Haley's POV

"Haley, you need to start thinking straight." I spoke to myself as I looked in the mirror and saw a very dreary girl. I splashed some water in my face and had to shake off the negative vibes of the night before.

Lucas left in a very angry storm and I could barely sleep after the fight. I felt guilty for making Lucas so upset, but I also kept getting angry thinking about Lucas treating me like a little girl. His intentions were good, but I hated that he was disciplining me for expressing my true feelings. The thing is, I didn't even say my true feelings out loud until that heated argument with Lucas. Actually, the whole thing blew up into this whole mess and I didn't even say that I liked Nathan… but it was fact, not fiction. I, Haley James, was starting to like Nathan Scott because of that kiss that I can't get out of my mind.

Lucas' POV

I was driving towards Haley house by habit, I always picked her up to drive her to school but today I decided she could walk. Haley was going insane. One, she likes a guy who is already in a committed relationship. Two, the only reason she likes him is because of a stupid kiss on the cheek. And three, THE PRICK IS NATHAN. From all people in Tree Hill, she just HAD to like the only person I hated. Thinking about him made me angry. And it made me even angrier thinking my innocent best friend was catching feelings for this bastard.

I guess I was so wrapped up in my feelings I rear-ended this light blue Volkswagen Beetle in front of me. I immediately hit the brakes and put myself in park. After I realized I was ok I jumped out of my car to check up on the person I hit.

"Are you ok?! I'm so sorry, I guess I wasn't paying any attention." I said anxiously.

"YOU GUESS? What do you mean you guess? You OBVIOUSLY were NOT paying attention you idiot." This brown haired girl had a mouth on her I thought.

"I really do apologize, I can give you a business card to the auto shop I know in town." I let her know as she was still checking her car out.

She quickly turned around and it was as-if her jaw dropped. "I'm sorry." She said immediately docile.

"Look, it is completely my fault, please take my card." I insisted as she remained surprisingly quiet.

"You're Lucas Scott, right?" she questioned me as she stared into my eyes.

"Yeah, and you're Brooke Davis, right?" I answered as I scratched my head in nervousness.

"Ha, well I guess Tree Hill really is a small town."

"Yeah…" I answered quietly.

"Hey, I know your family doesn't have much money so it's fine, I can take care of this." Brooke said nicely.

"No, this is entirely my fault, I need to pay my reparations to you." I joked flirtatiously. She was a lot cuter up close and personal.

"Seriously, I can't take that from you. I can get it fixed." She insisted so passionately.

"Well, if you won't take that from me, the least you could do is let me take you out for dinner?" I asked bravely. I don't know where the newfound courage came from, but I'm glad it kicked in.

The rosiness of her cheeks became more obvious and she couldn't hide her toothy smile. "Sure." She said as she stared at me with googly eyes.

"Well then it's a date. It would be helpful if I could have your number so we can plan our date later on in the week?" I posed.

"Very smooth." She said as she grabbed my phone and shook her head at me.

"Text me." She said as she handed me back my phone.

"Oh, I will." I said as I winked then walked by to my truck.

Brooke's POV

"Peyton, you would not guess what just happened!" I screamed excitedly as I found her near the vending machines.

"What is it?" she said as she took a sip from her water bottle.

"My car got rear-ended!"

"Oh my god, are you alright? Wait… why are you so excited about that B. Davis?" Peyton questioned confused.

"I am more than alright. Lucas Scott asked me out on a date because of it!" I don't know why it made me so excited to expect a date from the mysterious Scott brother. There was just something about him that excited me.

"Wait, Nathan's Lucas?"

"No, Lucas' Lucas, not Nathan's." I joked.

"You know what I mean." Peyton said as she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, is that gonna be an issue?" I asked hoping it wouldn't.

"No, not at all. Just because Nathan hates him doesn't mean you have to suffer." Peyton laughed.

"What is this I hear about Lucas?" Nathan said out of nowhere.

"Where the heck did you come from?" Peyton asked as he kissed her on the head.

"Just got here, I saw you two so I caught up. So what's this I hear about my bastard brother?" Nathan said harshly.

"Nothing." Peyton said as she pulled him aside.

"I'll see you two later." I said as I walked away from the feuding couple.

Peyton's POV

"Look, don't crush her dreams." I said as I pointed at Nathan.

"I'm not crushing anybody's dreams." He said as he raised his hands in innocence.

"I know you don't like him, but Brooke seems to be really excited about her date with him, so just keep your thoughts to yourself." I wanted to make sure Brooke's date with him went well. It has been a year since Felix left Tree Hill High and she hasn't really been into a guy since then. I want her to be happy, like I am with you, even though you can be a pain in the butt.

"Fine. I won't say anything about him around you or Brooke." He said as he kept walking to class.

