36

The stage was decorated and the lights were lit, the music was set to be blasted through the speakers, and those attending in hopes of snagging a Varsity Basketball player for the evening were starting to fill in. It looked like there was going to be a great turnout for the charity auction and Karen was delighted. She finished the last touches on setting up the tables in the lobby where people would come to pay for their purchase and then breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn't been easy to change the details for the auction at the last minute, but she thought she'd done an admirable job, advertising the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as the official charity and adding the additional bone marrow drive alongside the evening's entertainment.

It had been Dan's idea to use the already being planned fundraiser for this purpose, half the money for the charity and half toward Deb's medical expenses, but the bone marrow had been her addition. She couldn't imagine what the woman that, but for a twist of fate, could've been her was going through, fighting for her life with a son to worry about. She felt for her and even more for the boy she'd raised that obviously loved her so much. If there was anything she could do to help, she was determined to do it.

Nathan had been shocked when they revealed their plan, but grateful. While he still wasn't looking forward to parading around and "selling himself", he had gone from wanting out of it to determined to raise as much as possible.

Haley had helped Karen with a few of the final touches and was now standing with Brooke and waiting for the show to start. She wasn't sure how to feel about Nathan being sold off for the evening. She wanted a lot of money raised for his mother, but she sort of hoped no one bid on him and she could just buy him cheap herself. It would be much easier than watching all the women lust after him and then allowing one of them to take him with her for the evening...an evening with the promise of ending in a kiss.

She thought back to the previous weekend when she'd kissed him in the pool. It had been hot and wonderful and over way too soon for her liking. He'd smiled and laughed off the cat calls they'd received, acting relatively normal for the rest of the night, but since then, he'd been distant and careful not to be in any situations that could end up with a repeat performance. She had no idea what that meant, she was a novice at relationships. She wished she could talk to Brooke about it, but her friend would never understand her fears without her divulging the real nature of their relationship, so she was on her own. She looked at the clock and saw there was still ten minutes before the auction would start and sighed. If she could, she'd just fast-forward through the night and get right to the wedding.

"You sure you want to buy him?" a couple of girls walked up and stood nearby, looking around the stage area, "He's getting married tomorrow and he seems like he loves her."

The other girl nodded, "He was mine first and yeah, I made a mistake letting him go, but he'll forgive me. If this girl he's marrying is anything like you've told me, there's no way he's happy with her. He was in love with me once, he will be again."

"I don't think it'll be that easy. He was pretty pissed last time he saw you, he might not even talk to you."

"That's why the auction is so perfect, he not only has to spend the evening with me, he has to kiss me when it's over," she smiled at the idea, adjusting her dress, "I'll just have to make sure that's not all that happens."

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" her companion shook her head.

"No one turns me down. Besides, I know how to get to him, what turns him on. He couldn't get enough of me when we were together and I have to admit, I haven't had anyone as good since," her eyes took on a far off look, "If he's half as yummy as he was in that picture, I won't be home tonight..."

"What about his wedding?"

"All the more reason to sow his oats now," she shook her head at her sister's ignorance. "I'm sure I can convince him one more fling won't hurt anything. After all, it won't be the first time I seduced him."

Haley had heard enough and turned, running to the restroom where she proceeded to throw up, her body continuing to dry heave for several seconds before she collapsed in a teary pile on the floor.

Nathan paced back and forth in the area behind the curtain where they were waiting for the show to start. Many of the guys had some form of costume on, but Nathan had decided to stick with his uniform, figuring it made the most sense with it being a basketball auction. The fact that it would be easy enough to remove, was a bonus. He paused and looked out from behind the curtain, noting how many women and even young girls were out there waiting for them to make their appearances. He wasn't shy. He worked hard on his body and he'd had female attention for too many years to not know they found him attractive, but making a spectacle of himself wasn't usually his style. He took a deep breath and reminded himself what they were raising money for. Every ounce of humiliation would be worth it if it helped her.

