A/N: I know I disappeared for a while, schools been hectic and believe it or not I do have a life. Honestly it was the episode 4.05 that inspired me and got me to get this chap, I haven't been happy with where the show was going but Nathan's declaration of love at his press con converted me back. Squeee Naley baby:)Thanks for the continued support (21 reviews for chapter 5—insane!) Oh and please support my new story as well, A love to kill. (Still waiting for more response before I update, I dunno if you guys will support it.)
Btw, I am keeping James. I love how he's gotten everyone all shaken up (not only Nathan but you readers as well!) wink wink
Comments make me happy, now don't you want your writer to be happy (. . . and update)? --Kate
P.S I hope you guys don't hate me after this chap. Lol. And sorry any typographical errors and if my writing sucks, I just kinda typed this all in a flash.
Haley James leaned against the parked car in Tree Hill High's parking lot hours after classes were let out. She wrapped her arms around her waist pulling her jacket tighter to protect her from the cold wind. She shivered; she had only been out there for 10 minutes or so, waiting for Nathan outside while he took his after basketball practice shower. She stretched her fingers, they were quickly becoming numb and her legs were starting to become sore from standing in the cold but this time she didn't mind. She was actually excited. A figure was slowly approaching. But it didn't belong to the person she was waiting for, it wasn't Nathan's. It was a silhouette of a woman.
"Hi, I'm Brooke Davis, but I'm sure you already knew that." She winked.
Haley let out a laugh, of course she knew Brooke Davis, who didn't? Aside from the fact that every guy in Tree Hill High wants to date her, including her very own best friend Lucas, ever girl wants to be her best friend. "Yea, I think I've seen you around." Haley joked. "I'm Haley James."
"And the girl who stole Nathan McHottie's heart." Brooke added.
"McHottie?" Haley quirked an eyebrow. (A/N: McHottie--sound familiar? Lol. Couldn't help but copy from grey's a.—another great show, lol!ü)
"It's what we girls like to call your boy toy behind his back." Brooke explained.
Haley blushed at Brooke's words, boy toy, "It's not like that."
"Yea it is." Brooke simply shrugged as if stating the most obvious thing. "You, my dear, snagged the most wanted guy in Tree Hill High much to the upset of every girl in this school."
"I didn't snag him." Haley repeated emphasizing Brooke's choice of words, the only thing lacking were air quotes.
"Say what you want Tutor Girl, but you've just hooked the hottest guy at Tree Hill High."
"Tutor girl?" Haley raised an eyebrow.
"That's what we call you, well other than the bitch who took Nathan."
"Thanks for the info, I think." Haley laughed unsurely. "So what are you doing here? Other than orienting me with the nicknames Tree Hill High has labeled me."
Brooke shrugged, "Good question. I'm inviting you to my party Friday night." Her eyes twinkled at her words; Brooke Davis loved a good party, especially when it was hers. "So will we be seeing you there Tutor Girl?"
"Yea, I guess." Haley agreed, "I'll have to ask Nathan first though."
Brooke took that as a yes, "So then I'll be seeing you around, Nathan Scott never turns down a chance to party." She concluded. "See you then tutor girl."
"It's Haley." Haley corrected.
"Not anymore." Brooke finished off. She turned away, waving bye to Haley as she sashayed her way through the lot and out of Haley's sight.
Haley stood there, paralyzed by Brooke's words. What did she mean by that? Is that how they saw her now? Nathan Scott's girl?
And as always, Nathan Scott's timing was impeccable. As soon as Brooke disappeared he had appeared.
"Hey he said," as soon as he was within a few feet of Haley.
"Hey," Haley smiled back, snapping out of her reverie.
They walked over to the passenger side of the car as Nathan held open the passenger door for Haley. "What was that about?" Nathan asked referring to Haley's encounter with Brooke he had witnessed from a far.
A smile played her lips thanking him; she always appreciated Nathan's little gestures. "Nothing." She answered cryptically deciding against telling Nathan about her little conversation with Brooke. McHottie and all.
Nathan after closing Haley's door jogged round to his side and got into the car, once inside he turned on the ignition and got the car onto the road.
"She invited us to her party Friday night, can we go?"
"Of course, it's only fit you make an appearance seeing as your dating the most popular guy in school."
"Is that so?" Haley laughed.
Nathan flirtingly wiggled his eyebrows as a yes.
"You are aware they call you McHottie?" Haley teased.
"Really?" Nathan asked surprised.
Haley nodded in response. "I got that piece of information from a very, very reliable source." Referring to Brooke.
