Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill

I am so sorry it took so long for an update I promise I'll be quicker next time.

Sorry Nate, Charli and anyone else who waited

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"What are you doing here?" Nathan yelled at his brother, now bent over Haley. He stared at Lucas, how dare he come marching into his home like that. "Get away from her!" he yelled as he stamped across the wood floor.

Lucas lightly shook Haley's body as he whispered her name. As her eyes numbly flickered open, Lucas felt the back of Nathan's hand against his head. Looking up into his brother's eyes, Lucas just shook his head smirking.

When Nathan bent down check on Haley, Lucas quickly pushed him away and pulled Haley to her feet. "Stay away from her Nathan." Lucas said in disgust before he walked away with Haley leaning on his shoulder. Nathan stood scowling at his brother.

"What was I supposed do?" he asked himself as he fell against the wall and began to slide down it. "I didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't!" he yelled at the empty apartment as he threw the coffee mug, which was sitting beside him, across the room.

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"Hey Nathan." Tim said as he jogged to catch up to his friend. "So you gonna be there tonight?" Tim waited anxiously for a response.

Nathan began to walk faster towards the school. "No."

Stopping dead in his tracks, Tim gripped the back of Nathan's jacket and whirled him around. "Why not?" Tim yelled, still holding his friend's jacket. "This is the biggest game of the season how could you not be there?"

"Tim let go of me." The young man slowly lost his grip as he stared at Nathan, who began to walk away again. "I'm quitting the team."

"Oh no you're not!" Tim argued as he followed Nathan like a lost dog. "Nathan come on we need you!"

Turning around to show Tim his anger and annoyance he said, "Tim would you shut up!" as he launched his fist into his friend's face.

Tim fell back, landing on the hard cement. He glared up at Nathan who continued to walk like nothing had happened.

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In class, the teacher walked around to collect the students' assignments. When she came to Nathan's desk and found that there was nothing to be collected on his desk, she was unhappy.

"And where might your work be Mr. Scott?" she asked in her threatening deep voice. After several minutes without an answer, she tapped him lightly on the shoulder and she repeated her question.

"I didn't do it okay?" he said in almost a yell. "What does it matter?"

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His next class went the same way. Only this teacher was a little less understanding.

"What do you mean you didn't do it Nathan? You had two weeks to put this thing together!" the teacher yelled.

"I mean I didn't do it. I didn't know what to do so I didn't do it!" Nathan stared at the teacher who grimaced at him. Inside of himself, he couldn't understand why he was doing this. 'This isn't who I am.' Nathan told himself. 'What's going on?'

"Nathan if you plan on continuing to act like this you'd better get out of my classroom right now!"

"Fine!" The frustrated student yelled pushing his books to the ground and angrily stomping out of the class. When he got to the hallway, Nathan slouched down against the wall and rested his head in his arms.

'Why am I doing this?' Nathan wondered as he let tears fall down his cheeks. Nathan struggled to keep the whimper inside of him. All he could think of was how he had betrayed the girl he loved most. She had loved him and given him second chances and he blew it.

Nathan wanted to blame his father like he did for everything else that went wrong in his life. But he couldn't. 'It's all your fault!' the little demon on his left shoulder yelled at him.

"It's not my fault." Nathan said in return. "It's not. I didn't mean to hurt people. It was just supposed to be ONE night of fun. Just one!"

Looking to his left he found that the demon on his shoulder was no little red man, but a young brown haired man. Nathan wanted so badly to believe it was his father, but it was himself. It was like looking in a mirror.

Nathan began to swat at his shoulder trying to get it off. "That's not me! That's not who I am! It's not me!" He yelled to anyone who'd dare to listen. Tears began to stream down Nathan's face and without realizing he broke into a loud whimper.

"Nathan, what's wrong?" Mouth asked gently as he approached him.

Nathan looked up at the small guy. He looked so much stronger than Nathan felt at the moment. "What do you want Teeth?"

"It's Mouth… What's wrong?" he asked again sitting down beside Nathan.

Nathan looked over at Mouth, his eyes so watery he could barely see. "Everything…" he said desperately. Nathan was amazed at the concern Mouth showed. "I don't know what to do." he said, his voice trembling.

Mouth took Nathan's hand. "You can tell me Nathan. I won't tell anyone."

Nathan poured himself out to the little guy who just sat there listening with amazement. Mouth took Nathan into his arms as he fell forward. The big basketball player felt so fragile in Mouth's arms.

"What am I gonna do?" Nathan asked Mouth.

"Really, all you can do is stop. I can help you find a rehab place. And you've gotta tell Haley, she deserves to know." Mouth smiled as they both stood up. "The bell should ring soon."

Nathan nodded his head. "So, you're still into Brooke?" Nathan asked trying to change the topic. Mouth smiled and nodded. "You should go for her she'd be lucky to have you." Nathan smiled as the bell rang.

They both turned different directions, when Nathan stopped and yelled out for Mouth. When their eyes met Nathan loudly whispered, 'Thank you'.

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Nathan met up with Haley in the cafeteria. He could sense the fear that he had put in her. As he stared into her eyes, Haley became impatient. "What is it Nathan?" she asked, fearful of what the answer might be.

Nathan took a deep breath then managed to utter half a sentence. "I need to…" he stopped. 'Well now you have to tell her.' He told himself. Sighing he started again. "I need to talk to you. Hale…" Nathan explained to her what had been going on lately, why he was acting so strange.

Haley just looked at him blankly. "Nathan how could you?" She said before turning away and disappearing into the large crowd.

"Haley wait…"

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So?

Please Review!

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Those who dance are considered insane by those who can not hear the music

-George Carlin