A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my awesome beta: Leeese!

Disclaimer: Only own the plot

Chapter Three

There's Something About Nathan

Haley walked through the streets and suddenly stopped when she came across a café. She frowned as she stopped in front of the building and stared at it. She was confused since she didn't remember ads that showed that another business was opening here. Of course, she hadn't been out for a few days. After a full day of being a guinea pig, Brooke had kept her locked in her bedroom for two days. She had told her that it was to let her recover from the curses and spells. However, Haley knew the real reason.

Haley decided to give the café a try and walked in. She looked around at the place as she walked up to the counter. The place was deserted. But she could tell that it certainly had that safe and comforting feel to it, which just what she needed right then. She sat down on a chair as a woman behind the counter came over to her. "Hello, what can I get you today?"

Haley sighed. "A regular coffee will do."

The woman nodded and went to the coffeepot. "You look like you have had a rough couple of days," she said as she poured the coffee into a mug. She then put the mug down in front of Haley. "I'm sure this will cheer you up."

Haley smiled gratefully. "Thank you, but there is only one thing that will cheer me up. But the problem is that nobody can help me get it."

"I'll help you get your wish granted," said a familiar voice. Haley wasn't surprised when she turned around and saw Nathan standing there, smiling at her.

"Why am I not surprised that you're here?" Haley asked him with a smile of her own.

"Well, I have a good reason this time. My family owns this place," Nathan replied. He then did the introductions. "Haley, I like you to meet my mom Karen. Mom, this is Haley."

"Pleased to meet you," Karen said as she and Haley shook hands. They exchanged smiles before Karen left them alone.

"So I guess you haven't heard that I'm banned from the club because the bodyguards thought I was harassing Chris Keller?" Nathan told her as he pulled a face. Haley shook her head. "And it's too bad because I would have loved to hear you sing again. Maybe you could sing for me now."

"I'm sorry. But I can't," Haley replied.

"Why not? If you want a crowd, the lunch rush will probably be here in a couple of hours," Nathan said, trying to convince her.

Haley couldn't help but smile. "That's not it. It's complicated."

"Come on. You wouldn't want to disappoint a fan, would you?" he asked her as he gave her a puppy dog look.

Haley bit her lip. She knew she shouldn't. She knew that she would get into big trouble if Brooke would find out. Then again, she wasn't there to lecture her about her rules. Yet, she had a strange feeling that she was being watched. "I'm sorry. But I can't," Haley repeated. "In fact, I really shouldn't be here." Nathan didn't know what to say as she started looking through her purse. "Thank you for the coffee. But I should be going."

"It's on the house," Nathan replied with a slight frown. Haley quietly thanked him before she hopped off of her chair and hurried out the door. She tried to ignore his calls but he eventually caught up with her. "Did I do something wrong?"

Haley shook her head. "No, it's not you. It's just that we can't be friends."

Nathan looked at her confused. "What? Why not?"

"Just trust me. Stay away from me," she begged him before she hurried away from him. Nathan watched her retreating figure with a frown on his face.

Haley was rehearsing one of her songs on the piano on the Tric stage when she heard someone walk into the room. She didn't even look up. She knew it was either Julian or Chris. They never seem to be too far away from her. She wished she could have a day where she wasn't bugged by Brooke's people.

As soon as she finished her song, she heard clapping. She looked up and was surprised to see Nathan standing there. She got up from the piano bench and hurried off the stage. She rushed over to him. "What the hell are you doing here? You really shouldn't be here," she hissed. She glanced around with panic in her eyes.

"Are you talking about the other night? Don't worry. I can handle them," Nathan assured her with a grin.

Haley firmly shook her head. "No, you can't. Now please get out of here before they come in," she begged him. She looked at him pleadingly as she said, "I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Haley, calm down. Nothing is going to happen to me," Nathan replied. He was trying to get her to calm down. But it only seemed to make her more scared and upset. "What's wrong?"

"Look who it is," said a familiar voice. Haley and Nathan turned to see Brooke coming out of the shadows. However, she wasn't alone. Peyton, Julian and Owen were right behind her. Brooke's eyes fell on Nathan as she said, "Nathan, it's been too long."

