Chapter Three:

Saving Me

Nathan was jogging down the streets of the neighbour hood that night, trying to sort out his thoughts and emotions. Nathan usually jogged in the streets near his house but tonight he decided to go that extra mile…literally. Nathan was starting to get tired and was thinking of going back when he heard a scream. It sounded like a girl. He heard another more muffled scream and slowly walked over towards the noise. He approached a lane that separated two houses and could here the noises getting louder as he approached. Nathan walked down the lane and as he reached the end of it he heard 'Well, well what do we have here?' a harsh voice came from the dark 'isn't it past your bed time princess?'

Nathan started without really thinking about what he was doing. 'Hey! What's going on?' Nathan yelled. The group of boys turned to Nathan and that was when he saw her. Nathan looked among her scattered things for a name, then he saw her uniform for Karen's Café, her name was Haley and she was standing there with tears in her eyes and a fear Nathan had never seen before. 'None of your business! Move on!' the man holding her said. The guy turned back to Haley and started at her top! Haley cried out and tried to push him away only to be backhanded and pushed on the floor.

The next thing Nathan knew he had ripped the boy off her and had thrown him into the wall at the beginning of the alley. Nathan started punching him over and over again, until one of his friends grabbed Nathan from behind and tried to push him away. Nathan stumbled over to the opposite wall and saw an old pipe in the gutter. He picked it up and hit the boy that came to attack him. In corner of his eye he could see one of the boys approaching Haley with a perverted smile on their face and Haley was backing away from him. Nathan ran up to them and grabbed the boy and flung him away from her. Holding the pipe in one hand and standing in front of Haley like her protector he said in a harsh voice lased with anger 'Get out of here before I beat you with this pipe!' the boys just kept staring at him 'Now!' he roared. They boys jumped and picked themselves and each other up and ran for it. Once Nathan was sure they were far away from them he quickly threw the pipe on the floor and turned to Haley who was frozen on the ground shaking like a leaf. Nathan kneeled down beside her and softly touched her face checking for injured. 'Hey… its okay! Your safe now okay.' Haley started shaking even more and started to cry. Nathan sighed 'C'mon lets get you home.' Haley started to shake her head but Nathan didn't see her because he was helping her off the floor and started walking her home.

The walk home was silent. Haley couldn't get the images out of her mind. She would look at Nathan form under her lashed every couple of minutes, just to check he was still there and not in her imagination. Haley looked down and saw that her shirt was ripped. Because she wasn't watching where she was going and she tripped over a bottle on the street and went hurling forward. Luckily for her Nathan was there because he instinctively caught her before she hit the ground. Nathan helped her stand when she stepped on her ankle that was now hurt. She gasped as the pain from her leg making it known. Nathan looked down and noticed that her ankle was swollen. 'Hold on okay.' He said as he put on arm on her waist and the other under her knees and lifted her up bride style. They walked like this the rest of the way home.

Nathan couldn't believe he was doing this. Well he could, just not with her. He was going to take her home and that would be it, but the girl had a swollen ankle and her clothes were ripped, so Nathan decided to do the only thing he could do to fix her up. He was going to take her to his house. It was closer and it had everything they would need, he thought defensively. The closer they got to his house the more Nathan prayed that no body would be home, and he was lucky because no body was home. As he carried a now sleeping Haley into the house he saw a note on the fridge from his dad saying that his parent were going to be out for the rest of the week and would be back on Saturday. Nathan frowned his dad hadn't mentioned this before. Nathan slowly carried Haley and put her gently in the middle of his bed. He then went to look for spare clothes that Brooke always left at his house. He found an old pair of jeans and a he grabbed on of his jumpers and walked back towards the bed. Haley was slowly beginning to wake. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into those deep blue eyes for the second time that day. She then took in her surroundings and noticed that she wasn't home. 'Where am I?' she asked.

Haley was looking around the room she was in. she asked where she was and she was told she was in his bedroom. His bedroom. She was in the bedroom, sitting on the bed of Nathan Scott. Oh my God! Haley thought frantically. Nathan must have noticed her panic because he quickly assured her that she was only here because she needed to get cleaned up and she couldn't walk so he gave her the clothes he had in his hand and told her he was going to get the phone to call her parents. 'No!' Haley said.

Nathan looked at her curiously 'Why not?'

'Because my parents are not home, that's why and if you call them they will have to cut their trip short or send on of my brothers and trust me you do not want to explain to my brothers what I'm doing in your bedroom and In your bed!' as soon as Haley realised what she said she blushed. Nathan smirked but said nothing. He then told her too change her clothes and that he would be out side if she needed anything. She nodded and he left the room. After Haley dressed, which was not easy when you had a bad ankle, she sat on the side of the bed taking in her surroundings. It was obvious from the walls that Nathan Scott was indeed a basketball obsessed. There pictured of guys in basketball uniforms of different teams, there were trophies all over the room and pictures of him and his friends. One picture in particular caught her attention; it was of Nathan and a little girl. Little Nathan had his hand around the girl and they were smiling happily to the camera. Haley smiled looking at the little kid who used to be Nathan Scott. A knock at the door brought her attention back to the present. She turned and saw Nathan 'Are you done?' she nodded.

