"Hurry Up, and get inside!" Brooke shouted.
"Sorry I'm late." Haley said as she entered the house.
"Where've you been?" Peyton asked.
"Oh um I was at the store." Haley said blushing as she remembered the event that occurred in the supermarket not long ago.
FLASHBACK
It was 5 o'clock on Saturday and Haley and Jackson went to the local food store to buy snacks to bring to Brooke's house tonight.
"Mom, can I pick out a snack for me and Aunt Quinn?" Jackson asked. Tonight Jackson would be going to Quinns, Haley's sisters house.
"Sure buddy, but only one thing, okay?"
"Sweet! Thanks!" Jackson ran toward the end of the isle and contemplated what to pick. Haley made sure to keep an eye on her son but also struggled to reach a bottle of wine on the top shelf. She stretched out her arm by missed the shelf by about an inch.
"Need some help?" She head a familiar voice and smiled. She instantly knew it was from the strong, unique smell of after shave and cologne.
Haley twisted her head "Nathan! Hi" she smiled and her heart rate sped up. "uh yeah I can't reach."
"I'll get it." Nathan reached across Haley brushing up against her body. Both of them inwardly shivered at the close contact.
Nathan easily grabbed the bottle and handed it to Haley.
"Thank you so much! You're always saving me!"
Nathan chuckeled "No problem. You can't help that you're short."
Haley pouted "I hate my height."
"I think it's cute." Nathan said as Haley blushed.
"Seriously though, you're always around when I need help. Are you some kind of secret body guard I don't know about?" Haley joked, and Nathan laughed.
"Nah, I guess it's just fate."
Haley blushed again. "I thought Lucas hired you to protect me."
Nathan playfully rolled his eyes. "Ugh. That is something he would do. But no he definitely didn't hire me."
Haley laughed.
"Actually he doesn't like that we know each other." Nathan said solemnly.
"What do you mean?" Haley asked.
"I don't know. I was gonna ask you..."
Before Haley could answer Jackson came running over.
"Nathan! Do you remember me?"
Nathan smiled "of course. It was this morning silly goose. I'm not that old." They all laughed. Nathan and Jackson continued to talk but Haley's phone started to ring.
"Sorry, excuse me." She walked down the next isle.
"hello?" She answered.
"Haley, it's Quinn, look I'm soo sorry but I can't babysit Jackson tonight. Something came up."
Haley frowned worriedly "is everything alright?"
"Yeah I have to drive up to Charlotte, David's mom is in the hospital."
"Oh my god! What happened?"
"We aren't sure yet. We think she had a heart attack."
"Oh wow. I'm so sorry. I hope Everything is alright."
"Thanks. I feel terrible though! I know I was supposed to watch Jackson."
"Its okay I will find another babysitter. Have a safe trip. Love you sis!"
"Thanks. Love you too. We'll catch up soon! Okay?"
"Okay bye!"
Haley hung up and walked back to her son and Nathan who were in a middle of a basketball conversation.
Nathan noticed the look of distress on Haley's face.
"everything alright?"
Haley ran a hand through her hair and sighed.
"Yeah it's just my sister was supposed to babysit tonight but she just cancelled."
Jackson frowned, "Aw why?"
"She said something came up... I guess you're coming with me tonight then."
"Aw man. It's gonna be so boring."
Nathan interjected "I can babysit if you want..."
Haley smiled "Oh no it's a Saturday night I'm sure you have plans, I wouldn't want you to cancel. Thanks though."
Nathan laughed "I haven't had plans on a Saturday in six months. I literally was just going to order a pizza and watch a movie by myself. I'd much rather hangout with Jackson."
Jackson smiled "yeah! I want Nathan I watch me! Please?"
Haley happily obliged, "Okay, well if you're really okay with it then yeah, that would be really great!"
"Sure, not a problem." Nathan smiled.
Haley didn't even think twice and she leaned on her tippy toes and quickly pecked a kiss on Nathan's cheek.
Nathan felt like the air in his lungs had escaped. His cheek tingled where Haley's lips pressed upon it a few seconds ago. His face turned as red as a cherry tomato.
"You're a life savor!" She exclaimed.
Nathan didn't trust himself to speak so he just smiled.
"Okay well I'm running late I should probably go get ready. If you don't mind I guess you can come back to my house because Jackson's toys and stuff are there."
"Okay that's fine. What time should I come?" He asked.
"Half hour?"
"Perfect! See you then." Nathan said. "Bye Jackson."
...
"Mom! Mom! Nathan's here!" Jackson screamed, as he waited by the front door. Haley descended the stairs as Jackson opened the front door.
"Hey Jackson." Nathan smiled as he walked though the door with a pizza box, and a bunch of DVDs.
"Jackson! What did I tell you about opening the door?" Haley reprimanded.
"Sorry. It was Nathan though." Jackson pouted.
"Okay. Just don't do it again."
"Sorry, I didn't know." Nathan said shyly.
Haley smiled "It's okay. I'm happy you're here. Thanks again, It means a lot!"
"I'm happy to help. Seriously, anytime."
"Let's see what you say when I come home. You might change your mind." Haley joked.
