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~~~"I'm Never Alone, I'm Alone All the Time"~~~~
*Chapter Seven*
Haley slowly took the hand extended towards her and she was welcomed with a strong grip. His hand lingered on hers and she felt electricity shoot up her arm through her body.
"I thought you looked familiar. You play for the Clippers right?" She replied coyly as she dropped her hand from his finally. Was she really flirting with him already?
Nathan turned more towards her and shot back not missing a beat "So you're a basketball fan huh?"
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"I didn't say that exactly but yes I catch a game or two when my schedule allows it." Haley flirted back. Her eyes peered into his closely. She studied his features and was beginning to piece together where she knew him from. She took a big gulp of her cocktail hoping for a bit of liquid courage.
"This is going to sound like a total line and I assure you it's not. You just look like this guy I ran into literally a couple weeks ago at a coffee shop. It was a graceful moment for me for sure." Haley said with a giggle. She was suddenly feeling slightly embarrassed which was a new feeling. She was confident and self assured on stage night after night in front of thousands. In that moment everything felt different.
Nathan let a small smile creep upon his face as he desperately tried to rack his brain. Haley became somewhat anxious as she waiting for a response. She was confident the longer she stared back into his beautiful blue eyes that it was him.
"Ok if it takes you that long to remember me then I'm clearly wasting my time here." Haley said acting like she was about to leave. She might be up for a little friendly game tonight and he just might be an acceptable partner.
Nathan reached for her arm and then leaned in a little closer. She could almost feel his breath on her skin.
"Of course I'd remember you. It's a shame you dropped your breakfast on the ground and were in such a hurry nearly knocking me over. I could have made it up to you by buying you a new muffin." Nathan finally said clearly flirting back. If he was on his A game, she would take the bait and return the favor.
"I was late to an appointment that morning and pretty much ran over anything in my way. Sorry you had to be a casualty." She said somewhat surprised that he didn't know who she was. She felt free to be exactly the version of herself she wanted to be in that moment. Not the version her record label wanted her to portray or the rest of her band for that matter.
"Looks like you survived just fine judging from your appearance tonight." She added looking him up and down. Haley sipped her drink as she studied his face again.
"So have I earned the privilege of knowing your name yet." Nathan pointed out. This girl was keeping up with him.
"It's Haley James. What are you gonna do with it?" Haley shot back. 'What am I doing? This so isn't like me.' She thought to herself. This night just might get interesting after all.
Nathan noticed his friends approaching him and the blonde was leading the way. This was about to get a whole lot interesting.
"Nate, thought we lost you man!" Parker said putting his hand on Nathan's shoulder. He was grateful it was Parker's hand and not the blonde's. What was her name again?
"Nope, just getting myself a drink and doing a little mingling." he responded not taking his eyes off of Haley.
Tanya and the blonde looked at the woman in question. Tanya was the first to speak up.
"You're Haley James! I loved your last single "I Don't Want You Anymore". It's great to see you out tonight." Tanya said with a warm smile.
Nathan put two and two together and realized Haley was the babe from the music video the other night. How could he not have noticed that until now? Damn she was fine as hell.
"Thank you so much!" Haley replied glancing back at Nathan trying to gauge his response. Guess he knew who she was now.
"You guys are about to start touring for your new record right? You're playing at least one show in LA right?" Tanya asked as she looped her arm within her husband's.
Haley nodded in response before saying "We're heading back home in a few months for a show at the Staples Center. We couldn't tour without paying homage to LA."
Haley and Tanya exchanged a laugh together and then continued a few more friendly exchanges between the two of them. Meanwhile the blonde took several steps over to the bar to order herself another drink hoping it wouldn't take too long. She had decided it was time to make another move to seclude Nathan. Haley glanced back at the blonde and could tell her intentions from a mile away. She had seen this before when women threw themselves at Chris and Walker. It was truly pathetic. Nathan caught Haley's attention again as she witnessed his painful non verbal exchange with the blonde. She had contemplated standing by and watching how Nathan handled himself for a moment. However decided on a different course of action once the blonde was about to receive her drink. She was after all up for some fun tonight.
Haley stepped closer to Nathan and placed her hand on his arm while looking at his friends. "Hope you don't mind if I borrow him for a bit, I feel like dancing and Nate here will do. It was nice to meet both of you." She said with a smile and then looked up at Nathan for a sign.
Nathan grinned back at her a little surprised she had made the first move and then placed his drink on top of the bar. Haley felt the death glare radiating on her skin from the pissed off blonde which was only confirmed when their eyes locked. Haley offered a small sly smile at the blonde before taking off towards the dance floor. She felt Nathan's presence behind her the minute his hand grazed her lower back guiding her through the crowd. Her friends were making their way back to the VIP lounge and judging from what Haley could see from the dance floor they were already on their way to having a great time.
Nathan leaned over from behind Haley to speak directly in her ear. She slowed down signaling she was satisfied with their placement on the dance floor.
"So you wanna dance with me huh?" He asked in a husky tone while placing his hands on her hips which instantly felt on fire under his touch. She turned around slowly praying he wouldn't move his hands just yet.
