Chapter 3

It was finally Monday and Haley got up for school perkier than ever. All weekend she continued to think about the date, the good and the bad. But the dated ended very well so she was happy. She just wondered if Nathan would act any different at school. She would just have to find out.

Lydia James dropped off her daughter at school and drove off for work. Haley walked into the school still thinking about that kiss from Saturday night. She wouldn't think she would have had the guts to do it. She looked up and saw Nathan walking towards her with his friends. She smiled; he smiled back and kept on walking.

I guess things won't be different at school. I guess that talk I had with him didn't help any. Oh well…there always is that second date later.

Haley opened her locker to put her books away and take out the books she needed. When she opened the locker door a piece of paper fell out onto the floor. She picked it up and read it.

"Hey, meet me at the back of the school during lunch."

Haley looked down at the note in confusion. It didn't say who it was from any where on it, she could only hope it was from Nathan.

It seemed as if time was moving slowly just to annoy Haley. Her English class seemed to go on forever as if it wouldn't end. Finally the lunch bell rang. Haley practically ran out the door down the hall to her locker. She rushed to get her books as fast as she could then she went to the back of the school. She tried not to look too excited but she couldn't hide it. She couldn't see anyone at the back. Suddenly she heard someone walk up behind her. She turned around to see Nathan smiling down at her. Her smile widened when she saw him, "Hey!"

"Hey, I see you got my note. I was wondering if you wanted to go get something to eat during our lunch hour."

Haley smiled, "Sure."

The two of them drove off into town to find something to eat.

"You know I couldn't stop thinking about our date Saturday."

"Really?" Haley asked.

Nathan nodded, "Yeah, you know, I really had a great time with you."

Haley smiled, "Me too."

"So what do you want to eat?" he asked.

Haley shrugged, "I don't really care, we could just go grab something at McDonald's..?"

"Okay."

After getting something to eat the two of them drove down to the docks where they ate their lunches quickly.

Haley stared off into the horizon for a few moments as they sat in silence. "I like it out here by the docks. You know, I've always wondered what was out there."

"Why? Haven't you left Tree Hill before?"

Haley shook her head, "Nope."

"Never?" Nathan asked, a bit surprised. "You know, we should go to Cape Cod, I'm sure you'd love it."

"What about school?" Haley asked.

Nathan shrugged, "We can go once school is out. We only have a few more months left."

Haley smiled, "I'd like that. Promise?"

"Promise what?"

"That we can go to Cape Cod this summer...together."

"Yeah." he said with a smile.

"Good." Haley sighed, "I thinkwe should head back to school, it's getting late."

Nathan nodded, "Yeah," he said, a bit disappointed.

The two of them walked into the school, the halls were practically empty by now.

"I better hurry, but...thanks for lunch." Haley said with a small smile.

"Oh yea it was so great!" he said sarcastically.

Haley playfully punched him in the arm, "Hey! It was still nice of you to buy me lunch."

Nathan laughed, "Yeah I guess," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Well see you around I guess.." Haley said quietly.

Nathan nodded, "Yeah. Haley started to walk off, "What about after school?"

She stopped for a moment, a smile spread across her lip before she realized she couldn't. She turned back around, "I have tutoring," she said, disappointed.

"So," Nathan said with a shrug. "I'll wait for you." he said, smiling over at her.

"Okay." Haley said, her smile widening, "Bye."

Nathan watched as she walked off down the hall. He couldn't help but feel that he was actually falling for Haley. He hadn't known her that long but it was just something about her...

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, I'm not supposed to fall for her. I just hope she won't find out about why I really asked her out. Hopefully no one says anything. I don't know why, but I just can't help it; something about her is just different. She isn't like any of the other girl's like Peyton. Maybe this will be a good thing, if no one ruins it for us.

Haley waited very impatiently again for school to end. She couldn't help but feel attracted to Nathan. He was just so different around her. Not like the guy she thought he was. She wondered if he felt the same way.

