Okay wow, I did not expect something in the last chapter to cause such a discussion in the reviews. To the reviewer who mentioned something over my use of "get over it": I am truly sorry if I offended you in any way or if I triggered you in any way. That was never my intention. I am someone who has experienced quite a lot of loss in my life time, some of which has been quite tragic and it has affected my life greatly. When I have been asked to talk about it, I have used the phrase "learned to get over it" many times, which has never been said in a negative way and no one had ever commented on my usage of it, so I didn't think anything of it when I included it in the story. I, also, included it so Nathan could have the "what the hell, what do you mean" reaction that he had. I will try and be more mindful of what I say in future updates. Once again, I apologize. I can assure that Haley's father's death plays a pivotal role in this story and it has indeed impacted her life greatly. The conversation with Nathan was just the introduction of it. Also, as other reviewers had pointed out, what was meant by the line was to say that Haley has learned to adjust to her new life without her father and has moved on from the life altering grief. I 100% appreciate your feedback and feel free to included any more feedback that you may have throughout the rest of the story. That goes for anyone. Although I have been writing for as long as I can remember, I am by no means a professional and I am always looking for ways to improve my writing.
I'm glad you all liked the way I had Naley officially meet. When I was first planning out this story, I wrestled with quite a few ideas of how I wanted them to cross paths. I wanted it be something different than them accidentally bumping into each other or something along those lines. I feel like a lot of fics use that, which I love and there's nothing wrong with that, I just like to be a little different. Then, I was re-watching 4x13 and the idea was born!
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Nathan growled. "I thought I told you to stay the hell away from me."
Damien West chuckled as he tossed his hands in the air, his palms facing forward. A sly smile was plastered on his face, his hazel eyes twinkling with mischief. "Woah, that's no way to talk to your best friend."
Nathan's eyes narrowed in response. "You're not my best friend. Hell, you aren't even my friend. You're dead to me."
"I guess I should go dig a grave next to mommy and daddy dearest in Tree Hill Cemetery, then. I mean, that is where the 'Nathan Scott is to blame' death party is right?" Damien remarked with a tantalizing smirk.
Nathan felt the anger surge through his veins, his nails digging sharply into the palm of his hands. He was just about to lunge forward when he felt Lucas' arm blocking his way. In a flash, Lucas was in front of him and was gently pushing him away from the door.
"Don't even think about it," Lucas ordered with a hard stare. Turning to look back at Damien, his glare only strengthened. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here. You know damn well that neither of us want you here."
Damien cocked an eyebrow. "And you know damn well that I always come and visit you guys this time of a year. It's a tradition, or at least, it has been for the last two years."
Nathan let out a breath of air, a dry and humorless chuckle leaving his lips. "I figured that after I beat your ass last year that you would get the hint."
"Oh, that's what that was?" Damien snickered. "I just thought I had a bug on my back and you were trying to kill it for me. My mistake."
Nathan snarled. The anger he felt was blurring his vision and he felt his body begin to tremble. No one could rile him up like Damien West could, after all, he was the reason his life was in absolute shambles. All he wanted to do was pummel him into the ground so he'd never have to see his face again. Deciding to act on those thoughts, Nathan attempted to lunge forward again but Lucas stopped him. Lucas was another person that was starting to become a real pain in his ass.
"Damien, you need to leave. Now. Before I decide to call the police," Lucas demanded.
Damien shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, I'll leave. I can see that Nathan's getting a little cranky. You might want to put him down for his nap."
"Leave."
"Daunte and Bear send their love," Damien said with a wink before turning on his heel and walking away. As soon as Damien was out of their sight, Lucas slammed the door shut.
"You should have let me beat his ass, again." Nathan growled.
Lucas shook his head. "That would have only made things worse."
Nathan ran a frustrated hand over his face. The anger was still boiling up inside of him, prodding and prodding. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the vase of flowers the funeral home had sent them a few days ago. It was perched on the kitchen counter, the happy and vibrant colors mocking him. Apparently, Quinn McGowen Funeral Home believed that sending condolence flowers every year is supposed to make a difference. With an angry swipe of his arm, he sent the flowers flying, the glass vase shattering against the nearby wall.
"Nathan!" Lucas yelled with a jump. "What the hell?"
