Chapter 7

When Nathan heard the news that Damien was in jail and was probably staying for a while, he felt so relieved. He could finally be with Haley the way he wanted. No more sneaking around at school. No more hiding out at her house and then trying to be very inconspicuous arriving and leaving her neighborhood. They could finally be the couple.

Tim, on the other hand, was not taking the news well. He spent the entire next day at school fidgety and worrying about what would happen. For him, Damien was a source of protection. And now he was like a turtle without a shell. So Nathan decided to take him under his wing.

At lunch, Nathan didn't have to sit in the back alley behind school near the dumpsters while Damien smoked and Tim ranted about teachers being too hard on him. He could sit with his teammates or with Haley and her friends. After entering the cafeteria his eyes flashed over the place looking for familiar faces. Brooke and Peyton sat in a corner near the vending machine with the rest of the cheerleaders. The basketball team took up two round tables in the middle and then he saw her – Haley. She was sitting at a table near the window, by herself, with no lunch, reading. That was his girl. He could finally admit that she was his girlfriend. And now, he could act like the boyfriend she deserved.

"Hey," Nathan said sliding beside her and bumping her arm with his elbow. "I've got an idea I think you'll like."

"Oh yeah," she said taking a French fry off his plate and eating it. "What's that?" She went for another fry.

"I'm going to take you out on a real date this weekend." Nathan opened his soda with a fizz. Then took a long swig.

"A real date?" Haley said intrigued. "Like where you come to the door and pick me up and open the car door for me and take me out to dinner? Fancy. Do you own anything other than basketball shorts?"

"Ha ha," Nathan said sarcastically. "You make fun, but believe it or not I don't wear these all the time. Just since I joined the team."

"Alright, smartie. What about Damien?" Haley finally closed her book knowing she wouldn't be reading for the remainder of lunch.

"He's gone. Well not gone permanently. But it's going to be a while before he gets out of jail and I will just figure something out for when he does."

"How do you know it's going to be a while? What if he gets out tomorrow?"

"He's not," Nathan said excitedly almost. He'd heard everything from Tim earlier. "Damien's lawyer has run away."

"Run away?"

"He's missing. And Damien doesn't trust anyone else to do his trial so they've extended his trial date until his lawyer returns. Apparently he's a family friend and has defending his dad on all of his charges."

"So no more Damien," Haley said.

"No more Damien," Nathan smiled. And for the first time in public he leaned in and gave his girlfriend a kiss.

The week passed by in a blur. It was nice to finally be able to show people at school that Haley and Nathan were dating. Sure, they all felt a little uncomfortable. She was the valedictorian and he was bad boy turned good. Haley could see the uncertainty in their eyes when they walked down the hallway holding hands, but she didn't care. Nathan was one of the sweetest guys she'd ever met and nothing was going to stop her.

She was surprised at how well Lucas was taking the news too. At first, he was a little apprehensive, but he was slowly warming up to the idea. He liked Nathan and as long as she was being well treated he made it his duty not to get mixed up in their romance.

One person who wasn't taking the news so well was Peyton Sawyer. Haley didn't know her very well, but she knew enough. Nathan and Peyton were notorious when they were dating to be found making out in the janitor's closet or in the alley behind the cafeteria. They were always in detention for public displays of affection and not to mention the constant break ups and get back togethers. Haley only knew of this because Lucas was a frequent watcher of her web show. She thought it was a little stalkerish, but he replied by saying, "If she puts it on the internet, it's supposed to be viewed." To this Haley just rolled her eyes.

Now it was Friday and Nathan would be getting out of practice soon. It was the one Friday this month there wasn't a basketball game so they could have their date. While getting ready she glanced out the window every few minutes just to check if he was here yet. Of course he wouldn't be. It was only five thirty, he would just be getting out of practice now. And in the locker room Whitey would want to have a pep talk. Then he would have to get ready and take the twenty minutes to drive over here. He wouldn't be here until 6:15 or 6:30 even.

Haley could kick herself for how attached she was getting. She hadn't even known Nathan but a few months and now she felt herself falling harder and harder. She didn't even know what it was about him that made her feel this way. Was it his deep blue eyes that stared into her soul when they lay in bed together? Was it the way his hand felt on her head whenever he wiped a strand of hair away. Was it the way he smiled at her whenever she said something dorky or spouted off random facts that no one cared about. It may have been how tolerant he was about her love of books and helping people. It may have been the way he listened so intently when she talked about her family, her childhood, and her life.

"Knock, knock," Lydia James said entering Haley's room. She was all dressed up for a night out with her husband and she came in to give Haley the big sex speech. It was inevitable. She hadn't gotten it yet and was sure today would be the day considering she and Nathan possibly could be alone in the house together. "Oh Haley," she said cupping her daughter's face with both hands. "You look beautiful." Her mother loved her dearly but was always commenting that Haley should wear more make up or wear girly clothing. But she couldn't help it. She felt most comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. And makeup made her look like a clown.

