278Hey guys, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and I'm sorry for messing up the band's name—the only excuse I have is that I illegally download from Limewire (don't report me!) and they had it listed as simply "The Honorary" Anyway, I hope you like this Valentine's Day chapter, it's mostly Naley the way we like them best!
Chapter 17: Somewhere Only We Know
Haley woke up, rolled over and gasped at what she saw. Next to her in bed was a dozen roses with a "Happy Valentine's Day!" card attached. She sat up and, grinning, opened the card.
Good morning baby :) I'll pick you up at three for your surprise. Wear something comfy. Happy Valentine's Day.
-Nathan (duh)
Haley chuckled at his less-than-poetic letter but was still touched by it. Looking at her clock she had a few hours until Nathan got her and she decided to sleep just a little bit more. But first she would put the roses in a vase.
Nathan walked up to the door of the James house and couldn't contain his smile. He knew Haley would like what he had planned and especially her present. He found it funny that he enjoyed this so much, but the truth was just the mere thought of making Haley smiled made him feel great. He wondered what that meant, but was pretty sure he had a clue.
"Hello?" He said, walking in the door.
"Coming!" Haley called from upstairs, and Nathan noticed the flowers he got for her were displayed in a vase in the front foyer. Haley came down the stairs in jeans and a simple pink long sleeve shirt, but she looked beautiful to Nathan. When he told her so, she blushed. "Happy Valentine's Day." She lifted her head to kiss him. He kissed her back, but stopped before things got too heated. There would be time for that later.
"So you're just gonna wait til she calls?" Lucas asked, sinking the ball into the hoop. He and Jake, valentine-less, had gone to the Rivercourt to shoot around.
"She'll call." Jake said confidently, making a basket.
"You sound like Nathan." Lucas remarked. Jake shrugged.
"Well he landed Haley who is like the best girl he'll ever get, so maybe it's a good thing."
"Wise words," Lucas took them in. "And you're probably right. Haley's the golden girl."
"And Brooke is the dream girl," Jake gave a significant look to Lucas who took a deep breath.
"Yeah well I screwed that one up, didn't I?"
"Pretty much," Jake said, making another basket. "But no one ever said it was over."
"Isn't it a bit cold for the beach?" Haley raised her eyebrows at him as he pulled up to the beach in his new Range Rover his parents had bought him earlier that week. Haley, though feeling less guilty about crashing his first one, knew Nathan saw the car as a kind of bribe to forget the fact his parents hated each other.
"Just trust me," Nathan said and they got out of the car, making their way up the dunes. He heard Haley gasp as they got to the other side.
"Oh my god, Nathan this is beautiful!" She looked out at the private beach with tiny purple flowers in bloom all over it. "How did you…"
"My dad and I came up to the beach once to go for a run around this time last year. I was surprised that these flowers were blooming in February and thought it was kinda
cool. Like anything can happen. Which is kind of how I feel about us." Haley felt her eyes prick with tears and she knew it wasn't from the wind. She gave Nathan a big hug.
"I love it." She said. He smiled and they kissed before making their way onto the untouched beach, sitting amongst the flowers and just enjoying being with each other.
About an hour later reached in her purse and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box. "So is it time for me to give you your present" Nathan looked at her in disbelief.
"The girl doesn't get the guy a present!"
"Well this girl did." Haley shrugged, handing it to him.
"Only you," He said, shaking his head, but opening it. When he saw two tickets to see a Bobcats game he looked at her, realization dawning on him. "It means you…you heard…" he said slowly and she nodded.
FLASHBACK
Nathan sat at the edge of the hospital bed, wondering when Haley would wake up. It had been three days since the accident and Jake still hadn't been able to see her, which meant Nathan was constantly there. But he didn't mind. He talked to Haley when no one else was in the room, sometimes pleading with her to wake up, sometimes just telling her about the weather or the latest sports game.
"So my mom asked me if you need anything yesterday." He told her, half grinning for the first time in a while. "I told her I'd ask and then she got this horrified look and almost hit herself in the head. It was kind of funny. Anyway, she says hi. Lucas is still here, he's being really good. Don't hate him too much just because you are on Team Brooke." He smiled again. "You know what's weird? Lucas and I didn't even meet until we were ten. And it was on accident too. We were both at a summer basketball camp and put on the same team. After laughing that our last names were the same, we spent the whole summer together. When our parents came to pick us up, we introduced them. Man, the looks on their faces were priceless. Turns out, we were cousins!" Nathan ran his hand through his hair, now talking more to himself.
