A/N: I'm really sorry for the lack of naley updates, i'm a bad bad writer! If you can forgive, do please read and review. The next chapter will be more naley based, this is more Haley/Nathan.

Haley clambered over the pile of bed clothes that was her best friend and chuckled, before jumping on them excitedly, "P Sawyer!"

"Ooof..." A blonde head appeared and Peyton squinted in the light, "Haleyyy!"

"I'm sorry but we have to talk."

Peyton smirked and raised an eyebrow, "would this be anything to do with the phone ringing mysteriously at some ungodly hour?"

Haley blushed and then leant forward, "yeahhh."

"Ah oh yay!" Peyton clapped her hands together and sat up in bed, "so?"

"It was Nathan."

"And?"

Haley's smile widened, "we're going to go for a walk on the beach in like, ten minutes."

"Dude that's awesome!"

"Yeah, he said he needed to get out of the house."

"And you're cool about last night? About him drinking all the alcohol in Tree Hill?"

Haley shrugged, "we've all been there right?"

"Yeah some of us just do it with more class than others!"

A pillow hit Peyton on the head and she collapsed laughing, "I was kidding!"

Haley paused and held up the pillow, "you better have been because I am already paranoid."

"Oh please, that boy was so wasted last night I'm pretty sure he drank away the memory of you drunk." Peyton kinked an eyebrow, "how ironic."

"Shut up!"

"I'm sorry, ok," Peyton rolled out of bed and padded towards her closet, "now what can you wear to knock the hangover right out of him?"

Haley pulled a face, "hopefully he's forgotten my performance too."

Peyton rolled her eyes, "are you crazy?! Hales you blew the crowd away!"

"Ha I doubt it, besides the crowd was you and Nathan- you two are biased!"

"Well, even if we are we still have excellent taste. You rocked girl. Now come on, try this on."

Haley stood up from sitting on Peyton's front step as Nathan's car pulled up outside. She felt insanely nervous. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," he came over and hugged her before pulling away looking apologetic, "I think I owe you an apology for last night."

She smiled, "Nathan, we've all been there. Honestly don't worry about it."

"Still," he said fixing his intense blue eyes on hers, "it wasn't exactly cool. Man I feel like I'm already screwing this thing up before we've even had a chance to start it."

"That's so funny!" She quickly retracted as he looked at her with wide eyes, "what I mean is- that's how I feel. Like I worry that you don't need another complication like me in your life. I mean after last night with Peyton and Lucas-"

He grinned, "that was awesome."

She couldn't help but smile back, "well yeah it was but still- some would say we're getting in way over our heads here."

"I would," he said firmly and then reached for her hand, "so come on- you wanna go for this walk?"

Haley stared down at his hand and then her brown eyes lifted to meet his own, "I could walk, not too far though- otherwise it might count as exercise and we don't do that."

Nathan chuckled and took her hand, "fine by me."

They made their way down to the beach and Haley felt the wind life her hair and the hand in hers really lift her heart.

"Wow, who knew Tree Hill would have such an amazing beach," Nathan said softly.

Haley smiled proudly, "yeah we're not too shabby are we?"

"Tree Hill really does have all the best surprises," he said glancing over at her shyly.

She laughed and pushed back her hair, "well, where you come from isn't doing too badly either."

"Oh really? What a compliment," he said chuckling before leaning forward and kissing her gently.

Taken by surprise for all of one second Haley responded and drew her arms up around his neck. It was like suddenly there had been a part of her missing that she had never even known about- and Nathan filled it.

"Wow," she murmured as they pulled apart and then blushed, "I mean- well-"

Nathan laughed, "no it's definitely a wow," and then kissed her hand, "come on- is there somewhere we can sit?"

"We're on a beach, I think you can just park yourself!"

He chuckled, "the cheek. Hey," he turned to face her as they moved to sit down, "my dad is throwing this big benefactors thing next weekend- it'll be pretty crappy, lot's of obnoxious, rich people- but I've gotta go. Do you feel like making it bearable for me and coming? You know, wear something pretty, look pretty, keep me amused all night."

"You don't ask much from a girl then," she said laughing.

"No come on," his blue eyes searched hers, "you'll make it worth going."

She pulled a face, "rich people aren't really my thing."

His face fell, "oh... Ok."

She caught his arm, "I'm kidding! Of course I'll go with you. I'd love to."

"That's good because I really don't want to go alone."

"You could always ask Rachel," she said smirking.

Nathan widened his eyes in horror, "oh no way man- she's terrifying."

Haley chuckled, "yeah she's definitely... one of a kind. Anyway, what do I wear to one of these things? Do I need to ask Peyton to find the diamonds we keep hidden for special occasions?"

"Ha I don't think it will be that formal, but I wouldn't care if you turned up in a sack Hales- it's your company I like."

She shook her head, biting her lip, "you're such a charmer Nathan Scott."

"Oh I haven't even started on the good stuff yet," he said grinning and wrapping his arms around her and dropping them back on the sand, her laughter travelling across the empty beach.

