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"Okay, the last time I checked, my parent's cabin wasn't this long of a ride." I heard Brooke tell Lucas again.

Tomorrow was New Year's Eve and I was lucky enough to spend it with all of my friends. It was a great end to my break. It was just going to Lucas, Brooke, Peyton, Jake, Kelsey, Nathan, and me staying at Brooke's vacation house.

"So Brooke why did your parents buy a vacation house in the state they live in?" I asked.

"They have money so I guess they had to spend it on something. I really don't know Hales. I'm not complaining or anything. Nathan and I stayed her a few months like two summers ago."

I looked over to Nathan and pretended to be jealous. I knew he would feel guilty. I smiled when he kissed my forehead.

"It's wasn't like that." He whispered into my ear.

Brooke decided to cut in, "Haley, have you talked to Peyton yet? I really don't need you two causing a fire at my house. I already told her she was out of line. All you have to do is make out with Nathan a lot. See I told you I would add you in somewhere Nate."

"You are very considerate Davis." Nathan told her back. "I was actually going to talk to Peyton. And by talk I mean with words." He looked back to me and smiled.

"I like my idea better." Brooke pouted. "What do you think Broody?"

"I honestly think Nathan should talk to her. She's his ex."

"You'll be mine again in a second." She jokingly warned. She sighed again. "I need to pee Luke."

"I know. You say that every time I tell we aren't there yet. Luckily for you, you can go. We've made it Brooke." He smiled smugly at her.

She clapped excitedly. She didn't have to wait for Lucas to pull to a stop before hopping out of the car. "Come on Hales, you're going to love it here. Don't worry; the boys will get our bags. Thank you for offering Nate!" She called out to me.

I gave Nathan a kiss on the cheek before hopping out myself. Instantly being on the ground, Brooke yanked me along.

She unlocked the door and pulled me inside. "So, to the left is the family room with a nice fire place. The kitchen is in the back. On the right is the sitting and lounging area. Upstairs we have the master bathroom with connecting bedroom, which is for me and Lucas. You're room is down the hall with Nathan and…"

"Brooke," I cut her off. "Could I get my own room?" I asked hesitantly.

She nodded. "I don't know if I have any left over rooms because Jake, Peyton, and Kelsey will all have rooms to themselves. Is there something wrong Buddy?" She asked before rubbing my shoulder.

"I just don't know if Nathan would get bored of lying next to me. I told him I was a virgin and he respects that. I just hope he didn't say that because I wanted him to be okay with it."

"Take it from me, Nathan is crazy about you. There is no way you could bore Nathan. Plus if anyone is doing anything it will be Lucas and me."

"Aw Brooke!"

"Oh sorry Virgin Ears." She gave me a quick hug. "The rest of the tour will take your mind off of that." She led me to the back kitchen door. "There's the pool, which we will be having a chicken fight later in. Then on the patio we have the fire pit with a bench couch and lounge chairs. This is going to be the greatest weekend ever."

*-*-*-*

Lucas handed Nathan another one of Haley's bags. She didn't have as much as Brooke did, which was a relief. He dropped the bag on the driveway. "I bet Whitey's going to make practice hell since we haven't been there in two weeks." Nathan said.

"We still have five days. But one of them will involve basket ball since we're going to that game Haley got you tickets for." Lucas struggled with Brooke biggest bag.

Nathan came to his side to help him out. "We need to get you back to the gym." He chuckled. He stopped when Lucas didn't respond. "Are you even going to continue the season?"

"I've been thinking about walking away but I love the game."

Nathan patted Lucas on the shoulder. "Sometimes you have to no matter how much you love it."

"Would you ever walk away from it?" Lucas spoke softly. He looked over to his brother. "Do you ever get afraid that Dan might find out that you didn't play anymore?"

"I know that I don't tell you often, but I play basketball for me and not for anybody else. If Dan did find out, then I bet he'd make another kid with someone else just to get what he wants. Did you ever think about that way? I mean what if he knew that one of us was going to be a disappointment?"

Lucas shook his head. He thought about it of course but then he just figured that Nathan didn't want to answer the original question at hand.

The look on his brother's face didn't go unnoticed. Nathan let out a sigh of his own. "I couldn't. I know that I would be going against my own word. I have no reason to right now." he shrugged after he was finished.

"What about Haley? Doesn't she matter to you?" Lucas continued to question him.

"Of course she matter's Luke, but she also wants me to be happy and enjoy playing ball."

Lucas wanted to keep playing with the Q and A but the other guests have arrived and right now Lucas knew that Brooke wasn't quite happy with Peyton. He suggested to Nathan that they should just go inside.

