So here is my next try at this writing thing. I just want to say THANK YOU to those who read Perfection and left me reviews. They meant so much to me. I in no way believe I am as talented as most of you here, but to know that what I wrote was good enough for you to take time and tell me what you thought.

Again, it meant so much to me!!!

AND REVIEWS ARE WELCOME!

The Road Less Traveled

Nathan's POV

Today was that day…our first day as husband and wife; for the second time, I never thought in the first place I would find someone to love and fall so hard that I would get married as a junior, but more that that… I never thought that person would be Haley James. Wow, that still surprises me... Haley, my brother's best friend…

That extremely smart, intelligent girl that seems to be the perfect woman is mine all mine. I never hung out with her at school for the obvious reasons (Lucas), but also because she never wanted to be near my crowd of friends, well unless she was tutoring them. I of course was NEVER seen in the tutor center, no matter how bad I was doing. (That Scott pride…)

A once sworn enemy and is now my breath. She is now that keeps my heart beating and makes me want to be a better man for not only her, but for myself. A better man... should I say better than Dan, better than the man he was building me to be. The kind of man, who thinks of others, cares for others feelings, a man who does not try to destroy others to make themselves feel good. It took Haley to make me realize that was the kind of man I was being.

Think about it… I tried to see Haley to get back at Luke. I was positive I could make her fall for me, and then crush her… which in turn would only kill Lucas. I guess in my selfish mind it never hit me that it would back fire on me… in the best way possible. I met the most interesting, sincere, loving person in the world and in such a short time I fell madly in love.

I know it isn't very manly and tough to be so soft when it comes to "LOVE", but I have never had the best role models to learn from. I never knew before Haley that it was possible to be this much in love. Haley became the only person I felt I could turn to. The only person I loved every inch of my being. I am not sure when my love for her grew… I still remember the day I knew I loved her.

I of course was dealing with all of Dan's mess and trying to get ready for another important basketball game. A game I was determined to win and beat him once after all; to take his scoring record. I got so caught up in it and I took those stupid pills which made me act like a complete mirror of my father. Talk about ironic. I was so mean to Haley. I would just have slapped me at the way I was treating her. The moment I hit that floor, literally, and everything became so blurry I became so scared. Not for my own well-being, b the thought that I screwed up with her and I wouldn't be able to fix it. It was killing me not to be able to tell her sort and hug and kiss her.

When I got to her house that night after leaving the hospital, I could hear the worry in her voice. She sounded so helpless and sad while she was talking to my machine. I could tell that no matter how much she was mad at me, she still cared so much about me. It was the moment she just held me and kissed me that I knew I loved her. The whole night she just kept her arms wrapped around me, giving m e sweet kisses and running her hands through my hair.

Now… I am a very masculine man, but every once in a while you need to be vulnerable and have someone show that they will be there to help pick up the pieces when everything seems to be going wrong. Someone you can trust with all your being. I fell for Ms. Haley James that night, but I was so scared to tell her. I was not sure if she felt the same way. I didn't want to scare her away so I held my tongue. I just reveled in my love for her and waited till I couldn't hold it any longer.

After all the times I kept screwing up, she forgave me each time and only showed me compassion and an open accepting mind. I just had to tell her how I felt, but I didn't know how. It wasn't until I saw my basketball jersey number on her back that I knew that she was feeling something serious as well. With all her stressing over the topic of sex I knew I need to tell her that I loved her and it wasn't about that for me. I was with her because I needed her, all of her, not just sex. All my last relationships had been about that and frankly those relationships sucked. They never in any way could compare to what I was feeling with Haley.

A lot of people never believed we could make it as a couple, and especially after we got married. It was frustrating for us for a while. People thought we only got married because maybe she was pregnant… it was just so hard for them to believe that we were married because we wanted forever to start now… we wanted to be together as husband and wife and share everything we have with each other. I don't blame those people for not having faith; I mean we are only 17! Hell, there were times when I didn't think we could pull this out.

It was tough being married. Worrying about things I never had to before like money… especially money… It was just so hard for me to adjust to watching my spending and what I was using my money for, as well as earning my own money. It did help to have Haley there to support me. We were a great team. She loved me with all she had and all she wanted in return was my love and heart and it was a gift I gladly gave to her. With all the hardship, the good was by far out weighing the bad. She was a drug for me, one I needed to survive every day; to make me happy.

When Haley left for the tour and follow her dreams, I became lost in a nightmare where there didn't seem to be a moment where I could wake up. I was stuck in the darkest of places, and nothing or no one could find me. My life was shattering around me and one of that mattered or did I care. I had already lost the first and only person I ever truly cared about, and without her in my life and arms… I did not care about my own well-being. I suppose in some way crashing that race car was my intention. I needed a real pain, a physical pain to help me forget that pain that resided in my heart. I just wanted to forget about it for a second; to feel something else.

When she came home, when she came back… I wanted to hold her hand so bad, to feel her small petite frame up to my body. I wanted to have the warmth of her body help warm up my cold heart. To bring a light into the darkness and help pull me out…but my pride kept me from doing anything. My pride kept me from telling the one person I loved that I missed her more than words could ever begin to explain and I love her with all my soul.

Instead, I ran. I ran to Florida to high-flyers to get away. If she left me for her dreams, I wanted her to feel that pain she left me with…so I left the day after she came back to me. I followed my dreams… except it never occurred to me that SHE was my dream. I spent everyday building my game, strengthen my game, and more than that… creating a strong wall to help shield and protect me from her when I returned.

When I did return t was hard. I had to see her everyday at school, to see how sad she was and how horrible others treated her and all I could do was put on my Scott front and act like it didn't bother me. I was still so hurt that she left me, left us, but it was hurting worse not having the one I loved more than myself not with me. To help me get through the day.

I am still amazed in how much the heart can endure. Through all the pain, anger, sadness I had the chance to fall in love with my soul mate for the second time. We were smart about this. We took our time, found ourselves and got to know each other. It was not east to overcome, but in one instance I knew I could never live without her…1 moment… BANG!

The moment that someone was in our school with a gun, and knowing Haley was there and in danger… I knew I could not lose her again. I let her leave for that tour and I didn't fight for he, I just shut down… I was not going to do that this time. I was willing to risk my life to save her. I had already learned I could not survive without her and I was willing to lose my life to know she was safe. I needed her more than oxygen or water. I love her, I love my beautiful Haley… always and forever.

OK, please be kind, and REVIEW PEOPLE!!!