Peyton and Haley stepped out of the cafe they'd been sitting in and swung their shopping bags into the car. "It's really not a difficult question," Haley said chuckling.

"It so is," Peyton wailed, "it's like asking me to choose between the Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World!"

"Peyton come on- just pick!"

"Ok fine; between Christian Bale and Jared Padalecki I would have to pick; Jared Paladecki."

Haley rolled her eyes, "so the wrong choice."

"Hey- he is officially the sexiest guy alive- and he fights the devil- and he looks good in a wife- beater."

Haley snorted, "you and your wife- beaters."

"What? They're like the perfect piece of clothing. It's like eye candy without the effort."

Haley rolled her eyes, "they're one step before half naked."

Peyton kinked an eyebrow, "exactly. So you got everything you need for this ball thing?"

"Yep- and I spent half my years savings in the process, but," Haley narrowed her eyes silently checking off the items she needed in her head as she looked at her pile of bags, "ok I have everything but back up shoes," she said finally.

Peyton inclined her head towards their favourite shoe store, "back to JJ's?"

Haley nodded, "yeah let me just put some more money in the thingy-"

"No Hales it's cool- I got it this time."

They were both reaching for change when Peyton forgot what she was doing completely as Chris Keller appeared in the car driving past theirs. In the passenger seat was a girl with long blonde hair and in the back a girl with dark hair. They were both laughing and then one of them reached forward and touched Chris' cheek. Peyton stared almost open mouthed as they drove off and then turned to look at Haley who was pulling a face. "Oh Peyt-"

Peyton shrugged, "it's cool, it's cool. They could just be friends right?"

"Yeah- of course," Haley said brightly, "I'm sure that's what it is."

There was a silence and then Peyton rolled her eyes, "alright let's go get lots of pairs of shoes to distract me!"

Haley fixed her hair in the mirror and then glanced at her clock, oh god she was so late.

"Yo James! There's a gorgeous man standing outside our front door for you!"

"Ohhh my god really?!"

"Nope," Peyton said grinning and appearing at the door, swinging on the frame, "I was just practicing, how did I sound?"

Haley threw a lipstick at her and Peyton caught it laughing, "you should be tied up and shot!"

"Oh please- aren't you glad you got the girly oh my god out of your system?"

"I do not sound like that!" Haley protested at her best friends mimic of her voice and Peyton smirked.

"Course you don't Hales."

The door bell went and suddenly both girls yelped, "it's ok it's ok," Peyton said squeezing her friends shoulders, "deep breaths! I'll get it."

She sauntered down the stairs and the rolled her eyes, "it's ok Hales, it's just my pizza!"

"You ordered pizza?! Without me!?"

"You're going to an amazing ball with a hot guy and you're complaining about me ordering pizza?!" She paid the guy as she was shouting and he grinned in amusement as he disappeared down the path, "thanks," Peyton called after him. "If you're bored by midnight I might call you," she added as she clambered back up the stairs. Haley smiled, rolling her eyes as she heard her friend muttering. It was a week later and she was busy getting ready for the ball Nathan was taking to her.

One week filled with blissful evenings spent lying on the beach with Nathan watching the sun set, talking about everything and of course, ignoring the endless phone calls from his father, mother and brother. Nathan and Lucas might have bonded slightly but that didn't mean he was ready to hang out all the time, and the situation with his father had only gotten worse. It meant a whole lot of missed calls appearing on his phone within an hour however and she had learnt she had more patience than she could have ever imagined. Dan Scott was clearly not a man to be said no to very often.

"Wow," Peyton stopped at the door, "Hales you look amazing really. That blue is perfect for you."

Haley pulled an unsure face, "really? Are you sure?"

"Uh huh- and I really wouldn't let you go out of the house if you looked like crap, I'm that kind of friend."

Haley scoffed, "thanks."

She glanced down at her dress, a mass of thick blue silk twisted round her in a corset top and flowing out from the waist in an extremely fancy way. She'd never worn such an expensive or beautiful dress. And she was insanely nervous. Nathan's parents would be at this ball, Lucas would be at this ball, judgey judgey people would be at this ball. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair again shakily. "Oh man I'm nervous."

Nathan dropped the basketball he'd been messing with and adjusted his tie, he was too hot, May was a stupid time to have a ball. Lucas appeared tugging at his own tie and whistled, "who knew a shower did so many wonders."

"Shut up man, can't you see I'm not in the mood?"

Lucas pouted, "aw you're never in the mood these days," he clasped his hands together, "don't you love me anymore?"

Despite himself Nathan grinned, "you're such an idiot."

"So you're gonna go pick Haley up?" Lucas stretched and took a shot, "damn I'm good."

"Lucas, Nathan, let's go," Dan appeared at the back entrance of the house and waved a hand before disappearing again.

Nathan stared at his retreating back stonily and Lucas watched him in amusement, "you still mad at the father?"

He shrugged, "I'm nothing at him."

Lucas sighed, "it won't last my friend.

"It won't?"

