Long author's note ahead, oops.
I know that I promised it wouldn't take ions for me to update the next chapter, but I'm sure that all of you have heard stories coming out about Mark Schwahn and how he sexually harassed the female cast and crew on the show. The news hit me hard, as I'm sure that it did for you all as well, and I just needed to take a breather. I could honestly go on and on about how I feel about all of this, but I'll just leave you with a brief synopsis-I still love One Tree Hill with all of my heart and the show still means so much to me. It's truly changed my life. That will never change. Mark Schwahn is NOT One Tree Hill, the cast, the crew, and the fans are One Tree Hill. I won't let one man take the magic away from the show, as you guys shouldn't either. In the words of Joy Lenz, "Don't let one bad apple spoil it!"
I do want to take a moment to express how proud I am of our female cast and crew. I wish I could accurately put it into words how amazed I am of all of them. They all found their voice and their strength is inspiring. I always knew that they were amazing and inspiring women, but this only proves it further. They're all so strong and I have the utmost respect for them. And shout out to our male cast for showing their unwavering love and support. We really do have the best cast.
Moving on, coincidently this chapter is extremely fluffy and happy. I figured that after everything that Haley's been through in the past few chapters and all of the sadness that came from that, you all deserved a little breather. Besides, the next chapter won't really have any Naley, so I hope this makes up for it. I also hope that if any of you are feeling confused or sad about what has happened, this bring a little joy into your day. Enjoy!
P.S. I stayed up until 6 am to finish this. I was so tired that I could barely keep my eyes open and I was too anxious to wait to post it, so I didn't proof read. Sorry for any errors!
"I'm nervous."
Haley giggled at the way Nathan was pacing the length of the waiting room. His face was pale and his hands were fidgeting anxiously. "Nathan, you're making me nervous. It's going to be fine."
"Until your mom meets me, decides that I'm a good-for-nothing-low-life, and forbids you from seeing me," Nathan grumbled. His stomach was flip flopping and it felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest.
Was it normal for him to be this nervous meeting a girlfriend's mom? Or was he just crazy? Maybe it wasn't a big deal, but to him it felt like this huge monumental moment. Meeting Haley's mom was serious and it scared the living shit out of him.
"That's a little dramatic, don't you think?" Haley joked, the amusement twinkling in her eye. She was nervous, too, but definitely not as nervous as Nathan was.
"Doesn't mean it can't happen," Nathan shot back.
Haley stood up from the chair she was sitting on and stepped in front of him. She wrapped her arms around his torso and soothingly ran her hands over his back. "My mom isn't like that. She's not going to forbid me from seeing you."
Nathan sighed heavily as he held her close, his hands locking together at the base of her spine. "I'm sorry, Hales. I don't know what's gotten into me. I don't do nervous well."
Haley smiled up at him, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "She's going to love you. And if she doesn't, well, we'll have to defy her orders and run away to a faraway land where no one would ever find us."
Nathan rolled his eyes, his grip on her waist tightening. "That is not even a little bit funny."
Haley giggled as she burrowed herself into his chest. The scent of his cologne surrounded her and a warmth spread through her body. She sighed happily when she felt Nathan run his fingers up and down her back in soothing strokes. It felt good to genuinely laugh again. The last few days had been filled with so much grief and fear that she didn't think she would ever laugh again.
Things weren't perfect, but she no longer felt hopeless.
"How are you feeling?" Nathan asked her after a few seconds of silence. It was something that he found himself asking her frequently. The image of her sitting so helplessly in the rain and the vacant, dull look in her eyes was engrained in his memory. He constantly felt this urgency to check up on her, to make sure she was okay.
"Good," Haley murmured into his chest. "A little scared that even though my mom said things are going to change, they aren't. I don't want to get my hopes up and then end up with my heart broken."
Nathan pulled back from her, one arm remaining around her waist. His free hand reached up to brush her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. The muted fear in her eyes made his heart quake. His mouth felt dry as he tried to formulate some kind of soothing and reassuring response.
"Maybe this was…a wakeup call for her," Nathan suggested, his thumb rubbing her cheek softly. "You have every right to be scared, but you've just gotta stay positive."
Haley leaned into his touch and smiled softly at him. "You're a lot better at this consoling thing than you think you are."
"I don't know about that," He chuckled.
"Ms. James?"
They both turned around to see an older woman in scrubs. Her blonde hair, dusted with streaks of gray, was pulled back in a tight ponytail. Her eyes were kind, as was her smile. Clasped in her hands were a small stack of papers.
"That's me," Haley said, twisting around in Nathan's arms.
The nurse walked over to her, the smile remaining on her face. She handed the papers in her hand over to Haley. "These are Lydia's discharge papers, along with information on the antidepressants the doctor prescribed her. There is also a work note in there. It'll be up to her psychologist when she can return to work, but that note should cover her until then."
Haley smiled as she flipped through the papers. "Thank-you. Is she ready?
"She was just changing when I went in to have her sign the discharge papers. You may go to her room, if you'd like. Once she's dressed, you're welcome to leave," the nurse explained.
"Thank you," Haley repeated gratefully. The nurse smiled once a more before walking away. Haley turned to Nathan and squeezed his suddenly clammy hand. "Are you ready?"
