This Chapter is super dramatic! I have so many ideas, and this is just the beginning! So enjoy! Next chapter will be even more dramatic!

Nathan sat at his desk patiently waiting for Haley to arrive with lunch. He was debating where or not he should tell Haley about the warning from miss. Rimpkis. He really didn't want to listen to the warning because he looked forward to having lunch with Haley every day. It's what made him eager to come to work every day. Nathan let Brooke's conversation hang in the back Of his mind. He wanted to tell Haley how he felt about her but he just didn't know how. He wanted to make it really special and romantic, but he still wanted to make Lucas okay with it. He decided he would talk to Brooke about it, and she could help him. Nathan was truly torn. A part of him wanted to tell her but another part didn't. Before he could get to far into his thoughts Haley walked in with her lunch.

"Hey." She gave Nathan a half smile he instantly could tell something was wrong.

"Hey. What's for lunch?"

"Bagels." She said.

"Cool."

Haley sat down and prepared her food.

"You look great today hales."

Haley bit her lip. "Thanks."

"So what's up?"

"I finally found out who has been giving me flowers!"

Nathan's eyes widened. "You did?" He asked in shock. This was not going according to his plan.

"Yeah. Today I got to my class and I saw Mike Ramsey putting flowers by my door."

Nathan's mouth fell open "wait what? Are you sure?"

Haley nodded "yeah. I didn't expect it to be him, but he asked me out too."

Nathan felt like he got punched in the heart. His stomach twisted in a tight knot.

"Are you kidding me?" He gritted through his teeth.

"Nope. I was skeptical at first but he seems nice so I wanted to go for it." She explained.

Nathan never felt so upset in his life. He honestly felt like his heart broke in his chest. "He's a fucking tool." Nathan spat.

"Excuse me?" Haley asked while raising her eyebrows.

"You shouldn't date him. He's an ass. He cheated on his last girlfriend. You can do so much better." Nathan explained.

Haley felt angry. She was trying to get over Nathan and here he was dictating her life.

"Nathan, we aren't even dating. We're friends, and were just going to get coffee, I don't even really like him." Haley explained.

"Oh. I just don't want you to get hurt. He has a reputation."

"And you don't?" She spat.

Nathan sighed and looked away from Haley with a hurt expression on his face. He slumped his shoulders and bit the inside of his cheek. He was sick and tired of having his past keep being rehashed an ruining his potential future. He knew he wasn't good enough for Haley but he was trying, and he wanted her to notice.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that."

Nathan just shrugged. "It's okay. I'm used to it."

Haley started to felt bad, so she put her hand over his.

"Nathan, I didn't mean it. I never knew you back then, I just heard things, I don't know if they're true but it doesn't matter. You're an amazing guy, and I love how much you care about me and Jackson." Haley said smiling.

Instantly Nathan felt better and his stomach filled with butterflies.

"You're right Haley. I care about you a lot..."

"I know. You've been such a great friend these past few weeks. I don't know what I'd do with out you."

Nathan closed his eyes.

Friend. She said friend. Screw this. She obviously doesn't like me. I can't do this.

He faked a smile. "Yeah..."

"You and Lucas are like my two knights in shining amour. I can always count on you guys- although Lucas is pretty bad. I don't know how he's going to react to my date."

Nathan gritted his teeth. "I'm sure he will be happy..."

...

Haley knocked on Brooke and Lucas's door to pick up Jamie after work. Brooke opened the door and hugged haley.

"Hey c'mon in."

Haley walked inside and greeted Jackson.

"Hey baby I missed you today."

"Missed you too mama." Jackson said hugging his mom.

"So do you want to stay for tea? We have a lot to catch up on." Brooke asked.

Haley nodded. "Sure. I'd love too."

...

Nathan stood in the corner of the gym with his fists balled by his sides. He watched Lucas directing the players on a new play.

The entire day Nathan has been in a horrible mood. He found out Haley has a date. He felt like crap. All he wanted to do was pummel the crap out of that mike guy.

Nathan felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He smiled when he saw who it was from. Haley sent him a picture of Jackson in a Charlotte bobcats jersey. It was adorable.

"Yo coach! You texting miss. James?" He heard Quentin say.

Nathan rolled his eyes. "That's none of your business."

"Well you have that same stupid smirk on your face that you get when you're around her. When are you going to tell her how you feel?"

"Seriously Que just drop it."

"I heard that Ramsey asked her out today. I guess you missed your shot."

Just then another player named Greg came over.

"Missed a shot as in basketball or your chance with Miss. James?" He asked.

"Guys..." Nathan warned.

"I'm serious coach. Everyone knows you like her. You need to tell her."

