Chapter 5

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Brooke entered Nathan's home. Tonight was parent teacher night. Brooke insisted she watch Sawyer tonight so that Nathan would have to give her the full details as soon as he got back.

"You better not chicken out!" Brooke said to him.

"I won't!"

Nathan couldn't wait for this night, but at the same time he was dreading it. He wanted to ask her out so bad, just to make himself feel better. Everyday that he saw her, he became more attracted. He just had no idea what she was thinking.

--

Haley scanned the paper of the parent's coming in. She had only had two more people coming in tonight. One of them was Nathan Scott. Her heat skipped a beat when she read that. Seeing him at drop off or pick up was one thing. Having to sit and talk with him for ten minutes or more? It made her nervous, but part of her thought it would be a great chance to get to know him better? Then what, Haley thought to herself, it wasn't as if it could or would change anything.

--

"It was nice to see you Ms. Thomas. Julie is doing great, she really is." Haley said to the last person before Nathan would enter. She had wanted to draw on the meeting forever, maybe Nathan would just give up and leave if she took too long. She was all nerves, and it was crazy. What was the big deal about this person! She was acting sixteen again!

Nathan entered the room.

"Hello Mr. Scott," Haley said, trying to sound as professional as she could.

Nathan came in and sat down. "You can call me Nathan,"

"Nathan," Haley smiled, "Well, you can call me Haley, well you all ready knew to call me that...oh. So.."

Nathan took the seat across from her. Things weren't starting off well, it was all ready getting awkward.

Haley grabbed the folder on the desk. It had all of Sawyer's most recent work.

She scanned through it. "This is her family picture she drew. It's very nice. It's you, her and it say's Aunt Brooke."

"Yup. That's our family."

Sawyer hadn't mentioned her mother, and Haley hadn't wanted to bring it up.

"It's okay, I know your wondering why she has her aunt there, and not her mother. The truth is, her mother, my wife, died in child birth. She never knew her. Brooke was her mother's best friend growing up, and she has really helped me."

Haley knew this was very personal information to share, but she had been wondering. "I'm very sorry to hear that,"

"Thanks."

They talked about Sawyer for a while longer, at least ten minutes. The things she said in class, her socialization with other students, and her school work.

They had smiled and laughed a few times, and Nathan was able to get in a few questions about Haley.

"Well, it was very nice meeting with you tonight Nathan, do you have any more questions or are we all set to go. I think I have covered everything."

"Yes. I do have a question, one more. It isn't about Sawyer though."

"Oh! Okay! What is it?"

"Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?"

Haley looked at him. She felt she must have imagined it. That couldn't have been what he said. "Excuse me?" She replied.

"I know. I shouldn't be asking. I know this isn't exactly appropriate."

Haley nodded, "Yes. I would love to go out with you sometime." Was it appropriate? Was this the right thing to do? Haley wasn't sure, but how could she say no to him?

They looked at each other for a moment, "Oh! Here is my number. Feel free to call and we can set something up."

She grabbed a piece of notebook paper and wrote it down.

"Hope to hear from you soon," Haley told him as he walked out.