"Hey Nate," one of this teammates came over and nudged him on the shoulder, "you got x-ray vision or something because Haley was sure looking hot the other night. It's making my pants tight just remembering her in that tight dress..."

"Yeah, you snatched her from right under our noses man. I never knew she had such a killer figure... "

Nathan's hands fisted and he prepared to tell them off when Lucas turned around, "Shut up," he glared at the younger teammates who'd been running their mouths, "Haley is not some slut for you guys to talk trash about."

"Dude, we didn't mean no harm," Josh, a sophomore, said, "we were just complimenting Nate on figuring out what a babe was hiding under that damn poncho..."

Nathan took a step toward his teammate and Lucas pulled him back, "don't let it get to you. They have no manners."

"I guess I'm a little on edge too," Nathan admitted, running his hand through his hair, "I hate this kind of stuff. "

"You get used to it after a couple times," Lucas admitted, "and it's not so bad, especially for how much money it usually raises."

Nathan released a deep sigh, "I keep telling myself that," he admitted, "but I'm going to feel like an idiot out there."

"We all do. Just remember, what we think is dumb and cheesy, those women out there eat up. In fact, the more ridiculous, the better."

"What the hell?" Brooke came in pulled open the unlocked door, finding her distraught friend bent over the toilet. "Don't tell me you really are pregnant?"

Haley turned and shook her head, glaring daggers at her friend, "You better be kidding..."

"I am, sort of," Brooke shrugged before, moving to squat down and brush her friend's hair out of her face, "What happened?"

Haley stood and moved to the sink to clean her mouth out before she explained the conversation she overheard, her stomach churning again at the remembrance of the confidence with which the words were spoken. Even Haley had been convinced.

"You really think he would do that to you?" Brooke frowned at her friend. Haley looked like her world was falling in on her, like she'd already given up. "He really doesn't seem like the type to cheat on you and whatever their past, he chose you to marry. I know you don't view it this way, but sex, even lots of it, doesn't mean he loved her. A lot of boys will sleep with anyone that says yes."

Haley's eyes flew to her friend's, "that doesn't make me feel better," she squeaked out.

"I didn't mean tonight," Brooke rubbed her hands over her face in frustration. "I don't know Nathan that well, but he must really love you to want to marry you this bad. I can't imagine him throwing something like that away over some old girlfriend, especially one that already hurt him once."

Haley understood what Brooke was saying, but she knew things her friend didn't and one of those things was his real reason for this marriage. If he really had loved the girl, he might think it was a better idea to marry her. He wouldn't even need Haley anymore and she would lose her chance to show him how happy they could be together, how much she loved him.

"You need to have confidence in yourself," Brooke continued, unaware of Haley's trail of thought, "You're quite the catch. He'd be stupid to even consider anyone else."

Nathan heard his name being called and parted the curtain for a second, noticing the crowd had now filled in so there weren't any empty spots around the stage. He searched for familiar faces, but couldn't spot anyone out there he knew. Taking a step back, he turned and considered a strategic retreat. This was a bad idea. He wasn't sure he could bring himself to go out onto that stage and make a fool of himself.

"It's your turn, Coach just called your name," Tim took a couple steps toward him and gestured back toward the stage.

Nathan listened and heard the sounds of Kool and the Gang - Ladies night playing through the speakers, the song he'd chosen for his part of the spectacle. Tim rubbed his hands together in excitement, "just don't be too hurt if you don't go for much. Girls gotta save their money for 'The Tim'."

Nathan's eyebrows raised at the statement and he fought to contain his laughter, "I'll uh, keep that in mind."

"Now hurry up and get out there, I can't wait to get my turn and see who the lucky lady is going to be this time." He pushed Nathan and he half stumbled out onto the catwalk, momentarily stunned by the screams that started the moment he became visible.