"I feel like I should be asking you that," Nathan mumbled thickly. The nerves were really starting to kick and he felt guilty about it. This was a big moment for Haley and here he was worrying that her mom was going to hate him. It felt incredibly selfish.
Haley pushed her body up on the tip of her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. "You know, your nervousness is actually kind of adorable."
Nathan shook his head, the corners of his lips pulling up into a crooked smile. "I'm glad that you're enjoying this."
Haley giggled at the sarcastic edge to his tone. Slipping her fingers into his, she squeezed his hand and started to walk towards her mom's hospital room, pulling him with her. "It's gonna be fine. Now, come on."
The walk down the long and narrow hall felt like it was never ending. The anxiety and excitement was high in the both of them, pumping through their veins through a single wire. Their racing heart beats, sweaty palms, and nervous stomachs were so in-tune with each other. It was like, in that moment, they were the same person.
Haley halted right outside of the hospital room. She squeezed Nathan's hand, as comfort for her and for him. Her thumb moved soothingly over the back of his hand.
"I think I should go in first," Haley murmured. "I don't want to ambush her."
Nathan nodded quickly. "I'll just uh, wait out here."
Haley smiled gingerly at Nathan before releasing his hand. She took a calming breath, one that she hoped would calm her rapid heartbeat, but to no avail. A sense of déjà vu surged through her. A little over twenty-four hours ago she was walking into that same room with a heavy heart, a grave anger, and a sense of uncertainty. That uncertainty was still there, but the anger had dissipated and her heart wasn't as heavy.
Rounding the corner, Haley was surprised to see Lydia bouncing around the room like a tsetse fly. It was the first time in forever where Lydia seemed energetic. Her movements were no longer sluggish or forced. She was no longer in the off-white hospital gown, but instead in a pair of light colored jeans and a purple sweater. Her hair looked a little messing and greasy, like it hadn't been properly washed in a few days. Other than that, she looked healthy.
Haley couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the sight. Seeing Lydia appear so lively gave her hope that yesterday wasn't a dream and that she was serious about the promise she made to Haley.
"Hi, mom," Haley said softly.
Lydia's head shot up in Haley's direction. A kind smile graced her face. "Haley Bob! Boy, am I glad to see you!"
Haley slid her hands in to the back pockets of her jeans as she started to rock on the balls of her feet. "How are you feeling?"
Lydia zipped up the last compartment of her overnight bag, exhaling loudly as she did. "Decent. I can't wait to take a proper shower. The water pressure in this hospital is like non-existence."
Haley laughed awkwardly. "Well, I guess we should get you home. But before that, there's actually somebody that I want you to meet."
Lydia placed a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow at the nervous flitter of Haley's voice. "Please tell me that it's not a psychiatric doctor here to whisk me away to some asylum. I already told you that I'm setting up an appointment with a therapist and I enrolled myself into a program."
Haley shook her head, chewing roughly on the inside of her cheek. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. "Actually, it's my…boyfriend."
Lydia's soft eyes widened to the size of saucers. A few seconds later, a wide smile painted her face. "Boyfriend? And when did this happen?"
"Almost two months ago," Haley answered sheepishly.
Lydia's smile faltered, a frown pulling her lips downwards. A look of despair and embarrassment crossed her face. She swallowed thickly, running a hand through her hair. "Wow."
Haley's stomach sunk. Lydia went from looking elated to looking defeated in a matter of seconds and she wasn't sure what to make of it. "Mom?"
"I can't believe that I've been so selfish," Lydia whispered, almost as if she was talking to herself. Her eyes were casted towards the ground in shame. "Two months? I've been so blind."
"Mom?" Haley repeated cautiously, taking a few steps closer to her.
When Lydia met Haley's gaze, there were tears shining her eyes. She closed to distance between them, grabbing both of Haley's hands in a strong grip. "I am so sorry, Haley Bob. I should've been there. You've had a boyfriend for two months and I hadn't a clue. I should have been there for you to gush over him and tell me all about him. I should have been there to answer any questions that you might have had."
Haley swallowed down the cry that started to crawl up her throat. It broke her heart all over again to see the pain reflecting in Lydia's lies. That bubble of uncertainty in the back of Haley's mind shrunk a little more. "It's okay."
Lydia shook her head. "It's not okay. I'm going to be better. I promise."
"I know," Haley said with a smile. "I know that you're going to get through this."
"You're too good to me, kid." Lydia let go of her hands to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Well, go get him! I would love to meet him."
Haley smiled giddily as she turned on her heels to head out into the hallway. She almost laughed out loud at the way Nathan was anxiously bouncing up and down. Playfully rolling her eyes, she cleared her throat and waved him over.
"Come on!" She laughed.
Nathan rubbed the palms of his hands against his jeans. When Haley extended her hand, he quickly grabbed it and swallowed the lump in his throat. They walked into the room hand-in-hand to greet a smiling Lydia.
"Mom, this is Nathan," Haley said. "Nathan, this is my mom."
Lydia's eyes trailed the length of his body, from his black polo to his dark jeans. There was a gleam in them that neither of them could decipher. "You could have given me a warning about how cute he is, Haley Bob!" She blurted out with a quirked brow.
"Mother!" Haley whined, her cheeks flaming red. She'd almost forgotten how outspoken and embarrassing (in the most loving way possible) her mom could be.
