Thanks everyone for all the awesome replies.

AN:I hope you all enjoy this better being as though it is all Naley. I know most of you hate dealing with Brathan, but that's the story, LOL! Trust me when I say, I love Naley. I hate writing the Brathan stuff ,so I can imagine what reading it is like. I'm glad you all are sticking with it despite you hatred for Nathan and Brooke.

Chapter 3

Close Quarters

School was finally over for the day and Haley couldn't have been happier. Her first official day of forgetting Nathan had actually went pretty well and with a few exceptions of the uncomfortable conversations she had to endure, things were looking up. She would possibly have a date with Riley Smith to the sophomore dance and she had to admit he was cute, not as cute as Nathan, but cute.

"Stop it Haley, she said in an audible whisper. What the hell is wrong with you?", she said not even realizing Nathan had pulled along aside her in his SUV looking at her with an amused smile on his face.

"Talking to yourself nerd?, he smirked. You know that they put people away for a whole lot less", he laughed.

"Then your dumbass should have been put away long ago", she sweetly smiled.

"Ouch, Nathan said as he covered his heart as if he had been wounded by her words. Damn Hales, that hurt."

"Whatever loser. What are you doing here?", she asked.

"Well I am driving my car and now I'm talking with you", he said.

"Ok, rephrasing. Don't you have volleyball practice or something today?", she asked.

Nathan got some sort of disgusted look on his face as he listened to Haley continue to talk."Umm Haley, he said cutting her words. I do not, nor have I ever played volleyball a day in my life."

"What a pity, she said, volleyball players are hot. Well whatever sport you play, don't you have practice?, she laughed. Peyton and Brooke had cheerleading practice, so I figured you had practice too."

"I do, he answered. I mean I did. Whitey gave me the day off because I told him I was worn out, he said. Can't have the star player tired out, you know."

"Coach Whitey gave you the day off? That's hard to believe."

Haley had always been a little frightened of Coach Durham, he seemed super grouchy always and Haley was sure the man was one scream away from a heart attack at all times. Not only had did he serve as the guys coach in multiple sports but Haley had the luck of having Whitey as her teacher for her dreaded gym class. She hated gym and to add to all of her hate of the class, she was an absolute klutz, a born retard when it came to athletics.

"When you're the star player it's not", Nathan said.

"Can you be anymore full of yourself? Gosh you have an ego big enough to fill a stadium."

"Can't help it, Nathan laughed. When you got it, you got it and I definitely have it baby", he said earning an eye roll from Haley.

"Whatever", she said as she continued to walk alongside of his vehicle.

"Whatever, he teased. So you need a ride home nerd? I'd be willing to be seen with you ", he joked.

"No thanks. I don't think I could fit in there with your gigantic ego, I might suffocate."

"I'll open a window", he laughed as he reached over opening the passenger side door for her to enter.

Haley stepped up into his enormous car knowing she shouldn't be accepting a ride from him if she ever expected these feelings she harbored for him to go away. Being with him and around him only would make things worse on her in the long run.

"See that wasn't so hard was it" , he smiled.

"Harder than you know", she said as her eyes focused out the window as they pulled from the schools parking lot.

"So tell me", he said.

"Tell you what?", Haley asked.

"You know what. Are you really going through with this whole date thing with Smith?", he asked.

"Date thing? It's just possibly one date , Nathan. One date to some lame dance that I'll probably end up hating."

"Then why go?" ,he asked looking to her before focusing back on the road.

"Because believe it or not , I need a life. I can't go through the rest of my sophomore year not dating because I'm worried what you, Jake, or Luke will think. Did you ever think I want boyfriend, because I do", she said.

"I hear you Hales, trust me I do, but why Smith? You could do so much better then that guy?", Nathan said.

"Let's see , he's a great athlete, pretty good student, good looks, and has a hot body. Yeah I could do better, she sarcastically said. He's damn near perfect."

Nathan could feel his temper began to flare as he listened to Haley go on about Riley. He didn't trust the guy one bit and he definitely didn't trust him with Haley. He knew guys like Smith, they would give you this side of them they wanted everyone to see, but deep down they were jerks at heart that couldn't be trusted.

"I just don't trust him, Nathan said. Seriously Hales, what do any of us really know about the guy, besides the obvious that you so graciously stated."

"I know I don't know much about him, she said turning to face him. Isn't that sort of the whole point of dating someone ,so that you can learn more about them and the type of person that they are?"

" I guess, he said. I just want you to be careful that's all. I worry about you."

"Thank you", she said as they both drifted into a comfortable silence as their own thoughts and worries weighed heavily on each of their minds.

"You know", Nathan suddenly said after a few minutes of quiet. "Next year we'll all be off to college and we won't be around to watch out for you. I just want you to know that I'll always be there for you, no matter what. I don't care if I'm in the middle of some boring college course. If you need me, I'm there."

"How are you going to manage that?, she laughed. You will probably be half way across the country next year, while I'll still be here in boring old tree hill."

"Want to know a secret?", he asked as they made eye contact.

"Yeah", she eagerly nodded.

"I decided where I want to attend college", he said.

"Nathan, that's fantastic", she smiled.

"I haven't told anyone, you would be the first", he admitted.

"You didn't tell Brooke?"

"Not even Brooke", he said as he watched her face flush with confusion .

"Why not?", she asked.

"Don't know. I just wasn't sure if it was my final decision ,and I didn't want anyone to know yet."

"Then why are you telling me?, she asked. It's not like I'm the person you should tell something to first, it should be Brooke."

"I know, but I trust you to keep my secret", he winked.

Haley tried her hardest to keep the blush that was threatening to spread across her face hidden. This is what made her situation so difficult, Nathan was just to damn sweet and caring to her, she needed him to be an ass, a complete jerk, so that her feelings would disappear.

"Ok so what college?", she asked trying to simmer her rapid heartbeat down as it was going a million miles per hour.

"Duke, I want to attend Duke University, he said trying to gage her reaction. It's not to far from home and it's a very good academic school ,as well as a school with a terrific basketball team that has strong traditions. What do you think?"

"Wow, I thought you had your heart set on a college on the west coast", Haley said.

"You think that this is a bad idea?"

"No, no, she quickly said. I just thought Brooke was going to USC and I figured you would want to be as close as possible to her."

"I do, but if our relationship can't survive this, then what can it survive. You know I love her so much, but I think our time apart in college will only strengthen our relationship together. You think that's weird, don't you?"

"I understand", she said putting her hand atop one of his.

"I think that's what holding me back from telling her about Duke. I'm afraid she'll think that means I want to break up with her when it's the last thing I want. I love Brooke and I want to marry her someday, I hope she understands."

"She will, just be honest with her. Tell her about Duke", Haley encouraged as they pulled up to her house.

"I will and thanks for being my sounding board, Hales."

"You know you can come talk to me anytime you need to ", she smiled.

"Ditto", he said.

"Alright loser, Haley said as she opened the car door. Thanks for the ride and take your butt straight home to rest before I have to leave Coach Durham a little anonymous call about his star player using fake excuses to cut practice", she said as Nathan burst into laughter.

"Yes ma'am , he said as he saluted her. I'll see you later."

"Bye", she said walking to her door letting herself in.

Nathan sat in front of her house for a minute thinking how he could he possibly tell Brooke his college plans without offending her or breaking her heart. If they could get passed this little hurdle he knew they would be together for the rest of their lives, he just hoped Brooke knew it too.

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Up Next- Brooke talks to Riley about Haley.