Hey everyone! Thanks for all the reviews, I appreciate them! And sorry for all the false hope of an update…I decided to name the chapters so it kept saying I had updated my story. Enjoy!

Seven days. 167 hours, 26 minutes, and 14 seconds. Exactly how long until the date of Haley's inevitable move would approach. And Nathan had yet to successfully concoct a plan that allowed Haley to stay in Tree Hill.

Their time together hadn't ever been quite the same since the news. There was so much pressure to make every moment special and memorable; a moment they could think of when they were thousands of miles apart. "I love you" was said much more frequently, desperately trying to show the other they weren't giving up on their relationship.

Nathan and Haley sat silently on the couch together, wrapped in each others. Haley softly stroked the back of Nathan's neck and whispered, "Nathan?"

"Yeah Hales?"

"I'm scared of what's going to happen," she admitted.

Nathan pulled Haley in closer and tightened his grip around her shoulder. "Nothing is going to change, at least not between us. I may not get to see you or kiss you everyday like I do now, but I'll still be in love with you and only you," Nathan assured, looking at Haley directly in the eye.

"You don't know that. You could find a new, prettier Haley."

Nathan lovingly placed a kiss on Haley's forehead. "Not possible. No one could be more beautiful than you and there is not another person out there who would make me feel like you do. And that, Haley James, is a fact."

Instinctively, Haley pulled Nathan in for a long, deep kiss. "Thank you. You're making me feel better about something it's impossible to be ok about, I don't know how you do it."

"It's because I know it's going to be okay. Losing you is not an option for me," Nathan stated definitively.

"Good. Because it's going to take more than a measly number of miles to get rid of me Nathan Scott," Haley smiled.

As Haley spoke, a solution to their predicament popped into Nathan's head. He could feel a wide smile rapidly creeping on to his face. "I have to go Hales, but I promise it's for good reason," Nathan said, the broad grin still plastered onto his face. He leaned down and gave Haley a swift peck on the lips, "I'll be here at 6:30 to pick you up."

"Wait! What are you planning?" Haley asked suspiciously.

"Just be ready at 6:30. I love you," Nathan called out as the door shut behind him.

Haley evaluated herself in the mirror for the fourth time. She looked down at her lilac colored dress and sparkly silver flip flops. She checked her hair one last time, making sure every hair was perfectly curled. Haley desperately wanted everything to be perfect because she didn't know when or if she'd get to do this again. Just as she was about to second guess her whole ensemble, she heard the doorbell.

Nathan rang the doorbell and looked down at his trembling hands, hoping his nerves would disappear at the sight of Haley. But when she opened the door, the shaking dramatically increased. "W-wow," he stuttered. He gazed at her, examining every inch of her body. "Oh, these are for you," Nathan said, suddenly remembering the bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"Thanks," Haley replied, trying to focus her attention on the bouquet of purple flowers rather than her desire to rip off Nathan's shirt.

"Shall we?" Nathan asked, extending his hand, finally gaining composure.

Haley gladly took his hand, suddenly certain that the night would be perfect.

"Nathan, where on earth are you taking me?" Haley asked, confused.

"You'll see, we're almost there," Nathan assured.

"I hope so, my feet are killing me," complained Haley.

"Well I'll just have to do something about that," Nathan proclaimed, wrapping his arms around Haley and lifted her off the ground and into his arms.

Haley giggled, "God, I love you." She started placing kisses all over the accessible parts of Nathan's body.

"Sorry to interrupt you there Hales, but we're here," Nathan laughed, gently placing Haley back on the ground.

Haley's was shocked and amazed by the beauty that surrounded her. "Oh my gosh," Haley gasped. There were purple wildflowers all around them and the ocean was only a mere few feet away. "It's gorgeous here Nathan."

"Not nearly as gorgeous as you though," Nathan commented, causing Haley's cheeks to immediately redden. "I have an idea," he added, grabbing Haley's hand, "let's dance."

Haley enjoyed the feeling of being so close to Nathan's body. She was taking in his scent, wanting to remember how good he smelled. She let all her concerns and nerves about the move disappear, allowing herself to enjoy swaying with the man she loved to the sound of crashing waves.

Without warning, Nathan broke away. He lowered himself onto the sand, kneeling on one knee.

"Do you remember what you said the other night? About how it was going to take more than distance to get rid of you?" Nathan asked expectantly.

Haley simply nodded, unable to form words, and tears quickly filling in her eyes

"It made me realize something: I never want to get rid of you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You're my first love Hales, and I want you to be my last. So…" Nathan paused, taking a deep breath. "Haley James, will you marry me?"

Haley cupped her hand over her mouth, unable to believe the words her high school boyfriend had just uttered. "I don't know what to say…" Haley said slowly.

"Yes would be good," Nathan said, laughing nervously.

"Nathan…I…"

"Oh…" Nathan muttered, sadness filling his eyes. "You're saying no."

"We're seventeen Nathan! No one gets married in high school! What would my mom say?"

"She'd say okay. I talked to her." Nathan admitted, his voice quivering.

"You what?" Haley exclaimed.

Nathan tried to center his attention on his menu rather than the conversation he was about to have. It was awkward enough asking Ms. James to lunch, especially since he refused to give her a reason.

Ms. James finally broke the silent tension. "Would you like to tell me why we're here Nathan?"

"Uh…" Nathan hesitated, "Um…I'd like to ask your permission to marry your daughter."

Lydia choked on her water, "I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"

"I would like your blessing in asking Haley to marry me."

Lydia closely examined Nathan's expression, trying to decipher if he was really serious. "Nathan, I know you don't want to see Haley move, but I don't think rushing in to marriage is going to solve the problem. Would you be asking Haley to marry you if we weren't moving away?"

"Honestly, no. Because my head would have told me we were too young and that it could wait," Nathan admitted.

"What's it saying now?"

"That. But it's also screaming at me to fight for Haley, for us."

"And your heart?" Lydia questioned.

"My heart has always been saying the same thing. I'm so in love with your daughter and I've always hoped I'd be lucky enough to spend the rest of my life with her."

"I can't believe you asked for my mom's permission. And she gave you it,"

"Always and forever, Haley. I meant that. Why does it matter if forever starts today?" Nathan asked, pleadingly, still kneeling on one knee.

Haley stared through her terrified eyes into his broken ones.

"So, I'll ask one more time. Hales, will you marry me?"

"I love you Nathan, I do. But I can't marry you, not like this. You're asking for all the wrong reasons. You're asking to prevent me from leaving. And marriage isn't a solution to a problem," Haley said softly, her heart breaking as she watched Nathan's smile disappear.

"I'm asking you because I love you Haley," Nathan snarled. "You have to believe that. Please, believe that," he begged.

"I'm sorry Nathan…" Haley whispered, tears running down her cheeks, as she started to run away.

"Haley!" Nathan yelled after her, but it was no use, Haley was not turning back.

Nathan fell to the ground and buried his face in his hands, tightening his fist around the ring that was meant for Haley's left hand.