Disclaimer: I do not own one tree hill the characters and the people except for the concept of this story.

AU

SUMMARY

Haley James lived a fine life, growing up as a daughter of one of America's well known musician Jimmy James it didn't surprise everyone in the business when she decided to follow her father's footsteps and starts making a name for herself. Just when everything was going well for her, as she's fast becoming a household name a tragedy will shake her perfect little fairytale life. Running away, she runs to the only person she knows will always...always be there for her.

Running as fast as she can as she slowly drowns in her own sorrows and regrets she'll meet someone who will either break her more or be the one to heal her. Nathan Scott. They say everything happens for a reason, but in the end is he/are they reason enough???

He Is-She Is

CHAPTER I

Running Away, Coming Home

LOS ANGELES

"Last night music's newest superstar Haley James was rushed to the hospital after she collapsed backstage at her supposedly first major concert, the venue was jam-packed and people were ecstatic to hear what the artist have in store for the night. But the excitement was soon turned into disappointment when Haley James' manager and friend Peyton Sawyer went onstage to announce the cancellation of the event.

In her announcement she apologized for the inconvenience and asked the people for their understanding and mentioned that her artist received devastating news before going on stage and collapsed. The manager didn't give further information as to what that "devastating news" was about. Meanwhile this morning Ms. James was reportedly released from the hospital. We have yet to receive a statement from Ms. James' camp" there reporter finished.

Peyton who was watching it turned the TV off. She stood up and silently made her way to the hallway of the James' mansion to Haley's room. She tried knocking but got no response, she knows Haley is in there she's been there since she got back from the hospital this morning, the room seems quiet now compared earlier when all she can hear are Haley's sobs. She feels bad, she feels helpless and all she wants to do is to make her friend feel better... but she can't, she knows there's nothing and no one can comfort her now but she will try, she loves her friend so much to let her go through this alone.

She carefully opened the door, what she saw broke her heart, there lying on the bed is Haley curled up into a ball, she's not sobbing, she's quiet but she knows better, she gently made her way to the other side of the bed so she can face her--

"Haley baby, I'm so sorry, i wish i could take you away from here, I wish I can turn back time but i can't...we can't, it's breaking my heart to see you like this, c'mon Haley talk to me, I'm here... I'll always be here" she tries to console her...her own tears silently falling. But nothing, she got nothing from her, it's as if she's not there, Haley's just looking right through her, her eyes blood shot, her face drained of color.

She stood up not before she bent down to kiss Haley's forehead and whispered in her ear "i love you Haley...we all do... we're here for you... Everything will be ok" and she quietly left the room leaving Haley still staring at nothing.

"What the hell was that Nathan?!!" a furious Dan Scott screamed in front of his son.

"What the hell was what?!!!" Nathan retorted.

"You don't know??? Are you seriously asking me??? Ok. Since you're so stupid I'll tell you what I'm talking about, that last shot Nathan, you missed that last shot!!! How long have you been playing Nathan??? How long??? I didn't train you all those years to do so horribly in the court!!!" Nathan just sighs... he's so used to this...and so tired of it his father has been breathing down his neck ever since he can hold a basketball in his hands and even after he's made a name for himself in the NBA playing for the charlotte bobcats for 2 yrs. now his father never failed to make him feel less of what he really is.

"Whatever dad!" as he starts to walk away he was stopped when his dad abruptly grab his arm and turn him around only to be met by a huge blow in the face. He didn't fall on the ground Dan was holding his arm to keep him steady this scene only reminded him of that time when he was 10 when Dan did almost the same thing to him the only difference was at that time he didn't punch him he kicked him so hard that if his dad wasn't holding onto him he'd be flying. But he's not 10 yrs. Old anymore and he's had just about enough from his father, after he recovered from the shock he found himself hitting Dan back.

He didn't know how many punches he has thrown at him he was surprised to see Dan's face covered with blood; he felt Lucas and some of his teammates holding him back now "Nathan! Stop it! You're going to kill him! Stop it!" Lucas yells while still holding onto him, after struggling for a bit, Lucas felt Nathan relax and decided to let him go their other teammates did the same thing.

"You're DEAD to me now...DAN!" he said calm but with an edge to his voice obviously trying to keep his cool before leaving a blooded Dan and the rest of his teammates.

