A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I hope you enjoy Chapter 12! :D

Pasting…no walking…running? Ugh, why does my life have to be so complicated? I'm finally back home from the "amazing" beach house weekend. Remind me never to go back. Because of the lovely vacation, I now have two cut up fists , scratch marks going down my cheek, and a guilty conscious. The conversation with Jake constantly plagues my thoughts. And now I can't even look at Nathan without feeling guilty. Not to mention the lovely scene afterwards featuring the bitch…I mean Peyton. I seriously don't understand why it is so hard for me to tell Jake everything. Tell him about Nathan and Peyton. How I'm in love for the first time, or how his girlfriend of two years is a cheating whore. I wish I could just walk up to him and just let it all out, but I know I can never do that. It would break him. It would break our relationship. And it would break me. I wouldn't be able to handle seeing Jake upset…or depressed. The last time I've seen my brother like that was when my dad… you know.

So I will just continue to run...walk…jog or whatever the hell you want to call it. As I continue to pass the river court I can see a figure shooting hoops in the distance and as I come closer I see a familiar figure.

"Hi beautiful," Nathan smiled as he tucked his basketball underneath his arm. He moved closer to me and gave me a chaste kiss before intertwining our hands and moving us toward the bleachers.

"What are you doing here?" He asks while putting down the ball and completely turning towards me.

"Um, I'm just…jogging…clearing my head," I stutter. Being in his presence was truly everything to me, but now with everything that happened with Jake I couldn't help but to feel the guilt wash over me.

"Oh…what's on your mind?" He asks, patiently waiting for me to answer. I sigh deeply and try to find the right words to voice my thoughts, but mind feels like it's in overdrive. I wince a little when he runs the back of his fingers on the fresh scratch on my cheek.

"Jake," I whisper. I see him scrunch his face and stiffen at my brother's name. The reaction I should have known was coming.

"Wha-what about him?" He questions, trying to be supportive.

"You," I whisper once again. I look up to see confusion has completely taken over his handsome features.

"Uhh, what?"

"The other night…at the party, Jake and I spoke and it was about you."

"You told him?" Nathan asks hesitantly.

"No, Peyton did. That day outside of the movies…"

"Damn, Haley, I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you and …"

"Nathan, it's fine, he doesn't know."

"What do you mean he doesn't know?" He asks a grave tone behind it.

"I-I didn't tell him…I didn't confirm it. I just told him that Peyton was lying and that you and I are just friends. That you and I never happened." I spoke softly not looking him in the eyes.

"We never happened?"He whispered, moving his hand from mine. I quickly looked up to see hurt resting in his beautiful blue eyes.

"Nathan it wasn't like that. I couldn't tell him. He's my brother…and he hates you. What am I supposed to do?"

"You're supposed to tell him!" He yelled now. My eyes widen with shock. "You're supposed to tell him, Haley. That's what you're supposed to do. I know we don't get along, but that has nothing to do with me and you. If you like me, then he can't do anything to stop you. When are you finally going realize that he doesn't have say in what you want, Haley?!"

"It's not that easy Nathan! You're not the one who's been lying to your brother! You're not the one who actually has to feel guilty and you're certainly not the one who has to stare him straight in the eyes and see the betrayal laced in them! So don't you dare say I'm supposed to tell him!"

"Damn it Haley! It's not going to be the end of the world! He shouldn't have say in what goes on between us! So what if he gets mad, it's your life…when are you going to stop letting him control you?!"

"He does not control me!"

"Yes he does Haley!"

"NO HE DOESN'T!"

"Then what do you call me?" He asks now lowering his voice.

"I would call you my idiot boyfriend." I tried to calm down.

"If I'm your boyfriend, then why do we have to sneak around? Why can't I take you out in public? Or why is it that every time there's a race you can't cheer me on, but instead you have to hide out by the water?"

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I just simply shook my head and stood up from the bleachers. He tried to grab my hand, but I quickly pulled it back.

"Hales," he whispers.

"Don't…I can't do this right now. Just…don't."

"Hales…I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too." I whisper, walking away.

The large house was in complete silence…well almost. There was a conversation that could be heard throughout the first floor, followed by laughter.

"Yeah it was a total waste Coop, I swear it was a complete disaster." Brooke reminisced about the party. Cooper was about to reply when a pissed off Nathan came through the front door. He didn't even glance their way, but simply went in his room and slammed the door behind him.

"What was that all about?" Cooper wondered looking back towards Brooke. Brooke continued to stare at the closed door. Turning around she faced Cooper once again.

"I have no idea. Did he tell you were he was going earlier?"

"Uh, yeah he was going to go shoot hoops at the river court. What could have happened there? Girl troubles?"

"I doubt it, but then again Haley hasn't really been around much."

"Yeah, she hasn't stopped by the garage either. Maybe you should call her."

"Yeah, be right back." Brooke assured and headed to her bedroom. She slipped out her cell phone from her pocket as she went up the stairs. Finding the number she press call and waited as the phone rang.

"Hey,"

"Hi Hales…"

"I'm not here right now so leave a message…"

"Damn it, she always gets me with that." Brooke huffed as she pressed redial.