Nathan uneasily rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, the tips of his ear turning pink. He wasn't sure how to respond to that. Did he thank her? Did he just awkwardly laugh it off? Judging by the redness in Haley's cheeks, she was just as embarrassed as he was.
"I'm just saying!" Lydia said as if ogling at her daughter's boyfriend was the most natural thing in the world. She stepped forward with a warm smile on her face and her hand extended. "I realized that this isn't the most ideal place for us to first meet and I won't drill you with questions like I normally would. You know, like 'are you sleeping with my daughter?' kind of questions."
Even though there was lightheartedness in Lydia's voice and a twinkle of mischief in her eyes—signs that she was clearly joking—Nathan cowered further and Haley's face burned in embarrassment.
"Oh, dear, God," Haley mumbled, dropping her grip from Nathan's hand to cover her face.
Nathan awkwardly laughed as he shook her mom's hand. His own cheeks were burning, an usual feat for him as it usually takes a lot to make him blush.
"I'm not entirely sure how to respond to that, Mrs. James," Nathan murmured uncertainly.
Lydia was completely different than what he was expecting. She seemed like the type of woman who didn't have a problem with saying whatever was on her mind. When perfectly healthy, he imagined her as outspoken spitfire, kind of like Haley. He imagined her as someone who is able to light up entire room with just her joyful laugh or boisterous voice.
Her almond shaped eyes, albeit dull and devoid of life, still held a warmness to them—the same warmness that drew him to Haley. He found comfort in that. The nervous knot in his stomach slowly came undone.
Lydia laughed as she placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Please, call me Lydia. 'Mrs. James' reminds me of my mother-in-law. I trust that you've been taking good care of my daughter?"
Nathan cleared his throat. He wanted to say that Haley had been the one taking care of him. She was the one who saved him from the downward spiral he was on. But there was something about saying those words out loud when he hadn't a chance to tell Haley them yet first felt wrong. So instead he glanced back at Haley, who just gave him an encouraging smile.
"To the best of my ability," Nathan finally answered.
Lydia nodded happily. "That's all I ask. As much as I would love to sit here and talk, can we move this elsewhere? If I spend any more time in this hospital, I might go crazy."
~x~
"Still nervous?" Haley whispered to Nathan as he pulled his car into her driveway. Her hand had been resting on his thigh the whole drive home. At first, his body felt rigid, like he was preparing for things to take a sharp turn for the worst at any moment. The closer they got to her house, the more relaxed he became.
"Not really," Nathan mumbled back honestly.
The ride back from the hospital was filled with light conversation. Lydia asked Nathan a lot of questions. Surprisingly, none of her questions forced him to delve into the parts of himself that he wanted to keep secret. Her questions were basic—How'd you and Haley meet? Have you lived in Tree Hill your whole life? What do you like to do in your free time? It's like she can almost sense that he's not an open person. Mother's intuition perhaps?
Haley leaned over the center console to press a kiss to his cheek. "I told you there was nothing to worry about."
Lydia sighed happily at the two of them, the sound loud enough for Nathan to hear. He felt his cheeks burn again, as if they were just caught doing something they shouldn't have been. He was still lost in his thoughts when the sound of car doors opening brought him back to the present. Reacting quickly, Nathan hopped out of the driver's seat and reached for Lydia's bags.
"Let me get those for you," Nathan offered, while retrieving her bags off her shoulders.
Lydia beamed at him, her eyes twinkling towards Haley. "Such a gentleman," She cooed.
Haley could only smile.
A sense of longing came over Haley as she stepped into her house. It felt like ages since she had properly been there. She didn't count stopping for a change of clothes as being home. As much as she loved being Nathan's roommate the past few days, she missed the comfort and familiarity of her own home. Everything was just how they left it, dirty dishes and all.
"First things first," Lydia began as she brushed past Nathan and Haley. She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the two of the shooting puzzled looks at each other. About a forty seconds later, Lydia returned with three bottles of wine swaddled in her arms. Without warning she thrusted them into Nathan's arms, sending him stumbling backwards. "I don't care what you do with these, just get rid of them."
Nathan raised his eyebrows at Haley, who just giggled and shrugged her shoulders. All Nathan could do was mutter a quiet "yes, ma'am."
Lydia smiled gratefully at him. "Would you like some coffee or tea?"
Nathan shook his head. "Thank you, though. I should really get going."
"Okay," Lydia muttered with a small frown. "I take it I'll be seeing you around here often?"
Nathan nodded. "It was nice to meet, Mrs. James."
"Lydia," She corrected him a soft smile. "And likewise. I'll let you two have a few moments alone."
As soon as Lydia disappeared back into the kitchen, Haley whirled around to face Nathan and smiled brightly at him. The happiness radiating off of her was palpable.
"That went a lot better than I expected," She said excitedly.
Nathan pursed his lips and cocked an eyebrow. "What, did you think she wasn't going to like me? Were all of your pep talks just lies to placate me?"
Haley laughed loudly as she shook her head. She placed her hand on his arm in a comforting manner. "I never once doubted her liking you. I just expected there to be a lot more awkward moments."
"Well, in that case, it went a lot better than I expected, too," Nathan admitted. "So, are we still on for tomorrow night?"
Haley's smiled faded from happy to giddy. "Oh, yeah. I can't wait to see what you got me."
Nathan chuckled. "I just hope you like it."
"I'm sure that I will."