Nathan's chest was heaving up and down as he stalked over to the hook that held of their keys, ignoring Lucas. He needed to get some fresh air before he completely lost his mind. He grabbed his car keys and made a move towards the door before Lucas stepped in front of him. He was starting to get real tired of Lucas getting in his way.
"Get out of my way," Nathan gritted out, his teeth clenched and his jaw locked.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Out. Is that okay, mom?" Nathan spat back.
"You're not driving," Lucas declared. "You've been drinking."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "I had one beer."
"Keys."
Nathan stared back at Lucas. There was a determination in his eyes, his stare cold and stern. Realizing that Lucas wasn't going to back down until Nathan handed over the car keys, he tossed the keys hastily back on the counter. "Fine, I'll walk." He brushed passed Lucas, making sure his shoulder bumped harshly into Lucas'.
"Nathan!"
"Don't wait up," Nathan yelled as he exited the apartment, slamming the front door behind him.
Lucas sighed as he slumped into one of the bar stools located next to the island in the kitchen. To say that he was worried about his brother was an understatement. Nathan was always more high strung during the time of the year but it seemed to be getting worse. Damien showing up unannounced at their apartment wasn't helping matters either. He was the reason they were all in this fucking mess.
It took everything in Lucas to not beat Damien to a pulp. He hated him with a fire burning passion, one that mirrored Nathan's hatred. The only difference between the two brothers was that Lucas knew how to control his anger. Plus, Lucas knew that losing control in front of Nathan would do more harm than good. He figured that setting a good example would be the best way to help Nathan. Although, the more that he thought about it, the more he wasn't sure what the right move to help Nathan was.
~x~
"Mom, I'm home!" Haley shouted as she stepped through the front door, Brooke and Peyton close behind her. The house was a lot cleaner than it had been on Friday. Haley and her mom had spent majority of the weekend unpacking their moving boxes. For the most part, they got everything unpacked with the exception of a few boxes filled with random knick-knacks. All of their furniture had arrived Friday afternoon and most if it was in its respective place.
"How was your day, honey?" Lydia asked as she made her way to the front of the house from the kitchen. She was still dressed in her work clothes- a dark grey business suit paired with a light pink blouse. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a slick pony tail. When she noticed Brooke and Peyton, a sweet smile spread across her face. "Oh, who are these pretty ladies?"
"This is Brooke and Peyton," Haley said as she motioned towards Brooke and Peyton. "Guys, this is my mom."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. James," Peyton said politely as she extended her hand.
Lydia accepted her hand and gave it a quick shake. "Oh please, call me Lydia. Mrs. James makes me sound old."
"It's nice to meet you, Lydia," Brooke said as she echoed Peyton's actions by extending her hand.
"I'm glad to see that Haley has already made a couple of friends," Lydia said with a smile, giving Brooke's hand a quick shake, as well. "I would love to stay and chat but I was just on my way out. Work meetings. I went out and bought some snacks this afternoon, help yourselves. I'll be home later tonight, Haley!"
And just like the wind, Lydia was gone.
"Your mom seems nice," Brooke giggled. "Busy, but nice."
"Where does she work?" Peyton asked.
"She's a travel consultant," Haley answered as she led them further into the house.
"That explains why you've moved so much," Brooke mumbled.
Haley nodded, a sad smile on her face. "Every few years, her work gives her a promotion and she can never say no. So, we pack up and move."
"You don't sound too happy about that," Peyton pointed out.
Haley shrugged as she started to walk up the stairs and towards her room. "It's not too bad. But, even if I did hate it, it wouldn't matter to my mom. All she sees is the dollar signs."
Moving was something that used to bother Haley, especially when she was younger. Leaving her friends behind used to be the hardest part of it all. They would always promise to stay in touch. It would begin as phone calls at least once a week, then once a month, and before she knew it, it had been years since she last heard from her childhood friends. Now, moving was like second nature to her, almost like it was as natural as breathing. She had tried to talk to her mom on many occasions but her response was always, "It's good money, Haley. I can't pass it up." And that would be the end of the conversation and once again, they would be packing up their lives. At this point, she just stopped trying.
"Wow that sucks." Brooke mumbled. "I'm sorry you have to deal with that."
Haley smiled at her gratefully. "Thanks."
