Hey everyone, I'm so sorry about not updating. Things have been crazy this past week with school and life, and I've barely had any time to myself. Not to mention it being Halloween yesterday. So here is the next chapter for you. Also, for those of you reading Mine Again, I am going to try to update that story sometime this week.

Chapter 14

Haley sat on the picnic table at the River Court. She'd called Lucas and the others a few hours ago and asked them to meet her there. She had something really important to tell them. She'd spent most of the afternoon and evening with Nathan yesterday. She'd been just as upset and hurt by Dan's demand as he was, but Haley refused to let Nathan's poor excuse of a father win. That's why what happened next was so imperative.

Haley checked her watch again and sighed. Where is everyone? I told them to be prompt. A couple of minutes later, Lucas' truck pulled up. He and Brooke got out and approached her.

"You're late."

"Sorry, Hales. We had some car trouble," Lucas told her.

"But we're here now. So what's up, Tutor Girl? You sounded so cryptic on the phone."

"Let's wait for everyone else first."

"You're fidgeting," Lucas noted. "It must be bad."

Brooke stared at her intently. "Is it?"

Haley avoided their gazes and looked down at her folded hands. "I'm sure everyone else will be here any second now."

It was a couple more minutes before Peyton and Jake arrived, followed soon after by Tim and Kat.

"So what's this big meeting about?" Tim questioned once they were all huddled around Haley. "And where's Nate?"

"Yeah, you said that you both had something to tell us," Peyton added.

"That's true, but Nathan couldn't make it today," Haley replied. "Which is kind of the reason why I asked you all here in the first place."

"And that would be because…?" Jake prodded.

"Seriously, Tutor Girl, what's going on?" Brooke urged when Haley hesitated.

"Okay, but I before I tell you guys, I just want you to know that Nathan and I thought this through. I mean, we really talked it over. It's really the only thing. The only option. We—"

"Hales, you're rambling," Lucas pointed out.

"Right. Sorry," she apologized. Why was this so freaking hard?! "Basically, what happened is Dan forbid Nathan to see me anymore."

"Wait, what?" Peyton questioned. Her shocked toned mirrored everyone else's expressions.

"He doesn't want Nathan around me. He thinks that I'm bad for his game," Haley explained.

"This has got to be a joke," Lucas scoffed angrily.

She looked at him sympathetically. "Well, there's more. He doesn't really want Nathan around any of us. But it's mostly just you and me, Luke."

"I can't believe this. Who the hell does he think he is?" Brooke fumed.

"What did Nathan say to this?" Jake spoke up.

"Originally, he told him to go to hell. But Nathan really doesn't have a choice. Dan's calling the shots and if Nathan doesn't do what he wants, then things are going to get ugly."

Peyton frowned and shared glances with the others. "I don't understand. What would happen?"

"Look, I can't actually say. All I can tell you is that there is only one solution to all of this."

"Which is?" Jake asked.

"Nathan and I have decided to break up."

"What?!" everyone exploded.

"Are you guys crazy? You love each other. Why would you decide to do something like that?" Brooke argued.

Lucas looked just as angry. "Was this Nathan's idea?"

"I'm so confused right now," Kat interjected.

"Ditto," Tim mumbled.

"It wasn't Nathan's idea. It was mine. And I know you're all upset, but it's not what it sounds like. Please just listen to me," Haley requested. She could see how stunned and livid they all were by this turn of events.

"Haley, seriously, tell us what the hell is going on," Lucas demanded. The others all nodded in agreement.

"I would if you'd all let me get a word in," she scolded. When they all remained silent, she continued. "Nathan and I got drunk at the party the other night and—"

"Since when do you drink?" Brooke cut in.

"Brooke," Lucas reminded her.

She rolled her eyes. "Sorry. Go on, Tutor Girl."

"As I was saying, Nathan and I got drunk. We were just being stupid. It wasn't anything major," Haley began to explain. "Anyway, eventually Dan caught us and now he thinks that I'm some bad influence on Nathan."

Lucas snorted. "Yeah right." Brooke nudged him to be quiet.

"So he told Nathan to break up with me and to stop spending so much time with the rest of us. He wants Nathan focused solely on basketball."

"But I don't get it. Why doesn't Nathan just tell him to go screw and live back with his mom?" Brooke questioned.

Jake bobbed his head in agreement. "Yeah, his mom already got the divorce. Why does he have to stay there?"

"The divorce was only a small reason why Nathan went to live with him."

"What aren't you telling us?" Peyton pushed.