"I don't know." Nathan shrugged.

Greg howled. "You just admitted it! You do like her."

Nathan smiled. "Of course i do. She's beautiful, smart, caring, funny, and perfect. You'd be crazy if you ddidnt like her."

Quentin smiled. "Damn coach, you're acting like a girl."

"Whatever. When you meet someone like miss. James you let me know how you feel."

Quentin rolled his eyes. "I'm never having a girlfriend. I'm getting a new girl every night."

"Believe me Quentin I'd take Miss. James over every single girl I've ever hooked up with."

Que smiled. "Really? I mean you must've hooked up with really hot models."

Nathan smirked. "I did, but no one can compare to Miss. James."

Greg rolled his eyes. "Coach I think you should be over there." He pointed to the cheer leaders. "You're such a girl."

Nathan laughed again. "Well you're so concerned with my love life- why don't you geniuses tell me how I should tell her." Nathan advised.

Lucas suddenly came up behind Nathan. "Tell who what?" He asked.

Before Nathan could answer Greg jumped in. "Coach likes the new English teacher, Miss. James and he's trying to figure out how to tell her."

Lucas laughed sardonically. "That's a good one Nate. You don't have a chance in hell with her. Besides, mike already asked her. Better luck next time- cuz." He mocked.

Nathan suddenly grabbed Lucas by his shirt and dragged him over By the bleachers.

"What's the matter with you?" Nathan shouted. "I'm sick of this shit! Give me one good reason why I can't be with her."

"SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU!" Lucas shouted back at him.

Nathan felt his insides twist into a knot.

"You don't know that." Nathan spat.

"I told you to stop Nathan. I'm serious. Go to your stupid charity event on Friday but after that you're done, and don't try anything with her or you'll be dead."

"Yeah? And what if I tell her how much I like her and how she consumes my every thought, and she feels the same way? Then what? What are you going to do?" Nathan questioned.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Just deal with the fact that once in your life you can't get something you want." Lucas said.

"Why don't you want me to be happy? You don't even know how happy she makes me. All I ever do is think about her. When I'm not around her, I actually feel depressed. When I am around her, I have butterflies the size of basketballs, and she makes me smile. She's beautiful Lucas, I can't take my eyes off of her. I want to be with her more than anything."

Lucas took a deep breath. "Wow. Well you'll get over it. You're just caught up in the moment right now."

Nathan shook his head. "You know what luke? I don't give a shit what you think. I was trying to be respectful of you and show you how much I care about her but obviously you don't understand. I'm done with you Lucas. Report me- I don't care. If you were really my cousin you would be happy for me. I can't believe you! You're such an ass!" Nathan screamed and shoved Lucas as hard as he could, And Lucas fell flat on his behind. Nathan quickly walked out of the gym and made his way to his car. He was going to do something he hasn't done in three months. Drink.

...

Lucas entered his house and took a deep breath. He was really stressed out about he Nathan situation. In the beginning he thought he just wanted to sleep with Haley but now he realized how much Nathan actually cared about his best friend.

He was conflicted, because he did want Nathan to be happy, as well as Haley, but he was still very cautious of Haley's past. If Nathan knew about Haley's past then he would understand why Lucas was freaking out, but Nathan can't know. Haley would tell him if and when she's ready. Only very few people know what actually occurred. Haley's parents, siblings, Brooke, Peyton, and Lucas. Not even Jake knew.

"Luke is that you?" He heard Brooke call.

He sighed. "Yeah, I'm home."

He walked into the living room to find Haley and Brooke chatting away on the couch and Jackson was playing with his toy trucks on the floor.

"How was practice?" Haley asked.

"Same ol' same ol." Lucas said rubbing his back.

"What's wrong with your back?" Brooke asked concerned.

"Oh I er fell..."

"Oh my gosh! Are you alright?" Brooke creamed.

Lucas laughed. "I'm fine Brooke. So what's new hales?"

Haley bit her lip. "Not much."

Brooke intervened. "You're biting your lip... Something happened! Oh my god did Nathan tell you?" She screamed.

"Tell me what?" Haley asked with a look of confusion sketched across her face.

Brooke blushed. "Never mind. What happened though?"

Haley looked at her feet. "I'm going on a date tomorrow."

Brooke jumped up and down and screamed. "WITH NATHAN?" She asked excitedly.

Lucas stood there with a look of horror on his face.

Haley shook her head. "Um no, Mike Ramsey, actually. He's a math teacher and he was the one who has been giving me flowers."

"What the hell Haley? Are you kidding me?"

"Brooke! I thought you'd be happy! Don't you want me to start dating again?"

"Yes but ugggghhh this ruins everything!" She pouted. Before Haley could ask why, Lucas intervened.

