Chapter 7: The Old Friend and the Close Friend
Haley ran a hand over her face as she looked over the counter at her equally tired boyfriend. It was seven a.m. and her shift just started at the cafe. Even though they both were up late together the night before, he was still here with her.
"I'm totally going to be a DILF one day." He said out of the blue so only she could hear. The cafe wasn't that crowded this morning. Haley looked over at him confused as she poured coffee grounds into the coffee pot.
"What?"
"You know one day when we have kids. Don't get jealous you will be the hottest MILF around."
"Nathan." She said as a blush covered her cheeks, that usually happened when he would complement her or call her hot. She also blushed every time he talked about their future together.
"I know you love when I talk about our future, so don't scold me for it." He laughed. "How many kids do you want?""
Haley stopped what she was doing to really think about it. "I don't know really, a few I guess. What about you?"
"Five."
"And the reasoning?"
Nathan smirked. "A basketball team." Haley started to laugh causing her to drop the mug in her hand and it to shatter.
"Damn it." She muttered.
"You okay?" He questioned quickly as she stepped back from the broken glass.
"Yeah."
"I guess I can't even trust you at work either. Clumsy ass." He moved to the back to get the broom.
"Like you could before?" She joked.
Nathan furrowed his brow in thought before remembering the time she fell off a stool reaching for a box of pens, and when she poured hot coffee all over her hand. "Nope. I guess I just can't be here, I distract you too much."
"But I like it when you're here." She said sweetly picking up the big pieces of glass as Nathan swept up the little ones.
"You're bleeding." He pointed out after throwing out the glass. He quickly rushed to look at her hand noticing the small cut he moved to kiss it. He reached in the side drawer where Karen kept band aids, for Haley mostly. Nathan put one over the small cut before kissing her hand once more. He looked up at her eyes and she noticed his went dark.
She bit her lip knowing what the meant, she couldn't look at him or else he would draw her in so she turned around. That only made matters worse.
He put his front against her back and whispered in her ear. "You know you want me Hales. You can never refuse."
"Nathan! We can't do this here." She scolded while whispering back. She tried to get out of his arms but he held her tight.
"What? I can't do this?" Nathan questioned before tickling her.
"Nathan!" This time she shouted. Haley laughed loudly as he chased her around behind the counter. The only people in the cafe were older Tree Hill residents who didn't mind the interruption. In fact, they had watched Nathan and Haley fall in love before their very eyes and found interactions like these adorable. They heard the door bell chime, and someone walk in but everyone was to focused on the couple to look. As was the new customer now.
"Nathan stop. Seriously get off of me. I need to get back to work. Please stop." She said through laughter before he wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up from behind. "Naatthaan." She whined, giving up a losing battle, not that she actually minded being in his arms.
"Get off of her." A voice huffed from the door. "She asked you to stop harassing her so do so."
"Conner?" Haley said quickly as Nathan put her down and she ran to hug him. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm visiting for a week." He said to Haley before looking at Nathan. "Do you have a problem man?"
"Yeah. I wasn't harassing her, we were having fun, and she didn't actually have a problem."
Conner went to speak before Haley said quickly. "Yeah, we do that all the time. Conner this is my boyfriend Nathan, Nathan this is Conner. He used to be my neighbor but moved away when we were twelve." Haley explained trying to defuse the situation. Nathan moved back around the counter to where Haley stood with Conner and resting his arm lazily around her hips.
"Thirteen, Haley Bob." He said.
"Oh yeah." Haley nodded as Nathan's hand turned into a fist, he knew how she hated anyone but her family calling her Haley Bob. She even got mad at him sometimes for saying it. Granted whenever he did he was making fun of it so that was probably why.
"What happened to your hand?"
"Typical Haley being a klutz." Nathan said as Haley moved back around the counter to pick up a coffee mug once more.