"Well then they speak the truth." Nathan smirked diverting his eyes from the road to steal a glance at Haley.
Haley rolled her eyes but silently agreed that Nathan definitely did live up to his title as McHottie. "So where we going?" she chirped. Nathan's little surprise excited her.
"You'll see." He said secretly. He was happy to see her so excited and he wanted it to stay that way.
"For all I know you're bringing me to some random motel."
"It's that obvious huh?" Nathan played along.
"Ugh." Haley laughingly punched him on the arm. "I trust you'll bring me somewhere classier."
"Only the best for my girl." He said nonchalantly as if the words were the most natural in world.
Haley couldn't help but blush at his words and Nathan even if he was driving saw it but said nothing. The two stayed silent throughout the rest of the drive, Nathan's words mystifying the atmosphere. A couple of minutes and twists and turns later, they had arrived at their destination.
"Isn't this your parent's beach house?" Haley asked stating the obvious once they reached their destination. She had expected Nathan to bring her to some restaurant but was now facing the Scott's beach house instead.
"Yea, but I now refer to it as my hideout when things get too tense with my dad."
"Ah yes, Batman's hideout." Haley nodded her head mockingly.
The two laughed at Haley's joke but their laughter eventually died down. The two sat in silence until Nathan finally spoke, "Do you trust me?" he asked her.
Haley thought about it before looking into his eyes and truthfully answering, "Yea."
Nathan nodded in appreciation and took out a piece of satin material from his right pocket. "Here put this on." Nathan said handing her the material.
Haley eyed it before reluctantly taking it from his hand. The dark soft satin material she surprisingly realized was a blindfold. "You don't plan on hazing me do you?" she questioned his motives.
Nathan let out a small laugh, "Hales you don't exactly blindfold your victims, you force their head into a bag not the comfort of a blindfold. Besides I don't haze girls that would be plain mean."
She shrugged, "Well if that's what you're into, seducing and hazing poor, naïve, high school junior girls."
"You are far from naïve Haley James." Nathan pointed out. "But if you don't wanna do it its fine, it's not like I exerted any effort into this anyway." He said nonchalantly, giving Haley a bland look.
Any minute now, he thought. Any minute now she'd cave in. He pouted his lips slightly, just to make sure she got his point.
"Fine, I'll do it." Haley hissed.
No one could resist the Nathan Scott charm.
"Really Nathan was guilt a necessary tactic?"
"I could beg but that's just not me."
"You have a point," Haley agreed causing a smirk to appear on Nathan's face. She placed the blindfold over her eyes much to Nathan's delight and crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine what now?"
"You wait."
"Wait?" Haley wailed. "I'm already playing along with your little game and now you want me to wait?"
"I just have to fix a couple of things first." Nathan patiently explained.
"Oh, okay." Haley calmed down. She knew she shouldn't have snapped at Nathan but she was getting excited. "Fine but this better be good."
"It will be, promise." Nathan reassured her. "I'll be quick." He added before getting out of the car.
Haley wiggled in her seat from anticipation waiting for Nathan to come fetch her. She fidgeted nonstop in her seat, excitement boiling inside her, What was he up to? She silently asked herself. She adjusted her blindfold a couple of times and hummed a tune just to time pass. What seemed hours to her were just mere minutes.
A couple of minutes later Nathan returned, opening Haley's door. "Ready to show me you trust me?" Nathan breathed into her ear sending shivers through her.
She nodded in response as Nathan took her hand and slowly guided her out of the car. She clung onto Nathan, afraid of falling.
"It's ok, I've got you." Nathan reassured her.
Haley nodded as Nathan led her. Expecting Nathan to lead her towards the beach house she was surprised to hear the crashing ocean waves grow louder and louder and the smell of the ocean growing distinctly stronger.
"We're almost there."
Haley nodded as they continued walking.
They walked a few meters until Nathan stopped, taking Haley's blindfold off. "Wait, I want you to see this."
"Wow, it's so beautiful." Haley said, mesmerized by the view.
"I come here to clear my head, to get away from it all." Nathan confined in her.
Haley nodded; she knew how it felt to just want to run away from it all. "Thanks for this." Haley smiled looking up at Nathan.
"This isn't it," Nathan replied smiling back. "There's more."
"More?" Haley repeated surprised.
Nathan nodded taking Haley's hand leading her further. The two continued walking hand in hand further down the beach till they reached an open area where Nathan had prepared a blanket and basket.
