Reflections of Things That Never Were *14/?*

[dawnieangel]

Fourteen

“That’s it?” Nathan asked, looking at the bank statement in front of him, and then glancing at the housing listings that sat next to them. His strong naked back rippling with tension as he sat boxer-clad in the beach house kitchen, trying to get off the phone before Haley arrived. His financial advisor’s voice continued to come through the line but Nathan had already heard what he needed. “No, yeah... I understand. Thanks Karl, I’ll call you within the week.”

Hanging up the phone he was seconds away from sending the papers flying across the kitchen. Swiping his hand across the large oak circle and sending the papers onto the floor and up into the wind that was travelling through the open sliding door, when he heard a key in the lock and melodic humming travel through the house. A slight smile forming on his lips knowing exactly who it was. Despite the fact that she spent most nights at the beach house with him she refused to officially move in. Being the kind heart she was she wanted to continue living at home with her parents, and paying them the small amount of rent they allowed her to, until they were married. When they’d first gotten engaged she’d given her mother money despite the fact that she never stayed at home, but after the first month Lydia refused to take it. Stubbornly Haley had spent every night the proceeding month at her parents’ house. Something he didn’t remember fondly - the two of them curled up on her single bed hadn’t been too bad, despite the fact his feet hung off the end, but she’d felt too uncomfortable to have sex with her parents down the hall and he definitely didn’t like the way it had eaten into their sex life. Now they’d come to an agreement that as long as Haley spent one night a week at home her parents would take the money - which Lydia had informed Nathan she’d been saving all along to give back to Haley once she moved out - that Haley had insisted on contributing to the household ever since she’d began working full time. He usually stayed with her but she’d been feeling tired the day before and said she was going home and straight to bed after work, and he’d been out with some of his buddies so they decided it was best he come back to the beach house instead of waking her up when he got back.

She stopped, startled by his presence for a second before she beamed at him. Walking over she kissed him quickly before putting up a finger and signalling for him to wait a second. He watched silently as she walked across the kitchen, still humming a song he vaguely recognised and filled a vase with water, her beige short clad butt swinging slightly from left to right as she placed the flowers she’d been carrying inside it before turning round and smiling at him once more as she walked over, dumping her large bag on the ground beside him she immediately straddled his form pressing her lips to his. “Good morning fiancée”

He kissed her back, letting his hands travel up her back, stopping when they reached her hair where he softly played with the ends of her curls. “Morning yourself.”

“We’re getting married a month today!” Her eyes lit up with glee and he smiled softly back at her, nodding at her exuberance as she bounced up and down slightly. “Married!”

She giggled and he couldn’t stop the deep chortle that escaped him. She looked so happy, so angelic, so beautiful with the light from the beach travelling in behind her, catching the golden strands of her hair like a halo as she grinned once more dipping her lips to meet his.

“I missed you.” He said, unsure if he’d even thought it before the words left his lips. With anyone else he would have regretted it instantly, letting somebody know you needed them so much that one night apart affected you, but with her he knew she already knew so there wasn’t any point in lying. He’d asked her to marry him because he didn’t want to spend a day apart from her for the rest of his life, and whether it made him a pansy or not he was determined that she would know that forever.

“Missed me?” She laughed, climbing off his lap and picking up her bag, pulling out an assortment of breakfast foods in Karen’s Cafe take out bags. “It was only one night - but for the record, I missed you too.”

“You should have came back.” He walked up behind her, pressing his body into her back, reaching around and picking at a muffin that she’d just put down on a plate, her hands still moving despite the way he had her trapped against the counter. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Aww baby, you couldn’t sleep without me?” She teased, pushing the plate to the side before turning in his arms and jumping up on the counter, spreading her legs for him to step between. He pouted a little and shook his head, causing her to laugh at his childish expression before she popped a sweet kiss on his lips. Resting her hands on his shoulders she leant forward so their foreheads were touching, their eyes staring into the other. A playful glint shining her brown orbs as she smirked. “Well in 30 days you’ll never get to spend another night apart from me - does that scare ya? Does it?”