She rolled her eyes while she said. "Yeah, luckily I had my knight and shining armor here." She was joking but she knew he was her knight and shining armor. He was her everything.
She put two mugs in front of the boys and poured coffee in each. She moved the sugar and cream to in front of her as she absent mindedly put two spoons of sugar in and a tablespoon of cream, just how Nathan liked it.
They shared a smile as she handed it to him.
"Oh, I don't like coffee." Conner commented as Nathan moved to fill the cup with cream until it was light brown and handed it to Haley, just how she liked it. Conner wanted to throw up at the sight.
"So how have you been?"
"Okay, I made the varsity wrestling team."
Nathan inwardly groaned, that wasn't an actual sports, just two guys in leotards playing on the floor.
"That's great Conner!" Haley said excitedly before noticing the time. "Oh Nate, you should go. Don't you have to meet with the attorney and the social worker at eight?"
"Yeah." He said noticing the time. Haley moved to pour his coffee in a to go cup and handed it to him. It was gestures like this that made his heart love her more, somehow. "Thanks." He said reaching for it. He then leaned over the counter to kiss her. "I love you."
"I love you too" She smiled against his lips before he pulled away. "Call me when it's over to let me know?"
"Of course." He said returning her concerned smile before walking out the door.
"Why are you with him?" Conner questioned quickly.
"Conner..." Haley groaned.
"I don't like him. He seems like a douche, and he obviously is one, why does he have a black eye?"
Haley didn't want to tell him why, none of their friends even knew let alone Conner. Nathan didn't need the whole town to pity him because his father was a bastard.
"That wasn't Nathan's fault. Conner you can't come back to town after so many years and judge how I've moved on with my life. I'm happy and Nathan is the main reason why. You may see him as controlling me but it's not that. He is just really defensive of me, so he doesn't like when people accuse him of hurting me because he is actually the one protecting me. He is a good guy."
"I doubt it."
Conner then changed the subject to other things as he sat at the cafe chatting with her for the next few hours.
"Hello, Karen's Cafe." Haley said answering the cafe phone.
"Hey baby."
"Nate, why are you calling this phone?" She questioned curiously.
"I called yours first, you didn't hear it."
"Oh" She said before moving to the kitchen to talk to him privately. "What happened?"
"The social worker said that he isn't allowed to be within a hundred yards of me while the case is still under investigation. The attorney said it would be best if my mom officially divorced him and then the judge would probably grant her full custody. I just don't know if my mom has the guts to."
"I'm so sorry baby." She whispered.
"I know." He muttered. "I'm going to go play ball or something. I need to get my frustration out and you probably want to spend some time with Conner. I don't mind."
"How about you play ball and then Conner, and I come down to the rivercourt after my shift. You know down by the riverwalk there is that free concert with a bunch of local people we could go to. Then I bet my parents would let you sleep over tonight. We could be alone and you can either talk to me or we could just lay there. Whatever you want."
Haley had slept over at Cooper's last night because Nathan had needed her. He needed her reassurance that everything would be okay and that she would always love him. Her parents didn't mind a night here or their because they knew they were having sex. They had sat Haley down and told her if she was going to she had to be on the pill no if ands or buts about it and Nathan needed to use condom still. Haley hadn't replied because she was too embarrassed but did as they said. They loved Nathan and let him stay over many a nights because of Dan Scott. Tonight wasn't an exception to that.
"I can easily say I'm looking forward to going to sleep tonight. Sounds good. I'll see you later."
"Bye" She said handing up.
Walking onto the rivercourt with Conner, Haley watched as Nathan played. He hadn't noticed and that's what she always loved. She loved when he got into the zone and watching him. It was an art form and it was beautiful. She watched as he dunked the ball and his muscles flexed. She began clapping and that was when he noticed her.
"Hey." He said picking up the ball and walking over towards them.
"You look great."
"Thanks, I missed practice yesterday morning so I did some drills so that way Whitey won't be as mad."