'Yeah thanks for the clothes, mine are history!' she smiled uncertainly. He nodded in understanding. 'Okay well I've got some homework to do, but if you need anything just ask.' Nathan walked into the room and sat at the desk. Haley remembered her own homework that she had and slowly hobbled to her bag that was near the desk. But she wasn't that lucky, halfway there her leg shot up in pain and she gasped anxiously hoping Nathan wouldn't notice, but he did. He turned and saw her standing, pale with pain and swore.

'I told you to ask me if you needed anything!' he said. He helped her back to the bed. 'What did you need?' he asked.

'My bag… I have homework too you know.' She said. Nathan nodded and got her the bag then went and sat back down at the desk.

Haley got through her history and English homework but still had her maths left. She was really tired and her ankle was throbbing again. So she decided to stop, she could finish maths at lunch tomorrow if he leg was any better. She looked over to where Nathan was sitting at the desk. He looked like he was having trouble. 'Hey do you need any help?' she asked. Her tutor half was taking over. He shook his head. Half an hour later Haley was sick of seeing him try 'Okay get your butt over here and let me help you!'

'No I'm fine thanks!' he answered.

'God! Can you stop being so full of yourself and let me help you!' she said frustrated. Nathan turned around and looked at her with a raised eye-brow. Then after a while he nodded and moved over to the bed with his work.

Two hours later Haley helped Nathan finish his History, Maths and English homework. After being satisfied with her work Haley nodded and told him everything was done. 'You know if you ever need help you should come to the tutoring centre.' She said. Nathan looked surprised and nodded. After that Haley nodded off and fell asleep. Nathan was left staring at her. She looked gorgeous! Nathan had to admit that with those jeans and his jumper she looked hot! Nathan shook his head; this was Haley- I mean the nerd you can't be thinking that he admonished himself. At ten thirty that night Haley woke up after having a night mare! She was kicking and screaming about trying to run and getting away. Nathan ran into his room after hearing her scream and tried to wake her up.

'Haley, Haley! C'mon love wake up. Wake up!' he said shaking her. She finally sat up breathing heavily like she had just run a marathon. She had tear in her eyes and tear marks down her face. She was shaking so badly Nathan couldn't help but hug her tight. Haley froze at first and Nathan was about to let go when she snuggled into him and slowly stopped crying and shaking. She fell asleep that way and when Nathan tried to put her back to bed and leave she wouldn't let go so Nathan had to sleep next to her. Nathan was a bit awkward at first because he had never just slept with a girl before apart from Brooke, but Brooke was Brooke she was his best friends, she was his sister twice removed. But this was different, this was a very good-looking girl sleeping in his arms and Nathan Scott did nothing but sleep.

When Haley woke up the next morning she found herself snuggled into something hard and muscly. She opened her eyes and found Nathan Scott sleeping with his arms around her. She was shocked at first and sacred but after a couple of minutes she began to remember last night and her dreams which led Nathan staying with her. Haley moved around trying to get free without waking him but that plan failed because as she made her first move Nathan's eyes flew wide open. In truth he looked more shocked than she had. Then his face changed and he was smirking at her. 'Couldn't stay away could you?' he said cockily. Haley knew he was trying to ease the tension but that didn't stop her from firing back. 'If I recall correctly it was you who came to me' she answered.

'Only because you were screaming like a banshee!' he replied. At the reminder of her nightmare Haley quietened and she could feel tears burning her eye lids wanting to come out but she held them at bay.

Nathan instantly regretted reminding her and cursed his insensitivity. 'Hey c'mon I'm only joking and you're safe now so you don't have to worry' he told her gently. When he realised they were still in each others arms he said 'Okay up you get lets see how bad this leg of your is, unless you want to skip school and spend the rest of the day in bed?' he asked wiggling his eye brows. Haley laughed and threw her pillow at him.

After checking her leg and determining that she could walk on it, Nathan and Haley had some breakfast compliments of the Scott family and left for school. Nathan insisted on driving Haley to school. Haley protested saying that she had to go home and change her clothes.

'C'mon Haley you look hot, lets just go okay.' When Nathan realised what he said he actually blushed and mumbled something about being late. Haley couldn't get the smile of her face as they drove to school. When they reached the car park Haley reached over and placed a kiss on his cheek which landed on his mouth because he turned at the last second to face her. Haley quickly moved away and said 'Thanks for saving me.' before quickly getting out of the car and hurrying as fast as she could to avoid the surprised looks of the other students when they saw her getting out of Nathan Scott's car.

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x-writingfreak-x