Nathan's lips curled up into a crooked smile as he gave a timid shrug towards the day. "I should go."
"Okay," Haley sighed. She leaned forward to pop a quick kiss on his mouth, ever so mindful of the bottles of wine still cradled in his arms.
"Luke is going to love this," Nathan mumbled after they pulled away, his chin gesturing towards the bottles of wine.
"Really?" Haley asked in skepticism.
"Oh, yeah, Luke loves Merlot," Nathan explained with a laugh. "It's his guilty pleasure."
"Good to know."
When Nathan finally left, Haley trotted into the kitchen. Lydia was standing at the counter, stirring her creamer into a steaming cup of coffee. She was softly singing to herself and Haley's heart warmed at the sight. Growing up, Haley could vividly remember her mom pottering around the house and humming songs to herself. Most of the time, it was a song that her father recently performed a cover of or even an original that he wrote.
It was such a small behavior trait of hers that had wiggled its way out of the dark, but it meant the world to Haley. The glimpses of the mom she used to know that kept popping up were like little speckles of hope. Hope that she didn't think she'd ever find again after seeing her mom sprawled out on the living room floor.
"Nathan seems like a great guy," Lydia spoke up a few moments later, peering teasingly over her mug.
"He is," Haley confirmed. She didn't even try to fight her crushed-out smile.
Lydia's playful smirk only grew. "You really like him, don't you?"
Haley casted her gaze downward as she slid into one of the dining table chairs. Her cheeks flushed the lightest shade of pink, her fingers drumming anxiously against the polished table. "Is it that obvious?"
Lydia laughed wholeheartedly, claiming the chair adjacent to Haley. One hand remained wrapped around her mug, while the other one reached out to still Haley's jittery hands. "You look at Nathan the same way I used to look at your father."
Haley's stomach flipped at the mention of her father. The topic of her father is one that Lydia usually avoids. Meeting Lydia's gaze, Haley took in the serious gleam in her tired eyes. The usual wrinkles around her eyes were soft, barely-there creases in her skin. The weight of her words sunk in slowly and her heartbeat began to slam in her chest.
"That's…intense," Haley choked out.
Lydia's grip on Haley's hand tightened, almost as if she could sense her sudden anxiety. "But you want to know something?"
"What?"
"Nathan looks at you the exact same way."
Haley wasn't sure what to do with that information. It felt like she couldn't breathe, but in a way that was almost euphoric. She couldn't find words to explain the way her stomach was knotting up and the way that she just wanted to jump out of her chair, screaming in pure bliss. Her body seemed to tingle with excitement and she silently wonder if that was what being in—
"What did you say Nathan's last name was again?" Lydia asked, forcing Haley's mind away from her lingering thoughts.
"Scott."
Lydia's lips drooped down in a slight frown. Her forehead wrinkled as if she were in deep concentration. Her change in mood had Haley's stomach knotting up again, for an entirely different reason.
"What is it, mom?"
Lydia took a swig of her coffee before speaking again. "Is he related to a Daniel and Deborah Scott?"
It was Haley's turn to frown. "T-those were his parents. Why?"
Lydia breathed out heavily. "There was this memorial that I saw down at the children's gift shop during one of my walks. The only reason I noticed it was because of how big it was and because it looked a lot newer than a few of the other memorials I saw around the hospital. Their names were in such bold letters, it was hard for me to forget."
Haley's mouth felt stuffed with cotton. Nathan had never mentioned anything to her about a memorial. She knew that some of the Scott's money was donated to a charitable cause. Maybe the children's hospital was that cause.
Lydia was looking at Haley in an expectant way, like she was waiting for her to elaborate on what she knew about the memorial. Clearing her throat, Haley forced out the words. "His parents' d-died in a house fire, uh, a couple of years ago."
Sadness and sympathy glazed over Lydia's eyes, her mouth falling into a deeper frown. "That poor boy," She whispered sadly. "That makes me just want to give him the biggest hug and never let him go."
"That's what I did when he first told me what happened," Haley lamented.
~x~
Haley quickly ran up the steps to the pale bricked house, the cool wind whipping her curly hair around. Pulling her hands out of the pockets of her jacket, she eagerly knocked on the teal door. She bounced on the balls of her feet, a sad attempt at keeping some of the warmth in her body, as she anxiously waited for the door to open. The butterflies in her stomach were flapping wildly.
Was she in over her head? Was she over-stepping her boundaries?
She didn't have time to dwell on her thoughts, because the door flew open. A gush of warmth brushed passed her, along with the strong scent of apple pie and flowers. Karen stood in the doorway, a welcoming smile on her face and a dish towel in her hand.
"Haley, hi!" Karen greeted joyfully, opening the door wider. "Come on in, you must be freezing."
Haley smiled as she stepped into the house, the heat pumping through the vents quickly erasing the chill from her bones. "I hope it's okay that I stopped by."
Karen shut the door behind Haley and quickly pulled her into a comforting hug, almost like they'd been friends for years. "Oh, honey, you're always welcome."
Haley melted into her embrace and breathed in her flowery scent. "Thank you."
"Would you like some coffee? I just made a fresh pot," Karen offered as she pulled away, walking further into the kitchen.
"No, I'm okay, thank you," Haley declined as she slid her jacket off her shoulders and took a seat at the kitchen table. With every passing second, her nerves seemed to melt away. Karen's warm and motherly glow put her at ease.
