A/N: Hey guys…if I get a lot of replies…I'll put up two or three more chapters to make up for next weekend…quotes are very welcome!

Chapter 10

Chris grimaced as he heard a knock on his door. He rolled over in his bed and checked his watch…it was really early in the morning and he knew he didn't have classes. He shook his head in dismay as he heard the knock again. He stood up slowly and grabbed a shirt before he walked to the door and opened it. He smirked when he saw Haley standing in front of him, carrying their favourite breakfast namely bagels. He moved away from the door and Haley stepped in, closing the door behind her. She placed the box of bagels on the cupboard and fell onto his bed. Chris shook his head as he sat next to her.

"Can I ask why you are so perky so early in the morning?" he asked as she laughed at him. HE gave her a glance from the side.

"Can't I be happy to see my bestest friend in the whole wide universe?" she asked innocently and gave him a huge grin. Chris sighed.

"What do you want this time?"

Haley sat up and looked at him with huge eyes and he knew no matter what it was he would do it. She could ask him to murder someone and he would. Partly because she had that power of persuasion…mostly cause he was still in love with her.

"Please please please say you'll come with me when I visit Andy and Whitey!" she begged and Chris almost burst out laughing.

"Sure Hales…anything for you."

"So how was it?" Haley asked as Chris stood up to get the bagels.

"How was what?" Chris asked as he glanced back at her.

"Going to see your dad…" her sentence trailed off as she saw Chris' body go rigged.

"He is still the same Haley…nothing ever changes with him."

"But…what did you guys talk about? Did he say anything to you? Did you…"

"What was he suppose to say Haley? Sorry that I killed your mother with my gun when I found out she was cheating on me? Sorry that I've spent most of your life in jail? Sorry you hate me but I don't give a fuck? What did you expect?" Chris cut her off by yelling at her but Haley knew that it was a sore subject for him.

"I'm sorry Chris…" she said and he saw the tears forming in her eyes. He walked over to her and enveloped her in a huge hug.

"Don't be. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that. Seeing him again…it just brought up all that shit. But I'm done with him. My mother's money pays out in a month and then I'm done with him. As soon as I hit 20 he won't ever see me again." Chris said into her hair and Haley relaxed. Chris' father had shot his mother when Chris had turned 10. He got life imprisonment and Chris had only ever told Haley…so she was the only one who knew about it. Chris stayed with Whitey since he was 10 and that was why he and Haley were so close. Haley slowly pulled away from him.

"So…uhm I wanted to be the one to tell you before you found out somewhere else." she said cryptically and walked away from him. He watched her as she nervously averted his gaze.

"So tell me…" Chris said with a soft comforting voice that he often used around Haley and only Haley. Haley looked him straight in the eyes and took a deep breath.

"Nathan and I are dating."

oOoOoOoOoOo

Nathan threw the ball into the hoop and he heard his brother yell for it. They were having a practice game in the gym and Whitey was just supervising. Haley walked in with Chris who was walking behind her, almost as if he was sulking. Haley gave Whitey a hug as she glanced over at Nathan who smiled at her which didn't go unnoticed by Whitey or Chris.

"So what can I do for you today Hales?" Whitey asked as he sat back down on the bleachers. Haley sat next to him and Chris walked over to Jake who was on the bench.

"Well…granddaddy you know I love you a lot…" she started and Whitey laughed.

"Oh dear! When you first start with that I know it won't be something I want to hear!" he joked and Haley blushed. He knew her to well.

"You caught me. Well I just came to…" she stopped in mid sentence as she looked up and saw Nathan jogging towards them. Whitey gave him a death glare and Haley looked at him confused.

"Scott! Didn't I say you have to practice?" Whitey bellowed and Nathan lifted his hands up in a truce.

"I know…I know…it's just that I want to ask you something." Nathan smirked and Haley stared at him wide-eyed.

"Well go on then…" Whitey said…it was crystal clear how easily the old man's personality changed when Haley was near.

"Coach…I am asking permission to date your granddaughter." Nathan said full of confidence and Haley held her breath. She had not expected that…nor had she expected what happened next.

"You will not hurt her or do anything that will hurt her. Are we clear?" Whitey asked and Nathan nodded.

"Then if she says yes you have my permission." Haley leaned over and happily gave her grandfather a kiss before she jumped up and hugged Nathan who gave her a gentle kiss.

"Thank you grandpa!" Haley said happily.