"Hello?" Haley answered the phone.

"Hales…what's up?" Brooke attempted to start off small before asking any questions.

"Um, I'm kind of busy Brooke, so if there's something you need to say just say it." Haley answered, trying to get straight to the point.

"Oh, well I was wondering where you have been these pass couple of days. I mean after we came back it seems like you've disappeared. I mean considering you practically lived here before we left. So I was just wondering if the reason you weren't coming around was because of last weekend. I mean if something happened and you want to talk about it you know I'm here right?" Brooke rambled, trying to get all of her thoughts out.

"No, Brooke, umm…everything's fine." Haley answered; Brooke could hear her best friend's voice crack slightly over the phone.

"Are you sure, Hales? Is something going on between you and my brother because he came home really upset and…" Brooke was suddenly cut off by Haley.

"Look Brooke I have to go." And the line went dead. Brooke stared at the screen… "Call Ended"

I looked at the blank screen on my phone. I can't believe I just hung up on my best friend. Then again I should have never answered the phone anyway. I knew it was a bad idea. After my fight with Nathan I feel even worse than I did before. Not only because I fought with Nathan but because he was right. In a way Jake does control me…and I should tell him everything. I just don't know how to.

I could just come out and blurt it all out but it just doesn't seem fair. Ughhhh, I really have no idea what I should do. Before I could continue my lovely conversation with myself, my mother walked in my room.

"Hey sweetheart," she smiled. It was the smile she reserved just for me and Jake. The smile that said, "Oh honey I know something's wrong, so just come out with it." The thing is …that smile, that special smile, works like a charm and I can't help but to break down. I'm now in tears and she quickly closes the bedroom door and is by my side in an instant.

"What's wrong?" She asks softly taking me in her arms and running her fingers through my hair. I just shake my head. "Alright just let it all out."She whispers. When I'm finally done crying I lift my head, so I can look up at her.

"Alright spill it, Bub." She laughs lightly. I smile and open up to start.

"Well… it all started at the beginning of the summer."

"Oh, was this the night of the first race?" She smirks, and my eyes widen.

"You knew about that?"

"Of course I did, I was a teenager once you know."

"Right…"

"Continue."

"Well I went to the first race with Brooke and I got to meet her boyfriend and we all watched…well I hid from Jake, but that's another story. And when I was there I saw this boy…he was extremely handsome, Mama."

"Details!"She smiled brightly and I couldn't help but to laugh and get just as excited as she was.

"He is the definition of tall, dark and handsome. He's around 6'2", muscular, dark raven hair, and the deepest blue eyes I've ever seen." I sighed. Thinking about Nathan had my heart racing.

"Ooo, sounds like a keeper."

"Yeah…"

"So what's wrong?"

"Well it turns out that Jake and Nathan…his name is Nathan, have a history. When I saw the way they treated each other it seemed as if they had a long line of hatred toward one another. Something must have happened between them. And then later on I find out that he's actually Brooke's brother, which meant that I would see him around a lot more than I thought. And he works at Cooper's… so I saw him at work too. And one thing led to another..."

"And now you're both together." She guessed smiling when I blushed and nodded my head. "And you're in love with him, but you kept it all a secret from Jake and now you're afraid if he finds out he will hate you." I nodded once again. "Sweetheart, not everything you do is going to please your brother, but it's your life and you have to do what your heart tells you. And if your heart tells you to be with this boy, then no one should stop you."

"Nathan said the same thing," I whispered softly.

"He seems like a smart young man. Bub, don't let your brother keep you from something you want. What ever happened between him and Nathan is between them. You and Nathan have nothing to do with them. Is that all you were worked up about?"

"Well…"

The garage was in complete silence. Nathan was currently working on a car while Lucas, Brooke, and Cooper watched him. He was trying to fix up his car for a the next race after that Oak Lake kid beat him, but his mind continued to go back to his fight with Haley. He was mentally kicking himself in the head for saying the things he did to Haley and he wished he could take them back. All he needed now was a way to get Haley to talk to him.

After talking everything out with my mom about Nathan and Peyton… I finally know what I'm going to do. My mom seemed excited when I was telling her about Nathan, but when I told her about everything with Peyton I could see the disappointment in her eyes, not only in Peyton but in me as well. I've known for almost a year that Peyton was cheating on Jake, but I didn't bother to tell him….and now I am. I just hope he doesn't shut me out for everything I'm about to tell him.

I'm standing right outside his door and I'm about to knock when suddenly his door flies open.

"Hey Haley, what's up?" He smiles. My stomach drops.

"Hey Jake…do you mind if we talk?"

"No not at all, is it going to be fast? I'm kind of supposed to meet Peyton in five."

"Um, she's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." Jake stops for a minute and tries to read me…and I look away.

"Um okay what is it?" He sits down and gestures for me to sit as well.

"Jake, there's something I need to tell you and I don't know how you'll take it, but just please don't be mad at me."

