Back with another chapter, so this one is a little shorter because it was turning into a super long chapter so I have split them in half because it felt right to end this one where I did, good news this one is all Naley and because I split it in half the other chapter should be up within the next week :)

Thanks everyone for your reviews.

Chapter 12

Haley necked back her water as she tried to keep a steady pace beside Nathan, she felt as though he was running faster today or else her body was making her pay for one measly glass of champagne….one glass?! Her shins were just burning up and everything about this run just screamed painful.

It didn't help that the temperatures were steadily rising week on week in New York now as they came into mid may.

She was in the middle of a mini battle between her own mind telling her she's ran this far before and she can do it and her body screaming at her to just stop and walk it home. She noticed Nathan pick up the pace again and that's when the war between Haley's body and mind was settled.

Nathan came to a brisk halt as soon as he noticed the loss of Haley beside him. Turning around he watched as she bent over running her two hand over her shins and glanced up at him with a look of pure annoyance. He would have laughed at the pure pissed off look on her face but he was pretty sure that this time she would actually hit him across the head with that bottle of water or worse.

'You ok?' Nathan panted out deciding that this was the safer card to play.

'Oh yeah…just perfect.' Haley got out as she plonked down on the kerb in the park not even bothering making it over to the bench. She was pissed at herself now for stopping.

Nathan eyed her suspiciously. she sounded snappy which oddly didn't sit well with him considering how easy things has been between them since they walked home from the party last night. Between then and until now things were just different. Different but nice.

While Nathan was battling his own raging fire in his mind he found just being around Haley quenched it, if only for a while and that calmness he was feeling around her had only being occurring lately with less of the agro between them.

Nathan walked over to her then. Haley smiled up at him. 'I'm annoyed at myself for stopping.' She exasperated. 'I really didn't want to stop I'm just..so sore.' She finished a little perturbed with herself for actually moaning about something so futile.

Nathan scratched the back of his neck a little nervously knowing that Haley may possibly lash out. 'I sort of was going at way of a quicker pace…' He mumbled out. 'I'm sorry Haley…I didn't even notice; I just have a lot on my mind and the more I need to think about the more I run…the quicker I run actually..' He was interrupted mid ramble by Haley's giggling. Now he was confused.

'Oh wow…..my rambling is rubbing off on you.' She mused. She'd never in her life heard Nathan nervously ramble, it was actually kind of cute.

'What?' Nathan scoffed. 'I wasn't rambling.'

'Oh, you were!' Haley emphasised. 'you totally went off on one'

'I was explaining my point.' Nathan reasoned unsuccessfully. Had he really just blurted out to Haley that he had a lot on his mind? Where did that come from? He hoped in the midst of her teasing she wouldn't actually repeat what he had said.

'Well I don't feel so bad now.' Haley replied. 'I was trying to keep up with you and part of me thought this couldn't be normal pace but then I just thought I was making excuses to get out of it.'

'Sorry Hales.' Nathan said. 'Here.' He offered his hand to her pulling her up from the kerb. 'you know even if it was usual pace some runs are just bad runs.'

'I know.' Haley said as she began strolling along beside him. 'I'm just a..'

'Perfectionist.' Nathan cut in as he looked over at her with a teasing glint in his eye.

Haley just elbowing him in the side. 'I was going to say a little heard on myself, I want to be able to do this and I'm afraid it's just not for me.'

'You're already doing it Haley. Just keep building up slowly each week and before you know It a 5k will be a normal run for you. It's up to you if you want to run further but you don't have to.'

'What's your furthest?' Haley questioned then.

'About 12km…I think, in and around that.'

'Woaah..' Haley scoffed. 'Well this is just a warmup.' She said pointing around to the park around them.

'That was a while ago and between work and then the accident…' Nathan stuttered there for a moment before continuing 'I do have to build myself back up slowly.'

Haley nodded then understanding where he was coming from. She wanted to ask how he was dealing with everything really since the accident, the question was there in the back of her throat but for some reason she just couldn't get the words out. They really hadn't spoke about it at all since that intense confrontation they'd had at Quinn's apartment.

'How far would you like to be able to run?' Haley asked deciding this question was much safer for now.

'I think I'd like to do a half-marathon. that's a reasonable goal.' Nathan replied. 'What?' He prompted when he noticed that look on Haley's face.

'It's just sooo far.'

'You'd be able to do it you know, if you trained you would.' Nathan said easily.

'You make it sound like something people just casually do.'

'It's not easy, I mean there would be a lot of long runs to build up for it but it is possible Haley. but you need to think like that with any kind of distance you're building up for…so don't let today weigh on your mind the next time ok?'