He laughed at her taunting leaning in and kissing her, running his hands down her body and lifting her off the counter as she wrapped her legs around him. No that definitely didn’t scare him. Not at all.

“Nathan.” She laughed between kisses as he backed up a few paces, the pressure of his lips on her skin letting her know exactly what he intended. “Nathan, we don’t have time for this.”

Reluctantly he sighed, letting go of the hold he had on her legs and letting her down so she was on her own two feet. Tugging playfully on his earlobe she laughed that laugh again, the one that had attracted him to her in the first place, and turned back to their breakfast. “Now I was going to bring you breakfast in bed, but you ruined that plan by being awake, Why are you awake?”

“Uh, because we’re going to look at houses today.” He stated obviously, picking up a plate and taking it over to the table, discreetly picking up his bank statements and slipping them under one of the many bridal magazines that sat on the table, making a mental note to put them some place safer as soon as possible.

“Well I know that, Nathan, but for as long as I’ve known you you’ve never gotten up a minute earlier than you really had to. At least not without some added incentive.” She blushed at her own innuendo causing Nathan to shake his head amused as she sat down beside him. Picking up one of the listings she glanced over it as she forked some eggs into her mouth and sighed. “I really hope we find something today, it really is our last chance if we want any hope of moving in after the wedding. Although we’re probably still looking at living here for a while even if we do, and I know..”

She trailed off and he looked at her to see her eyes downcast to her plate, her lip between her teeth as she played with her food in silence. He knew why she’d done it, what she was going to say. She knew he didn’t want to rely on his parents any longer than he had to, to be indebted to them more than he needed. It was part of the reason he insisted they pay for the wedding themselves, despite the fact that Haley’s simplistic tastes were being over run by his mother’s abundant ones meaning the price tag was getting bigger by the day. She knew because he’d told her, but he’d also bitten her head off when she’d said something about it the week before. He hadn’t meant to but being reminded that he was a grown man, a grown man who’d had a marginally successful career, a grown man who was about to marry the woman of his dreams, who was still living off his parents was a raw nerve for him, and the looming responsibility of being her husband, of wanting to be completely able to support her in the way she deserved, was making it rawer as the days went on.

“What time are we supposed to meet the agent?” He asked changing the subject, and could see her body visibly relax as he did so.

“Umm, in about forty five minutes so you better get your ass in gear honey!”

“Yeah Yeah, I’m going.” She rolled her eyes at the way he wolfed down the rest of his food, dumping his plate into the sink before he walked out of the room. His voice echoing down the halls minutes later as she was finishing up her own breakfast. “Hales!”

“What?” She shouted back, smiling to herself as she stood over the sink washing the plate. Loving the domesticity of it all. Although having a shouted conversation wasn’t exactly her favourite way of communication the fact that they were in their own space, alone, able to do so, thrilled her almost as much as the fact that pretty soon it really would be their own place. Their own home as husband and wife.

“C’mere!”

“Busy!” She said, but dried off her hands softly padding through the house and up the stairs.

“Just Co... Hi.” He smirked at her as he turned to see her stood in the doorway of the bathroom.

“Yes, darling?” She cooed, chastising herself for the blush she knew appeared on her cheeks when he pushed down the boxers he was wearing, standing in the bathroom in all his unabashed naked glory.

“Join me?” He asked her, expecting nothing but for her to do as he asked as he slipped inside the shower cubicle. She looked down at her watch, and then back at the hazy view of his naked back through the frosted glass regretfully shaking her head as she walked back into the bedroom.

“Where’d you go?” He called seconds later and, his head popping out to look for her.

“We’ve got to be across town in forty minutes, Nathan, you rarely take twenty minute showers alone much less when I’m in there with you. Go. Clean. I’ll get those hard to reach places for you later!”

She winked at him over her shoulder before walking out of the room, both of them wishing the next thirty days away as quickly as possible

“Why are we here?” Nathan grumbled as they turned onto Riverside following the road down to the house number Haley had given him.

