"Wasn't That Drunk" - Josh Abbott Band ft. Carly Pearce

Nathan Scott can't remember the last time he stepped foot in his former haunting ground, Club Electric— or Tric, for short. He may have been too drunk, or, if he is being totally honest, it really was just that long ago— six months, at least. Work keeps him busy. Though he once dreamed of traveling the globe, discovering and signing the most promising athletes from all over the world, Nathan feels that same dream starting to dwindle. He's tired. Tired of running, of never feeling settled, of cold, empty hotel rooms.

On his 34th birthday, just last month, he decided he wants to finally bury his roots in one place— to grow and stand tall, perhaps plant a few seeds around a white picket fence. He isn't sure where, or even when it will happen, but it's a new dream— one he does not want to push to the side, like so many others.

When his brother, Lucas, invited him out tonight, he almost said no. Nathan's flight from London only landed this morning and the jet lag, already pulling at his eyelids and settling like dust between his muscles, had him wanting to crawl into bed at six pm. But Nathan is also tired of missing everything— far too often, he can't even grab a beer with the guys because he's either in a different city, or working well past midnight. He couldn't say no, not again. Six months is way too long to go without having any fun for himself. Nathan is finally in Tree Hill again, it's Friday night, and he's still young.

As he walks closer to the bar, inhaling the specific musk of dry beer and sweaty bodies, Nathan realizes how much he misses this. Normalcy. Familiarity. The bars and pubs in strange cities are not the same. In Tric, a piece of his heartbeat is in the pulse of the music. His name is scrawled somewhere beneath the wooden bar. It's home.

He sees his friend Chase, the bartender, first, and greets him with a grin, "Hey, old man."

"Nate!" Chase's voice vibrates over the music, "welcome back. Where'd you go this time?"

"England," he shrugs, "scouting soccer players."

"Find any new David Beckham's?"

A chuckle, then a sigh of thanks, leave Nathan's lips when Chase places a tallboy in front of him, "I don't know about that."

"How long are you home for?"

Nathan shrugs again, "indefinitely. I probably won't be taking any new assignments for a while. I need a break."

Chase nods, "I don't blame you."

"What's new around here?"

"Not much. Same old shit. Chuck's Dad is still an asshole to him. Lucas and Peyton are on-and-off again for the third time this week, Brooke's still being a bridezilla according to Julian, oh, and Mia is recording a new album, so I guess that's good."

Nathan's fingers drum against the greasy bar top as he smiles, "good to know some things never change."

"That's the gist of it, but I'm sure they'll catch you up on everything," Chase gestures with a wet rag to a table in the back of the dark bar, where, Nathan can vaguely see his friends are seated, looking tipsy, if not drunk already.

"Actually," Chase clears his throat as Nathan stands. The tips of his lips curve into a slow smirk, "Haley James asked about you recently."

"She did?" The question spills from his lips so quickly that Nathan almost chokes on his beer, "I mean, uh, that's nice." So much for trying to sound nonchalant, Nathan silently berates himself. "Is she here tonight?"

"She is," Chase's smile wears a teasing halo, "you should go catch up."

Nathan hopes his friend can't see the glowing red on his cheeks and, instead, rolls his eyes, "I'm sure we will at some point."

Chase seems to be convinced that Nathan has feelings for Haley - and vice-versa, though, nothing between the two friends ever occurred. Nathan swears Chase does it just to get a rise out of him. They all know Haley James is far too good for Nathan Scott.

"Maybe now's your chance," his voice drops as he inconspicuously glances over Nathan's left shoulder, then winks at him. Haley James is making her way right towards them.

"What?" Nathan asks. He can't hear Chase's mumble over the loud bass.

Chase doesn't answer, only smirks again as Nathan feels a small body brush beside him. He smells soft vanilla first. The scent is a wave of intoxication— he could get drunk on it faster than the Budweiser. His head turns to follow the warm scent and a smile blooms instantaneously. Haley James is standing right beside him, wearing a dress the color of daffodils which molds to her curves like clay. Thanks to Nathan's obvious height advantage, he is able to get an uninterrupted view of her tasteful cleavage. He doesn't want to stare, so his eyes roam upwards, appreciating another one of her gorgeous curves: Haley's smile. Her lips are full and painted a muted red, tilting upwards in a tantalizing grin. When Nathan's eyes meet hers in a shy stare, his heart teeters on the edge of a cliff, ready to make the jump.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. World Traveler," she says with a smile, "how are you, Nathan?"