"I can't believe you did that Nathan" Lucas said looking at his brother still shocked from last night's events they are now sitting inside their hotel room in Los Angeles.

"He deserves it. I would've killed the man if you didn't stop me" Nathan answered with gritted teeth. "I know he deserves it Nathan...but you don't deserve to be locked up in jail if you did end up killing him" he shook his head.

"Whatever Lucas, still, you should've let me finish him, he is the worst father in the world" he said before standing to go and grab a bottle of beer in the refrigerator.

"What are you going to do now? We're going home tomorrow, are you sure you want to go back to your house are you still going home with me?" Lucas asked. "Of course I'm coming home with you, but I'm not going back to our house, i have no plans of going back to that hell and seeing the devil himself." He answered irritated.

"Well you can always stay at our house, mom would love to have you" he smiled at him trying to lighten the mood.

"Thanks Luke. I'll just stay there for a few days, but can you help me find a house in Tree Hill? I've always wanted to buy my own house back home" he said taking a swig of his beer.

"That's cool man, it's about time you get your own place, don't worry we'll make sure it's nowhere near the devil himself". He assures him taking a swig of his own beer.

It was 9 in the evening and Haley finally moved after hours of being curled up like a ball, she lay flat on her back while staring at the ceiling "why?" her first word since last night as another set of tears trickle down her face. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and opened it again, if anyone could see her eyes right now, they wouldn't think she's still alive and breathing, her usually hazel brown doe eyes are now 10 times darker than it's normal color, but there's nothing there, it's empty & the tears have finally stopped falling.

She silently stood up and walks over to the other room where her walk in closet is, she grabs her huge Louis Vuitton luggage out of storage and started putting random clothes inside. She took everything and anything that would fit inside.

She left her walk in closet living the now full luggage behind and walk straight to her huge bathroom. She took off her clothes and immediately went under the shower, she didn't even bother to turn on the heat, and she didn't mind the cold, as the water hit her face she wished that somehow all of this is just a dream and that the cold will eventually wake her up from this nightmare. But nothing happened, she realized everything is real, everything that happened last night was real, and for the first time since she got the news she understand fully what it means now "I can't be here anymore. I want to die".

"Nathan!!! C'mon man we're going to miss our flight" Lucas calls from the bedroom.

"Five minutes" Nathan yells from the bathroom. Sure enough five minutes later he came out.

"Man what took you so long? Move your ass!" Lucas stood up from the bed and grabs his baggage and continues out the door.

Haley silently opens the door to her room, she checks the hall for people, she has no idea who's still in the house, and she hasn't come out since yesterday. When she's sure no one's watching she carefully drag her luggage out of her room, she silently curse on how big the James' house is, she decided to take the way to the balcony... she carried the luggage with all her strength and threw it out the balcony with a loud thud the luggage fell on their grassy garden. She then carefully motioned downstairs when she reaches the kitchen where the door to the garden is she saw a tray of food with a note:

HALEY I'M GOING HOME FOR A BIT I'LL BE BACK LATER, PLEASE EAT SWEETIE. I LOVE YOU. EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT-PEYTON.

She was touched but she can't bring herself to smile, she took a pen and started writing a note

GOT YOUR NOTE PEY, I HAVE TO LEAVE. I CAN'T BE HERE ANYMORE. I DON'T WANNA BE HERE ANYMORE. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. I CAN'T DO IT. IM SORRY. THANK YOU. –HALEY

She placed the paper back to the tray and made her way out the back door when she reached the garden she once again used all her might to drag her huge luggage to the garage where her car is parked. She didn't make an effort to be quiet now, knowing that Peyton isn't there anymore; no one can stop her from leaving.

She hurriedly loaded her luggage inside the trunk of her newly bought Pontiac solstice convertible car.

She was about to turn on the engine when she realized that the car is what she's been using to drive around town the past couple of weeks and knew that it will eventually attract people's attention most definitely the paparazzi.

She cursed under her breath "shit!" got out of the car took her luggage out and loaded it to another one of her car, a less expensive one but only a month older than the convertible and finally she was out of the James' mansion. She stopped for a few minutes outside the gate of the mansion, stared at the huge house and took a deep breath before uttering "goodbye mom, dad, I'm so sorry" and a tear fell just when she thought she's all cried out.