“Because there’s a house I’ve been assured is perfect for us.” She looked up from the papers she’d been reading to see him looking around them, a horror-struck expression on his face. “Look honey, I know you’d rather we lived somewhere like where your parents do, and the houses we looked at in that area really were beautiful, but you’re not playing basketball anymore,” She bit her lip nervously as his grip on the steering wheel became harsher, she hadn’t wanted to bring it up again. They’d spoken about money when they first started looking at houses and he’d told her it wasn’t an issue, but she knew between the wedding, and the house they were going to eat in to whatever money it was he had left over from his short lived career. She wanted be able to contribute to the life they were about to start together, someone had to be sensible, and right now she was the only one of them working. “and even if we can afford to buy the house, how are we going to keep it on a waitresses salary.”

“We won’t be living on your salary.” He grunted, parking outside the house and looking over at her. “I’m going to get a job, Hales.”

She smiled dotingly at him, “I know you are, of course you are, but until you work out what you want do we have to be realistic about my wage being the one that’s coming in each month. I might not be able to keep you in the lifestyle you’ve become accustomed but I’m happy to be your sugar-momma for a while.”

She grinned, unbuckling her seatbelt and leaning over to kissing him softly. “C’mon, I think that’s her.”

Following her lead he got out of the car, shoving his hands in his pockets as they walked over to a tall brunette woman stood on the lawn of the house, he knew she’d been joking with her sugar momma comment, but he’d never envisioned himself a kept man, and he knew himself well enough to know he wouldn’t be comfortable being so, even if it was just while he was looking for something.

“Hi - You must be the Scott’s, I’m Shelley. I think Tiffany told you she was going on vacation so she sent me to show you guys around.”

“Uh, Scott and James actually.” Haley said, reaching out and shaking the woman’s hand.

“Oh god I’m sorry.” The flustered woman thumbed through her notes, mumbling to herself.

“Don’t worry - we’re almost ‘the Scotts’” Haley couldn’t help the grin that formed on her lips as she said it, glancing up at Nathan whose arm was now slung over her shoulders, pleased to see a smile on his own lips. “We’re getting married next month.”

“Congratulations!”

“Thanks.” Nathan’s voice rung with pride and Haley felt butterflies dancing in her stomach. She loved when he thanked people for their well wishes before she could, or agreed on the sweetly embarrassing moments where people told him he was doing the right thing by not letting her get away. She loved that he was as happy that they were getting married as she was. They were both so happy right now, she couldn’t imagine ever feeling any other way with him.

Her phone rang and she reached in the pockets of her shorts to pull it out, scowling at the caller ID. “I’m sorry I better get this.”

“Take your time.” Shelley smiled, turning her attention to Nathan when Haley walked to the edge of the lawn for some privacy. “So, have you guys been looking for a house long?”

“Uh, since about last October.”

“So, about eight months. Have you put any offers in?” She asked conversationally, and Nathan shook his head, about to answer when Haley’s voice rang across the yard.

“I don’t care what my mother in law said! I want the flowers I picked out - It’s a wedding not a funeral!”

“Bridezilla?” The estate agent asked jokingly, regretting it instantly when Nathan’s eyes turned to her ablaze.

“No.” He answered gruffly. “More like mother-of-the-groom-zilla. I’m just going to check on my wife.”

“Fiancée,” Shelley corrected, her playfully laughter stopping instantly when Nathan gave a look that told her he wasn’t amused, mumbling under her breath as she watched Nathan stalk across the spacious green. “Oookay.”

“You alright, baby?” He asked as Haley slammed her phone shut, aggressively shoving it back into her pocket. She closed her eyes breathing in and out deeply for a moment.

“I’m fine,”

“Are you sure because...” He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, and she smiled up at him, albeit it a little tightly.

“I’m fine, we’re sorted.”

“Get the flowers you want?”

“Yep, for now at least.” She mumbled the last bit, taking another deep breath.

“Hales, just tell my Mom where to go, it’s our wedding, not hers. I want you to have your dream day.”

“I know, but I don’t want to upset her Nathan, and the wedding is going to be so beautiful I know it. Besides, as long as I’m marrying you I am getting my dream wedding.” They shared a tender kiss, breaking apart when the sound of someone clearing their throat could be heard.