"Haley, stay behind me," Nathan said protectively as he put himself in front of her. "I'll take care of this."

Brooke just chuckled. "Come on, Nathan. It's four against one. Surely, you know who's going to win this fight. And besides, your powers are no match for mine."

Haley turned to Nathan shocked. "You're a warlock?" she exclaimed.

"How do you think I showed up so fast in the store?" Nathan asked her. He then thought for a second as he turned to Haley. "Wait a minute. You know Brooke?"

"She's my boss," Haley replied.

Nathan gaped at her as he turned back to Brooke. "That doesn't sound like the Brooke I know."

"What? You didn't think an evil witch could be compassionate towards a human once in awhile?" Brooke asked him with a smirk.

"Well, I think Haley just quit," Nathan said firmly. Before either Haley or Brooke could say anything, he grabbed Haley's hand and snapped his fingers. He and Haley disappeared from sight.

There was silence for a few seconds before Brooke spoke. "Find her and bring her back," she ordered Julian and Owen and they disappeared.

"What are you going to do about Nathan now that you know he's the one Haley's been hanging out with?" Peyton asked her.

Brooke thought for a moment. "I'm going to make that girl drink the truth potion first before I decide what to do about him."

When Nathan and Haley reappeared, they were in a front hall of a house. Haley tried walking, but she was unsteady on her feet. Nathan helped her to sit down on a chair. "Nathan, you really shouldn't have done that."

"Don't worry. The house is protected from dark magic. You'll be safe. She won't be able to find you here," Nathan assured her. "And how the hell did you get involved with that bitch anyway?"

"It's a long story," Haley replied with a sigh.

"Nathan, I didn't realize you were home," said another familiar voice as the person came out into the hall. She then noticed Haley. She gave her son a confused look. "Nathan, what's going on here?"

"I had to bring her. She needs our help. She works for Brooke," Nathan told his mother with a grim look on his face.

Karen looked just as shocked as Nathan did. However, she kept calm as she helped Haley up. "Why don't you come with us to the kitchen and tell us all about it?" Karen asked her. Nathan was about to protest when his mother stopped him. "I need to know the situation before we do anything about it."

She led Haley into the kitchen and Nathan followed them. He stood while Haley and Karen each took a seat at the kitchen table. "Can I get you anything?" she asked her.

"No, I'm fine," Haley replied. Her mind was still racing with what had just happened.

"How the hell did you get mixed up with Brooke?" Nathan asked her anxiously. Haley could see the concern written all over his face.

Haley took a deep breath before speaking. "It was three years ago. I was attending college at North Carolina State University. And it was Halloween night of all nights. I was just walking back to my dorm from a party and I came across a sorority house that was supposed to be haunted. None of the sororities were willing to move in because strange things had happened there. So I wasn't going to go in until I thought I saw a shadow in the house. So I stupidly decided to investigate. I wandered through the house until I reached the basement. I didn't even realize what she was doing until she turned around to look at me. I tried to run, but she easily caught me. I begged for my life. She then promised to spare my life if I did whatever she told me to. And if I didn't, then my loved ones would get hurt. I didn't know what else to do. So I made the deal with her and signed the contract. I've been her slave ever since."

"Is that what you meant the other day at the café?" Karen asked her. "You want your freedom, but you didn't think anybody could help you?"

Haley nodded. "I've tried escaping a couple of times. But I soon realized that she put a spell on me so she always knew where I was at especially when I'm not at the house. She allows me out of the house to do her errands. Then if I don't cause trouble, I'm allowed to go off on my own until midnight. It wouldn't be so bad living under her reign if she didn't use me as a guinea pig for her spells and curses."

Nathan didn't want to hear any more. He had heard enough and it made him even more determined to keep Haley away from Brooke. "Don't worry. We'll help you get your freedom back," he promised her. There was something in his eyes that made her believe he would. "I'll make sure of that."

"Nathan, could I speak to you for a moment?" his mother asked as she got up from her chair. He followed her out of the kitchen and into the hallway. "Honey, you and I both know that it won't be that easy to break a magical contract like that."

"Mom, we have to help her. I'm not letting her go back to Brooke," Nathan said firmly.

Karen sighed. She could see how determined her son was. "I'll see what I can find in the books."