Nathan's mouth twitches into a smirk, "I'm good," he stutters after a sip of his cold beer, "I mean, I'm doing well," he corrects quickly, "I almost forgot you're an English teacher."

Haley's soft giggles are what Nathan imagines the sun sounds like, "it's ok," she says, "I won't take any points off this time, Mr. Scott."

His body warms and muscles soften as if he's standing in front of a lit fireplace, "it's really good to see you, Hales. How are you?"

"Not too bad," she says coyly, "teaching keeps me busy."

"Still singing?"

"Sometimes," she tucks a piece of her honey blonde hair behind her ear and bites her lip. Nathan smiles.

"Tonight?" He's hoping to hear her sing— the first time, right here at Tric a few years ago, he swore he sound the voice of an angel.

Haley shakes her head, "sorry, I need the night off."

Nathan nods. He understands that, "there's always next time, right?"

"Definitely."

They trade soft smiles before Nathan speaks again.

"What're you drinking?"

"Merlot."

He catches Chase's roaming eyes and gestures him over, "two Merlots please."

Chase eyes Nathan skeptically. "Since when do you drink wine?"

"Shut up," he grumbles as he pulls out his wallet and slams a twenty down.

Chase chuckles, then nods at Haley. "How's it going?"

"Pretty well," she returns the friendly nod. "How're things with Mia?"

"Better than ever," he's grinning as he pours the bottle of Merlot into two wine glasses. Haley accepts hers with an eager sip, and Nathan waits to clink his glass against hers for a friendly cheers.

"Nathan here just got back from England," Chase says abruptly. Nathan cuts his eyes at the bartender, aware of his not-so-subtle way of playing wingman.

"Really?" Haley drawls, looking back at Nathan. She takes the opportunity to study him in the fluorescent lighting of the bar. He's wearing dark, faded wash jeans that are sculpted to his long legs and a tight grey t-shirt with a small pocket in the left corner of his chest. It's simultaneously simple yet sexy— especially the way the t-shirt clings tightly to his biceps, defining the muscles like a neon highlighter. She licks her lips when the muscle flexes as Nathan curls the wine glass to his lips again. Haley's eyes flash across his face, admiring the dark stubble growing along his jaw. She guesses he didn't shave for the last two or three days— it looks good. Really good. "What's it like? I've always wanted to go to London."

Nathan stops glaring at Chase and softens at Haley's question. She's staring at him with her big brown eyes, curious and interested. For as long as he's known her, Haley is always so kind and warm-hearted. Nathan could talk to her for days and never grow bored.

"It's great," he says, "I've been there quite a few times, and London's probably one of my favorite cities. There's so much to see and do, especially if you're into the arts and history. I'm mostly a fan of their pubs and food, though."

Haley rests her elbow on top of the bar and leans closer to Nathan, as if wanting to inhale every word he says, "that sounds amazing. I hope I have the chance to go one day."

"I'm sure you will. You'd really love it there," he takes a long sip of the dry wine and nearly coughs after he swallows.

"I'm hoping for this summer. My sisters and I want to take a tour of Europe. Italy, Spain, France, England…" she trails off as she, too, takes a hearty swig of the Merlot. Nathan notices it looks like it goes down a lot easier for her.

"Definitely let me know if you go," Nathan's voice sounds husky to her ears, "I'll give you some recommendations."

"I'd appreciate that. Thank you."

