parents house, alright?" Peyton said, raising her eyebrows at him.
They'd been staying the night at Deb and Dan's since it was Christmas Eve. Fun.
Nathan offered her a nod, patting Lucas on the back lightly, before heading over to Lydia.
"What happened, Nate?" Lydia asked him quietly, reaching up and touching his face lightly.
"I'm fine. I was just letting you know that I'm heading out, and I wanted to wish you a happy holidays," He said softly, leaning down and hugging her.
"Oh, well I got you a little present if you want to swing by the house sometime tomorrow," Lydia told him, smiling slightly. "We love you, honey. Don't forget to ice the eye."
He smiled at her, nodding across the room at Jimmy, then at Clay, before stepping to his own parents. "I'm going to go," He informed them, clearing his throat and glancing at Haley.
"Here, take the car. We'll ride with Lucas," Deb said, taking the car keys from Dan and holding them out.
Nathan took them quickly, looking over at Lucas once more, who seemed to be in an intense whisper conversation with Peyton.
He looked at Haley, who had still been talking to his parents when he approached. "Bye, Hales. Happy holidays."
"You too," Haley responded, offering him a small smile.
Nathan pretty much ran out of there after that.
As soon as he got home, he had ice wrapped in a towel, placing it on his burning face.
Haley was right. They were adults. They shouldn't have been punching each other.
But... Lucas had no right to say those things to her.
And maybe he punched him partially because he was angry, partially because he was defending Haley, and partially he just wanted him to shut up because he was worried the things Lucas was saying had some truth to them.
Dammit, Lucas.
He let out a deep breath, heading upstairs to his bedroom.
xxxx
After a long shower, he had laid back in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He heard the front door open and close, letting out a slow, deep breath at the lecture he was about to receive from Dan and Deb.
He was an adult, but it was still coming.
He closed his eyes, shaking his head.
He heard his bedroom door open, blinking his eyes open and sitting up quickly when he saw that it was Haley that had entered.
"What are you doing here?" He asked her, raising his eyebrows.
"Party was kind of a drag after you left," She informed him, smiling slightly and sitting down at the end of his bed.
"I'm sorry, Haley," He said, sighing and looking at her.
"Don't apologize, Nathan," Haley said, shaking her head. "The more I think about it, if you hadn't done it, I probably would have."
"No, you wouldn't have," He said, shrugging his shoulders and smiling at her.
Haley laid her hand on the bed, glancing at his own.
He nodded, filling the empty space and taking her hand in his.
"Are you okay?" She asked him quietly, raising her eyebrows.
"I'm fine," He told her, squeezing her hand lightly. "Is Lucas still there?"
"Him and Peyton took a drive, came back and he talked to me for a bit," Haley said, nodding her head. "They were giving their kids the ten minute warning when I left."
"Why'd you leave?" He asked her quietly, raising his eyebrows.
"Because I wanted to make sure you were alright," She said, scooting up the bed until she was sitting next to him, leaning back against the headboard.
"What did he say to you?" Nathan asked, raising his eyebrows.
"He said he was wrong to say those things, and that he was sorry," Haley said, looking up at him and shrugging.
"I'm sorry," He mumbled, staring at the wall in front of him and sighing.
"Stop apologizing, Nathan," She laughed, patting his leg lightly. "I'm the one who's sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Because he put doubts in your head again," She said, shrugging her shoulders. "None of that was true, none of it. I want to be with you, Nathan. I didn't come to you because I feel like I'm out of options. I came back because after all these years, I've never found someone that made me feel the way you did."
He smiled at her, nodding his head and looking down at their hands.
"I need you to get more secure in this, Nathan. Okay?" She said, squeezing his hand. "Because I can't be constantly reassuring you and worrying that with the flick of a wrist you could be gone."
"I'm trying," He said, offering her a small smile.
She raised her hand, gently brushing it over his injured cheek.
"People don't generally like it when you touch their injuries, just saying," He laughed, shrugging his shoulders.
