Hey everyone. Surprised to hear from me? Haha. So I have to get this off my chest, I feel like I've rushed this story, like I could've played out the coma/cancer story lines a bit more. Sorry if you feel like it's rushed and I don't blame you. Cos I think the same thing. Lol. So thank yous all for the amazing reviews. I love yas! Thank you to Kelly who let me bounce ideas off of her lol. Love ya hon!

Chapter Thirteen: It's Only Life

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"I should really get up." Haley yawned, snuggling closer into the hard chest she was using as a pillow.

"Yeah you probably should." Nathan sighed, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. Neither making any move to get up.

Haley groaned, "I don't wana go to work today."

"Then don't." Nathan shrugged.

Haley laughed at that. "Nate I have to, it's my first day back for… ages." She said.

He sighed. "Why do you need to be there? You're my assistant. And I'm not there so neither should you be." He concluded.

"That's not how it works babe." She smiled, kissing his cheek lightly before getting up from the bed.

Nathan groaned. "Hales! Come back to bed." He said, rolling over onto the side she'd just been, her scent lingering. "I'll make it worth your while." He said seductively.

Haley felt an involuntary shiver run up her spine at his words. "I can't, plus none of that until you're better."

Nathan pouted. "You're no fun."

She rolled her eyes as she went into the bathroom to change.

"Hey!" Nathan shouted. "If I'm not allowed to do anything I should atleast be able to watch you get dressed!" He heard her mutter something that sounded like 'Perv' but he couldn't be sure as it was muffled.

"I don't think you'd like what you'd see anyway." Haley mumbled, but this time he heard it.

"Hales." Nathan's voice was concerned.

"I'm fine Nathan."

"No you're not." He muttered to himself and slowly began to get up from the bed.

"Don't even think about getting up Nathan Scott!"

He chuckled. "You suck, you know that."

She simply laughed and came out of the bathroom a few seconds later, fully dressed.

"Come 'ere." He told her and she reluctantly walked over to him. "What're wrong?" He asked concern evident in his blue pools.

She sighed shaking her head, "its stupid-"

"It's not if it's making you upset." He announced.

"Charmer." She mumbled and he chuckled. Sitting down on the bed she turned to face him. "It's just… I'm covered in burns, and scars, and my stomachs still bruised."

Nathan closed his eyes as he came to realisation. "You're beautiful, Haley." He told her seriously. "Hell, you could wear a bloody potato sack and I'd still think you'd be beautiful, don't ever think otherwise. I love you, and that's never gonna change because of how you look."

She twisted her lips. "What if I was so big I couldn't move?"

"I'd still love you."

"What if I was so small I could fit in your pocket?"

"I'd carry you around with me all day." He grinned, and was rewarded with a bubble of laughter from her.

She leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss, "you are quite charming, you know that?" She popped a kiss on his nose before standing up, smoothing out her pencil skirt, and sorting her black tights.

"I know." He smiled, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"I really have to get going or I'm gonna be later than what I already am." She grabbed her purse before popping a quick kiss on his lips. "Bye, love you! Don't move too much!" She shouted.

"Love you too!" He shouted back, chuckling slightly as he heard the door slam shut. God he really did love her.

Haley walked grudgingly walked up to Mrs Hartless' desk. "Excuse me." All she got was silence; she really did hate this woman. Ever since they day she 'Hmm'd' at her for hiding behind that plant, the day she got the job. Haley cleared her throat, this time the older woman looked up.

"Hi." Haley faked a smile.

"What can I help you with?" Mr Hartless asked in a snotty tone.

Haley didn't let her tone faze her. "Mr Scott's not going to be in today so I was wondering if you have any work for me." She asked.

The older woman sighed not so subtly and handed Haley a large stack of papers. "These are all of Mr Scott's appointments for next week. Should he be back by then?"

"I think so." Haley told her.

"Well then you need to copy them onto your computer and put them in order. Think you can do that?" She asked as if speaking to a four year old.

"I'm sure I can." Haley gave a tight smile.

"Oh and Haley?" The smaller girl turned around with an inpatient look.

"Yes Linda?"

"I'm sure you'll be able to help Mr Scott feel better." Linda told her with a smirk, before going back to her work.

Haley scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. What the hell did she mean by that?

Brooke smiled as another happy customer left the shop. She was good. She'd just gotten a forty year old woman to buy a corset, and it wasn't that it didn't look good on her… it was just that it was more of a twenty year olds lingerie store.

"Hey pretty girl."

She almost jumped out of her skin at the husky voice. "Lucas!" She laughed while slightly smacking his arm. "You scared me." She whispered with a small smile.

He shrugged with that Scott grin. "I missed you."

She rolled her eyes. "I've only being gone a couple of hours," she smiled. "But I missed you too." He was too sweet.

He leaned down and captured her lips, smirking as he heard her moan. Brooke wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up closer to him, opening her mouth to let his tongue plunge inside, tangling their tongues together. Brooke suddenly pulled away.

"You're gonna get me fired." She laughed breathlessly.