Once inside, Lucas and Nathan found Brooke explaining everything to Haley. Lucas walked over and wrapped his arms around Brooke and he placed a kiss on the back of her neck. "Brooke why don't you show me where I'm supposed to be sleeping?" he whispered into her hair.

Brooke turned to face her boyfriend and then back to Haley. "Sorry buddy, I guess we'll see you at the pool later." She called to Haley as she dragged Lucas up the stairs.

*-*-*-*

I laughed and shook my head. "Did you unpack all our bags already? I really didn't think that Lucas would be here with all of Brooke's bags already."

"Actually, we still haven't gotten all the bags out yet. We just came back to tell you that the others are here.
I turned around in his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck to play with the hair on the back of his neck. "The others, huh?" I kinked my eyebrow. "They sound like your worst enemy."

"No," he playfully shook his head. "I was just saying. Don't you want to see Kelsey?"

I sighed. I haven't really kept my old friends that close. We've all went on or separate paths. Emma was now engaged to my fiancé and Kelsey was living her separate life with Jake and Peyton. "People change and I just I lost the dependency. Brooke's my go to girl now and my friend. We all just lost touch. It happens and I have you now." I smiled and placed a quick peck on the lips. "I'll never lose you."

"Yeah," he lifted my chin with his finger, "never."

The front door opened and Jake, followed by Kelsey, walked inside with one suitcase per person. I guess they wouldn't be staying too long, which I was actually okay with.

"Hey," I walked over and gave Jake and then Kelsey small hugs. "Brooke and Lucas just went to check out their room." I pointed up the stairs. "I should probably go get the bags that the guys so kindly left sitting outside." I began to walk out when I felt somebody grab my arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" Nathan asked me softly. "Hales I'm capable of finishing what I started." Nathan joked.

"Might as well finish since Peyton's out there." I said jealously.

"That has nothing to do woth Peyton. I told you I would talk to her later." He was getting s bit agitated with me all of the sudden. He shook his head and returned back inside.

I put my attention back to Jake and Kelsey. "So how was the drive over here?"

"It took forever because Peyton wouldn't agree to what song was allowed to be played on her radio. I always regret driving her car or even be with her in her car." Jake told me.

"Yeah and then Jake decided that he would sing. Haley it was so funny. I never pictured Jake to be a Saliva fan. Who knew?" She finished off by patting Jake on the shoulder. She smiled at him before going off to find Brooke for her room assignment.

Jake shifted nervously before me. "Haley, my sister didn't mean to upset you. She was telling you how Nathan was with her."

I sighed. "I don't care who Nathan was before and Peyton knows that. I just thought that it was kind of a bitchy move. I mean what if Kelsey or an ex girlfriend of yours told, I don't know, the girl you love that you used to have a lot of sex with her? It hurt me Jake. I knew that when I met Nathan and I just don't need Peyton reminding me."

"How do you think she feels? She has to see you and Nathan together like you're the perfect couple and that nothing can wrong between you two."

"She told me that she wasn't in love with him and they fought all the time."

"Yeah and she just keeps mentioning the sex to you. I don't think Peyton's really over Nathan yet."

"You're the one to talk. What the hell do you think you're doing with Kelsey? I thought that she hurt you so bad that you couldn't be near her again?"

"Thanks for talking me out of it. Kelsey's not really your concern anymore. When's the last time you called her to just talk? She misses you."

This was going to be a long weekend. Why couldn't it be just couples only? I mean I get it that Brooke and Peyton miraculously became friends again during my absence but I'd like it better it being the four of us. Brooke's mind works differently. I hope she didn't secretly plan this as a way for all of to become friends. Hell, she did.

Nathan came back into the house and this time my bags came with. Hopefully he didn't sense my anger of Peyton still liking him. Of course he doesn't. He lightly kissed my cheek and walked up the steps to our room.

I turned to close the door when Peyton was standing there. I wanted to slam the door in her face but it wasn't my door.

"Haley, you can't just ignore me the entire weekend, Brooke won't allow it." She told me as she walked in. she stopped in front of me and crossed her arms over her chest. "You took it the wrong way."

I shrugged. "I'm not just going to be okay with everything just because it's vacation." I pulled my hand threw my hair. "I won't even do it if Brooke forces me to. Don't lie to my face Peyton because Jake told me everything."

*-*-*-*

An hour after arrival I was lying on the bed in my room. So much for drama free but only if I don't create any. The more I avoid it, the worse it becomes. Great I'm going to be stuck in here forever.

"Oh Haley!" Brooke called. She entered the room in her bikini. "Get your hot ass up and put this on." She instructed as a black two piece fell over my face.

I sat up. "Brooke I can't wear this." I said as I set it aside.

"Haley, hot girls can wear whatever they want to. Tell me what's really up with you. I haven't heard a peep out of you upon Peyton's arrival."

