Chapter 16

Summary: Nathan and Haley's first date goes completely out the window as a supposed sex tape emerges, which causes Haley to have doubts.

This wasn't supposed to be released so soon but with the great feedback from the last chapter and with my home team winning the Superbowl, I decided why not! Enjoy!

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"Didn't you hear anything I just told you.. you're a dead man!" Lucas punched him again. Yes, he was the guy on the video but this had nothing to do with Haley, he had done nothing wrong. He punched Lucas back, sending him to the ground.

"I didn't do anything wrong! That was way before I met Haley!"

"That doesn't help much, does it?"

"You two STOP!" Peyton screamed as she went outside. This time everyone was pouring outside to see what was going on. Brooke called her squad over and pushed people back in. Haley and Peyton didn't need anymore embarrassment.

"For once the jerk is right, this had nothing to do with Haley.. do you mind if you give us a moment?"

"Yeah.." Lucas said, wiping the blood from his lip and stepping aside. Once Lucas walked away,

"God I knew you were a jerk, but to record it too.. this is a new low even for you?"

"God no! I forgot I even had it .. we didn't even sleep together.. what you saw was .. . we had another one of our stupid fights and you dumped me .. I went upstairs with Carrie .. but that's it .. if you saw the rest of the tape, you'd see me kick her out."

"Somehow I don't believe you." Peyton looked heated.

"Fine."

They went back inside. Nathan put the tape back in. Nathan's stomach turned as he saw himself on screen.

The kiss broke off and Carrie tried to pull him back in.

"You're not Peyton." He looked at her again, "or Brooke." He added.

The crowd erupted and both Brooke and Peyton smacked Nathan in the back of the head.

"I'm Carrie, Nathan but don't worry, I'll make sure you won't forget my name."

She leaned in towards him but he pushed her off.

"Look, I aint that drunk."

"But Nathan."

"Sorry Courtney but.."

"Carrie!"

"Yeah same thing .. look you should go."

She started throw a hissy fit, but Nathan just rolled his eyes and you could tell he wasn't listening to a word she was saying. He turned back to her, "You're still here Callie?"

She got up, looking very mad and stormed out of the room.

Nathan looked straight at the camera. "What the f?" He muttered as he shut the camera off and the video ended there.

Nathan threw the tape to ground, breaking it in half.

By this point, everyone was laughing their heads off. Peyton actually felt sorry for Carrie.

"You know you could've showed that to Haley to explain yourself." Peyton laughed.

"Crap." Nathan thought.

"Look Peyton, I'm sorry for how I treated you.. but I'd like to think that after all this .. we can still be friends.. I mean I feel a lot closer to you now than when we were dating."

"You're still an ass Nathan.. but at least a good hearted one.. I always knew there was a good guy in there."

"So do you forgive me?" He pleaded.

"Yes you big idiot.. now go and find Haley."

"Thanks.. sorry too Brooke." He turned facing his other friend.

"It's okay, I know how you Scott boys can't resist me."

Nathan shook his head and drove off. He drove around town but couldn't find her. He decided to just go to her house and wait for her there. She had to go home eventually.

After a while, Peyton couldn't take all the stairs from people. She decided to call it a night and head out. As she neared the park, she saw a lonely figure sitting on the benches.

"What're you doing here? I'm surprised Nathan didn't find you."

"Oh, I saw his car and hid in the bushes." Haley tried to push out a smile. Peyton could see the bags under eyes, she'd been crying.

"I have to ask you something." Haley said to Peyton.

"What's up?" Peyton asked.

"When you were with Nathan.. did you know that he was.. with other girls?"

"Yeah.. we were always on and off like a light switch."

"It didn't bother you?"

"It did, but I wasn't exactly innocent in all this either."

"Really?"

"I mean, it wasn't anything big.. I did hang out with other guys and may have kissed one or two of them but it was usually doing one of our 'off' moments and yeah.. "

"It didn't bother you that girls always threw themselves at Nathan."

"It did, but I mean I was one of them so .. I dunno.. I'm surprised Nathan and I even lasted this long.. but I'm glad we're still able to be friends."

"Even after he treated you, especially tonight?"

"Yeah, I know he doesn't deserve it but I always knew deep down he was a good guy, he just needed to grow up.. his dad certainly didn't help things." Haley nodded knowing exactly what she meant.

"Look Haley, Nathan actually didn't do anything wrong. He played the rest of the tape, he was drunk and thought it was me or Brooke.. but that's not important.. he kicked that Carrie girl out before anything happened. It was a huge misunderstanding." Peyton tried to cheer her up.

For some reason, that didn't make Haley feel any better.

"All that happened a long time ago.. you shouldn't let that stop what you have with Nathan now."