Haley gaped at Nathan surprised by his gesture, "This is it?" She asked beaming.
Nathan nodded, taking in Haley's expression and feeling happy himself.
He motioned for Haley to take a seat on the blanket he had prepared and took a seat next to her. The view, his planned setting, the girl. Everything was perfect.
Nathan's gaze diverted to Haley whose own thoughts were fixated on the crashing waves.
"My mom wants me to visit on Saturday." Haley said softly, aware of Nathan's stare, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nathan stayed silent, his eyes begging her to go on.
"She said she wanted to see me and that she missed me."
"That's good, you should go." Nathan encouraged her.
"I can't." Haley turned her head to look at him, tears welling in her eyes.
"Yes, you can." Nathan said firmly looking in the eyes.
Haley shook her head; the tears were becoming harder to hold back. "No." her voice cracking.
He reached out and cupped her face with his hands. "Yes, you can." He repeated.
She looked into his eyes, seeing the clear determination. She nodded, and closed her eyes feeling his strong hands cupping her face.
He lowered her head onto his shoulder, holding her scared, fragile body in his strong one. Gently stroking hair in attempt to calm her down.
"Hey Nate, do me a favor." She spoke, not moving from her spot on his shoulder.
"Anything."
"Go with me to visit my mom this Saturday?"
"If you promise to talk to her."
"I will. Just don't leave me."
"I'll never leave you Haley James." I don't think I could, he added silently.
"Good." She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning further into his shoulder.
Minutes later her breathing steadied, and he knew she had calmed down. "Ready to eat?"
"Eat?" Haley lifted her head up from his shoulder, surprised. She had forgotten about Nathan's little picnic through all the drama.
"Yea, what'd you expect we would just sit here?"
"Well, no." now that she thought about it what was Nathan planning?
Nathan took out two Styrofoam boxes from his picnic basket, handing one to Haley and keeping the other one for him. She gingerly opened the box to find a sandwich neatly sliced in two and some chips inside. "Nice." She commented on his packed meal.
"Take-out." He admitted. "From Karen's." he added after seeing Haley's confused look.
Haley let out an easy laugh. "Should've known."
"I'm not much of a cook," he confessed. "I decided to be safe and take out rather than kill you with my cooking."
She laughed even more, her eyes twinkled as she did so. He felt so powerless by this.
"Ya know, you could have cooked me mac and cheese instead."
"Mac and cheese?" Nathan quirked an eyebrow.
"It's my fave dish, and the sure way to my heart."
"I'll have to remember that." Nathan nodded.
"I guess you do." She smile biting into her sandwich.
The two ate their sandwiches, laughing and forgetting all about the drama that had transcended a while ago. No more tears, no dark confessions, just laughter and the crashing waves with the crisp ocean air. Finally it came to her favorite time—desert!
"So, what did you bring for desert Mr. Scott?" Haley asked excitedly, desert had always been her favorite.
"I, uh, kinda had a hard time with this one." Nathan said unsurely, reaching his hand into his picnic basket. "I know it's not all that fancy and all, but . . ." he fished out a box of Crackerjack from the basket.
"Oh, score!" Haley exclaimed seeing the box. "I love Crackerjack."
Nathan let out a sigh of relief. "Good." He opened the box and offered it to Haley.
She lively reached into the box grabbing a couple and popping it into her mouth. "Yummm." She smiled through a mouthful.
Nathan couldn't help at the sight.
"What!" she exclaimed, "I love my Crackerjacks."
"Obviously." He let out a light laugh causing her to laugh along with him.
"So, uh, I have a question." Nathan started. "What's more fun, hanging out with me or tutoring James?"
Haley looked at him, taken aback by his question. "Well that depends," she said coyly, "Do I get a gift?"
Nathan couldn't help but smile at her cleverness. Girls and their gifts, he shook his head smiling. He reached into the Crackerjacks, his hand touching something unmistakably out of place. He took it out surprised to see a little packet, he tore it open to find a colorful, plastic bracelet inside. "Here" he said grabbing Haley's right hand, "Don't say I never gave you anything."
She smiled, admiring the bracelet on her wrist. "Well then, I guess we know the answer to your question now."
He smirked, feeling triumphant over James. "I guess we do."
They went back to silence, just as they always did when something happened between them. Personally she liked it that way; it gave her time to reflect. To enjoy, and relish the moment. And that she did. They did.
Something was bothering her, a thought in the very back of her mind. She felt reluctant to ask, but she couldn't help it, it was in her nature. "So, uh, what do you call this?"
