Summary: Nathan and Haley have been best friends for as long as either of them can remember, but Nathan has always wanted more. What will he do when he finds out Haley's about to marry another man? Can he convince her she's meant to be with him? Or will he be too late…?

Author's Note: So I know starting another story is probably the last thing I should be doing right about now but I just couldn't help myself. For those of you who are wondering, Actions Speak Louder Than Words will be finished, I've just been having some writer's block that I'm trying to cure. The first thing I want you all to know is that this story is pre-written, there are chapters that still need to be changed and tweaked and parts that I'm unsure about so there will probably be a few days, maybe a week, between chapters but my biggest pet peeve has always been when writer's don't update and I'm so sorry that for my last story I started to become that writer. I can guarantee you that that won't happen with this story. Please review because I love feedback, opinions and constructive criticism, I'm here to learn and to improve so whatever you've got I'd love to here it. It really motivates me and makes my day. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it! Here it is!

December 11th 2010

"Haley, you're not doing it right!"

"How can I not be doing it right? It's just pushing buttons!"

"Let me see that." Nathan grabbed the controller from her hands.

"Hey!" She protested.

"Look," he tilted the controller towards her. "You have to push 'A' to pass and 'B' to shoot."

"You mean the green button and the red button?"

Nathan chuckled, he couldn't help it, she was just so damn cute. He put the controller back in her hands and wrapped his arms around her so that his hands were over hers on the controller, ignoring the sensations that coursed through his body as his skin touched hers.

"See, now we're running, and then you push this green button," Nathan pressed down on her thumb, "to pass and now, push the 'red button'," Nathan guided her thumb over to the red button and pushed down as the character on the screen shot the ball into the net.

"Yes! I scored!" Haley turned to Nathan, a smile lighting up her entire face and turning his insides to mush. "Did you see that Natey! I scored!"

"Hales," Nathan groaned, "how many times do I have to tell you to stop called me Natey."

"Aww," Haley teased. "Is 'Natey' not masculine enough for you? Would you prefer something more regal, like… Nathan Royal Scott?" Haley enunciated each word of his name.

"Oh, you asked for it!" Nathan grabbed her by the waist and started to tickle her mercilessly.

"Nathan!" Haley squealed as she tried to fight him off.

"Kinky…" Nathan and Haley spun around to see Brooke standing in the doorway to the living room.

"Brooke." Nathan sighed. "How did you get into my apartment?"

"I used Lucas' spare key." Brooke smiled smugly at him.

"Lucas gave you his…?"

"Okay, so maybe Peyton stole it for me, but this is an emergency. Haley has a date in less than three hours and, look! She's hasn't even started getting ready yet!"

Nathan cringed inwardly at the word 'date', just another reminder that Haley belonged to some other guy.

"Brooke, not everyone needs three hours to get ready for a date."

"Haley, this is special, just…trust me okay?"

Haley looked up at her friend, there was no point in arguing. Brooke always got her way. "Alright, let's get this over with."

"That's the spirit Hales," Nathan teased from his spot on the couch.

Haley turned and shot him a glare. "Shut it, Natey."

Nathan glared at the back of her head as she turned to leave the room. However, as his eyes travelled from the back of her head down her body, his gaze slowly became more and more heated.

He looked up as he heard Brooke clearing her throat.

He smiled sheepishly at her. He knew it was wrong, he shouldn't be checking out his best friend, but with Haley he just couldn't help himself.

"Look Nate," Brooke gave him a soft smile. "I'm rooting for you, I am, but you either need to act now or let her go, if you wait any longer, it's going to be too late." She held his gaze for a few more seconds as if she was trying to tell him something else, but before he could figure out what it was she had turned and left the room.

He was still processing what Brooke had said when he heard hushed voices at the front door. One of them was definitely Brooke, the other was masculine, it sounded like Lucas.

"Hey man." Lucas walked into the living room and parked himself on the couch, confirming Nathan's suspicions.

"NBA Live?" Nathan asked.

"Umm… I was thinking that maybe we could talk instead…"

Lucas sounded really apprehensive. Nathan put the controllers down and turned off the television before turning back to his brother. "Sure man, what's up?"

Lucas took a deep breath, he seemed to be choosing his words very carefully. "It's about Haley."

