Thanks for waiting for the last chapter. There will be around six or eight chapters left of this story and then I'll finish They Call Love a Game, and then finally after that I can focus on Fences. So luckily for my faithful readers I'll be busy cranking out tons of new updates!

Song used- Blurry by Puddle of Mud. (I've been constantly listening to this song out of the blue ad it makes me think of the Haley situation in the story and with Brooke trying to help Haley with it. It also could be Nathan's thoughts, I don't know I'm beginning to ramble…

"You promise that you won't stare at the cheerleaders?" I asked Nathan again. Tonight Nathan and Lucas were going to drive to Charlotte for some basketball game. I had gotten the tickets for Nathan for Christmas and I didn't really want him leaving me right now. But, gladly I had Brooke.

Over our so called vacation, I started to break down about everything that has happened. I didn't know why all of the dark things were being leaked out now. Brooke tried to calm me down the best that she could and I knew she was trying really hard to help me. Nathan was right about Brooke. She wasn't what everyone said she was.

"I told you that I'll have all my attention to the scoreboard. I'll call you after the game all right?" Nathan was leaning against Lucas' car, while I was standing in front of him with my arms folded across me chest. He brought his hands to me waist and rubbed circles into them.

"I know but I still get frazzled about them. Have fun. I'll see you at school on Monday."

"Sounds like you're trying to get rid of me now." Nathan joked.

I got on my toes and securely wrapped my arms around his neck. "So what if I am?" I teased back.

Nathan just smiled back and covered my lips with his. "Then I guess I still love you." He lifted my chin with his finger and smiled at me. He let go when he heard the car horn sound off behind him.

Thanks a lot Lucas. I reluctantly let Nathan. I passed him and walked over to the driver's window. I tapped it and waited for Lucas. "I'm going to tell Brooke that you ruined another Naley moment." I warned him.

"You wouldn't dare." Lucas challenged me.

"Why not? It will just be me and her all weekend and it never crossed your mind that we would be talking about the two of you. You really know nothing about girls Lucas Scott."

"Hales, I think you've made your point." Nathan told me from the seat over. "We need to get going." He waved to me one last time before Lucas quickly rolled up the window so he couldn't hear me.

I turned around and walked back up to the house. Whitey was still visiting with Camilla's family so I was left alone. I was used to it often when I lived in my room whenever I was at home. I remembered being so afraid to come down the stairs at dinner because that's when my father was out of the office. I tried not to talk to him or look at his glaring stare but that even set him off at times. It became much harder when my sister died.

Neither of my parents wanted me to mention Rachel's name ever. She was the one who was supposed to be married. She was the one who was supposed to live the lifeless life that I failed to make come true myself. I let Alex go off so easily. I just let him have everything that my father wanted him to have minus me. I admitted to the fact that my father owned me. He mostly owned my fear because that is the only thing he brought out of me. After my "accident" I never really thought about any of the things that happened and now lately it was all coming back to me. It wasn't eating me up just yet. I had to prepare for that, not that a person could. The eating you alive comes later.

The nightmares started. They seemed so real even though I know that he's dead. It's always the exact same dream. This time I was about five years old and Rachel was still alive. She was watching what my father was doing and she would try to make him stop. It would be hard for a six year old to stop the hungry power of an abusive grown man. He would never touch her though and she gave up. What made her give up, I will never understand. I know that I gave up as soon as I hid under the kitchen table.

I went upstairs. it was something I've always done. I probably do it without thinking anymore.

*-*-*-*

Lucas looked over to Nathan. "Hey, I'm sorry to ambush you like this but there's someone who wants to talk to you before we leave."

"Who would want to talk to me?" Nathan shrugged. "Fine but if I die, Haley's and Brooke will both hurt you."

"Why does everyone have to hurt me? Just give the guy like five minutes."

"Whatever." Nathan looked out the window when the car stopped. "You want me to talk to him?" Nathan opened the door and walked over to the figure.

"Yo Nate, I'm sorry that I said all dat. I just hear what Luke says about your pops and I get all defensive." He said. "You're dad does know how to drive people over the edge and I just jumped to conclusions with you. Dat ain't right. Plus you did kinda scared me when you got in my face."

Nathan let out a small laugh. "It's not a problem Skills. I get where you're coming from and I was already ticked about other things anyway. Does this make us boys or something?"

"Well if you don't start talking like you ain't white, we good."

"Do I look like Tim Smith to you?"

"Nah and don't start." He chuckled. "I just wanted to get this past us and I wanted Lucas to stop pestering me."

"He can be like that. I have to get back on the road. I'll see you around I guess." Nathan turned and got back into the car.

*-*-*-*

"Hey, it's me. Do you want to come over and talk?" I asked Brooke over the phone. I couldn't be alone and think about this. It was even harder without Nathan.