"This?"
"Yea, this, what we're doing right now."
Nathan paused to think before saying, "This is what you want it to be."
"I guess it's a date then." Haley concluded smiling looking at Nathan.
He looked back at her, smiling. Heart thumping, pulse racing. He moved his hand closer to hers, placing it in his. Their fingers intertwined, both of them smiling into the sunset.
Two days later, Friday Brooke Davis' party
(NATHAN's POV)
We arrived at Brooke's house, the party in full swing. Brooke always did know how to throw a party. I picked Haley up at the café around 8 after her shift, Luke was there with her, we invited him but he declined saying it wasn't his scene. I understood him and his reason, Lucas had always been a bookworm, parties weren't exactly his scene. The exact opposite of me.
We walked in, hand in hand, and people stared. We were used to the stares by then, besides I liked holding Haley's hand. My eyes roamed the room, checking out the people. Same people I always see at the parties, well except maybe Haley. She was new to this scene and only went cause she thought I wanted to go, but thing is if it were my way I'd rather be alone with her then in a crowded room full of drunk teenagers.
I could see Tim approaching me, I knew he wanted to talk. Thing is I've been avoiding him for a while now. I knew what he wanted to talk about, but thing is I didn't want to talk about it. Better get this over with, I sigh. I had to get rid of Haley quick, I didn't want her to hear any of this.
"Hey, Hales, get me a drink?" I say sweetly.
"Sure," she looks up at me innocently. "And some chips to go with it?" she asks.
"Sweet." Poor Haley, so sweet to me, I hate myself now.
The timing was perfect, Haley was leaving just as Tim arrived. They exchanged polite nods and Haley flashed me a smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Like I said, I hate myself right now.
"Nate, my man, wassup?" Tim punched me in the arm. Tim was weird at times.
"Not much." I say blankly.
"Girl got you in place, huh."
I shot him a glare, "It's not like that man, besides I like spending time with Haley." I say defensively.
"Girl's got you eating out of the palm of her hand."
Ok so maybe my last statement wasn't exactly the right thing to say at the moment. Man he's gonna make a big deal out of this.
I shook my head, "Really Tim, its nothing." Trying to get him off my case.
"You sure man? Cause from the way you've been acting it seems you actually like the girl."
"And what if I do?"
"Then you've gone soft man." Tim shook his head in disbelief. "Have you forgotten that this is all but a game?"
"A game I'm intending to win." I say cockily. The words are out before I could even think. I can't take them back now. It was like word vomit, it just kept on spilling out from my mouth.
Damn my arrogance.
"That's the spirit Nate," Tim lifted his beer bottle in the air. "Why don't you redeem yourself with that chick over there?" Tim gestured to a blonde hair girl across the room who had been checking me out since he had arrived.
"I think I will."
(HALEY's POV)
I stood there, struggling for air as if someone had just thrown a punch right at my stomach. But there were no punches involved. Just Nathan Scott and a stake.
I was at the refreshments corner, innocently pouring myself some punch (probably spiked—but who cares) when something, or rather someone catches my eye. His tall masculine figure, raven hair and the confidence in his movement seemed so familiar to me. I realized it was Nathan, I was wondering what he was up to and now this was my chance, I was about to make my way to him when I realized he was with someone else. A girl. It's probably just a friend, I thought naively. Yea friend, Haley, a friend? Really now? But no, I just had to give him the benefit of the doubt, I brushed the thought away convinced that it was just one of his friends that just so happened to be a girl. More of friends with benefits I now realize.
They're laughing now, and her arm brushes against him.
I felt a sudden twinge in my heart.
He leans in to whisper something in her ear, they smile slyly and she says something causing them to laugh even harder.
The pain is getting stronger. I doubt it could feel any worse.
I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Nathan grabs her by the elbow, I feel a lump in my throat remembering how Nathan used to do that to me too. Did he do that to all his girls? Girls, it echoed in my mind. He didn't have just one girl, he had many. And I was one of them. One of his trophy girls. I suddenly felt nauseated from the thought.
He leads her away by the elbow.
Where? Who knows. Right now I couldn't even breathe. Nathan Scott had just thrust a stake through my chest, right into my heart.
"Haley." Someone calls out my name.
I turn to see Tim, "Tim." I smile fakely.
"Enjoying the party?"
"Yea," I nod. If you call wanting to kill Nathan Scott, the ass, enjoying the party, then yea I was having a blast.
"Good." He smiles enthusiastically.
