Hello, readers and reviewers! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter. It's a little slow as story development goes but I hope it's a fun read, anyway! I just wanted to make note that I named the chapter after The Fray song. I do not take credit for the title of this chapter at all, along with the everything and anything that has to do with the show, One Tree Hill. Just a silly reminder. xoxo

Thank you, Chris-Crips! I definitely guessed when I was using that phrase... haha.


As Nathan pulled into the driveway of Haley's home he noticed that no cars were there.

'Where the hell is everyone?'

Still gripping the paper tightly in his hands he ran out of the car and up to her front porch. Using his fist, he knocked anxiously on the painted wooden door. A few seconds passed, what seemed like an eternity to Nathan. Losing his patience his hand reached for the doorknob when suddenly, it opened. Papers of what had been Haley's quiz notes fell to the floor.

"Nathan?"

"Hi," he nervously greeted her.

'Why is Nathan Scott at my front door step?' Haley thought questioningly.

"What… what are you doing here?"

She asked him as if she was having trouble to swallow that fact.

He opened his mouth, locked and loaded with the words he had wanted to say but he forgot them; when he was put face to face with her. Instead he unwrinkled the sheet of paper he had in his hand and carefully handed it to her. Unsure of what to expect, Haley accepted the paper willingly taking one last look at a distressed Nathan. He bent down to fetch the ones that she had dropped onto the floor, fearful of making eye contact with her. As he stood up, he took a quick glance at her to see what could only be described as pure shock on her face. Her cheeks glowed, something that he usually enjoyed seeing but now he felt the same dreaded embarrassment that she did. He felt it.

"Th… this… this isn't what… what you think it is…"

That same look was on his face from earlier that day. Not judgment but deep concern. He worried about this girl that he hardly even knew.

"It's a poem. I write in my spare time… and publish my stuff anonymously online. I never put my name. I didn't know that I had actually signed off on this one with my full name,"

Nathan looked at her in disbelief.

"Haley, are you sure that's all that is? I mean… my offer still stands. I'm willing to listen if you're willing to talk."

She looked at the floor, avoiding having to reply.

He tried again.

"Haley, where are your parents?"

"They're… taking time off from each other. That's all…" she said defensively.

Nathan nodded in understanding.

"I just want you to know that… I'm not suicidal. I'm really not. When I write, it's based off of my emotions; that's what a lot of writers do. I was angry. And it took a load off to write something like that. I really shouldn't have published it online… I should have just burnt it after I had written it."

Not knowing how to comfort someone in this situation, Nathan moved towards her, enveloping her petite figure into his arms. She let herself meld into his warm body as he held her close. After a few blissful seconds they gently pulled away from each other.

"Do you need me... er… want me to stay?" Nathan asked hesitantly.

"No… you don't have to,"

Lightening the mood, he joked with her.

"Well… technically I did 'save your life' so… how about you make it up to me?"

He grinned wickedly.

"Once a pervert… always a pervert,"

She slapped him lightly on his arm.

"Uh… I was definitely talking about dinner… I'm starving!"

'And… he wants to have dinner with me?'

Nathan laughed while Haley blushed at her inner thoughts, mostly.

"Haha… who's the pervert now?" he teased her.

'Well, here we go again… back to Mr. I'm-better-than-you Scott.'

She followed him into her own kitchen while she rolled her eyes.

That night she cooked up a pot of her favorite—macaroni and cheese. They laughed and talked as though they had been friends for years and he brought a comforting atmosphere to her surroundings as Lucas did, but possibly stronger. No one was watching their interactions and a witness to the small friendship that had begun to form.

Haley was thankful that someone who seemed so established and well aware of who they were and where they wanted to go and who they wanted to share it with, was reaching out to her. All the times that she had come off as resentful towards him had been because she was envious of his successes in life. And just when she thought that he had everything, he amazed her with a generously caring soul. To be blunt, she admired every bit about Nathan Scott.

