Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you all enjoyed the reunion!
Chapter 29
After about an hour of just laying there, side-by-side in the grass, listening to each other breathe, the two teens made their way into the house.
"So uh, which sister's house is this again?" Nathan stated breaking the silence.
"Quinn's," Haley replied walking into the kitchen with Nathan in tow.
"Oh uh, yeah. Probably should of guessed that with her being the oldest in all."
"It would have been tough to find me being the youngest of seven. Look's like you found me anyway though," Haley said giving him a look.
"Is that a good or bad thing?" He questioned looking into her eyes, immediately seeing a smirk come across her face.
"Good of course. Who ratted me out?"
"That would be GiGi," Nathan replied causing them both to giggle. "I think she's secretly rooting for us."
"I know she is," Haley said giving him a small smile. "Speaking of ius/i… I guess we have some things to sort out."
"Man, I was this close to getting away with a night away from problems!" Nathan chided, putting his thumb and pointer finger about an inch apart for effect.
"Nathan, I know. I'm sorry… it's just. There's so much up in the air. I can't just let it stay there it's-"
"-just not you. I know Hales."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay Haley… just tell me where we should begin," he stated taking a seat across from her at the kitchen table. "Actually, I have a question. Where, uh, where's your promise ring? I noticed you're not wearing it."
"Oh," Haley replied instantly bringing her hands down to her lap, feeling the bare skin on her middle finger. "It's not what you think Nathan."
"Then what is it?" He said looking disheartened.
"It's just… I didn't feel like I deserved to wear it, you know?"
"Not really Haley."
"Okay you see, when I left you I hurt you. Bad. And I know that. And knowing I did that to you hurts me. A lot. More than you'll ever know. I never really thought about how my leaving would affect you in the long run. I was just thinking about me and clearing my head. Not you. And I guess, I felt guilty. I ifeel/i guilty. Thinking about me and being so selfish, I didn't deserve your promise to always protect me and be there for me. I still don't," she said in a soft voice, tear threatening to spill. She finally looked up at Nathan who grabbed her hand from across the table.
"Haley, don't you get it? I don't care what you do. I'll always be here for you. You'll always deserve me. In fact… maybe I'm not the one who deserves you."
"I guess I am much lesser for leaving you…" Haley breathed, disappointment etched across her face.
"No, no. It's not because of you… it's because of me."
"What do you mean?" Haley replied looking confused.
"When you left I was mad. I mean, at first I was sad and lonely but all the time alone allowed me to think and I just ended up getting mad. So one night Lucas took me to a party. And I uh… I made out with Peyton," he said, unable to look her in the eyes.
"I guess I deserve that. I mean, if I hadn't left you wouldn't have been drawn to her," Haley whispered, single tears now falling down her cheeks.
"No you don't Haley," Nathan stated, lifting his hand across the table to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "I was stupid and drunk. And I was a total hypocrite because just hours before I told Lucas that I'd be loyal to you. That I'd wait for you to come home because I love you. And then… I betrayed you."
"You told Lucas you'd wait for me?" Haley stated, her face lighting up.
"Well yeah. I loved you… ilove/i you. No girl could fill your void in my heart. Lucas kept telling me I was whipped and that I should just go after the girls. But we all know Lucas and I'm not him."
"Of course you're not Nathan… otherwise we wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation," Haley spoke, causing them both to suppress a little giggle. " I forgive you."
"You forgive me?"
"I forgive you."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that," Haley replied looking him in the eyes.
"Thank you Hales," Nathan stated squeezing her hand and looking her in the eyes. "You know, I really am sorry. I wouldn't do that to you. I was drunk, I know that's not an excuse but just know I wasn't in my right mind. I stopped before it got too far."
"Wait. Hold on a second Nathan. You were… you were planning on going farther?" She said, hurt and anger instantly storming across her face. "With… with that well… bitch!"
"Haley…"
"Answer the question Nathan," Haley shouted.
"I don't what I would have done honestly. But yes, I was going to go farther than just making out," he said looking at his fingernails, too ashamed to look her in the eyes.
"Nathan… I don't. I can't believe…" Haley began, unable to finish her sentence.
"Just listen to me Hales. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But you have to know, I didn't go through with anything. Something stopped me… iyou/i."
"That's great Nathan," Haley sighed. "But where my head and my heart were at I would not have been able to even think about sex with anybody."
"That's cause you don't even think about sex," Nathan huffed, immediately wishing he could take back what he just said.