Gee, someone's enjoying, I think silently. I smile, not really knowing what else to say, we've never really talked before, ever.
"You know, you're not gonna enjoy by drinking just punch." He motions to the punch in my hand. "Here have a beer." He extends the unopened beer in his hand.
I looked down at my punch I hadn't even taken a sip of it yet, I could keep it for later to throw at Nathan's face. Yea, I think I'll do that. "Nah, I'm good thanks." I decline politely.
"Come on," he teases. "Everyone's having so much fun."
When Tim said those words my mind flashed to Nathan and his random girl. I felt my cheeks flush with anger. "Just one," I give in taking it from his hands.
"That's my girl." Tim said smiling.
Funny Nathan used to call me that.
And you know what else is funny? That sly look on Tim's face that I didn't seem to notice then.
Three hours and a couple of beer empty beer bottles later Haley James was sloshed. She took a swig of her fifth—or was it sixth?—beer tonight. She swayed to the music, looking like a drunk which was pretty much accurate since she was drunk. Haley James was no drinker and that was a fact, and tonight it clearly showed.
"Got booze?" I heard a voice behind me say.
"Brookie!" I turned around to face Brooke Davis. Apparently now we were so close that I called her Brookie.
"Hi to you too Tutor Girl," Brooke laughed at her new nickname. "Not much of a drinker aye?" Motioning towards the beer in my hand.
"Me?" I ask innocently. "Nah, just a couple."
"Uh huh." She says unconvinced. "Try going back to sobriety tonight okay?"
"I'm fine." I dismiss her last statement. "I am completely sober." I say with pomposity.
Brooke laughed, "Yea and I'm still a virgin."
"You are?" I exclaim wide eyed. God, I really did have too much to drink.
"And you call yourself sober." Brooke concluded.
"I am! Why won't you believe me?" I pout. Like I said, I blame the beer.
"Ok, this is enough Tutor Girl." Brooke says trying to pry the beer bottle away from me.
"No." I argue like a hiss fit.
Brooke, probably sensing there was no point in arguing with me, decided to take another approach. "Why don't we go find Nathan?"
I felt my face contort bitterly at the mention of Nathan's name causing Brooke to ask, "Why did you and boy toy have a fight causing you to go wild tonight?"
"No," I spatted. " I can drink if I want, who gives a damn about him." Ok, so that came out wrong.
Brooke made a face causing me to ask, "What?"
Brooke motioned to my back, and I turned around, and rather sloppily at that, to face Nathan. I saw the look at his face, he had heard me and I could see the hurt in his eyes. But I ignored it.
"Nate!" I say jollily. Maybe too jollily at that.
Nathan smelled the alcohol, cringing. "Did you drink?"
"I am drinking." I corrected him.
Nathan shook his head, I may be drunk but I still managed to have spunk. "Ok, let me get this for you." Nathan made a lunge for my beer, but his attempt proved to be just as unsuccessful as Brooke's.
Yes, I may be drunk but I still had a firm grip on my booze. "No get your own." I shooed away Nathan's hands from getting a clean grip on the bottle.
"Ok, that's it, we are going home."
"But I don't wanna!" I wail.
"No buts Hales, come on lets go." he said scooping me up into my arms and swung me onto his left shoulder.
"Nathan, put me down!" I screamed like a three year old. I beat my fists against his back in attempt to get him to put me down. I failed. Miserably. Nathan stood there quietly with me on his shoulders as I continued on with my tantrum. Three minutes later, my screams were becoming softer and my fists were no longer beating against his back. Nathan's patience had worn me out. I sighed and rested my head against his back. My eyes were becoming heavier, I felt myself struggling to keep them open.
"Are you finished?" he asks me after I had quieted down.
I nod and he gingerly puts me down. I instantly start to wobble as soon as my feet connects to the grass. Curse the alcohol racing through my system. My knees buckle and I find myself kneeling on the Davis' grass.
"Come on," Nathan took my hand in his and helped me get up. "Lets get you home."
We had only taken a couple of strides but it took us so long because well, I was pretty much wasted at that point. All throughout Nathan steadied me with one arm wrapped around my waist to keep me from collapsing on the ground in case my knees gave in from all that alcohol circulating in my system. Unfortunately the knees buckled. I fell flat on my back—limbs splayed out in all directions just like a true drunk.
"Oops" I let out a laugh.
"Hey, you alright?" Nathan asked.
"Uh huh," I say tipsy.