"He will understand when you explain why." Haley said moving in to hug him quickly. "You looked so hot out there." She whispered with a smirk before pulling away. "Alright let's get going!"
As they walked Nathan listened to Conner and Haley talk about what they did as kids. This was a side of Haley he never knew. These were stories he never heard before. Even though he loved to hear about her as a kid he couldn't help but feel like a third wheel. A third wheel in his own relationship.
"Was Haley a huge klutz back then too?" Nathan questioned trying to join in the conversation.
"Yeah, remember that time Haley when you fell down the stairs." He said with a laugh.
"And then Luke and you had to help me get back up them so I could grab my books for school." She said with a laugh.
"When you fell it looked like a scene from a scary movie when the girl gets dragged down the stairs."
Well that didn't work. Nathan thought to himself as he listened to them laugh. They made it to the riverwalk and took a seat in the grass as an act came out to play.
"I'm going to get a drink." Conner said getting up.
"Me too, you save our spot here so what do you want?" Nathan asked Haley.
"Surprise me." She smiled up at him as they walked away. The two got drinks and Nathan picked up something extra for Haley.
Walking back Conner groaned. "This music sucks."
"Yeah," Nathan said before looking at Haley from afar as she smiled. "but she loves it."
Nathan moved closer to take his seat next to Haley. "I got you a hot chocolate because it's getting pretty cold."
"Thanks." Haley smiled, he was always thinking of her.
"And I got you these." He said handing her a small box of ho hos that he had saw on the counter.
"Ho hos, thank you." She said in pure joy tearing open the box.
"So where'd ya get the shiner?" Conner asked.
"Uh, Haley threw a basketball at me when I wasn't paying attention. She has terrible aim." He covered up quickly.
"You have terrible reflexes." She said rolling her eyes. "You should have been paying attention to me and not Luke anyway."
"He asked me a question!" Nathan said as Haley laughed. He loved her for going along with this.
"Look." Haley said pointing to the stage. "It's Chris."
"That prick." Nathan groaned.
"Nathan, stop he's not a bad guy."
"He is when he is hitting on you." Haley felt Nathan's hand tighten against her.
"Haley James, I know you are here." Chris said. "Would you come up and sing with me, please?"
Haley blushed nervously. "Go, you'll do great." Nathan said egging her on as she got up and made her way to the stage.
"This one goes out to my best friend" Nathan noticed the look on Conner's face as he lit up. "and soulmate, I love you Nate." Conner's face dropped as Nathan smirked. "Dancing where the stars go blue..."
"What are you smirking about?" Conner asked.
"Was just thinking about how hot my girlfriend is."
"Isn't that a little disrespectful."
"Not really she is hot. She is also beautiful, gorgeous, and sexy. I tell her everyday, so no it's not disrespectful." Nathan explained before smirking once more. "I was also thinking about how great it will be to sleep at her place tonight."
"You have to be kidding me, her parents allow that?"
"Yeah. They knew we're serious about this all and are in love. If they didn't I would sneak over anyway. Haley is responsible and they know we're having sex anyway so why make us sneak around. They think I'm great for their daughter."
"Gross man. Don't tell me things like that." He said with a scowl on his face.
"Listen, I know what your up to. Your flirting with her, don't act like I'm stupid. I didn't say anything because it would hurt Haley, but stop. Also know that I trust her and she would never, ever, cheat on me. We are too in love for her to leave me for your ass."
"I'm not flirting with her, I'm just trying to let her know she could do better than you."
"I doubt it since I treat her like she's fucking royalty, but just remember I'm the one whose name she's screaming out at the end of the night. I better go grab some clothes so that way I can meet her in her bed when she ditches you." Nathan said, holding back from hitting the kid, and walking away. He was pissed at how Conner was acting but if he pointed it out it would only hurt Haley, something he never wanted to do.
"Where did Nathan go?" Haley asked when she was done singing.
