Okay, I've been getting a lot of requests that Nathan and Haley should get back together as soon as possible. Believe me, I've been tempted to make them a couple again more than once but if I kept you guys on your toes a bit more, it would make things a lot more interesting. ------Sera
Disclaimer: Nothing about One Tree Hill is mine, except for this story.
Haley awoke to Brooke screaming at someone on the phone early the next morning.
Rubbing her eyes, she walked into the kitchen to find her best friend slamming the phone back on the receiver. "Is everything okay, Brooke?"
She looked up and joined her on the couch. "Yeah, I just had another fight with the Grand King of Assholes again."
Haley hugged Brooke. "It's going to be okay."
"Easy for you to say, You're not in a dysfunctional relationship."
You have no idea. "To tell you the truth, this thing between you and Eric is kind of vague to me. What's really going on?"
Brooke sighed. "I guess I should start from the beginning. I met Eric in that party Lucas, Peyton and I threw in Tric. I was a bit tipsy and…"
"Will you walk past me again?" A deep male voice said to Brooke as she walked by, a beer bottle in one hand.
Brooke turned around to see a very good-looking, dark-haired guy leaning casually on the bar and eying her. "Excuse me?"
"Well, I was just trying to see if love at first sight was really true."
She laughed, walking towards him. "Does that pickup line always work for you?"
"Only on the hot girls," the guy grinned.
"You're not so bad yourself –"
"Eric."
"Brooke. I haven't seen you around here. Are you new in town?" She asked.
"Actually, I'm only here for a couple of weeks. My dad has this business thing here and I thought I'd check it out," He explained, his gaze playful but surprisingly intense. "Although for you, I'd stay for a few more months."
Brooke smiled as she teasingly put an arm around his neck. "If I suggested that we go to your place right now, would you make it a year?"
Eric took a long swig from his beer bottle. "I could be persuaded."
"You're kidding, right?" Haley asked incredulously.
Silence. No, scratch that - guilty silence.
"You slept with Eric the same night you met him?!"
"I'm sorry, but I was drunk and possibly desperate for some action. Besides, he looked like the kind of guy who could give me a whole lot of it." Brooke explained.
Haley shook her head in exasperation. "Go on with the story."
"We hit it off and we've been 'together' ever since."
"So what's the problem?"
"Everything! If ever there was a list of all the worst boyfriends in history, Eric would be in the top three! He flirts and asks for girls' numbers in front of me, the only thing he talks about is his stupid Porsche car and I think the only reason he even calls me his 'girlfriend' is because he wants to get laid!" Brooke wailed.
"Why are you still even in the relationship then?" Haley demanded.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I want to end things but I don't want to end up back in square one when I'm pining for someone to love me."
"Eric doesn't even know what love is." Haley pointed out.
"Yeah, but who in this world does?" Brooke asked.
"A lot of people! The thing is, Brooke, you can't throw yourself at every hot guy who uses a lame pickup line on you but makes it sound sexy enough so you'd fall for it. Maybe you should take things slow."
"I know Haley, but I've just gotten so used to being with someone that when I'm not – I'm just so empty." Brooke said sadly.
Haley hugged her again. "It's going to be okay, Brooke."
Brooke nodded against her shoulder then eyed her friend suspiciously. "Where were you last night?"
"Haley!" Peyton called, running down the hall towards her.
Haley didn't seem to hear her as she continued to walk.
"I've wanted to do that for so long." Nathan said quietly.
Haley sighed, bending her head low so that he couldn't see her face as tears filled her eyes.
She felt his lips touch her hand and his fingers intertwining with hers. A part of her wanted to let go of his hand, but she didn't. She had no strength to – and she didn't want to.
Haley was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't realize that they were already in Brooke's apartment. "Well, this is my stop. I'll see you tomorrow." She said quickly and turned to leave.
Nathan grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him. "You're not going to say good night?"
She smiled weakly. "I think we already covered that in the River Court."
"Hales –"
"I'll see you in school." And with that, Haley went inside, wondering what was going to happen to the both of them tomorrow.
She suddenly felt a hand on shoulder.
"Haley, I was calling your name five times on my way here." Peyton said.
"I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind, that's all." Haley apologized.
"Oh, anything you want to elaborate on?" Jake asked interestedly, appearing from out of nowhere.
