"I've been dying to do that for the past month" he smiled gently at her as they broke apart. His forehead rested against hers as he placed his hand on her check, his thumb wiping away the remaining tears.

"What…" she looked at him strangely, how had she not known.

"That's why I've been so distant…at first I didn't know what I was feeling and then when I figured it out I was scared to ruin our friendship. I'm sorry Peyt…" She shook her head with a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Don't be…its okay" an unbelievable weight had just been lifted form her shoulder and for the first time she realized just how much her relationship with Nathan meant to her. She caught the smile that slowly began to grow on his face and eventually turned into a laugh. "Okay…did I miss something"

"I…I'm just happy…I honestly never…I don't know…I'm just happy" she shook her head once again and joined in with his laughs.

"I think you said that already"

"So…I'll say it again….and I'll keep saying it till I lose my voice cuz its true." She leaned in and kissed him. She had been so lonely lately and all this time Nathan had been there…right there in front of her and somehow she just never put two and two together.

"Come on…" he said as he pulled away and stood up. He reached his hand down and helped her up, they had done that countless times over the summer, but this time neither of them let go. She looked down at their intertwined fingers and couldn't help but smile.

They walked along the shoreline quietly. For the first time in months she was just calm…satisfied with her life at that very moment. She grasped his hand tighter causing him to look down at her. He smiled gently before leaning down and kissing her lightly on the forehead. "Is everything alright" he stopped them from walking any further as her awaited her response.

"Yeah…" she looked down briefly, avoiding his eyes as she contemplated asking the questions that was starting to plague her mind. "Nathan…where does this leave us…I mean…" she paused, she wasn't really sure what she meant.

"Wherever you want it to." He wasn't about to push her. He was content with wherever they were at right now…with her knowing how he felt and not running away.

"So are we friends, more than friends" she paused again. "are we dating" there was a slight sign of hope in her voice as she referred to their last option, and Nathan could hear it. The youngest Scott smiled to himself as he turned his head to the side and bit him bottom lip. "Nathan Scott…are you blushing" she smiled as she rubbed her free hand against his cheek, turning his face back towards her. She pressed her lips against his again. Each could feel the other smiling through the kiss. His rested his forehead against hers as they broke apart.

"Dating…definitely dating" his voice was barley above a whisper. "You're okay with that right"

"Yes" she nodded against him, but he noticed when her smile slowly started to fade. "Nathan…can we…can we not make this public. With everything going on already…I'm scared that it's gunna get worse if everyone finds out."

"You're worried about Haley and I get that, but she won't be happy unless we stop talking all together and I don't wanna do that. Besides…hiding this will only be harder. Secrets like this always end badly Peyt." He cupped her face in hands. She knew he was right, but that didn't make her any less worried.

"I know" she whispered before he wrapped her in his arms.

"Its okay…we don't have to say anything" he rested his chin among her curls. He held back the sigh that was threatening to escape his lips. He wanted so badly to let everyone know they were together…to tell everyone how happy he was…but he understood why she was hesitant. Besides, he was okay so long as they were together…it wasn't necessary for others to know.

"No…I don't wanna hide from them." She could feel him smile and it made her smile as well. He walked her home after they spend a few more hours on the beach. He didn't stay the night, although he wanted to. Instead he kissed her gently on the lips before watching her retreat into her house.

He picked her up every morning for the next few days. Throughout the school day she was faced with the same problems as before, the name calling and whispers behind her back, the snide and snippy remarks and evil glares. But she made until lunch each day and that's when she saw Nathan. He had a way of making everything before hand disappear, of making her days better. It wasn't until the second Friday of the school year that the couple finally went public. They hadn't hid it before, but they had acted them same as they had the first days of school, as if they were just friends. He was moving at a rate she was comfortable with and everything was done on her terms.

They walked into school that day side by side, the same as every other day. The routine was the same, they went to his locker and then to hers. The difference in the morning came when they parted ways to go to first period. He hugged her gently and kissed her cheek. It was as he began to pull away that she chose to shock him. She placed her hand behind the nape of his neck and pressed their lips together. The kiss was brief, but it was enough to make Nathan's heart race as well as hers. He smiled as they pulled apart and she smiled back. "Let me walk you to class" he grabbed her hand and gripped it tightly.

"I'd like that…boyfriend" she chose not to whisper the words, making his smile grow even wider. The started walking and ignored the stares from the scattered teens still lingering in the halls. Those teens included a fuming Haley, a disbelieving Brooke, and stunned Lucas.

Peyton's day proceed the same as every other day. When her lunch period came around she was glad to finally see Nathan again, and he was glad to lean in and connect their lips. They stayed close to each other the entire period, ignoring everyone around them. She hated watching him walk away as the bell rang, but she knew he had to, and she in turn turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

She was greeted by the same problems during the rest of the day and was glad when twelfth period finally arrived. Although she had the class with the three people she least wanted to see, it meant there were only 49 minutes until she saw Nathan again. She wanted to sit in the back of the class where she could hide from everyone, but the only seat left in the class when she arrived was near the middle. She sat, slumped in her desk as the teacher started the class. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair as the teacher wrote the words Drug Addiction across the top of the board. This was a topic she was sure to enjoy.

She slid down further in her desk as the teacher droned on and the students took notes. She watched the clock closely, dying to get out of the class. There were ten minutes left, she was almost out of there. She knew Haley and Brooke were staring at her, she couldn't see them but she could feel their eyes burning holes through her back.

"What leads people to become so addicted to drugs that they feel like they need to take them or something?" it was a question from the student in front of her. She was slightly interested in the teachers response. He was about to answer when he stopped and nodded towards the back of the room.

"Yes Miss James…" The teacher placed the chalk on his desk before directing his attention back to Haley.

"First off…it's Mrs. Scott" her voice was harsh and her eyes focused on Peyton for a moment. "Second…maybe that question should be directed to Peyton…after all, snorting cocaine was your after school activity wasn't it Peyt." The blonde swallowed hard as she turned around to look at Haley's smirking face. She turned back around, but not before catching the disbelieving and disappointed look on Lucas's face, as well as the glares from others around the class.

The teacher gave her an off look before starting on a new subject. Peyton sat low in her desk with her head hanging down. She fought back tears for the few reaming minutes of class, but every so often, moisture slipped from beneath her lids and down her paling cheeks.