"Who knows, who cares, why are you with the prick anyway?"
"Um because I love him." Haley was getting sick of this, he kept questioning their relationship all day and she didn't think she should have to defend herself for loving who she loved.
"I don't like him. He made some really bad comments about how he was picturing you in bed and how he's the one whose name your shouting at the end of the night."
Haley rolled her eyes. Nathan always said things like that to her, she didn't always like how crude he was but knew he was joking and loved her to the moon and back. He would never take advantage of her. "Listen Nathan isn't a bad guy. You just aren't seeing the side of him that I see."
"What side do you see then because I just see a guy who is using you for sex."
Haley bit her lip, she hadn't told anyone else about this but needed Conner to understand the true Nathan. "I thought I was pregnant." She admitted as he spit out his drink on the ground.
"What?"
"I thought I was pregnant a few weeks ago and when I told Nathan, he didn't run, he didn't yell, he didn't tell me to get an abortion. He told me we would handle this however we thought was best and that he loved me no matter what. He stood by me. That's how I know he is the man I want to spent the rest of my life with, because as scary as it was he would have been okay with us having a child. Because we both know it's serious and we are never breaking up." Haley stated to gather her stuff together. "And by the way his black eye wasn't from a basketball. His father hit him, twice, because he didn't play good enough in a basketball game. You don't know Nathan at all so get off my back." Then Haley walked away.
She sat on her bed reading a book when Nathan came in. "Hey" He smiled. She was beautiful sweatpants, t-shirt, messy hair, and all.
"Hi" She smiled placing down her boo. "Want to tell me where you went?"
"I knew my dad was at a business dinner so I stopped by my house to get some clothes." He explained placing down his duffle bag. "So what did Conner say about me?"
"Something about you picturing me in bed and how I shout your name."
Nathan took a seat across from her. "Listen. I know it was out of line but I don't like him. He is constantly hitting on you and he doesn't give me a good vibe. I think he likes you, so I said those things to remind him that you were taken."
"I wasn't offended but trust me, he doesn't like me like that. That would be so weird." Haley said scrunching up her nose as Nathan moved to lay next to her now.
"Whatever you say."
"Now what about me shouting your name?" She asked with a raised eyebrow as he laughed.
"Trust me, I love when you do but tonight I'd rather just lay here holding you. It's been a really hard day." He said as she moved into his arms happily. They hadn't gotten a chance to talk about what happened at the meeting with his attorney but for now neither wanted to speak.
Nathan ran his hand through his hair as he sat on the steps looking out at the James' backyard. He smirked thinking of how he lied to Haley the night prior, he had gotten her to scream his name eventually. They had been laying their looking at each other for almost an hour before they began to kiss which of course led to more, that always happened, and Haley didn't seem to mind. But for now his thoughts were on something else. His dysfunctional life.
"Mom and Dad know you're here?" Taylor said walking out on the porch.
"Yeah."
"Wow, they have really let up on Haley." She said with a laugh.
"Why do you have a problem with our relationship?" Nathan flat out asked.
"Who said I did?"
"If you didn't then why would you tell her about us? She already has enough self confidence issues because of you. Growing up 'Taylor James'' little sister wasn't easy. She never felt pretty enough, she didn't think boys liked her. She was already insecure about it and you just made it worse. She's not herself now, she's guarded. I'll get her back to who she was before, I will make her understand that she is beautiful and that I want her, I won't let her feel worthless, but I shouldn't have to because you should want to protect her." Nathan said as Taylor's face fell.
"I guess I just don't understand why you are with her. You could have any girl and yet, you chose Haley."