When she reached the door to her bedroom, she pushed it open and motioned for them to follow her inside. Over the weekend, Haley was able to set up her room just the way that she liked it. The walls were a pale green with white borders and the carpet was a dark tan. Her bedspread was a lighter green color with blue and purple polka dots littering the fabric. The wall behind her bed was covered in pictures, most of which were of her family. All of her photography accessories were stored away in plastic containers positioned next to her desk. A dresser rested against the furthest wall, a few picture frames adorning the top of it. It was a little on the bare side, but that's just how Haley liked it.
"Cute room," Peyton mumbled.
"Are you being sarcastic?" Haley asked with a raise eyebrow.
Peyton laughed, shaking her head. "No. I do really like it."
"Well, thank you," Haley beamed. "Make yourself at home."
Brooke and Peyton threw themselves down on Haley's bed, their backs resting against the plethora of pillows Haley had on her bed. Haley took a seat at her desk, twisting the chair so that she was facing them. She swung her legs up so they were resting on the edge of her bed.
"Are these all of your brothers and sisters?" Peyton asked as her eyes scanned over the wall covered in pictures.
"Yup," Haley said. "I'm the youngest of seven."
"Holy shit," Brooke exclaimed. "Your parents were sure busy."
Haley couldn't help but laugh at that. "Let's just say that my mom didn't believe in birth control for a while. She believed that it was 'God's will' and if he wanted her to have a kid, she would have a kid. After she had me, she had her tubes tied because apparently I was the devil's baby."
Brooke and Peyton both gave her a weird look, which Haley laughed loudly at.
"It's not what it sounds like," Haley giggled. "She didn't think I was possessed or anything. I was just a lot fussier than my siblings were when they were babies. I cried a lot and she just realized that should couldn't handle another newborn after me."
"I love your mom," Peyton commented. "I know that I barely know her but she sounds fun."
"She can be," Haley mumbled.
Noticing Haley's slightly bitter tone, Brooke took it upon herself to change the subject.
"Okay, moving on to more pressing matters, I saw that you got paired up with Nathan Scott for Mr. Harrison's little project today. How'd that go?" Brooke asked with a sly smirk and a raised eyebrow. She had been waiting all day to question Haley about Nathan.
Haley kept her head down as she suddenly became interested in her cuticles. Honestly, she wasn't really sure how to answer Brooke's question. She would be lying if she said that she hadn't been thinking about him since that class period ended. To be frank, he scared her, intimidated her. The constant shift of his attitude kept her on edge and she didn't know what to make of that. But, as much as he scared her, she couldn't shake the desire she had to get to know him. Speaking with him for that short amount of time only increased that desire.
He seemed like someone who came with a past, a rich history full of dark secrets and hidden demons. The expressionless glare in his eyes and the blank look that he tried to so hard to maintain was just a façade. It didn't take her long to figure that out. She saw the way his expression changed when she mentioned her father's death. There was a flicker of something, something she couldn't name. He was quick to shut down any of the advances she made to learn more about him, which told her that he was protecting something. Or maybe it was someone. Or maybe it was himself.
She had always been a sucker for mysteries and challenges.
She was at a loss for how she was going to figure him out, or if she was even going to try to figure him out. She wanted to, that was clear by how strongly she was intrigued by him but maybe she should just ignore it? It only took one conversation for her to realize that he was like Fort Knox with his feelings. She didn't want to prod. She didn't want to push him. If he didn't want to open up to her, she wasn't going to force him. She was no stranger to how it felt to be forced to talk about her feelings when she didn't want to.
God, what the hell was she doing? She was causing an internal frenzy for herself over a boy that she had just met a few hours ago. Haley suddenly felt extremely…silly. Stalker-ish. Creepy, even.
"Uh oh, she's day dreaming about him!" Peyton teased, breaking Haley out of her thoughts.
Haley felt her cheeks heat up but she kept her head down. She figured if they saw that she was blushing, the teasing would only get worse. "I wasn't day dreaming, I was just thinking."
"Same thing," Brooke said with a smirk. "So, give us details, Tutor Girl!"
"Tutor Girl?" Haley and Peyton asked simultaneously. Haley had definitely lifted her head up for that.
"Yeah, Haley told me today that she was thinking of signing up to be a tutor."
Peyton raised an eyebrow. "Okay, well, that's a story for later. First, Nathan."
