Chapter 32
As Nathan walked up the steps and entered the apartment carrying the last of the paint supplies and other random decorating needs, Haley was laying sprawled out in the middle of the floor totally exhausted. The past couple nights Taylor had gone out and left Haley to baby-sit and last night Lee was being especially tiring. Walking in, Nathan played a smirk across his face.
"Wow, hot girl sprawled out on my bedroom floor. Just about where my bed would be… how I wish that had been delivered already."
"Nathan!" Haley squealed opening one eye to look up at his gorgeous figure. "You're just lucky I'm to tired to get up and smack you!"
"Alright, alright. Look Hales, I know people say shopping can be tiring but are you sure you're alright?" He said, suddenly getting serious.
"I'm fine. Taylor's just been going out a lot lately and I've been kind of Lee's fill in mother. Not exactly the easiest thing when you're trying to balance everything else in your life too."
"I'm sorry Hales… maybe you should talk to her."
"When Nathan? The all of five minutes she's home?" Haley snapped. "I'm sorry. It's just, she's Lee's mother. Not me. And as much as I love this kid, I'm still a kid. I don't mind babysitting or keeping an eye on him but running the freaking household? That's Taylor's job. I'm just stressed."
"I'm sorry things are so hard for you Hales."
"I've gotten used to it," she sighed, placing one of her arms over her forehead.
"Well, let me find a way to make things easier," Nathan replied with a devilish smirk on his face before lowering himself to the floor and sliding behind Haley who was now scrunched up on her side. Bringing his head closer, he lightly brushed a kiss on the back of her neck. He could feel the chills go down her spine, knowing what he could do to her, and knowing that right at this moment a smile was playing across her face. Working his way forward he lightly placed kisses from her neck, to her shoulder, down her arm to her hand, which he then intertwined with his own. He then lightly tugged at her arm causing her to face him. Her eyes were closed, her mouth smiling, and her face a bright crimson.
"Hales…" He whispered staring at her face.
"Nathan…" Haley said, her eyes fluttering open.
"Still feeling crappy?" He asked, his smirk spread wide, never breaking eye contact.
"A little bit," she giggled giving him an innocent look.
"Well I can fix that," he stated enthusiastically before rolling onto his back and pulling Haley on top of him, his legs on either side of her.
"Oh you can, can you?" Haley said quirking and eyebrow before bringing her head down to place a light kiss on his lips.
"Yep," Nathan replied, giving her a wink before bringing her head down for a mouthwatering kiss. As they continued to make-out, Nathan hands found their way to Haley's sides, lightly playing with the hem of her shirt. Goosebumps appearing at every spot his fingers lightly touched on the small of her back. Nibbling at her ear, Haley began to giggle as Nathan slowly started inching up the back of her shirt. His fingertips grazed her spine as he inched closer to his destination. Finally feeling the soft fabric of her bra, Nathan began to play with the clasp; his other hand kneading circles in her side.
"Nathan…" Haley let out, opening her eyes at the feeling of his hand on her bra.
"Mmm…" He replied, his eyes fluttering open at the halting of their make-out session.
"What are you doing?" She questioned knowingly.
"Kissing you," he stated before plunging up at revel in her neck.
"Uh-uh… with your hand," Haley reminded, giving him a skeptical eye.
"Oh. I uh, I guess I uh-" Nathan stammered, unaware of his actions while getting caught up in the moment.
"I'm not ready Nathan," Haley stated firmly, looking him square in the eye.
"I know that Hales."
"Then why are you pressuring me?"
"Wha- I'm, I'm not."
"Nathan you were just trying to undo my bra about 5 seconds ago. How is that not pressuring?"
"Hales, I didn't even realize I was doing that. I'm a guy and it's natural for us to want to explore."
"You're a guy? That's your excuse. Well guess what Nathan? I'm a girl. A girl who's not comfortable with her body and girl who's not ready to go to the next level with just 'a guy,'" Haley replied offended, pushing herself off of Nathan and leaning on her knees between his legs.
"That's not what I meant Haley. I'm not just, a guy. I'm your guy," Nathan replied, propping himself up on his elbows to see her.
"Well my guy should know that I'm not ready to have sex," Haley scoffed, her eyes lightly glazed.
"I do know that Haley. That's why I haven't been pressuring you."
"Like you're not pressuring me right now?"
"I'm trying not to Hales. And I have to admit it's hard not to. Very hard. You have no idea what you do to me. But I'm trying my best."
"Well then try harder."
"Okay," Nathan replied, hoping to soon end this little tiff.
"I'm sorry you know," Haley stated solemnly.
"For what?" Nathan questioned.
"Not being able to give you what you want," Haley stated, looking away from Nathan.