Finally school ended and Haley went to her locker to get her books and then she headed off to the Tutor center. Two hours later she finally finished up with her last student and she cleaned up the tutor center and locked it up. She turned around to see Nathan smiling at her as he leaned against the lockers across the hall.

"Hey." she said as a smile appeared on her face.

"I told you I would wait for you." he said as they started to walk off. Haley smiled, "So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know," she said with a shrug.

A smile appeared on Nathan's face, "I have an idea, come on."

"What?" Haley asked as he grabbed her by the hand.

"You'll see," he said.

They drove down to the beach and walked down to the shore line.

"Come on," Nathan said as he walked ahead of her.

"What are you doing?" Haley asked in confusion.

Nathan grabs her hand.

"Nathan, no!" she said with panic in her voice.

Nathan ran toward the water, a huge wave crashing into them.

"It's cold!!" Haley screamed.

Nathan laughed, "So?" he said before splashing her.

"Hey!" Haley yelled as she splashed him back.

They splashed each other laughing the whole time until they were completely soaked. Nathan took her hand as they walked along the beach, trying to dry off.

"You know something's been bugging me ever since our date last weekend." he said as he looked down at her.

"What's that?" Haley asked as she looked up at him.

"How did you think of me before?"

"Well only if you tell me the same thing." she said.

Nathan shrugged, "Okay."

Haley sighed, "Well I guess I just thought you were spoiled and thought you were better than everyone." She looked back down at the sand, "And someone who wouldn't give me the light of day."

"Are you serious?" Nathan asked, a bit surprised.

Haley nodded, "Yeah. Look at how you treat everyone and how you get away with practically anything. Can you blame me?"

Nathan just nods.

Haley gave him a small smile, "So what about me?"

"Uh…I thought you were just quiet and shy. I always thought you were different though just by the way you were. I knew you weren't like any of the other girls, but now I can see why."

"What do you mean?" she asked, a bit confused.

Nathan looked back over at her, "Well you're smart, funny, pretty, and not afraid to be who you really are. All the other girls just put on an act."

Haley smiled, "You think I'm pretty?"

"Yeah why not?"

The two of them continue walking in silence for a moment.

"You know I have been thinking about what you said." he said quietly.

"About what?" Haley asked.

"About how I act around my friends at school. I think you're right. There really is no point in acting the way I have in the past."

"So what do you see in your friends any way?" she said as she looked back up at him.

"I don't know, it just has it's perks I guess. Like getting to go to all the awesome parties."

"Parties? They are that important?" Haley asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Haven't you been to one?"

Haley shook her head, "Nope and I never will go to one."

"Why?"

"All people do is go to get drunk. What's the point in that?"

Nathan nodded, "Yeah...but come on, why don't you go with me to Brooke's party?"

Haley shook her head, "I don't know."

"Come on it will be fun."

Haley sighed, "I guess. But you know I can't stay too late."

Nathan smiled, "Yeah. I will take you home whenever you want. I'm not going to make you stay somewhere you don't want to be."

"Okay."

Nathan looked over at his watch, "It's getting kind of late. We should head back."

Haley nodded, looking a bit disappointed.

Nathan pulled up in front of Haley's house.

"Thanks, I had fun." Haley said.

"Yeah," he hesitated for a moment before leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. "See you at school tomorrow."

Haley smiled, "Bye."

Haley walks into her house.

"What happened to you?" her mom asked as she walked into the kitchen.

Haley looked down at her clothes, "Oh..I was down at the beach."

"That's where you have been all afternoon?" Lydia questioned.

Haley nodded, "Yeah."

"With that Nathan boy?"

"Yeah…why?" Haley asked, worry apparent in her voice.

"Just wondering..." her mom said quietly.

"Okay? I have to finish some homework, so I'll be in my room."

"Okay dinner is almost ready though." her mother called after her.

Haley quickly ran upstairs, "Okay mom." she yelled back.