Chapter 17:
Haley pulled away from the kiss she had started. She looked at him with such fear in her eyes. She was afraid of what she had done and how Nathan would react. "I have to go." She said breathlessly as she hastened out of the field and into the castle.
Nathan couldn't stop her, for he was still stunned with what had just happened. Haley was already out of his sight when he came back to his senses. He smiled as he collected his thoughts, but the smile turned into a look of regret and worry. He was getting married.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Haley was crying in her room. She was thinking to herself He's getting married. The man I've fallen in love with is getting married. He's getting married to my cousin! The princess! I kissed him! This is terrible! Her sobs could be heard faintly if one would put one's ear to Haley's door. Peyton did this so she could hear Haley crying.
Peyton closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wanted to tell Haley about Lucas as soon as possible, but the mood Haley was in discouraged her a bit. Still, it had to be done, so she knocked weakly on the door.
Haley's sobbing stopped. She felt nervous when she heard the knocking. She didn't want to open it thinking it was probably Nathan.
"Haley?" Peyton asks nervously. "It's me, Peyton."
Instead of feeling more relieved, Haley starts to feel more nervous. Peyton? What could Peyton wanna talk about? Oh goodness, did she see? Did anyone see and tell her? No, this is not happening.
"Haley, please open the door. I have to talk to you." Peyton begs. Finally she says, "It's about Lucas," thinking Haley will find it urgent.
Haley didn't find the matter too important, but at least she knew that it wasn't about Nathan. She felt more relieved. She wiped her tears off, and opened the door. Peyton smiles softly at her, and Haley tries very hard to do the same though she feels she betrayed Peyton. "I'm sorry about that. I was just --"
"Crying? Yes, I know. I could hear it from your door." Peyton cut her off, hoping to make the mood a little lighter. "What's wrong dear?" She asks her cousin.
Haley panics a little thinking of a good lie, but nothing comes up. "I can't…tell you…At least not yet." She answers, hoping it's good enough.
"Oh okay. That's alright, but I actually wanted to tell you something." Peyton says nervously.
"What is it?" Haley asks.
"I'm just going to come right out and say it, okay? I'm really nervous." Peyton says uneasily.
"Hey. It's okay. Tell me." Haley, now being the calm one, says as she holds Peyton's hands.
Peyton looks at Haley as if apologizing with her eyes. "I kissed Lucas…and I love him…and he said he loved me." Every after pause, she would speak each sentence quickly. "I AM SO SORRY HALEY. I wouldn't have done that if I hadn't felt anything, but I did. I actually feel alive and inspired and existent. We just connect like nothing or no one else does, and even when he's been gone for one minute, I want to see him again and hold him and talk to him for hours and hours until we fall asleep. I love him, and I'm sorry."
Instead of the expression Peyton thought Haley would show – anger and hurt – Haley was more confused and at this point. "You're supposed to be saying all this to Nathan," Haley answers clueless-ly.
Now Peyton was confused too. "I know, but I just don't know how to. And I felt the need to tell you too because…You told me you liked Lucas." She said those last six words so regretfully.
"Oh," Haley says with a short exhale and almost a happy tone. "Peyton…" She bites her lips and thinks of how to explain some things. Then she smiles…before you know it, she's bursting into laughter.
Meanwhile, it's all getting to weird for Peyton. "Umm…"
Finally, Haley stops laughing. "I'm sorry cousin." She says still laughing, then she can't help herself as she hugs Peyton. "Oh…" Still giggling now. "Peyton. You have no idea how happy I am now."
Peyton sat there frozen and confused in Haley's arms. "What's going on?" She asks slowly.
"I love Nathan." Haley said plainly, but with a smile. Peyton stared in slight shock and more wonder at Haley. It didn't take long before she put everything together, and she just slowly burst in laughter. Happy at Peyton's reaction, Haley laughed as well realizing how complicated and silly everyone's been.
"This just…makes everything more simple!" Peyton almost screamed in relief and joy.
"I know." Haley agreed as these two ladies continued laughing. The laughing toned down, and smiling at each other, they hugged each other. "I never thought life would ever be this good." Peyton sighed as Haley nodded.
AN: Again, sorry for the chapter deficit. Hehe.