Chapter 8
Thank you all for the reviews, they make my day and I'm so glad you're enjoying this story. I did chuckle at some comments regarding Haley. In the beginning, it was Nathan who was a jerk for what he did and now it's being turned back on Haley lol. Well part of the reason why she ran away from Nathan will be explained. I'm sorry for not updating sooner but if you follow my other stories I went on vacation. Check out Make it Last, I finally wrapped that up as well as my other stories. I'm going to try to update as soon as I can.
I'm also kicking myself in the but because tomorrow is the premiere and I have not TV to watch it. Long story but I've had living arrangement drama and can't wait to move out and get my own place again, once that happens, I will probably be able to write more.
Enjoy and please review!
. . . . .
She ran.
It didn't matter how hard the rain was falling or how cold she felt, she just ran. The tears flowed freely, blending in with the hard rain falling upon her. She knew why she was running. It was Nathan.
She could almost kill Lucas for leaving the door open earlier and her curiosity for standing by the doorway to hear their conversation. When she left for the tour, she knew Nathan was hurt but it never really sunk in just how deep her betrayal was.
She knew he was upset and not in the right state of mind when he went to see Taylor, but she had no clue about what happened with Cooper. She assumed it was an accident on the race track but it wasn't. It was one thing for Nathan to try to hurt Haley to get back at her but it was another thing to hurt himself. She caused that much pain and she had a better understanding as to why he was so distant from her for the past year. It wasn't right but at least she understood it better.
Just the thought of him dying on that racetrack sent shivers down her spine. Then there was Duke. She had to admit that a part of her was secretly happy that he was fighting for her, that he wanted to transfer to ASU. But basketball was his dream ever since he could walk and hold a basketball. Here he was willing to sacrifice it all and nearly his life, literally, for her. And what did she do, she left him for the tour, she hurt him so deeply and she couldn't bear the thought of hurting him once more. She didn't deserve him. They both hurt each other so bad, she couldn't go through that again.
"Haley!!" She heard Nathan's voice roaring from behind her but she kept running. She heard him coming, his footsteps splashing on puddles and she knew it would be a matter of time before he caught up to her.
"Would you stop!?!" Nathan roared as he ran up in front of her and blocked her path.
She took a step to the left and then to the right but with each move Nathan countered.
"Would you get out of my way?!" She pleaded.
"NO!" Nathan said firmly.
"Nathan, please!"
"No! I'm not letting you go.. not this time." His resolve remained. Ever since he came back to Tree Hill, he had a sinking feeling that he may never see Haley again, or at least not for a very long time. For her to be here now was almost surreal and he wasn't going to waste the opportunity. Time wasn't on their side with the upcoming semester approaching and although it was his fault for waiting this long and shutting her out, he was going to do everything in his power to win her back.
"Nathan, it's pouring!"
"And you're the crazy person running in the rain."
Haley ignored him and tried to by pass him once more but he was too quick. She knew it was useless to try and outrun him. He was after all far more athletic and it showed by his drenched t-shirt. She tore her eyes away from him. She was already vulnerable.
"Look, we can stand out here in the rain or you could at least let me give you a ride." Nathan offered.
She stood there and Nathan took it as a sign that she was contemplating his offer. "Come on, my car is this way." He extended his hand. She looked at him for a second and just then a large clasp of thunder roared through. Deciding on the lesser of two evils, she walked towards Nathan but making sure not to take his hand.
Nathan felt a little disappointed but he let it pass. She had agreed to go with him and at least that was a start. They quickly made their way inside Nathan's car, both of them completely drenched. Nathan started the engine and turned the heat up. Even though it was summer, the cold rain even had him shivering. He could see Haley chattering her teeth and decided that he could wait until they were both dry and comfortable before tackling their issues. He turned on his wipers and started to drive.
Haley was grateful for the silence, she didn't know what to say to him so she just stared out the window, watching the rain hit the glass.
"Wait.. this isn't the way to Lucas'!" She exclaimed.
"I know."
"Where are we going?"
"My … our house." Nathan corrected himself.
"Nathan, can you please just take me to Lucas', all my stuff is there."
"My place is closer and I have plenty of spare clothes and towels."
"Nathan." She pleaded with him once more take her to Lucas' but he ignored her requests and it wasn't long before they pulled into Nathan's driveway. With the heavy rains and the endless deep puddles they passed, she knew it would be useless in trying to fight Nathan into driving her to Lucas'.
It was another minute later when they entered the house. Haley remained in the foyer as she was still drenched and didn't want to further wet the floor.
"Let me get us some towels." Nathan said as he closed the door and removed his drenched shirt. Haley couldn't help but admire the site of his muscles glistening wet but she quickly put her head down, while her teeth chattered.
Nathan went to the linen closet down the hall and grabbed two towels. He wrapped one around his shoulders and quickly made his way back to Haley and wrapped the towel around her shoulders and rubbing her arms for warmth. Haley's chattering stopped. Being this close to Nathan was raising her own body temperature.
"You can go to the bathroom down the hall. I'll grab you some dry clothes."