"There's nothing really to tell," Haley offered up lamely. "We just did the assignment and then class ended."
Brooke let out an exaggerated breath. "You really suck at giving details."
"I told you that there wasn't much to tell."
"Let me guess," Brooke began. "He spent the entire class period brooding."
Haley shrugged. "I guess you could say that."
"You know what's funny," Peyton spoke up. "In middle school, Lucas was known as the brooding one. All he did was sit around and read. He was big into literature. Most people referred to him as a tortured author."
"And that's exactly why you had a crush on him," Brooke piped up with a giggle.
"Oh, come on! I did not!" Peyton defended, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Are you kidding me?"
Haley let out a loud sigh. She had only been friends with the both of them for a few days but she quickly realized that bickering was a common attribute to their friendship. She decided to tune them out, swiveling in her chair to start up her computer. It was only her second day at Tree Hill High but she already have quite a lot of homework.
"You had a crush on Lucas just like our girl Haley here has a crush on Nathan," Brooke accused, shifting the conversation's focus back to Haley. There was a playful glint in her eye.
Haley whipped around in her chair, her eyebrows furrowed. "No, I don't. I barely know the guy."
"But, you think he's hot," Peyton confirmed, happy that she was no longer at the receiving end of Brooke's teasing.
Haley let out a defeated sigh. "Your point?"
"My point is that you have a crush."
"I don't think that's exactly how that works."
Brooke sighed as she sat up in Haley's bed. Despite the fact that they were just teasing Haley about having a crush on Nathan, it made her uneasy. She didn't know Nathan all that well but from what she's heard about him, he wasn't good news. Haley seemed like a sweet girl and even though they hadn't been friends for long, Brooke cared about her. The last thing she wanted was for Haley to get her heart broken, something Nathan had definitely been known to do.
"Look, Haley," Brooke started, shifting the conversation to take on a more serious tone. "I'm not going to tell you who you can and cannot like. If you want to like Nathan, go for it. Just please be careful."
Haley felt a weird pang in stomach at Brooke's words. The serious expression on her face told Haley that she wasn't messing around. "I appreciate your concern, I really do, but it's unnecessary. We just talked for an assignment, that's the extent of it." Keep telling yourself that, Haley.
"If you say so," Brooke said, not quite believing her but changing the subject before Haley could refute. "I was thinking of throwing a party this Friday."
"For what occasion?" Peyton asked.
Brooke shrugged. "My parents are going away on some business trip and I'll have the house to myself. Perfect excuse for a party if you ask me."
"Do you do this every time your parents leave town?" Haley asked with raised eyebrows.
Brooke nodded. "For the most part. You'll come, right? Come on, you have to!"
Haley sighed. She wasn't much of a party person but with the way that Brooke's eyes were pleading and her lips were curling up into a pout, there was no way she could say no. "I guess I'll see you there."
~x~
Haley rested her back against the hard and rough bark of a tree growing a couple of feet away from the basketball court. She could feel the tiny pricks of the grass tickling her skin through the fabric of her jeans. The sun was low in the sky, a dark purple and bright pink color dancing across the sky. The only source of bright light was coming from two rusty street lamps located on either side of the court. She could hear the rushing water of the river and the occasional chirp of a late blooming bird.
Lifting up the camera that was resting in her lap, she focused it on the setting sun. Shifting the view finder until she found a clear setting, she snapped a couple of more photos. Haley wasn't exactly sure how she ended up at this basketball court, again. Brooke and Peyton left her house about an hour ago and she felt the sudden need to clear her head. So, she decided to go for a walk and somehow her feet carried her here.
Unlike the first time she stumbled across this court, there weren't two boys battling on the court.
Haley sighed deeply, leaning her head back against the tree. She closed her eyes and allowed the sound of the river to soothe her. The slight breeze felt good against her skin causing tiny goosebumps to rise. She silently wondered why more people didn't come here. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and the atmosphere it provided was relaxing. She was already looking forward to coming out to this park in the spring, laying a blanket in the grass, and losing herself in a good book.
She reopened her eyes when she heard the loud horn of a passing ferry boat. By this point, the sun had completely settled in the horizon and a crisp darkness swallowed the meadow. Lights from establishments across the river twinkled back at her. She knew she should be heading home soon. Her mom would probably be calling her any minute, asking where she was. However, at the moment, she was too comfortable to move. She figured that a few more minutes couldn't hurt.