"I always wondered why it took ten years to meet, but my mom said Dan and Keith don't get along too well. Anyway, Lucas and I still kept in contact and I used to like going to his house. I remember one day his dad, my uncle Keith, got us tickets to go see a
Bobcats game. We went and watched the game, got hotdogs and slurpees and just enjoyed the sport. It wasn't about winning or getting the most free throws. That day, basketball was just fun. I try to remember that when I play, but it gets hard when Dan is screaming down my throat." He sighed and looked at Haley. "I shouldn't be dumping this on you Hales. I guess I just wish for a day like that again."
END FLASHBACK
"Now you can have that day." Haley smiled softly. Nathan was once again surprised by her unending kindness and thoughtfulness. He took her face in his hands and looked right into her eyes.
"You are the best thing that ever happened to me Haley James." He said and she felt a shiver run down her spine at the passionate kiss they shared. After they broke apart, he laid down on the sand and she curled up next to him. "So when do you want your present?" She giggled and he took a Tiffany's box out of his pocket, giving it to her. She gave him a look.
"Nathan,"
"Open it." He said, urging her on. She did and saw a necklace. It was simple but elegant with the silver chain and the silver heart pendant. It was perfect.
"It's beautiful." She said in a whisper. "Will you help me put it on?" He smiled and she held up her hair while he fastened it securely around her neck. "Thank you so so so much." She gushed, looking down at the heart. "It's really-"
"Nothing less than what you deserve." He said, kissing her forehead.
Lucas took one last look at the letter before placing it in the mailbox. He flipped it over so the recipient name was face up before closing the mailbox door and walking back down Oak Ridge Lane.
Somehow, Nathan and Haley had braved the chilly weather and stayed on the beach the whole afternoon and into the night, only leaving to get food and blankets out of Nathan's car. It was now well past ten o'clock and Haley lay sleeping in Nathan's arms. His head had been resting on hers and he laid there, listening to the ocean and her faint breathing and thinking about how he could stay like this forever. Haley mumbled something and he turned his concentration to her.
"No," she started saying. "No!" She started crying and Nathan got worried. He gently shook her.
"Haley?" he said. "Wake up," She opened her eyes, full of tears and pulled him close. He stroked her hair as she cried into his chest.
"I-I dream about the accident a-all of the time." She said through the sobs. Nathan held her tighter and he could feel his heart breaking at the sound of her cries.
"I'm got you Haley, you're okay. I'm here," he whispered into her ear and she nodded into his chest. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Haley pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Don't even think about apologizing," Nathan told her when she opened her mouth. She gave him a small smile.
"Thank you."
"Come on," Nathan said, helping her up and picking up the blanket. "Let's call it a night." Haley nodded and they drove home in comfortable silence, their hands intertwined the whole time. He pulled up to her house and Haley looked nervous at the dark building.
"I wonder where Jake is."
"Maybe Mia actually called," Nathan mused and Haley smiled.
"I hope so." She looked at him but saw he was already out of the car. She got out and he took her hand.
"You didn't think I was going to tuck you in?" He asked.
"I was hoping you would." She smiled.
Brooke stared at the letter she had been holding for the last ten minutes, wondering if she should open it. Curiosity got the better of her and, taking a deep breath, she broke the seal.
Dear Brooke,
This letter is not to ask for your forgiveness; because I know what I did is too much to forgive completely. It is merely to wish you, the girl I love, Happy Valentine's Day. I'm the guy for you Brooke Davis. I will always love you.
Yours forever,
Lucas
Haley pulled on a pajama top while Nathan politely waited outside her bedroom. She wondered why she wasn't embarrassed to break down in front of Nathan. The truth was, she trusted Nathan and knew he would never hold it against her. She trusted him with the most important thing she had: her heart, and she was certain he was trying his best not to screw it up. She opened the door.
"Are you going to read me a bedtime story too?" She asked, grinning. He ruffled her hair and helped her get into her bed. He pulled the sheets up and sat on the side of the bed, lightly rubbing her back. She looked at him, her big brown eyes showing her vulnerability.
"Stay with me." She said, quietly.
"I was hoping I could."
HALEY'S NECKLACE:
?sku21124656&mcat148204&cid288155&searchparamss+5-p+3-c+288155-r+101287465-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+
Isn't that necklace amazing? My friend got it from her boyfriend for their anniversary.
NEXT: Jake's reaction to Nathan and Hales waking up, Brucas! And the gang prepares for the Classic