A/N: Thank you for the continued reviews and story alerts. I planned on getting this posted sooner, but time didn't permit. Hopefully I'll get another chapter posted in the middle of the week. Read and review.

Chapter 12: The Future is Ours

Nathan held his hard stare on the young brown- haired man. His jaw clenched while he warily eyed the gentleman sitting across from him in a New York restaurant. This man looked nothing like he imagined. His brown hair was a bit mussed, which concerned Nathan; however, he was happy the agent didn't appear shady. He obviously watched too many portrayals of sports agents from Jerry Maguire to Arli$$.

Clayton Evans had been calling him for weeks. He spoke to the Duke standout on several occasions and tried to convince him to take a meeting. He explained the agency would fly him out to Durham or fly Nathan to New York. Luckily for Clay, Luke's conversation about the future finally forced Nathan to make a decision.

"Are you even old enough to be an agent?" Nathan took a drink of his water still studying the young man, who could potentially be responsible for his future in the NBA.

Clay laughed as he shrugged his shoulders raising his brows for added emphasis. Instead of answering he took a bite of his burger chewing with a smile on his face.

"I was being serious." Nathan felt uneasy. Lucas left to the restroom leaving him alone. After giving his brother's advice a few days to set in, he agreed to a meeting, but told Clay he would bring his brother, who too had yet to sign with an agency. He thought they could kill two birds with one stone. Plus, Lucas could read people well. His brother's opinion of Clay would weigh heavily on his final decision.

"I didn't know my experience would be called into question. I am young, I guess. I'm twenty-six and you would be my first client. I mean you would be my very first client assigned solely to me." He pointed at himself with his thumb his smile still affixed.

"What did I miss?" Lucas asked taking a seat next to his brother. He looked at Clay then at Nathan. He sensed the slight tension. From the brief introduction he liked Clay, but business-wise he still had no clue if the agent would be right for his brother.

"Nathan you were my pick. I have followed you for a while now. I know what kind of offer you deserve and what I can get you. Lucas, if you want I can get you an agent at the agency. I know there are a handful that have called you, but much like your brother, you've ignored their calls."

Nathan peered over at his brother. He hadn't said anything to him about getting calls. Now he wondered what Lucas' plans were after graduation. His older brother had been concerned about him never mentioning what his future would be. Then again, Nathan didn't make an effort to ask. Some brother he was. He was too involved in his own life and career plans that he didn't pause to question Lucas. What if he needed someone to listen or some advice?

Feeling like a jerk, Nathan dragged his hand through his hair. Once again Lucas had stepped up as the big brother and made sure to lead him down the right path. When was Lucas going to take care of himself and stop worrying about him? Nathan needed to grow up and if that meant he had to fail along the way then so be it.

"Clay, I … I haven't decided what I'm going to do." Lucas felt his brother's stern glare. He didn't dare make eye contact. One look in his little brother's direction and they would have it out. This conversation wasn't one they should be having in front of a stranger, much less a guy who might end up Nathan's agent.

"Well," he said in between bites. "Both of you could go in the first round. The Scott brothers are looking pretty hot right now. Time is running out though to get representation. May is just around the corner so June will be here before you know it. I wouldn't waste much more time."

Nathan didn't know what to do. He still had a few things to consider, one mainly being Haley. He flew out to New York to get more information before speaking to Haley about his career plans, which could possibly affect their future. For the first time he was scared of losing a girl.

"Give me … give us," he added looking at his brother. "Give us forty-eight hours. There are a few things we need to think about." He firmly squeezed Lucas's shoulder making sure to apply enough force to cause the dirty blonde to wince.

Clay threw his napkin on the table. He had hoped to walk away with Nathan Scott as his client, but it didn't appear that would be the case. He was a little nervous attending this meeting alone, but the time had come for him to fly solo. He was more than ready to be on his own in this business and he had his mind set on Nathan.

For the last four years he had followed Lucas and Nathan's college careers though his mentor had told him the Scott brothers weren't going to be all that great. Clay knew that was incorrect. He had faith that the brothers would grow as basketball players. It would come down to whether or not either wanted to pursue a career in the NBA. As he sat across from both he sensed that the older brother might not want that career path, but he could see the fire in Nathan's eyes.

"All right. There's a lot of paperwork that needs to be done to finalize our partnership so don't wait longer than two days." He put his credit card on the table. "Have a safe trip back."

The brothers stepped outside the restaurant and Nathan looked at his phone.

"Why didn't you tell me you might not want to play in the NBA?" He composed a text to Haley waiting impatiently for his brother's response.

"Nate, Lindsey and I have talked and I don't know. Basketball was always your dream." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. His gaze darted around the busy New York street taking in the scenery and attempting to avoid the topic all together.

His younger brother shook his head in disagreement.

"No, it was Dan's dream. He bought me the basketball and made sure I followed in his footsteps until I moved to Tree Hill. Even then he tried to ensure I did everything he thought I should to be the best."

"So this isn't your dream?" Nathan sighed. "It's all right if along the way it became your dream, Nate. Don't let the fact that Dan always wanted to play influence your decision. You made it on your own. You did this on your own. For me, I think I've realized it was just a game."