He looked around and couldn't make out the faces past the bright lights stationed around the stage, but he could see his coach as the MC gesturing for him to get moving. He complied and headed toward the end of the catwalk, the increase in volume helping him to gain confidence. He pulled off his sunglasses and tossed them into the audience, the screams intensifying at his action. Encouraged, he walked to the end and ripped off his tear away pants, gesturing to the audience to increase their applause. He smiled, enjoying the attention and seeing why the guys didn't mind doing the fundraiser. It was a heady feeling, being appreciated and having people fight and bid for the right to spend time with you. The money going for something important to him certainly helped as well. He heard the bidding starting and continued to put on a show. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt before tossing it into the stands, leaving him in only his shorts and displaying the words BOY TOY across his chiseled chest, drawing shrieks loud enough to drown out Whitey's words.

Haley looked on helplessly as Nathan hammed it up on stage, the girls around the room salivating at the sight of his toned body. "Wow," Brooke admitted, looking around, "I've never seen it quite this bad."

"That's great to hear," Haley frowned, listening as someone on the other side of the room bid $100. "I guess it's a good thing we decided I shouldn't bid on him," she tried to make the best of it, "I couldn't afford that anyway."

The bidding continued and Haley was about to turn around to leave, unable to watch anymore, when Brooke yelled out, "$200."

Her friend turned back to her stunned, "What are you doing?"

"I'm giving you a wedding gift," Brooke smiled, "a date night with your groom to be."

"That's too much," Haley argued, her hands going to her hips, "You shouldn't have."

"Did you want any of them to buy him?" Brooke asked, gesturing around the room, "I can back out."

"No," Haley quickly admitted as Whitey gave the final call for more bids, despite Nathan's already being the highest of the night. "I don't know...thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, just remember that Brooke would make a great name for your firstborn..."

"$500," a voice shouted out, just as the coach was about to slam down his gavel. "I bid $500"

The room quieted as everyone turned to look at the bidder, Haley's stomach dropping as she saw the girl from earlier holding up her hand, cash at the ready.

"Please tell me that isn't who I think it is" Brooke asked, looking back at the blonde who was only able to shake her head, "I can't outbid her...I don't have that much with me."

Haley closed her eyes and took a deep breath, opening them again to unfortunately the same reality, "It's okay, right?" she forced a wan smile, "I mean, we want to raise a lot of money and this will really help..."

"I know, but if that was..."

"No buts," Haley forced a smile on her face, "you were right earlier. I don't have anything to worry about. I trust Nathan."

"I don't know, most guys would take the chance for one last fling before tying the knot, especially if they knew they were going to be stuck married to you," Rachel laughed as she stopped by to mock them, "You know, sow some more wild oats. Of course, after he gets bored with you, he'll do that anyway so you might as well get used to it."

"And yet he still has no interest in your skanky ass," Brooke challenged her, hating the look of defeat in her friend's normally confident eyes. They were full of doubt that belied the confident words she spoke.

Rachel narrowed her eyes, but her smile quickly returned, "We'll see. Innocence can be a big turn on for a while, but once the novelty wears off, they always come running to the women who really know how to handle them."

Nathan was all smiles as he came back to the back room, getting high fives from his teammates, "I think that's the highest bid ever," Jake told him. "Maybe I should rethink my approach. Do you know who it was?"

Nathan laughed, "I have no idea," he shrugged, still on a bit of a high. It had actually been fun showing off and egging on the crowd, their responses making him do even more than he had intended to raise the bids. "It's too hard to see out there, but I'm glad for the money."

"I can't believe you got that much," one of the other boys said in awe, "I usually go for like 40 bucks. Last year, I got stuck cleaning gutters for the evening."

The other boys laughed, but agreed before telling some of their stories. Nathan grinned, feeling the most camaraderie with his team since he arrived, "I don't really care what I have to do. I'd clean a dozen gutters for that price."

He went into the other room and changed his clothes, figuring jeans and a polo would be a better fit for whatever was planned for the night. He was a little nervous, knowing that many girls bought guys expecting, or at least hoping, to receive more than a goodnight kiss, but figured with his engagement public knowledge, that seemed less likely. In fact, he hoped his evening was something as easy as simple hard work. It would make the time pass faster and help keep him out of his own troubled thoughts.

