1st Chapter

Again I go unnoticed

Haley watched as Chris' bus drove away. When the big blue bus was out of sight, she felt an unexpected emptiness. It wasn't in her heart, because she obviously didn't love Chris, but it was definitely there, in her stomach. She realized that the emptiness had replaced her hopes and dreams: hopes that she'd make her dreams come true, dreams of adventures and beautiful places and everything else that she'd just missed by letting that bus leave. After realizing that she'd been staring at the spot where she'd last seen him for the past 20 minutes, she thought that maybe, just maybe, she also missed Chris. But they were nothing more than friends. Okay, maybe a little more. But she loved Nathan, nothing more to it.

When she walked through the apartment door, she noticed that all of the lights were off. She found Nathan in the bed, already asleep and dreaming peacefully. She got changed before getting into bed beside him. Even in his sleep, he turned over to wrap his arm around her. She'd always felt safer and happy in his arms. She tried to fight away the feeling that he was holding her back but it persisted until he whispered "I love you Hales." And kissed the back of her head. She sighed once for Chris then let it go. She'd never been happier than when she was with Nathan and she didn't want to lose him, not for the world. "I love you too." She whispered before falling asleep in the arms of her Nathan.

So quiet, another wasted night,

Television steals the conversation.

Exhale, another wasted breath,

Again it goes unnoticed.

"Hey tutorwife!" Brooke exclaimed when she saw her the next day at school. "I've decided to try out for class president and out of all of my friends, you're the one who's help I need most."

"That's a great idea Brooke!" Haley replied sincerely.

"Really? I thought you told Lucas that I was an air-headed cheerleader. You even told me that your idea of a perfect date is me getting run over by a bus." Brooke reminded. She'd always wanted Haley to like her.

"At first I did, but then Lucas told me to give you a chance and I did. You're really great Brooke. Lucas would be lucky to have you." Haley told her.

"You mean Felix is lucky to have me." Brooke attempted to correct her.

"If you say so." Haley said before walking off to English class. Brooke just stood there, stunned.