Karen tossed the dish towel to the side and grabbed a coffee cup from the dish rack, filling it up with the steaming liquid. "Lucas said that you wanted to talk to us?"
Haley nodded, crossing her legs. "Yes, I did. Is he here?"
Karen nodded as she took a seat across from Haley. "He and Keith are just finishing up something in the garage. They should be in soon. How's your mom doing?"
Haley smiled softly. "She's…doing better. I think the fact that we're going to visit family is taking her mind off of things."
"Family is sometimes the greatest medicine," Karen said with a gentle smile. "You know that if you need anything, we're all here for you."
"Thank you, Karen. That means a lot."
The back door of the kitchen swung open and collided roughly with the adjacent wall, causing both Karen and Haley to jolt in their seats. Keith and Lucas stumbled inside the house, laughing loudly at something. Their hands were extended in front of them, like doctors about to walk into surgery. From where Haley was sitting, she could see a thick coating of grease on their hands.
"Hey, Haley," Lucas greeted her as used his elbow to turn on the sink.
"Haley, it's nice to see you again!" Keith said joyfully. "You get tired of Nathan yet?"
Haley laughed lightly. Keith's playfulness is something that found comforting. "No, I haven't gotten rid of him, yet."
Keith scooted past Lucas to wash his hands, his head still angled towards Haley. "Darn, that means I lost the bet. I owe Karen fifty dollars now!"
Karen rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to him. He just likes to start trouble."
Keith laughed loudly, grabbing one of the kitchen towels to try his hands. "It's all a part of my charm," He teased. "So, what do we owe this pleasure?"
"You wanted to talk to us about something, right?" Lucas spoke up. He was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were squinted and his face was grim. He probably assumed that she was here to talk about something negative and that only makes her stomach tighten further.
"Uh, yes," Haley croaked. The entire way there, she had prepared a speech. She repeated it over and over again so that she wouldn't forget it. But now that she was there, with three sets of prodding eyes burning into her, her mind felt like a blank canvas.
"Is everything okay?" Karen asked, Haley's silence concerning her.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Haley babbled. Her hands were restlessly rubbing at her thighs. "It's actually about Nathan's Christmas present. I wanted to run it by you guys first, just in case you think it's a bad idea or if you think I'm crossing some kind of line with it."
"We'd be happy to help," Keith chirped. "As long you're not planning to propose to him or something."
Karen narrowed her eyes, reaching for the other dish towel that was resting beside her. Twirling it in her hands, she whacked Keith in the thigh with it. The smack of towel against jean resonated loudly through the small kitchen. "Knock it off!" She barked at him and he just laughed.
It was in that moment that Haley decided she didn't need to be nervous. They weren't going to laugh in her face or scream at her. They just weren't those types of people.
"I'm sorry, Haley," Keith apologized a moment later. "You have my full attention."
Haley inhaled deeply before explaining to them her idea. "Basketball is a huge part of Nathan's life, even if he doesn't openly admit it. I've seen him play on the river court countless times and he's really good."
"He's one of the best players I know," Lucas piped up.
Haley nodded. "He has a natural talent, something that I'm sure a lot of athletes would kill for. It's not only his talent, though. When he plays, I see this spark in his eyes. It's a kind of happiness that I don't think he feels with anything else. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like he was born to play."
"I know exactly what you're talking about," Karen murmured.
A hopeful smile painted Haley's features. "I know that he used to play for the Ravens', once upon a time. I know he got messed up in some things and his grades suffered tremendously, which led to him getting kicked off the team. But he's really working hard on improving his grades and he seems really determined to get his life back on track. I think basketball could really help him accomplish that."
"You want to get him back on the team as a Christmas present? Is that what I'm hearing?" Keith asked for clarification. His eyes are glimmering with an acute happiness, his lips curled up in a gentle smile.
Haley nodded. "Or at least, a chance to get back on the team. He's stubborn and he's holding himself back, but I think with a push and the right support, he'd go for it."
A sniffle sounded from Karen. Haley's head jerked in her direction and her throat closed up at the sight of Karen crying. There was a look of wonder and grave admiration in her eyes. Goosebumps sprinkled Haley's skin. She wasn't sure how to read Karen's reaction.
"No one has ever cared about Nathan the way you do," She sobbed quietly, brushing the tears away from her eyes.
Haley shivered at her sincerity. That statement made her heart hurt yet soar at the same time. Nathan deserved to be endlessly cared for, but she was selfishly glad she was the first person, besides his family, to do so.
"You don't think it's a bad idea?" Haley pondered.
"I think it's a wonderful idea," Keith jumped in. "Whitey has been waiting for Nathan to make his return to the court."
Haley's eyebrows furrowed. "Whitey?"
"Coach Durham," Keith clarified. "It broke Whitey's heart when he had to cut Nathan from the team, but he didn't have a choice. He went to bat for him as long as he could, but administration won in the end."
"It's true," Lucas confirmed. "Coach won't let anyone wear the number 23. He asks me at least once a week when Nathan's coming back. It'll be hard to convince Nathan to go for it, but if anyone can do it I think it'd be you."
Complete elation erupted inside of Haley. "Really?"
"Absolutely."
Keith clapped his hands together excitedly. "I'll make a few calls."
