Chapter 2

A/N: I keep going to write Jamie whenever I go to talk about Nathan's child. If I do on accident, please forgive me, all though I seem to be catching myself when I do it! Thank you for all that added me to their list, author or story, I appreciate it. Thank you VERY much Suns11 for taking the time to let me know what you thought! Here goes Chapter 2. During the week, I get very busy (esp Monday-wed) but I hope to have another chapter up in the next couple of days. Thank you! : )

Also, just got your review, thank you love of escapism : )

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Nathan had agreed to come into work for a few hours that day. He wanted to be the one to pick Sawyer up the first day. It was important to him. He left after only being there two and a half hours, and headed to the school to pick his precious daugther up. He arrived about ten minutes early. He stood outside the classroom, he could see in but no one would really be able to see him. First he saw his daughter. She was sitting in the circle with her five other classmates as they were read a story. Her eyes were focused on Miss Haley, who was holding a children's story book as she read, Nathan's eyes also began to focus on her. For the past four years he hadn't really been attracted to other girls, ever since he had lost Peyton. It wasn't as if he ever noticed girls. If he saw a girl walk by with a short skirt, or a low cut top of course he would appreciate the view, but it never went further then that. He wasn't checking Haley out. Being a teacher, she was dressed professional, and not at all trashy. There was just something about her that caught his eyes. Her lovely honey brown eyes that also matched her hair which was shoulder length but pulled back with a clip. She wore a modest summer dress with shoes to match. He had to put these feelings aside, he had just met her! He also just wasn't ready, which is what he had told himself for years. It was also just plain wrong! This was his daughter's teacher. He hardly knew Haley, but he could tell that she wasn't the type to break the rules. She seemed like a good girl through and through. Another parent came behind him, and they both entered, now that it was five minutes of.

Sawyer saw her father and came running towards him, "Daddy!"

"Hi princess, how was school today?"

"Good! Look at this," She told her father, reaching for her painting on the table.

"It's great hunny. We will have to hang on the fridge and show it to everyone."

Nathan saw Haley coming towards them.

"Mr. Scott, your daughter did great today. She is very bright...and ahead of her age. You should be proud."

"I am. Thank you. I am glad to hear it went well."

Nathan and Sawyer left, hand in hand. Haley spoke to all of the parent's quickly, and said her goodbyes.

Haley sat down at her desk and started to have her lunch. She had a few minutes in between the two classes, the morning and the afternoon, but she couldn't get over how attractive Nathan was. Most of the other parents were at least ten years older then her, but he had to be close to her age, within a few years anyway. She was curious as to the situation. Sawyer just came with him, there was no mother in sight. It could be divorce, or they could still be together, but either way it seemed unusual for the mother not want to be there on the first day of school. She finished her lunch. It had been years since she had been on a date, and she had a very unusual status of being a virgin at twenty two years old, and it put her in an unusual grey zone when it came to dating. It wasn't exactly that she wanted to wait until she was married, just that she wanted to wait for the right person, the person she was in love with.

--

Nathan cooked dinner for Sawyer. He made her favorite, mac and cheese. He cooked most nights of the week. It hadn't been something he was good at it, but with all the practice he had turned into a decent cook.

"Yay! When is Auntie Brooke comin?" Sawyer asked .

"Soon. By the time dinner is ready I bet she will be here."

"Good."

Sure enough, Brooke came in just a few minutes later.

"Mmm...it smells VERY good in here. What's coking?"

"Three cheese mac and cheese,"

"Mmm, sounds good!"

Brooke had a wrapped gift for Sawyer.

Inside was a backpack with a new outfit as well, designed of course by Cloz over Broz.

"Auntie Brooke!! I love it" Sawyer gave Brooke a huge hug and kiss.

After dinner, Sawyer played for a little then went through her normal routine of a bath, half an hour of TV, and story being read to her (which she was no starting to read some of the story) then it was bedtime.