Nathan smirked. "Nah Jackson's a good kid. We're gonna have a good time right buddy?"
Jackson smiled wide "Yeah! It's gonna be awesome."
Haley smiled and noticed the pizza box I'm Nathan's hand.
"Oh you brought pizza! That's great, thank you! How much do I owe you?"
Nathan laughed "Nothing. It's on me."
"I can't let you do that. You've helped me so much."
"Don't worry about it. Really."
Haley bit her lip. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Okay well you boys have fun." Haley smiled.
"Thanks, you too. Are you going on a date or something?" His stomach twisted at the thought.
Please don't be a date, please don't be a date. Nathan chanted.
Haley chuckled, "I would hardly call it that."
"Well you look beautiful." Nathan gave Haley a genuine smile. Haley's heart wanted to burst through her chest, and her cheeks turned pink.
"Thank you. I'm just going to Brooke's tonight. It's a girl's night."
Nathan let out a deep breath. Thank god she wasn't going on a date.
"Cool sounds fun. Oh I guess I need your number- just in case."
"Oh yeah. That'd be a good idea." Haley laughed at her stupidity.
She gave Nathan her number and said goodbye.
...
(A few hours later)
Jackson and Nathan were eating pizza while watching a NBA game on television.
"Do you have kids Nathan?" Jackson asked.
"Nope."
"Do you want to have kids?"
Nathan laughed, "Yeah. Maybe one day."
Truthfully, Nathan never really knew if he wanted to have kids but lately he started thinking about it more, and decided that one day he's like to have children. Maybe a son to teach him how to play basketball, or a daughter that's wrapped around his finger.
"Are you married?"
Nathan laughed again, "No."
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Jackson asked curiously.
Nathan smiled "No, why? Do you?" He joked.
Jackson scrunched his face. "No way! Girls are gross!"
Nathan laughed loudly "Your mom isn't gross."
"No, she's pretty." Jackson agreed.
More like smokin' hot
"Yeah. She's pretty." Nathan said while taking a sip of water.
"Do you like her?" Jackson asked.
Nathan nearly choked on the water. "Um… what do you mean?"
"Do you have a crush on her?"
Nathan's eyes widened.
"Uncle Lucas says when you like someone more than a friend it's called a crush." Jackson explained.
"Oh. Uh. Well. Your mom… she's uh, nice?" Nathan didn't know how to explain to a four year old how much he liked Haley.
"It's okay I won't tell." Jackson smirked.
"You're a smart kid, you know that?"
"Mommy tells me every day."
Nathan chuckled. "You're a lot like her."
"Why do you like mommy?"
Nathan took a deep breath, he was at a loss for words.
How do I say this?
"Well she makes me laugh, she's really pretty and smart, and she's one of the nicest people I've ever met."
"Are you going to date?" Jackson pressed.
Nathan really didn't know how to answer that. "Uh, I don't know Jackson."
"Well I think that you should. Mommy hasn't smiled in a long time but when she's with you she's always happy. I think it'd be cool if you dated."
Nathan was shocked, and didn't know how to react to a four year old giving him love advice.
"Well I'm glad that you'd be okay with it. Your mom is really special Jackson."
"I know." Jackson smiled cheekily.
Suddenly the game on television made a loud noise. The Bobcats scored a three pointer, tying the game to the Seattle Sonics.
"Yes!" Nathan shouted loudly.
"Yay! Bobcats are the best!" Jackson followed in Nathans footsteps even though he didn't really know much.
Nathan smiled "Yeah they are."
"I wanna be on the Bobcats!"
Nathan looked at Jackson "Okay, as long as you're not number 23."
"That's okay I'm going to be number 12. What's wrong with 23 though?"
Nathan smirked "That was my number."
Jackson furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?"
"I played on the Bobcats last year."
"No way! I don't believe you!" Jackson exclaimed.
"I'm serious, here, look, I'll show you." Nathan said as he pulled out his phone to show Jackson pictures of himself on the team.
"That's so awesome! You're like famous! This is the coolest thing ever!"
Nathan laughed, "Yeah it's pretty cool."
"How come you're not on the team anymore?" Jackson asked.
Nathan clenched his jaw. "I uh, got hurt." He said vaguely.
Jackson frowned. "Are you okay?"
Nathan smiled at the little boy with a big heart.
"Yes. I'm a lot better now."
A&F
"Haley James!" Brooke yelled.
"What?" She said looking up from her phone.
"What is so important that you're checking your phone every five seconds? Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Brooke asked.
"Sorry, and yeah, I am, I just wanted to see if the babysitter texted me about Jackson." Haley explained.
Dammit, she caught me. Ugh! I just want Nathan to freaking text me
"I thought Quinn was watching him?" Peyton said.
Uh-oh
"Oh, no something came up. I got someone else."
"Who? You've been in Tree Hill for like a week! Who do you know that's watching him?"
"Just a friend from work." Haley said biting her lip, turning a little red.
"OH MY GOD!" Brooke screeched. "IT'S HIM!"
Goodbye life
"What, who?" Haley asked.
