Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for me to update, I had alot going on with school stuff so..But I'm back! Its finally spring break! woohoo! But on another note, I'm going to Florida for vacation yay, so I won't be back to a computer until the 26th which means I won't be able to update while I'm down there. I will continue to write though so I can have an update as soon as I get back. I just wanted to get this chapter out there and leave you off with it. I hope you enjoy it... And thanks again to my reviewers - Photobooth Romance, lilmonkeygirl31, jamie, and xSmile. Thanks guys! So here's chapter 14...

Brooke and Haley…

5:51. Brooke and Haley had been hanging out for the day with nothing to do to pass the time before Nathan would be there to pick up Haley for their date. She had been sitting on the couch flipping channels listening to Haley's pitter-pattering footsteps rushing to get ready. Brooke heard a loud bang, a groan, and more footsteps and she just laughed. That was Haley for you, born klutz. She decided she would go see what was going on. Walking into their bedroom she saw Haley with her hair still wet in a towel, wearing a jean skirt, a pink silk spaghetti strap shirt, and purple fuzzy slippers.

"Interesting choice of wardrobe Hales, I always knew you had a bad taste in clothing, but this just takes that to a whole new level." Brooke teased her laughing at the facial expression she received from Haley.

"Brooke, I have 10 minutes before Nathan gets here, my hair is still wet, I can't find my new flip flops and you are not helping!" Haley said sounding frustrated, as she ran around the room like a maniac. Brooke just laughed as she heard a knocking at the door.

"Oh my God, that can't be Nathan! Where are my shoes!" Haley replied getting even more frantic.

"Haley, calm down, your going to hurt yourself, if it's Nathan, I'll stall him, but just incase hurry up." She didn't like the look she just received from Haley, "No time to joke? Okay." She winced and walked toward the door and opened it and was rather surprised as to who was on the other side.

"Lucas? Hey! I wasn't expecting you, come on in." Brooke said walking aside allowing him to walk in.

"Yeah, I decided to surprise you. Since Haley is going out with Nathan tonight I figured I didn't want you to be in this quiet, dark, small apartment all alone." He said wrapping his arms around her waste pulling her close to him.

"Well aren't you just my little body guard." Brooke said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You got that right." He smirked as he leaned down to kiss her.

"Hi Luke." Haley ran into the living room past the couple and started flipping cushions over. She now had her hair down from the towel, still a little wet, but naturally starting to curl. Haley and Brooke looked at Haley amused as she was attacking the couch. She moved her way over to the end table and picked up the two earrings that were sitting there and ran back past the couple back into her room. "Bye Luke."

"If it's one thing I learned from growing up with Haley, it's that shes the worst when it comes to being on time." Lucas said as he joined into the laughter with Brooke.

"I heard that Lucas!" Haley screamed from the bedroom. This just made the two laugh even harder.

Nathan…

5:58. Nathan was just rounding the corner to Haley and Brooke's apartment. He was right on time knowing not to be too early, or too late. He pulled into a parking space close to their unit so they wouldn't have to venture too far to get into the car. He sat in the car for a minute thinking about what this night could bring. Could it be enough to bring them both back on the right track to be friends again? Was friends enough? What was she expecting to get out of this so called date? Only time would tell. He turned off the car as he made his way towards the door. He climbed the 2 flights of stairs to make it up to the level. He was definitely beginning to get nervous and he didn't know why. Wait, yes he did know why, because it was Haley.

Brooke, Lucas, and Haley…

Brooke and Lucas were sitting on the couch, after fixing it from Hurricane Haley of course, and were flipping through the channels just as Brooke had done before Lucas got there. Lucas noticed lights shine through the window and walked towards the window to look out and see who it was.

"Hales, Nathan's here!" Lucas yelled out for Haley. His response was a curse word, he figured as much, she still wasn't ready.

"I can't find my damn shoes!" Haley said aggravated popping her head out of the bedroom door, her hair now was completely dry. She looked casual, but beautiful nonetheless. Her outfit now fit together better, her hair was in loose curls flowing down her back. The only thing missing were her shoes.

"Calm down Hales, I'm sure their right under your nose." Lucas tried to calm her down. That didn't work.

"They arenot under my nose, if they were I would have found them already!" She yelled back running into the bedroom again.

In the mean time Brooke had gotten up from her spot on the couch and had opened the hall closet. She moved a few jackets that fell on the carpet, and low and behold, there were Haley's long lost flip-flops. Brooke just laughed at Haley and her craziness to overlook the obvious. She walked back into the living room with them behind her back. Lucas looked at her as if asking what she had up her sleeve. She just smiled back and turned her focus to the door where Nathan was now knocking.

