"Are you stalking me or something?" I asked wrapping my sweatshirt tighter around me as I walked closer to the dark haired boy leaning against a nearby tree. He asked me to go on little walk with him making me to slip on a sweats and a jacket. And I decided to keep the fact that he totally spooked me to myself. That will just be our little secret.

"Maybe." He said with a sly smile as we started walking down the street. "I didn't wake you did I?"

"New bed." I said lying as he nodded his head and looked over at me. "You?"

"You can here Lucas snoring a mile away." He joked causing me to laugh before he shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Nah, I just couldn't sleep…I have a lot on my mind." He added looking over at me again and I had to bit the inside of my cheek to keep from blushing. Wait…blushing? Haley James does not blush. And she doesn't walk around at 2 in the morning with a guy she just met. A guy who someone else she cares about has a crus…cares about? What the hell is going on with me?

"You alright?" Nathan asked as we turned another corner. Shoot. Say something.

"Most guys fall straight to la-la land when they think about me. I guess it's new for one to be up all night thinking about me. I just have to process this." I said forcing out a laugh as he did the same and shook his head, crossing a street.

"What makes you think I'm not taking you to a field to make those dreams come true? I'm kidding. Haley, I'm just kidding." Nathan said turning to face me as I stopped dead in my tracks. "I'm so sorry. I wouldn't. I..."

"I know."

There was an uncomfortable, awkward silence as we both just stood there staring at our feet. Why'd I freak? I bet that's the question running threw everyone's minds right now, especially Nathans. Why don't you ask my dad. I'm sure he'd be more then happy to tell you.

"Haley…"

"Don't worry about, I'm fine. Where are we going anyway?" I asked changing the subject while pointing foreword, indicating that I wanted to continue. Don't let your guard down. You'll be the one to get hurt in the end…

"The river court. It's a basketball court where we all go to hang out and stuff. I go there a lot to just clear my head." He said giving me a questioning look before turning back around and continued walking.

"Sounds like fun. But I'm sure a stud like you doesn't have a lot on his plate. That's too bad anyway." I said smirking as he chuckled and draped his arm across my shoulders.

"I could say the same for you gorgeous."

"I'm a foster child, remember?" I said as he laughed and nodded.

"Well then. I guess we can't base everything on looks then, can we? We're here by the way." He said jogging off as I smiled and nodded. Men. Is it weird that I feel totally comfortable with him and I barely know him? No wonder Kaitlyn has a crush on him. Damn it. Note to self: keep this little …whatever it is…to myself.

He came back with a ball in his hands and took a shot.

"You play?"

"A little." I said playfully as he threw me the ball. I dribbled a couple times as he tapped his foot pretending to be impatient. "Ok, ok." I muttered taking the shot, looking at him not at the basket. When I saw shock come across his handsome features I knew it went in. Of course I knew it would…but he didn't.

"A little? You're good."

"One of my foster dads was a basketball coach for a junior high." I explained as he muttered a 'cheater' under his breath causing me to chuckle. "I can shoot backwards too." I said clicking my tongue as a smirk appeared on his face. Oh boy, here we go.

"No you can't." He said in a challenging voice as he tossed me the ball again. Oh its so on buster. I lined myself up to the basket before turning around so my back was to the hoop. I gave on last look over my shoulder to look at Nathan who was still standing there, smirking, waiting for me to miss the basket by miles. Yeah, riiiiight. I bent my knees and threw the ball over my shoulder.

"Nothing but net." I said turning around, laughing as he shoved me out of the way and tried to make the shot. I'm sorry to report he failed….miserably. "Don't feel bad. A lot of people can't do it." I said still laughing as I jogged over to the bench to grab the ball. And for those of you who are trying to get a mental picture of how bad he screwed up that shot, the bench is off on the side of the court…no where near the hoop. Poor, poor Nathan. "The guy, my ex foster dad, was a jerk. There was like 8 of us living there and he made us all learn how to play. I think the youngest was like 5 at the time. Pathetic. Anyways, he worked me the hardest. Said it was because I was the oldest and needed the most 'discipline.' So I was up and 4am running laps doing lay-ups, suicides, drills, you name it I was doing it. Then finally I'd crash at 12am only to be woken up at 4 to do it all again." I said twirling the ball on my finger as Nathan looked over at me and shook his head. "Don't worry it gets better. So one day I finally had enough right, so I stayed up all night and made this stupid ass doll and stuck like 5 needles in its right leg. The next morning his wife found it and showed it to him and he swore he couldn't feel his leg. Said I cursed him. Called me a voodoo witch and sent me on my merry way." I said laughing as Nathan shook his head and grabbed the ball. He tried again and cursed under his breath when he missed.

"How old were you?"

"12 or 13 I think."

"And he made you do all that with only 4 hours of sleep. Ass." He said squeezing my shoulder before doing a perfect lay-up.

"Yippee! You're good!" I yelled clapping my hands, jumping up and down. He turned and glared at me before glancing down at his watch.

"Its gonna be 3:30 soon. We better start heading back." He said placing the ball back under the bench, were he had found it.

"But you were just getting good." I whined patting his head as he walked back towards me and glared. Boys are so easy.

"You know, for the new girl, you certainly don't care about pushing people's buttons."

"I don't care what people think of me. I am who I am. I'm not going to change for anyone so if you don't like it then screw you." I responded as Nathan shook his head. "What?"

"Sorry. I was just picturing Marks face when he heard that speech. Priceless." He said laughing.

"That guys an ass." I mumbled bitterly as Nathan continued laughing.

"Of course he is. The guy is a perfectionist. No offense or anything, but your practically putting a big ass scratch mark all over his perfect Ferrari." Excuse me. I don't think I've done that….yet anyways.

"Excuse me. What the hell are you talking about?"

He stopped in front of me before continuing. "It's a figure of speech." When all I did was glare and put my hands on my hips, he held up his hands in surrender and got to the point. "His family is perfect. I've never seen either kid do anything wrong, back talk, skip school, fight, nothing. He and Emma never fight. There house is always…"

"Perfect. Yeah, yeah. I get it." I said as he turned and we started walking again.

"Then you come along…again, no offense. But he sees you as a party girl and as someone who can, and probably will, corrupt his perfect little Virgin Mary daughter. He was alright with the whole idea of you until he found out…."

"I was me." Maybe Mr. Perfect should have done some research.

"Exactly."

"How do you know all this?" I asked, laughing a little as we stopped between our two houses.

"My mom and Emma are tight." He said leaning close to me. "And I'm nowhere near perfect." He whispered in my ear before kissing my cheek. Kaitlyn has a crush on him; Kaitlyn has a crush on him….

"Me neither. So this'll be fun." I said kissing his cheek too before turning and walking towards the house. Kaitlyn… who?

"Go in your balcony door so you don't wake anyone!" I heard Nathan yell right as I reached the front door.

"Great."

I climbed the balcony stairs, like I was told, and stood there for a second. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad after all. If I just keep this rendezvous to myself all will be well. Right? I opened the door and cursed under my breath as I bumped into something. Stupid table. My light flicked on and I heard a throat clear from across the room.

"Perfect."