"I don't feel comfortable yet." How would you feel about wearing a bikini after getting stitches and bruised all around your middle? Not so sexy huh? I lifted the hem of my shirt to show Brooke instead of explaining it to her. "There is no way I can pull off anything revealing yet."

"Haley, we're your friends so there's no need to be self conscious around us. Plus I can get a second opinion if you want me to. Nathan, get up here and tell Haley that she's sexy!" Brooke yelled. "You think he heard me?" She asked turning back to me.

"Brooke if there were any houses around us, they would have heard you clearly." I flopped back down on the bed and covered my face.

"Haley, think of it as pool therapy. Oh good here's your boyfriend."

I looked up and Nathan stood, leaning against the doorway. "Is there a reason I have to keep reminding you that I think you're hot?" Nathan joked as he came fully into the room. "What's up?"

"Tell him Haley." Brooke commanded.

Nathan motioned to Brooke that he could handle it. Then he climbed next to me on the bed. "Now," he said hovering over me, "does this have anything to do with this?"

I uncovered my eyes to see him dangling the black swimsuit over my face. "Yes," I muttered. I pouted as I swatted it away from my face. "Nathan I can't."

"Well why not. You have the body for it. Not everyone can pull off a two piece and trust me I've seen a lot of girls in a lot of bikinis." He told me as he twirled it around his finger.

I pushed him away as I sat up again. "That's suppose to help me?" I said annoyed.

He quickly sat up. Oh he was going to try to redeem himself. He rested his chin onto my shoulder. "Come on baby, it will piss off Peyton." he said like a child.

I smiled. Well yeah it would. Have you seen me? I sighed defeated. "Okay but it won't be pretty.

"I'm sure you'll make it pretty." He kissed my forehead before getting off the bed. "I'll just let you see for yourself." He told me before closing the door.

I ended up with it on somehow. Now I had to face the mirror. I walked up to the full length one that was behind the door. There they were, my battle scars. They weren't as bad as the have been but I still had them. Tears were starting to form in my eyes as I stared at myself. Soon they multiplied and ran down my cheeks. How and why did this happen to me? What drove my father to this unfair treatment? Why did my mother do nothing?

There was a soft knock on the door. "Tutor Girl, are you decent?" Brooke asked through the door. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah Brooke," I responded as I continued to cry softly.

The door creaked open. "Hales," Brooke walked over to me and hugged me. "It's okay." She whispered.

"He hated me. They both hated me." I cried louder.

"No one can hate you Haley." She continued to tell me."

"Then why do I look like this? Can you explain it to me?" I was becoming angry.

"Well sometimes people are aggressive due to past experiences."

I never heard from either side of my parents' families. Maybe, they didn't want to get involved.

I let go of Brooke and grabbed a towel from the bathroom. I went to the backyard silently. Everyone was already in the pool as I started laying out my towel on one of the tanning chairs. At least all my friends were enjoying themselves. I spotted Nathan in the pool with Peyton. She was trying to dunk his head under the water, but he was able to throw her off of him. Then he put his gaze to me. He walked over to the edge of the pool.

"And why aren't you in the pool?" he asked me coolly.

"Cool it, I just got out here." I mumbled to him.

"Were you crying?'

"How would you know that?"

"Because you aren't happy. When you came you were so excited and now you're more broody then Lucas is. This is supposed to be about having fun,"

"You can't always just live by the rules of fun Nathan."

Nathan put his weight on his arms and climbed out of the pool. He walked over to me and sat on the edge of the chair. He smirked down at me. "See you are sexy."

"Gee thanks. I see that you talked to Peyton. You two seem to patch things up fast." God, I hated Jake. The last thing I wanted to do was cause trouble between me and Nathan.

Nathan looked over to her and then back to me. "Is that why you're just sitting here? Haley, we were caught in the moment."

"I hope the moments aren't that intimate." After my last comment, I noticed Nathan becoming uneasy. "Nathan I didn't mean that." I rubbed his arm. "Baby, I'm sorry. I'm just upset by something else."

"Peyton has nothing on you Hales. Trust me." he got up and offered his hand out to me. "What if you just sit by the edge? Dip your feet in for a while or something."

Well I did want to spend time with him and did I mention how hot Nathan Scott is in swim trunks? Damn his sexy abs.

I took his hand and he led me to the edge. He hopped back in and helped me sit down. I clung my arms around my body and started playing with the water, as I kicked my feet.

"Haley, they aren't going to stare at you." Nathan finally spoke.

"Oh I just have a tummy ache." Haley James, you were always the best liar.

"Oh, really?" He laughed. "So how do you like the water?"