'you really love this don't you?' Haley said softly.

'Huh?' Nathan prompted her again wondering was she about to tease him for gloating about his running ambitions.

'Running.' Haley said simply. 'you can just hear it in your voice, the way you talk about it.'

'Oh.' Nathan said a little surprised by her revelation. 'I guess I do.' He said a little bashfully as he put his hands in the pocket of his training shorts. For some reason he felt exposed and he wasn't fully sure why, maybe because of the fact that Haley had noted something about him that just shifted the atmosphere around them for a swift moment.

They came to the gates at central park then and Nathan noticed Haley doing that nervous crossing and uncrossing her arms fidgeting she always does. 'Everything okay?' He hedged wondering what was going on. He noticed how her feet were planted on the ground even when he made a move to exit the park.

'Oh…umm yea..' Haley said apprehensively trying to convince Nathan otherwise. She felt she couldn't look him in the eye as the words came spilling out of her mouth a little awkwardly. 'there's just something I've got to…go umm…do.' She muttered incoherently. Nice one Haley, now he's really not going to think that something is up.

Nathan wondered why she was acting so weird, he knew Haley could be a little strange at times, it was part of her quirkiness but this…this was just odd. It was like she was hiding something from him, it made completely no sense. Maybe she had a therapy session, Haley hadn't openly spoke about her sessions with him but surely she could tell him she was going to one. For some reason Nathan felt a little let down to think that she couldn't even say that to him. So, he did what he usually would do and let it go without questioning. 'Sure.' Nathan said a little reluctantly. 'I guess I'll see you tomorrow.'

Haley quirked her eyebrow at him them…'tomorrow?'

'Oh yeah….am I'm in Boston overnight for work.' Nathan said a little reservedly.

'Oh.' Haley said flatly. The tables were now turned as she felt Nathan was hiding something from her nevertheless, he always was a little stand offish when it came to work conversations. 'See you tomorrow then.' Haley said timidly.

'Yea.' Nathan responded awkwardly. 'Bye Haley.' He gave her a wave of his hand then before he turned and left the park all the while cursing himself for waving at her. A Wave…really? What the fuck was that Nathan? Why all of a sudden then it feel so awkward saying goodbye to her?

Haley sighed as she just watched him leave. Never in all her years of knowing Nathan had they ever really shared any kind of awkward moments, there was always such banter, teasing and pure picking on each other between them. But never any awkwardness.

But that moment that they just shared, it was so awkward between them and Haley couldn't deny the twinge of disappointment she felt when he said he was going to be gone tonight. She really was going crazy. Maybe this next place she had to be really was the best decision, she needed to keep her mind busy.

XXXXX

Nathan ran his hands through his thick hair and sighed, he really needed to get it cut, that was another thing on the long list of pointless but necessary things he had to do when he left work today. He would give anything to just be going home tonight but he knew this pitch in Boston would potentially get Dan off his back for a while, that's if he came through on it. Dan had just been grating on him even worse since the accident and it wasn't fatherly concern. Nathan knew that. It was pure Dan making sure he had the stamina to keep up his previous work ethic.

'Are you taking a lunch break today?'

Nathan couldn't resist the eye roll as his father's voice grated on his ears. One of the perks about working on the ground floor was the fact that Dan couldn't corner him as much as he used to, still when he did show up he never made it any easier for Nathan.

He wasn't sure what was the right way to answer that question, a yes would warrant a scoff from his father and a no well he'd probably tell him he needed the energy, either way he was damned. 'I'll have it at my desk, I've a lot to do before the pitch.' Nathan said indifferently as he continued reading through the paper not bothering to look up at Dan.

'Well good. I was half expecting to see you down at that bar with your new plaything.' Dan spewed ruefully knowing this was going to get a reaction. He just couldn't wait to lay into Nathan after the discovery he made today.

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Nathan muttered unamused.

'Holly…every time I bump into you she's hanging off you like a leech.'

'It's Haley dad.' Nathan said, the words were out of his mouth before he even realised it.

'Whatever, that's the last thing you need…she's just a distraction son, you're barely back to a good place with your work don't screw it up over some blonde.'

Nathan bit his tongue trying to hold back his angry retortion. Dan was getting to him again and he knew it. 'She's a friend dad.'

'If you say so, but she's below you son, unless you're into screwing the waitress thing - trust me I know from experience they're always the ones that are hard to get rid of.'

Nathan scoffed as he finally looked up from his paper to see the gleeful look on his father's face. 'What the fuck are you talking about?'

'Oh, don't you know? I expect that's where you've been having your boozy lunch the last few days seen as Holly served me mine.'