“I’m sorry guys but if we’re going to make your other two appointments we need to get a move on.”

“Oh, of course.” Haley blushed, embarrassed to have forgotten where they were, while Nathan shook his head. He really didn’t like this woman.

They were stood outside their last viewing of the day, a similar situation that had been happening all day playing out again. Haley was stood away from him and the realtor with her phone plugged to her ear. He could tell from her body language it was his mother she was talking to. Unlike the rest of the world, out of his parents Haley seemed completely capable of telling his father where to go, but when it came to his Mom she didn’t posses the same ability.

“I really think you guys are going to like this one.” Shelley babbled on, in the nauseating way she’d been doing all morning.

“Yeah?” He questioned, not really interested in what she had to say.

“Yeah. It’s a new build, purposely built for young professionals and their families, and the area is really up and coming as well, so the value should keep going up.” She continued talking but he tuned her out as he surveyed the house before him. There was a spacious green lawn before him, lined with a white picket fence like the one Haley had told him one time that she envisioned. It was still in the part of town he’d preferred have not been in. He knew it was snobbish, especially given the fact that Haley had grown up in this area, but he’d been brought up thinking anywhere south of the river wasn’t worth the time of day, and over twenty years worth of thinking that way was a hard habit to break.

“I am so sorry!” Haley pleaded, hastily walking back over to them. “I swear I’d turn it off if I didn’t think they’d hunt me down! Who knew planning a wedding was such hard work?”

“I’ll remember that for when I get the chance! Are we ready to look inside?”

“Definitely.” Haley beamed, linking her arm through Nathan’s. “I have a good feeling about this one..”

“..and this is the kitchen.” As they were lead into the spacious well lit room Nathan had to stifled a laugh at the giddy look that crossed his fiancées face.

“It’s so pretty!”

“It’s a kitchen, Hales.”

“Don’t make fun.” She reprimanded him, pouting. “Look at all this light! Does it come with the fittings?”

Checking her notes the girl looked up nodding with a smile, smelling a sale in the air. "Everything but the refrigerator and freezer.”

“I love big kitchens.” Haley gushed, walking over and running her fingers along the marble counter tops. “When I was a child the kitchen was always the hub of our house, we’d come in from school and do our homework at the kitchen table while telling my Mom cooked dinner and we told her about our day. I mean, I come from a big family, and sometimes it felt like you never saw everybody, but if you just sat in that kitchen for a couple of hours, I guarantee you’d see most of us at one point or another.

“There’s a separate dining room also...” Shelley reminded, referring to the elegant room they’d just been in.

“Oh, I know, and I like that for special occasions, but I really like the idea of having family meals in he...I mean the kitchen.” She blushed, realising she was about to tell their realtor she was already envisioning herself in this house, already thinking of it as a home.

Nathan watched her retell these stories of her childhood to this stranger, enjoying the images it conjured up. Wondering if buying this house would give them as happy a life of their own.

A phone rang, and it took a second for all three to realise it wasn’t Haley’s, but the estate agent’s. “Oh, sorry I have to take this. Why don’t you two explore and then come to me with any questions.”

“So what do you think?” She asked him, and he nodded slowly.

“I liked the upstairs.” The upstairs of the house was almost split into two. To the left were two reasonable sized bedrooms, and a large bathroom, and a couple of steps up and turning to your right at the top of the stairs lead you to what would be the master bedroom, with an ensuite, and a further box room at the end of the mini corridor. “I like the way our bedroom would be separate.”

“And like Shelley said that box room would make the perfect nursery.” Haley half joked, referring to the comment the other woman had made when she showed them the upstairs, telling them it was the perfect home for them and the beautiful future children they were sure to make.

“That woman really needs to work on what she can and can’t say though, first she presumes we’re married, now she thinks we’re starting a family.” She walked over to him wrapping her arms around his waist, laying her head against his chest as he did the same.

“I think she’s new. She’s right though..”

“About what?”

“We will make beautiful babies.”