"Just figured you wanted an out to escape the blonde vampire who was about to sink her teeth into your neck."Haley said loud enough to ensure he could hear her over the pounding techno beats signaling the DJ was mixing two songs.
He pulled her body a little closer to hers using his hands that never left her hips and said "Haley James you just might be my hero tonight. What can I do for you?"
She giggled in response "Just dance for now. I'll get back to you with the rest." Did she just say that?
Nathan let his body respond as he began to move to the music. Haley could feel her body get hot as she dancing with him. Sure he wasn't the best dancer from what she could tell so far but he was making every attempt to have a good time with her. They danced together for two songs never losing physical contact of some kind. Beads of sweat had since formed along Nathan's hair line signaling a hell of a good work out consider he was "dancing".
Nathan had forgotten completely about his friends and their whereabouts. He couldn't believe how much fun he was having and how damn sexy this woman before him was. Haley had set out that evening to have fun with her friends but this was something different. Something she hadn't expected with her lifestyle and career choice. People always came with strings or pre-agendas when they entered her life. This was part of the reason her band mates and sister were her closest confidants. She could trust their motives and her heart with them.
Haley was ripped from her own thoughts as she felt Nathan suddenly pulling her off the dance floor to a dark corner of the club. She looked at him with questioning eyes as she was backed up against a wall. She felt the cool brick against the bare skin on her back. Nathan leaned forward towards Haley closing the space between them and held his body up with his hand against the wall.
"Nathan, what are you doing?" She asked locking her eyes with his. Eyes if she stared into for too long, she was certain she would lose herself in them. In any other situation she should've been on alert of a man who suddenly pulled her aside to a darkened corner of a crowded club away from witnesses to do what exactly.
A smile crept across his face as he made a point not to break their stare.
"I'm not willing to share you with any other guys here and with the gawking they have been doing at you I was forced to remove temptation." Nathan admitted.
Haley nervously laughed before sneaking a glance back to the dance floor. She faintly saw bodies moving but at a much slower pace. Nathan and Haley were surrounded by darkness and she really felt hidden away in a different world.
Nathan acknowledged the music change and nodded with contentment.
"Now this is the kinda music I'd rather dance to." He proclaimed hoping she understood what he proposed. She took a step towards him anxiously anticipating the feeling of his body against hers. His hands found their way to her petite hips and then he stepped even closer to her. Her body fit perfectly into his and they seemed to move together with little or no effort. A feeling deep inside of her was awakened and she wasn't sure what to do next. She had taken deliberate actions to close herself off emotionally and not let anyone in too far. Something was happening between them and she couldn't seem to stop it or herself. She was losing all control. Control of herself and she didn't like it.
Nathan was silently thanking Parker for dragging him out after such a crappy game earlier in the evening. He hadn't been in the mood to socialize and be the "Nathan Scott" he would be need to be when he arrived at the club. The club scene was predictable and he knew the possible outcomes of the evening. He agreed to go out for drinks to decompress from his horrid ride home with his father but mentally wasn't up for anything else. He didn't have the time or energy for anything or anyone else in his life. His career was in limbo with his injury and he needed to focus on basketball. "Distractions are for the weak." His father would always drill into him when he had committed to a relationship with a woman.
Haley pulled her head back from resting against Nathan's chiseled chest which she could feel through his shirt. In return his hands slowly slide down her backside and rested just about her ass.
"Haley….." Nathan nearly whispered to her knowing she was now close enough to hear him.
"Yes" was all she had managed to get out as she licked her lips in anticipation.
He leaned down and slowly started to pull her lips to his. Just as their lips were about to touch Nathan suddenly pulled away.
"Your sexy ass seems to be vibrating." He groaned loudly.
Haley sighed with annoyance and yanked her phone from her back pocket. She glanced at the text message she had just received from Chris. Hales, let's roll! Where you at girl? I will leave you here! Consider yourself warned. You've got 5minutes to get to the car.
"Everything ok?" He asked as he watched her check her phone.
"Yes but I don't have much time. I'm sorry but I've gotta go." She answered. Sure she knew she could take a cab home but that wasn't the point. The text message came at the right time. She needed something to bring her back to reality.
"Wait it's still early." He protested not wanting this moment to be over but she stepped out of his hold sending him a message.
"Thanks for a dancing with me Nathan. Good luck on your next game!" She said with a smile trying quickly to get herself in check. She would have to answer to Chris in minutes about her whereabouts for the evening. She'd have to work hard to fight off the dopey grin that she felt was plastered on her face.
"Haley that's it and you're gonna leave?" Nathan started as he grabbed her wrist just as she was almost out of his reach. "Can I get your number?" He boldly asked as he had many times before.
Haley's phone began to vibrate constantly it was ringing and her suspicions where confirmed when she glanced down. Chris.
She looked back into those crystal blues eyes that were far too tempting. Then the feeling started to creep over her again. She felt a struggle within of what to do next. She took a deep breath and decided to trust her instincts.
"I'm pretty sure a smart savy guy like you will have no problem finding a way to get in touch with me again. That is if you really want to and you feel up to a little challenge." She said in a flirty tone.
Nathan laughed out loud and simply responded "Oh it's on Haley James."
And with that she slipped out of his grasp and out of the club.