What she didn't know was that he felt that same indescribable connection to her. He was just as or even more grateful that God had placed Haley James in front of him. As different as she was from him, he found her character independent, strengthening, and a breath of fresh air. He felt lucky to have been the one to catch her when she fell. It was one of the very few things they could share together. He knew he wasn't good enough for her. She needed someone who was just as intellectually compelling but worthy enough of her beauty; someone a lot more worthy than Nathan Scott.

--

That unforgettable evening was their last intimate moment together. Apart from the class that they were taking, they never spent any time together than that.

Haley's life began to slowly piece back together. She became accustom to the bittersweet love that had made up her parents' marriage. Understanding that they deserved to be happy, she supported both of them as they handled their divorce. She had five older siblings that were gone and maintaining their own lives who offered their words of advice and even places to stay for Haley. The first couple months of the divorce going through had brought the James kids closer, a rarity altogether.

School began to ease up as she completed her SAT exams and the worst had been battled. Only several more months and then summer break would once again begin, following with an easy year.

Working at Keith & Karen's Café became an outlet of stress for her because she loved being around the Roe's and all the familiar customers there. They had always been her family.

As she finished clearing up the last table, she heard the bell ring, signaling the entrance of a customer.

"I'm sorry, sir, we're—Lucas?"

Lucas walked in smiling and surprisingly alone.

"So, where's the yin to your yang?"

"I told her I need an evening off."

"Uh huh… did she not have enough time in her schedule for you?"

"Okay… so it's helpful that yeah, she was hanging out with one of her girlfriends… but, I did tell her earlier this week that I needed to open up an evening for my dear, Haley James,"

Haley squinted at Lucas accusingly, followed by her index finger pointing at him.

"What? I really did!" Lucas added.

He walked over to her and pulled out a seat for her to sit down. He sat down in the chair across from her.

"So… uh… where are mom and dad?"

"I told them I would close for them. They need just as much lovey-dovey as you and Brooke do,"

"Hales! That's too much information!"

"Ew… yeah, I think you're right… I just had this whole blur of your mom and dad doing it! Ew!"

"Again… too much information!"

Haley smiled, remembering how easy it was to annoy her best friend. For the past two months, he'd been pretty busy with his own things and she hadn't bothered to add her problems to his plate. She paused letting the enjoyable moment pass by.

"So, I know you didn't come here just to see your mommy and daddy…"

Lucas took in a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Hales. I'm sorry I haven't been around. Your mom called mine and… well, I was worried. How are you doing?"

"What… the divorce? You are so too late. And you know, it's actually a good thing, I realized. They ended it before things went sour, you know? This way, they were able to save whatever was left of their relationship. It's so weird how they act around each other now. I mean, that is when they're around—no fighting. Of course, they're bickering is inevitable but they're so friendly with each other. I'm happy for the decision they made… I'm not gonna lie though, it was really hard at first."

Lucas jaw was slightly open as if in shock.

"What?" Haley asked.

"You do realize you just said all that without rambling once! You stayed on subject!"

He clapped mockingly.

She punched him in the arm.

"Ouch!" he yelled.

After they had talked that evening, their friendship was right back on course. Lucas chose not to push her into liking his girlfriend but he would soon discover that there was a reason that Haley James was his best friend and Brooke Davis was his girlfriend.

--

Junior prom was just around the corner and of course, Haley had no intentions of going. Tree Hill High's hallways were decked out in glitzy décor, advertising the notorious event. Many of the students' lockers were just as extravagant as they were asked out for that one glorious night. Haley walked down the hall to see Lucas leaning against her locker, playfully swatting at a hanging cardboard star.

"Looks like someone is excited for prom…" she joked.

He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah, well… I want to go with Brooke but she says we have to go her stupid friends. You know how much I hate them, how they're pretty much disgusted by me. We got into a fight about it…"

"Well… what's not to like about them? They're beautiful, rich, and just absolutely fabulous!" she exclaimed sarcastically.