"C'mere," Nathan stated, pulling Haley down to him again, making sure he looked into her chocolate pools. "What I want is to be with you when you're ready. And as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter I don't have what I want because I have what I need. And that's you Hales. Don't ever forget that."
"Nathan," Haley gasped, a smile across her face, tears building in her eyes as she brought her arms to circle around his neck before placing a passionate kiss on his lips. "Have I said how much I love you lately?"
"Mmm… no," Nathan said with a smirk.
"Well I love you Nathan Scott."
"And I love you Haley James."
"Good because I'm about to go into drill sergeant mode and you probably aren't going to like me very much," she chuckled.
"Huh?"
"Nathan we're getting your apartment painted and decorated today even if it kills me! I'm sick of these boring white walls and using your floor as furniture. Now let's hop to it mister!" Haley replied, jumping up to her feet and pulling Nathan up with her.
"So much for you being tired," Nathan grumbled causing Haley to giggle.
As soon as they began to walk out of the bedroom, hand in hand, the door to the apartment swung open revealing Peyton Sawyer, Lucas Scott, and his ex Brooke Davis.
"I see you've already christened the bedroom," Peyton snarled giving Haley a glare and Nathan a nod.
"It's not like that," Nathan replied still holding Haley's hand as they entered the living area.
"Right," Peyton replied giving Nathan a look. "I forgot you were dating Haley James."
"Peyton stop," Brooke replied, giving her a tug toward the paint supplies.
"Why does she hate me so much Nathan?" Haley asked, looking at Nathan with unknowing eyes.
"She doesn't hate you Hales," he said bringing his arm around her shoulder. "She's just reserved until she gets to know people. Don't let her get to you."
"Seriously Haley. Don't mind Peyton. Besides, I wouldn't want to see your pretty little face upset over something stupid like that," Lucas replied giving her a smirk.
"You can stop hitting on my girlfriend now Lucas," Nathan replied giving Lucas a glare. "Unless you want your pretty little face to be broken."
"Gotcha cuz," Lucas replied. "So point me to the paint!"
After about three hours of painting Lucas and Nathan decided to take a break and go to the Rivercourt while Brooke decided she'd go grab lunch leaving just Haley and Peyton in the apartment. Having already finished the living room and kitchen the two girls were in the bedroom painting a fresh coat of blue onto the walls. As Haley pushed the roller up and down the wall, Peyton gave her a skeptical eye.
"You know you're not going to want to put so much paint on there. You're ruining the paint job. It's going to be all bubbly," Peyton retorted,
"I think I'm fine thanks," Haley replied stiffly.
"Right, you're little Miss Perfect. I forgot," Peyton sneered.
"Okay listen. I have no idea what I did to you Peyton but whatever it is I'm sorry. Ever since I've been with Nathan or even when we were just friends you've been cold toward me when I've been nothing but nice to you," Haley fumed.
"I don't like people who just waltz right into people's lives and change everything," Peyton replied. "You barely even knew Nathan and all of a sudden you're just sucking him into your little hurricane of problems. Well guess what? Nathan was friends with all of us before he decided to pity you. So do us all a favor and just stay the hell away. Our group of friends was fine without you and there's no need for an extra wheel. Especially an extra wheel who is a Debbie Downer. You seriously need to lighten up. Nathan's been all depressing lately. Thanks for that by the way."
"You know what Peyton," Haley replied, tears streaming down her face. "Before you try and make up some bullshit excuse as to why you hate me when we both know it's because you're jealous of what me and Nathan have you should get your story straight. Maybe if you talked to Nathan when you saw him instead of being a bitch to me you'd know the problems he was going through right now. But wait, Peyton only cares about herself. So hooray for you that you got what you wanted. I'm crying and I'm leaving. Looks like you killed two birds with one stone, eh?" Haley sneered before turning and exiting the apartment, bumping into Brooke on her way down the stairs before entering her car and driving away.
"Hey Peyton," Brooke yelled as she walked through the door. "Do you know what was wrong with Haley?" She asked as she noticed her friend looking a bit distraught.
"I've just made a terrible mistake," Peyton stated shamefully before Brooke came and enveloped her into a hug. "You've got to help me fix it."
"I'll do what I can," Brooke replied soothingly before thinking of a plan of action; whatever it was, there was one thing that was certain… it was going to be good.
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Turning onto her street, Haley saw an unfamiliar SUV pulling out of her driveway. As she approached closer, she noticed the man driving to be none other than Dan Scott.
"What the hell was Dan doing at my house?" Haley muttered under he breath as she entered the driveway. Turning the car off she jumped out of the car and barreled up the front steps perpetuated by not only the sight of Dan Scott, but also her argument with Peyton.
