OTP Project -- "The People's Choice" [One Tree Hill, Nathan/Haley]
Title: The People’s Choice
Fandom: One Tree Hill
Pairing: Nathan x Haley (as seen by Peyton and Brooke)
Prompt: 001-OTP
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: One Tree Hill and its characters do not belong to me.
Summary: Season 1. Peyton’s glad to be an observer this year.
It was that time of the year again. Mating season. Peyton couldn’t take more than five steps without seeing some guy falling all over himself to get the attention of some girl who was too busy putting on make-up to make a guy notice her to notice that she was already being noticed. Shaking her head bemusedly, she stepped outside and into the sun where people were milling around, giggling, flirting, sending smoldering signals to one another. Some little part of her almost wished she were participating, but then another part-a much bigger, saner part-reminded her of the disaster with Lucas and she was quite satisfied to be a simple observer.
“Looks like love is in the air, huh?” Brooke suddenly chirped in her ear, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“More like lust,” Peyton replied a bit dryly, lips quirking up in a smirk.
“Cynic.” She bumped Peyton’s hip playfully and regarded the mass of pairs before them. “Interesting mix this year, isn’t it?”
“Mm,” Peyton nodded in agreement. “I wonder who’ll be the people’s choice.”
Brooke considered for a moment, tapping a finger against her pursed lips. Then, eyes lighting up, she pointed and said, “My money’s on them.”
Peyton followed Brooke’s finger to see Nathan and Haley standing under a tree. Nathan was smiling down at her, flashing his dashingly white teeth and Haley was laughing, fiddling with the colorful bracelet on her wrist.
“Jock and tutor girl,” Brooke said. “I mean, who knew? It’s so adorable. Much cuter than jock and cheerleader.”
“Hey.” Peyton cut her eyes at the other girl in mock-annoyance.
“No offense.”
“Believe me,” Peyton laughed lightly, “none taken.”
And really, she wasn’t offended. Haley was good for Nathan. He needed someone like her, someone who would force him to be himself, someone he could open up to, someone he could maybe fall in love with. She always knew she wouldn’t be that kind of girl for him; she couldn’t be. How could she be someone like that for him, when she needed someone like that for herself?
“You okay, P. Sawyer?” Brooke’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“Yeah.” She smiled reassuringly at her friend and then at the couple, now standing a few inches closer than before. “You know, I think they get my vote, too.”
Brooke squeezed Peyton’s shoulder gently and the two girls went on their way, glancing at their new favorite lovebirds as they passed and felt a swell of happiness, and Peyton, perhaps, left school that day with an appreciation for mating season.
Fandom: One Tree Hill
Pairing: Nathan x Haley (as seen by Peyton and Brooke)
Prompt: 001-OTP
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: One Tree Hill and its characters do not belong to me.
Summary: Season 1. Peyton’s glad to be an observer this year.
It was that time of the year again. Mating season. Peyton couldn’t take more than five steps without seeing some guy falling all over himself to get the attention of some girl who was too busy putting on make-up to make a guy notice her to notice that she was already being noticed. Shaking her head bemusedly, she stepped outside and into the sun where people were milling around, giggling, flirting, sending smoldering signals to one another. Some little part of her almost wished she were participating, but then another part-a much bigger, saner part-reminded her of the disaster with Lucas and she was quite satisfied to be a simple observer.
“Looks like love is in the air, huh?” Brooke suddenly chirped in her ear, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“More like lust,” Peyton replied a bit dryly, lips quirking up in a smirk.
“Cynic.” She bumped Peyton’s hip playfully and regarded the mass of pairs before them. “Interesting mix this year, isn’t it?”
“Mm,” Peyton nodded in agreement. “I wonder who’ll be the people’s choice.”
Brooke considered for a moment, tapping a finger against her pursed lips. Then, eyes lighting up, she pointed and said, “My money’s on them.”
Peyton followed Brooke’s finger to see Nathan and Haley standing under a tree. Nathan was smiling down at her, flashing his dashingly white teeth and Haley was laughing, fiddling with the colorful bracelet on her wrist.
“Jock and tutor girl,” Brooke said. “I mean, who knew? It’s so adorable. Much cuter than jock and cheerleader.”
“Hey.” Peyton cut her eyes at the other girl in mock-annoyance.
“No offense.”
“Believe me,” Peyton laughed lightly, “none taken.”
And really, she wasn’t offended. Haley was good for Nathan. He needed someone like her, someone who would force him to be himself, someone he could open up to, someone he could maybe fall in love with. She always knew she wouldn’t be that kind of girl for him; she couldn’t be. How could she be someone like that for him, when she needed someone like that for herself?
“You okay, P. Sawyer?” Brooke’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“Yeah.” She smiled reassuringly at her friend and then at the couple, now standing a few inches closer than before. “You know, I think they get my vote, too.”
Brooke squeezed Peyton’s shoulder gently and the two girls went on their way, glancing at their new favorite lovebirds as they passed and felt a swell of happiness, and Peyton, perhaps, left school that day with an appreciation for mating season.