“Oh we definitely could make beautiful babies.” He agreed, looking around the room. “It’s a nice house.”

“mmmhmm” She agreed, looking out at the yard through the windows, envisioning the light they could have there. “It’s big, without having us rattling around like those houses you had us looking at. Plently of room to grow.”

“You planning on getting fat on me babe?” She laughed pulling out of his embrace, her hands on her hips as she mockingly glared up at him.

“Would you love me anyway?”

“Oh, it’d take alot more than that to get rid of me.” He answered, and her teasing glare melted away, closing the small distance between them she stood on her tip toes placing her lips in their familiar position against his.

“So!” A bubbly voice broke them apart. “What do you think?”

“I really love that house, Nathan.” Haley turned to face him where they were sitting in bed talking over whether to call the agent in the morning and put a bid on the last house they’d seen.

“It’s definitely the best we’ve seen.”

“The best we’ve seen? You make it sound like the best of a bad bunch. It was perfect.”

“If you love it that much Hales, we’ll get it.” He watched amused as she spoke about the house, seemingly as excited by the kitchen as she’d ever been over him.

“I want you to love it too.” She said softly, pushing a stray tendril of hair behind her ear.

“I could.” He answered her, he might not be as passionate about the house as she was, but he did like it alot, and he was sure he could come to love it sharing it with her.

“Yay.” She clapped giddly, after searching his eyes for a moment, judging his sincerity. She hugged him tightly before sitting back, a serious look on her face. “Nathan..”

“Hales..”

“What kind of money are we talking about here. I know you told me we’d be okay, and I know you have money left over, and it’s your money..”

“It’s our money.” He corrected her.

“Well, then, can you tell me how much it is, I mean we’re about to buy a house I should know how much that’s going effect our finances.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, he knew she was right, she deserved to know where they stood. “If we get it at the asking price we’re pretty much drained.”

“Right..”

“I honestly thought it was more Haley, but I didn’t play for long, and between the wedding, and my, uh, lifestyle when I was playing, and I’ve spent since..” He trailed off, hoping she wouldn’t question him more on how he’d spent the money, he wasn’t proud of way he’d behaved after getting injured, didn’t want her tainted by the way he’d viewed the world back then.

“I know there’re things you don’t want to talk about Nathan.” She said, as though reading his mind. “That’s okay, I just needed to know. Maybe we can find something cheaper?”

“No, Hales, c’mon, you love this house.”

“Not as much as I love you, love us. There’s no point in us buying something we can’t afford if it doesn’t allow the luxury to live there the way we’d want to. Maybe we should stop looking for somewhere until you’re working too. Your parents wouldn’t mind us living here for a year or two right?”

He scowled at the thought, it was bad enough he had to rely on his parents as a single man, but as her husband he wouldn’t allow her to do the same. “No, we’ll get the house you want, Hales. We can afford it.”

“But you just said..”

“Just forget what I said for a minute. You want that house. I want that house. I want you to have that house. I’m going to make it happen for you. I told you, if it’s in my power I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. This, this I can do.”

“You promise?” She asked timidly not wanting to get her hopes up, she trusted him when he said it, that things would be okay, that they could have their dream house he’d make it work, but there was realism behind her suggestion. “I honestly don’t mind staying here for a while.”

“No, I’ll fix it. In fact...” He glanced over at the clock, relieved to see it was earlier than he’d initially thought. “I’m just going to go out for a while.”

“Nath..” Before she had his name out he’d got out of bed, kissing her forehead. “I’ll be back in an hour max, don’t worry, we’ll get the house. I’ll call first thing in the morning.”

“Nathan?!” She call him again, unsure of what had just happened, but he was already dressed and half way down the stairs, shaking her head she lay her head back on the pillow. Even through her confusion she couldn’t help the smile that graced her lips at the thought of that house, turning over she tucked the covers under chin, and fell asleep dreaming of the future she was sure her soon to be husband was securing for them.

“Nathan?” Deb questioned opening the door surprised to see her son in the door way at ten o clock at night. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh, is dad home?”

“Yeah, he’s in his study. Is everything okay?” She called as Nathan walked into the house.

