Nathan stood back, ready for another one of Lucas' famous lectures.
Lucas just looked at the ring, not saying a word.
"That's gorgeous, it really is," Lucas said finally, closing the box and handing it back to Nathan.
"What? No, 'what are you doing, its too soon for this' rants?" Nathan asked.
"No," Lucas replied. "I think by now, you know what you want and you know what's best for both of you...I'm staying out of it."
"...surely you have an opinion of some sort – you've never been one to mind your own business, especially when it came to me and Haley," Nathan said, still waiting.
Lucas shrugged. "Ya know, if anything I'm happy for you. I've seen you change so much over the past six months, its unbelievable...and its great to see. She's really good for you -You really seem happy and if the two of you want to get married then more power to ya."
"I really am happy," Nathan said, with a small smile.
Lucas got a glint in his eye and smiled. "So, when are you going to propose?"
~~~~~~
Three weeks later, they celebrated being together for six months.
Nathan had taken her back to the Mediterranean restaurant- the sight of their first date and had wanted to follow it up with a walk on the pier. After tonight, those places would bring a whole new meaning to their relationship.
"Brooke and her new boyfriend broke up...again," Haley said, taking his hand as they walked along the pier.
"Oh yeah, what great catastrophe did befall them this time?" Nathan said wryly, knowing the extent of Brooke's dramatic personality.
"Marriage," Haleyreplied.
Nathan swallowed hard, "what? Who brought up marriage?"
"Tommy- I think it scared Brooke away..."
Nathan continued walking, looking down at the worn wood of the pier. His right hand was stuffed in his pocket, palming the velvet box that encased the ring. "She doesn't seem like the type who would be scared off by that - if anything, she seems like the romantic type," he commented.
Haley shrugged, "yeah she is in certain ways - I think its just that we're so young, ya know? There are so many things she wants to do in her life and in her career, with her clothing line. The time just isn't right for her, I suppose," Haley said.
It was then that Nathan stopped, putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her around to face him.
"What about you? What do you think?" Nathan asked, looking her squarely in the eye, his hands still on her shoulders.
Haley looked at him, a bit confused by his question and his sudden behavior. "What do I think about Brooke not wanting to get married? I think its best for her honestly...she's right. We're really young and it's a big step. After all, she and Tommy had only been together a few months..."
"You and I have only been together six months," Nathan stated.
"Well, yeah...but its not like we've talked about marriage either," Haley replied.
He was taken aback by her comment and it was all she needed to say -- Nathan straightened, took his hands off her shoulders and continued walking, "yeah...that's true...we haven't."
Haley continued walking beside him, stealing glances at him in an effort to better read his demeanor. It was almost as if she'd struck a nerve - but she had no clue what had happened or why.
~~~~~~~
After a quiet drive back to the condo, Nathan and Haley arrived and settled into the living room for a glass of wine.
Haley couldn't help but notice how quiet Nathan had remained since their conversation on the pier.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked.
Nathan gave her a small smile and rested his hand on her knee, "no, not at all sweetheart."
He stood up a second later, realizing what was still in his pocket.
"I'm going to go upstairs and change. Do you need anything?" he called from the hallway.
Haley merely nodded that she didn't need anything, took a sip of the wine in her glass, trying to grasp what happened to make him act differently all of the sudden. The evening had begun perfectly and now he was all over the place and more jumpy then ever.
Nathan turned the bedroom light on to change into a t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts that he lounged around in. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box. He stood, taking a look at it for a moment, then pushed it as far back into his dresser drawer as it would go.