'You're not making any sense dad, just leave.' Nathan sighed feeling this brief encounter was already depleting his energy twofold, something he really couldn't afford to happen today.

It was then the clocks turned in Dan's head and his eyes lit up even brighter. 'Oh, she really is like all women, she didn't tell you did she?'

Nathan crossed his eyes at his father just daring him to continue.

'you're little plaything works down at your local bar, what? Did she tell you she had no money hoping you'd take her in?'

Nathan swallowed hard as Dan's whole reasoning for approaching him and asking about lunch began to make sense in his mind. Haley was down at the bar…serving? What the hell? None of this was making any sense to him.

He wanted nothing more to bolt right there and then but he wouldn't give Dan the satisfaction, of all the annoyance and frustration he felt bubbling up within him from his usual encounters with Dan there was another twinge of hurt that seemed to be the strongest feeling within him, he wasn't sure what it was…betrayal maybe although that felt too strong, he just felt hurt that Haley was hiding something from him. This just felt sneaky and so unlike her.

Another voice in his mind rattled on to him that this was absolutely none of his business and it wasn't Haley's place to tell him what she was doing, it's not like she ever did before. Hell, it's not like he knew much at all about her life before so why did he feel so hurt and angry?

'Just you remember I need you in top form for this pitch. You cost me a lot the last time Nathan, you need to work harder.' Those were Dan's parting words as he left Nathan's desk and began walking intimidatingly around the open office on the ground floor.

Nathan sighed pulling on the tie around his neck. All of a sudden it felt like it was choking him. 'Not like I almost died in a car crash or anything dad.' He mumbled sarcastically to himself as he glanced back down at the paper. But he couldn't even read the words anymore. All he could do was ruminate over what Dan said about Haley.

As much as he didn't want her to she just kept consuming his thoughts.

XXXXX

Haley pounced around the kitchen in her black cotton shorts and yellow t-shirt. She'd woke up earlier that morning with a mad urge to just clean the apartment. She had a lot of things weighing on her mind and this was always one thing she did when she felt she needed to sieve through the thoughts. It was oddly therapeutic and the music she had on now was helping lift that heavy feeling she woke up with. While the loss of her sister still weighed heavy on her heart every day, she was also now beginning to doubt all the decisions she had made since her whole life was turned upside down.

She knew she couldn't go back to college right now; her head wasn't in the mind frame for it but she was beginning to question moving into Lucas and Nathans place, starting the waitressing job in her local and letting go of the apartment. All these miniature decisions she had made in the weeks previous were adding up to something big and she was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by it all. After all, Haley's plans for the future had been pretty much mapped out, school, college, nursing degree and job. As mundane as it mostly likely sounded she craved the comfort of that security and she also felt so lucky to have found her passion so early in life.

Lately all of that had been turned on its head.

Nathan dropped his luggage by the door as he made his way down the short hallway to their open living room and kitchen. As emotionally drained and confused as he was over the events of the last day he couldn't hold back the smile that appeared across his worn features as he took Haley in doing a silly dance about the place with the can of polish in her hands. And she was wearing those little cotton shorts. God she really is trying to kill me.

As he took her all in he felt his frustration rise again, it's like she was trying to torture him dancing around his apartment in those clothes. He had been harbouring this frustration since yesterday after his encounter with Dan and he wasn't about to just let it go. It annoyed him not only how easily Dan could always seem to push his buttons but how Haley had made that so easy for Dan to do yesterday.

With that Nathan staked over to the music system pulling the socket out from the wall.

Haley turned around then in shock and puffed out a breath, her cheeks were blushed over and her messy ponytail was astray. 'You're back.' She said smiling a little bashfully as she took Nathan in standing there in his black jeans and red polo t-shirt. 'You got a haircut.' She blurted out noticing how much neater and shorter his hair seemed, she was secretly glad he kept some length on top. Where did that come from Haley? It really was an inside thought she hadn't meant to just blurt out.

'Obviously.' Nathan answered both of her remarks as he sauntered over to the kitchen to grab some water.

His curt tone didn't go a miss by Haley and she sighed. Just when she felt like they were in a friendlier place Nathan ripped the rug out from under her reminding her that maybe they never could be in that place for long. Lately she was wondering how they were so hateful towards each other for so long, it was utterly draining.

She felt like giving out to him for just pulling the socket on her music rudely but Haley took the high road as difficult as that was. 'So how did your pitch go?' Haley casually questioned as she finished dusting around the living area.

'Fine.' Nathan shot back sharply as he drank down his water.

