AN: Sorry about the wait! The Holidays were so busy! Here's the new chapter. Hope you Enjoy!

Review please! Thanks xoxo

Chapter Six

Waking, from a dream so terrifyingly possible, in a sweat, Nathan shot up in bed. His eyes averted all over the room, he was panicked at the thought of Haley being trapped, like he was and had always been. Ever so slowly, he felt a presence next to him. It was his beauty. The only one who his blue orbs could see. Haley laid next to him in a peaceful somber; after going three whole days without him, she could finally sleep again. Nathan, gently, leaned down on his arm and stroked her angelic face softly with his hand. He breathed her in, and kissed her temple before resting his head upon her chest and whispering "I will keep you safe first, Haley, before I can be what you need of me."

"You can sleep sweetheart, I'm right here, holding you. I'm not going anywhere." Nathan heard the delicate voice of Haley has she spoke. Her hands ran through his ruff hair while Nathan began to fall back to sleep, this time without any bad dreams.

The morning came just like any other morning. It was sunny in the town of Tree Hill and the wind in the air gave a breeze to fill the day with. Nathan and Haley lay beside each other, in bed, their faces just inches apart as they let their hearts beat rapidly, as they always did when they were together. Nothing could ever feel this good, nothing could ever be better than this moment. The feelings they felt were of love, and knowledge- that together they could be free. Nathan cherished Haley and Haley believed that Nathan was the melody in her song of life.

The night they shared together in the rain had been nothing short of special. The intimacy they shared was something that neither could explain for it left them with a feeling of contentment for the first time in either of their lives.

"Hi." Nathan whispered as he noticed Haley open her eyes to the day.

"Hi." Haley replied in a daze. Nathan was looking at her so intensely it made Haley shiver in vulnerability.

"God, my girl is hot."

"Don't you know that flattery will get you everywhere with me?" Haley laughed.

I heard my favorite sound in the world-Haley's quiet laugh, weak with relief. I know what I put her through, but as hard as it was for her, it was twice as hard for me. Haley is, the only reason for a worthy life.

"Is that so?" Haley nodded and Nathan wrapped his arm around her waist. "I missed you Hales."

Haley sighed a small sigh as she imagined what kind of weekend Nathan had spent without her. "Where were you Nathan?"

"Hales-"

"Tell me, please. I need to know Nathan."

"Haley, baby, you don't understand. I want to tell you-"

"Then tell me."

"It's not that easy. I can't tell you without getting you involved and I have to keep you safe Haley. You're the only thing that matters."

Nathan kissed me and my heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat and mind was a blank. I looked in his blue eyes and could see his pain. He's hiding something from me and I don't like it. But, I can see in his eyes that he wants to tell me, that he needs me to know what he's been dealing with but he's afraid. Afraid of what, I'm not sure. I will find out what has caused Nathan to be the way he is and I will destroy whoever made Nathan feel undeserving of love. He is the most special person I know and I want the world to see it.

"I will always tell you the truth Haley. Please believe that."

"I do, I do believe that Nathan. I can see it in your eyes. I promise you everything is going to be ok…as long we're together…I love you."

"I love you too baby, so much."

"Just promise me one thing Nathan."

I grabbed a hold of Haley's hand and squeezed it in reassurance. I would give Haley the world if she asked me to.

"Promise…promise me you'll never leave me again…ever."

"Haley, I promise to always be with you, as long as it makes you happy. Plus, I don't seem to be strong enough to stay away from you, so I guess you'll be getting your way." Nathan half smiled and bent down to give her a kiss. Haley pulled away slightly and examined his perfect face before a feeling of guilt came over her.

"Listen, I have to tell you something and I don't want it to upset you." Nathan noticed Haley's hesitation and knew that what he was about hear wasn't going to be good. He sat up in bed with his back against the headboard and crossed his arms in preparation.

"Clay told me you went to see him." Haley spoke, with a regretful tone, almost unrecognizable to Nathan. She looked up to see his reaction and what she saw made her heart ache, frustration, anger, and uncertainty.

"What were you doing talking to him?" Nathan's voice was filled with venom when he spoke.

"No, don't do that. Nathan you know Clay and I are just friends. We've been friends for a long time now."

"Your friendship is bullshit Haley."

"Excuse me?" Haley couldn't believe the way Nathan was talking to her.

"How can you not see that he's in love with you?"

"I don't see how you can think such a ridiculous thing. Clay is important to me Nathan and I don't appreciate you going over to his house and threatening him, especially when you have nothing to worry about."

"Let me get this straight. While I was away protecting you, worrying about you, loving you, I was doing all those things all while you were with Clay?"

Nathan was beside the bed at this point, pacing in desperate fury.

"Baby, calm down. The only reason I went over to his house was to defend you and our relationship. Clay doesn't understand my feelings for you and I wanted to at least try to get him to understand simply because you mean so much to me."

"You're actually mad at me, for trying to keep you…with me?" Nathan's face looked wrong, broken. The thought of Haley not wanting to be with him made his insides twist and gave a nauseous feeling to his throat.

"Nathan, you know that isn't true…and I'm not mad at you." Haley softly spoke the last part as she crawled her way across the bed and reached out her hand to Nathan and brought him closer to the bed, to her. "At least not for talking to Clay, I understand that part. I understand you and your reasoning, even though I should be upset with you, my heart can't help but fall in love with more."

Touching her head against his, Haley massaged his arms tenderly, and barely touched his lips with hers as she murmured how much she needed him over and over again.

"Did Clay tell you what he said to me?"

"Yeah, he did. And believe it or not he feels bad about it."