"Excuse me?" Haley inquired, obviously trying to see if he said what she just heard.
"Nothing…" Nathan mumbled.
"Nathan, sex is a big thing for me."
"I know that Haley," he sighed, not wanting to fight anymore.
"Apparently you don't."
"Look, I didn't mean it."
"I think you did Nathan. A part of you was probably glad we broke up, then you could go looking for what you weren't… iaren't/i getting."
"I would never think that Hales! Don't be like this."
"Be like what? Huh? I forgave you for making out with Peyton and then I found out you were thinking about having sex with her. Something which you know I feel very strongly about and yet you throw that in my face too."
"I'm sorry Haley. It's just, some things can be so frustrating!"
"Like what, me?"
"No Hales. Just everything. I'm sorry."
"Seems like you should get yourself some personalized stationary if you plan on handing out apologizes so often," Haley snapped.
"I guess you should do that same," he snapped back, instantly feeling guilty for the hurt looked that played across her face.
"You're right Nathan," Haley sighed.
"No Haley I-"
"You're right. I mean… I hurt you. Much worse then the bits of pain I'm feeling now. I'm sorry too. Sometimes I just wish we could go back and do things differently."
"Me too Hales. Me too. God how did this all get so complicated?" Nathan cried, running his hands through his hair.
"When your life collided with mine."
"Something I don't regret," Nathan stated truthfully, looking into Haley's eyes.
"Me either," Haley said cracking a small smile. "I just wish things were different sometimes. You know… better circumstances. Less problems."
"You know what Hales? Me and you… we did nothing wrong yet we're getting punished. We're beating ourselves up for something other people did."
"I know… thank you Taylor," Haley stated sarcastically.
"So let's start over."
"Start over?"
"Yes. Put all the bad things behind us and just start on a clean slate," Nathan stated optimistically.
"Okay… but one thing first. It's been bugging me from before."
"What is it?"
"What uh, what made you stop with Peyton? What made you instantly sober up?"
"I found another one of your postcards."
"Postcards?" Haley questioned looking utterly confused.
"Yeah, you know that one word ones you sent me almost every day."
"Um, no I don't."
"Haley you don't have to pretend it's not you. It's okay. They're what finally gave me the nerve to come here."
"Nathan… I'm uh. I'm not pretending. Hold on one second," Haley said getting up from her chair before running down the hallway, only to appear again with a box in her hand. "Here," she said handing the box over to Nathan.
"Wh-what's this?"
"This box contains letters from each day I was gone. I wrote you every day but never had the guts to send them. I didn't write you postcards Nathan. I wrote you these."
"Well then who sent the postcards?"
"I don't know. But you want to hear something funny?"
"Okay… shoot Hales."
"Looks like we're kind of starting off our clean slate on the same foot," Haley said gesturing towards the box of letters stifling a laugh.
"I guess we are," Nathan said shaking his head while laughing at the girl in front of him.
"Just do me a favor… don't read them until you're home and not around me okay?"
"Why?"
"I get embarrassed."
"Okay Hales… I won't. But speaking of home, when are you planning on going?"
"Actually I was going to catch a train home tomorrow to see you, but looks like you beat me too it. GiGi called and said you weren't doing too hot."
"I wasn't. But now I'm hotter than ever… and it seems so are you," Nathan breathed; only inches from Haley's face, a cocky smirk playing across his own.
"Nathan…" Haley blushed.
"Haley…" Nathan whispered before capturing his lips to her in a short but passionate kiss.
"Nathan…" she whined again. "If you don't stop that then I won't be packed up for tomorrow."
"Oh come on. You're not Brooke Davis. It won't take you that long to back."
"I may not be Brooke Davis, but I'm a girl. I have a lot of stuff and unless you want to drive home tomorrow alone, then I'd suggest you let me pack."
"Well… I guess I should let you pack then. I need you back in Tree Hill."
"And why is that Nathan Scott?" Haley said, lifting an accusing eyebrow.
"So I can do this anytime I want," Nathan replied, capturing her lips once again in a sizzling kiss before watching her petite figure wonder down the hall back to her room to pack.
Alright guys... do you want the good or bad first? I'll go with good: NALEY IS FINALLY TOGETHER AGAIN! & THEY GET A FRESH START! YAY! Bad: Before this chapter, I had my story written, now however you are up to the speed as the other boards my story is on. SO alas, chapters will be slower updating but they'll def be worth the wait. I'm goign to try to do at least one per week but school is hectic so we'll see. Leave reviews and let me know what you think! I love getting them:)