Author's Note: I'm not even sure where to start with tonight's episode! It was so good. There were a lot of really good one-liners in this one! And I think Brooke is fast becoming my favorite character. I love this more mature version of her. And Nathan and the nanny? Ugh. It makes me want to yank the laptop out of Mark Schwahn's hands and ground him until he can come up with something more original! And why is Peyton wearing the same outfit in every single episode? She really should break into Brooke's store and steal a whole new wardrobe! Hers is just not doing anything for me this season! I know she's grown up now, but I miss her hoodie collection! Anyway, my rant is done! Enjoy!
Nathan Scott was lying on his bed tossing his autographed Michael Jordan basketball into the air and catching it repeatedly. He turned his head to look at his clock and groaned. Ten o'clock on a Friday night and he was home. Ridiculous. The whole team was at Tric right now, and he couldn't go because Peyton was there. Nathan sighed and stood up from his bed. He steadied his basketball on his dresser and looked at himself in the mirror above it, then ran a hand through his hair. He'd be damned if Peyton Sawyer was going to keep him in on a Saturday night. He ran down the stairs and put his sneakers on. He grabbed his keys off the hook by the door and then headed for the club.
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"I can't believe you sent me this shirt!" Haley exclaimed into the phone. She pulled on the V between her breasts and tried to tug it up some more. "And what's more, I can't believe I'm actually wearing it!" Haley unbuckled her seat belt and dug into her purse for some cash. The shirt her friend had sent her was a cap sleeved t shirt with a plunging V-neck. She had paired it with some dark blue jeans and a pair of flip flops, her toenails painted to match the shirt.
Molly laughed from the other end of the phone. "Someone has to hinder you from committing fashion suicide," she teased.
Haley's mouth opened in surprise. "Just so you know my jaw just dropped. And my fashion sense isn't that bad," she defended herself.
"Is, too!" Molly said.
Haley laughed. "So, what's on the agenda in Seattle tonight?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," she said. "I still have a few hours to think about it."
Haley sighed. "Lucky you. I have to go into a club where I know all of two people who are going to be there tonight. And judging by this parking lot, it's going to be midnight before I find either one of them."
"Well have fun! And get your butt out of the car and into the club, girl!" Molly scolded.
"I'm going, I'm going. Tell everyone I said hi. And thanks for the chat, Molls."
"You're welcome, Hales," she said sweetly. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too," she said, closing her phone.
Haley sighed anxiously and got out of her car, then started walking hurriedly toward the entrance of the club. The parking lot was deserted and it wasn't very well lit. She could swear she heard footsteps behind her and she quickened her pace even more just in case it wasn't her overactive imagination. "Haley!" she heard from behind her.
She turned around still jogging, and tripped. She squealed as she started to fall, her arms flailing, but a pair of strong hands grabbed her by the waist steadying her. As she regained her balance, she immediately started struggling.
"Haley!"
She recognized the voice this time and looked up. "Oh my God! You scared me half to death, Sco—Nathan." she spat. She turned around and tried to be on her way, but he still had something that belonged to her. She looked down. "Let go of my wrist!" she said frantically. Then her eyes returned to his face. He slowly shook his head no. "Let go of my wrist!" she repeated defiantly.
He looked down at her and shook his head again, slower than before. He watched as her eyes filled up with tears. "Let go of me," she said a third time, and a third time, even slower, he shook his head no. He heard a catch in her breathing and tried to pull her to him, but she wouldn't budge, so he closed the gap between them with a single step.
"Me and Peyton broke up," he whispered.
"I don't care," she said emphatically.
"I don't want her," he continued, his eyes locked on hers.
"Are you not getting the message?" Haley asked. "I don't care!"
"I want you," he said forcefully.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I don't even know you," she said brokenly.
He let go of her wrist and lifted his hands to her cup her face. "You know me, Hales. You know you know me."
She shook her head, two tears falling down her cheeks. "I only thought I did," she insisted.
"You might be the only one who does," he whispered before his lips came down onto hers.