"Are you kidding me Haley?" Nathan couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous notion of such a thing as Clay feeling remorseful. "Clay will say just about anything to you, as long as it keeps you near him."

"Nathan, honey, none of that matters. Even if that were true," Nathan gave Haley a look, a look she knew all too well but she continue, "even if that were true, you are the only one I want Nathan Scott and I will refuse all others who try to come between us."

There was silence. Just the sounds of the cars on the road passing by could be heard. Nathan was thinking everything over in his head. As much as he wanted Clay to stay away from Haley, there were other people he was more worried about when it came to Haley.

"I trust you, you know that right?"

Haley nodded her head yes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You know you're kind of sexy when you're jealous. It's such a turn on baby."

Nathan smirked at Haley's behavior. He loved it when she takes control and more importantly when she talks dirty to him.

"You're one hell of a woman Haley James."

"Oh, baby, you haven't seen anything yet."

Brooke was sitting on the bleachers watching Lucas and Clay, along with the rest of the Ravens team practice for the upcoming game Friday night. Cheerleading practice was long since over but she stayed because she couldn't resist the urge to watch Lucas sweat, shirtless. Brooke had been dating Lucas a little over six months now, and she was madly in love. Ever since they were kids, the two had always had a thing for each other and finally six months ago, after years of repressing their feelings for one another, Lucas asked her out and the rest is history.

Their relationship is complicated, they never agree on anything, and they constantly argue but one thing they do have is passion. One minute they can't stand to be in the same room with each other and then the next, they can't keep their hands off each other. Lucas is very protective of Brooke. He doesn't like her talking to other guys, or wearing revealing clothing. Brooke makes it known who her man is and all the girls in school envy her. She too, is protective of Lucas. Brooke hates it when Lucas tries to control her and Lucas hates it when Brooke tries to control him. That's just how they are and honestly, they like knowing where each other stood, it brings stability in their relationship but Brooke's spontaneity always keeps their relationship fresh and exciting.

"Looking good Scott." Brooke shouted across the gym. Lucas turned to look at his gorgeous girlfriend and winked. Brooke was wearing her cheerleading uniform and she had her legs slightly open, teasing him to look up her skirt. She knew how much of a turn on her cheerleading uniform was for Lucas and knew at any minute he would break, she mostly did it to tease him, but there was always a part of her that craved Lucas.

Hearing the door slam to her left she looked over to see Quinn entering the gym. Brooke smiled at her friend and motioned for Quinn to join her on the bleachers.

"What's up B. Davis?"

"You know, just watching my boy work. Damn, does he look good?" Brooke admired.

"Am I allowed to answer this question?" Quinn laughed as she sneaked a glance towards Clay. He looked just as good as Lucas out there on the court but what most people didn't know is that Quinn thought he looked good all the time. She knew how much Clay liked Haley, and it got to her sometimes. She was the one in the group who was always being set up or dumped and she was tired of the pity she got from her friends. She knew they all loved her and was only looking out for her but something has got to give right? For as long as she could remember, Clay was the one she pictured herself with, if only he could see it.

"Don't play, you know Lucas is sexy."

Quinn laughed again at Brooke. She was a sparkle of sunshine to everyone's day, always bouncy and cheery; never a dull moment with Brooke Davis.

"Davis, I think you got yourself a winner with that one. He is definitely fine!"

"Bitch!" Brooke pestered.

"Relax! Lucas is all yours."

Besides Lucas isn't the one that makes me weak in the knees every time I see him or tells me I'm beautiful or who I spend countless hours of the day dreaming about. He isn't the one I have pictures of all over my dark room that I stare at in wonderment. Clay is…and I don't even know why I do this to myself because at the end of the day all he sees is Haley.

The two girls smiled at each other. Growing up, Quinn, Brooke and Haley were as close as anyone could be. They knew how to push each other buttons but more importantly they were a team. They did things together, and never looked back.

The three girls are completely different from each other but yet the same in a lot of ways. One thing they do have in common is the quest to find true love. For Brooke, she had found it with Lucas, Haley had found something way beyond the definition of love or friendship; it was turning out to be something of forever, while Quinn was still struggling to find it.

"I've missed you Quinn. It feels like I never see you anymore. You're always looked up in that dark room. You should come out with us tonight. Have a little fun for a change."

"I've missed you too Brooke. But every time I'm around, your sticking your tongue down your boyfriends throat. Could you maybe lay off on the tonsil-hockey tonight when we go out?"

"Ah, you're coming?" Brooke clapped her hands together and jumped up in excitement. "Yay! So, listen meet me at my house around six and we'll get ready." Brooke then turned and shouted to Lucas and Clay. "Broody, Evens, we're going out tonight!"

"Wait, the boys are coming too?" Quinn asked in a nervous voice, uneasy at the thought of spending an evening alone with Clay, since she knew without a doubt what Brooke and Lucas would be up to the minute they arrived at the club they were definitely attending. It's not that she never spent time with Clay by herself, it's just that over the course of a few months her feelings have began to skyrocket. And knowing that he could never see her the way she wanted, made Quinn vulnerable and insecure. Quickly changing her appearance before Brooke could notice, Quinn flashed a fake smile on her face and proceeded to amuse in Brooke's enthusiasm.

"Well, yeah, I mean you know I can't go to a club without Lucas. He'd freak out on me, besides we always have fun with the guys. So, get your fine ass up and go get Haley. She's coming too."

"Uh, Brooke you haven't talked to Haley lately, have you?"

"No, why?"

"Oh boy, there's a lot you need to catch up on."