"Buddy, I don't know how to help you. I'm not good with explaining things. I'd probably be of no use to you." Brooke said softy.

"I'm not asking you to be good. You being my friend is good enough. Plus, I don't want to be alone right now."

"Yeah Lucas called and said he was on the road with Nathan. Did you tell him about anything yet? He will find out you know."

"I don't what to tell him without worrying."

"He loves to worry about you. He's doing it right now. I'll be over soon and I'll try my best to be there. This is one of those complete serious girl talks. You're scaring me you know that?"

"See and that's how Nathan's going to feel."

"Hey save the talking for when I march over there."

I hung up the phone and looked around. I remember when I first came here and I studied the pictures that hung on the walls. There was one I never thought about. It wasn't on the walls. Instead it was placed behind the small TV set. I got up and picked up the dusty frame. It was them…happy. Their faces were smiling back at me. A tear rolled down my cheek as I sat on the floor with my back against the couch. They couldn't be happy. How were they ever happy?

Everything's so blurry
and everyone's so fake
and everybody's empty

and everything is so messed up

I took the frame apart and slipped out the photo. I turned it around to look at the date on the back. Lydia and Jimmy's Wedding Day, May 12th, 1984. Twenty four years ago they stood in front of people and got married. Where are all those people now and why haven't I ever heard about them? Did they know what was going to come out of this?

It wasn't how I wanted to live. I didn't need all of this coming up. When I was younger maybe I did. When Rachel died I never wanted to know.

I jumped when I heard Brooke knock on the door. I quickly scurried to hide the picture. I gave up when I knew that she would find it anyway. I walked over to the door when she threatened to break the door down. My father once broke a door down to break me down. I opened it and hid my body behind it. "Sorry, I was just spacing out."

"No you weren't. Come here," She opened her arms out to me. She squeezed me just enough to imply comfort. Brooke dropped her arms. "You've been thinking about this since the trip huh?"

"It started a little bit before the trip, but it's getting worse. I think I'm getting all the memories I once forced out of me head back. I wanted to mention something to Nathan but I just tried to be busy all the time and at night I cried for him."

Brooke closed the door and led me to the couch. She motioned me to sit down next to her. After I did, she placed the blanket, which hung over the top, across our legs. "I think you should tell Nathan when he gets back from the trip. He might be able to help you more than I can. I mean he was there. He saw what your dad did."

I nodded. I knew she was right.

pre-occupied without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl

"Don't be afraid to tell him, that's not what he wants. Nathan wants you to come to him Hales. I guess when it all comes down, I'm here. Let's face it; we don't want to see you like this. We like that big smile you get when we're just hanging out at lunch or when we go shopping. Do you love Nathan more for what he did? I heard that he killed your dad. How do you feel?"

"When Nathan first told me, I was glad. I mean really happy. Then I got scared. My father must have done something to make Nathan have to defend himself…" I started crying. "He could have killed Nathan."

"Oh no sweetie, no one will ever take Nathan from you. Do not think that way."

You could be my someone
you could be my scene
you know that i'll protect you
from all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing
imagine where you are

"Brooke I can't help it! He could have taken Nathan from me!" I shouted. I ran my hands through my hair. "Nathan was going to die." I felt Brooke bring me to her lap.

"Shh Hales," She rocked me.

I lifted up my head to see that Brooke was now crying. "Brooke I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

She shook her head. "Thank you for loving him. I'm thankful that you care about my best friend, but you need to let him care about you. He would have died for you as long as it got you out of there."

"That's what sucks. I put him in danger."

"No, he put himself in danger. Haley it was all for you. Did you ever tell how much you love him for that?"

*-*-*-*

Nathan and Lucas dropped of their bags in their hotel room. Lucas looked over to his brother. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Nathan lifted his head to answer Lucas. "Haley's not answering her cell." Nathan closed his phone.

"She's probably hanging out with Brooke and she turned out her cell so she wasn't tempted to call. You know how Brooke doesn't like to be interrupted."

"Yeah I guess you're right, you ready to head to the arena?"

"Yeah, how are you Nate? I mean since the Peyton/Haley thing?"

"It was something that shouldn't have come up. It hurt Haley and it hurt me that Peyton would do that. I don't regret how I handle it."

"By choosing Haley?"

"No by being done with Peyton and moving on with the girl who really loves me. What are you getting at?"

"Nothing, I just wanted you to complain about being away from Haley before we got to the game."

"That's a low blow Mr. Brooke Davis!"

there's oceans in between us
but that's not very far

Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it in my face
this pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it my face

*-*-*-*

I stepped out of the kitchen after I splashed some cold water on my face. I hit my emotional limit for the night but it wasn't going to let me stop. I knew I had to talk to somebody else and I just had to wait until he came home. He knows more than anyone.