"Nope. First you'll think you don't care, like you suspected something all along and he's only proving you right, so what does it matter? Then you'll slowly realise that actually, he's the worst thing to ever happen to you." He bounced the basketball angrily against the wall, his face dark, "and that while he's treating you like crap and expecting you to behave like he does on the surface, really he's screwing around, screwing his family over and destroying any chance you ever have of truly being a free and independent person."

Nathan struggled to find the right words, "is that all?"

He caught the ball as Lucas threw it at him with the ghost of a smile, "welcome to my life little brother."

"How long have you known?"

"As long as I've been old enough to walk, Nate it's been right in front of our eyes since we were kids."

Nathan shook his head, "I can't believe I never saw it."

"Maybe you just didn't want to." Lucas clapped him on the shoulder, "you'll get through it dude, I did."

"Yeah and look at how well you did," Nathan teased.

Lucas glared at him, "hey man, not all of us are cut out to be perfect."

"Some of us are just born lucky right?"

"Ha ha."

They walked through the house together before climbing into the icy silent car that had been waiting for them. Dan and Deb were sitting at opposite ends of the long seat and Nathan squeezed in between them as Lucas sat on the pull out seat. Deb appeared to be drifting in and out of sleep in a white satin gown and Dan sat reading a document intently.

"Good of you two to join us," he said curtly, "we can leave now," he snapped at the driver.

"We'll be making a stop," Nathan said leaning forward, "1901, Oak Way-"

"Wait a second, Nathan what is this?"

Nathan continued, ignoring his father, "we'll be picking someone up."

"Yes sir."

"Thank you." He turned to look at his father coldly, "I told you I was bringing a date didn't I?"

"No," Dan looked back down at his papers, "no you didn't. I told you to bring Miss Summers the Governor's daughter didn't I?"

"She's going with someone else," he replied shortly.

"Who?"

"Me," Lucas stretched languorously and then smirked at his father, "that's alright isn't it?" His eyes challenged Dan's as if to let him know he knew exactly why it wouldn't be ok. Nathan watched them in interest, wondering why he had always thought his dad was somehow in the right in these situations.

"Fine," Dan folded his document and picked up the paper, "just try and stay sober until at least half past nine."

"I will if you will," Lucas retorted.

"Enough," Deb said wearily, "let's just try and have a nice evening as a family ok? At least try and be happy."

"You must be blind," Lucas muttered as they pulled up outside Peyton's house, "if you think our family even looks happy mom."

He jumped out of the car with Nathan who looked at him in horror, "what are you doing?"

Lucas shrugged, "thought I'd come say hello to blondie seeing as we're stopping here."

"Ah ha no no Luke- this is really important to me and you teasing Peyton and messing with Haley's head is so not on tonight's agenda."

"Oh come on, I'll be nice!"

Nathan looked at his brother desperately, "Luke come on!"

Lucas scowled, "fine I'll sit in the car, but if she looks hot and I miss it I swear I'll hurt you." He rested his arms on top of the car, watching his brother walk up Peyton's drive. Nathan took a breath and then knocked on the door. There was a shout from inside and then a calamity of footsteps.

Peyton grinned as she opened the door, "you clean up good Scott."

Nathan chuckled, "thanks- and look about last night-"

She raised an eyebrow, "yees?"

"I'm sorry."

She folded her arms, "and?"

"And i'm an idiot and I swear I would never do anything to hurt Haley or make her upset. I..." He looked up at her, "I really like her Peyton."

There was a brief silence and then she smiled, "that's all I need to hear."

Nathan grinned and exhaled hard, "great. So is she ready?"

"Hales?" Peyton yelled up the stairs, "you ready yet?"

Nathan rubbed his ears and then Haley called back, "one sec!"

Peyton rolled her eyes, "she looked gorgeous an hour ago, I don't know what she's doing now."

"Nathan!" Dan was standing out of the car looking livid, "this is ridculous, I am expected to be there in fifteen minutes!"

Both Peyton and Nathan glanced towards the car before Nathan turned his back on his father and met Peyton's sympathetic eyes, "my brother says hey by the way," he said quickly.

Peyton narrowed her eyes and looked back across the grass to where Lucas was standing on the other side of the car, he raised a hand to her and she smirked, "he looks pretty banged up. Tell him.. i'm sorry," she didn't look apologetic and Nathan chuckled.

"Liar. You're proud of it aren't you?"

"Little bit," she grinned back at him.

"Hey there," a voice suddenly said and Nathan looked past Peyton to where Haley was standing at the top of the stairs in a blue satin dress. He stared up, wide eyed and Peyton smiled to herself, before heading into the kitchen, winking at Haley as she moved down the stairs.

"Wow," Nathan said in awe, "you- you look amazing."

She twirled her dress and smiled at him, "you think?"

"I really, really think," he said firmly. He held out a hand, "you ready then Miss Haley James?"

"Yeah," she came down and took his hand, smiling shakily, "ready."

I'm really sorry for being a crappy updater recently, it won't happen again!