Chapter 4

The next day, I woke up and went to the kitchen. I'm used to Brooke coming early in the morning to make my breakfast and spending the rest of the day with her. Today, Brooke is not here, but Julian is an he's making breakfast. I smile and get settled.

Julian : Good morning !

Me : Hey !

Julian : Slept well.

Me : Yes, you ?

Julian : It has been a long time since I slept that well

Me : Brooke came this morning ?

Julian : No, why ?

Me : She usually comes to make my breakfast and we spend the rest of the day together

Julian : When did you start this routine ?

Me : Shortly after you left.

Julian : I'm happy you found a person you can count on

Me : Yeah ! She was there for me, we grew really close when you left.

My cellphone began to vibrate. I search for it in the kitchen. There it is ! I answer the call, Julian is looking at me.

Me : Hello ?

Lucas : Hey, it's Lucas.

Me : Oh, Hi.

Lucas : Hi. I'm calling about the dinner, my wife is not available tomorrow night...

Me : Oh. What about tonight ?

Lucas : You really want us to come don't you ? It's okay for tonight.

Me (laughing) : If you say so.

Lucas : So...see you tonight ?

Me : See you tonight, 8pm.

I hung up. Julian is still looking at me, a questionning look on his face.

Julian : Nathan ?

Me : No. Lucas.

Julian : Haley James, are you going out with two men ?

Me : No ! Lucas is married and I am not going out with Nathan !

Julian : This Nathan, does he have someone in his life.

Me : I don't think so.

Julian : So...I need to keep an eye on him.

Me (laughing): Julian, I'm not sixteen anymore, my hormones are not playing tricks on me anymore

Julian : That's what you say !

Me : Okay , sorry but I've got to go. I have to do some shopping for tonight's dinner, and I need to go to Brookes. Could you build the crib ? It goes in the bedroom down the hall.

Julian : No problem

Me : Thanks. See you later !

Julian : See you

I took my car keys and left to go shopping for tonight. Then I go to Brooke's house. As usual I come in without ringing the bell. I can see her in the kitchen.

Me : Hey !

Brooke : Hi ! What's bringing you here ?

Me (jokingly) : I was missing your breakfast !

Brooke (laughing) : If you say so

Me : You know, Lucas, the guy from yesterday, he called me this morning. Tomorrow's dinner is cancelled.

Brooke : Oh !

Me : But we're doing it tonight instead. You're coming, right ?

Brooke : Of course I'm coming

Me : Julian will be there

Brooke : Laaaaaleyyy!

Me : Brooke, I love you but I love Julian too ! He's my brother. He was the one who took care of me, he was the one who protected me since our so called mother abandonned us. I need him, Brooke. As much as I need you. Brooke : Okay, I will make an effort.

Me : Really ?

Brooke : But I'm doing it for you.

I get closer to her and take her in my arms.

Me (happy) : Thank you Brooke !

Brooke : Are you staying to eat with me ?

Me : Yeah ! Julian can take care of himself anyway.

Brooke and I were preparing lunch while talking and laughing. I love those moments with my bestfriend.

Brooke : When is Nathan coming to see you ?

Me : In an hour. I will need to go home to see if Julian as finished building the crib.

Brooke : I'll come a little earlier to help you finish preparing everything, okay ?

Me : Okay ! See you tonight Brookie !

Brooke : Laaaaley !

I laugh and got out. I got home. I can hear people laughing. I go upstairs in the child room and see Nathan and Julian on the floor.

Haley : Can someone tell me what's going on here ?

Julian : Hey princess !

He gets up. I look at Nathan. Julian kisses my forehead, Nathan looks away. Ok, what did Julian told him ?

Me : Hello Mr Scott. I wasn't expecting you this early.

Nathan : I know. I was in the neighbourhood, so I thought I could come earlier. Haley, I...

Me : Julian, can you leave for a moment ?

Julian : No !

Me : Julian !

Julian : Princess !

Me : Argh, you are so annoying. Leave us ! Or.. I will tell Brooke to hit you...

Julian : I'll go, I'll go.

He leave the room. I laugh a little. Then turn back to Nathan.

Nathan : You lied in your files !

Me (surprised) : What ? No !

Nathan : About Julian !

Me : What did he told you ?

Nathan : Why ? Scared he might have betrayed your lies ?

Me : What ? But...No !

Nathan : You should have told us that you were engaged !

Me : What ? Julian is my brother !

Nathan : What ?

Me : Yes ! He's my brother

Hearing us yelling. Julian comes rushing into the room.

Julian : What's going on here ?

Me (angry) : You almost ruined my career ! Idiot !

Julian : What are you talking about ?

Me : Why did you told him that we were engaged ? Why are you always trying to force men to get away from me ? I'm 23, Julian ! I can take care of myself !

Julian : It was only a small lie !

Me : A lie that could have made my file invalid ! Julian, I need to be completely honest with the association if I want to be a foster ! You almost ruined my chance !

Julian : I'm sorry

Me : Well, you see, I don't care

Julian : I really am, Haley.

He left. I sigh. Nathan comes and puts his hand on my shoulder. I release myself.

Nathan : I'm really sorry, Haley.

Me : No, it's me. You didn't know.

Nathan : Haley, It's okay.

I did not answer. He sighed.

Nathan : I'm sorry about the other day too. Angie is not a test to see if you are able to take care of a child. Well, yes, but that's not what I meant. Argh! (Sighing) What I mean is that I know that you are capable of taking care of a child. It's just that the co-founders of the association need evidences.

Me : I understand. I'm sorry, I got carried away too fast. As a child I always had to prove myself. I had to prove that I was worth being adopted, I had to prove that I was a respectful child, in high school I had to prove that I could do it. In college, it was similar.

Nathan : I understand. (Changing the subject) The crib is ready. Julian had a little trouble building it, I helped him.

Me : Thank you Nathan. Tonight I'm organizing a small dinner, you want to come ?

Nathan : I was supposed to go to Jake and his wife tonight.

Me : Oh, you can invite them too. And you can also invite Lindsey.

Nathan : Lindsey is not available tonight. She and her husband have a dinner.

Me : Ok ! do what you can, but be there at 8pm !

We go down the stairs. I open the door for him to leave. He looks at me in the eye and smiles. I must say that his eyes have a beautiful shade of blue. I could get lost in them forever. And his smile. What a smile.

Nathan : So... See you tonight !

Me : Yeah, see you tonight !

He looks at me once more, smiles at me one last time and walk along the driveway. He climbed into his car and goes. I do not stop looking at the car until it disappear in the corner. Julian comes up behind me.

Julian: He's okay. I like him.

Me: Julian ...

Julian: I know. You do not want a relationship at the moment. But do not forget, love comes to you when you least expect it ...

And with that, he disappears upstairs. Argh ! Why is it that everybody is trying to set me up with Nathan ? Okay ! He's hot ! But we have nothing in common !

End of Chapter 4

I hope you enjoyed it !

Feel free to review and tell me if something is wrong, or if my english is really off or if you don't like the way the chapters are edited :) And also to tell me how much you hate me for not updating in a ridiculous amount of time ;)

Also do any of you know a Beta who would be able to help me ? I'm having a hard time with the verbs and the tenses and I know that there are many mistakes with them ! I really don't want those mistakes to discourage people from reading the story :/

Thanks you so much for reading ! I hope I will be able to update really soon

A special thanks to the followers and favoriters (even if it's not a real word ^^)

xo, Narudoh