~x~
Nathan did another sweep of the living room. All of the candles were lit, cloaking the room in a warm glow. The soft sound of Christmas music from stereo was floating through the apartment. It wasn't the most ideal set-up—no tree, no lights, no festive decorations—but it would have to do.
He'd never done anything even remotely romantic in his life. Not only did he never have the chance to, but he never had the desire to either. He never understood the appeal of romance. He always figured that card and candy companies only pushed those ideas on people so they could make a profit. But yet here he was, flailing around his apartment like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to make sure everything was perfect for their "Christmas." He couldn't spend a real Christmas with Haley since she was going out of town and he was hell-bent on making sure it was still magical for her.
Haley James had really done a number on him, in the best way possible.
Nervous wasn't an emotion that he felt often, but he found himself feeling it a lot the past few days. He practically gave himself an aneurysm with how much he worried over meeting Lydia James. He was well on his way to giving himself a second aneurysm with how much he was fretting over Haley's Christmas gift.
He wanted everything to be perfect. She'd had such a rough couple of days and even though things were looking up, he could still see the anguish in her eyes. She deserved a break and after all the reprieve she'd give him, he wanted to return the favor.
Tugging anxiously at the collar of his red dress shirt, another shirt Lucas so generously let him borrow, he glanced at watch on his wrist. Haley should be there any minute and his nerves skyrocketed. What if she hated her gift? What if he did something to screw their night up?
He can't help but wonder if he was always going to be this high strung over Haley. Everything about their relationship scared him. The oddest thing about it was that it wasn't the kind of fear he wanted to run away from. Running away used to be one of the things that he did best. That voice inside of his head was still there, constantly urging him to run away. To abandon his feelings before they got someone—Haley—hurt. But it wasn't louder than a mere whisper.
This was a kind of fear that he was going to embrace. It made him feel…alive. For the first time in God only knows how long, he was consciously aware of his heart beating and the blood flowing through his veins. He no longer felt like a shell of a dead man walking. For the first time in a while…he felt genuine hope.
A soft knock on the front door had him jumping out of his thoughts. Without wasting a second, he jogged over to the door and swung it open.
"I come baring gifts," Haley joked. Her smile was knee-weakening, her teeth seeming even brighter in contrast to the dark red lipstick painted on her lips. She was wearing a long black coat, leaving only a pair of red heels in his line of sight. She has a red and white gift bag dangling from one hand and medium sized box wrapped in red paper tucked under her other arm.
Nathan chuckled as he ushered her in. He grabbed the gifts out of her hands and placed them next to the ones he'd gotten for her. He smirked when he hears a gasp emit from her lips.
"Nathan," Haley breathed out in awe. She gazed around the apartment, taking in all of the candles and strands of lights. "You really didn't have to do all of this."
He shrugged as if it were no big deal. "I wanted to. It's our first Christmas together and I wanted to make it special."
Haley's brown eyes twinkled underneath the lights, her heart fluttering at his romantic gestures. Slowly, she began to un-button the long black coat she was wearing. Her skin felt like it was on fire when she realized Nathan was watching her with curious eyes. The last button slid through the hole and she let the coat glide off of her shoulders.
Nathan's eyes stretched to twice their size. He swore his heart stopped beating and he couldn't move. He couldn't think. All he could do was stare.
Haley's hair, which was previously tucked underneath her jacket, fell over her bare shoulders in small, gentle ringlets. His eyes fell to the dress she's wearing. It's a deep, wine red, a color that contrasted perfectly with her skin. The material is shiny, almost silk like. Thin straps held up the modest v-neckline. The dress plunged to the floor and a slit ran up her right thigh.
There weren't enough adjectives in the world to describe how beautiful she looked. He still couldn't stop staring as his fingers itched with the desire to touch her. He wanted to say something, anything that would tell her just how amazing she looked. But he couldn't. His tongue felt heavy in his mouth.
Haley involuntarily shivered at the way his eyes faded from a cerulean blue to a midnight blue. He wasn't saying anything, which caused her to shift her weight self-consciously. Brooke had practically forced her to wear this dress, claiming that it would be a gift in itself to Nathan. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe listening to Brooke wasn't the best idea.
"Brooke sort of talked me into wearing this dress," Haley whispered unsurely.
Hearing her quivering voice seemed to break Nathan out of his stupor. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. He almost groaned out loud at the silky-smooth feel of the dress. With his free hand, he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, letting his fingers dance over her flushed skin.
"Remind me to write a Brooke Davis a thank you card," He purred huskily.
Haley blushed further, her arms coiling around his neck. His dress shirt is cold underneath her blistering skin. "That good?"
Nathan nodded, leaning in closer to her. "You're so fucking beautiful, Hales. You're easily the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
The desire in his tone, paired with the feel of his lips brushing against hers, made Haley snap. Her fingers gripped the collar of his shirt, pulling him into a fierce kiss. His hands gripped her waist hard, holding her to him as their lips moved viscerally against each other. She quickly lost herself in him. He was everywhere—the smell cologne, the taste of his lips, and the feel of his hands were driving her insane.
Nathan gently pushed Haley backwards until her back collided with the front door. She gripped his shirt tighter and tries to pull him even closer to her. He let his one hand fall to her bare thigh and he couldn't control the groan that bubbled up his throat. Her skin was so soft and smooth. The breathy sighs that were falling from her lips only spurred him on further.