Haley sighed. It was so difficult getting around the truth. "I can't get into the details. But the bottom line is that Dan is blackmailing him."

"Oh my God. With what?" Kat asked.

"It was some stupid mistake that Nathan made last year that Dan won't let go."

"What mistake?" Brooke prodded.

"I can't—"

"It was those stupid drugs, wasn't it?" Tim cut in.

"Tim!" Haley heatedly exclaimed.

"I told him not take them. That shit my brother deals is messed up. But nobody listens to The Tim…"

Peyton's eyes widened. "He took drugs?"

"What drugs?" Brooke inquired.

"Is he still on them?" Jake joined in.

Kat turned on her boyfriend. "You gave them to him?!"

"Guys, calm down," Lucas intervened. "It only happened once."

Brooke whipped around to face him. "You knew about this, too?"

"Look, it only happened once. And since Nathan's not proud of it, he didn't want everyone to know," Haley spoke up.

"And you can't tell anyone else," Lucas added. He then looked to Haley.

She automatically knew that he was asking permission to tell them the rest of the story. Haley paused for a moment, unsure, before finally nodding for him to go ahead. The cat was out of the bag anyway. Nathan is not going to be happy about this, she thought.

"It could really screw with his future in basketball," Lucas continued. "Dan's threatened to leak it out to the public. In exchange for his silence, he wanted Nathan to go live with him."

"He also has to do what he says," Haley elaborated. "It's why we're sort of stuck in this position now. Either Nathan stays away from us or he loses everything he's ever worked for."

They others all stared at them, stunned into silence, once again.

"Damn," Jake eventually mumbled.

"Poor Nathan," Peyton sympathized.

Tim shrugged. "Look on the bright side. It could have been worse. Nathan could've grown breasts with that stuff he took."

"Ew, Tim," Kat remarked with a shudder.

"So now the two of you are breaking up," Brooke said to Haley. "That's so unfair."

Lucas put his arm around Haley's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Hales."

"It sucks. But as I said before, it's not what it seems. Nathan and I are breaking up—as far as everyone else will know."

Brooke's eyes lit up as the others watched her curiously. "Okay, you've got our attention. Spill, Tutor Girl."

"Nathan refuses to let Dan get his way on this one. He already feels like he's trapped as it is. So, basically, Nathan and I are going to make it seem like we've broken up. And we were hoping that the rest of you would be willing to go along with it," Haley told them. She could hear the nervousness creeping into her voice. She hoped that they'd all agree to help them, but she wasn't sure.

"I hate Dan. So you know I'm in," Lucas declared, breaking the silence that had followed. Haley smiled as he gave her shoulders a squeeze.

"Me, too. This whole secret-love thing is so Romeo and Juliet," Brooke stated.

Haley threw her a thankful look before glancing towards the others.

"It's not right what Dan is doing," Peyton commented, speaking for the rest. "We'll definitely help you guys any way that we can."

"Thank you," Haley said sincerely.

"And you're sure that you can handle this?" Lucas inquired, making sure. "It's going to be really hard, Hales."

Haley tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it felt strained. She could just imagine how everyone at school was going to react to this. "I know. But what other choice do we have?"

~***~

Nathan could feel his mind drifting. He knew that he should be paying attention to what his French teacher was saying. But she was speaking in French. And he didn't feel like translating. He was having a hard enough time concentrating on what people were saying to him in English today.

He walked around school in a daze. It all felt so surreal. Like a bad nightmare that he couldn't escape from. Nathan looked towards the windows of the classroom and caught the end of two students whispering. Their gazes lingered on him before they noticed him staring. They quickly quieted down and looked away.

Nathan was somewhat relieved when the bell rang. The feeling only lasted for a few seconds before he noticed more people talking and staring at him in the hallway. It didn't take long for Brooke to spread the rumor around school that he and Haley had broken up. The brunette was known for being Tree Hill High's gossip queen. Their peers would be more likely to believe it if it came from Brooke instead of one of the other jealous wannabes around school. Needless to say, the news had spread like wildfire. It was like the first day of school all over again. Except this time it was the people who'd originally doubted the sincerity and strength of his relationship with Haley that were now running their mouths nonstop. Hearing his classmates coming up with all these theories and knowing the actual truth himself made him feel sick.

Nathan hated Dan even more for putting him through this.

He walked into the cafeteria. Unthinkingly, he started towards his usual table. But he caught himself a few seconds later when he remembered that he couldn't sit there anymore. Not if he and Haley were going to make everyone believe that they were done.

