A/N: hello! hello! Wow! I was really amazed at the amount of reviews I got from the last chapter. I really appreciate it guys! Keep them coming! Hehe Anyway here is the next chapter. I'm still unsure whether to reveal the secret in the next chapter or the one after, still deciding. I've noticed that some of you have some-what guessed it already. But don't worry all the details will be revealed soon enough. So for now enjoy this next update and keep those reviews coming, especially the ones telling me which parts you like and everything! Thanks once again and like always ENJOY!
Chapter 12
Nathan and Lucas both went home after their meeting and got ready for school. Nathan picked up Lucas and Haley since their dad had to use the car for the day. It was a normal car ride as the three chatted and laughed on their way to school. When they parked in Nathan's usual spot Haley was the first to get out leaving the two boys to themselves and headed towards Peyton and Brooke sitting at their usual bench having their usual girl chat.
"So, about this you asking my sister out… You gonna ask her today?" Lucas said sighing still unsure about the whole idea.
"Well that was the plan…but if you need some time to get use to this man it's cool." Nathan replied, making sure Lucas was alright with the whole situation.
"It's fine… Let's just get it all over with. Just remember what I said man." Lucas said pointing his index finger at Nathan giving him a warning.
"Yaya I know. Don't worry man she's in safe hands." Nathan said with a smirk.
"Yeah just don't make me regret this and by the way just don't be making out with her in front of me…" Lucas looked at Nathan with a pleading look which made Nathan chuckle.
"We won't as long as I don't see you and Brooke eating each other's face in." Nathan laughed some more as both boys finally got out of the car.
Brooke quickly ran towards Lucas and started to kiss him passionately. Nathan just gave Lucas a look.
"Hey it didn't happen yet…" Lucas chuckled and kissed his girlfriend once more.
"What didn't happen yet?" Peyton asked as all three girls looked at Nathan and Lucas with confused looks on their faces.
"Uhhh.. yeah, hey Hales can I talk to you for a sec. alone…." Nathan motioned to Haley to sit with him at the bench where the girls were sitting before. Haley still looked at him completely oblivious to what was going on but agreed anyways thinking it may have to do something with his schoolwork.
"So, what's up?" Haley asked as they sat at the bench.
"Uhmmm…" Nathan looked down and started twiddling his thumbs.
"Nathan?" Haley looked at him a little confused and a bit worried that is was something bad.
C'mon man! Stop being such a pussy and just ask her! Nathan thought to himself as he started to sweat a little.
"You okay there buddy?" Haley asked with more worry in her eyes putting her hand on his shoulder and staring at the silent Nathan. Buddy? Oh great will this even work? Nathan kept mentally hitting himself at the words Haley had just said.
"Yeah, sorry just kind of zoned out for a minute." Nathan said still nervous.
"Something wrong? Your mom? School?" Haley asked.
"Oh no not that. I'm just having a hard time trying to get this out." Nathan chuckled a little out of embarrassment.
"Get what out? C'mon Nate you know you can tell me anything." Haley assured him.
"Yeah I know but it's weird cuz I've never really had a hard time saying this to a girl before. Well actually I've never really had to." Nathan chuckled some more remembering all the girls freely throwing themselves toward him. But Haley was different and he was now different.
"Okay I may be good at tutoring but I'm no good at mind reading you're going to have to spell this out for me." Haley giggled a bit still oblivious to what was happening. Haley looked up for a sec. at the sound of Brooke 's squeal. She saw Brooke clapping her hands cheerfully in the distance and Peyton laughing at Lucas' horrid look on his face but Haley just ignored it and looked back at Nathan.
"Okay well I was actually wondering…if uhmmm… you wanted to… you know… go out sometime?" Nathan winced a bit worried about what may come out of Haley's mouth next.
"Nathan…" Haley took her hand and placed it under Nathan chin and held it up so he could now be facing her. "Are you asking me out on a date?" she cocked her right eyebrow and gave him a smile.
"Yeah…" Nathan smirked back.
"Well if you're asking then I accept." Haley brought his face closer and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. As she pulled away Nathan's smile grew bigger.
"Alright then. Now that's over you can show me off to everyone now." Nathan chuckled feeling more confident.
"Oh great did I just feed the famous ego of my Moe?" Haley giggled and rubbed his shaved head.