The brothers walked down the street heading to the hotel. Nathan smiled as he looked at the picture on his phone.

"This is my dream." He held his phone up to his brother showing him the photo of his girl. "Everything else is a bonus."

Lucas flung his arm around his brother's shoulder and pulled him into a brotherly side hug. He was so proud of Nathan. His younger brother found love outside of the basketball court. Suddenly the girl in his life was more important than the sport he had longed to play professionally. At twenty-two years old, Nathan had already surpassed Dan in the department of being a responsible man.

Mouth tossed Haley the basketball as he rebounded for her.

"What's with the shoot around?" He gladly drove her to Tree Hill to the River Court without asking questions, but after an hour at his childhood hangout he decided it was time to talk to her. "And why Tree Hill?"

She shrugged her shoulders as she spun the ball around in her hands before bouncing it against the concrete. She got in shooting position then rose to her toes letting the ball go. She watched as it sailed through the air into the rim.

"Haley Bob, you can talk to me." He passed her the ball again.

"Don't start, Marvin. I have a lot on my mind. Finals are in a week then we graduate. There's an entire world out there that awaits me, and I don't know what is next." She shot the ball again. She smiled as it went through the hoop. She missed playing the game, but she meant what she said. She didn't need the game. There was no future for her with the game. At the moment though she didn't know what the future would be for her.

"Are you worried about you and Nathan?" Mouth held onto the ball this time trying to force his best friend to confide in him. A lot had changed over the past few months. Haley had fallen in love with one of his good friends. He was happy for her, but along with the newfound feeling came a lot of questions for her. She never loved anyone and in about three weeks it might be the end depending on what transpired for both. "You have to talk to him. When Luke and him get back, talk to him."

Haley walked away to the picnic table defeated. Her eyes swept across the tabletop. She immediately smiled seeing their initials. What had possessed her that Sunday to ask him to be her boyfriend? She hardly knew Nathan. What she did know about him she liked. She also liked that he liked her. That simple knowledge made it so easy to put herself out there. She would never have been so bold with any other guy. It helped that Nathan opened up to her about basketball and his father. She felt connected to him instantly.

She redid her hair in a messy bun. She slid the N around her neck up and down the necklace. Had she jumped into this relationship too quickly? They both had thought in the moment not giving any consideration to a week, a month or months down the line. Were they foolish to enter into a relationship that might end in about four months time?

She shook her head no answering her silent question. If four months were all she had with Nathan then it would have been the best four months of her life. She knew without a doubt she would always look back at this time in her life and remember him. She could always return to Tree Hill and be reminded of what they were and how she felt by simply looking at the tabletop.

"Hales, talk to me." Mouth took a seat on the tabletop next to her. He spotted the initials. He had forgotten that Lucas and Nathan had carved their initials into the table along with Peyton's. He now understood the significance of the N. "This is pretty serious," he whispered not wanting to upset her more than she appeared to be.

"I did that on a whim. I was being completely ridiculous and I wrote our initials."

Mouth smiled listening to her story. It seemed like Nathan Scott still had his high school charm. He made Haley do something impulsive and out of her comfort zone.

"Was I crazy to get involved with Nathan?" She knew the answer, but wanted reassurance.

"No." He gently squeezed her hands. "Nathan and you were meant to happen. I'm not the only who thinks that either. Lucas agrees with me."

Haley smiled feeling some of the tension leave her body. She picked up her phone. Nathan and Lucas would be returning to Durham tomorrow afternoon. She missed him terribly, but needed more time to think.

Haley began taping the packing boxes she had picked up at the U-Haul store. She had until the end of May to move out, but didn't want to wait till the last minute to organize and pack everything. Besides she was going a little crazy waiting for Nathan to return. She eyed the stack of books on her dinning table. She had to study soon. She needed to get out her calendar and write down all the scheduled study groups in preparation for finals. She was brought out of her thoughts as she heard the door open.

"Oh my goodness, you're back!" She ran over to her boyfriend tripping over the empty boxes she had left in her walkway.

"What the hell? You're going to break your neck, baby." He quickly crossed the room and steadied her.

Haley bit her bottom lip and stared up at him as she straightened up. Nathan smiled brushing her hair off her forehead. He looked around the small one-bedroom apartment.

"I thought your lease was up at the end of May."

"It is, but I don't want to wait till the last minute and my parents are bringing their RV so I want to send them with some of my things." She rose to her tiptoes and kissed him. She ran her tongue along the seam of his lips and he willingly parted his lips. As Haley explored his mouth she heard a deep moan escape from him.

"I've missed you," Haley said stepping closer to her boyfriend barely missing another empty box. She seemed to be more of a klutz the more nervous she got.

"It was only twenty-four hours. We've been apart for a lot longer." He twirled her hair around his finger as he stared into her big, brown eyes. He touched her lips softly giving her a short kiss. "What are you going to do when I'm on the road?"

He waited with baited breath for her to respond. He continued playing with her hair suddenly very nervous, as she didn't utter a word. Maybe he should have approached the subject differently. The entire flight home all he could think about was needing to have this discussion and not knowing how to bring up the future.