"I chose Haley because I'm in love with who she is...Don't tell anyone, especially your parents Taylor, I'm trusting you with this. We had a pregnancy scare about a month ago and yeah I was scared. I was scared out of my mind, but through all the fear and questions at the end of the day I was happy. I was happy to think that Haley and I were going to be parents together. I was happy that we were going to have a baby, a little bit of her and a little bit of me, to show our commitment of forever to one another. That's why I'm with your sister, because with her I see a future. With her I want a future. Something I didn't before." Nathan said seeing the shocked look on Taylor's face and getting up. "Now lay off of her or else we are going to have a problem." He walked back inside, and up the stairs to lay next to his girlfriend once more.
"I have to go to the bathroom." Haley said letting go of Nathan's hand as they walked down the stairs in Nathan's beach house. Brooke wanted to have a party so Nathan happily volunteered the beach house knowing his father was out of town. He wanted to trash it and leave it for Dan to take care of.
"Okay. I'll meet you in the kitchen."
"Sounds good. Could you please show Conner where the keg is?" She asked kissing his cheek.
"Sure." He mumbled before finding Conner sitting in the den. "Hey man, want a beer?"
Conner nodded getting up. "Hey, so Haley told me about the pregnancy. She told me all about how that's how she knows she loves you, and I don't believe it. Somehow you suckered her into liking you but you better watch it."
Nathan took a step back, was this guy serious? Nathan could snap him like a twig. "Whatever." He scoffed walking off.
"Naley! Come join us in the living room we found funny videos of Nathan falling as a kid." Brooke shouted out two hours later as Nathan and Haley walked by, Conner trailing behind them.
"What?!" Nathan said walking in to see him dribbling the ball along the court when he was around four before falling over it. "Turn it off."
"No!" Haley said quickly wrapping her arms around Nathan's waist. "I think it's cute." Then they heard Dan Scott starting to curse and yell at the boy, she squeezed Nathan tighter as she saw his hands clamp into fists.
"Wow, he was even a dick to his four year old." Peyton muttered.
"Like you couldn't even imagine." Nathan said as the clip changed to him as he was older, and then it changed again.
"Was your childhood just you playing basketball?" Conner questioned.
"Pretty much." He sighed as the clip changed again.
It was fuzzy for a moment before it revealed Nathan seated on a bed, shirtless, and a bra clad Brooke next to him. "I can't believe I'm doing this." Brooke said before Nathan leaned over on her, kissing her, and saying "Relax, it's fine."
Haley stood frozen in place as she watched the screen. As she watched one of her closet friends have sex with the love of her life.
"Haley" Nathan said quickly moving to get closer to her but she pulled away and walked through the crowd.
"Stay away from me."
"Hales, please." He said as his voice broke. "Don't shut me out like you did last time. Just talk to me." He begged as they stood alone on the porch. "I'm sorry my past just keeps fucking everything up."
"I get that we weren't together then but we have been for two years and you never thought to tell me that you...you had sex with my best friend. And to top it off you made a sex tape, and kept it. Do you like use it?"
"What, Haley, no of course not. I swear I thought I threw that out and I forgot about it."
"How many of my friends did you sleep with? I want to know so that way they just don't keep surprising me out of the blue every other week. My sister. My best friend." She said seriously as his jaw nearly dropped. "I want a list, of every girl you've ever slept with. That's the only way that this is fair to me, if I knew." Haley bit her lip simply looking at the man in front of her before walking away.
"Wait, you can't walk home alone." He protested.
"I also can't stay here and I don't want to be alone with you right now." She knew if she let him talk she would forgive him far too soon.
"Let me go get Conner." He pleaded.
"But you hate him." She questioned, confused.
"Your safety comes before anything else." He said quickly as she looked at him in awe. How could she be mad at him when he said things like that. "I'll go get him."
Nathan walked in, Haley trailing slowly behind, he saw Conner as he turned the corner. He wasn't expecting it when Conner's fist connected with his cheek.