"Funny… hey, you're not that excited that much either."

"Lucas! You think I really want to go?"

"Well… why not? You're young and beautifully available… let's see which one of these handsome bachelors tries to scoop you up…" he teased.

"Gross…"

But Haley was secretly thinking about Nathan when he'd mentioned 'handsome bachelors'.

"Well… you never know, Hales,"

"Oh… but I do. Anyway… I'm not going to be able to make it for lunch… I'm giving a tutoring session during lunch. This girl doesn't have time after school today so whatever."

"Alright, leave me alone then… just kidding."

Lucas put his arm around his best friend and gave her arm a friendly squeeze.

She smiled at him and made her way to the tutoring centre when she had planned to meet with one of her sophomore tutees. Unexpectedly she saw the dark-haired girl that she was tutoring in the hall just a few feet ahead of her.

"Gigi!"

The girl turned with a huge smile, shining in braces. Gigi was sweet and very intelligent compared to her the other students Haley spent time tutoring. She just had trouble with a new curriculum in her math class.

"Hey, Haley!"

"So… don't even make me ask you!"

"Okay! Okay! Well… I definitely passed!"

Haley looked at her in disbelief.

"Haha… you're face was priceless. No, but really… I got a '92' on the quiz!"

"Alright! That's more like what I was expecting,"

Nathan watched from his locker while his friends kept talking about some lame party they'd attended two weeks ago. He saw Haley approaching his vicinity as she talked to another girl. She looked so happy these days and he was glad that she was.

"Haley!"

The two girls stopped their rambunctious chatter.

"Haley!"

Haley looked around to see if she could see Lucas. But she turned to find herself only a couple feet away from Nathan.

'What is he doing?!' she thought nervously.

"Hey… Nathan…" she hesitantly said.

His friends looked back at who he had greeted. Seeing that it wasn't someone they knew, they turned around immediately. Rachel eyeballed the two curiously.

Without even realizing, Nathan had hugged her tightly and placed a friendly kiss on her cheek. To him it was a kind gesture of saying 'hi' to one of his girls whereas Haley's only other kiss had been shared with Lucas when they were in elementary school. She gasped quietly. Mechanically she hugged him back, not sure of how to act. Feeling him release her, she saw as what seemed like the entire student body watching her 'first kiss', but not really.

He didn't care that everyone was staring but he did grasp the fact that Haley wasn't just another one of 'his girls'. But it did make that recognizable pink glow in her cheeks and he loved it.

'I made her blush!' he thought excitedly.

He kept his cool posture, not to show his over-excitement to Haley.

"So… how have you been? Since… well, you know…" he whispered the second part.

"Good. You?" she softly answered.

"I'm decent… he's decent," he gestured to his crotch.

Haley grimaced.

"Ew,"

"Haha… you know I'm just kidding… well, I'll see you around, Hales,"

He winked and dazzled her one last time with his well-known smirk.

"Okay… bye!"

She eagerly parted with Gigi in tow.

Rachel's blood boiled at that spectacle those two had given. Why would he lower himself to that kind of girl? After all the rejection she'd received from him she was completely appalled by this weird obsession he had with this Haley James. It infuriated her.

"Sympathize much?" she spat at Nathan.

Nathan gave her a queer look and replied,

"Bitch much?"

--

They walked to the library in utter silence as Haley had let that brief but awesome occurrence sink in. But, Gigi couldn't hold back her excitement much longer.

"Okay… what the heck was that?" Gigi squealed.

The warmth that had radiated Haley's face was now dying out as she tried to calmly answer her friend.

"Um… we're friends?" She replied shrugging her shoulders.

"Yeah right! Why would he kiss you like that so openly if you guys are just friends? Oh my gosh, Haley, you are so lucky! Nathan Scott is such a hottie! Ahhh!!!"

"Tame your hormones, girlfriend," she advised.

But Haley couldn't help to smile to herself. That moment had been classic and forever etched in her mind.