"Haley, stop stealing my french fries!" He yelled, only half pissed off. It was hard for him to be angry at her, she looked so damn cute when she ate.

"Hey, I can't help that you eat slow. Come on, you're a guy, your food is supposed to be gone seconds after it is set in front of you," she retorted between bites.

"Excuse me for trying to have a conversation with my best friend!" Nathan replied with a smile.

"Aww, I'm sorry," Haley said, "Here, you can have the rest of my milkshake. You know how I'm a softie for pathetic people." She laughed, lighting her whole face up, and leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm just kidding, you know I love you. And I swear, you're only kind of pathetic."

"Thanks Hales, I really appreciate that" Nathan said with a laugh. But the real reason for the smile on his face went beyond his best friend's attempt to be funny.

"Well I have to run, I have a tutoring session. Enjoy the rest of your fry-less dinner!" She said as she walked out the door laughing.

The sound of her laugh sounded so beautiful to Nathan, making his heart jump.

Haley James had been Nathan Scott's best friend since they could talk. Their mother's were best friends who were connected by living a life of single parenthood. Nathan's mom owned a café and ever since Haley was little she had dinner there almost every night since her mom was constantly working. Haley and Nathan naturally became best friends as kids due to their mother's relationship, but at some point, at least for Nathan it became something more than that.

"You know Nate, someday you have to tell her" She said as wiped down the table Nathan was sitting at.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Nathan denied as he felt his cheeks burning.

"You have loved Haley for a long time; I can see it when you look at her. In fact, I think everyone can see it but Haley" Deb said with a little laugh, smiling at her son knowingly.

"Or maybe she's avoiding it because she is not interested" Nathan said irritably.

"You're wrong son. She may not realize it, but she loves you just as much as you love her. Just think about telling her, okay?"

"Maybe," he replied, feeling defeated.

"Hey tutor bitch!" Brooke screamed with fake excitement.

"Good morning to you too slut," Haley said sarcastically.

"Whatever just explain this freaking geometry to me. I don't want to be seen with you any longer than I have to." She huffed.

"Sounds fine to me. Okay, well to find the degree of the unknown in a trapezoid you have to know the formula…" Haley began to explain.

"Hey boyfriend!" Brooke said, jumping out of her seat into Lucas Scott's arms.

"Hey pretty girl. You done here?" Lucas said, nodding towards the tutor.

"Sure, I've learned enough for one day! See you Kaleigh." Brooke replied before she started heavily making out with her boyfriend.

"It's Haley." She huffed.

"Rough day?"

"You have no idea, and school hasn't even started! I hate cheerleaders and their stupid jock boyfriends!" Haley said out of frustration as her best friend put his arm around her in an attempt to calm her down.

"At least you aren't related to one of those stupid jocks" Nathan said with disgust.

"Sometimes it's hard for me to remember that you two are brothers," Haley said as she watched Nathan flinch at the word, "You are absolutely nothing like Lucas." Haley said, glaring at Lucas who was still nearby.

"Wow that may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Nathan replied with sincerity.

"Come on, let's just get to class, I don't want to think about them."

Haley grabbed Nathan's hand and began to pull him down the hall, not realizing the sensation she was sending through Nathan's body.