Nathan couldn't help but sneak a quick glance towards the table, though. Haley was already sitting down with the others. She was sandwiched between Brooke and Lucas. They, along with the others, seemed to be glaring at anyone who dared to throw a pitying look Haley's way. Nathan was thankful that the group was being so protective of her.

Haley was his main concern. Nathan had always been at the top of the social hierarchy at school. And he knew that that would never change. It was different for Haley, though. She'd never been the focus of so much attention before she dated him. After the first couple of months, she'd become just as popular as him. But this "breakup" could change all of that.

It was high school. People could be downright cruel. Nathan didn't want anyone badmouthing Haley. And he knew that they would once they found out that they'd split up. Most would assume that he'd dumped her. Then she wouldn't be popular anymore. It'd be the opposite. She'd be ridiculed and shamed. She'd be labeled as just another one of Nathan Scott's conquests. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He couldn't bare that. Haley was doing this for him, after all.

That's why Nathan had insisted that Brooke tell everyone that it was Haley who dumped him. It'd make her look good. No one in their little group would mention the details. The less said the better. There were less chances of slipping up that way. This whole situation had to be convincing if it was going to work. Their peers could all make up whatever scenarios they wanted. And in the meantime, Nathan would focus on finally freeing himself from Dan's grasp. He didn't know how he'd do it, but he was determined to find a way.

Nathan locked eyes with Haley. He saw the pain reflecting in her gaze and knew that his probably mirrored hers. He then quickly looked away when he noticed people watching them with piqued curiosity. The tension in their little display most likely just solidified their act.

Nathan scanned the rest of the cafeteria quickly and spotted Adam and his other friends sitting on the opposite side of the room.

"I'm with you, bro," Tim said as he appeared next to him.

Nathan couldn't remember the last time he'd been relieved by Tim's presence. He gave him a thankful nod and geared himself up for what he had to do next.

"Hey, guys," Nathan greeted them once they reached the table. "Do you mind if we join you?"

They all exchanged looks.

"Uh, sure," Ted finally spoke up. The others pushed down to make room.

Nathan briefly met Adam's gaze as he sat down, but the guy turned away from him to talk to Ashley. Nathan knew that Adam was ignoring him after their big fight Friday night. He didn't care. The guy had always been an ass anyways. Nathan didn't need him. He had enough going on in his life.

"So, tutor chick dumped you," Nicki stated bluntly. Leave it to her to be insensitive.

"Nicki," Ted hissed.

"What? It's what everyone is talking about," Theresa spoke up as the rest of the people at the table tuned into the conversation.

"And we all want to know what happened. Why beat around the bush?" Nicki added and glanced back at Nathan. "So, how does the great Nathan Scott get dumped by the school's biggest brainiac?"

Theresa snickered. "Did you misplace her pocket protector?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "It's none of your damn business."

"Wow, it must have been bad," Nicki sneered.

"Did something happen at the party?" Dustin looked a little sheepish joining in but apparently that wasn't enough to stop him.

"Did you hook up with someone else?" Ted questioned. His previous hesitance also seemed to be cast to the wind.

"Yeah, I don't think innocent Haley James would like that," Theresa said.

"I didn't cheat on her," Nathan declared in a firm voice.

Nicki smirked. "Maybe it was the opposite. Bad sex?" The others snickered.

Nathan tried to keep his voice steady. Were they deliberately trying to piss him off? "No. It wasn't anything like that either."

"Tim, you're awfully quiet," Jebar pointed out. "You want to shed some light on the situation."

"I don't know anything, man," Tim lied with a straight face. Nathan was impressed. Tim wasn't always the best actor.

"Look, it just didn't work out," Nathan explained. "Let's leave it at that."

"I thought you were in love with her," Adam mentioned while giving him a challenging look. "I mean, that's why you ditched us all so many times, right? To hang out with her and your new best friend Pucas."

Nathan could feel the weight of everyone's stares on him. His fists clenched under the table as he, once again, tried to keep his temper in check. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug smirk off of Adam's face right now. "I guess love wasn't enough," Nathan replied, trying not to choke on his words. "It's all over with now anyway."

"So you're not going to hang out with Lucas anymore then?" Ted tried to clarify.

"No."

"What's going to happen at practice?" Dustin asked.

"We're just teammates. Nothing more," Nathan answered. His tone left no room for further explanation.

Silence emerged among them. Eventually it was Adam that broke it. "Still, it is too bad about Haley. Unlike everyone else, I actually thought she was too good for you."