It was a few seconds later that she heard the soft scrapping of tennis shoes against concrete, followed by a hollow bounce of a basketball. Her head whipped around to face the source of the sound and her heart jumped in her throat when she saw Nathan emerge from the shadows and on to the illuminated court. He was without his usual leather jacket and jeans. Instead, a black t-shirt adorned his upper body, paired with dark blue basketball shorts.
Haley knew that there was no way Nathan would be able to see her where she was sitting. It was quite dark and the shadows of the tree she was sitting under covered her figure. Most people would probably view her sitting there and watching him as an act of being a stalker, but she couldn't bring herself to move. Nathan looked deep in thought and for some reason, she didn't want to disrupt that.
She watched with rapture as he twirled the basketball between his two hands, his gaze focused on the basket in front of him. He took a deep breath, his chest visibly rising and then falling. He bounced the basketball against the concrete a few times before bringing the ball up just passed his nose. Squaring his shoulders, he bent down slightly before lifting up and sending the ball flying from his hands. Her eyes widened when it flawless sailed through the net.
When he began a short jog to retrieve the discarded basketball, Haley gripped onto her camera and prepared it to take more pictures. Focusing it on Nathan, she began to snap away as he smoothly moved across the court.
As soon as Nathan felt the ball leave his hands and sail through the hoop, his mind became clear. All of the pent up anger and confusion he was feeling seemed to melt away. All the thoughts of him feeling, the anniversary of his parent's death, Lucas' constant banter, and Damien showing up unannounced floated away. He finally felt his muscles relax, the tension becoming non-existent. The world faded away and the only thing that mattered was the game.
Basketball never failed to make him feel better. It was his one saving grace.
After leaving his apartment in a fury, Nathan spent most of the afternoon walking aimlessly around Tree Hill. He thought about going back to the cemetery but he didn't think that seeing his parents' names carved into granite stone was going to help his current situation. He was absolutely fuming. It had felt like pure fire was running through his veins. He wanted to punch something, preferably Damien's face.
Fucking prick.
Foolishly, Nathan believed that getting some fresh air would help calm him down. It wasn't until he reached the River Court that he realized exactly what he needed. In a haste, he ran back to his apartment, changed, and grabbed his basketball, all without saying a word to Lucas. He knew that Lucas didn't need to ask where he was going this time, he already knew.
When he was on the court, he could pretend that his life wasn't as fucked up as it was. He could pretend that his dad was sitting on the sidelines, cheering him on and shouting words of encouragement. He could pretend that his mom was sitting next to him, waving a small blue and white pom-pom, as she too cheered him on. Most of all, he could pretend that he was happy, that he could breathe without it being painful or that he could sleep without experiencing some kind of crippling nightmare. He could pretend he had the life he always dreamed of having.
Nathan dribbled the ball a few more times before running towards the basket, effortlessly leaping off the ground to slam the ball through the hoop. His grip remained tight on the hoop, the metal digging into his skin. He dangled there for a few seconds before he felt his arms begin to give out. Dropping from the hoop, he landed squarely on his two feet. He looked around for the basketball, his eyebrows furrowing when he it was nowhere in sight.
Haley's heart was hammering loudly in her chest. The basketball that Nathan was just playing with had rolled over to where she was sitting. Did she hand it back to him? No, she couldn't do that, then he would have known she had been sitting there this whole time. But what if he came looking for the ball and the saw her sitting there? She was screwed no matter which way you looked at it. She then decided that it would be better that she made her presence known instead of him finding out on his own.
She watched with a racing heartbeat as Nathan placed his hands on his hips, his eyes scanning the court, obviously looking for his ball. Steadying her camera, she slowly stood up. She carefully bent down to grab the discarded ball and held it between her two hands. Taking a deep breath, she emerged from the shadows.
"Looking for this?" Haley said softly.
Nathan's neck snapped in the direction of her voice. He swallowed hard when he saw Haley standing at the edge of the court, his basketball in her hands. Had she been here this entire time? He couldn't recall seeing anyone around when he first arrived, but then again, he wasn't really paying attention.
