AN-You all seriously made me tearful with all of the nice comments you leave, especially when I am such a big doubter of my own writing ability and often question if it is good enough. Just the fact that everyone likes my story and looks forward to updates is more then I can possibly tell you. It means a great deal to me that I get so much support. THANK YOU!!

Ashley, my angel. You have helped me tremendously and I thank you as well!!

Now, about this chapter. I felt that I went a bit off track with the whole story of Jake being Haley's best friend, so hopefully this and the chapters to come will make up for that mistake a little. This chapter is all Jaley.

Chapter 37

Best Friend Blues

Haley had fled school like she originally wanted to after her impromptu classroom kiss with Nathan. What the hell was happening to her? She found herself being more and more sucked up into her feelings for Nathan. What she felt for him was beginning to control her every thought, her every emotion. He was it for her, her heart, her soul. She just wished she was that for him.

"So you into cutting school now?" Jake said standing above her. Haley had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't even realize Jake had entered let alone was looking down on her from his standing position.

"Yeah, I figured I would see what it was like to be you. You know, fail a couple of classes and I would be straight on my way to Jakeville," she laughed.

"Well I see you still haven't lost that smartass mouth of yours," he said plopping next to her on the bed.

"Never, I probably will always be the annoying little best friend you know and love."

"You're not annoying," he said. "A brat, but definitely not annoying," he said as Haley gave him a pout.

"I don't like you," she laughed.

"Yeah, well I love you," Jake smiled brightly at her.

"Right. What are you dong here anyway? Shouldn't you be in class still?" she asked.

"Can't a guy just come see his friend?" he asked as Haley looked at him knowingly. "Fine, a certain blonde may have been worried about you all day. I volunteered to check on you," he said admitting to being there for Peyton. But it was definitely not the only reason, he was worried as well.

"So you are only here because my sister sent you?" she asked. "Gee, thanks."

"Hales, you know it's not like that," he said pulling her into his side. "I would have come anyway. We're worried about you…both of us. You just seem so unlike your self recently."

"Jake, you are my best friend right?" she asked with her face buried into his chest causing her words to come out mumbled.

"Forever," he promised.

"Anything I tell you will stay between us right…you wouldn't tell a soul, not even Peyt?" she asked.

Jake eyed her wondering what she could possibly have to tell him if it needed to stay between the two of them. "I wouldn't tell a soul, kid," he said. "Whatever you tell me stays right here in this room." Haley kissed his cheek before putting her head back into his chest before she spoke.

"I did something Jake, something that I know you will be disappointed about. I never meant to hurt anyone, it's just that I felt my heart leading me to some place that I shouldn't be. It doesn't mean what I did was right."

"Ok, what did you do Hales? I'm sure it can't be that bad," Jake said.

Haley swallowed the big lump in her throat trying to prepare herself for Jake's big blowup. She knew he would love her no matter what, but the thought of letting him down frightened her very much.

"I slept with Nathan," she whispered feeling as if a big weight was lifted off her shoulders. She felt Jake's body tense but he had yet to speak which worried her. "Jake, I am sorry," she began crying. "I know it was a terrible thing to do. I won't blame you if you hate me," she said wiping her tears.

Jake didn't say anything as he wrapped his arms tightly around her comforting her in her obvious time of need. Of all things for Haley to confess to him, this by far was the last thing he ever expected to come out of her mouth. He wouldn't dare turn his back on her for any reason. If it was one thing he knew about his best friend, she would never take such a big step in her life without having a reason. Haley was the most level headed person he knew, for her to just make this big decision she must of have had her reasons.

"You hate me, don't you?" she sniffled.

"No, I don't hate you," he said kissing her head. "I could never hate you."

"What am I going to do Jake? How can I ever make things right?"

"I don't know, but I will help you Hales, in any way that I can," Jake said." If you don't mind me asking, how did this happen? When did this happen?"

"In Charlotte, it happened in Charlotte. The night of the party...I found out something and before I tell you this Jake, promise me that you won't go crazy."

"Come on, have I gone crazy yet?" he joked getting a little laugh from Haley.

"I saw Riley kissing Theresa," she told him.

"That bastard. I'll kick his ass," Jake said.

"No Jake, you promised," she said trying to calm him down.

"That was before I knew what that ass did to you."

"Please," she begged. "You wanted to know what went down, I'm telling you."

"Fine," he agreed.

"Ok, so Nathan was with me, and of course after nearly beating Riley to a pulp, I finally convinced him to back off. We went back to my room, he comforted me. One thing just led to another and before I knew it things were just too intense to stop," she admitted. "I didn't want to stop, Jake. I have wanted to be with him for so long. I knew I was hurting Brooke, betraying everything that I ever believed in. I love him, I do. As much as I fought against it Jake, it's there. He's in my soul. I've tried so hard to deny what my heart has been telling me forever. I ruined things so much."

"What does Nathan want Haley? Does he want to be with you?" Jake asked.

"He says he loves Brooke. I can live with that, I really can. It's probably what I deserve after what I've done," she said sounding so lost. "But today he pulls me into a room at school and he kisses me, I am so confused." she cried.

"It's not what you deserve Haley. You can't keep doing this to yourself. Holding in what you feel is not the way to go, it will eat you alive. You should talk to him," Jake said.

"I can't, what do I say," she wondered.

"The truth...it shall set you free."

"Jake he doesn't want the truth. He doesn't want to hear that I am in love with him," she cried. "What will he think? Maybe I'm just being stupid," she said.

"You're not stupid. He needs to hear it Haley, whether he's ready for it or not," Jake said. "Decisions need to be made. As much as neither of you seem to want to make them, both of you need to. It just doesn't affect you two, Brooke has a stake in this as well. Go to him Hales, air it all out."

"I'm scared Jake," she admitted. "I don't think I can do it."

"You can Hales. You are one of the strongest people I know, you can do this," he encouraged.

Haley knew Jake was right. This was the only way that she could gain any peace in her life. She had to tell Nathan everything she felt no matter how frightening it was. She could never feel free unless her conscience was clear of any hidden feelings that she had buried for so long. Nathan had to know her truth and soon she would tell him all of it, only she had no clue that he already knew.

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UP NEXT- A decision is made by Nathan.

Haley makes a confession, but who does she confess something to?