"Yeah I'm all yours baby." Nathan smiled and gave Haley another kiss. The two finally got up and started to walk back towards the group with their arm around each other.
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"So you and my sister are really going out tonight huh." Lucas and Nathan we're back at Rivercourt shooting baskets since their practice was cancelled for today.
"Yeah, she's getting ready right now at Brooke's." Nathan said shooting the ball in the net.
"Yeah Brooke kept telling me about it all day." Lucas chuckled at the thought of his very eager girlfriend.
"Yeah I can imagine." Nathan chuckled also. "But man I was so nervous asking her. It was so weird. I never had that problem with any girl before."
"Tell me about it. So you sure you're done dating other girls?" Lucas asked
"Yeah man. It's getting overrated, I'm completely over that now. And plus you know I wouldn't do that to Haley." Nathan responded hoping Lucas would finally believe him.
"Well if you say so. But hey I guess if I could trust someone with my sister it should be my best friend right?
"Thanks man. Means a lot."
"Yeah just don't make regret it." Lucas chuckled once again warning him for like the ten thousandth time. "So where are you taking her tonight?"
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"Brooke! I can't wear that!" Haley pointed at the dress Brooke brought out which looked more like a piece of fabric held up with strings. Peyton just laughed at the two as Brooke held up the fifth dress of the night.
"What's wrong with this one!" Brooke whined, upset a bit that Haley didn't like her taste in clothes.
"Okay I thought this would happen so I brought some of mine for you to try." Peyton finally interrupted the two and put the magazine down that she was reading on the bed and got up and brought her collection of dresses in.
"See this is more like it." Haley looked at the one black dress Peyton had.
"Nice one P. Sawyer. I gave you this on your last birthday." Peyton just shook her head and laughed as she got back on the bed and grabbed the magazine.
"You actually picked this out Brooke?" Haley joked. Brooke slapped her on the arm and grabbed the dress.
"Ha-ha very funny, now get your butt in that bathroom and put this on. I still have to do something to your hair!" Brooke slapped Haley's ass and pointed to the direction of the washroom.
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It was now 8:00 pm as Nathan drove by Brooke's house to pick Haley up. Nathan was wearing a nice khaki dress pants and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. With a white rose in hand he pushed the doorbell and waited for someone to answer.
Peyton ran downstairs to answer the door while Brooke put the finishing touches on Haley.
"Wow Nate way to clean yourself up." Peyton glanced at Nathan and nodded her head in satisfaction. She opened the door for him and motioned him to come in.
"Thanks, so where's Haley?" Nathan asked a little anxious.
"Oh Brooke is still not done with her. How about you sit yourself on the couch and I'll see if they're almost done." Nathan nodded as Peyton headed back upstairs.
Fifteen minutes later Peyton ran back downstairs. Nathan heard her and quickly got up and readjusted himself hoping that they we're finally finished.
"Sorry you know Brooke, she can get carried away." Peyton giggled.
"It's cool so she ready?" Nathan asked. Peyton jumped up remembering why she went down in the first place.
"Oh yeah!" she grabbed Nathan's arm and led him towards the stairs. "And presenting…" Peyton held her hand towards the stairs as she introduced Haley. "Miss Haley Bethany Scott!"
Haley slowly headed down the stairs holding on to the railings knowing that she could fall any moment at the heels Brooke had given her to wear. Haley was wearing Peyton's black halter dress which was cut off just above her knees. Her hair was up in an elegant bun with a few short strings of her hair fell on the side of her face. Nathan was in awe when he saw the elegant figure walking towards him. Peyton had nudge him a bit snapping him out of whatever he was thinking and looked at the flower he was still holding in his hand.
"Oh yeah, uhmm this is for you." Nathan held out the white rose for Haley to accept which she gladly did.
"Thanks." She smiled at him.
"You look beautiful." He smiled back.
"Thanks I know!" Brooke said giving her famous smirk to everyone as she headed downstairs herself.
"Good job Brooke!" Nathan nodded at Brooke which made Haley blush a bit.
"Okay how about we let these kids get on with their date." Peyton interrupted trying to save Haley from anymore embarrassment.
"Yeah shall we?" Nathan offered his arm which Haley gladly accepted. She thanked both Peyton and Brooke before leaving with Nathan.
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"So what are we doing tonight?" Haley asked as they started heading toward their destination.
