Thank you for the lovely reviews and I hope you like this new chapter. I'm really sorry that it has been a while since I've updated. I was on a study tour and I didn't carry my laptop with me.

CHAPTER 11

Nathan was lying on his back in his room. He was busy tossing a miniature basketball in the air. With his intense look and creased forehead, anyone would think that he was concentrating on the basketball but his mind was elsewhere. He caught the ball and was about to toss it in the air again but temptation to look towards his alarm clock won over. The clock showed that the time was 2:30 in the morning. He sighed heavily upon realizing it had only been ten minutes since he last checked the time.

He tried sleeping two hours ago but sleep wouldn't come. His mind was too disturbed. His current state of uneasiness had something to do with his girlfriend who was not home yet. It had been like this ever since that fateful night, the night when Chris Keller came into their lives. Haley was out recording with Chris and most of the time she manages to reach home at an ungodly hour. She spent time with her boyfriend whenever she had free time but it doesn't seem to be enough. He feels like she is slipping away from him and that thought completely terrified him. To make matters worse, Nathan never really took to liking Keller either. This feeling of animosity seems to arise from the fact that Chris seems to have developed a crush on his girl. It was blatantly obvious to everyone except Haley. She seems to think the world of him. Every time she comes home, their conversation mainly consists of whatever silly thing Chris had done. Nathan was happy for her, happy that she was getting such a good opportunity but somehow he feels left out from the equation.

He was not going to express his feelings since he was sure that would upset Haley and he didn't want that. As if on cue, he heard the front door open and shut close. He decided to put aside his basketball and feign sleep. He was sleeping in his room and he knew that she would always come to greet him before going for a shower. However, this time she had other ideas as he heard another door shut close and assumed that that was the sound of her bedroom door. He felt a little hurt by this. The fact that she always kissed him and even slept in his bed every day was the only thing consoling him these days. He heard her shower running and decided that instead of lying on his bed and moping, he might as well just go to her.

Haley was exhausted but that wasn't the only thing that was bugging her. Something happened in the studio today that she hadn't planned for. She felt extremely guilty for it and that's why she didn't go to Nathan straight away. Ever since she started recording at the studio, she never seems to have time for anything else. She always slept over in Nathan's bed because that was the only act that assured her that she still has him. But she didn't want to go to him tonight, she had to get her thoughts straight. Haley always believed in speaking the truth no matter how bad it is. Besides, it is practically impossible for her to hide anything from Nathan considering he can literally read her like a book. She was done showering and felt a lot better. She sighed heavily thinking about the awkward conversation ahead of her. She wrapped a towel around herself and stepped outside the bathroom. She was going to talk to Nathan as soon as she got dressed but she didn't have to wait for that since he was already sitting on her bed.

Nathan smirked a little at the sight of her dripping wet in just a towel. His smirk widened when he saw that her face had turned red at his open leering. It was nice to know that he still had that effect on her.

"Nathan!" she exclaims, not knowing what to say to him, "hey. What are you doing awake?"

"Waiting for you", he says, deciding to be honest for a change, "I don't get to see you very often these days".

"I know and I'm sorry. It'll all go back to normal once I'm done recording", she missed spending time with him too, "It'll probably just be another couple of weeks or so".

He nodded in response still not convinced. He couldn't help feeling like Chris was purposely extending their studio hours. He looked over at her and couldn't help thinking how hot she looked in just a towel. He wanted to get rid of the towel and have his way with her but she seemed quite tensed. She was fiddling with her fingers and trying to tighten the towel around her body like he was a stranger leering at her.

"Haley, what's wrong?" he asked.

"What? Nothing... N.." she stammered a bit and realized that her hands were shaking, she took in a shaking breath, "Nothing's wr-".

"You're lying", he cut her off. She was horrible at hiding herself from him. It annoyed him a bit that she feels the need to lie to him. "What's wrong Haley? What are you not telling me?" his voice was soft but she knew the underlying firmness that said he wanted the truth.

She took in a deep breath. He was not going to like what was coming next but she had to be honest. "Chris kissed me", she said in a whisper.

"What?" he heard what she said but was having the hardest time believing her. He was going to kill Chris for this. But at the time he was more interested in what further explanation she has.

"You heard me", it was bad enough that it happened but making her say it again is only going to make it more real. She liked living in this place of denial at the moment.

Nathan stood up and opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it and started pacing along her room. He was so frustrated with this situation. He knew that Chris was interested in her but he never expected the punk to act on it. "Did you kiss him back?" he was dreading the answer but he had to know.

"No!" she exclaimed like it was the most ridiculous question, "No! I pushed him away. I didn't even see it coming". Haley was getting scared of his reaction at the moment. She stepped forward and grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop his pacing. "Nathan I would never do that to you, you should know that. I know I spend a lot of time with Chris but I really thought that he got the point that I'm taken".

"Did you really make it clear to him?" he was trying to control his temper to no avail, "Because like you said you have been spending an awful lot of time with him" he bit out.

Haley can't believe what she's hearing. "Are you accusing me of leading him on?" she asked with venom in her voice. There was a long pause and her eyes were already brimming with tears when he didn't say anything. She tried to walk out of the room but he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.