Was she mistaken or was he actually glaring at her? 'That bad huh?' Haley said in response to his sour tone and his moody behaviour.

'Whatever it's none of your business.' Nathan said rolling his eyes as he tossed his water in the trash can before making a move to leave the kitchen. He was just feeling more pissed of by the second, he really needed to just get away from her.

Haley scoffed then and felt her earlier resolve to just take the high road dissipate. 'Well sorry for actually trying to be nice and ask how your day went….you always like this after a work trip? because god help Lucas if that's the case.' She rambled fuming at his rude behaviour.

Those words just seemed to make Nathan snap then, as much as he knew it would have been better to walk away from this situation he just couldn't help himself. After all it was killing him yesterday questioning and thinking over everything his father had said. 'Well…why don't I try to be nice and tell me about your day Haley? How would you like that?' Nathan spat sarcastically.

Haley came over glowering at him, one had rested on her hip while the other clutched the polish can tightly. 'What is your problem besides that you're just being an ass right now?'

'So, what's new?' Nathan countered.

'Whatever…I'm not doing this.' Haley said making a move to go around him but he blocked her.

'Why got somewhere else to be today….you know like yesterday.' Nathan cut in.

Now she was even more confused. 'I actually don't know what you're talking about.'

'What…trying to figure out what lie to tell me next?'

Her stance softened for a moment but only a little when she saw it there in his eyes, he was hurt or upset of which she wasn't sure. But there was something behind his anger there for a moment which only served to confuse her more. She figured he was pissed because of work or Dan or a combination of the two but because of her. When Haley offered up nothing more Nathan continued. 'I know about your little waitressing job at our local' He goaded making air finger signs when he said the word waitressing. 'And you know what's better Haley…Dan had the pleasure of informing me.'

Haley ran ger hand across her forehead frustratedly. Gosh she'd literally only being in work 2 hours when Dan had walked through the door, alongside a few snide comments Haley had managed to keep her distance. She never even thought that she would be a topic of conversation between Nathan and his father. 'Why would Dan speak to you about me?' She blurted out the first thing that was coming to the fore of her mind then.

'That's besides the point.'

'not really it's kind of creepy.' Haley mumbled back mostly to herself.

'Why didn't you tell me?' Nathan shot out then refusing to bring this conversation back to his father.

'OH, I don't know…' Haley fumed then feeling her frustration rise. 'I didn't know I had to tell you everything…DAD'

'Funny.' Nathan said sarcastically then. 'You should have told me yesterday Haley, how long have you been working there? Weeks? Is this why you kept getting pissed off when I'd ask you about the hospital?'

'Do you seriously hear yourself right now?' Haley shouted back. 'Why do you actually care? I never had to report to you before!' She actually couldn't believe how pissed Nathan was at her right now.'

'I don't care but if we're offering you a place here until you feel better that doesn't mean go and work a dead-end job and give up on your life altogether Haley…what are thinking?'

'Dead end job….and who told you that…let me guess your father?' Haley spat back.

'No this has nothing to do with him and everything to do with you lying to me.'

'OH my god.' Haley said taking a step back from him trying to calm himself. He was just infuriating. They seemed to just be going back and forth with this argument. 'I didn't lie to you. Yesterday was my first day in at the bar, I literally have only got my foot in the door…I needed some time to just see if this is what I'm going to do.'

'You're lying.' Nathan said without hesitance.

'I'm not lying. And you know what I don't even have to explain myself to you…not like this just move out of my way.' Haley retaliated then.

'No.' Nathan said so sure of himself it only served to piss her off more.

'I swear Nathan if you don't move I'll spray this in your fac…' She spat out holding the polish bottle only to be interrupted by the buzzer going for their apartment.

Both froze then not really expecting anyone at this time. 'Go answer the door then seen as you've practically took over the place.'

'I'm not getting the door, look at me.' Haley replied glancing at the hot mess she was from cleaning.

'You always look like that.' Nathan said before shoving past her and stalking over to the door hoping he could politely say 'no thanks, we are not interested in your service' to whoever was on the other side.

He pulled the door open then and was greeted with an oldish ash blonde haired woman who adorned the warmest smile, standing adjacent to her was whom Nathan assumed was her partner who seemed a very chirpy, happy-go lucky kind of man.

'Oh, Quinn was right about you, where has my other daughter been hiding you?' The older lady quipped with a playful wink.

'Excuse me…' Nathan prompted.

'Mum….Dad…' Haley came behind them then and noticed the absolute shock that dawned on Nathan's face at her words. 'What are you doing here?' She questioned in shock herself.

Could the timing of this be any worse she pondered to herself?