They stand at the bar, talking until their legs hurt— all the stools had been taken. They talk more of Nathan's travels and he admits his job is getting old. Haley understands. She confesses she loves teaching but wants more— she's considering going back to school to pursue school administration. Chase pours them each another glass of wine. Haley thanks Nathan for paying again. She blushes when he compliments her smile for the second time, telling her how much he missed seeing it when he was away for so long. Haley toys with her hair and bites her lip, listening with rapt fascination as Nathan tells her about a young boy he met while traveling in India. She talks of her family and students, apologizing for rambling, then blushing again when Nathan tells her it's cute. Chase walks by for the third time that night, filling their glasses to the brim. Haley feels her legs start to sway when she has another long sip. Nathan laughs, then reaches out to steady her.

"Wanna dance?" He asks.

"Yes!" Haley shouts over the music and grabs his hand. Their fingers interlock and Nathan gently pulls her towards the crowded dance floor. He realizes, then, that he hadn't even said hello to his other friends yet. He and Haley had been in their own little world the whole night— and they remain in the same little world right there on the dance floor.

Haley twirls in his arms, laughing wildly over the pop song neither of them have ever heard before. Nathan laughs along, then dips her back until her long hair skims the floor. Next thing he knows, she's bouncing up and down, completely off beat to the music, and pretending to sing along with a new song. She looks crazy and beautiful and sexy and Nathan can't look away.

"What?" She asks.

"You're drunk," the words slur. He's drunk, too.

Haley tries to roll her eyes, but blinks half-way, "No, I'm not."

Nathan chuckles at the sound of her indignation, "yes, you are."

She stumbles forward, then lands in his arms, "okay, maybe a little bit."

He laughs. The sound is a tickle in her ear. She looks up at him, eyes wide.

"What?" He echoes her earlier words in a soft whisper.

"I want you to kiss me."

Nathan's tongue darts out to wet his dry lips, "I want to kiss you, too."

"So do it."

He does. Softly at first, as if asking permission before entering a secret gate. Haley's arms sloppily wind around Nathan's neck, pulling him closer. She doesn't want him to pull away. Not yet. He's happy to stay like that. Their tongues, both coated in a thin veil of wine, intertwine and curl around each other, fighting for control. When the need to breathe becomes too much, Haley reluctantly pulls away and stares at Nathan through hooded eyes.

"Wow," a dopey look crosses his face. The wine rushes through his veins like a turbulent sea. He knows that, whatever happens tonight, they can blame it on the Merlot in the morning. But for right now, tomorrow isn't real.

The song changes and Nathan shuffles his feet, swaying his body like a bouey in the ocean. Haley laughs at him, "is that what you call dancing?"

She twirls around the floor, taunting him and teasing him with her flirty looks. They laugh and dance and kiss until Chase shouts 'last call.' Haley squeezes Nathan's hand when she looks up at him again, innocence swimming among the dilated pools of her pupils, "let's share a cab back to my house."

He laughs, feeling his body being pulled along by her delicate hand, and says okay before the word even registers inside his brain.

The rest of the night unfolds in a series of rapidly moving images: Haley's lips on his in the back of the cab, his fingers brimming along the silky skin of her smooth thighs as the windows begins to fog. The driver shouts to gain their attention, announcing their arrival at Haley's house on the edge of town. Nathan fumbles for his wallet, throwing the older man a twenty, then laughs along with Haley after he speeds off mumbling something about acting worse than a pair of horny teenagers.

Her hand slips in his back pocket, letting out a soft moan at the feel of Nathan's lips on her neck as she unlocks the front door. Their arms and lips tangle, bodies bumping into walls carelessly. Hushed giggles and breathless moans fill the air. They fall, bodies still huddled together, onto Haley's bed — somehow, both shirtless, chests heaving.

Nathan feels the edges of Haley's blunt nails raking along the muscular plains of his wide back, his lips lowering to the dampness between her bent knees. While he licks, sucks, nips, and laps, Haley's moans get louder until she's screaming his name. Her dress and underwear now a crumpled mess on the floor, she peels off Nathan's jeans and boxers like unwrapping a gift. Haley's eyes widen before swallowing him whole. Nathan grunts, sighing contently and runs his fingers through her honey hair.

"I can't believe we're doing this," he mumbles.

Haley smiles after swallowing, "whatever happens, right?"

He nods, then flips her gently so she's on her back again. Haley's soft giggles wrap around his like a warm blanket.