"No look I'm sorry I didn't mean it", he couldn't stand seeing her upset and she seemed genuine, "I don't know why I said that, I just..." he took in a sharp breath to control his temper, "you're my girl. I don't care if I sound like a caveman but it's the truth".

"I am and you have every reason to be upset but you have to trust me when I tell you that I didn't encourage it in any way", she explained. She relaxed a little when he seemed to calm down at her words.

Nathan felt himself relaxing a little by her words. She was the best thing that happened to him and his worst fears are of losing her. He was still going to kill Chris but he couldn't stay angry at her for this. "I believe you, it's not you I'm mad at".

"I love you Nathan and I never want someone like Chris to come in between us".

He was calm but still not happy with the turn of events. "I want you to stop seeing him", he knew it was wrong of him to indirectly ask her to give up the recording but he couldn't help himself. He was not okay with someone even touching her the wrong way but this guy went ahead and kissed her. She was a talented person and she can get other opportunities if she tried.

Her eyes widened in shock. He was asking her to give up this opportunity for one silly reason, "Nathan it was just one silly kiss. I'm sure he won't make the same mistake again", she tried reasoning with him.

"Haley you are a very talented person and I'm sure there are other opportunities for you out there but I am not okay with you working everyday alongside with Chris".

Haley looked at him in shock. She felt so confused about what to do. She looked up at him and he seemed to be rigid in his stance. She understood why he was acting this way but was she ready to give up such an opportunity? "Nathan opportunities like this don't come every day", she tried reasoning with him.

"I know but I cannot stand the idea of you spending time with him anymore. He crossed a line Haley".

She choked back the words coming out of her. Determination was written all over his face and it kind of scared her to think of what he would do if she were to go against him. "Okay", she knew that he was not going to change his mind, "I'm never gonna see him again", she said. "At least not willingly", she let out a shaky breath. She decided that opportunities come and go but she couldn't afford to lose Nathan.

He let out a small smile at her declaration but his smile faded when guilt seeped into his system. "I'm really sorry for asking you to do this".

"No it's okay. I don't want anything to come between us either. I'm sorry it happened in the first place".

"No don't be", he couldn't let her blame herself, "you are not responsible for this" he placed his palm on the side of her face, " I love you okay and I don't ever want to lose you".

"Love you too", she smiled at him and leaned forward. He met her halfway and kissed her.

As the moment got more heated he remembered that she was still in her towel. He smiled against her lips and broke free from the kiss.

Haley was confused when he broke away from the kiss. She got even more confused when he walked backwards until he reached her bed and sat down, all the while keeping his eyes on her.

For a few minutes he just kept looking at her. Haley belonged to him and he's not okay with anyone even looking at her the wrong way. He still cannot accept the fact that Chris kissed her. However Haley was innocent in all this and he always felt amazed by her loyalty and commitment and knew that she couldn't be blamed for any of this. "Take off your towel", he said. His voice was soft but held a commanding tone.

She knew what his look meant. She was about to walk over to him when she heard his voice telling her to remove her towel. Colour rose up her cheeks and she felt a little nervous all of a sudden. She felt silly to be nervous considering Nathan had seen all of her plenty of times. She took a deep breath and pulled at her towel free such that it fell in a bundle around her feet.

His breath caught up in his throat. He was always amazed at how beautiful she is and he took so much pride to know that he is the only guy to have seen all of her. He took a moment to drink her in. Haley belonged to him and he intended to show her that tonight.

... = ...

She had not slept a wink. The initial traces of sunlight peeking through the window let her know that it was almost morning. She turned in her bed to look at the gorgeous boy sleeping next to her. He was wrapped around her like a vine. She always felt safe and protected when he wrapped his arms and legs around her while sleeping but today, for the first time, she was finding this act a bit suffocating.

She was tired due to the events of last night but she couldn't sleep. A small smile traced her lips at the thought of stuff they did on this very bed. It was one of the hottest experiences they have shared and Nathan's need to keep whispering possessive words to her throughout their session made it all the more exciting. Her smile faded again at the thought of the promise she made. The thought of losing Nathan terrified her and that was the sole reason why she agreed to stop recording with Chris. But as the day set in she started questioning her decision. Opportunities don't come like this every day. She felt quite hurt that Nathan was asking her to give it all up just because he couldn't get over his insecurity.

She took one more glance at his sleeping face. He looked so innocent with his messy hair. He was lying on his front and his toned sculpted back was exposed to her delight. Today she would have to go to the studio and tell Chris that she needed to back out. It wouldn't be too hard a task considering no contract that was signed. Who was she kidding? Of course it would be hard! She loved her brief experience at the studio and she was going to miss it very much. Haley felt Nathan stirring from his sleep beside her.

He tightened his arm around her and nuzzled his nose against her neck. "Hey", he smiled, as he opened his to reveal his beautiful blue orbs to her.

Haley greeted him with a soft kiss and gave him a small smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She was engulfed by thoughts of losing something of very high significance in her life and it terrified her to realize that she didn't know what she was going to lose. She didn't know if she was going to lose her dreams or her boyfriend within the next 24 hours.

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