Brooke was downstairs watching TV when Nathan came downstairs.

"Do you want a glass of wine?" He offered, "I also have some cheesecake. I figured you would want some."

She smiled, "Of course I do, wine and cheesecake sounds amazing."

He brought two glasses over, and a slice of cheesecake for her.

"So how did it go when you picked Sawyer up?"

"It went well. The teacher said that Sawyer was very bright, ahead of the game.

Brooke smiled, "And?"

"And...that was it." Nathan said, honestly.

"No more chat with Miss Haley?"

"No. Brooke...how many times do I have to--"

"Okay, I dont' care if you were looking at her or not. She is around your age. She is pretty. I've never seen her around here before, she could probaly use a friend, if not more. You're single now Nathan...and I know it's been hard, but it's also been four years. Peyton was my best friend, but I know she would want you to move on."

"I know...but I just...even if I was ready, which I don't know that I am, it's Sawyer's teacher...it isn't exactly approriate."

"She is Sawyer's teacher, not yours. Besides, you ask her on one date, and she says no, no harm done. I don't think they are going to throw Sawyer out over it, or best case and probale case is she says YES."

"Brooke...I'll think about it. She was pretty, but I don't even know the girl."

"That is what a date is all about...getting to know someone, correct?"

"I'll think about it."

--

It was almost nine at night. Haley had the TV on, and was having her one glass of red wine a night. She had just started doing it a month ago when she first moved to Tree Hill. Haley had gone to school at a school in Massachusetts for teaching. She had grown up outside of Chareslton, South Carolina. She was the youngest in her family. All of her sibilings had all moved away, so when she decided to go so far away from home for college, her parent's decided to buy an RV and travel around the country. It was their life long dream. They decided to settle in California, and that left Haley really not sure where to move after college. Lucas had bought a house in Tree Hill. It had been where his mother had grown up. He had visited it a few times. When he was offered a job at a small college in the town over, he decided to buy a house there. He asked Haley if she wanted to move in with him and try to teach around there, Haley agreed. Her and Lucas had a beautiful home there overlooking the ocean. They were best friends, and it was so easy living with him. Tonight, he had to give a lecture at night, someone had called out and they had invited him to do it. Here Haley was, alone in this big house by herself. Living with Lucas was great, but she still felt lonley, as if something were missing in her life. Of course there was! She was single, and living with her best friend! Lucas had been engaged in New York City, where he went to college and got involved on his first novel. It was his editor, Lindsay. They had dated for just under a year, and they were only 19 when he asked her. She accepted, but then the closer it came the more they realized how young they were, and they weren't ready to settle down. For the past two years, Lucas had done just that, refused to settle down. He was a great guy, an amzaing guy, but since they had bought this house he had spent many nights going on dates with girls, and who knows what after. Haley's thoughts went back to Nathan again.

"I'm back," Lucas called.

"How did it go?"

"Not bad. It was pretty straight forward."

"Good. Good."

"How did your first day go?"

"Oh! Very well! I have three groups. From 9-12 I have four years old, 12-3 agin four years olds, then from 3-5 I help out with the kids that come from school to be watched. It's pretty fun. One of the girls I was really impressed with...and her father," Haley admitted, taking a sip from her wine.

"Haley James! One of your student's fathers?"

"He could be married for all I know. I mean he didn't have his wife with him...but.."

"Did he have a ring on?"

"Oh, god. I didn't look, duh. But still...it could be a girlfriend/boyfriend thing."

"Or it could not be. He could be divorced, or the mother might not be alive."

"Wow...that is an awful thought, but one I didn't think before. I did think it was odd that she wouldn't want to be there. I don't know."

"I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt you to put yourself out there a bit more. You are beautiful, smart, young, you deserve to be happy."

Haley smiled, "Thanks Luke, you're a great guy too. You're better then one night stands. Maybe it's time you get serious with someone."

"Maybe you're right."

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A/N: I hope to have a new chapter soon. : )