Everyone looked to Nathan for his response. But he never replied. As much as Nathan would like to tell Adam to fuck off, even he couldn't argue with that.

~***~

"Hello," Haley answered her cell phone on the second ring.

"Hales, it's me," Nathan said in a quiet voice. Even though his father was downstairs, he didn't want to chance Dan hearing him.

"Hey, I was just thinking about you."

Her comment brought a smile to his face. "Really?" he questioned, intrigued.

She giggled. "Yeah." Her tone then became more serious. "I've been worried about you."

"How ironic? I've been worried about you, too."

"I'm fine, Nathan."

"Are you sure?" he questioned, not believing her. He could hear the strain in Haley's voice. "Be honest."

"It just…today just sucked, you know?" she sighed. "I hate pretending like you don't mean anything to me anymore. And I know that this was my big idea but—"

"It's not your fault," Nathan quickly cut in. "Honestly, Hales, this is the only way. Besides, I'd rather we faked the breakup than actually have one."

"I know. Me, too."

"Did anyone give you a hard time today?"

"Not really. Brooke and the others pretty much hovered around me the whole day. But I caught the end of a few conversations about us."

"What'd they say?"

Haley paused for a moment before answering, "Nothing important. But what about you? Lunch looked tense. Were your friends being jerks?"

"Some of them," Nathan replied, not going into the details. "But it's nothing I can't handle."

"Nathan!" Dan's voice boomed. Nathan could hear the sound of his heavy footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Hales, I got to go," Nathan said in a rush. "Dan's coming."

"Okay," she stated, frustrated.

Nathan wanted nothing more than to go over her house and comfort her. But since Dan was keeping him on such a short leash, that wasn't an option. "I love you. You know that?"

"I love you, too," she whispered.

"Nathan," Dan bellowed as he opened the bedroom door.

Nathan quickly snapped his phone shut. "Yeah?"

His father nodded towards his phone. "Who were you talking to?"

"Tim," he lied easily.

Much to Nathan's relief, Dan didn't press him further. "I need you to come with me."

"Why?"

"You'll see. Now let's go."

Nathan exhaled loudly as he followed his father outside to his SUV. He got in and within minutes they were driving along the dark and quiet streets of Tree Hill. The car itself was also silent. Nathan didn't really feel the need to make conversation with the man who was ruining his life.

"Your mother called today," Dan said. He came off very nonchalant—like the news was nothing.

Nathan's head snapped up at that. "She did?" He'd barely talked to his mom since he'd moved in with Dan. She'd been really upset with him. He wasn't entirely positive, but Nathan was sure that Deb knew something else was going between him and his father.

"She demanded that I let you stay with her this weekend—for Thanksgiving and all."

Nathan waited with bated breath. "What did you say?"

"I agreed."

"Really?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes. If I keep you all to myself, then she'll probably get pissed and go snooping around. And we don't want her to mess up the good thing we've got going between us, do we now?"

Nathan didn't answer as he tried to suppress the queasy feeling in his stomach at the reminder. At least he had something to look forward to for the weekend. Even if his mother gave him the cold shoulder during Thanksgiving, he wouldn't care. Anything would be better than this.

They were both quiet for the rest of the drive. When they finally arrived at their destination, Nathan frowned. What the hell? They were at his father's car dealership.

"Why are we here?" Nathan asked as Dan unlocked the main door and held it open for him. He walked inside. Nathan couldn't remember the last time he'd been inside this place.

"You've been making some good changes in your life recently, Nathan. You're getting back on track."

Nathan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "So?"

"So I'm glad that you're refocusing on basketball. It's the most important thing you've got going for you. It's everything."

"Okay…"

"Most people don't realize what they have until it's gone."

"Dad, seriously, what's your point?" Nathan pushed, growing impatient.

"I've decided to give you a job here."

Nathan stared at him in shock. "I'm sorry, what?"

"There's a lot at stake with your basketball career this year, Nathan," Dan explained. "And I want you to be aware of what will happen if you let it slip through your fingers."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that this will be your future if you're not careful," he said, gesturing around him. "And I highly doubt that you want to be haggling over floor mats with losers who have bad credit for the rest of your life. So you'll be working here everyday for a few hours after school and practice," Dan informed him.

"Dad—" Nathan began to protest. He didn't want to work here. He didn't want to be around his father anymore than he absolutely had to.

"And you'll do well to remember that nothing can be taken for granted," Dan sternly declared. "Understand?"

Nathan could feel even more invisible weight being placed on his shoulders. This just keeps getting better and better.