"Sorry," She hummed, kissing just below the bruise on his face, resting her hand on his leg. "I wish that I could stay here tonight."
"You can," He said, shrugging his shoulders.
"I can't," She said, shaking her head. "But I'll find a time to come over, somehow."
He nodded at her, leaning forward and kissing her lightly.
"How do you feel about Lucas knowing about us?" She asked him, raising her eyebrows.
"I don't like talking about Lucas when I'm trying to kiss you," He laughed, shaking his head.
She rolled her eyes, chuckling quietly and squeezing his leg. "My bad."
"I think it's good that he knows. I mean, ideally we would've had a little more time to figure things out... But, we get what we get," He said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Are you going to talk to him?" Haley asked, raising her eyebrows.
"If he wants to talk to me, he can. Otherwise, I'm going to let him chill and realize that he's a dumbass," Nathan said, shrugging his shoulders.
"I wouldn't use those exact words if you talk to him, but okay," She hummed, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Why are you giving him a pass on this?" Nathan asked, shaking his head.
"Because he's Lucas, Nathan. He's my oldest friend. We talked about it, and we're fine," Haley said, shrugging her shoulders. "It's easier to forgive him rather than let the anger eat me up."
He looked down at her, sighing softly. He pressed a delicate kiss to her head, closing his eyes.
"I should probably go," Haley said softly, letting out a deep breath.
"Don't," He mumbled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, shaking his head.
"I can't exactly stay here," She laughed, looking up at him.
He frowned, shrugging his shoulders.
"Don't give me that look," She laughed, pinching his side lightly and sitting up straighter.
"Now that I've finally come to terms with the fact that I'm stuck with you, you're done trying?" He asked her, raising his eyebrows.
"Stuck with me?" She laughed, pushing on his chest lightly. "I can't stay, Nathan. I'm sorry."
"I know," He said, tilting his head down and kissing her lightly. "Sorry for punching Lucas. And for uh, all the other stuff I said to him. My brain was not communicating with my mouth."
"I don't generally broadcast when I'm having casual sex with someone, for future reference," Haley said, standing up slowly. She leaned down and kissed him one more time, pinching his chin lightly.
Nathan stood up slowly, poking his head out of the door. No one was home yet, so that was good.
He grabbed onto her hand, leading her down the stairs. "Are you going back to the party?"
"Yeah. I brought Quinn's car. She's an angel for letting me borrow it," She laughed, smiling at him.
He nodded, leaning down and kissing her briefly. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay? I promise that I'll set an alarm for super early tomorrow..."
She laughed, rubbing his neck and shaking her head. "I don't think so. Maybe the next night. Plus, you and Luke should probably talk... Try not to punch each other anymore though, okay?"
He smiled at her, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Okay, well I'll talk to you later. Bye, Haley," He hummed, pulling open the front door for her.
She turned to him, standing on her toes and kissing him lightly. "Keep icing your face."
He grabbed onto her hand, looking down at her and raising his eyebrows, "You know this is more than just... Casual sex, right?"
She smiled up at him, nodding her head. "But there's not a label yet so that's what I'm going to call it."
"But I don't like that," He said, clearing his throat and shrugging.
"I know," She hummed, winking at him. "So maybe you should figure out the label. Catch ya later, buddy," She said, kissing him one more time, before hurrying out the door.
He sighed, waving at her as she drove off. He shook his head, stepping back inside the house.
He slowly headed up the stairs once more, stopping at the bathroom to look at his face in the mirror.
Luke had gotten him good.
He shook his head, walking across the hall to his childhood bedroom. He stepped inside, walking over to his backpack and pulling his laptop out.
He slipped one headphone into his ear, playing some music and sitting down at his desk, opening up his email and beginning to read the ones he'd missed since he'd been in Tree Hill.
It wasn't long until he heard the front door open and close.
It was followed by the sound of Lee crying, which over powered everything else.
About fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on his door.