But tonight, she opted to try some mascara and a little lip gloss. It was amazing what a world of difference that did for her face. And of course, she'd decided to wear a dress passed down from her sister Quinn form years ago. It was a simple black dress that went well with her black flip flops from Old Navy.

"Thanks mom," Haley said smiling. "I guess I just wanted to make tonight special."

"Yes, that's why I'm here." Lydia said sitting on Haley's bed. She patted the spot beside her and Haley sat down, knowing full well what was coming. "I know you don't know this boy very well. But sometimes feelings come out of nowhere."

"Mom, you really don't have to do this."

"Yes I do. It'll make your father feel better." Lydia continued. "Now on the offchance you and this boy decide to come back here after your little date - you know your father and I won't be home until tomorrow morning -."

"Yep, you've told me five times."

"Well I just want you to know that I completely support any decision you choose. If you choose to wait -."

"Oh don't say it," Haley begged.

"- to have sex."

"And there it is."

"Then I completely support your decision. But if you decide to go through with it tonight, then that's fine too. I just want the decision to be up to you. Don't let him pressure you into anything you don't want to do."

"He's not like that mom," Haley said. "And if he was, I wouldn't let him."

"Good." Lydia kissed her daughter's forehead. "Condoms are in the nightstand in our room. Have fun. Bye." And with that she was out the door with Haley screaming after her.

"Ew, mom! Why'd you have to tell me that?" She chuckled to herself. "I don't want to know what you and dad do." She shuddered and then laughed it off. Checking the time, she found it was quarter after six and Nathan would be here soon. But downstairs she heard the front door close and her dad's engine roar. She looked out the window to watch them pull away and merely seconds later Nathan's car pulled in.

She giddily raced down the stairs and got to the door before he was even out of the car. She watched him out the front window as he checked the rearview mirror for his hair and talked to himself as he got out. She imagined he was preparing himself for what he was about to say and she thought it was so cute.

She couldn't help it. She opened the door before she even got there. "My, my, Mr. Scott," she said leaning against the door frame. She looked him up and down. He was wearing nice slacks and a button up blue shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his mid arm and she admired the way the sleeves hugged his muscles. "You sure do clean up good."

"I believe it's 'well'," Nathan replied with a sly smile.

"Wow," she said. "You sure know your grammar."

"Well, I had a good tutor," he grabbed her left hand with his right and kissed it. It sent a shiver down her spine and she had to admit she liked it a lot more than she should have. "Shall we?" he asked motioning toward the car. Haley smiled and nodded, grabbing her purse off the table beside the door, hitting the light and shutting the door behind her. She didn't even check to see if the door was locked. She was too consumed in Nathan's smile.

The night was even more romantic that she could imagine. They went to a simple dinner at Karen's. "In honor of our first lunch," Nathan said as they sat down. Karen waited on them for the night and even brought out two lit candles after they'd been seated just to be funny.

Halfway through the night Lucas rolled in with a few guys from the team, Skills included. As they sat on the opposite side of the café, Lucas made funny faces at her and kissy motions with his mouth while she faced him. Luckily, Nathan had his back to them and couldn't see, but he did turn around a few times to see Lucas and Skills laughing at them. Haley just shook her head and gave him a mocking death glare. She would get him back later.

After dinner, they went for a walk at the River Court and ended up sitting on the benches talking. They sat for almost three hours just talking about life, love, and family. Nathan confided in her that he wanted to be a pro ball player. And she admitted that she believed he would prosper as a basketball player. He told her about everything that happened with his mom and Dan and she admitted that Dan had never been the welcoming type. He was a gruff man who was stuck in his ways and she really didn't understand what Karen saw in him.

When Nathan pulled up in front of Haley's house she hesitated before getting out of the car. She didn't want the night to end. "Do you want to come inside?" she asked.

Nathan smiled. She knew he really wanted to say yes, but instead he replied with a shake of his head. "I have Saturday practice tomorrow morning," he said. "Whitey has us waking up at six to be there by seven."

"Okay," Haley said. She was somewhat relieved he said no. She really didn't know what she'd done if he'd said yes.

After she was inside and safe, Nathan backed out of the driveway and drove home knowing full well that Whitey would never schedule practice on a Saturday. Who was this knew Nathan? He was never the one to turn a girl down. But he knew that Haley's offer wasn't what all the other girls meant when they said "come inside". And somehow he knew that she'd regretted it after she said it. The realization flickered in her eyes after she'd said it and the fear that he would say "yes" was there too. So, he kindly rejected and went about his way. And he didn't think about it anymore.