Chapter 15: A Tree Hill Raven knows that often times friends already know what you think they cannot.
After being ruthlessly pulled out of the cafeteria by a very excited blonde and brunette, without a proper goodbye to Nathan, Haley noted, they now found themselves piled on top of each other on Haley's little single sized bed (although proven to fit two comfortably…). As soon as they left the cafeteria, it had been a non-stop gabfest. Mostly Peyton and Brooke, considering Haley had no time to answer between their never ending rapid fire of questions.
"Who made the first move?"
"How long has this been going on?"
"Have you kissed?"
"How long have you liked him?"
"Where did it happen?"
"When did it happen?"
"He didn't force you into this, right?"
"Whatever happened to 'Nathan is an ass'?"
After finally answering all their questions, a blush spread across her face, Haley curled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around herself. She'd never felt like this before. Because the truth of the matter was, she'd never had a boyfriend before. Too much complications back home. And well, she'd never really kissed a boy before either. Unless, of course, you count John Miller in 6th grade who she was paired up with in a game of spin the bottle. Let's just say that it ended with slobber all over Haley's face and John nursing a kick in the balls… that's a kiss Haley chooses not to count.
Everything about her kisses with Nathan, which of course had been many in the wee hours of that morning, was perfect. His soft, expert, loving lips; the way he let out little tiny, almost mute moans when she caressed his hair; and the way she kind of just molded into his arms… perfect.
"Haley James and Nathan Scott…" Peyton began, a smile spreading across her face as she looked at the way Haley's eyes lit up at the mere statement of his name.
"Thank God that finally happened," Brooke retorted jokingly, causing the two girls to giggle.
"What do you mean finally happened? You expected this?" Haley questioned, a confused look across her face. "I mean, until this morning you though we hated each other."
"Haley, we knew from the moment you came in that first day here after speaking to him that it was going to happen. You were ga-ga over him."
"I was not ga-ga," Haley refused, looking in the other direction.
"Oh yes you were," Brooke stated. "The quick stares, insulting flirtations, you guys had the most sexual tension I've ever seen! Except for maybe me and Lucas but that's another story."
"Brooke! I do not have sexual tension with Nathan!"
"Not anymore…" Brooke replied.
"Haley, love and hate are a fine line to walk. We could easily see you were playing the hard to get card. And Brooke's right. The tension was killing me. I seriously wanted to just push you two into a closet together and let you go at it!" Peyton exclaimed, a burst of laughter jumping from she and the brunette beside her as Haley dropped her mouth in shock.
"You guys are incredible," Haley stated, pulling the collar of her shirt a bit closer after feeling a bit violated. "Think what you want. I mean, yeah sure we had our flirtings, and I have liked him for a while, but I didn't really think there was this undeniable…"
"Don't be afraid to say it Haley… sexual tension," Brooke completed for her. "But that's all gone now since your little love fest this morning."
"Love fest," Haley giggled to herself. "It sounds so silly. But I guess that was what it was. I mean, I've never kissed like that before. He's perfect at it. I can see why he has quite a past of being a ladies man. Those lips know what their doing."
"Keep talking him up and we'll want to take those lips for a test drive!" Brooke squealed causing all the girls to giggle.
"But seriously," Haley began after stifling her own giggles. "If you try I'll go Kung-Fu on your ass!"
"What the?" The girls replied simultaneously giving each other a confused look.
"I have a white belt in karate… duh!"
"Um, Haley?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah…"
"Isn't a white belt like, the lowest one for beginners."
"Okay so I'm not that good but it was more a statement for effect! Gosh!" She squealed, causing them all to laugh.
"You know I'm really glad you're with Nathan," Brooke stated genuinely. "You're the happiest I've seen you here. Which can be hard sometimes you know being so far from home and stuff."
"Thanks Brooke," Haley smiled, grabbing Brooke's hand and giving it a little squeeze.
"And I'm happy for you two Haley. You guys are really cute together," Peyton smiled. "But I'm also happy because Brooke now owes me twenty bucks."
"Say what?"
"I won the bet sucker!" Peyton laughed, sticking out her tongue.
"Damn! Your right!" Brooke laughed before reaching for her purse and pulling out a twenty.
"Wait, you guys bet on me and Nathan?"
"Haley, we told you we knew you guys would get together from the beginning. We had the faith you didn't have… until now," Peyton said smiling.
"In an odd way… thanks guys," Haley laughed before wrapping her arms around the two other girls, enveloping them all into a nice big hug. It was then, for the first time in a long time, that Haley felt she had true friends. And she did, in two of the most unlikely people.
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It was the mid-day break and after polishing off some lunch, the guys were shooting hoops around the court behind the dormitories. Nathan and Lucas were playing a increasingly intense game of knock out, as Jakes sat beneath the trees strumming his guitar.
"Dude, will you grow a pair and start playing some ball like a man instead of tinkering on your little guitar like your freaking Beethoven or something?" Lucas joked, causing a death glare from Jake.
"Ah, poke fun, what you don't know is this thing is like a chick magnet. Next thing you know you'll be asking me for lessons," Jake shot back.
"Whatever man," Lucas stated, throwing a ball in the hoop before turning to Nathan. "So you and Haley…"
"Me and Haley…"
"I'm glad it finally happened for you," Lucas stated. "It's been a long time coming."