"Actually, she hasn't explained something to me yet." Brooke said, joining in.
"Did you three plan to interrogate me or something?" Haley asked, frowning.
"So Tutor Girl, did anything happen last night?" Peyton asked, smiling.
"Brooke, what did you tell them?" Haley demanded.
"Nothing really. I just told them that you arrived home an hour and a half late and soaking wet." Brooke answered, grinning.
"She was supposed to be tutoring Nathan last night." Jake pointed out.
"Ooh, do tell." Peyton urged.
Haley sighed loudly. "There's nothing to tell. I just took a walk."
"A walk?"
"Yes, a walk. That's it."
"Well, what happened to Nathan then?"
"I went to tutor Nathan, I felt like I needed a walk after so I did, the sprinklers sprang on and I went home. That's it, okay?"
"Just then, Haley felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around to see a very good-looking Nathan behind her.
"Hey guys. May I steal Haley from you three? We have to start tutoring again."
Oh, great timing, Nathan. You should get an award for that. Haley thought.
Peyton, Brooke and Jake were all looking at her strangely. "Sure you can. We'll catch you later, Hales."
As soon as they were out of earshot, Nathan put an arm around Haley's shoulder. "So that's the story you're telling them?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I don't know for sure, but judging from the looks on their faces, you need to come up with a more believable story."
Haley rolled her eyes.
"From my point of view, it was sort of convincing." Nathan added.
"Yeah, I really thought it over." Haley said sarcastically as she unlocked the door to the tutor center.
"So why didn't you tell them about the kiss?" Nathan asked, shutting the door behind them.
"Excuse me?"
He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall. The moment his mouth came crashing down on hers, Haley's arms immediately went around his neck to pull him closer to her.
Their bags and books fell to floor, unnoticed. Her lips parted beneath his and she quickly let him in, responding with everything she had. His fingers went through her long, blond hair as his tongue went in search of hers. Haley let out a low, guttural moan when he began to suck on her tongue as she tried to pull him even closer to her.
Their kiss was getting more and more intense – it was like they couldn't get enough of each other, His hands were everywhere – touching, tantalizing and driving her to the brink of insanity.
When the need of oxygen finally came, Nathan pulled away, burying his face into her neck as he breathed, "That kiss."
Haley was dizzy – either from the lack of air or from the effect so the kiss, she didn't know. His body was completely pressed against hers that she could his heart pounding beneath his chest as she wiped away beads of sweat on his hairline.
"We shouldn't be doing this." Haley warned, her breathing shallow.
"Doing what?" Nathan asked innocently as he playfully nibbled on her neck.
"Oh my God," Haley could feel her legs turning to mush and she quickly pushed him away, surprised she still had the strength to do so. "That. Honestly, Nate."
He stared at her, utterly confused. "What are you talking about?"
She took a deep breath and straightened herself. "Pick up the things. They'll be here soon."
When Miss Spencer walked in a few minutes later, Nathan and Haley were seated next to each other, studying and looking as though nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Miss Spencer smiled at them. "Good morning. You're rather early today, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I have basketball practice later," then he lowered his voice and muttered to Haley, "But then we could always make out and not tell anyone."
Haley kicked him beneath the table. Nathan stifled a cry of pain.
"Did you say something?" Miss Spencer asked, frowning at him.
"No, he didn't." Haley interjected, glaring at Nathan.
"Well, I'll be in one of those rooms in case you need me."
As soon as they were alone, Nathan turned to Haley and demanded, "Would you care to explain why you're not telling anyone what's going on between us?"
"Why, are you going to?" Haley shot back.
"Don't turn this on me. Why don't you want anyone to know?" He insisted.
"For God's sake, Nathan! We're divorced! Divorced people aren't supposed to be making out!" She cried shrilly.
Before Haley could say anything, Lucas walked in on them. "Er – am I interrupting something?" He asked awkwardly.
"No, you're not. What's up, Luke?" Haley noted the sarcastic cheerfulness in Nathan's voice.
"Whitey's calling for all of us. Basketball practice," Lucas turned to Haley and told her, "I think Brooke's calling for cheer practice, too."
"Alright. See you guys in a bit."
And with that, they were once again alone.
Nathan began to gather his things, obviously upset.
"I never wanted the divorce, Haley. That's why I wonder why you did." He said quietly.
Haley watched him leave, more confused than ever.