"Okay okay I'll go." He squeezed her ass before popping one last kiss on her mouth.

Brooke grabbed his hand before he walked away. "Who said anything about you leaving? I meant if they see us I'll get fired. Why don't you step into my office?" She grinned; making sure no one was watching them.

Lucas smirked, while walking with her. He pushed her up against the door the minute it was shut and locked the want for this woman never seemed to end. Brooke moaned at his eagerness, glad he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. Needed him.

She quickly unbuttoned his shirt as he trailed kisses up her neck. "We have to be quick." She told him, knowing she couldn't leave the new girl alone for too long.

He grinned. "That won't be a problem."

"Mr Scott's office how can I help you?" Haley answered the phone; it stuck between her ear and shoulder as she continued to type on the keyboard.

"I'm bored."

She continued to move her fingers as she heard his voice. "I'm sorry sir Mr Scott's not in at the moment; maybe you'd like to leave a message?"

"I miss you."

She smiled at the sincerity in his voice. Looking around to make sure no one was listening she stopped typing. "I miss you too." She sighed tiredly.

"You okay?" Nathan asked concerned.

Haley closed her eyes. "Today's just been really weird; everyone just keeps making comments and stuff. It doesn't matter. What're you doing?" She asked.

Nathan waited a minute before replying, not entirely happy with her answer but he could question her on it when she got home.

"Nothing." He told her, moving his fingers across the controller. "Just playing some NBA Live. I tried to phone Luke but he's not answering."

Haley smiled sadly, feeling bad for leaving him all alone. "I'm sorry Nate."

He smiled. "It's okay Hales; anyway you'll be home in a few hours."

"Actually I have to work late tonight." She announced, feeling even worse. "I have all this paperwork to catch up on."

"Oh." Nathan said disappointed. "Well that's okay; I'll just see you when you get home kay?"

"Okay." Haley frowned at his change of attitude. "Bye, love you."

"Love you too." He said before hanging up.

"Talking to Mr. Scott?"

Haley swivelled around in her chair at the voice. Great, the office gossip. Laura.

"What? No why would I be?" Haley stuttered.

Laura smirked. "Whatever you say." The blonde walked off and Haley groaned, leaning back in her chair.

Today really sucked.

"Hello?"

"Hey Tutor slut."

Haley smiled at the sound of her friend's voice; she really needed it right now.

"Hey Rach."

"Okay what's wrong?" Rachel asked.

"What? Nothings' wrong. What makes you think that?" Haley asked as she walked out of the elevator.

"Well you called me Rach instead of Bitch so something must be up." The red head laughed. "Come on Hales you know you can tell me anything."

Haley sighed, sending Bernard the doorman a smile as she walked out into the cold night air. "Today just sucked, that's all." She said tiredly.

"Why?" Rachel prodded.

The brunette sighed again, running a hand through her short locks as she walked into the car park.

"Well everyone was making snide comments about me and Nathan, and well I didn't think anything of it. But then this girl… I can't remember her name, anyway she came up and handed me a fruit basket - a freakin' fruit basket! And I was like what the hell? And she said 'A home warming gift, you know, since you and Mr. Scott are together now.'" Haley mimicked the girl's squeaky annoying voice. "Then she walked off laughing. Everyone knows Rach."

Rachel smiled sadly as she slipped on one of Jake's old t-shirts and walked into the kitchen. "You knew they were all gonna find out sooner or later Hales."

"Yeah, but I'd rather it be later." She muttered, rummaging around in her handbag for her car keys.

Rachel laughed as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "You'll be fine Hales, I know you and you're strong. Don't let them whores get you down, they're all just jealous because they couldn't even get Nathan to look in their direction and he practically falls at your feet." She smiled.

Haley sighed. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Rachel asked, taking a sip of the warm liquid.

"Get me to forget whatever I was worried about in the first place?" Haley smiled.

"It's a gift." She smirked. "And it's what best friends are for."

Haley let out a triumphant 'yes' as she finally got her keys. "Yeah, yeah." She laughed. "So when am I gonna see you?"

Rachel held the phone in-between her shoulder and ear as she raked about in the fridge. "That's actually why I called." She remembered. "Do you think you could come over here tomorrow night?"

"Sure." Haley answered. "Just me or are more people coming? Because you know I love you Rach but you're not really my type… well I guess if you asked nicely…"

"Haha." Rachel deadpanned. "Funny."

"I try." Haley laughed.

"No it'll you and Nathan, and Brooke and Lucas-I haven't being able to get in touch with her all day. Have you heard from her?" She asked, as she made a sandwich.

"No." Haley said, scrunching her eyebrows, usually the girls have a three way conversation atleast once a day. "She's probably busy at work."

"Probably." Rachel laughed, her worries vanishing. "So tomorrow night okay? At seven."

"Sounds good." Haley commented. "Dammit!" She cursed as her heal got caught in one of the cracks in the ground and snapped off.

"What?"

"Stupid heel on my shoe broke off. Fuck." She cursed again, as she bent down to pick it up. "I don't see how this day could get any suckier." She said as she reached her car.

