The next morning when all three girls rolled out of bed it was almost noon. By the time Peyton came back from Jake's and Nathan and Lucas went home it was close to two in the morning. When the girls all saw each other, they all had broad smiles on their faces.
"So, I'm guessing I'm not the only one that almost got lucky last night."
"Brooke!" both girls exclaimed.
"What? You both have gigantic smiles on your face. And I know what mine is from, so I guessed."
"You almost slept with Lucas last night?"
"Yes, Haley. But Lucas, Mr. Perfect Gentleman, I-won't-sleep-with-a-girl-before-a-first-date, Scott, stopped us. Truthfully, I'm grateful. I think I might be able to fall in love with this guy and maybe spend the rest of my life with him."
"Good for you, B. Davis."
"I know, P. Sawyer. So what happened with you and Mr. Mom?"
"Well, we went back to his condo and no for what you think. He left the room for something, so I put Jenny to bed and I was talking to her and Jake overheard me. I was telling Jenny that I loved her and so did her dad, you know things like that. And then I told her that I thought she has a really cute dad. When Jake came in he told me that he thought I was beautiful and then he gave me the most amazing kiss I have ever had. When we finished kissing, he asked me over for dinner tonight. Then we just watched a movie and made out the rest of the night. I feel like he is 'the one'. I know I just met him, but that is how I feel."
"That's really great, Peyt. You guys looked like the picture perfect family last night when you were still here. Which is kind of shocking because the last time a little kid saw you, she ran, crying and screaming the other way."
"Thanks for the boost of confidence, Hales." Peyton said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I do have to agree with something you said. I have a feeling that I am supposed to be part of that family. So did you get all 'hot and heavy' with the other Scott?"
"Yea, I want juicy details. You guys went back into your bedroom at like 9:30 and were never seen again."
"Nothing happened. Plus, you guys know I don't believe in sex before marriage. We didn't even kiss after the first two times in the living room and trust me when I saw this, they were really amazing kisses. We just went back to my room to watch a movie. I laid in his arms and we fell asleep together. I never felt so safe as I did last night in his arms."
"Oh my God!" one of her friends exclaimed.
"What, Brooke?"
"Don't you see it?" Brooke said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"See what?" Peyton asked looking almost as confused as Haley looked.
"You're falling in love with him, Haley. You never looked like that with Chris. You have like an extra sparkle in your eyes."
"You are so right, Brookie. Our Haley is falling in love for the first time."
"What are you guys talking about?" Haley asked, trying to figure out why her friends thought she was falling in love with a guy she just met. "I just met him. It is too soon for me to be falling in love with him. Plus, it's not like he feels the same way. Last night when Lucas and I were cleaning up, he told me that Nate is a player. He dates a girl, then dumps her, never had a serious relationship in his life."
"Wow. First, I'm gonna smack Lucas. Secondly, you guys really are like best friends. He was in denial when I told him that Nathan was falling in love with you. Last night, whenever Nathan looked at you, or heard your voice, or heard someone say your name he got the same sparkle in his eyes that you have right now."
"You really think that Nathan is falling in love with me? Yeah, right. And why are you going to smack Lucas? He is just trying to protect me."
"Yes, I think that Nathan is falling in love with you. Don't say that you just met because it is never too soon to fall in love. And I know that Lucas is playing 'the best friend, like a brother' card, but you're a big girl. Plus, by the way Nathan was looking at you last night, I think he'd kick his own ass if he hurt you."
"I'd have to agree with Brooke, Hales. That boy seems smitten with you. He left this at the door. Brooke, you have one too. From the other Scott boy, though. Someone left them at the door for you." Peyton said as she re-entered the kitchen with an envelope for Haley and a huge box for Brooke.
"Thanks. Oh, I'll get it." Haley said as she grabbed her envelope from Peyton and made a mad dash to answer the phone.
"Peyton! It's for you. It's Jake!"
"Okay, I'll take it in my room."
---------------------------------------------------------------"Hey Luke. Where's Jake?" Nathan asked as he strolled into the kitchen where Lucas was reading a newspaper.
"In his bedroom on the phone with Peyton." Lucas responded without lifting his head up from the paper, his voice filled with anger.
"What's wrong with you?" Nathan asked as he sat down at the table, across from his brother.
"Nothing."
"Yea, there is. I'm your brother. I know when you're mad. Did I do something?"
"Yeah, you did. I told you to leave Haley alone. And instead of listening to me, you kiss her and then you disappear back into her bedroom. You did exactly what I told you not to. You are treating her like every single girl you have ever been with."
"No, I'm not. I only kissed her the two times in the living room, she didn't want to after that. And when we went back to her room, we watched a movie then fell asleep in each other's arms. Fully Clothed. I told you last night before dinner; Haley is different from all the other girls. I really like her it isn't about sex with her. I'm not gonna hurt her and if I do, I'd kick myself before anyone else got a chance. I know that you want to protect her, but so do I. She makes me want to be a better person."
"Okay, I get it. You're not going to hurt her. I can't believe Brooke is right. You're falling in love with her. You actually care about her."
"Of course I care about her. But how can I be falling in love with Haley? I just met her."
"Because you want to change for her. And it's never too soon to fall in love. Oh, God. I sound like Brooke."
"Hey guys. What did I miss?" Jake asked as he walked into the kitchen with Jenny in his arms.