No one had ever started such a fire inside of him like Haley did was a single kiss.
Haley was sure she would have melted into a puddle if it wasn't for Nathan's strong grip on her. The feel of his hard and muscular body pressing her into the door, combined with his lips kissing a fiery trail down the length of her neck had her feeling like she was going to combust. A moan hitched in her throat when Nathan's hands swept under her dress, massaging the inner part of her thigh.
"Nathan."
"You taste so good," He murmured into her skin.
She needed to feel more of him. Her shaky hands slid down his chest and made their way towards the buttons on his shirt. She was just about to push the first button through the hole when the sound of the oven going off had them breaking apart.
"You cooked something?" Haley questioned breathlessly. A look of incredulity marred her features.
Nathan silently cursed the oven for interrupting them. Reluctantly, he pulled himself away from her. He couldn't stop his mind from wondering what would have happened if the oven didn't go off. He blinked hard a few times to get his body under control. Once he felt stable again, he walked over to the stove.
"No, but Karen did."
Haley whimpered quietly when he completely detached himself from her. Her body instantly felt the loss of his. Shaking the fog from her mind, she followed him over to the stove and watched as he carefully pulled the glass dish out of the oven.
"What did she make?"
"It's a chicken casserole. It's to die for."
The delicious aroma of the food wafted passed her and Haley's stomach growled lightly in response. It smelled amazing, which didn't surprise her. Karen was an amazing cook, probably one of the best she'd ever met.
Nathan grabbed two glass plates from the cupboard and carefully spooned a healthy portion on to each place. Haley couldn't help but giggle a little at how domestic Nathan looked, rushing around the kitchen to serve dinner. She would have never pegged him as the domestic type. Walking over to the couch, they both carefully sat down to eat.
"Wow, this is really good," Haley exclaimed after taking a bite of the food. "You'll have to remind me to write Karen a thank-you card."
Nathan chuckled, "I told you."
"I still can't believe that you went through all of this."
"I honestly wish I could have done more, like get a tree or something," Nathan mumbled after swallowing a bite of his food.
Haley shook her head. "No, this is perfect."
Nathan's heart fluttered at the blissful expression on her face. She looked so happy, a stark contrast to her mood a few days prior. Her eyes were lighter, her smile was genuine, and that natural glow about her that drew him to her was shining brighter. He realized then that he would do absolutely anything to keep her that happy.
"Tell me about your favorite Christmas."
Haley blinked hard at his request. It took her a couple of seconds before a smile stretched across her lips. "When I was 9, we were living in Pennsylvania and we were hit with this monster of a snow storm. I remember waking up on Christmas morning, looking out the window, and seeing nothing but white. The snow was up to my windowsill."
Nathan grimaced. "That sounds terrible. I'm not a big fan of snow."
Haley laughed. "I thought it was the coolest thing. Anyway, after we were done opening presents, my dad suggested that we go play in the snow. All of us kids and my parents spent the entire day playing in the snow. Snowball fights, snow forts…we did it all. It was one of the only times we were all together and no one got into a fight about something stupid."
A warm and fuzzy feeling coated Nathan. "That sounds really wonderful."
"It was," Haley asserted. "What about you?"
Swallowing his last bite of food, Nathan placed his dish on the coffee table. He sat back on the couch, his hands laced together and resting on his stomach. "I don't think I have one."
Haley gasped in mock-shock. "Come on, you have to have one!"
Nathan shook his head. "All of my Christmases with my parents were the best. They always went all out, kind of like with Halloween. It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite."
Haley sighed happily. "I guess that's fair."
Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan caught a glimpse of their presents. A fresh wave of anxiety washed over him, his stomach knotting up anxiously. He'd forgotten all about his apprehension over giving Haley her gift until he saw that little gold and white wrapped package. Coughing to clear his throat, he turned to face Haley.
"Do you want to watch a movie first or open presents first?"
Haley shot him a look, anxiously bouncing in her seat. As scared as she was to see Nathan's reaction to her gift, she was also excited. "What do you think?"
Nathan sighed as he stood up from the couch. "Right, stupid question."
He cleared away their dishes, placing them in the sink. His hands were trembling as he covered the left-over casserole with aluminum foil and put it in the fridge. He knew he was being irrational. He could have gotten Haley a pack of gum for Christmas and she'd still be over the moon. That's just the type of person she was.
Plopping down on the couch, Nathan slapped his hands against his knees and willed his heartbeat to relax. "So, who goes first?"
"Me!" Haley blurted out. When she realized how overly excited she sounded, her hands clasped over her mouth. "I'm sorry."
Nathan chuckled, shaking his head at her. "You were a spoiled child during Christmas, weren't you?"
Haley shrugged innocently. "The perks of being the youngest."
Sighing, Nathan reached for his gift and carefully passed it from one hand to the other, kind of like he was handling a basketball. "I've never really bought Christmas presents, especially for a girl. Most of the time buying gifts meant buying a pack of trading cards for Lucas at the dollar store."
"Nathan," Haley cooed softly, scooting closer to him on the couch. His forehead was wrinkled in apprehension and she could see the way his hands were quivering. She squeezed his wrist in comfort. "I know I've been over excited about this, and that's just because I love the holidays. But you could have gotten me nothing and this little evening would have been perfect. I'm not the kind of girl that needs to be showered with gifts."
