So I've decided to start this fanfic that has to do with episode 2.20 of One Tree Hill. That's the one where Nathan is in a coma after his racing accident and has a dream where Dan married Karen. At the end of the episode Nathan wakes up and tells Haley he doesn't want her to come home. Well this story is about what if Nathan hadn't woken up then? What would the reactions of those who care about him be? And what would happen in the dream world? Please Read and Review! Thank you so much to those who reviewed last time, you really did make my day!  Sorry the last chapter was so short, I tried to make this one longer. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters and such. Trust me if I did, Jake would never have left.

Side Note: The Bold Face is reality with Nathan in a coma, Regular Type is the dream world, and italics are the thoughts.


Chapter 2: Aftereffects of The Game

"This is for my mom," Nathan said to Lucas, I can do this, I can beat him, and he began the drive to the basket. He faked right, then left, then broke away at the right. He jumped into the air and easily dunked the ball into the basket, ending the game.

People all around began cheering, Mouth dropped his microphone in the excitement. Nathan had won the game, Nathan was going to High Flyers, not Lucas the jerk of a son who had everything.

Everyone ran up to Nathan in a thick crowd, including Lucas. "Good game, you deserve to go to that camp." That was all he said, but it was enough for both, it was a sort of truce for the half-brothers. He quickly turned, got into his expensive car, and drove off.

Nathan searched the crowd, looking for the person that mattered to him most. The one who, despite what he always claimed, he was madly in love with. He didn't see her. He hugged his mom as she patted him on the back. He heard Whitey….giggling. He saw Peyton give him a sheepish smile and then she left. Then the crowd seemed to part and he finally spotted her, charging for him, a broad smile on her face. She jumped into the air and he caught her in a victorious, sweaty, hug.

"You did it Nathan!" She said happily as he swung her around.

"I did it, Hales!" He said smiling himself, fighting the urge to kiss her.

He placed her back on the ground, but they stayed hugging. "So I guess I won't be seeing much of you this summer," Haley said with a sad smile.

Nathan looked at her seriously; this was the first time he really thought about the implications of going to High Flyers; before he never thought about it in order to not get his hopes up. They made eye contact and the noisy crowd became silent to them. Time stopped moving and their faces got closer and closer, that is until Junk came up and slapped Nathan on the back.

"Great job, Nate!" He exclaimed. Nathan quickly broke their hug and Haley moved away from him, blushing slightly.

"Thanks Junk," Nathan said giving Junk a high-five. For quite some time he got congratulations from everyone around and he felt happy, happier than he had been in awhile. Except he couldn't shake a feeling of disappointment because Haley had mysteriously disappeared after their hug. After half an hour of being congratulated, Nathan made his way to his mother's bar, Deb's Den.

He looked inside and saw a bunch of people sitting there, waiting for him. He also saw Haley and his mother engrossed in a deep conversation, he knew that they must be discussing the implications of Nathan going to High Flyers. He slowly made his way into the bar and smiled slightly, just standing there.

Everyone in the bar turned to look at him, smiles on their faces, then they all started cheering and Nathan was engulfed in yet another crowd.

This party went on for hours; finally at 2 am Deb said she needed to close shop. Nathan asked Haley if she wanted a ride home.

"It's okay, I can walk," Nathan gave her a questioning look, "What? I can take care of myself; I mean it's only 2 in the morning! At least it isn't raining!" All of a sudden the sky opened up and rain began pouring outside, "Actually Nathan can you give me a ride?"

"Anytime Hales." Nathan grinned at her.


"Always and forever. Always and forever. Always and forever," Haley kept repeating it to herself on the plane ride to Tree Hill, it somehow brought a feeling of comfort to her. Nathan can't die, we promised always and forever.

As she rode in a taxi to the hospital she realized something, she had broken 'always and forever' did that mean that Nathan would now be taken from her forever?


"So what happened tonight?" Haley asked Nathan as they made their way through the pouring rain to her house.

Nathan looked at her, slightly confused. "Uh, you were there Haley, remember? I beat Lucas and then there was a big party."

Haley laughed, but it seemed almost forced, "I mean why were you late?"

"Oh, that. They took me to this muddy area and threw me into the mud tied up. I really had no problem with it until they took my phone and threw it further into the mud, it's completely shot."

"So how did Tim manage to get a black eye?" She asked, curious.

"Oh three of them tried to grab me right after you warned me and I managed to hit one of them, I guess it was Tim," Nathan explained modestly.

For the next minute all that was heard was the patter of the rain hitting the car, "How's Peyton?" Haley asked sheepishly.

"Huh? Peyton? What about her?" Nathan was now completely confused.

"Are you that oblivious Nathan? She has a thing for you!!! I mean she went out and rescued you from the evil mud monster!" Haley said, completely shocked, "It also seems like you have a thing for her," she added in a low voice.

Nathan laughed a little, "There's no way Peyton would like a guy like me, besides she's dating that ass Lucas." That's not true, she told me she dumped him tonight. There was another pause in the conversation, "What about you and that record store guy? I saw him openly hitting on you at the game tonight."

"Are you talking about Chris Keller?" Nathan nodded, "Are you kidding me?! That guy wouldn't leave me alone! He is so not my type."

"Ya know Hales, I've been friends with you my whole life, but I still don't know what your type is," I wish it were me. They had arrived at Haley's house.

"Well I guess you'll never find out!" With that Haley got out of the car and ran inside of her house, her heart racing. Nathan could always speed up her heartbeat, but Haley could never tell Nathan because she knew he didn't feel the same.