"Kissing is a means of getting two people so close together that they can't see anything wrong with each other."

Feeling alive once again was something Haley longed to feel for ten years. The perfection of feeling wanted and admired brought such happiness to her lonely heart. It was the perfect night, the perfect kisses, and the all around perfect Nathan Scott . She never dreamed that they would be together for one night, reliving the moments of their past; good and bad. It all seemed strange, but
Haley was enjoying it far too much to let it go. Nathan hadn't changed much in ten years. He was still the cocky, good looking, smart boy she fell in love with.

Haley sighed inwardly, listening as Nathan talked about how his life had been over the years. She could listen to him talk forever.
It was strange. Nathan seemed to have the dreamer's outlook on life, while Haley wasn't even sure were she stood on how she viewed her life anymore. Nathan looked up at her and gave a hesitant smile. Haley smiled back, playing nervously with her gloves. After dinner they had decided to take a walk to a little park she visited frequently. "It all seems so surreal. Don't you think?"

"I suppose so. Life in general is just a big mess of 'Who is judging me?' and 'What if's?' I really just feel confused, you know?" Haley replied back softly. The look Nathan gave her seemed pain, almost disappointed. Surely he didn't expect her to stay seventeen forever?

"What, you don't like my answer?"

Nathan shook his head in protest. "No - no of course not." He sighed, leaning over the bridge to look down into the water. "It just doesn't sound like you."

"I'm not sure how I am supposed to sound..." Haley admitted." Nathan , I've changed -"

"No," Nathan cut in. " Haley I made you promise not to change."

Haley hated the fact that she had let him down, but he really thought too highly of her. She had faults just like every other person. "I'm sorry." Nathan shrugged his shoulders and sat on the edge of bridge, taking her hands in his. The moment his hands touched her, she felt her heartbeat begin to beat fast. "It's getting kind of late..."

"Who cares?" Nathan mumbled, his lips inching closer to hers. "Hales, I miss having you as my strength." He pressed his forehead against hers, looking deeply into her chocolate brown eyes. "But this has to end. I'm leaving tomorrow and I - I can't miss you like I have over these years."

Pain was something that Haley wished she could be immune too. Losing Nathan once was hard enough, but losing him again was just way too much. "It doesn't have to end..."

"I live in L.A. " He murmured into her shoulder, loving the feel of her concern. "I'll call you all the time."

Haley wiped a stray tear from her eye and breathed in deep. "I'll be waiting for it."

Brooke couldn't help but notice the change in her best friend. The Haley she knew was always very reserved and quiet, but suddenly this whole new person has arrived. She was laughing and cracking stupid jokes and Brooke knew it was all because of Nathan . When

Haley returned home for her date, Brooke couldn't help but ask if they had sex. Haley blushed and replied no, but said they got pretty close. Brooke was beyond thrilled. Sure, she acted like she never knew who Nathan was, but in reality she had a very good idea.

Apparently she had met his brother during one of her many college trips and they began talking and then hooking up and then talking some more. In the end Brooke and Lucas became quite close and began to divulge a lot of secrets.

For it was Lucas would educated Brooke on the past relationship of Haley James and Nathan Scott and she was just ecstatic. A little annoyed at first that Haley didn't mention it, but she knew it was a personal subject. It became the personal chore of Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis to reunite these two lovers who had lost there way. Of course they succeeded, now all that was left for Nathan and

Haley to confess how they feel. "Feeling chipper today?"

Haley set her friend a hateful stare, but then busted out laughing. "Whatever. I am happy. Is that really such a crime?"

"You are more then happy." Brooke pointed out. "I would have to say that you my dear friend are in love."

Sighing, Haley sat down on the couch next to Brooke . "Look, I don't really know what is going on with Nathan and me. We have been keeping in touch, but I know this is just the calm before the storm. Things are never what they seem with Nathan ."

"Why does it have to be bad?" Brooke asked in annoyance. Haley was forever going to shoot down the idea of her and Nathan .

Haley looked out the window and frowned. "It just is."