Her little speech calmed him down enough to hand her the small box. "I had Karen wrap it, because there was no way I could have done that without it looking like a train wreck."
Haley giggled, her fingers dusting over the decorative wrapping paper. Carefully, and with a pounding heard, she ripped the paper from the box. Under the paper was a small black box. Gently, she pulled the lid off the box and her heart jumped in her throat when she saw what was inside.
It was a silver bracelet, five different charms dangling from it. She picked it up, a look of pure awe on her face. The charms glistened under the Christmas lights and candles—a camera, a basketball, a seashell, an angel, and a key. It was absolutely perfect.
"I know jewelry is kind of the cliché thing to do—"
"It's perfect," Haley cut him off. "It's absolutely perfect."
He could breathe again.
"May I?" Nathan asked timidly, pointing towards the bracelet. When Haley handed it to him, he fastened it around her wrist, his fingers lightly brushing over her skin. His voice is hoarse with emotion as he speaks. "The camera is for your love for photography, the basketball stands for the river court and all of interesting moments that we've had there, the seashell represents our secret spot on the beach, an angel because you've saved me…you're my guardian angel, and a key, because you're the first person I've felt like I could open up to."
Haley blinked back the tears that had formed in her eyes. She was at a loss for words. His gift was so thoughtful and it made her dizzy with emotion. The words he spoke to her, the way he was looking at her…it took her breath away. Flinging her arms around his neck, she pulled into a tight hug.
"I love it," She said tearfully. "Thank-you so much."
He held her close, breathing in her vanilla perfume and her natural scent. Holding her in his arms was the perfect gift. He didn't even want to open his gifts. Holding her was all he really needed, anyway. But she had other plans. Pulling away from him, she pointed at his gifts.
"The bag first," Haley directed him. She was chewing on her bottom lip as he picked up the bag.
Removing the tissue paper first, he reached inside and was surprised when he felt the leathery texture of a basketball. Gripping it with both hands, he pulls out the circular object. It's a brand-new basketball. It was a bright orange and the leather was scuff free. It was inflated just the right amount, the scent of new leather coming off of it in waves.
"I noticed that your basketball was getting a little worn out," Haley explained. "Is it okay?"
He twirled the ball between his hands. The fact that she noticed such a small thing about him warmed his heart. Her attentiveness will never not blow him away.
"It's perfect," He echoed her words from earlier. "Thank-you, Hales."
"You're not done yet," Haley reminded him, nudging towards the other unopened present. This was the one that has her practically jumping in her seat. She felt nauseated as he began to tear away at the paper. In her mind, he wasn't going fast enough and she felt like screaming at him to just rip the paper into smithereens. She was convinced she was going to go into cardia arrest from how fast her heart was beating.
Nathan took the lid off of the box and brushed away the tissue paper. His world stopped spinning when he was what was underneath. He froze as every single molecule of his body froze.
A Ravens' jersey.
Not just any Ravens' jersey…his Ravens' jersey.
His name in black and white letters shined back at him. The large blue "23" was staring back at him. That wasn't real. It couldn't be. When he reached out to touch it and felt polyester between his fingertips, he swallowed hard.
"What is this?" Nathan barely managed. He looked at Haley with wide, bewildered eyes.
"It's yours…if you want it," Haley replied. She couldn't read his reaction. There was no anger. There was no happiness. He was just…in shock.
"W-what? H-how?"
"To make a long story short, I talked to your family and Keith made a few calls," Haley quickly spat out. "Whitey is willing to give you another chance, if you want it."
"I-I, oh, wow, I," He stammered. He's not sure what to say or even think. When he met her eyes, the guilt hit him like a ton of bricks. She looked scared, terrified that maybe she crossed a line she shouldn't have. "Did you do this for me?"
Haley can only nod weakly.
"H-Hales, I don't know what to say."
He was completely blown away by this gesture. Playing basketball again scared the shit out of him. Being back on that court, without his parent to cheer him on in the crowd, felt like a nightmare. But seeing that jersey in the flesh and just knowing that he had a chance to play again…it lit a fire inside of him.
"I know that you're scared to play again. I know how much it hurts that you can't share basketball with your dad. But I also know how much you love it. You have so much talent, Nathan. And I know that deep down, you still want to play. So, I just thought that maybe if I gave you a little push, you'd find the strength to do it. I hope I didn—"
He pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss, effectively cutting her rambling off. A few moments later, he pulled away. "You're amazing," He choked out, resting his forehead against hers.
Haley's forehead crinkled in confusion. "What? You're not mad?"
Nathan shook his head vigorously. "That is the greatest thing someone has ever done for me."
The weight of dread dissipated from her shoulders. She smiled gently at him. "Does this mean you're going to play?"
His body visibly tensed. "I-I don't know if I can."
"Nathan…,"
He shook his head softly. "The idea of playing again…it excites me more than I thought it would. I didn't think seeing that jersey again was going to make me yearn to wear it again. But, I, I just don't know. It's not something that I can just decide to do again on a whim."
Haley nodded in understanding. Cupping his cheeks in the palms of her hands, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "You don't have to decide anything right now. You still have a couple of weeks before the season starts."
"Thank-you," He murmured with so much emotion, her skin tingled. "Thank you, so much. You are heaven-sent, Haley James."
"Merry Christmas, Nathan Scott."