Haley nodded and walked by him and headed towards the bathroom. Nathan ran up to his room and opened his closet door. He grabbed an old pair of gray sweats and a Raven's t-shirt and went back downstairs. He handed the clothes off to Haley and went back to his room to change.
. . . .
Haley took her time changing and drying up. She was trying to bide as much time before she had to face Nathan again. She had to admit that she felt a thousand times better being in dry clothes. She took a whiff of the shirt she was wearing and she could already smell Nathan's scent on it.
She hung her wet clothes over the rack and then made her way out into the hall and into the kitchen.
"Hey." Nathan smiled warmly. Her hair was still damp but was pulled back in a pony tail, her face was flushed and she looked way too small in his clothes. To make the shirt fit better, she rolled up the sleeves and tightened the back. She never looked so beautiful. He always liked it when she wore his clothes.
"Hey." Haley said nervously.
It took Nathan a second to react, he was so drawn to her. "Umm.. I made us hot chocolate." He pushed the warm mug towards her and she took a seat on the counter opposite him.
"Thanks… and umm.. thanks for the clothes."
"You're welcome."
"Look, once it starts letting up, I'm going to go back to Lucas."
"I just checked the weather, it's going to be like this for a while."
Haley sighed, just her luck.
"I don't want to impose."
"Hales, relax.. it's just me."
She snorted and shook her head. "That's the problem."
Nathan frowned. "I didn't think it would come to this." He mumbled softly.
"Come to what?" Haley found herself asking.
"That you would be afraid of me." He replied softly, looking up at her with sad eyes and her heart felt for him.
"I'm not afraid of you." Haley replied. "I just don't know how to act around you." Haley replied carefully.
Nathan nodded and Haley could feel the tension grow.
"Look I hung my clothes.. you think I could put it in the dryer?" Haley wanted to desperately change topics.
'Umm.. yeah sure." Nathan stood up straight but at that moment the lights flickered and turned off.
. . . .
Nathan lighted some candles and streamed the local radio station through his phone. Apparently the whole county as well as most of the surrounding areas lost power and that there was flash flooding everywhere. The governor had ordered a state of emergency and police and state troopers were called in to close off all roads.
"It's like martial law out there." Haley commented.
"Yeah.. so I guess you're stuck here." Nathan couldn't help but have a hint of excitement in his voice.
"I guess so." Haley felt her heart beat faster. They were still in the kitchen surrounded by candles. It would have made for quite the romantic scene if there wasn't so much tension between them.
"Umm.. let's see what we could do about dinner." Haley hopped off the stool and started to raid the fridge and the cabinets in an attempt to distract herself.
. . . . .
"What?" Haley questioned as she poured milk into her bowl of cereal. Nathan was giving her such an intense look.
"Nothing." He shook his head. "I was just thinking about the last time you wore that shirt."
Haley looked down and saw the Raven's logo.
"I don't remember.. you have like a ton of these shirts."
"Well, it was right after you moved in with me, the apartment was a mess, instead of going through your stuff to find your PJ's, you just slept in that shirt."
"Oh." Haley answered as she thought back to that night. She remembered it well.
"I remember you coming out of the bathroom with only that on.. you looked so sexy." Nathan smirked and Haley couldn't help but blush.
"Whatever." Haley looked away as she turned a shade red. Nathan chuckled softly. He was enjoying the calmness between the two of them. It was nice and he didn't want to do anything to drastic to tip the scales.
"Anyways." Haley changed topics. "I can't believe you only have cereal here." Haley teased as she took another spoonful of her cereal.
"Well it's only me here since Dan stays at the beach house and I guess I forgot to pick up some groceries."
"Forgot?" Haley raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, I was too lazy to go out and get some .. but for my part I didn't know a monsoon was heading this way."
Haley softly chuckled. Figures. "But what about Deb? Where is she?"
"Oh she went to visit her brother."
"Your Uncle Cooper?" Haley said nervously.
Nathan nodded and noticed the worried look on Haley's face.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." Haley replied far too quickly.
"That doesn't sound like nothing."
"Well it is." Haley sounded annoyed.
"Wait.. how do you know about Cooper? I never mentioned him."
"Yes you have."
"No."
"Yes, you have." Haley couldn't believe he was being stubborn over something so minor.
"I never mentioned my mom's side of the family before."
Haley scrunched her face. "Of course you have.. I mean I don't exactly remember when but you did."
"I would remember." Nathan stated firmly as he flipped through memories in his mind.
"For God's sake Nathan, you mentioned him just like how I mentioned my family.. .sheesh."
"No I didn't." Nathan couldn't help but smirk.
"Because you have photographic memory all of a sudden?" Haley questioned. "When I tutored you, you could barely remember all those formulas for math or dates for history but you remember that you never mentioned your Uncle Cooper to me."
"Yes, I remember everything."
"Just cuz you remembered when I wore this shirt doesn't mean anything." Haley scoffed.
"I remember one day during gym class you accidentally took those very sweat pants to class." Nathan smirked.
Haley started to think. "And I sat on a broken pen and there's a stain.."
"By the pocket." Nathan finished for her as she looked down and saw said stain.
"I also remember those boots you were wearing earlier, you wore them when we went to the DMV and we had to wait five hours while we waited for your new license with my last name on it."