"Conner!" Haley shouted as Nathan stumbled backwards just looking at the weak kid. Haley knew Nathan was seething with anger over both his mistakes and wanting to punch Conner but he didn't. He simply stepped back and made eye contact with Haley. She shook her head slowly, her heart sinking in her chest, he looked truly broken. Nathan hung his head in shame, moving to walk by her before she grabbed at his arm. "Don't do anything stupid tonight. Promise me."
"After all of this...how do you..." He stuttered out, of course knowing how she still cared, she always would. She was Haley of course.
"Promise."
"I just need to get out of here. I need to go...somewhere."
"Go see Cooper."
Nathan nodded slowly looking into her brown eyes. He leaned in slowly, giving her ample time to move away if she wanted, before he kissed her forehead. Not wanting to push it any more. "I'm so sorry. I love you." And with that he was out the door, walking aimlessly down the street.
"We're going." Haley said looking up at Conner. "Why the hell would you do that?"
"Haley, he deserved it."
"Conner." She sighed as they walked along the pavement. "It's not your relationship to get involved in. That happened before we were together, it's an issue of telling me things, not him cheating on me."
"Haley, when are you going to realize you are too good for him." Conner nearly yelled as they stopped walking. "He doesn't deserve you. He doesn't treat you right but...I would. I want to be with you Haley. So let me in and let me love you like you deserve." He said before kissing her quickly.
"Get off me!" She said pushing him off of her and stepping back. "I should have believed Nathan. Stay away from me." She quickly ran off to get away from him.
Haley turned the corner onto her street and could already see his figure sitting on her porch. Walking closer, he stood up to face her. "I wrote my list." He said handing her a piece of paper. "It's of all the girls I've ever loved and yours is the only name on it."
"Nathan." She said quietly.
"Hales look, I know you said you needed time but let me explain, please. I can't lose you."
"Fine." She sighed pulling out her keys. "Let me get changed and I will meet you out back."
"Thank you." He whispered heading for the backyard.
"Hales." Taylor said seeing her sister walk past her bedroom door. "Listen. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. Nathan told me about how you thought you were pregnant and I was wrong about everything."
Haley's eyes grew wide at what she heard. She forgot any idea of getting changed and headed straight for her backyard. "You told Taylor, you told her about the pregnancy."
"Uh yeah, but I told her not to say anything."
"Yeah well she did, and she is probably going to tell my parents. That was personal." Haley said holding back tears. "That was between you and me, and you told Taylor."
"Don't act like I'm such a dick Hales. You told Conner!" He said. "Where is the twerp anyway, why isn't he kissing your ass like usual?"
Haley looked down biting her lip.
"What's wrong?"
"He kissed me tonight Nate, listen it didn't mean anything to me. I don't want to be with him." She said rushing out her words, knowing how mad he would be.
"Of course it didn't mean anything but it sure as hell happened. I told you that would happen and you didn't trust me. You didn't believe me, as usual."
"Sorry for not believing you when every other day I find out another girl you fucked. The list you wrote earlier was a waste of paper. I need a real one Nate because I can't keep getting blind sided with this. How do I know I'm not just another tick mark on your list?"
Nathan froze looking at her. "It has never, ever been like that with you. The other girls were just sex. That was all it ever was but it has never been about that with you. Not for a second." Even in their deepest moments of rage Haley saw the sincerity in his eyes. "I'm sorry I was a man whore okay, I'm sorry how many times do I have to say that. Besides at least I don't kiss other guys while we are still together, twice."
"That's low Nathan, when your the one fucking anything that walks."
Nathan bit his lip and shook his head at her. "That was a low blow Haley." He wasn't like that anymore and she should have just understood. "You can't do that. That was before we were together and you should just let it go."
"I can't let it go when it keeps coming up."
"At least my mistake was in the past. I told you he was bad news and you didn't listen."
Haley had no response, she was sick of arguing, she was tired and upset. She didn't know what she wanted but it wasn't this. "You should go."
"Fine. Try not to kiss anyone while I'm gone." He said shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Try not to fuck anyone." She nearly spat at him in response.