"This is great Haley! I'm so happy for you! You deserve this!"

Haley smiled. "Thanks Luke."

Brooke stormed out of the room in a huff. "I hate you Lucas Scott!"

Haley looked at Lucas. "Is everything okay?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "She's being dramatic. She has some stupid idea that you like Nathan. How crazy would that be?" Lucas laughed, and Haley giggled nervously.

Oh no...

"Oh yeah. That's crazy!" Haley lied.

Why did I just lie to my best friend?

"Well good. I'm glad you don't like him. Nathan has a reputation and he tends to be an ass, so I'm glad you're not falling for his pathetic game. It's all a joke to him. He thought he had a chance with you. Isn't that funny?" Lucas laughed.

Haley but her lip to stop herself from crying.

"Yeah. Um look I need to go... I will talk to you guys later." Haley said sadly.

"C'mon Jackson. It's time to go now."

"Okay mommy." Jackson said running over to Haley.

"Bye uncle Luke." Jackson hugged Lucas goodbye, as did Haley and they made their way home.

Haley was really upset. This whole time she thought Nathan liked her and she fell for it. She was so stupid. She swore she would never fall for another guys charming personality but here she was, crying herself to sleep yet again...

Meanwhile

Nathan sat at the bar with his head in his hands. He had a rough day. All he wanted to do was tell Haley how crazy he was about her, but something always kept getting in the way. He was hurt when he found out she was going on a date with that stupid prick mike Ramsey. He was also confused because he gave Haley flowers two times, but today mike gave her flowers and said that he gave her the flowers the other two times, too. Nathan hates the guy even more now for lying to his Haley. Nathan felt every emotion at once. He knew that some how Lucas had something to do with it, and when he found out he was going to kick the shit out of him. Nathan closed his eyes and saw Haley's beautiful big brown eyes that he got lost in every single time. He saw her big smile that have him butterflies. All he thought about was her. Every time he saw her he just wanted to kiss her and tell her how much he liked her. Nathan laughed at how pathetic he was. He never in a million years thought he would be pining over a girl. But Haley wasn't just another girl- she was perfect and she was everything Nathan ever wanted. There was no way he was going to feel this same way around anyone else. He didn't know what he felt but it sure wasn't normal.

The bartender handed him another beer, and Nathan chugged it. He didn't know how much he had to drink, but he knew it was a lot. The beer burned in his throat and he kept chugging it until he finished.

He signed deeply as he felt a hand brush against his back. He was in no mood for some random slut to be all over him.

"You're Nathan Scott?"

He heard a girl say.

He nodded but didn't look up.

"Why is someone as hot as you sitting here alone and depressed?" She whispered in his hear. All he thought about was Haley, and how he wished it was her saying those things to him.

Nathan shrugged staring into his beer can.

The bartender came over and the girl ordered two shots of whiskey.

"Drink this." She ordered Nathan with out thinking twice he swallowed the shot in one sip.

"Nice." The girl purred. "My turn." She took the shot and smirked. Nathan finally looked up at her. He was hot but she wasn't Haley. She had long red hair, and brown eyes.

They're not the same as Haley's...

She had on a red shirt that showed a surplus amount of cleavage, and a mini skirt that left little to the imagination. Normally Nathan would be all over that, but he felt himself changing. All he wanted was Haley.

"So are you deaf or something?" The girl asked, and Nathan laughed for the first time tonight. He felt the alcohol taking over and he slurred his words.

"Nah. I'm drunk as shit though."

"I can see that." The girl laughed."I'm Rachel." She said sticking out her hand.

"Nathan Scott. But you knew that already." Nathan smirked.

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Rachel asked.

"The girl I can't stop thinking about is going on a date tomorrow, and my cousin is trying to ruin m life." Nathan slurred.

"Well your cousin seems like a prick. And that girl is not worth your time. Obviously she doesn't even care about you, so why do you even care about her? " Rachel asked while taking a swig of her beer.

"She's not a waste of time. She's- she's- perfect." Nathan slurred.

Rachel rolled her eyes, but not the adorable way that Haley does.

"No one is perfect." Rachel advised.

"She is to me."

"Gag me." Rachel said. "You're acting like a girl. Get over it. You're not in third grade anymore. Act like a man." Rachel said in a seductive voice.

Nathan just shrugged. "I don't know what to do."

"You should've just told her how you felt."

"She doesn't feel the same way."

"Okay so then get over it. There are a million girls out there who want you, so move on."

"I don't want anyone else."

"I think you need to clear your head and get a grip." She whispered.

Before Nathan knew what was happening Rachel kissed him on the lips and dragged him to a back room.