"It's a surprise. Actually here why don't you put this on." Nathan grabbed a black handkerchief from the back while still keeping his eyes on the road.
"What's this?" Haley asked
"Well you see it's a blindfold and you.." Haley gave his arm a slap before he continued.
"I know WHAT it is. But what is this for?" Haley giggled as she held the fabric in her hands.
"Well like I said it's a surprise so put it on before I turn around and take you to Mcdonalds or something for our date." Nathan chuckled.
"Okay fine…" After she tied it in Nathan held out his hand in front of her face making sure she couldn't see. Once he made sure of that he put a smirk on his face once more and continued driving.
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"Okay we're here but don't take the blindfold off just yet." Nathan turned off the engine and got out of the car.
"Nathan?" Haley held her left hand out to see if Nathan was still there but she just felt the empty seat next to her.
"C'mon Nate, what's going on…" Haley said but no one was there to listen. Suddenly her door opened which startled her as she jumped from her seat.
"C'mon…" Nathan held out his hand for her to take.
As they got closer to where they're were going Nathan stopped her in her tracks. "Uhmm you may want to take your shoes off." Nathan warned.
"Okay…" Haley took them off and held them with her right hand as she kept her left hand in Nathan's hand.
"Nate…what's going on? Are we at the beach?" Haley asked as she felt the sand in between and toes.
"You'll see keep walking…" Nathan kept guiding her.
"Okay now open…" Nathan went behind Haley and took off the blindfold. Haley opened her eyes and was amazed at the scene she saw. There close to the water, was a table for two with two candles lit up and a vase full of white roses like the one he had given her earlier. Around the table there were red rose petals scattered. In the background the moon and stars had lit up the whole sky making the night even more magical. She looked at the table once more and saw two plates covered with two wine glasses that were filled with cider. Nathan walked around and pulled the chair out for Haley to sit. Haley sat down still in awe about everything.
"Omigosh Nathan… You did all of this?" Haley looked around amazed.
"Well your brother helped out a bit." Nathan smirked as he sat down on the other side. "You like?"
"Omigosh I love it! Thank you." She smiled back.
"Good cuz I know you're going to love this next part." He reached over and took the cover off her platter. As he did this Haley's eyes grew.
"Mac and Cheese!" Haley squealed. Nathan just laughed.
"Nate you remembered!" Haley gushed.
"Well of course I did. Food of the Gods right?" Haley giggled and took a bite.
The two ate, chatted and laughed as they reminisced a bit. After eating Nathan pulled out a blanket from under the table and laid it in the sand next to the table. He made his way to Haley and held out his hand once more. She took the napkin off her lap, placed it on the table and took Nathan's hand. After awhile he took a second blanket out and wrapped it around each other. Haley leaned close to him and sniffed the cologne he was wearing trying to remember every single bit of that night.
"Thanks again for this Nate…" Haley sighed feeling so much warmth from him.
"Well thanks for accepting…" Nathan smirked.
"Hey Nate…before anything happens between us I just need to make sure…" Haley knew of Nathan's past, I mean the whole school knew about it, but she didn't want to get hurt again. She has had too much of that in her life already.
Nathan looked down at Haley, who just continued staring at the water. "Hales you know I'd never hurt you right?" Nathan said a little worried of what she may say.
"Of course I do, it's just I don't know Nathan… too much has happened the past few years. We've both changed since the last time we've seen each other seven years ago." Haley looked up at him with worry in her eyes.
"Look Hales, everyone knows that I've made a lot of mistakes in the past. But I'm willing to change for you. So much has happened since you left, but you know me. I'm still the same Nathan you knew deep down. Everything that has happened has just been like, I don't know… retaliation I guess? My dad died, my mom became this person I don't even know anymore and the only person I could always confide in has left. I felt so alone Hales and I guess I was just trying to distract myself with all these girls. I know it was wrong but it just seemed okay at the time. But now that you're here and that you're back, there's no one else I want more to be there for me, to really fill in that void inside of me." Nathan explained sincerely.
"I'm sorry… I guess I'm just scared…" Haley smiled up at him as a tear fell down her cheek.
Nathan wiped the tear away and smiled back. "I know a lot of things has happened with you these last seven years and I know you're not willing to share it yet. But when you are, you know I'm going to be here for you okay?"
"I know…" Haley reached up and gave Nathan a kiss before pulling away and putting her gaze back into the distance in front of them.