“Yeah Mom, everything’s fine. Sorry for coming by so late.”

“Oh Nathan don’t be silly, it’s your home!”

“Yeah..” He answered distractedly, hugging his mother quickly before turning to walk to his father’s study, stopping and calling for his mom over his shoulder turning to look at her.

“Yes honey?”

“Let Haley make a few decisions okay? It’s her wedding. It’s our wedding.”

“What? I.. I don’t know what you mean. Of course I know it’s your wedding.”

Sighing he shook his head, knowing if he stayed here and went over this with his mother he’d never do what he came to. “Just think about it..”

Knocking on the open door he shoved his hands in his pockets, slightly rocking nervously back and forth.

“Nate, son, come in. Sit down.” Motioning the chair on the other side of the large oak table. “Drink?”

“No,” He answered gruffly, “I’m not staying long. I just need to ask you something?”

“Ask away..”

“Is your offer still on the table?”

“My offer?” Dan prodded, all the while knowing exactly what Nathan was talking about but wanting to hear him say it.

“Your job offer.” Nathan snapped back, knowing the game his father was playing. “You were right okay. It isn’t fair for me to marry Haley without being able to support her, like you said she deserves more than that. Let’s face it she deserves more than me whatever the circumstance.”

“You’ll be starting at the bottom.” Dan answered emotionless.

“I know.” Nathan answered with matching tone.

“You’ll get the same starting wage as anyone else.”

“I know.”

“You won’t get any special treatment.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t want this for you son.” Dan’s voice broke with emotion as he looked over at Nathan, disappointment for both of them shining in his eyes.

“I know..” Nathan said quietly, his eyes and tone matching his fathers.

“Haley!” Stopping short at the sound of her name being called the petite woman whipped her head around, her long blonde locks flying over her shoulder. “Hales!”

“Peyton!” Dragging her suitcase behind her Haley tried her best to weave in and out of the masses of people that blocked the small distance between herself and her friend. She wasn’t used to this many people in such a small space, and she’d been feeling a strong sense of unease ever since she’d gotten off her plane. The only times she’d been out of state in the past had been with Nathan. Growing up they couldn’t afford lavish family vacations and had instead stayed close to home with camping and day trips. It fuelled a need in her to travel, which was why she’d initially been so desperate to go to college out of state, to see the world that was beyond the state lines that confined her all her youth. If she stopped to think about it she’d question whether her unease was due to feeling uncomfortable around the mass of people surrounding her without her overprotective husband by her side, or simply because it brought some things to the forefront of her mind. Questions about the decisions she’d made, questions that had been fighting to be answered for a while now. Stopping herself before she could start thinking about the things she’d come on this trip to escape she dragged her suitcase behind her until she was stood in front of her childhood best friend. Wrapping their arms around each other the two attractive blondes held each other tightly.

“I’ve missed you.” Peyton told her, and Haley nodded against the taller girl’s shoulder in agreement. She really did miss her, she always knew it but not as much as she did now she was standing with her.

“Me too - I’m excited to be here!”

“Me too, thanks for coming Hales, it means alot!”

“Hey, I told you, I couldn’t miss this. Just promise when you’re some big shot rich and famous artist you won’t forget who was here at the beginning.”

“Haley.” Peyton laughed as she led them out of the airport. “At our junior high art show you had a go at Mr. Moody for spelling my name wrong next to my self portrait. It’d be hard to forget you!”

“Well, your drawing was the best, you deserved the credit.”

“He put an A instead of an O Hales, everyone knew it was me.” She laughed, as Haley shrugged completely unphased by her twelve year old actions.

“That’s not the point, you’re amazing Peyton. You were then, even more so now, and if anyone at this fancy schmancy art gallery spells your name wrong tomorrow I’ll threaten to hit them too.”

They laughed together, feeling like the teenagers they used to be as they hailed a cab.

“So what do you want to do - you’ve got me at your disposal all day.”

“Honestly?” Haley asked, causing Peyton to nod back after giving the driver her address. “I’ve already rang Nathan and left a message to say I arrived okay, now all I want to do is go back to your place, and have a shower and a nap.”