"Come in," Nathan announced, glancing over his shoulder.
"Working? Mom is going to kill you if she finds out," Lucas said, clearing his throat and stepping into the room, Peyton trailing behind him.
Nathan chuckled, pulling his headphone out of his ear and putting it back in the case, shutting his laptop and swiveling the chair around so it was facing the door.
"She doesn't need to know," He informed his older brother, shrugging slowly.
Lucas sat down on the end of Nathan's bed, Peyton taking a seat next to him.
An awkward silence filled the room.
Nathan let out a deep breath, tapping his hands on his legs. Should he speak first? Should he wait for Lucas to say something?
If only Haley had been with him. She would've nudged him if she thought he should talk.
"Look..." Nathan trailed off, glancing at Peyton, before back at Lucas. "I'm sorry for punching you."
"I deserved it," Lucas said, shaking his head and letting out a deep breath. "I was out of line, and I didn't even realize it until you forced me to."
"You were," Nathan said, nodding and clearing his throat. "But I should've handled it like an adult instead of like a hormonal teenager."
Lucas laughed quietly at that, kicking his foot at the ground lightly. "I was throwing a fit too."
"We're both in the wrong," Nathan said, offering him a small smile.
"This was so much harder when you two were teenagers," Peyton laughed, rubbing Lucas' back lightly. "I thought you'd need a referee, but apparently you can be in the same room without punching each other."
"Who knew?" Nathan chuckled, running his hand through his hair. "So, uh, you told Peyton about-"
"He already knows that I knew," Peyton said, clearing her throat.
"Oh," He said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah," Lucas said, letting out a deep breath. "So... You and Haley?"
"Kinda," He mumbled, looking over at Lucas.
"Let me guess, you're going to say it's complicated. At least, that's what she said," Lucas chuckled, nodding at Nathan.
"Yeah," He said, swiveling his chair slowly.
He couldn't help but wonder what exactly went on during the conversation Lucas and Haley had. What could Haley have told him?
"I don't think she's interested in keeping things casual for much longer, just to let you know," Lucas told him, as if he read his mind.
Nathan raised his eyebrows, looking at him and sitting up straighter. "Why? What did she say?"
"I mean, nothing really..." Lucas trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. "I think you hurt her feelings a little bit with the whole just hooking up thing."
"Yikes," Peyton said, clearing her throat.
"Okay, wait, wait..." Nathan said, holding up his hands. "We're taking things slow and she's okay with that."
Peyton laughed, looking at Nathan and raising her eyebrows. "Nathan, I thought you knew better..."
"What, Peyton?" Nathan groaned, rolling his eyes.
"She doesn't want your indecisive shit," She told him, shrugging.
"I mean, that wasn't how she put it at all, and that's not how I would have put it either, but..." Lucas said, shaking his head.
"There are a million reasons not to be with someone, Nate. And some of them are bigger, like the fact that she lives across the country, but some of them are just you working yourself up," Peyton informed him, shrugging.
"It took you ten years to tell her how you felt about her the first time, Nathan," Lucas told him, clearing his throat.
Nathan sighed softly, pushing his hand through his hair.
Lucas was right. Peyton was right. He was scared, but why couldn't he be scared with her? Why couldn't he find the comfort in her arms instead of trying to push her away and find it on his own.
He had not thought about one other person since he'd seen her following him appear on his screen nearly two months ago now.
How long should he wait before they could be official? Why did he think too hard about things? Earlier that night he was happy with where they were, but the more he thought about it... Could he really be happy if it was hurting Haley? She'd be fine for a little bit longer, but she wouldn't wait around for someone that won't meet her half way.
And she shouldn't have to.
"What did she say to you?" Nathan asked Lucas, raising his eyebrows.
"Nothing, really..." Lucas said, clearing his throat. "Just that she knew she'd made a mistake and she'd been regretting it for awhile. She feels lucky that you gave her another chance, but worried that her efforts won't be enough to persuade you to forgive her completely."