"Wh…." Splash! I bobbed back up. I looked to see Nathan in full laughter and I started to laugh with him. I waded over to him. "Oh yeah like that wasn't obvious."

"I'm sorry but it had to happen to someone." He placed his hands on my waist. "I got you to laugh." He mumbled before he brought his lips to cover mine.

I pulled away. "I was laughing at the goofy grin on your face."

"Sure you were." He said before his back was against the poolside. He cupped my cheeks and started kissing me again.

*-*-*-*

Brooke was currently in Lucas's arms. She smiled as she watched her best friend make out with his girlfriend at the opposite end of the pool. Nathan meant a lot to Brooke and she was able to finally witness him happy.

Lucas placed a small kiss atop of Brooke's head. "You did a good thing, Cheery. Everyone seems to be happy."

"Well I try. I mostly did it for Haley though. Are you sure she's happy?"

"I think she is. Why?"

"I was talking to her earlier and she started asking my why her father did this to her. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to be able to but I can't understand why either. I just want her to feel like she's safe and we're all here for her."

"You're a great friend to her Brooke and I bet she knows that." He squeezed her tighter. "That's what I love about you."

Brooke turned to face Lucas and a sly grin spread across her face. "I love you too."

"Well that's always good to hear."

She playfully swatted him. "Cocky much? I knew Nathan taught you a bad habit." She got away from his grasp and swam over to Peyton. "P. Sawyer, you really need to at least pretend that you're having fun."

"Sorry, Brooke. What makes the loner of the group smile?"

Brooke knew that she wasn't joking. "We need to really get you a great guy. Any you like?"

Peyton sighed. "There's this guy, but he's already happy."

"Well, you don't want to take that away from the guy."

"Or the girl."

"So how is the mending of Paley?"

"Not so good. I didn't think she would go all out and start hating me because I had sex with Nathan."

"Well you did mention it to her a lot. Peyton, she doesn't need to hear people say those things. She's been through enough."

"It is not just about Haley, Brooke!" Peyton shouted at her before leaving the pool.

*-*-*

"Talk about PMS." Kelsey told me as she dried out her hair. "How are you Haley? We never talk anymore."

"Well, you're never home anymore." I told her as I pulled my sweats over my swimsuit. I threw on one of Nathan's hooded one's. "We never really talk anyway, so there's no point now. I guess I'm saying goodbye to more than a year."

"Yeah, I guess I am too. Jake and I are getting back together at turtle's pace."

I ignored her as my thoughts went to Peyton. "Does Peyton ever talk to you about Nathan?"

"I don't need to tell you anything. Peyton's more of a friend then you have been. You're giving Nathan all the credit for saving you. I was there too." She told me as she left the room.

*-*-*-*

Nathan knocked on Peyton's door. It was about time that he talked to her. He wanted Haley to stop worrying about his past with her. it wasn't going to repeat itself. "Peyton I need to talk to you."

"I'm guessing Haley sent you?" She said as she invited him inside.

"No I sent myself. After we broke up I don't remember us being friends. I could have sworn that I wanted nothing else to do with you."

"Well then Haley came along and brought us back together."

"What did you say to her when you went Christmas shopping? She keeps thinking that we might get back together and I know that I don't want to."

"Why not? Like I told Haley we were all about sex. You were good in bed." Peyton said as she moved closer to him.

"Put some ice on it Peyton. I'm with Haley now and I love her. I'm not going to be the kind of guy who cheats on her."

"You cheated on me all the time. How am I different from Haley?"

"I was never in love with you and you never loved me." Nathan said sternly before leaving Peyton.

"That's what you think."

Nathan turned back to her. "That's a lie. I treated you like shit. We both know that."

"You were in it for the sex .I actually started to think that we could be good together."

"Stop trying to picture us as a couple. It wouldn't be a good thing."

"I know you're just saying that because you're with Haley."

"I'm saying that because I don't want you. Stop living in the past and move on. There's a guy out there for you and it's not me."

"Close the door on your way out."

"Gladly."

*-*-*-*

"Get out her Lucas before I make the fire out of you!" Brooke sing songed to Lucas as she grabbed the lighter fluid.

Lucas came out with Nathan and I. he grabbed the bottle from Brooke. "I'll do it, Pretty Girl."

"Yeah we don't need you turning this place into Hell, Davis." Nathan said as he lay on the tanning chair with me. I snuggled into his chest.

"I talked to her." Nathan whispered. "She's not going to talk to us anymore because she hates me."

"I talked to Kelsey today too. Our friendships died out. I'm actually not affected at all. How bad is that?"

"You don't need them. Friends don't last forever, no matter how much you say so or how much you want them to."

After this chapter, the storyline with Haley and her parents and things from back home will start to unfold and then end the story. Please review!