"Suckier is not a word deary." Rachel spoke with a laugh in her voice. "And here I thought you were the tutor."

"Shut up." Haley laughed, groaning when she dropped her keys. "Jesus Christ!" She exclaimed when she stood back up and someone was standing right in front of her.

"What?" Rachel panicked. "Hales, Haley are you okay? Haley!"

Haley spoke into the phone, still a little shocked. "I'll phone you back later. Love ya." Hanging up she put her mobile in her bag. "Chase, what're you doing here?" She asked.

He smiled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

Haley nodded, something about his presence was unnerving to her and she quickly fiddled with her keys trying to open her car door.

"I haven't seen you in a while." He commented.

"That's because we broke up." Haley told him.

"So how are things between you and Nathan?" Chase asked, putting on a smile. Haley knew it was meant to be friendly but it was seriously freaking her out.

"They're great." She responded. "I don't want to be rude but I really have to get home."

Chase put his hand on the car door as she went to open it. "I'm sorry about the apartment." He told her. "Where are you staying now?"

Haley gulped uncomfortably. "Chase I have to go-"

"I miss you." He told her.

She tried to open the door but he was too strong. "I'm with Nathan." She told him.

"So? You were with me when you slept with him." He told her, bitterness evident in his tone.

"And I'm sorry for that." Haley spoke honestly. "I never meant to hurt you."

"But you did." He said darkly then it was gone in a second, replaced by a bright smile. "I better get going. Bye Hales."

A shiver ran down her spin as he said her name, and not in a good way. "Bye." She spoke shortly, quickly getting into her car and driving off. Leaving Chase standing in the parking lot, watching her.

"Hey, you okay?" Jake asked as he walked into the kitchen.

Rachel who was still looking at her phone looked up and smiled. "I'm fine." She walked closer to him. "Don't you look yummy?" She commented and giggled at him in his pizza boy uniform.

"Haha, laugh it up." Jake grinned, leaning in for a sweet kiss. "So is everyone coming round tomorrow night?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yep, I can't wait to tell them."

"Me neither."

"I always thought I would be scared but I'm not." She admitted.

"And why's that?" Jake asked with a smile.

"Cause I have you silly." She giggled and pulled him in for another kiss. Work forgotten.

"Oh God." Brooke moaned as Lucas continued to pound into her, her legs were wrapped tightly around his waist, urging him on. She felt him pinch her clit and she fell into oblivion. "Lucas!" The feel of her feminine muscles clenching around him was enough to send Lucas over the edge with a low grunt of her name.

"God, that was…amazing." She grinned as he rolled off her, pulling her onto his chest as they ley on her bed. She'd left work early and they went straight home.

"Yeah," He agreed with a soft smile, looking down into her hazel brown eyes he uttered those three words he'd being longing to for the past week. "I love you."

Brooke felt as if she couldn't breath, her heart was pounding in her ears. "What?" She whispered hoping she hadn't misheard him.

"I love you Brooke Davis, more than I ever thought possible. You make me the happiest man on the planet-" He was cut off as her lips were on his, in a hungry passionate kiss.

They pulled apart a moment later and Brooke whispered breathlessly. "I love you too." She felt her heart swell as his smile turned into a full fledged grin. "Ready for round two?" She giggled and let out a loud squeal as he practically pounced on her.

Haley quickly locked her car and practically sprinted up the steps to Nathan's apartment. Looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was behind her. She got inside and locked the door, smiling as she saw Nathan sitting on the couch watching TV.

"Hey," she breathed.

"Hey," he smiled back.

"Sorry I'm so late, today's just really sucked." She told him, taking off her shoes.

"How come?" He asked, putting all his attention onto her.

"Well first of all," she held up her shoe in one hand and her heel in the other.

Nathan chuckled. "How'd that happen?"

"Stupid crack in the road." She muttered, throwing down her shoes and walking over to the couch, plopping down beside him.

"What else?" He prodded, as she rested her head on his shoulder.

She sighed. "Now at work everyone knows about us." She looked up at his shocked face. "That's I I thought!" She exclaimed.

"How'd they find out?"

She shrugged, cuddling into his side. "I dunno. And then I met Chase outside, he really creeped me out."

"Yeah? What he do?" Nathan asked, feeling anger bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

"Nothing." Haley said, "He did nothing, I guess I was just tired." She shook her head, "let's talk about it later. Right now I just wanna sit here with you." She sighed in content at feeling his arms wrap around her.

"Well I've got something to tell you." He admitted.

"Oh crap, what?" She asked.

He sent her a sheepish smile. "I got a phone call today. It was my dad."

Haley's eyes widened a little. "Really?" She already didn't like his parents, the fact that they couldn't even come to see their son while he was lying unconscious in a hospital bed.

He nodded, and bit his lip.

"Come on Nate just tell me, there's no way you could make my day any suckier." She laughed, running her hands through his short black locks.

"They're coming to visit." He watched as her face fell.

Well this sucks.

…

TBC . . X