Nathan's throat ran dry at the information he'd just been provided with. Why did she feel that way?
Well, he knew why. One second he was into her, then the next second he'd turn and run.
"Just think about it, Nathan. No one is pressuring you to be with her if you don't want to, but her patience is ticking away," Peyton said, standing up and grabbing onto Lucas' hand.
Nathan nodded at her words, sinking back into his chair and sighing softly. "Thanks guys."
"See you in a bit, Nate. We have to open the one present on Christmas Eve, you know the drill," Lucas said, standing up. "Sorry for everything, little brother."
"I'm sorry too," Nathan repeated, smiling slightly as they headed out of the room.
A few minutes later, there was another knock on his door, this time it was much lighter.
He'd opened his laptop again, but truthfully he had not paid one cent of attention to it. He couldn't stop thinking about Haley.
"Come in..." He mumbled, rubbing his eyes and turning around in his chair once again, watching his mother enter the room.
"Nathan," Deb said, smiling at him.
"Lucas and I are good, Mom. You don't need to worry," Nathan assured her, shrugging.
"Good to know," Deb said, filling the space that Lucas and Peyton were once sitting on his bed.
"Surprised Dad didn't come in here with you," He noted, shutting his laptop slowly.
"He's a little upset by how the night went. I mean... You two really don't need to fight like that anymore..." Deb trailed off, clearing her throat.
"Actually, Mom... I know I brought him up but let's leave him out of it," Nathan said quickly, crossing his arms defensively.
"I was just checking in on you," Deb said, offering him a small smile. "Seems like you've had a long night."
"Yep," He said, letting out a deep breath. "But I'm good."
"Good to hear," She said, nodding at him. "How's your face?"
"It hurts," He told her, clearing his throat. "It's been awhile since I've been punched in the face."
"I don't like when you two fight," She said, shrugging slightly.
"We don't fight that often," He mumbled, shaking his head.
"You fought when you were younger," Deb said, looking at him. "Quite a bit."
"That's because I was the favorite and better than him at basketball," Nathan chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
She laughed, rolling her eyes at his comment. "Well, I just wanted to make sure you were alright, and you clearly are."
He nodded, letting out a deep breath and pushing his hand through his hair.
"Oh, and I invited Theresa over for Christmas dinner!" Deb informed him, a wide smile forming on her face.
Nathan's heart dropped into his stomach at her comment, looking at her with wide eyes.
"What?" He asked, clearing his throat.
"Yeah, her and her mother," Deb said, shrugging.
"You're joking, right?" He asked, standing up quickly.
This was bad. This was very, very bad. He never even messaged Theresa back, or saved her number. How was he supposed to go along with this?
Maybe he should just... Tell her they weren't actually going out. It would be a hell of a lot better than pretending.
"Why would I joke? I thought you liked her?" Deb laughed, raising her eyebrows at him.
"I'm not actually dating her, mom! I made it up!" He said quickly.
"Finally," She said, clapping her hands together.
"I can't believe you'd- wait, what?" He asked her, his eyebrows furrowing together.
"I know what's been going on, Nathan, I'm not stupid. Plus, at most you'd spent the night at her house and gone on one date with her," Deb said, shrugging her shoulders.
"What do you mean you know what's been going on?" Nathan asked her, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"There's only one thing that would've made you punch Lucas, and she walked down from the roof with you two," Deb said, sending him a pointed look.
Nathan sat back in his chair, letting out a deep breath. "Oh. So you really did figure it out."
Deb nodded, smiling slightly at him. "And I've seen you texting her. You're not exactly discreet. I mean, enough so your father doesn't know."
Nathan ran his hand through his hair, staring at his bedroom door and sighing softly.
"So, are you going to tell me?" Deb asked, raising her eyebrows at him.
"I thought you were acting weird with the whole dating thing.." He ignored her question, shaking his head.
"That's because I was trying to get you to talk to me, kind of like I'm doing now," Deb said, gesturing at him to speak.