"Taylor!" She screamed as soon as she opened the door. Hearing no answer, she screamed again.
"Haley shh," Taylor pleaded as she descended the stairs. "I just got Lee to take a nap."
"That's good because he's not going to want to see this."
"What's got you all fired up now?" Taylor questioned, giving her a skeptical eye.
"Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that my boyfriend's manipulative father just pulled out of our driveway. Care to explain Taylor?" Haley fumed.
"He was looking for you."
"For me?"
"Yes."
"I highly doubt that Taylor. I've barely even spoken to the man before. Care to choose another lie?"
"I'm not lying," Taylor stated, unable to look at Haley's eyes. Those were like the freaking truth serum.
"Alright Tayliar, I'm giving you one last chance to tell me with the truth," Haley stated, her eyes sending daggers toward her sister.
"I can't okay? I just can't."
"Why not Taylor?"
"I just can't. Forget you even saw him."
"Will it's too late for that so you're just going to have to tell me."
"I already told you I can't."
"No Taylor you can. And you will. Why? Because if you don't I'm leaving this house and not coming back. And this time I'm taking Lee with me. We all know you don't deserve that cherub of a kid. So Taylor, this is your last chance. Why the hell was Dan Scott at our house?"
"You really want to know?" Taylor asked, her shoulders slumping.
"No, I'm standing here chitchatting with you to exercise my mouth. Duh Taylor, I think we've made it perfectly clear that I want to know."
"Fine. Dan was here to talk to me…"
"About…"
"You."
Baffled, Haley took a step back from her sister. "Me?"
"Yes," Taylor replied unsteadily.
"But… but why?" Haley asked dumbfounded.
"Because he doesn't like you and Nathan together. Said Nathan doesn't need the distraction. That he could… could do better."
"He wouldn't."
"He would Haley, but uh, what I'm telling you about isn't what he came for here today."
"It's not?"
"No, that's what he came by here a couple weeks ago for," Taylor stated, stepping back and taking a seat on the bottom step leading towards upstairs. "Listen Haley. I want to be honest with you so I'm going to tell you exactly what happened. But if I do you have to promise me something."
"Okay…" Haley agreed, anxious to hear what was going on.
"Promise me you won't get mad."
"This doesn't sound good Taylor."
"Just promise me Hay," Taylor pleaded.
"Fine, I promise."
"Alright. Do you remember the day you and Nathan got in that huge fight about trust and you ended up going away to Quinn's."
"Of course I do. That's been our only fight and it's still so recent. I believe you mouth was the cause," Haley stated, venom seeping into her voice towards the end.
"It was. You see, the day before I when Dan first came to you house and said all that stuff I just told you. What he also said was that if I uh, if I…" Taylor began, suddenly finding it harder to let the words come out.
"If you what Taylor?"
"He said that if I split you and Nathan apart and kept it that way… then he'd pay for Harley's expenses."
"Please don't tell me you said yes," Haley replied, staring blankly ahead.
"I wasn't proud of it, but I did eventually say yes."
"I don't believe you," Haley stated, looking up for the first time from the spot on the floor she had been eyeing to see Taylor.
"Haley you said you wouldn't get mad."
"I'm not mad Taylor… I'm disappointed," Haley let out solemnly before taking steps to walk past Taylor and up the stairs. Before she could do so Taylor launched herself up by the bottom of the steps and grabbed Haley's shoulders.
"Haley please."
"I have nothing to say to you right now."
"Then just listen. Please. Listen." Taylor pleaded, looking at Haley until finally she caved in giving her a nod. "I'm not exactly Susie Homemaker-"
"More like Homewrecker…" Haley jabbed.
"But I'm trying. I want the best life for my son and believe it or not… for you."
"Not."
"The only way I could see that happening was with money I don't have. Money I couldn't obtain and money that Dan was presenting me with. So I did what I did. I'm not proud of it, but I was thinking of my son Haley. You're nephew. Our family," Taylor stated, sobs hinting from the back of her throat. "When I agreed, I didn't see you and Nathan as a lasting thing. You were both so different and nothing I thought would ever work. So I figured I'd spare you the heartache, let him go gallivant on whatever hoes he's playing this week and benefit myself by having money to care for my son."
"Nathan doesn't 'gallivant with hoes' Tay. He's nothing like the crowd he hangs out with," Haley butted in yet again.
"I know that now. It seems after I saw all the pain it caused that I didn't actually spare you heartache, but created it. I didn't realize how much you both needed each other… how much you were both in love. I just… if I had known the extent of yours and Nathan's relationship I would have never even thought about Dan's offer," Taylor grimaced, tears slowly trickling down her cheek.