He headed out to the main lobby and toward the table he'd been told would have his name, getting stopped on the way by one of the freshman, "you are one lucky bastard. I'd bet you aren't going to be getting your beauty sleep tonight."

Nathan frowned as he passed and then looked up ahead to see Haley waiting for him. He relaxed at the sight, realizing what his teammate had meant. She was with Brooke, but ran the last few steps between them as soon as she caught sight of him, throwing her arms around his neck. He stumbled a bit in surprise and before he could even respond, her lips were on his and his whole body melted into hers. This wasn't like either of their previous kisses, sweet and a bit tentative. Instead, it was demanding and possessive as she unmistakably staked her claim. He responded in kind, pulling her closer and ravaging her mouth as he lost all sense of time and place, everything a blank except for the feel of her against him.

"Ahem...Excuse me," someone said from nearby and it wasn't until he felt the tap on his shoulder that he realized they were there and speaking to him. "I don't think that is appropriate at a school function, engaged or not."

He pulled away and let Haley down (when had he picked her up?) before turning to the older woman that he recognized as one of the guidance counselors, "I'm sorry ma'am, I got carried away, but I didn't mean to offend your sensibilities."

Her grumpiness softened at his politeness and lopsided smirk. The expression always seemed to melt any female's heart and obviously hers was no exception. "It's okay. No harm done," she actually giggled at him, making Haley shake her head. She couldn't believe this was the same woman people called an old battle ax. "Young love is often exuberant." She looked over at Haley before gesturing for them to follow. "I've spoken with the young lady that donated so generously in order to spend the evening with you and she informed me she's an old friend of yours. How nice you'll be able to catch up."

Nathan's brow furrowed in confusion and he looked over at Haley who didn't look happy at the development. Obviously she knew more than he did, but he didn't understand her reaction until a woman turned around and stepped forward with her hands outstretched, "Nate."

He looked her over, noticing her hair was longer than the last time he'd seen her, coming down almost to the middle of her back, the silky black tresses shiny and smooth. She was wearing a short black dress that he was sure cost at least as much as his month's rent and high heels that she had always used to increase her height and accentuate what she deemed to be her best feature in her legs. He came back to her face and mentally scolded himself as he saw the smile that said she knew he'd enjoyed the view.

Damn it, she was one of the last people he needed to see on the eve of his wedding, "Tiffany."

"Didn't you see the way he looked at her," Haley sat with Brooke in her bedroom, her dress for the next day hung a few feet away on the outside of the closet, "it was like he was devouring her with his eyes."

"He probably couldn't help it. Even I gave her the once over," Brooke admitted, "did you see those legs? I bet she's done some modeling..." she noticed Haley's look of disbelief at her statement and quickly hurried on, "at least he didn't seem happy to see her."

Haley grabbed her beer and took several long drinks before she said anything else, "She was beautiful..."

Brooke put her arm around her friend, "You're beautiful too Hales."

"They looked perfect together. Both of them tall, dark, and gorgeous," Haley bemoaned, "I felt like a troll standing next to them."

"Nathan loves you. That means more than some past relationship," Brooke reassured her. " It's not like he's been pining for her all this time. He moved on and tomorrow he's going to start a new life, with you."

"I just love him so much, you know?" the blonde leaned her head on her shoulder, the small amount of alcohol already affecting her, "I don't want to lose him." She burped and then started to giggle. "Did you know that when we were younger, I tried out for the school play? I was told I couldn't act my way out of a paper bag..." her laughter started to turn back to tears as she finished, "I wish Mrs. Dunbar could see me now."

"What are you talking about honey? You aren't making any sense," she helped Haley further up onto the bed, "I can't believe you've been done in by one beer."

"I haven't eaten all day..." Haley admitted, "I'm too nervous."

Brooke shook her head at her, "I think you should lie down, things will seem better in the morning."

"I'm scared to go to sleep, that if I do it'll all have been a dream and he'll be gone again."

"Why would he leave you? You can't honestly think he'll change his mind just because some tramp showed up," Brooke was incredulous. "He wants to marry you."