"You're so beautiful, Haley."

Her blush spreads across her entire body. He kisses her, languidly, as their hands meet over her head in q gentle squeeze. Nathan's mouth leaves a trail of soft kisses, landing on her breasts. "You sure you want to do this?" He asks, looking into her hooded brown eyes. Even though he'd been drinking, the last thing he'd ever want to do is take advantage of a woman- especially Haley.

She nods, eagerly, says yes and kisses him again with every bit of fire burning in her body. Nathan places himself, hard and throbbing, at the base of her dripping entrance. Haley's hands are everywhere; gripping his hair, squeezing his firm ass, clawing his back— anything to encourage what she so desperately wants him to do.

"Please," the word comes in a soft whisper. It's the last approval he needs before he plunges himself deep into her soft, tight, aching folds. Her cry of pleasure echoes in the dark room. Nathan's thumb is a blur of movement above her tiny bundle of nerves, pushing her closer to the edge as he strokes faster and deeper into her heat. It happens fast; the fire burning the room around them, leaving nothing but searing ashes.

They unravel, coming undone in a simultaneous crescendo, before falling together in a content slumber of sweaty limbs and heavy breaths.

. . .

In the morning, Nathan is awoken by a stream of the sun's white rays soaking through Haley's blinds. Sober now, he's worried. Worried he might have pushed her too far. She was drunk. So was he. What if she regrets it?

He stares at her white ceiling, afraid to move. Haley's soft snores are an echo to the sound of his heartbeat. She looks peaceful. Content. Her lips are curved in the slope of a gentle smile. He doesn't want to leave, because even though he was drinking, lying next to her right now still feels right. With the morning came the dawn of the truth: Nathan's feelings for Haley were never quite friendship. There was always something more— it took a few glasses of Merlot for him to admit it.

Haley feels Nathan staring. She's afraid to open her eyes, terrified he'll say it was a mistake. They were drinking, yes, but she wanted him — wanted him long before last night even happened. To hear him say it meant nothing would inflict the worst type of heartache. She'd never regret being with him.

"What are you thinking about?" She jumps when he hears the throaty sound of his voice. It's enough to send a row of chills to the edge of her spine.

"How did you know I was awake? My eyes were closed," Haley says, beginning to sit up as her eyes peel open. Sure enough, she is met with the blue ocean of Nathan's eyes.

"I could feel you worrying," Nathan's lips tilt to a sideways smile, indicating he can see right through her. She shivers again, smiling when he pulls the thin white sheet to her shoulders, thinking she was cold. The simple action makes her heart rate spike.

"I was just thinking about last night…" Haley admits quietly.

"I know we had a lot to drink, Hales, but if you're thinking that it didn't mean much, it did. It does," Nathan says strongly. "At least for me."

A wide smile breaks her face. Nathan notices just how beautiful she looks, even in the morning with her hair astray and eyes streaked with makeup. She's still breathtaking.

"It meant something to me, too," Haley adds. "I might have been tipsy when we first kissed but it wasn't the wine that made me kiss you back."

Nathan tentatively reaches out to lace his fingers through hers. They share a smile, "the truth is, Haley, I've wanted to kiss you for a really long time, I just never had the courage to do so."

"Really?"

He nods, "I was scared. But then last night, everything happened so fast…"

"I wouldn't change a thing," Haley adds quickly, soothing his worries with a gentle squeeze of his hand, "waking up next to you feels so right."

"I was thinking the same thing," he grins before kissing her forehead softly, "I guess I was just worried you'd wake up and realize it was the wine…"

Haley shakes her head quickly, wanting to put an end to his doubts, "Nathan, I wasn't that drunk."

He chuckles, but she's serious, "I remember everything we did."

"So do I," he whispers.

"And I want to do it again," she sounds innocent but the look in her eyes is enough to cause a stirring deep below his belly. A smirk crosses his lips, "so do I," he repeats, "and again and again and again…"

Haley giggles, "I'd be okay with that."

When they kiss, she realizes it'd be more than okay.

It'd be perfect.

The end :)