thanks to SammiM, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, elosie09, Hera Agathon, JPNeverlosetheButterflies, Nathanlvr23, OTH.daddy'sgurl.06, naley for life, naleyluv, Sw33t Lavender, 4ever23, mary-023, seether79, jeytonbrucasnaley, onetreehillgirl, chelle2911, tardychick, raiders, goober396, Lorilozz, AngelLuva, Maisy247, aErOcHiCk23, theSnuffaluffigus, and PrettyGirl14 for reviewing! ENJOY!
Chapter Twelve
I plopped down on the couch, sighing in content. Megan had finally settled down for her nap. It was nice to hear the silence. I opened my eyes to see Nathan seated beside me. I smiled. "Hey!" I exclaimed.
He looked over and gave me a small smile. "Hey."
I frowned when he turned back to the TV. "Not feeling better?" I asked and placed my hand on his forehead.
He pulled away as if I had burned him. "I'm fine, Hales," he spat out. "Don't worry about it!"
I scoffed. "Fine, sorry that I care about you!" I said and crossed my arms.
He gave a short laugh. "That's just it, Haley, you don't care!"
My jaw dropped. Was he kidding? "Nathan, you've got to be joking me! You're my best friend! Of course I care about you!" I exclaimed.
He sighed. "Yeah, you do. You care about me as a friend, Haley!" he said.
I was still confused. "What do you want from me, Nate? Isn't that how I'm supposed to act?"
He shook his head. "I can't believe how nieve you are, Hales," he said softly. He scooted over, taking my hands in his own. "Haley, I love you."
I gave him a confused look. "I love you, too, Nate," I replied.
He sighed. "No, Hales! I love you. I love you more than a best friend. I love you like a man loves a woman," he finished. I didn't know what to say. Shock, fear, confusion were all etched on my face. Sensing I wasn't going to respond he continued. "When I'm around you there's nothing else on my mind. You give me butterflies, Haley! Every touch, every kiss, every glance; I live each day just for those. You gave me Megan, my smart, sassy, adorable, amazing daughter."
I just stared at him, not knowing what to say. I tried with all my might to say something, anything! All I managed was, "Huh." Huh? That's all I could say to the man confessing his love to me? What the hell is wrong with this picture?
"Haley, please say something other than huh," he said with a slight laugh.
I pulled my hands back and took a deep breath. I looked away from him. It was easier that way. "Nathan, I can't love you the way you want me to," I said softly.
He put his finger under my chin, forcing me to look at him. "And why's that?" he replied.
I shrugged. "Nathan, you've been my best friend so long that I don't know if I could see you like that! I mean, sure, you're attractive! What girl wouldn't think so? And you've got a great personality, Nate, but I never thought of you like that!"
He sighed. "You're trying to tell me that when you gave your virginity to me it was because you just wanted to lose it to your best friend? You can't tell me that you didn't like me then cause I know you did!"
I gave a short laugh. "I was 15! I liked Lucas back then, too!" I argued.
He grimised. "I could've gone my whole life without that image," he commented then shook his head. "This isn't about that, though. You can't sit here and tell me you don't love me, Haley!"
"I do love you, Nathan!" I yelled. "I just can't love you the way you want me to! Don't pressure me into that!"
He threw his hands up in frustration and yelled right back. "Haley, what are we then if we're not a couple? Huh? We have a kid together for Christ's sake! We're sleeping together! We spend every moment outside of work together! What do you call that?" he screamed.
Tears sprung to my eyes. I heard Megan crying from the yelling. I shook my head. "Don't do this, Nathan. Everything was perfect and you had to go and do this," I whispered to him before walking to comfort Megan.
-------------------------------------------
It was like the cold war at our home. Nathan tried to speak to me sometimes, but I never had anything to say back. I was just so confused at what was happening to my life! Nathan loves me, truly loves me, and I do nothing about it. Maybe I really don't want to be in a serious relationship with him. Maybe I just like the sex. Or maybe I'm just scared to admit it to myself.
Any way you look at it I'm not ready to be like that with Nathan. It's just too much right now. I need to sort out my feelings before I can say I'm ready for a relationship.
"Mommy!"
I smiled at the tiny girl running towards me. "Hey peanut! How was your day with your daddy?" I asked, setting her on my lap.
She grinned. "Daddy took me to da pawk! Unca Luke comed too! Dey was so silly, mama! I got to be da cheeweeder!"
I quirked an eyebrow to Nathan who just shrugged. "You didn't play? You just watched and cheered on?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No, I did dat do foist game. Den I was on dada's shoulders! I scored mama!"
I laughed as she clapped for herself. "Well, you deserve a victory dinner now, don't you? What would you like, baby girl? Anything you want!"
She tapped her chin as she thought about it. She suddenly exclaimed, "Mac'n'cheese!"
I smiled. "Mac'n'cheese coming right up, sweetie. Go into the bathroom and wash up, okay?" she nodded and ran into the bathroom. I sighed and stood without a second glance to Nathan.
"Are you going to avoid me forever, Hales? I wasn't going to lie to you!" He followed me into the kitchen.
I turned to look at him. "I didn't ask for you to love me, Nathan," I said quietly.
He gave a frustrated sigh. "I know you didn't! I didn't ask for it either, but I do! I can't help that, Haley, and you're acting like this awkwardness is all my fault!"
I gave a bitter laugh. "Isn't it? If you didn't say anything then we would be normal around each other!"
He shook his head. "Best friends sleeping together is not normal, Haley! Is that all you wanted me for? Huh? Sex?" his voice raised.
I walked over and shushed him. "Your daughter is in the other room!" I said in a harsh whisper.
He closed his eyes. "We have to talk about this sometime, Haley," he said and walked out.
I plopped down in a chair putting my face in my hands. What the hell is going on?!
review please!!!!