"You'd be surprised if you knew the truth," Haley shook her finger at her friend, pretending to look around and make sure no one was listening. "Shhh, it's a secret."

"Then what's the truth?" Brooke played along.

"He doesn't love me. He never did."

"I've missed you, Natey,"

"That's not my name," he snapped at her, "I've always hated that."

"Fine, I'll call you Nathan like your little wifey," she imitated Haley's inflection and he grimaced, unable to hear the simple name he'd heard a million times said that way out of her mouth.

"Just call me Nate."

"If that's what you want," she smiled, reaching over and placing her hand on his leg, "Nate it is, although I'd think you'd be nicer to someone who spent a lot of money for this date. Does Haley get off on you being all tough guy, because I think I could come to like it..."

"Cut the crap. What are you doing here?" Nathan wasn't in the mood for her act. She wouldn't be there if she didn't want something.

"My parents are living here now," she shrugged, "and I got a call from my sister saying she was going to school with my old flame."

"Funny you should call me that," he gave her a dirty look as he pulled into the parking lot, "I thought I was just your seducer."

He had to give her credit for keeping her cool, but that was all he'd give her. He parked the car and turned to look at her, "I'm going to tell you right now that whatever game you're playing, it won't work. Any interest I had in you is long gone...you killed it."

"I'm not playing a game," she tried to reach out to him and he recoiled, causing her to pull back, "I'm genuinely sorry for how I treated you. I know I don't deserve another chance, but I'm hoping for one anyway. I've missed you."

Nathan shook his head and got out of the car, needing to move. How was he supposed to deal with this now, with so much already happening in his life? He closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair. This was a nightmare. "I can't do this," he finally turned and looked across the car at her. "I'm sorry."

"Wait," she came around to his side and looked up at him. She'd thought he was handsome as a 15 year old, but he'd continued to grow and fill out and was now incredibly sexy. "I'm the one who's sorry. I know you have someone else and I can accept that. Please, let me come in and I promise not to push you again, I just want to catch up..."

Nathan rubbed his hands over his face, "I don't know..."

"Come on," she gave him a playful smile, "we were close once."

"We had a lot of sex," Nathan raised one eyebrow.

"It was more than that and you know it. I made a huge mistake, but I swear I learned from it, I've changed," she could see he was still hesitant, "Please, just spend a few hours with me and let me show you."

She could see he was softening and she went in for the kill, "Come on, it's for your mom and I can go get my money back..."

Nathan sighed and gave in, "Don't make me regret it."

"I don't believe you," Brooke was shocked by the news her friend had just imparted, "I'm good at reading people, and you two are in love."

Haley shook her head, "it's all for his mom."

Brooke reached for her hands, "Maybe that was the plan, but I'm telling you, no one is that good an actor. He has real feelings for you. Believe me, he was into that kiss as much as you were."

"You have no idea how much I wish that were true," Haley wiped away more tears, "but I can't even let myself hope right now."

Brooke wasn't sure what else to say. She was certain there was something there, that he was at least in the process of falling for her friend, but understood that Haley didn't want any reassurance from anyone other than the person most unlikely to give it. "You're the strongest person I know Haley," she finally settled for, "if he really is too dumb to see how amazing you are, then it's his loss and he doesn't deserve you."

"I know... but I don't want to go back to being safe, boring me," Haley hiccupped, "I want to be happy...with Nathan."

"Then why are you giving up? You've always stood up for what you want, for what you believe in. You need to convince him...to make him see that he wants you too," Brooke thought the answer was obvious. "Talk to him."

"I need you to take me to him," Haley decided, sitting up and moving to the edge of the bed, pausing to stop her head from spinning before she looked back up. "I can't go through with this unless I tell him how I feel."

Nathan had finally started to relax as they sat on opposite sides of the living room. She'd been true to her word and kept the topics of conversation to catching up on their lives and those of mutual friends. He took another swig of his water, "as nice as this has been, what's your real reason for being here?"