"Yes you would have," Haley replied, her eyes narrow on her sister, tears also streaming her face.
"So maybe I would have, but I never would have accepted. The love I've seen between you and Nathan is like nothing else. I'm so ashamed of what I've done. So distraught," she squealed, sobs now coursing through her body with each breath.
"That's great Taylor but you can't really fix the past."
"But I can fix the future," she bellowed. "That's why you saw Dan. I called it all off Haley. I'm not playing his games anymore."
"So it's officially over?" Haley asked, the slightest bit hope flashing through her eyes both for her and her sister.
"Yes."
"I'm sure he was happy," Haley mumbled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Not in the least," Taylor stated. " I believe some threats were made but I'm through with him."
"Good."
"So you're not mad?"
"I promised I wouldn't be."
"But if you didn't promise, would you be?"
"Maybe. I'm disappointed, but not mad. I don't think I could be. I don't think I could hate you for this either Tay. As much as I want to, what you did was for the wellbeing of your son. Lee deserves to have a normal life and you were trying to give him one. It would not only be selfish of me to hold it against you, but un-godmotherly," Haley stated, the slightest smile creeping across her face.
"So you're giving me another chance?"
"I can try," Haley stated, realizing for the first time that she was in Nathan's shoes, flip-flopping between doubt and hope in the trusting of a loved one again. For him it was his mother, for her it was her sister.
"Oh Haley," Taylor sighed, enveloping her sister into a bear hug. "I'm so sorry for what I've done but I promise that is all in my past, not my future."
"Good, because so help me God if you so much as think about screwing me over I'm out of here for good," Haley stated in both a serious and joking tone while pulling away to look her sister in the eye.
"I promise Haley. I'm done with causing messes. It's my turn to fix them. I'm going to try to change."
"You better. And not for me, but for you son."
"I will," Taylor stated, giving her one last squeeze before stepping back from their embrace.
"I know you will," Haley replied before making her way up the stairs.
"Hey Haley," Taylor called.
"Mm?"
"You're the best sister I could have asked for. More than I deserve. I don't understand how you could be so loyal to me after everything I've done."
"I've got the big James heart remember?"
"That you do little sis. That you do," Taylor stated as Haley gave her a final nod and made her way up the stairs. It is when she finally entered her room that she flopped on her bed and shed the tears she had been so eagerly trying to hold back: tears of pain from both Peyton's venomous words and Taylor's revelation; tears of hope, for Taylor's attempt to change; and finally tears of joy for Nathan's unwavering love.
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Across town, Nathan and Lucas finally made their way back from the Rivercourt, noticing of course the fact that Haley's car was gone. Opening the front door they were met with an anxious look Brooke and a nervous looking Peyton.
"Hey guys, where's Haley?" Nathan questioned.
"She left," the girls replied in unison.
"But why? And without a goodbye? She was so excited to do this," Nathan stated causing Peyton's guilt to fall even more heavily on her shoulders.
"Uh, it's a long story," Brooke chimed in, her charm undoubtedly taking over. "But she said something about a date…"
"A date?" Nathan questioned.
"Yes," Brooke stated, putting her scheme into action. "She said to wear something nice and wait outside your apartment at eight tonight."
"Alright, that's in like five hours. So we can do a little more work before then right?"
"Um, you and Lucas can," Brooke said quickly. "Me and Peyton have some uh… stuff to do so gotta go buh-bye!" She finished before taking Peyton's hand and pulling her out the door before anymore questions could be asked.
"I wonder what that's about…" Nathan stated confused.
"It's because Brooke couldn't stand to be in the same room as me. She still wants my bod," Lucas chimed in cockily.
"Yeah… right," Nathan stated laughing. "Just grab a roller and let's get my apartment painted. I've got to get ready in a couple hours."
"Whatever man," Lucas chided back before grabbing a roller and getting back to work. Little did either of them know that the girls were about to embark a scheme to end all schemes. Peyton needed to right her wrong and Brooke was just the person to help. By the end of the night, Nathan would be singing Brooke praises and Haley will hopefully be forgiving Peyton. But the end of the night all would be right… right? Only time would tell.
Can
you say loaded chapter? So much went down... we've got some Naley, some conflict, some
resolution, some new beginning, some scheming and some cliffhanging!
Not to mention a pretty anxious writer (aka me) and I'm hoping
content and still eager readers. Loved it? Like it? Confused by it?
Ehh? Excited? Whatever it is, let me know what you think! I hope this
chapter was worth the wait. Hopefully the next one can come out much
sooner. And for those of you wondering about the letters Haley gave
to Nathan... they're still coming. Expect one next chapter! Until
then... leave reviews:)