"Haley, he's knocking get out here and open the door!" Brooke yelled so Haley could hear.

"Brooke, I'm not going anywhere if I can't find my sh –" Brooke held out the flip-flops so Haley could see, stopping her mid sentence.

"Shoes. Where did you find them?" Haley asked after she finished her sentence.

"In the closet Hales, now go answer the door." Brooke smiled at her as she pushed Lucas out of the living room with her so Haley could have some privacy with Nathan.

Haley nervously fixed her hair quickly to look presentable before opening the door. She opened it and stood there taking in what she had been missing for so long.

"Hi." That was all she could get out while she took it all in.

"Hey Hales." There it was. Her nickname that he always used. She missed that. She didn't wait any longer she wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her into a hug. He took in the smell of her hair that he had once known for so long. Haley was the first to pull away. She looked him in his icy-blue eyes, the ones she always felt safe in.

"You look great." Nathan said, breaking the silence.

"Thanks, so do you." Haley replied shyly. They just enjoyed each others company for another minute before Nathan once again broke the silence.

"So, you ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah, lets go." They walked out the door together, Nathan escorting her out. When Brooke and Lucas heard the door shut, they came out of the other room deciding it was clear to come out.

"They're so cute." Brooke gushed as she looked at the door that just closed. Lucas came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He put his head on top of her shoulder and spoke in her ear.

"So are you." Brooke turned around to face him with a grin on her face.

"Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Scott?" Brooke asked as she put her arms around him also.

"Is it working?" Lucas asked leaning down a bit.

"A little bit." Brooke laughed as she closed the space between the two. The couple kissed passionately as if they didn't want to let go. Well, in reality, neither one wanted to.

Nathan and Haley…

Nathan and Haley had made it to the restaurant. They had both ordered and were almost finished eating. The conversations just consisted of where Haley was now in her life, and everything he missed out on. And how Nathan wanted to try out for High Flyers again next year, hoping for his knee to be completely healed and healthy to play. Of course, neither one wanted to talk about the inevitable. The real things they wanted to say to each other. Neither knew what the other one would have said, so they kept it a secret. For now.

"So when is this show your playing down here?" Nathan asked her as they both finished their dinners.

"Next week, and I think it's going to be my last show for a while." She replied looking anywhere but at him.

"Why? Haley, I thought you loved doing this, touring and singing." He told her truly confused as to why she wanted to stop.

"I did, I still do, it's just, it makes me have to sacrifice so much you know, and now the sacrifices are getting bigger and I don't know if I can handle losing anything more in my life." She said, now looking him straight in the eye. He had a feeling he knew what some of the sacrifices were, but he chose to not bring that subject up.

"Well, you know what's best for you, so if you feel like you want to stop then do what you feel is best, but don't let people decide things for you, trust me, that's an area I know all too well."

"I think it's the right thing for now." Haley answered back.

"I'm proud of you, you know." Haley was surprised at his confession. That was definitely something she didn't think she would hear from him. Unable to hide the genuine smile from appearing on her face she realized he was the biggest sacrifice she ever made, and boy was she sorry she gave him up.

"Thanks Nathan, it means a lot, more then you know." Something caught her eye after she said that to him. It was a girl that seemed to be looking over at them. From what Haley could make out she had blonde hair and looked like she came right out from a California Modeling Agency. She was confused, thinking maybe it was a fan of hers, contemplating whether or not to walk over to her and get her autograph. The blonde started walking towards the table. Before Nathan got the chance to say something back, he noticed Haley looking off somewhere behind his right shoulder. He was about to ask her what caught her eye, but an all to familiar voice stopped him before he started.

"Nathan? Well, we just keep bumping into each other wherever we go don't we."

Nathan stiffened up immediately, although he wasn't too sure why. Why did he feel as though he needed to protect Haley? Why did he feel guilty for being so close tosomeone elseeven though he didn't need to feel guilty? He wasn't with Haley, he had to keep reminding himself of that, until it was drilled into his head.

"Hey Lauren."

Well, there it was! I hope you liked it and I hope it holds you over til I come back. Please review and let me know what you think, I've noticed the hits were down on the last chapter, so I hope people are still interested and the only way I know anyone is interested and wants me to keep going is if you review! So hit the little button right there, type a few words, and it will make me happy:) Thanks again

Much Love..

...Haylie...