"Uh yeah," He muttered, taking a few steps towards her. She tossed it to him and he caught it. "Thanks."
Haley could easily read the confusion on his face and she nervously chewed on her bottom lip. She slipped her hands into her back pockets and began to rock on the soles of her feet. "I, uh, I was sitting over by that tree when you arrived. I wasn't sure if you knew I was here and you looked so deep in thought. I didn't want to disturb you. I swear I wasn't trying to be creepy or anything." She was well aware of the fact that she was rambling and she could feel her cheeks heat up at that knowledge.
"You're rambling," Nathan said with a short chuckle. "It's fine, really. I don't mind."
He supposed that he probably should have been a little creeped out that he had, in fact, had an audience this entire time but it didn't bother him. Not in the slightest.
"I'm sorry," Haley mumbled lamely.
"What are you doing out here all by yourself?" Nathan found himself asking. He re-positioned the basketball so that he was resting against his side. There was a voice in the back of his head, yelling at him to walk away and to stop talking to her. He ignored it. Something that he would probably regret later.
Earlier, he was frustrated because he was feeling and now he was trying to carry on a conversation with the exact person he was frustrated with. Why must he always ask for trouble?
Haley shrugged. "I needed to clear my head."
"I know you're new around here and Tree Hill might seem like a safe little town, but I wouldn't make a habit out of roaming the streets alone at night. We have our fair share of creeps and a pretty girl like you would probably be their prime target," Nathan advised.
Haley couldn't stop the butterflies even if she tried. Did he just call her pretty? "I'll keep that in mind," She denoted, shifting on her feet.
Her movement caused his eyes to fall to the camera that was hanging around her neck. "I guess you weren't lying about the whole photography thing. Do you always have your camera with you?"
Subconsciously, Haley's hand reached up to grip her camera. "Basically. You never know when the opportunity of a picture perfect moment is going to arise."
"I supposed not."
An awkward silence fell over them and Haley took that as her cue her leave.
"I guess I should probably go," She mumbled as she began to walk back towards the path that would lead her back home.
"Stay," Nathan called out before he had a chance to stop himself. What the hell was he doing? "I could use the company."
Haley halted in her movements. "Are you sure? You seemed like you wanted to be left alone when you first got here."
"I was in a bad mood."
"And you're not now?"
He shook his head. "No, not anymore."
Haley pursed her lips together and gave him a quick nod. "Then, I guess I'm staying."
She dragged her body over to the rusty set of bleachers, plopping her body down on the second to last row. She rested her feet on the step below her and wrapped her arms around herself. She tried her hardest to ignore the fringe of excitement she felt at Nathan asking her to stay. At this moment, he seemed like a completely different Nathan than the one she talked to this afternoon. He looked more relaxed. His eyes weren't as cold. She tried to ignore the fringe of excitement she felt at that too.
Nathan turned his attention back to the basket and away from his audience. He dribbled the ball between his legs a few times before running up to the basket. He jumped a short distance, the ball ricocheting off of the backboard before falling through the hoop.
"I thought you said sports didn't interest you," Haley commented with a raise eyebrow.
Nathan shrugged. "They don't."
"But you're playing basketball and last time I checked, basketball was a sport."
"I'm not playing basketball. I'm shooting a ball through a hoop. There's a difference," He countered.
"How so?" Haley challenged.
"Basketball requires an opponent. I'm not playing against anyone. I'm just shooting around," Nathan explained as he picked up the ball from the ground.
Haley was going to argue against his logic but chose to brush it off. "Well, you should consider playing basketball because you're really good."
"That's never going to happen," He asserted.
Haley sighed in response.
"Aren't you going to ask me why?" Nathan prodded.
"No," Haley said with a shake of her head. "You probably weren't going to answer me so I wasn't going to bother."
The corner of Nathan's mouth twitched up into the slightest hint of smirk. "You're right, I wouldn't have."
Haley swallowed hard at the sight of him smirking. Fuck, he was hot. "I'm a quick learner."
"Evidently," Nathan noted. "What about you? Do you play any sports?"
"That would be a no. I have no sense of coordination and I'm natural born klutz," Haley informed him.
"I'm sure you can't be that bad."
"Oh, trust me, I am that bad," Haley said with a small laugh that Nathan swore he felt all the way down to his toes.
Nathan tossed the ball at her. "Take a shot."