There were moments when Haley could feel that Nathan was beginning to slip away. He would have such high's and low's that she was unable to keep up. Sometimes she was afraid to even speak to him because she knew he would channel all his rage directly towards her. Today was going to be one of those days.

There had been rumblings throughout the school that Nathan and a huge fight with his father after Friday night's game. Haley didn't doubt it for a second that this happened, but she was way too afraid to bring it up. Nathan walked into the classroom, black circles under his peaceful blue eyes. For a split second Haley thought that he had been crying. "Hi Nathan."

He looked up from the spot he was staring at on the floor. "Hi."
Haley walked over to Nathan and, without saying a word, embraced him in a hug. She felt his body tense up at first, but soon he relaxed and let himself feel loved. His breathing was heavy as she heard him begin to cry. "What happened Nathan?"

"I - I don't even know, Hales." He confessed weakly. "My game was perfect. I did everything I was supposed to do, but he still ripped me a new one, called me a spoiled son of a bitch. He told me that I was never going to make it in college I kept playing like a pussy." Rage developed in her heart as she listened to Nathan confess the truth about his so called perfect life. "No matter what I do, it's never enough. NEVER. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother. He doesn't care about me, he never did."

Honestly, Haley couldn't relate to having a parent that didn't care. For the first time she truly felt grateful for her loving and sometimes embarrassing parents. "Alright, I have an idea." Nathan looked up and she could see the desperation in his pained expression. "Come over my house for dinner. My parents seriously don't mind. They think I have no friends...so maybe if I brought you over they'd get off my back!"

"Oh, I see. You're just going to use me for show?" Nathan chuckled in spite of himself. "I know I'm good looking."

Haley slapped him playfully. "Shut up! You need this Nathan and I really think that you will have a good time." He shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "I'm going to warn you, my parents are a bit - eccentric."

Nathan wasn't exactly sure what to expect when he reached Haley's house. She smiled when they walked inside. It was strange, the moment he stepped inside her cozy house he felt like this was were he always belonged. They heard a loud giggle and Haley groaned. "Oh my God!"

She stalked off into the kitchen and Nathan awkwardly stood behind, not sure what was going on. "MOM! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Nathan peeked into the kitchen in surprise. There was Haley's father sitting in a chair, while her mother was giving a - a lap dance! "I am so completely horrified right now that I seriously can't even be angry. Seriously, ew." Haley looked over at

Nathan who was actually blushing. "Lady formerly known as my mother, this is Nathan. Man formerly known as my Father, again this is Nathan."

"Uh, hi." Nathan murmured, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh - nice house."

Lydia James walked over to Nathan and gave him a big welcoming hug. "Haley, you did not tell me your boy toy over here was so good looking!"

"Wha - WHAT?" Haley's mouth dropped open. "Mom, Nathan is not - God forbid my boy toy!"

Nathan snorted back a laugh, which caused Haley to glare at him. "Dad how can you just sit there?"

Jimmy James shrugged and looked at his wife. "Now Lydia, I don't think we need to embarrass Haley any longer. When Taylor gets home -"

"WHAT?!?"

"Uh, did we forget to mention Taylor is home for a bit?" Lydia questioned with a smirk.

"Apparently her boyfriend kicked her out because she was getting high way too much. I'm not exactly sure on the details, but who cares."

Nathan was in complete shock. Never did he expect Haley's family to be so open and strange. They were completely lovable and he never wanted to leave. "Mom, I cannot believe this."

Suddenly the door opened and Taylor James made her grand entrance. "I am here party people."

"I hate you." Haley murmured, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you insist on being such a pothead?"

Taylor hopped up on the counter, eyeing Nathan seductively. "Who is this?"

"Don't even think about it." Haley scolded. "Nathan, I apologize right now for any sexual thing my sister may try and do to you. She is such a hoe face."

Lydia laughed. "Haley, shut up and go show Nathan around."

"But no sex, okay." Jimmy added, causing Haley to blush furiously. "We have hidden cameras."

"Kill me now."