"Yeah who?" Peyton echoed.
"Don't play dumb, tutor girl. Hot teacher guy is TOTALLY watching your son right now!"
"Oh la la, who's hot teacher guy? " Peyton wiggled her eyebrows. "You have a lot of explaining to do, missy." She pointed her finger at Haley.
Haley gulped, and took a long sip of wine. "He's no one okay? Just a friend I met at work, and he's doing me a favor. I don't like him, he's not even that hot."
LIE LIE LIE LIE
"I'm calling you on your bull shit, Haley. There is definitely something going on between the two of you."
"Seriously, who is it? Why can't you tell us?" Peyton pleaded.
Before Haley could answer, Lucas came in slamming the door.
Thank you God!
"Hold that thought… Lucas what's wrong?" Brooke asked.
"Nathan." He spat.
Haley bit her lip.
"What'd he do now?" Brooke asked, snickering.
"He doesn't listen to me! Oh and guess who his new conquest is!" Lucas yelled.
"Who?" Brooke asked, and Haley sat nervously on the couch ready to cry.
Conquest? He likes someone… great.
Lucas saw Haley, and shook his head. "Never mind. I'm going in my room."
"But Lucassss," Brooke whined. "I need juicy gossip!"
Lucas didn't answer, but instead he slammed the bedroom door.
"Whatever. So anyway Haley, who's the lucky guy?"
She shook her head while biting her bottom lip "No one." She said unconvincingly.
Haley's phone suddenly buzzed, and she pressed her lips together praying that Brooke didn't notice. Brooke, did in fact, notice, and stood up quickly grabbing Haley's phone.
She unlocked the phone, and read the messages out loud.
-Hey Haley, It's Nathan. Jackson and I are watching Shrek, everything is going great. How's your night? (:
-Hi (: I'm having fun. I just miss Jackson. Glad to hear you're having a goodtime. Thanks again for babysitting.
- No problem. He's a great kid. I can watch him whenever you need.
- Thank you! You're the best! (:
- I know! ;)
- Haha. You're so full of yourself!
- :P
- That's a weird face!
- I'm sticking my tongue out at you!
-How was I supposed to know! That looks nothing like a tongue!
- Get with the times Miss. James!
Brooke screeched loudly, and Haley covered her ears.
"No, no, no, no way!" Brooke chanted. "Please tell me this isn't Nathan Scott, you're talking to right now."
"WHAT? SHE'S TALKING TO NATHAN SCOTT?" Peyton yelled even louder.
Haley looked at her feet, and gnawed on her lower lip.
"Haley! What? When? How? Oh my god!" Brooke yelled.
"Guys, just, calm down!"
"Calm, calm? You want me to be calm?" Brooke screamed as she paced around the floor.
"This is crazy!" Peyton said.
"Unbelievable!" Brooke kept on yelling.
"I think it's actually kind of cute…" Peyton said.
Brooke turned around. "There's no way this is Nathan Scott!" She said pointing to Haley's phone. "Haley! How, when, why, what?!"
Haley took a deep breath. "Okay remember I told you everything that happened on the first day of school?"
Brooke nodded.
"Well, it was Nathan. I honestly had no idea he was related to Lucas, or that you knew him. But we had lunch together, and he's really sweet to me, and I don't know… " Haley said twisting her hair, and blushing.
"Look at her! She totally is blushing! Awwww Haley likes Nate!" Peyton said making Haley blush even more.
"I cannot believe hot teacher guy is Nathan freaking Scott…" Brooke said.
Haley avoided Brooke's eyes and took another sip of wine.
"Do you like him Haley?" Brooke questioned.
Haley took a deep breath. "I-I don't know. I'm just confused. I mean he makes me smile, and we have a lot of fun. He's really great. I'm trying not to like him, because I'm not ready for a boyfriend, but I really can't help myself." Haley ran her hands through her dark hair. "God, I'm acting like a teenager. This is so stupid."
Brooke suddenly cracked a smile. "Oh my god! This is adorable!"
Peyton and Haley exchanged a look of confusion.
"Brooke, you were just freaking out. Why are you suddenly happy?"
Brooke pointed at a blushing Haley "Do you see how happy Haley is? Maybe this is what she needs. I'm not saying she's going to marry him, but maybe Nathan will be good her." Brooke explained.
"Brooke! Do you know who you're talking about? It's Nathan Scott. He will break Haley's heart in a second!"
"Hellloooo. Girl you're talking about is still in the room!" Haley shouted.
"Sorry." Brooke said.
"Look guys, I appreciate your concern, but I'm not even sure how I feel about him. Even if I did like him, which I don't, we can't date!"
"Why?"
"There are a million reasons why. Just let it go okay? And please don't tell Lucas." Haley pleaded. She quickly changed the topic, but she was on edge the rest of the night.
I don't know how I feel about him.
So that was the chapter! I hope you liked it! Please review! Tell me what you liked or didn't like, and if you have any suggestions I'm all ears! Thanks for reading. I will try to update soon, but I don't know when. I also decided that there will be a part two to this story, but that won't be for a while. This is going to be long, but I don't know how long yet.