Nathan unzipped his backpack and took out some of the books he revised with (yes, Nathan Scott revised) last night and placed them in his locker, replacing them with the ones he needed for his first couple of classes. Over the weekend he had been relishing over the fact that her lips touched his cheek, sometimes he even thinks he can still feel it. But after thinking about it, a kiss on the cheek isn't a yes to prom. He's decided to (try) not get his hopes up too much.

''Nathan,'' a breathless voice called, approaching him quickly.

He looked at Sara strangely when she wrapped her arms around him tightly, muttering a, ''I'm so sorry.''

''Uh, Kay, what happened?''

Sara broke away from their embrace, her green eyes wide as she looked up at him sadly. ''I was in the bathroom with Rachel and she was being really snappy, so I asked her what was up and she told me,'' she paused, contemplating whether or not to continue. ''She told me that Damien West is going to prom with Haley.''

His heart dropped, right into his stomach.

Nathan - 1.

The weird twisted universe that seems to not want them together - 1.

''Nathan, I'm so sorry.''

''No,'' he plastered a reassuring smile on his face. ''I mean, she said no, right? She said no again and again and again, I just didn't listen to her.'' his voice grew soft as realisation hit him. ''Of course she was gonna find someone else to go with, prom's in a couple of weeks.''

She smiled (she looked like she felt sorry for him; it made him feel a little sick). ''Maybe you could go with Rachel? Both of your crushes are going to prom together, maybe you could, too. As friends,'' she clarified. ''But who knows? It could be more.'' she winked, her smile falling at the look on his face. ''Okay, maybe just as friends.''

''I-uh, I'll think about it.''

''Lucas,'' Nathan called, jogging after him in the hallway. He made sure Haley was nowhere in sight (the sight of her made his heart ache, and he didn't want her to hear what he was about to say) before approaching his half brother. ''Lucas, wait up.''

Lucas turned around, looking obviously annoyed. ''Yeah?''

He chuckled dryly. ''You 'let Haley' got to prom with Damien?'' he questioned, using air quotes to emphasise his sarcasm. ''But going with me is such a bad thing? Do you have any idea how much of a player he is?'' he tried to stop his tone from rising. ''Not to mention the fact he's a huge jerk.''

''He's my friend.'' Lucas insisted. ''He really likes her.''

''And so do I!''

''Yeah, but his intentions are pure, unlike yours.''

Nathan scoffed, his blood boiling.

He wouldn't get in that much trouble if he hit him, just once...

''Do you know who you're talking about? This is Damien West. He's the type of guy to actually Josey Grosey her.''

Lucas blinked, bewildered. ''He wouldn't dare.''

''Well done, Luke,'' Nathan spat sarcastically, before shoving past his 'brother' and walking out of the school doors leading to the quad for lunch.

And as he was storming out, he collided with someone.

The someone.

''Sorry,'' he muttered, seeing that she had stumbled backwards but not actually hit the floor. Nathan thought the urge to touch his chest to stop the hurt that had travelled there at the sight of her. Instead, he turned around and started to walk away again.

''Nathan!'' she shouted after him, her little footsteps getting nearer as he turned around, sighing.

''Yes, Haley?''

Haley looked up at him, deep brown eyes looking hurt at his clipped tone. ''I was going to tell you about Damien, he asked me this morning. And... he's my friend, I've known him for a while and I kinda like him. I... I'm sorry, but I don't trust you yet after everything with Luke. But- we're still friends, right?''

He shut his eyes for a moment, sighing again. He didn't even want to be around her. He was just so angry.

''I- yeah, we're still friends. Don't worry about it.''

She smiled (and it was that damn knock-the-air-out-of-your-lungs one, too). ''Great! I guess I'll see you... whenever.''

''Yeah,'' he nodded, breathing deeply. ''I'll see you whenever.''

Nathan turned away from her, using all of the strength he could muster to walk away without turning back around to see if she would suddenly going to run behind him screaming, Nathan, wait! You're really awesome and hot and I want to be your date for prom!

He had a feeling that that wasn't going to happen.

Sara noticed him approaching first, her smile fading at the sight of him. That same pitying look appeared on her face. ''Hey, Nate. You okay?''

Nathan sighed, exasperated, as he sat down. ''Nobody died. And I know it's a big shocker that I got turned down for prom, but it happened. Like you said, I can go with Rachel. I'm gonna be okay,'' he smiled dryly. ''See?''

''If I wasn't dating Julian, I'd totally go with you.''

''Thanks babe,'' the mathlete muttered jokingly.

Brooke shrugged, grinning. ''You know what I mean,'' she looked at Nathan, her feautures softening. ''We love you, Nate.''

Clay slapped his shoulder (Nathan pretended that it didn't actually hurt, which it did) in a friendly manner.

He actually smiled, it wasn't fake, either.

''I love you guys, too.''

Prom sucked.

Everyone was singing and dancing and laughing and joking and giggling and looking happy.

And he was just sat at one of the many table, sipping on the punch.

(Which no one even spiked!)

Rachel was there, sure, but she was just as miserable as he was. They had agreed to attend as friends, even though they weren't even that really, they had actually ever barely spoken two words to each other. But she really liked Damien, more than she probably should, and she just wanted to capture his attention somehow. He didn't blame her. He was doing the exact same thing.

Haley looked stunning, of course. He had spotted her as soon as he walked through the door, looking amazing in a long green dress, with only one strap on the left shoulder, with this awesome sparkly belt around the place where her ribs are. Nathan also noticed that she didn't have a corsage though, even he got Rachel one of those.

He had saw her talking to Peyton, Damien by her side. But he hadn't seen her again after that.

Nathan liked that though, it hurt less if he didn't see her.

But that didn't stop prom from sucking.

''I'm going to get some fresh air,'' he informed Rachel, who shrugged in response.

Nathan walked out of the doors of the gym (No, TRIC wasn't even rented out for the Junior prom) and took a deep breath. He considered leaving, but he promised Sara and Brooke that he would stay, and they would kill him if he left. But everyone looked so happy with their dates, while he feels like crap. He hates it.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of quiet sobbing from one of the benches around the gym.

The sound was coming from a girl wearing a long green dress.

''Haley?''

AN: Eeek, I'm sorry! I just- this story has taken a completely different direction to what I had planned. I've narrowed this down to ten chapters (all of which will be bigger than this little thing), and hopefully they'll all be posted by Tuesday, so that's like, an update, like, every day. Woo. And the name chapter, full of Naley, okay. No one else.

But I do feel bad because your reviews made me want to cry, you're so nice! Thank you all so much(:

C - Thank you(: Haha, I don't think Nathan could ever be 'un-smoothed' but only time will tell. I hope you're still sticking with this after this chapter. Thanks again!

Willimer23 - Yep, Haley will stick up for herself with Carrie, thanks for the suggestion! But it will be in the next few chapters. And defensive Nathan is hot! Thanks for your review!

sinkorswim13 - I wouldn't call myself amazing, but thanks for the compliment(: Lots more NH interaction in the next chapter, promise! Thanks for reviewing:D

FrankiR - Thanks for your review(: Prom's already here, but who knows? Maybe Nathan and Haley will get their prom together after all (Well I know, but, you know) I'll try and update tomorrow! I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

I know you all probably hate me, and even if it's a review to tell me how awful I am for making Haley go with Damien, I'll still appreciate it. So please review! x

ps. I did have a picture of Haley's prom dress, but my charger's broke so I have to go on my brother's so I don't have the photo. I'll post it on my profile when my new charger arrives!