He sighed, rubbing his neck and looking over at her. "I don't know what to do, Mom," He said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm so confused in all of this."
"Start at the beginning. Not the beginning-beginning, but when you started again," Deb said, offering him a small smile.
After a brief version of the story, Nathan looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"So your problem is what, exactly?" Deb asked him, sending him a confused look.
"Were you not listening?" Nathan grumbled, shaking his head.
"Oh, no. I was listening," She said, leaning back on her arms against his bed. "I just don't understand why you're so confused."
"What do you mean? Mom, she pulverized my heart. I've never even been able to tell another girl that I love them ever again, and if they tell me, I break up with them," He said quickly, shaking his head.
"That's not exactly how it works, Nathan," Deb said, clearing her throat. "I think you've never been able to say that to anyone, because you've never loved anyone like you loved her."
Nathan sat up straighter, nodding at her to continue.
"And, you don't want to make things official, because what? You'll miss out on the single life? Because you want to be able to back out at any time?" Deb questioned him, shrugging her shoulders. "Because I seriously doubt you have dates with other people lined up, and I know you won't back out of this. If you did, it would be the same as breaking up with her."
Deb stood up slowly, gesturing for Nathan to do the same.
When he did, she stepped over to him and rested her arms on his shoulders.
She made a good point... They were pretty much already official. If she'd gone on a date with someone else, he'd freak out. If she decided she didn't want to do this anymore, it would hurt like a heartbreak. They could never be two friends just hanging out. That's why they always ended up kissing, or in bed together.
He couldn't remember the last time his life didn't revolve around his job, but since they'd been talking... It was about her. He'd bought clothes he thought she'd like, wore cologne that she'd like... Even on the days he didn't see her, he was still thinking of her.
Nathan looked down at his mother, sighing softly and shaking his head. "I guess I better figure my shit out then."
"Yeah, probably," Deb said, hugging him briefly. "Now come on, we have some pajamas to open up."
"Shh... You can't spoil what they are," Nathan joked, following after her.
His family had not been like this growing up. He disliked his parents most of the time, and thought Lucas was okay but he preferred going out with his friends. In fact, if Haley had not always been around Lucas, he probably would've hardly had a relationship with him.
Now they were getting stupid ass matching pajamas on Christmas Eve and taking goofy pictures that he hated but the kids loved.
As they made their way downstairs, Sawyer all but threw herself into his legs, wanting for him to pick her up.
He lifted her off the ground with ease, smiling when her arms wrapped around his neck and she hugged him tightly. A hug that he really needed at that moment.
After each of them opened up a pair of pajamas (shocker) that thankfully weren't complete matching this year, just color coordinating. They took some pictures, then ate cookies and drinking hot chocolate that Sawyer and Lee had helped Deb and Dan bake earlier that day.
Nathan squeezed his eyes shut, sitting on the couch and letting out a deep breath.
Someone took a seat next to him, and he didn't open his eyes until he felt a tap on his arm.
"Who do you see next to you, Nathan?" Peyton asked him quietly, raising her eyebrows.
"Hm?" Nathan questioned, shaking his head.
"This is what made Lucas and I realize we wanted to be together... Someone asked us this question. So... When you close your eyes, who do you see next to you? It can even be next Christmas, you don't need to worry about forever quite yet..."
Nathan closed his eyes again, letting out a deep breath.
He felt it. He felt the weight lifted from his shoulders. It was Haley, of course it was Haley.
After a moment, his eyes snapped open and he looked over at Peyton.
"What time are we waking up tomorrow?" He asked her quickly, standing up.
"Seven," Peyton informed him, raising her eyebrows up at him. "But... If I set the clock an hour behind I think I can trick them into eight."
"Do that," Nathan said quickly, nodding. "I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" Lucas asked from across the room, raising his eyebrows.
Nathan shrugged his shoulders, looking at each person in the room, before answering.
"I'm going to get my girl."