"What about her?" Nathan tried to keep his tone neutral. He knew that everyone knew he had feelings for Haley. Hell, he was surprised she didn't know herself.

"I think that if you want anything to happen between the two of you, you need to act now."

"Lucas, you know I can't. We're just friends, it would totally freak her out. I can tell she doesn't see us as more. It's better if I just wait, maybe eventually she'll realise…"

"Nathan, you don't have that luxury. Look, all I'm saying is that if you want to make a move, now's your time to make it, otherwise, you might be too late…"

"Lucas? What are you talking ab-"

"Look, I actually have to go, I can't really say anything more than I already have but just please trust me when I say that if you want to make a move, now's your time to make it." And with that, Lucas got up from the couch and headed out of the room. Nathan heard the front door shut a few seconds later.

First Brooke and now Lucas, why was everyone being so damn cryptic?

After almost three hours of curling, tugging, and arguing Haley was finally ready. She looked in the mirror to double-check her outfit. Brooke had put her in a strapless red dress that came down to mid-thigh. Her blond hair was carefully curled and pulled back away from her face with a clip and her make-up was natural, with the exception of her eyes, which Brooke had highlighted with eyeliner and smoky eye shadow.

"Brooke, I'm not sure. I mean this dress is kind of low, and it looks a little short."

"Haley," Brooke warned. "If I hear one more complaint out of you…"

"I love it, it's perfect, thank you Brooke, you're a goddess." Haley gave Brooke the fakest, sweetest smile she could muster.

Brooke just rolled her eyes and plopped down onto Haley's bed, picking up a magazine from the nightstand and flipping it open. "I'll be gone before you get back." Brooke smiled smugly.

"Brooke, do you know something you're not telling me…?"

"No! Just…I'm going to be at Julian's tonight if you need me, so give me a call there if you need anything. Although I don't think you will…" Brooke smiled cheekily.

"Brooke." Haley sighed. "Nothing's going to happen tonight. You kno-" Haley was cut off by the doorbell. "Okay, I have to go, make sure to lock the door when you leave, check before opening the door if you order take-out." Haley ticked off her fingers as she walked backwards towards her bedroom door, she was almost all the way out of the room when she stuck her head back in. "Oh, and if you eat anything from the fridge make sure to check the expiry dates."

"What am I? Five?" Brooke snorted before smiling. "Go on your date. Have fun, you deserve it Hales, and call me tomorrow to let me know how it went. I should be back at my place by then."

Haley smiled before heading towards the front door and swinging it open. "Hey," she smiled at the man standing in front of her. He was about six feet tall with short, curly brown hair and a boyish grin. He was lean, not thin, but not completely built either and he had deep brown eyes to match her own. "H-hi." He stuttered as he looked down at her. "You look gorgeous."

"Thank you." Haley smiled. "Shall we go?"

Adam smiled at that. "We shall."

Brooke waited until she had heard the front door close before hastily pulling out her cell phone and calling her scheming partner. "Did you talk to Nathan?" She asked frantically.

"Yeah," Lucas replied. "But he's too worried about ruining thier friendship. I don't think he's going to do anything."

Brooke groaned. "This is so not going to end well…"

Nathan was sitting at home playing Xbox when he heard frantic knocking on the front door. It was almost midnight and he couldn't imagine who would be here this late but he hurried to the door regardless. "Who is it?" he called out as he made his way closer.

"Nathan, it's me! Open up!" He could here Haley's voice and he sped up, pulling the door open in one swift motion and looking around for Haley. "What's wrong?" The words were out of his mouth before his eyes had even located her, but once they had, all the air flew from his lungs. "Wow, Haley, you look…you look…"

A bright blush coloured her cheeks and Nathan's eyes followed it down her neck to the top of her chest, where it disappeared under the top of her red dress.

"Nathan!" Nathan broke out of his trance at the sound of his name. "I know I should have waited until morning but you're my best friend and I had to tell you right away and…"

Nathan looked at the way she was bouncing with excitement and he chuckled lightly. "Woah, there. Slow down. What exciting news do you have for me?"

Haley flashed him a bright smile before raising her left hand to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. "I'm getting married!"

And for the first time in his life, Nathan's heart shattered into a million pieces.