"Luke it's only the first week in December," Nathan laughed.
"Well, you know what I mean."
"In a weird way I do," he stated nodding. "But I really am glad. She's different and I like that about her. She's like not afraid to be herself, you know?"
"Yeah… so about this. I'm not really the Dr. Phil type. If you want to talk deep then talk to Jake," Lucas chided.
"Whatever man," Nathan laughed. "I'm just saying."
"I know, I know."
"Okay, enough of the sensitive crap… let's shoot some hoops" Nathan shouted before jumping up and dunking a basket.
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"Hey you," Haley felt someone whisper in her ear as she made her way between the library and one of the school buildings. "I've missed you."
"Well," Haley giggled, looking up to face him, "We've got our next class together… walk me there?"
"I'd love to," Nathan replied before swooping his head down to place a light kiss on Haley lips, causing her to blush and melt all at the same time.
"Nathan…" Haley whined.
"What?" He asked innocently.
"You can't do that!"
"Do what? Kiss you? But you taste so good…" He cooed. "Strawberry lip balm I see."
"Stop it! You're making me blush," Haley giggled… gosh she could be such a girl sometimes. "I'm just not into the whole PDA stuff… yet."
"Hmm… fine," Nathan replied reluctantly. "But I can't help it if you're just so fun to kiss. Can I least have one for the road?"
"Fine…" Haley said, leaning up to give him a kiss on the lips. "You do realize we're going to the same class, right?"
"Oh yes… but any reason for kissing is okay with me," he smiled before tugging Haley a little bit closer and continuing their walk towards health class. Once they entered the wide wooden doors to one of the academic centers, Nathan and Haley made their way into their classroom. Taking seats at two desks toward the back, Haley's directly in front of Nathan's, they got out their stuff and got ready for class to begin.
As she waited for her teacher to enter, Haley started giggling, feeling a slight tickling towards her ankle. Looking down, she saw the toe of Nathan's Air Jordan's gently rubbing her sock. After turning a bright crimson, Haley turned around and gave him a look. A satisfied smirk spread across Nathan's face as he backed off and admired the back of his girlfriend's head. Yes, that's right girlfriend. Damn, that felt good to say.
Shortly after, Ms. Roe walked in and class began. "Hello everybody."
"Hi Ms. Roe," they all answered in somewhat unison.
"Today we are going to start our second semester projects that will begin this week and end the second week you get back from Holiday Break," she let out, a loud groan rumbling through the class. "Oh quit your whining. Now I've put you all into pairs and I will ask that after I saw your name you move next to them so I can then explain the assignment."
Crossing her fingers, Haley waited to hear her name called, hoping someone she liked, preferably Nathan's name was called with her.
"Haley James…" Ms. Roe began, looking up to reveal, was that a smirk? Haley thought. "and Nathan Scott."
Fate was on Haley's side today. Breathing out a sigh of relief, Haley turned around giving Nathan a sheepish smile before pushing her desk back next to his. He reached over giving Haley's hand a small squeeze before turning back to the front of the room.
"Now class, since this is health and we've already just discussed pregnancy, we're entering into our family unit. Before I teach you about it, we're going to run an experiment and see how much you know about families first."
"Oh god, the flour babies," Nathan groaned.
"What?" Haley whispered.
"Oh you'll see," Nathan whispered.
"Now, what we're going to do is each of you 'couples,' are going to get a bag of flour. However, from Friday on, which is when I give them to you, it will not just be a bag of flour," Ms. Roe point out, reaching towards her chair to pull out a footy-pajama covered square, "but a really baby!"
"Oh god," several of her students groaned, while others let out little exclaims of excitement.
"You will have to not only take care of the baby. Meaning taking it with you where you go, dressing it, or giving it to a babysitter when you can't watch it, but you are also required to name it, keep a journal about the activities you and you baby did, do another report on how exactly you would take care of it, parenting techniques you would use or wouldn't use based off of your own parents, as well as several other requirements," she finished, grabbing a stack of papers to hand out to each group for a written detail. "I know right now this might seem like a downer, but in the end I always find that students like this activity."
"See Haley," Nathan stated turning towards her. "Flour babies. These things are infamous for being a pain in the butt. Besides, some people get really ruthless and break up so you fail too. I'm so not looking forward to it," Nathan stated, a lazy sigh escaping his lips.
Haley on the other hand, who would normally go ecstatic for a project like this, that tutoring side of her reaching out, was also not happy for this project. Not because of the flour baby, that was actually kind of cool, and not because all the paperwork, but because it dealt with parenting. It dealt with family. And that, was something Haley did not feel like sharing with everyone, especially not Nathan. At least, not yet.
And so Haley's mysterious background looms on... don't worry! You'll find outo soon enough. I hope you liked the Naley. I though it was pretty fluffy They're just so darn cute, eh? And I had to have some girl/boy time too. I keep forgetting to add GiGi in... but have no fear, she is not lost from this story! Sorry this chapter was a bit shorter than normal, I hadn't really realized, but oh well... Hope you enjoyed anyway! Leave some feedback because I'll love you and basically... yeah! Hope you liked!