"Hales," he whispered feeling fragile.

She tilted her head and touched his cheek. So many things were running through her mind. She wondered how the meeting went, but didn't want to begin their time together with questions. Truthfully, she wanted to prolong talking about his future plans. She was never one to procrastinate, but found herself doing so when it came to her future plans. Secretly, part of her was waiting on Nathan. She was embarrassed to admit it, but she was waiting for a guy before deciding what she was going to do with her life.

She exhaled and gave herself some room. She wrung her hands as she turned her back to Nathan. Oh God, her head was spinning. Her face was warm. She blushed as his question echoed in her head.

Nathan scratched the nape of his neck. He wished he could take the words back. He was such a coward.

"Haley, baby." He closed the distance she had put between them and he grabbed her hand. "I … we … need to talk. Please look at me."

Tears streamed down her face. She had zoned out so she hadn't even noticed. She wiped them away before turning to face Nathan. Once their eyes met he cupped her face running the pads of his thumbs over her cheekbones.

"Why are you crying?" he whispered. It broke his heart to see her so sad. His heart ached. He didn't understand why she was so emotional. They had plenty of time to figure things out, but they needed to have the initial conversation.

"I … I … I love you and all this … I mean look around." She motioned to the half empty and completely empty boxes. "For the first time in my life I'm lost. I don't know what's next and thinking about it scares me. These stupid boxes signify the end of … of this chapter in my life and I'm so … so afraid of what comes next. What … what happens with us?" She couldn't look at the raven-haired young man. She felt so insecure and that wasn't her.

Nathan felt as if he couldn't breathe, as he watched her begin to move around the living room in a haphazard fashion.

"Haley, please. Can you … can just sit for a second?" She stopped her movement and shook her head up and down. She carefully made her way to the couch and he did the same.

"There's no need to cry. No need to worry." He tucked her hair behind her ear then took her hands in his. "The trip gave me a lot to think about and I've decided …"

"What?" she asked too impatient to wait for him to finish. He chuckled and leaned forward kissing her softly.

"I'm so close to getting everything I've ever wanted, but it won't mean anything without you." She smiled slightly uneasy. "I'm not trying to pressure you. That's not my intention. When I'm playing for whomever, I want to look in the stands and see you there. I want to know that after a four-game road trip, I'm coming home to you. Home is going to be wherever you are." He rested his hand on her thigh and again captured her lips. This time the kiss was longer. He moved tenderly against her mouth. His hand moved to her hip and the other sprawled on the small of her back.

Haley shifted repositioning her body on his lap. So many thoughts still raced through her head, but her heart hammered as she held onto his words. He wanted her with him. He didn't want to move forward without her. She pushed him right up against the back of the couch and straddled his lap. He groaned deeply and she bit his bottom lip tugging on it as she pulled back. She took control of the kiss and Nathan's hands found her soft, warm skin pushing her tee shirt up.

"I want to be your personal cheerleader," she said biting on the inside of her lip. Nathan made her feel so giddy. She wondered if she would always feel this way.

He laughed rubbing the pads of his thumbs in slow circles on her hips.

"There's still a lot I need to do, and I'll have a better idea of where I'll end up in a few weeks. I want you to go to New York with me after finals. I have to call Clay back in a day and begin the paperwork."

Haley wrapped her arms around his neck pressing her body more into his. She kissed down his jawline.

"Haley, I need you … I need you to do something for me." His statement halted her ministrations. She sat up and moved her hands to the sides of his face. She looked at him perplexed.

"Anything," she said barely above a whisper. If she had spoken louder her voice would have cracked.

Nathan's deep, blue eyes roamed her face. She made it all too easy. She willingly agreed to stay by his side, but what about her dreams and plans?

"Before agreeing to be with me regardless of where I play, I need you to really think about what you want to do. Are you going to teach or continue school? You've never talked about what you wanted to do. I don't want my career getting in the way of your career."

Haley slumped to the left onto the couch removing her body off of Nathan's. That was the problem though. She didn't know what she wanted to do. She majored in English with a minor in Literature. She had enrolled in the student athletic training aid program because she loved sports and since she declined to play basketball for the Lady Blue Devils she thought the next best thing would be an athletic trainer. She didn't actually want to be a professional trainer. It was a hobby.

Nathan read her hesitance. He knew she had a lot of thinking to do. Had she been running from the inevitable? Though they had only known each other for a short period of time, he knew running wasn't her thing. It wasn't her to run and hide from what had to be done, but the truth was she had avoided the future much like he had.

"I … uh …" Her heart raced. Everything moved so fast with them, yet it felt so right.

Nathan placed his finger to her lips, shushing her.

"You don't need to say anything right now. Promise you'll think about your future, your career." She nodded. "I love you. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere without you, but you have to be sure it's what you want too."

He smoothed her hair down and pulled her toward him. He licked his lips before seizing her lips in a soft, sensual kiss. He loved her so much his heart ached to know there was a chance they wouldn't be together after graduation. The end was approaching quickly, too quickly. He placed short kisses on her lips and pulled away. His eyes moved across her face. In that instant he realized if it came down to it, he would follow her.