Haley's poor reflexes really showed when she barely caught the ball in time. It was centimeters away from hitting her in the face. "Oh, I don't think so."
"Come on," Nathan encouraged. "I want to see just how bad you really are."
Haley rolled her eyes. "Well, that's encouraging."
"Don't be a wuss."
Haley was never one to back down from a challenge. She knew she was about to embarrass the hell out of herself in front of Nathan but that was better than him referring to her as a wuss. She dropped the ball to the grass before carefully removing her camera from around her neck. She set it down gently on to the metal bar of the bleachers and then reached for the ball. Taking a calming breath, she walked over to where Nathan was standing.
Nathan stepped out of her way and allowed her to take center court. She gripped the ball with both her hands and pushed her hands out in front of her. With a small jump, she released the ball in to the air, only for it fall a few seconds later with a loud thud. The ball hadn't made it anywhere near the basket.
"Okay, I guess you really are that bad," Nathan mused.
"I told you."
Nathan picked the ball up from the ground and handed it back to Haley. "Here, let me give you a few pointers."
Haley raised her eyebrows at him. "Why exactly?"
"Because that was just plain embarrassing," He teased, a smirk playing on his lips when her cheeks tinted a dusty pink. "It's really not that hard to shoot a simple basket."
"Okay, Mr. Professional, show me how."
"Bring your one arm up like this," He bent his arm in the way he wanted her to mimic.
She followed his lead closely.
"Okay, good. Now bring the ball up, just past your nose and square your shoulders," He instructed. Once again, she did as she was told.
Then, he stepped closely behind her. He was immediately met with a strong scent of vanilla that completely invaded his senses, something he definitely wasn't expecting. God, she smelled good. Her blonde hair blew softly in the wind and he fought the urge to run his fingers through the soft stands. Everything around him was shifting rapidly and it made him dizzy. His heartbeat picked up in speed as he swallowed hard. All of this just because he had stepped a little closer to her?
He then realized that it was happening again. He could feel his throat begin to close up but he tried to ignore it. He could do this. You don't feel anything, Nathan. Stop it.
Hesitantly, he placed his hands on her hips, his eyes snapping shut as she audibly gasped. That sound brought a shiver down his spine. He could slowly feel himself losing control. Losing control of everything he had tried so hard to maintain. He took a calming breath before leaning forward so that his lips were hovering a comfortable distance away from her ear. "Relax your hips," He whispered hoarsely.
Haley wasn't sure what the hell was going on right now. All she could focus on was Nathan. His fingers were digging harshly in to the flesh of her hips and her whole body tingled at the sensation. She could feel the warmth of him surrounding her. The strong scent of his cologne was clouding her senses. She was surprised that he smelled so good, especially after he was running around and working up a sweat. And when his hot breath fanned across the side of her face, her body began to tremble.
She slightly titled her head and swallowed thickly when she realized just how close he was. Her heart was hammering so hard in her chest, she was sure that Nathan could hear it. She felt light headed, her mind turning hazy. She couldn't move. It was like every muscle in her body was covered in a sheet of ice. How exactly had they ended up in this position? And why was it having such an effect on her?
"Nathan," She whispered breathlessly. For what reason, she wasn't sure.
Hearing her say his name had flipped a switch inside of him. His hands dropped from her hips as if he had been burned and he immediately distanced himself from her. He wasn't sure what the hell had just transpired between them but all he knew was that he needed to get out of there.
"I gotta go," He rushed out.
And just like that, cold Nathan was back. Furrowing her eyebrows, Haley dropped the basketball and watched in confusion as Nathan hastily gathered his things. Without a word and without a second glance her way, he began to walk away.
"Wait!" Haley called after him. She mentally chastised herself for sound so desperate.
That stupid voice in the back of his head was screaming at him to keep walking, but, of course, his body had betrayed. Stopping in his tracks, he slowly turned back around to face her. "What?"
The hard tone of his voice caused Haley to falter slightly. "Uh, my friend, Brooke Davis, you probably know her, she's having a party Friday night. You should come," She yelled back at him. Really, Haley? He's practically running away from you and now you're inviting him to a party? Real smooth.
He cleared his throat. "I'll think about it."
And with that, he turned back around and left a very confused and a very embarrassed Haley behind.