He started to kiss her gently and at first she didn't respond. When he heard her whimper, he almost pulled away, afraid he was scaring her. The next second, she lifted her hands to his waist and gathered his shirt in her hands, pulling his lower body closer to hers. He heard her choke on what he thought might be a sob, but he wasn't sure. When his tongue teased the seam of her lips, she opened and he tentatively let his tongue wander into her mouth. When her tongue touched his, he could hardly stand it. He'd been wanting this since the last time he saw her over six weeks ago. Hell—he'd even dreamt about it. His hands fell from her face and wrapped protectively around her waist, pulling her flush against him. He felt her fingers dig into his waist and groaned. Before he knew what was happening, she pulled away. There was a fear in her eyes and she was breathing heavily, he thought with some satisfaction. He was, too.
"Please don't tell Lucas about this," she pleaded with him. "Please don't tell him about any of it. Not High Flyers, not this kiss. Nothing."
"Haley—"
"Please!" she said again. She looked so distraught, he could only nod. As soon as he did, he regretted it because it was then that she turned and fled. She ran up the steps to the entrance of the building and disappeared inside. Nathan put his hands in his pockets and watched as she ran through the front door. He sighed and lifted a hand to his head, rubbing his right temple. He waited five minutes until he knew she was safely inside and then walked slowly towards the entrance. He'd made her a promise, and despite his dislike for his brother, he didn't want to break it.
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"Hey!" Haley said, giving Lucas a tap on the shoulder.
He turned around and pulled her into his arms, giving her a big hug. "Hey! What are you doing here?" he asked, pulling away.
"I'm watching you get your high lights done," she said cheerfully.
He gave her a puzzled look.
"You're a good friend, Lucas. You do things with me that you have absolutely no interest in so you can spend time with me. Now I'm doing the same for you."
He grinned at her in understanding then suddenly his expression sobered. "Hales, have you been crying?" he asked, lifting a hand to her cheek.
"No!" she said quickly, taking a step back and wiping at her cheeks. "I just sneezed on the way in and my eyes watered so much they overflowed. I think I have too much perfume on," she admitted.
"Well, I can't even smell it," he told her.
"Oh, good. I was worried it would be too strong. So, what're you doing back here?" she asked, looking around. She was desperate to change the subject. She hated lying to him. "Why aren't you out there having fun?"
"I was just grabbing a case of bottled water too bring out to the bar," he told her.
"Do you need some help?" she asked.
"Nah, I'm good," he said.
"OK." She followed him back to the chaos and had a seat while he brought the water behind the bar. Peyton walked over and grinned at Haley. "What's your poison?" she asked in a joking tone of voice.
"I'll have a water," Haley told her, speaking loudly so she could be heard above the blaring music. Peyton bent down to grab one out of the cooler, and Haley couldn't help but notice how happy she looked for someone who'd just broken up with her boyfriend. "You were worried for nothing," she said.
"What?" Peyton asked, twisting the cap off the water and placing it in front of Haley.
"I said you were worried for nothing!" Haley repeated.
Peyton shrugged. "A little worrying is good for me," she said.
"Hey, P. Sawyer," Haley heard a voice next to her say.
She turned around and saw the girl who'd been at Peyton's locker the other day sitting next to her. "Haley, this is my friend Brooke Davis," she said. "Brooke, this is Haley James."
"It's really nice to meet you," Haley said with a grin.
Brooke quickly looked her up and down. "Right," she said caustically, turning back to Peyton. Haley couldn't help but feel as if she'd been insulted and dismissed all with one comment. Her eyes flew to Peyton's whose cheeks were red.
Luckily, Lucas came to her rescue. "Care to dance?" he asked from behind. A fast song was playing and Haley had been tapping her foot in time to the beat.
She turned on her stool and jumped down. "I think that's a great idea," she said as he led the way to the dance floor. She was desperate to get away from the brunette.
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Nathan's eyes trailed Haley as she was led onto the dance floor by his bastard brother. His lip curled up in disgust. "What's that look for?" Tim asked from beside him. He followed Nathan's gaze.
"No reason," Nathan said, turning back to the table and lifting his water to his lips. He took a long drink hoping to even his temper. How in the hell could she have spent all that time with him that summer, and then his brother now? They were complete opposites.
"Dude, were you checking out the girl with your brother?" Tim asked amused.
"No," Nathan said vehemently. Haley wanted him to keep his mouth shut about them? Fine. But he wasn't going to make this easy for her. He wanted her, and he was going to have her. He took another swallow of his water and had to force himself not to look at the dance floor. Or bash his brother's head in. Lucky bastard. If it had been a slow song, Nathan would have had to hit him.