"Come on Hales, how bad can it be? I mean it can't be like if you were with Nathan or something." He joked around and quickly stopped at my serious demeanor. The mention of Nathan's name made me lose all hope of me ever telling Jake and I knew telling him would be a huge mistake.

"Do you remember last Christmas I came up to UNC to visit you and Peyton?"

"Yeah, that was before you two were at war with each other. What happened?"

"Well, when we were at some party I kind of ran into Peyton and she was with some other guy."

"What do you mean?" Jake spoke calmly, but you could tell he was about to burst…and all hell would break loose.

"She was with him…like really with him Jake. I saw her …doing things with him. She was…"

"Having sex," Jake finished, looking straight up at me.

"Yeah, I'm sorry Jake."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"What do you mean?" I ask confused.

"Why are you telling me this now, if it happened months ago?" He looked at me with hurt clearly in his eyes. "Something else happened didn't it?"

"Jake…"

"What? What else was it!" he yells, now upset.

"At the bonfire, after we were done talking, I was about to leave with Brooke when I saw her with some other guy behind a sand dune making out."

"Stupid Bitch! Two years! Two years together and she does this!" He yells clutching his fist. "Is there anything else?"

"That night when you asked me if there was something going on between me and Nathan…I lied." I whispered.

"Haley, what are you talking about?! You said there was nothing going on! You said I could trust you!"

"I know! And I'm really sorry Jake! I swear I never meant for this to happen!"

"How long?" He spoke calmly once again.

"How long what?"

"How long have you been with him behind my back?" He spoke through clenched teeth.

"Since the beginning of the summer."

"Six Weeks?! You've been lying to me for six weeks!"

"Jake, I swear I didn't want this to happen!"

"Don't Haley, Don't lie to my face and tell me that! You knew this would happen and you did it anyway! You knew I hated Nathan and you knew I didn't want you anywhere near him but you did it anyway!"

"Jake…"

"Did you sleep with him?"

"Excuse Me?!"

"You heard me! Did that asshole take advantage of you?!"

"How is any of that your business? Whatever happens between me and Nathan stays between us. Look Jake I'm sorry for sneaking around with Nathan behind your back and I really never meant for any of this to happen."

"Stop lying Haley, you knew this would hurt me and I bet your boyfriend put you up to it!" He spoke with disgust as he stared me straight in the eye.

"How could you? How you could you think that?! Jake the last thing I wanted to do was tell you, but Nathan's the one that wanted me to. He was the one that was tired of sneaking around and I was too afraid to tell you. The betrayal was the one thing that scared me the most, knowing that fact that you would feel betrayed."

"Well your right Haley, I do feel betrayed. Congratulations, you're now on Peyton's level…a liar. Have fun with Nathan…and if I were you I would tell your boyfriend to watch his back." Jake whispered before grabbing his jacket and rushing out of the room and out the front door.

….

The events of the day kept replaying over and over in my mind and once again my mind was on overdrive. I decided to walk to Cooper's garage, knowing all too well I wasn't in the position to be driving. When I finally arrived I saw Cooper outside talking to a customer, waving them off when they finished talking.

"Well well, if it isn't my missing employee." He grinned.

"Hey Cooper…is Nathan here?" I ask getting straight to the point. The whole way here I practiced what I would say and I didn't want to forget.

"Yeah he's in the office." He answered, now serious. I nod at him and head toward the office. Opening the door, I see Nathan by the file cabinet, closing the door I still hang on to it for support.

"Hey," I whisper. Nathan stops and turns toward me.

"Hey," He smiles, moving toward me. Grabbing his hand I lead him toward the seats in Cooper's office. "Haley, I'm really sorry about earlier."

"I'm sorry too, Nathan. I was thinking about what you said earlier and you were right. I should tell Jake…and I did."

"Really?" He asks. I can feel a sense of relief coming from him. "How did it go?"

"As well as can be expected. He hates me now…. And I feel terrible. You should have seen his face, he looked so betrayed."

"Hales, I'm sorry…maybe I should have been there with you when you told him."

"No…that would have made things worse. As of right now he wants to kill you. He thinks you were taking advantage of me. I tried telling him you weren't, but he wouldn't pay any mind to me. He told me to tell you to watch your back."

"Haley I can handle my own…"

"I don't want you to have to, Nathan."

"Haley…"

"No, Nathan. I don't want you and my brother fighting. I've seen my brother when he's upset and this could turn really ugly. And the last thing I want is for you or him to end up in the emergency room."

"Hales..."

"Please let me finish…I have to do this."

"Do what?" He asks, the worry written all over his face.

"I can't be with you anymore, Nathan."

"No, Haley, it doesn't have to be that way." Nathan began to panic.

"I can't breathe when I'm around you, and when I'm not I want to be, I love you, Nathan. But if that means putting your safety or Jake's in danger, then I can't see you. You both mean so much to me…and the thought of losing one of you kills me. But I can't put you in that danger Nathan…I'm sorry." I cried. The distraught look on Nathan's face was worse than I had imagined and I couldn't stay any more. I couldn't breathe…I needed to get out of here. I quickly got up from my seat and ran out of the garage past Cooper. Leaving Nathan behind….leaving it all behind.