"Lucas is turning into Brooke!"
"Nathan's falling in love with Haley!" the two Scott boys yelled at the same time.
"Sounds like I missed a lot."
"Sure did. So what happened with Peyton last night?"
"Nothing really. She put Jenny to bed, we kissed and watched a movie. That's about it."
"You guys looked like a family last night."
"Luke's right, Jake. Peyton acted like Jenny's mom last night."
"I know. You should have heard her when she was getting Jenny ready for bed. She talked to her like she was her mother. Peyton is really good for Jenny. At least she's a lot better then Jenny's real mom." Jake said as he sat down at the kitchen table with Jenny on his lap.
"Very true. Nikki's a bitch."
"I can't believe that she is the girl we fought over, Nate."
"I know. Remember how mad we got when she moved on to Jake?"
"Yea, but if she had hooked up with one of us, we might be a single dad right now."
"You guys should count your blessings. I don't regret Jenny, but my life would be so different if I didn't have her."
"Your right. Personally, I'm glad that you have Jenny because now I can be her favorite uncle." one of the Scott boys said, while taking Jenny off her daddy's lap.
"What are you talking about, Nathan? I'm Jenny's favorite uncle." Lucas said as he stole Jenny from Nathan.
"Guys. You are both her favorite uncle. So who wants to baby-sit her tonight? I'm having Peyton over for dinner."
"Can't. I have a date with Brooke."
"And I have one with Haley."
"Wow, for arguing over who is the favorite uncle, you both turned down babysitting fast. But don't worry about it. I already planned on having Jenny here, Peyton just loves her so much."
"You really like this girl."
"Yeah, I do, Luke. So what are you doing with Brooke tonight?"
"Dinner and dancing, but don't tell anyone. I left a card telling her to be ready at 8 to leave and I left her a dress to wear."
"That sounds like fun. What are you and Hales doing tonight, Nathan?"
"Well, I also left her a card telling her to be ready at 7. I'm having a driver pick her up and bring her to the docks, where I'll be waiting with a picnic."
"Luke was right. You are falling for her. You've never put this much work into a date during high school."
"That's because Haley's not like the girls in high school. She's smart and funny and honest. And she actually cares about things, like her friends and family instead of her looks. Not that she needs to because she is beautiful. And she is the first girl I've ever actually cared about."
"That's really great, Nate. But if you hurt her, I'll beat the crap out of you. It's my role as best friend. Plus, I'm sure that Brooke and Peyton would hurt you too."
"How did that even happen? You and Haley?"
"Well, Jake. Mine and Haley's mom met at one of those 'Mommy & Me' Classes and instantly became friends. When the class ended, they continued to hang out and me and Haley just clicked. We became best friends, did everything together. Hurt like hell when I found out she was moving. We promised each other we would stay in touch. We each wrote one letter a week, then it became once a month. And then sometime freshman year we just stopped writing them. I joined the team, became friends with you guys, and moved on with my life, but I never once forgot about my first friend, Haley James."
"You know, I should have always figured your first best friend was a girl. You're too sensitive."
"Thanks, Nate. You know some girls like a guy with a soft side."
"Yeah, man. Plus, if Haley made Lucas the sensitive guy he is today, my guess is that she likes that in guys. So I suggest that either you find your soft side, or you let her do it."
"Hey. I can be sensitive." Nathan interjected.
"Oh, yea, dear brother. Name one time." Lucas said trying to prove a point.
"Okay. So maybe I'm an ass most of the time. But I can be sensitive when I want to."
"Nate. We've known you for 4 years now and never once have you been the caring one, but I think that you want to change for Haley. I think you want to stop being the player and become the nice guy."
"Hey, that's my spot."
"And I'm proud of you for trying to change. I always knew that you would meet the girl that would make you want a different lifestyle." Jake finished, completely ignoring Lucas's whinnying.
"Jake proves a point, little brother. I think you have met your match. Haley isn't a weak, little girl. She's tough and stubborn. She doesn't do anything she doesn't want to. Haley always thinks things through, so she must see something in you. But if you hurt her, I don't care that you are my little brother, I'll hurt you."
"I already told you, I'm not going to hurt her, Luke. And quit with the little brother thing, I'm only three months younger than you. Thanks for the boost of confidence, Jake. Haley makes me want to change. It's time to leave my player status behind and become a better guy. So I think I will be stealing your title as the nice one of the group."
"It's okay. You're trying to be a better guy. Who am I to stand in your way?"
"Thank, man. But I got to start getting ready for my date tonight. I'll talk to you guys later." Nathan said as he stood up from the kitchen.
"He's totally falling for her. He's taking seven hours to get ready for a date. That is way more than the 30 minutes Nathan usually takes." Jake said after Nathan had left the room.
"I'm glad that my brother had finally found someone that he can be serious with. I just can't help but to worry that he'll break her heart, considering his history. I mean he's my brother, but she's been my best friend since like forever."
"Don't think about it then. I believe that Nathan sincerely likes Haley. So don't think about how he might hurt her. Maybe she's 'the one' for him."
"You're right, Jake. I just have to have faith in him and think that my brother dating my best friend is a good idea."
A.N Hey guys, sorry the new update took so long, but my life has just been crazy this past week. So I hope that you guys enjoy the new chapter and I'll try to update my other story sometime this week. So everybody, read, review and enjoy!