"I'm not upset about the tape.. I mean I am.. but you're right .. it was before I met knew him.. but what about all these other girls."

"What other girls? Trust me Haley, I know Nathan better than most people and I've seen him around you, and when he talks about you, his whole face lights up, he never did that with me or for anyone else. He likes you, no one else."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I can't but why don't you find out? I mean, he has a past.. you knew that.. the question is, will you let it stop you from having a future with him?"

Haley pondered her words but was interrupted as she felt a rain drop on her head. "I suppose you wouldn't mind giving me a lift?"

They got inside Peyton's car and Haley asked why she left the party early.

"Besides all the stares from people.. you weren't the only one with a hot date tonight?"

"You? Really who?"

"Jake."

"Jake!! When did this happen?"

"You and Brooke were too busy this weekend with them damn Scott boys that you didn't see me hanging out with Jake.. I don't know it just sort of happened and yeah.."

"Aww Peyton, I'm really happy for you."

"And I be will for you." Peyton stopped in front of Haley's house and they both saw Nathan sitting on her front steps.

"Good luck, Haley.. just follow your heart."

"Thanks Peyton." Both girls embraced. Haley took a deep breath and got out of the car, where a light rain was now falling.

He got up and ran over to her, he didn't care if he was getting wet.

"Haley, I'm sorry about that tape .. it was a long time ago.. it didn't mean anything, nothing even happened."

"Yeah, Peyton told me."

He took a step closer to her but she stepped back. "I can't do this, Nathan."

"Why?"

"Because you're just going to hurt me."

"I'd never do anything to hurt you."

"Well that tape wasn't your fault but it still hurts."

"I told you it didn't mean anything.. I didn't even know you then." He was getting frustrated. He'd come so close to having her and now the rug was pulled out right from under him. "I have past and .. I can't hide from it and it'll probably bite me in the ass sooner than later.. but I swear that ever since I met you, I haven't been that guy.. I don't want to be that guy.."

"You say that now but when another Peyton or Carrie comes along then what about me?"

"What're you talking about? There's no one else but you."

"For now Nathan! I'm not an idiot Nathan, I know how guys think and I see all the girls that throw themselves all over you.."

"You think I just want you for sex? Is that how low you think of me?!" Nathan felt hurt.

"No! I mean.. you've been around .. and no surprise here.. I haven't.." Haley tried to tease.

"Yeah.. so?"

"So? So what if I'm not good enough!" She finally came out. The rain was washing over them but they didn't care.

"Not good enough? Is that what's really bothering you?"

She nodded, realizing that she couldn't hide it anymore. "How am I suppose to compete with all those girls?" She said in a low voice.

Now Nathan was furious. "Compete?! God Haley, it kills me to see how blind you are.. you can't even see how great you are.. you're so beautiful Haley.. inside and out .. you're the smartest, sweetest, most caring person I know.. you make me believe that the world isn't as screwed up as I think it is.. and just even thinking about you makes my heart beat faster.." He took her hand and put up against his chest, where she felt his heart pumping a mile a minute. Her body was trembling, but it wasn't from the cool rain. She tried to get her bearings and pull away from him.

"I know I'm a jerk and that I don't deserve to be with someone like you.. I tried to walk away and let you be.. but I can't .."

"Why? Why should I believe you?" Haley's resolve was waning.

"Cuz I love you!" He couldn't believe he just said that but he did. She had filled in something that was missing in his life. It took a bubbling idiot like Tim to finally put a word to it. Maybe he wasn't such an idiot after all.

"I couldn't help it but I did .. I fell in love you Haley James. ." He said the last part breathlessly as he swooped her in and kissed her, not caring that they were both getting completely soaked by the rain.

His lips broke away from hers and he stood there, pretty sure that she was going to slap him like the last time he came to her front door. And even if she didn't feel the same way, all of it was worth it for just that one kiss. She looked up at him, completely taken aback by everything he just said. She had to blink a couple of times because of the rain and her hand touched her lips, as they still tingled from his.

"I love you too." She muttered and then slamming her lips back onto his.

It took him a second to realize what was going on. Their arms wrapped around each other and their tongues fought for dominance, finally breaking away. Their foreheads resting against each other as the rain fell on them. She grabbed his hand and made their way inside the house.

Once inside the safe confines of the warm dry house, their lips met again and Haley guided him up to her bedroom. Once there, she pulled Nathan towards the bed and he sat there. She grabbed a towel and tossed it to him and took one for herself. She let her hair down and Nathan couldn't take it as he stood back up and kissed her once more.

"God I love you."

She smiled. "Say it again." She whispered.

"I love you." He repeated over again as he left kisses on her cheek and neck.

"I love you too." She said breathlessly as her hands started to unbutton Nathan's shirt.