“I’m sure we can do that, and if Chris knows what’s good for him the bathroom’ll be clean and ready for you.”

“He cleans your bathroom for you?” Haley raised an eyebrow in disbelief. She was lucky if she could get Nathan to pick his own wet towel off the bathroom floor without asking him to do so, yet Peyton’s boyfriend cleaned hers for her.

“Well, it’s his bathroom too.” Peyton quipped without thinking, only realising what she’d said when Haley turned fully in her seat to look at her.

“Okay I thought it was bad you had a serious boyfriend you didn’t tell me about but you have a boyfriend who lives with you and you didn’t think it was worth telling me!”

Peyton sighed, she’d hope to save this conversation for later, after she’d poured her friend a couple of glasses of wine maybe. She knew Haley wouldn’t approve of how she and Chris had gotten together, and even though she knew Haley would never say it out loud, just knowing her friend would feel that way would slightly taint Peyton’s relationship for her.

“Peyton?” Haley prodded smiling, maybe she was a little hurt that the other woman hadn’t initially confided in her about her relationship, but if Peyton was living with this guy and joking about the fact it must mean she was happy, and Haley had always worried about Peyton being lonely in this big city.

“It just kind of happened.”

“Expand...” Haley made a circular motion with her hand, waiting for the story to unfold.

“I’d just sold a painting to the woman that ended up getting me this show..”

“I remember, you called and told me she’d heard about you from a friend and had connections.”

“Right. Well I had to go and work the late shift and I was on a high, she knew what she was talking about and she thought I was good.”

“You are good, Peyt, you’re great.”

Smiling thankfully, Peyton continued. “Chris was working the bar with me that night and he seemed genuinely happy for me when I told him. We’d been working together for a while, and he’d made the fact he wanted to sleep with me very clear, but I don’t know I guess he’d seemed sincere that night. He offered to take me out to celebrate and I thought why not you know? Might as well. Anyway one drink led to more, and we ended back at my place. Oh, don’t give me that look Haley, you’re no virgin, and not all of us get it on tap...”

“I do not get it on tap!” Haley whispered harshly, mindful of the fact they were in a cab, the driver in earshot, causing Peyton to laugh.

“I’m sure he’s heard much worse dude. Stop blushing. I’d put money on the fact that Nathan’s never turned you down when you want it.”

“Whatever - I’m not blushing.” Despite her protest Haley dipped her head making her hair blanket over her cheeks. “So you ended up back at your place.”

“and well, I guess he just never left. That was about five months ago...”

“Five Months!” Haley’s shout wasn’t hushed this time, offended that there’d been this secret between them for so long, conveniently forgetting the secrets of her own she’d been keeping.

“Well the first two months I kept thinking I’d get rid of him.” Peyton shrugged, before a blush pinked at her own cheeks. A look Haley wasn’t accustomed to seeing on her hardened friend. “But now..”

“Now..”

Peyton gave a small, self deprecating shrug as they pulled up at her apartment building. “Now I love him, Hales. I really love him.”

“Awwww!” Unable to stop herself Haley reached over and hugged Peyton tightly, which she only embraced for a second before pushing her away.

“Not a word to him though.” Peyton warned as they made their way inside the building and began walking up the stairs.

“You haven’t told him?”

“I will, in my own time, I’m just not quite ready.”

“Well I’m happy for you Peyt.” Haley said genuinely as she stood back letting Peyton slip her key into the lock.

“Yeah, I’m happy for me too...” Her words trailed off as both girls burst into laughter at the sight they were greeted with. A tall blonde man in tight jeans was dancing vacuuming the living room, seemingly obliviously to the fact someone had just entered the house singing loudly to himself as he went.

“Oooh if you wanna know if he loves you so it’s in his kiss - That’s where it is!”

“Haley Scott - I present to you Chris Keller..” Peyton laughed, as Chris stopped singing, practically tripping over the vacuum as he caught sight of the two women. Stumbling to stand up straight and look manly, coughing as if it would erase the high voice they’d just heard singing along with Cher.