Saturday night came around far more quickly than either Nathan or Haley had expected. He wasn't bothered by this as he was looking forward to proving to Haley how good he could be. Haley on the other hand was very much bothered. She was currently pacing in Lucas' room as he and Peyton sat on his bed watching her, trying to hide their amusement at her flustered state. Lucas had not been amused when Haley had finally informed him of her impending date with Nathan, she'd only done it an hour ago out of what Lucas could tell was sheer fear. Her worry calmed him, and he'd invited her over to show his support.
"Urgh! I should not be this difficult, I don't even care," Haley threw a dress and its hanger onto the bed.
"Hales…" Lucas started, he knew she cared.
"Whether you care or not is irrelevant," Peyton explained, catching Haley's attention, "Nathan is batting way above going anywhere near you, you may as well wear that dorky hat and dumbass poncho." Haley and Lucas looked at her, not quite knowing whether or not to laugh.
"She does have a point," Lucas reasoned, turning his attention back to a still panicked Haley.
"About my 'dorky hat and dumbass poncho'?" Haley questioned, one eyebrow raised with lips pursed. Lucas suddenly felt stuck between two of his three favourite women, but he managed to rescue himself with a laugh and his next statement, "I'm not getting in to that. But you are better than him Haley, don't let his bs freak you out."
"And trust me, he's gotta lot of bs…" Peyton murmured, evidently not easing Haley's worry so she added more confidently, "Even in this short time you've done something I always wanted to, you're bringing out his good side that he hides behind all the 'big shot player' stuff. You'll be ok, just trust yourself."
That statement did calm Haley, and she smiled at Peyton gratefully.
"Ok," Haley breathed out, "Right, I'll have to get back home, Nathan's picking me up in 15. Jeans and t-shirt it is."
"And jeans and t-shirt look good," Lucas assured her. He was right as well, the light blue denim jeans and short sleeved pink t-shirt clung to every inch of Haley's curvy body, jeans and t-shirt were definitely not a bad decision.
"Thanks," she smiled at him and Peyton before turning to leave and head out the door, "I'll call you later Luke!" she called as she left.

Lucas turned to Peyton and pressed a kiss to her lips as he placed his hand on the other side of her body, her arm around her slender body. She leaned back onto the pillows causing her AC/DC t-shirt to ride up and expose her tanned stomach above her dark jeans' waistband. "So maybe I should take you on a date?" he suggested. "I'm already way better than Nathan so you know we'd have fun." Peyton couldn't help but laugh.
"Maybe…not anytime soon, though," she told him, "I kinda like keeping you to myself still."
"I dunno, lotta hand holding in the hall the other day…" he joked with her, not offended or surprised by her refusal of public and official date.
"Luke!" she swatted at his chest in mock anger, "You can't use being upset against me."
"Fine…You'll just have to make keeping me all to yourself worth it then," he informed her playfully, she responded by kissing him hard, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

Nathan and Haley sat at the table he'd reserved for them. She felt very undressed as his pale blue shirt, which he wore open-necked, with cream chinos matched the restaurant's quality, whereas her jeans and t-shirt didn't quite. The two had only shared small talk, it was very much a first date atmosphere that enveloped them.
"So…what's your favourite food?" Nathan tried to break the silence, connecting their eyes over the menus they were each reading.
"Mac 'n' cheese," Haley stated with a smile, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Really?" Nathan kinked his eyebrow in amusement, "It's kinda kids food."
"Mac 'n' cheese is food of the gods and I will not be convinced otherwise," Haley informed him in mock offence, "What's yours?"
"Prime rib. Definitely." Nathan answered confidently.
"I don't think I've ever had it," Haley mused, "Six children families don't eat out much," she explained nonchalantly. Nathan felt a little awkward, but was too glad they were finally conversing to let the conversation stall now.
"Wow…I didn't realise there were six of you," he commented with relative awe, "I knew Taylor cos she's only a couple years older than us, but I didn't realise there was a whole James clan," he joked. Haley laughed with him.
"Yeah…a whole clan. I like it, but I think the reason Lucas and I became such good friends was because I could have quiet time at his house, and there was always food for seconds," she smiled. Nathan was grateful that the waiter appeared to take their orders at this point, Lucas was still not a topic of conversation he was comfortable muddling his way through.

They were both lucky enough to be able to order their favourite meals, when they arrived Nathan couldn't help but adore how excited Haley looked to be able to tuck in mac 'n' cheese in such a fine establishment. He cut a piece of his prime rib and extended the fork towards Haley for her to try. She allowed him to feed her, with a charming awkwardness to the situation.
"It's really good!" she told him once she'd finish the piece.
"I'm glad you like it; maybe next time you could get it?" he asked bravely, sighing with relief when Haley responded with a nod and a smile as opposed to freaking out that he'd suggested another date. He decided to push his luck and call her out on it a little, "I'm glad 'next time' doesn't scare you. With Peyton it was always games, parties and drama so this whole being a good guy and taking a girl on dates is new to me, it's nice to know I didn't completely mess it up," he told her sincerely.
"I appreciate your honesty," Haley told him with a smile.
"Yeah?" Nathan was finding that he opened up to Haley more that he had anyone else, and she never rejected him for it. "Well how about you be honest with me? Tell me a secret," he challenged playfully.
"A secret…" Haley thought for a moment, using the time to finish her meal, "Last year a cheated on a geometry test."
"What?!" Nathan was genuinely shocked, she too was shocked that she'd told him something not even Lucas knew, "Haley James cheated?"
"She did…" Haley mumbled, looking down at her plate before returning her gaze to Nathan as she began to explain, "Dad was out of town, and my mom was sick so I had to take care of everything. I had no time to study so I cheated, and then started tutoring because I felt so guilty about it. Now, I've really fallen in love with tutoring."
"It's easy to fall in love with something you're good at," Nathan complimented her, but also revealed his feelings about basketball. Perhaps, on a deeper level, the two weren't so different after all, Haley pondered.

Nathan ended the night as a gentleman, with a gentle kiss to Haley's cheek as he left her at her front door.
"Good night Nathan," Haley smiled, and quickly entered her home in the hope he wouldn't notice the blush that had risen in her cheeks from the kiss; he did notice, and he loved it. Haley decided against calling Lucas that night, she'd see him in the café the next day and he was probably with Peyton anyway. She also wanted to savour her feelings of happiness and excitement. However, she knew Lucas would worry if he heard nothing from her, so she texted him, 'Hope your night was as good as mine! See you tomorrow.'