When we got into class our exam scores were on our desks and I saw the big fat red "F" on Nathan's paper.

"Honey…" I started as I saw him pick up the math exam.

"I know, Coach is gonna kick my ass." He said as he slammed the paper back on his desk.

"Maybe you should get tutoring." I insisted rather than suggested.

"I know, I'll go to the tutoring center during lunch." He replied upset.

"I can come with you." I said knowing he would reject. Nathan had a lot of pride, I'm sure he would want to do this alone.

"No, it's fine. It's my problem so I'll handle it myself. But thanks for the offer." He said as he grabbed my hand sweetly.

Nathan's POV

I was so upset with myself. I knew I could do better than a freakin F on a math exam. Just another jock stereotype I was fulfilling. My annoyance for myself just kept growing. First it was the whole thing with Haley, then my feelings for Peyton dwindling, and now this issue.

When I walked into the tutoring center I was expecting to see that mousy guy Lucas hangs out with, Marvin, or whatever his name was. But I was pleasantly surprised when I laid eyes on the root of my first problem, Haley James.

"Welcome to the tutor center, what can I help with?" she said as she continued to write in her notebook.

"Haley…" I said to her so she could look up.

As I caught her attention it was as-if she was trying to gain her composure.

"What do you need?" she spat.

"A math tutor."

"Look, don't kid around."

"Does it look like I'm kidding around?" I replied as I handed her my exam.

"Nathan… I'm the only math tutor here."

"Ok?" I questioned a bit rudely. She spat at me so I'm spitting back!

"I just, I don't know…" she began stammering.

"You know what? Nevermind!" I said as I yanked the exam out of her hands.

"Wait!" she exclaimed as I was halfway out the door. She was holding me by the back of my shirt.

"I'm sorry, it's just, I want to help, really." She said as she gave me the most vulnerable eyes.

"Haley, I know it's weird between us but I want to change that. It doesn't need to be so awkward like this." I was being sincere, a rare thing for me to do.

"Ok. Let me know what your schedule is like."

Haley's POV

The biggest thing I was worried about when I agreed to tutor Nathan was, Lucas. He was going to kill me if he found out I agreed to this.

I looked over Nathan's availability and it wasn't too bad, he seemed really busy so I didn't mind giving up a few hours at the café in order to help him out. Besides, tutoring paid well too. I made it absolutely crystal clear to Nathan that he could NOT tell Lucas about any of our plans. Unless of course he wanted me dead.

"Nathan, if you miss three tutoring sessions you're off my schedule, ok?"

"I got it Ms. James" he said as he saluted to me.

"Haha, very funny, now get to studying!"

The next day…

We decided on meeting up near the docks. I wanted it to be in a very remote location where no one could find us. Nathan pitched the idea of his house but I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable with him first before I stepped foot inside his house.

"You're late." I stared him down.

"I was getting us coffee." He schmoozed.

"Very nice of you but that still doesn't change the fact that you were late."

"I'm sorry boss." He laughed as he set the drinks down onto the table.

An hour into tutoring he was getting so infuriated.

"I just don't understand." He exclaimed as he shoved the book into my arms.

"Now before you get all upset just look at the equation again." I talked to him like a child.

"I don't want to." He pouted.

"Nathan… come on." I said as I gave him the same pouty face he was giving me.

"No." he smirked.

"What do I have to do to get you to do the problem again?" I practically begged.

But suddenly I was in a completely different mindset…

Nathan's lips were affixed to mine. I was lost in the softness of his plump lips and wished it would never stop. This was too unreal, I had to be imagining this.

"Haley…" he started as he looked at me with blushed cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I was caught in the moment. You looked so beautiful…" He said as he looked down into his lap. I've never seen Nathan at a loss for words. This was shocking to me. Everything right now was just absolute chaos!

"Nathan, I-I don't understand." I said as my fingers were on my lips.

"I have to go." He said as he got up and left.

"Nathan!"

"I'm sorry!" he said as he ran off.

Nathan's POV

WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST DO? I have to be completely off my rocker to have done something that idiotic. There was just something about the way she was looking at me. Her eyes, her nose, her lips, they made me feel weak, I couldn't help but kiss her. It was like that time at church… I didn't admit this to Haley but I only kissed her at church because she looked so adorable. It was no question that she was cute, but when you talk to her, GOD, she was heavenly.

I know it might seem like I'm leading her on but that's not it. I don't even know exactly how I feel about her. There is just something so captivating about her. Yeah, she can be irritating, but it makes her, well, her.

Kissing her just made this whole situation much worse…

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What are your thoughts? You think Nathan really likes Haley? Let me know your predictions (I love reading them). Thanks for rating, reviewing, commenting, and following! I truly appreciate you all! -Camille