"Hey, you okay now? I sort of bought a pay per view. Whitey won't mind right?" Brooke asked when I walked back in.

I sat down next to her and put the blanket back on. "This won't be the worst of his worries. What you get?"

"I've always had a thing for Heith Ledger and Jake Gyllenhal as gay cowboys."

"Brooke!" I laughed loudly.

Brooke joined in. "What will Whitey think of us now?"

"How will Nathan and Lucas think of us now?"

"Hey, we're just two friends having a great Saturday night while watching hot guys be gay. It's harmless fun. I could never do these things with Lucas. By the way, Nathan called so I turned off your phone."

"It's fine. I need to collect my thoughts anyway. Out of all people, I'm glad I cried with you. I understand that it sounds strange."

"It doesn't. Sometimes you need that kind of friend that doesn't call you a baby because you cry. I will always be that person for you."

"And I'll do it for you in return."

"Oh I don't cry."

"Hey let me give you the advice you just gave me, don't be afraid to cry." I mocked. "Plus you can't always be there for me. Nathan said that friends, no matter how much you try, do not last forever."

"Scott boys are stupid Haley."

Everyone is changing
there's noone left that's real
to make up your own ending
and let me know just how you feel
cause I am lost without you
I cannot live at all
my whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl

*-*-*-*

"Did you see that? No one I met could hang on the rim after a lay up. And I thought I was the basketball God!" Nathan said as he clapped for the Bobcats. "Man that was an amazing shot."

"You are no God. I'm so glad that you brought me."

"I wouldn't make Haley suffer through this."

Lucas shook his head and got out a pen and a napkin.

"What are you doing?"

"I've been keeping a tally on how many times you've said her name all night. You're up to fifty."

You could be my someone
you could be my scene
you know that i will save you
from all of the unclean
I wonder what you're doing
I wonder where you are
There's oceans in between us
but that's not very far

"It's no big deal Lucas. I'm just having a hard time being away from her. Don't you miss Brooke?"

"Yeah but I don't let it consume me. It's just for the weekend and I know that she's having a good time without me too."

"It's just new for me. She bought me Bobcat tickets and I never told her that they were one of my favorite teams. I didn't tell Brooke."

"You want to try and call her again?"

"I told her after the game I would. I'll just call the house phone since hers is off." Nathan put his focus back on the game. "Haley, that's fifty one."

*-*-*-*

"You were right. They are hot when they're gay." Haley told her as she yawned. "I don't want you to leave but I know you have a life to get back to."

"Haley, you will be fine. Don't let your fear control or destroy you. I'll call you in the morning to check up on you. Besides, Nathan might call again tonight." Brooke said as she grabbed a few of her things.

"Thanks again Brooke."

"Hey, no one gets to break you down." She closed the door, leaving me with the flash of the TV as my light.

It looked even creepier in the dark. Their smiles. I got up and turned every light on in the room.

Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it in my face
this pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it my face

Brooke was right. He didn't get to do this to me. He's dead. Gone. I threw the protective blanket off of me. I picked up the photo. "You aren't happy with yourselves. Cameras just force smiles. You knew that you were going to turn my life into a nightmare. I might wake up and fall back into it but, I'm your nightmare. You'll never get to wake up from it. Oh and Daddy, if you thought that hurting Nathan was going to make things alright, you were dead wrong. He loves me and that takes heart, which you obviously never considered. It took his love for me to take you down and it took Nathan to change my life." I ripped the picture in half, both still smiling. I walked over to the fire place where the team picture was placed. The fire blazed on and it reflected in my eyes and Nathan's. I tossed the two smiles into the fire and smiled myself.
Nobody told me what you thought
nobody told me what to say
everyone showed you where to turn
told you when to runaway
nobody told you where to hide
nobody told you what to say
everyone showed you where to turn
showed you when to runaway

Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it in my face
this pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it my face

This pain you gave to me

I heard the house phone ring. I walked away from the ongoing flames. "Hello?"

"Hey, I'm glad you answered. The game was amazing! How was your night?"

"Brooke and I talked about some things and then we watched Brokeback Mountain." I smiled through a few tears when I heard his laugh. "But mostly I just missed you."

"I miss you so much right now. Lucas tallied every time I said your name. I think the total is around eighty. I'm glad you're awake."

"I wasn't going to go to sleep. I was promised a phone call." I giggled. "Nathan I love you. I really really love you."

"I love you too Baby. Is everything okay with you?"

"I'll tell you when you get back. I promise. I love you Nathan Scott and I'll never take you for granted."

"I'm going to hold you to that. All those things. Sleep well tonight. I love you."

(Fading)

You take it all
You take it all away...
This pain you gave to me
You take it all away
This pain you gave to me
Take it all away
This pain you gave to me

*-*-*-*

please review! I hope you all liked it!