Haley sat there, stunned and with her jaw hanging down.
"I remember." He said in a softer tone. All their memories came back to him and he was cursing to himself. Because of his stubbornness, they hadn't been able to create new ones.
"You.. you made your point." Haley played with her fingers. "Well Lucas must've mentioned it or something, I mean he was with you when you went to the race track.. when.." Haley sighed. "When you told me not to see you in the hospital." Haley looked down.
Nathan instantly flinched as the memory. That was when it all started, when he decided to push her away.
"I'm sorry for that.. I wanted you there but I was still upset and I didn't want to see you." He said truthfully with a bit of regret.
"Yeah.. well you're okay now." Haley said, her voice cracking.
He looked at her curiously for a second, she was avoiding looking at him directly and he could tell she was nervous. It suddenly dawned on him that she was staying at Lucas' place, the same place he was at earlier.
"You were there." He said softly.
"No, I was at the airport but you told me not to go to the hospital."
"No, not that.. you were there.. today, when I went to see Lucas."
"…."
"So you heard?" Nathan asked.
Haley still didn't look at him and just nodded her head.
Nathan studied her face as she remained silent. He then watched as a single tear fell from her eye.
"Hales.."
"No!" Haley exclaimed as she wiped her eyes. "Look, I know I hurt you and I'm sorry, if I could take it back I would."
"I know."
"I won't hurt you again." She promised.
"By not being with me." He crossed his arms.
"Yes." She replied back. "I hurt you.. you hurt me.. you ignored me for the past year and then now you want me back and then Taylor and …." Haley shook her head. "It's clear that all we do is just hurt each other." Haley took a deep breath.
"God! You almost killed yourself on that racetrack because of me .. and then with Duke and basketball, I won't let you give up your life and dreams because of me."
"Is that what you think?"
"It's the truth isn't it?"
"I mean, yes I was upset and hurt when I was on the track and basketball is my dream.. but.. but so are you Haley." He said sincerely. "I could always play basketball Hales but there's only one you."
Haley's tears kept flowing this time.
"Yes we hurt each other.. yes we've made mistakes but isn't it time to correct them?"
"I'm.. I'm scared." She said truthfully.
He walked around towards her and gently wiped away her tears with his hand.
"So am I." He said softly.
"What if it doesn't work.. what if I hurt you again or you hurt me.."
"What if, instead of hurting each other, we help each other." Nathan countered. "We made mistakes Hales.. and we will make mistakes along the way but ask your self what if, what if everything turns out ok." He cupped her face in his hands. "What if we can have it all."
She looked at him, with nothing but love looking back at her. Nathan ran his hand through her damp her and then leaned in slowly. Her heart was racing as he inched closer but she couldn't move and before she knew it, Nathan's lips was on her's.
When they were both breathless, Nathan stepped back and tried to gauge her reaction. She slowly opened her eyes and looked back at Nathan, her lips were still tingling and her body felt like it was on fire.
"Yeah." She mumbled and then she lunged forward and into his arms, kissing him deeply and passionately.
It didn't take long for them to make it upstairs into Nathan's bedroom. Haley wrapped her arms and legs around him as he walked them up into the privacy of his room. He closed the door and gently laid her on his bed. He looked at her for a second and took the moment to remove his shirt. He watched as Haley checked him out and he smirked.
His lips were back onto her's and Haley felt herself loosing herself in Nathan. When she felt his hands try to remove her shirt, she was suddenly snapped back to realty. As good as this felt, she didn't want to get caught up in the moment.
"Wait!" She pushed Nathan off her.
"Huh?"
"Look.. I'm.. I'm sorry.. it's just.. maybe.. maybe we should take things slow." She said catching her breath and her eyes pleading with him to understand.
"Umm.. yeah.. sure." Nathan replied. He mentally kicked himself in the ass. He knew he crossed the line and he shouldn't have pressured Haley into sleeping with him.
"Thanks." She gave him a smile and gently squeezed his hand.
Just then another clasp of thunder rang through and the room was briefly illuminated by lightening from the outside. Something caught Haley's eyes.
"What's.. what's this?" Haley got up from the bed and walked over to the closet door. Inside the door, there was a bunch of newspapers and articles pasted on it. She looked closer at it and saw that the articles were of her, when she was on the tour. There was even a small map where a thumb tack was placed over each city Haley sang in. She couldn't believe it.
Nathan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "I was hurt when you left Hales.. but I was always proud of you.. everyday."
Haley turned around, her eyes swelling with tears once more.
"Hey.. don't cry." Nathan pleaded as he wiped away her tears once more.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her hand through his dark hair. She looked deeply into his deep blue and soulful eyes. To hell with taking things slow, she was only delaying what she'd always knew in her heart, that this is where she belonged, safe in Nathan's arms. Without hesitation, she took a step back from him. He looked at her curiously and was surprised when he saw her lifting up her shirt and tossing it aside.
"Are.. are you sure?" He asked, wanting to make sure this is what she also wanted.
She smiled warmly at him. "More than anything."
That was all it took as Nathan closed the gap between them.
To Be Continued