Above me, the stars hung brightly and plentiful, spread throughout the dark, bountiful sky. Saw Nathan's gorgeous face appear above me. He was shaking his head but a smile was lingering on it too. He lowered himself onto the grass beside me, then with utmost care he lifted my head into his lap.
"Better?" he asked me.
"Much better," I smile. Much, much better.
Brooke was spot-on about Nathan: he was really quite a babe.
In the moonlight, his skin looked translucent and fragile, kind of like how I imagined an angel to be. My angel. He had dark blue eyes, so sharp as if it was piercing into my soul. Why hadn't I noticed those before? And don't even get me started about those lips, or that smirk!
"Hey, what's on your mind?" Nathan asked.
"Ugh, how I'm going to kill Tim for giving me beer. He did this to me." I lied. How do you tell a person you're thinking of him? Answer: you don't.
"That's what you get for drinking." Nathan teasingly lectured.
"Bite me."
"Gladly." He smirked.
I felt a smile coming onto my lips as I shook my head disbelievingly at his cockiness.
Damn that smirk.
Those lips.
. . . and those gorgeous pools of blue I could just get lost into.
Our eyes locked, my brown ones losing itself in his.
His piercing blues capturing mine.
He narrowed his eyes, I took it as a sign that he was thinking. I stayed silent, content with the moment, as his eyes revealed just how deep in thought he was.
"Look, Hales, I have to tell you so—"
"Oh, oh!" I squeal interrupting him, something had caught my eye. "Oh did you see that shooting star?" I asked pointing to the sky. "Make a wish! Make I wish quick!"
I closed my eyes and silently made one. I opened my eyes to see Nathan indulged in me.
"What, where?" Nathan asked gazing into the heavens.
"There!" I giddily point to what looks like streaks of light shooting across the sky.
"That one?" Nathan asked.
"Yup."
He let out an easy laugh, "Hales, that's just an airplane."
"Oh." I say stupidly. No wonder it was moving so slowly. I was obviously very silly and tipsy at the moment.
"You've had too much for tonight," he says.
Nathan was so right. My world was spinning and the lights were going out all fuzzy, I was seeing things! I shake my head in agreement as I slowly close my eyes. Great, Haley. Here you are basking under the moonlight, under one of the most gorgeous views you've ever seen and you're too tipsy to enjoy the view. Or the company for that matter.
In my mind plays an old familiar song, and I can't help but sing along. "Dancin' where the stars go blue. Dancin' where the evening fell. Dancin' in my wooden shoes. In a wedding gown." I finish and open my eyes to see Nathan smiling back down at me.
"That was great." He looked down shocked, last time he had checked I was too dowsed with alcohol and now I was going all Sarah McLachlan on him.
"Really?" I say surprised.
"Trust me." He smiled. He lowered his hand to caress my stubbed cheek as if to reassure me.
I felt a sudden jolt as his hand connected with my cheek, but still leaned into his touch. His warm hand connecting with my face was something new to me but somehow I felt safer around him, around his touch.
Then a gust of wind blew, throwing my hair into disarray. Again I felt Nathan's hand against my skin as he brushed my hair away from my face. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the moon and stars. Maybe it was the kindness in Nathan's eyes. Whatever it was it was magical.
I hadn't forgotten everything holding me back: the fact that he was my best friend's half-brother, the fact that all the girls in school wanted—and would kill—for him, his player rep, the little bimbo he was with earlier or that little overlooked detail otherwise known as our deal.
But at this moment, this very moment, my world felt perfect and safe. You know the scene they do in the movies when time stand still as lovers experience their perfect moment? Time stands still, and stops spinning on its axis just for them and their "moment".
Well, this is it. This was our perfect moment.
Suddenly it was just me and Nathan. Time stopped and everything and everyone dissolved along without it. So what happened next was not premeditated upon.
It was the most natural thing to do—I put my arms around his neck. And he didn't seem to mind when I pulled him in closer so that our faces nearly touched.
And then, I did it. I parted my lips slightly, and pressed them against his. It was a soft, sweet, lingering kiss, just like it should be. Being so close I could smell him, he smelled of musk and grass. I decided then and there I liked how he smelled.
It was a strangely familiar kiss. I've heard people go on about love and that kiss, using phrases I never really understood . . . until now.
We parted, both needing air. I laid there breathless, caught in the moment.
So this is what it feels like.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Instead I laid there, oblivious to what was coming. My perfect moment was soon to be shattered.
The silence was broken by his voice, "We shouldn't have done that." Nathan mumbled, unable to look me in the eye. It was probably best that he couldn't, that way he couldn't see the hurt in my eyes.