"You've gotten cynical," she tried to laugh off his comments, "I already told you that my parents..."

"I heard what you said," Nathan cut her off, "but you're almost 20 and you've never had much love for your family."

The dark haired beauty pursed her lips, but gave in, "You really want the truth?"

Nathan raised his eyebrows, "Are you serious?"

She gave him a sob story about how she'd been kicked out of college and disowned by her parents. How she'd been wronged and was suffering for no reason in her mind, "I have nothing."

"You had $500," he pointed out, "money you shouldn't have wasted on me."

"That was my parent's money. My sister convinced them to donate it tonight," she admitted, "she just let me do it for her."

"I don't understand why me?" Nathan was confused, "you had to know I wouldn't be excited to see you."

She took a deep breath, knowing this was do or die time, "I was hoping you'd marry me."

Nathan stared at her for several moments, waiting to see if she was serious, before he started to laugh, "that's one of the funniest things I've ever heard."

She stood up and stomped her foot, unprepared for that reaction, "I don't see what's so funny, it makes sense. You need to get married, I need money."

Nathan sobered at her statement, "Why do you think that?"

"Oh come on," she was done pretending, "your grandparents die and leave you a boatload of money, money you have to be married to get...Yes, I know about it," she noticed his look of surprise. "Your beloved mom needs that money, and you just happen to fall in love with a girl you barely know and decide to marry her while you're still in high school. You really expect people to believe that? Everyone that knows the details can see it's just for the money."

Nathan knew he had to play it cool, "I don't care what people think. I'm marrying Haley because I love her."

"I know all about her you know, your fiancée. Tiny little thing, so fragile. You really think she's your match? Your soul mate? You think she'll be able to stand up to the society you'll be expected to move in? Will she be able to handle all the backstabbing and gossip, the derision she'll get for not being one of them? They'll eat her alive. I know them, I'm one of them."

"I have no plans to move in that crowd," Nathan was disgusted by the very idea. "I can't stand them."

"Even if you don't, you want to be a professional athlete. You think that'll be any better? You'll be in the public eye, out of town all the time with constant rumors about who you are and aren't sleeping with. Going to big parties where you're expected to act a certain way? She'd be miserable."

Nathan had to admit that she was right about that, but she didn't know that that wasn't their plan anyway. "She's a lot tougher than you think."

"Maybe," she admitted, "but should she have to go through all that? Get her heart broken over and over again? I'd be a much better choice. I wouldn't expect fidelity and I'd be available anytime you needed me. You know how hot we were together. I bet little smarty pants isn't nearly as good in bed."

Nathan's face must have betrayed something because she started to laugh, "Oh God, she isn't even sleeping with you, is she? That's even better than I thought. I can't even believe this..."

Nathan shook his head, "Why doesn't it surprise me that you think everything is about sex?"

Nathan's phone rang and looked at the familiar number, "excuse me for a minute," he stood and walked back toward his room before answering. "Hello."

"Hey Nate," Quentin's voice was a little scratchy as it came through the line. "How'd your auction go? Did you end up with a cougar?"

Nathan ran his hand over his face, "Sort of," he answered, hearing Tiffany moving around in the other room. "Tiffany bought me."

His friend stopped laughing. "Not your lying, cheating, ex Tiffany right?"

"The very same," Nathan admitted. "I'm stuck with her until midnight.

"Look, I don't condone hitting women, but I'd kick that bitch to the curb before she gets her claws into you again. You barely survived her last time," Q advised, his tone concerned. "You can't trust her."

"I don't," Nathan tried to reassure him. "I can handle her. I've made it clear that I'm not interested in renewing anything with her."

"So where are you?"

"We're at my apartment," Nathan reluctantly admitted. He hadn't really considered the location when she suggested it, too thrown by her sudden reappearance in his life to think it all through.

"That doesn't sound clear at all," Quentin argued. "How does Haley feel about all this? Does she know about her?"

Nathan sighed and sat on his bed, "She knows a little, but I don't know how she feels, we haven't gotten to talk about it. " He thought back to the desperation with which she had kissed him at the school and suspected she knew more than she wanted to. "I can talk to her about it tomorrow."

