Chapter 7

A/N: I all ready have chapter 8 and 9 written, just need to edit both, so I should have both up very soon!!! Thank you for all the reviews and the opinions.

The first week of Nathan being gone had gone by so slow. Haley had been able to get a lot of work done. Three songs were now done, but the label didn't like one of them which Haley found so frustrating! Nathan had continued to call Haley every night, even if he could only talk for a few minutes, it was nice to hear his voice. Haley turned the game on a few times to watch. Haley went to bed, alone in her big house.

The next day, the label officially told Haley that one of the songs had to be totally redone, because they didn't like her voice in it. They said she was making it "too complicated" and people wouldn't be able to sing along well to it. Haley wasn't sure what they meant by that or even what she could do to fix it. By the end of the day, it seemed to be more acceptable. As Haley was walking out, her cell phone rang.

"Lucas! What's going on, we haven't talked in over a week,"

"Yeah! I know. Well my book tour got canceled, so I was really upset about that, but I have some other big news. A company in LA wants to turn my book into a movie! I wasn't so sure about it, but then I decided it could be great. I am here right now at the airport, do you mind of I stay at your house for a couple of days?"

"No! Not at all! Do you need a ride?"

"No, they sent a limo to come and get me, so I'll just have them drop me off, okay?"

"Alright, see you soon!"

"Hey Haley, do you want to go grab drinks with me tonight?" Peyton asked as Haley was almost out of the building.

"Well actually my good friend Lucas just came into town tonight. I should spend sometime with him, but tomorrow night we should all go out. I am sure he would love to meet you,"

"Alright. Why don't you take tomorrow off, show him around. Give me a call tomorrow night, and we can all have dinner,"

"Thanks so much Peyton,"

Haley got to her house, and Lucas was waiting outside.

"I'm sorry, I hurried back. That is the thing about LA it takes at least half an hour to get five minutes down the street. How long have you been here?"

"Just a few minutes, no big deal,"

"How long are you going to be around for?"

"Actually, at least six months. I won't stay here though, I don't want to bother you,"

"Lucas! You are no bother. This place is huge, seriously, please stay."

"I'm sorry we haven't talked in the past week or so, anything new with you?"

"Remember Nathan?"

"How could I forget,"

"Well, we went on several dates that week, three. Each one was just amazing, and I don't know. We are together, he asked me to be his girlfriend. It was really special. He has been away for a week now, but he calls every night. I am actually going to Charlotte next week to go see one of his games, and visit home,"

"Make sure you stop in and see my mom, she misses you,"

"Yeah, I will. I miss her too!"

" Are you sure Nathan won't mind me staying here?"

"You are my oldest friend Luke, there is nothing wrong with me staying here,"

They spent the whole next day seeing the sights of LA. Lucas kept saying how it was nothing special, and Haley told him he sucked. They met up with Peyton for dinner. Lucas thought she was beautiful, and Peyton almost couldn't breath when she found out Lucas was the author of her favorite book.

"They are going to be making a movie out of it, NO WAY,"

Peyton kept thinking she had seen Lucas before. Then it came to her. Brooke had shown her a picture once of him, they had never met though.

"I know this is a weird question, but did you date someone named Brooke Davis?"

Lucas smiled, "Yes, I did. Do you know her?"

"She is a really good friend of mine,"

"You must hate me then right,"

"No, I don't hate you. I don't even know you. I don't know what exactly happened,"

"I was stupid. Brooke was a great girl, I was just stuck in the past,"

"Yeah she mentioned something about an ex-girlfriend, I think she said her name was, Haley, oh wait. Was this the Haley?"

"Yeah, Haley and I dated in high school, and broke up in college. We have been friends since childhood though,"

Lucas got up to go the bathroom.

"So, Lucas is your ex?" Peyton asked Haley when she came back to the table.

"Yeah, I mean I guess so. To be honest, I have sort of forgotten we dated. I mean I didn't forget, of course I know. I just don't see him that way at all anymore. I find it weird we were ever together. Do you think Nathan will be mad, that he is staying with me?"

Peyton thought about this for a minute, "Be honest with him. Nathan does get very jealous, but just tell him what you told me, he will understand,"

Lucas came back, and he and Peyton spent the rest of the time talking while Haley considered if letting Lucas stay with her was such a good idea. It was almost time for her to go away, he could stay there while she was gone, and then maybe they would have a talk about how since he was going to be here for so long, it might be a good idea for him to get some kind of place to live.

Haley's phone started to ring. It was Nathan.

"Excuse me but I have to take this,"

Haley left the restaurant to talk.

"Hi Nathan," Haley said. "I didn't hear from you yesterday, is everything okay?"

"We lost the game last night. It kind of sucked,"

"Aw, I'm sorry. Look I need to talk to you for a minute,"

"What is it?" Nathan got nervous.

"My good friend Lucas came into town yesterday. They want to make his book into a movie, so he is going to be out here for a while. He doesn't have a place to stay yet, so I told him he could stay with me until he found somewhere. He has his own room, and everything. I just wanted to make sure it's okay with you,"

"Haley, he is your friend, of course he can stay with you,"

"Well, that isn't the full story. He was the boyfriend I had in high school, the one who cheated on me. I also found out that he dated your friend Brooke,"

"He broke Brooke's heart," Nathan said, remembering that.

"Yeah, he made some bad choices in the past,"

"Haley, I don't think it is a good idea he stays with you,"

"It's just for a few days,"

"If he even tries to hit on you once, and I find out, you won't ever want me to meet him,"

Haley nodded, "He won't. We're not like that anymore. I can't wait to see you next week. I miss you,"

"Miss you too Haley,"

Peyton and Lucas were quickly finding they had a lot in common. They were talking about books, and some books Lucas had thought no one else had ever heard of, Peyton had read them.

"I actually have a copy of my second book; they didn't really seem to like it, so I don't think it is going to get published, but would you like to read it?"

"Of course I would!" Peyton told him.

"Alright, well come by Haley's tomorrow, and you can have it. You have to let me know what you think though,"

"Oh, I will! Thank you Lucas, I cannot wait to read it"

They all headed back to Haley's house, and when Lucas had stepped away, Haley told Peyton what Nathan had said.

"Yes, he is very protective, I guess you could say. You either have to love it, or hate it,"

"I am going to call it a night, I am sure Lucas will be down with the book soon," Haley said.

Lucas came down and brought the book down to Peyton. She looked at it and smiled.

"I can't wait to read it. It will probably be a few days; do you want to meet for coffee or something to talk about it once I am done?" Peyton asked him.

"Yeah, sure I would like that."

"Alright, then I'll see you around,"

Haley didn't want for Nathan to hate Lucas. Haley was well aware that Lucas had done some hurtful things in the past, but he wasn't that guy anymore. Nathan deserved to give Lucas a chance. Haley wouldn't say anything to him, but she hoped that it all worked out that way. Haley figured once they met that Nathan and Lucas would get along. They both liked basketball, so they had that in common. Nathan would realize that Lucas wasn't such a bad guy after all.