"Pleasure darling…okay that's it practice is officially over! See you guys at tomorrow's game!" Whitey yelled to the others as he walked off the court and into his office. Nathan took Haley's hand as they walked towards Lucas, Chris, Jake and Tim.

"I'm missing something aren't I?" Jake asked as he saw Nathan and Haley kissing. Tim shook his head in defeat.

"Nathan always gets what I want…she was so close to being mine!" Tim said and Jake laughed.

"In your dreams Tim…" Lucas said as he sat next to Jake.

"Someone care to explain to me what the hell is going on?" Jake asked as he stood up and Haley let go of Nathan and embraced him.

"Jake…Nathan and I are going out." Haley said and Jake looked at her weirdly.

"Really…hmm…this is new. You better not hurt her bro…I don't care how much stronger you are than me…you hurt my sister and I hurt you." Jake said with a playful yet serious smile. Nathan nodded and he said goodbye to Haley as he, Lucas, Tim and Jake went to take a shower. Chris and Haley stood next to each other.

"You've been very quiet since I told you." Haley said as she looked down to the floor.

"I know…I just wasn't expecting it that's all." Chris said and they walked out to his car.

"Does he know?" he asked solemnly and Haley nodded.

"Yes he does…he found out this weekend."

"Well Haley…all I hope is that he gives you that bigger reason you've been looking for all this time." he said as he climbed into the car and Haley sighed and climbed in next to him. That's all she wanted…a pissed off Chris…cause she knew how the sentence actually continued…

like I never could…

oOoOoOoOoOo

That night, after going to Andy for her check-up and telling all her friends of her new boyfriend, they all decided to go to Tric…a local club owned by Deb Lee. Nathan stood next to the bar with his arms around Haley's waist. Lucas and Brooke were hanging on each other as well as Jake and Peyton. Sophia was busy dancing with a guy…James, Kyle…nobody really knew his name and they were sure neither did Sophia. Then the music slowed down as Chris walked on stage and everyone applauded. He sat with his guitar and started singing…

Lookin' at your picture from when we first met
You gave me a smile that I could never forget
And nothing I could do
Could protect me from you that night
Wrapped around your finger, always on my mind
The days would blend 'cause we stayed up all night
Yeah, you and I were, everything, everything to me


I just want you to know
That I've been fighting to let you go
Some days I make it through
And then there's nights that never end
I wish that I could believe
That there's a day you'll come back to me
But still I have to say
I would do it all again
Just want you to know


All the doors are closing, I'm trying to move ahead
And deep inside I wish it's me instead
My dreams are empty from the day,
The day you slipped away


And I just want you to know
That I've been fighting to let you go (oh)
Some days I make it through
And then there's nights that never end
I wish that I could believe
That theres a day you'll come back to me
But still I have to say (yeah)
I would do it all again
Just want you to know


That since I lost you
I lost myself (ohhh)
No I can't fake it
There's no one else


So I just want you to know
That I've been fighting to let you go
Some days I make it through
And then there's nights that never end
I wish that I could believe
That there's a day you'll come back to me (back to me)
But still I have to say (I have to say)
I would do it all again (do it all again)


I just want you to know (cuz I've been fighting)
That I've been fighting to let you go (ohh)
Some days I make it through (and then there's)
And then there's nights that never end
I wish that I could believe (yeah)
That there's a day you'll come back to me (but still)
But still I have to say (I have to say)
I would do it all again
Just want you to know

The crowd went wild as he finished the song and he smiled and left the stage. Haley looked away as he looked at her. The pain was still there. He had been hurt beyond repair by her. Nathan kissed Haley in the neck and she giggled as he tickled her.

"You're evil!" she breathed out and he laughed.

"Well they say that everyone has two sides…good and evil. Looks like you bring out the devil in me James." Nathan joked between kisses.

"Well Scott…you bring out the angel in me…" she said as she kissed him back.

"Then we should let the devils and angels play…" he said softly.

"That sounds like a good idea to me…" she laughed as they shared an intimate kiss. Lucas and Brooke smiled at this and Jake danced away with Peyton who gave him a confused look.

"Hun…I really don't need to see my sister kissing a guy…that's just…" he was cut off when Peyton's lips connected with his. On the dance floor Sophia shared a kiss with Chad, Tim got hit by a girl and Chris watched all this with sad eyes. He felt a tug on his arms and saw a beautiful black haired, blue eyes girl standing in front of him. He smiled at her and she returned the favour.

"Hey…I'm Chris." Chris introduced himself and the girl smiled as she took his hand.

"Hey yourself. I'm Kelly…"