Chapter 6

Haley woke up early Saturday morning to an odd sound. She looked out her window to see Nathan tossing rocks at her window. Haley rolled her eyes and groaned. She walked down stairs and opened the door. Nathan soon noticed and walked over to the front porch. "What do you want?" she asked in annoyance.

"We have to talk about last night."

"I don't want to talk about it. Besides I have already made up my mind."

"But none of it was true. I haven't said a thing to anyone about us."

"How am I supposed to know you aren't lying?" Haley asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"You just have to trust me on this." Nathan said pleadingly.

"Trust you!? How am I supposed to trust you!" Haley practically screamed.

"You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you Haley. If you believe one thing I say, at least believe that."

"I don't know if I can ever again."

"Hales please, you know me and I wouldn't lie about anything like that."

"Well how do I know you weren't lying to me last time!" Haley said with anger in her voice.

"Because I wasn't. I swear I am telling the truth Haley."

"You know what I do know you. I know that you are jerk who plays jokes on people just to get a laugh out of it. And deep down I have a feeling I was one of those stupid people who fell for it." she said more coldly than she anticipated.

"Hales…" Nathan began to say.

"Just go.." Haley said as she began to shut the door.

Nathan reached forward and held the door open, "No, Haley…"

"I am serious! Go!" Haley practically screamed at him.

Nathan looked over at her once more with saddened eyes before walking away in defeat. Haley slamming the door shut behind him as he turned away.

Haley couldn't believe that she treated Nathan in this way. While her heart and her head were telling her two different things, she knew deep down that everything between them was a joke and nothing was real in their relationship. Although she wanted to accept it, Haley knew that she couldn't do that because of what had just happened back at the party. She couldn't make up her mind to choose between her heart or her head.

After what had happened between her and Nathan, Haley went inside and took a shower. She then got dressed and went down to the café where she would work a shift or two for Karen. She was now waitressing the tables that were now being filled because a lot of customers were coming in. She took a quick break and sat down for a few minutes after she had served everyone.

Karen walked up to Haley, now noticing that she seemed a bit down, "Is everything alright Haley?"

"Yeah…I guess." Haley said unconvincingly.

"That sounded really convincing." Karen said with a smile, she sat down beside Haley. "What's going on?"

Haley let out a sigh, "I am just having some problems right now."

"Like what?"

"I started talking to that guy.. Nathan and-" Haley began.

"Nathan Scott?" Karen asked, a bit puzzled. Haley just nodded, "Okay. What's wrong?"

"Well he asked me to go out with him and I did, twice. I thought things were going great, but obviously I was wrong."

"Why do you say that?" Karen asked.

Haley pursed her lips, "I went to a party with him last night and one of the guys said that Nathan was spreading rumors about us. He told me that Nathan told everyone that I had had sex with him and some other things too." Haley said as she tried to hold back tears.

"He said what?!" Karen said in astonishment.

Tears began to slide down Haley's cheeks, "I know. I can't believe he would do something like that. I should have known. But Nathan swears he is telling the truth about not saying those things but I don't think I can trust him anymore."

Karen placed her hand on Haley's shoulder, "I know it may be tough to see it but maybe he is telling you the truth. Has he not shown you how different he is from what you thought he was like before?"

"Yeah." Haley said as she looked down at her lap.

"So maybe he has changed, there is a chance that your relationship was supposed to be a joke, but has he done anything to hurt you at all?" Karen asked.

"Well, not really. Other than this whole rumor thing, if it even is true, he hasn't done anything to hurt me."

"Okay, maybe after he got to know you he changed his mind about the joke. Maybe he fell for you when you started dating him. You never know, sometimes people can change. I think you should rethink this situation through a little bit more before you end your relationship with him from something you don't even know if he did." Karen said as she squeezed Haley's shoulder lightly.

Haley gave her a small smile, "I guess you are right. He wasn't the guy I expected. And he hasn't broken up with me or anything, so maybe he does like me..."

"So what are you going to do then?" Karen asked.

Haley sighed, "I should probably go talk to him. Do you mind?"

"Not at all, go on." Karen said with a smile.

"Thanks Karen," Haley said as she grabbed her bag.

"Not a problem," Karen said as Haley walked out. "Bye Haley."

Haley left Karen's Café and walked down to where she thought she might find Nathan. Her instincts were right, for she found him at the River Court playing basketball. She walked up to the court without him knowing. She hesitated for a moment, "Hi.." she said quietly.

Nathan turned around, "Haley?"

"Um, I think we should talk. I mean if you want to, if you didn't I'd get it." Haley said, stumbling on her words.

Nathan gave her a small smile, "Sure, anything."

"I thought about what you said earlier. About what had happened at the party. I guess I just felt hurt because I kind of felt that you were only dating me as a joke and knowing this might be true I didn't want to believe you. It just hurt even more considering what Marcus did." Haley said as she looked down to the ground, tears filling her eyes again.

"Marcus, what does he have to do with any of this?" Nathan asked.

"Well he told me about the rumors...and then he started kissing me." Haley winced as the words came out of her mouth. "Things would have gotten worse if Jake hadn't stopped him."

"What?!" Nathan practically screamed. "Why didn't you tell me this before?" Nathan threw the ball in frustration, "I'm gonna kill that-"

Haley placed her hand on Nathan's arm as he turned away from her, "Nathan its fine. Nothing even happened. Just-"

Nathan whirled around to face her, "No its not okay Haley. He doesn't have any right to do that to you." Nathan shook his head, "I can't believe this."

"I'm sorry.." Haley said quietly as she looked down at the ground once more.

"Haley none of this is your fault, I should've been there." Nathan's hands balled up into fists, "I can't let this go Haley, he tried to have sex with you. How is that okay?!" Nathan said angrily.

Tears began to fall down Haley's cheeks, "But you weren't there and that's why it hurt me even more." Haley's tears turn into heart felt sobs. "I thought we were going to be together last night Nathan, but instead that happened.."

"Haley...I'm sorry." Nathan pulled her into his arms, "I didn't want it to be that way either." He said as he kissed her forehead.

"I was scared Nate. I was scared of what might have happened and that I might have lost you."

"That's not gonna happen. I will be there for you always, Haley." Haley buried her face into Nathan's shirt. "I love you," he whispered.

Haley looked up at him, "What?"

"I love you Hales," Nathan said with a smile.

Haley bit her lip, "I love you too." Before she knew it, Nathan's lips were crashing into hers. A smile spread across Haley's lips as they continued to kiss.

Lucas had walked down to the River Court hoping to practice some basketball but was surprised to see Nathan and Haley talking. He was even more surprised to see them kissing. He stood there in shock as he watched the couple walk off.