"You need to send her on her way," Quentin felt a sense of dread he couldn't explain. "I don't care what the rules are, she's trouble."

"It's only another hour," Nathan pointed out, "then I can send her on her way for good. Trust me, I'm not dumb enough to fall for her lines again." Although he admitted she had made some good points about Haley. He'd had more and more thoughts over the previous week about the possibility of them trying a real relationship, a real marriage, but Tiffany was right. Even if they made it through the rough college years in different states, his life would be one that the settled, homebody Haley would hate. He couldn't do that to her, no matter how much he was starting to think it would kill him to let her go. "I can be mature enough to finish this out."

"Don't you dare hurt Haley," Quentin warned him. "If she's still the girl I remember, Tiffany would love nothing more than to tear your relationship apart. She doesn't care who gets hurt as long as she gets her way, and if she's there, she wants you."

Nathan rolled his eyes, "I don't have any intention of letting her near Haley," he thought his friend was going overboard, "I've already told her I'm not interested and at midnight I can get rid of her, hopefully forever."

He shut his phone and walked back to the main room, deciding that was the easiest part of what he needed to do, "It's getting late, I think you should..." he stopped in mid sentence when he found her standing in just a black lace bra and thong, "What are you doing?"

"Wow, you are out of practice if you don't even remember this," she smiled as she ran her hands down her body before sauntering over to him and placing her hands on his shoulders, "I plan to help you with that."

Haley walked up the steps to Nathan's apartment, her hands sweaty as she prepared to lay her heart on the line. She didn't think she could continue the path they were on without knowing where she stood. If he told her that he had no romantic feelings for her, she felt she could move forward and survive, but not knowing and constantly doubting things was driving her crazy.

She knocked and waited, disappointed that no one came to the door. She'd seen Nathan's car so she was pretty sure he was home, but he wasn't answering. She looked at her watch and noted that it was a almost 1am. She'd purposely waited a little while after she'd sobered up to make sure the ex would be gone, but hadn't considered that he might have gone to bed already. She was pulling out her phone to call him when the door opened and she turned back, "I was beginning to think..." she started, her voice trailing off at the sight of the woman before her in nothing other than what appeared to be one of Nathan's hoodies.

"Oh," the woman shrugged, "it's just you. I thought this late it might be someone important."

Haley's first inclination was to turn tale and leave, her tears furiously fighting to escape, but she held her ground. She'd let herself be bested once already today, but she was tougher than that. She blocked the woman's attempt to close the door and pushed her way inside. "It is half my apartment, so you're the one that doesn't belong here."

"Tell that to Nate."

"I'd be happy to," Haley was trying to be strong, but her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest. Her nerves on the edge of a full fledged panic attack.

She pushed the door opened and stepped inside, hoping against hope that he wasn't actually there. Her hopes were dashed just seconds later when he stumbled out of the bedroom in only his boxers, "Haley? What are you? Tiffany..."

"I guess you didn't expect me," Haley tried to joke, tears springing to her eyes as she looked back and forth between the pair. "You probably would've at least gotten dressed."

Nathan looked down at himself and then at Tiffany, noticing what she was wearing, "this isn't what it looks like Hales," he started toward her. "We didn't...I didn't..."

"What he's trying to say is he still loves me, but he doesn't want to hurt you..." Tiffany looked at Haley, pretending to let her down gently. "He was afraid you'd start crying again."

"That's crap," Nathan shot her a dirty look. "I didn't say that...nothing happened...at least I don't think it did...God, my head is killing me..."

Haley started forward automatically, ready to help as always, but Tiffany beat her there, one side of the sweatshirt slipping down to show her nakedness underneath and Haley backed away. She couldn't do this. Her head was telling her that Nathan was telling the truth, but her heart was breaking and she felt like she couldn't breathe. She turned, feeling the need to get out of the apartment...to get air. "I'm sorry, I thought... I can't do this. I can't marry you."