--

Haley couldn't believe she was in bed with Nathan Scott, an almost naked Nathan Scott with an equally almost naked Haley James. After shedding most of their clothes off, it took all of Nathan's willpower to break free and stop them from taking the next step. He didn't want to pressure Haley or do anything to make her uncomfortable. Despite professing their loves for each other, he knew that sleeping together so soon would be a mistake.

Haley couldn't believe it, Nathan Scott saying no to sex but at the same time, Haley cursed at herself for letting it get that far. With Nathan, she experienced a whole new set of emotions that she never felt before. It was a little scary but exhilarating at the same time. She already gave him her heart and she knew her body would soon follow.

"So is this how you pictured our first date?" Haley asked.

"What? Here in bed with you? Only if it went really well." He smirked and she lightly pinched his side to put him back in place.

"No seriously, what were you planning?"

"I can't say.. it's supposed to be a surprise."

"I had enough surprises tonight Nathan." He laughed.

"Okay fine, …we were supposed to go to any restaurant, didn't matter which one and each order something to go..."

"Uh hu"

"Then to the record store to pick out music."

"Okay.. then.."

"Then we were going to go to the docks, where I had a boombox to play the music you picked out and then there was going to be candles and plates and we were going to have a little picnic against the water front, but you'd eat what I picked and you'd do the same."

"Aww that sounded really nice."

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you that date."

"As long as it was with you, that's all I needed." She hugged him tighter and kissed his bare chest.

"Well, there was something else I was thinking of.."

"Really?"

"Actually, we can do it now?" Nathan reached over to his jeans and pulled out some cards from the back pocket, though they were a little soaked, you could still read them. "I saw these at a store one day.. their questions to ask on a first date.. I figured that while we walked around, we could ask each other a question."

"Oh sounds fun, give me!" Haley immediately took it from Nathan's grasp.

"What are three things you like about the other person?" She read a loud.

"That's easy, you're beautiful, smart, funny, you're a great friend especially to Lucas and you were able to see passed all my bs and did I say that you're incredibly hot."

"That was more than 3." She teased.

"Well I don't play fairly."

"You certainly don't." She said giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Your turn." He said.

"Ok, you're really sweet once you get passed that whole cockiness thing you have going on (he laughs) .. I love it when you let me in, pass all your bs … and…"

"How hot I am." He said with a cocky smile.

She glared at him. "And you aren't exactly bad on the eyes.. or the hands." She said the last part playfully as she rubbed her hands over his abs. Nathan smiled and loved it when she touched him.

Nathan took the next card out. "Tell the other person a secret."

"I love you." She replied quickly.

"That's not a secret."

"Well it was a secret."

"Yeah, an hour ago… come on Hales.."

"Fine.. the tattoo is real." She said quietly.

"I know."

"What? How do you know?" He started laughing. "Who told you, Brooke, Peyton?"

"Lucas."

"Remind me to kill him."

"Haha.. well you still have a secret to tell me."

"What, no it's your turn, I already said 2."

"If I already knew about it, then they're not a secret."

"You really don't play fair (he smiled).. well if you must know, I cheated on a geometry test last year."

"You? Cheating?"

"Yeah.. my mom was sick, I had to take care of her, I couldn't study so yeah I did it .. but in some ways I felt bad about it and I started tutoring to make up for it and now I really like it."

He smiled back. "Now your turn mister."

"I'm scared… of messing up." He said in a low voice.

"In basketball?"

"With you?"

"With me?"

"You said that you didn't think you were good enough for me… well I know for a fact that I'm not good enough for you."

"Nathan.. don't.."

"No let me finish.. I know I'm a jerk .. an ass but being around you.. I don't want to be that person and the fact that someone as good as you can see something in me..it scares me because you'll see that I'm still that guy and you'll leave me."

"Newsflash Nathan, I already know you're a jerk.." She teased. "I love you Nathan.. all of you." She gave him a reassuring smile and leaned up to kiss him.

"Are you sure?" He said sarcastically. "Cuz now that you're my girlfriend…"

"Girlfriend?" She interrupted with a big smile on her face.

"Yep.. now that you're my girlfriend … I don't think I could ever let you go."

"I wouldn't want you to." She said as they locked lips again.

To Be Continued . . .

Note: I struggled with this chapter for a week, in fact I think I'm still struggling, but I just have to suck it up and just go from here. I knew I wanted there to be rain and that they would tell each other their feelings and they would spend the night, but I kept going back and forth as to how it was going to happen. I did a lot of re writes but I hope you guys like how it turned out. I decided to post this fairly quickly because of the great feedback I got. I know I kept everyone waiting for Nathan and Haley to finally be together. So please keep the comments coming!