This is probably the worst of the storm I was talking about. Everything will be explained in time. I'll try to update soon so that you don't have to be left one this one for too long. Like I said, I'm really excited for this new storyline, so don't fear!

Yes, I did post this update and then take it down. I have a bad track record of that, I'm sorry! I just wanted to add some more details.

Thank you for all the love.

Chapter 22

Haley's smile faltered as soon as she stepped into Macey's classroom after the last bell rang, signifying that her final day of school was over.

There were parents everywhere, her own daughter was there, but she could only focus on one pair.

Nick and Katherine.

Why was Katherine picking Nick up?

Things with her and Nathan had been... Odd, but he surely would have told her about a change of plans, right?

Considering the fact that they were supposed to go back to his house for a end of the year party directly after school.

Nick looked just as confused as she did.

"Haley!" Katherine greeted, waving at her and smiling slightly. "Good to see you again."

"Hi," Haley said, nodding at her and looking down at Macey. "Hi, little one," She said, picking up her backpack and smiling.

"Hi!" Macey chirped, before looking up at Katherine curiously. "You're Nick's mom?"

"I am," Katherine confirmed, glancing down at her moping son, sighing softly.

"Where's Nathan?" Macey asked her, raising her eyebrows.

Question of the day.

Katherine let out a laugh, one that Haley interpreted as very sarcastic.

"Nathan is being grumpy right now, so he has to take a nap. I'm going to take Nicky with me for the weekend," Katherine informed her, smoothing out Nick's hair.

"I thought we were having a party," Macey said, frowning at Haley.

"It's okay, Mace, we'll have one next week," Haley assured her, letting out a deep breath. "Why don't you go tell Mrs. Baker thank you for all the hard work?"

Macey nodded, before hurrying over to Brooke.

Nick looked at Haley, letting out a sigh. "Bye Haley, I'll see you next week."

"Nick, don't you want to say goodbye to your teacher?" Katherine suggested softly, picking up his backpack.

"I already did," Nick mumbled, looking at the door. "Let's just go."

"Okay," Katherine said softly, nodding at Haley. "It was nice to see you again, Haley," She said, smiling at her.

"Yeah, you too," Haley said quickly, biting her lip.

She watched as the young boy and his mother exited the classroom.

A wave of annoyance washed over her at Nathan's flakiness. She had no idea he wasn't going to be here.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket, checking her conversation with Nathan. Over the last few days, there had been a lot more blue than there had been gray in the previous messages.

She actually had not spent time with him since Wednesday. It was so... Strange.

They'd talked, but it was different. He was different.

It broke her heart to see how sad Nick was when he left. Of course he loved Katherine, but they had a special night planned for the four of them.

It was unlike Nathan to bail on her, or to bail on Nick and Macey.

Hopefully he was alright.

She was brought from her thoughts by Macey returning to her, letting out a sigh.

"Nick left already?" Macey asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes," Haley told her, waving at Brooke when they made eye contact.

"Weird. I didn't get to say goodbye," Macey said, shrugging slightly. "Okay... Well... Let's go I guess."

Haley smiled slightly at her daughter, placing her hand on her shoulder, guiding her towards the door.

"Haley," Danielle called out as soon as they were just about to leave.

Haley let out a sigh, turning her head.

She really wasn't in the mood for this.

"Do you want to take Max and Macey to the park?" She asked her curiously, her eyebrows raising.

Haley looked down at Macey, who shrugged her shoulders, as if saying it was her call.

"Um... Sure, why not," Haley said, clearing her throat.

They didn't have anything else to do, and the two kids got along well.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad if Danielle wasn't fawning over her... Boyfriend? Not boyfriend? Whatever he was.

xxxx

"So, you'll never believe what happened?" Danielle said as they sat on the park bench, looking over at Haley.

"Hm?" Haley responded, raising her eyebrows at the woman next to her.

So far their time together had been tolerable, but it was still awkward.

"Nathan texted me this morning and asked if I wanted to get dinner with him tonight!" Danielle said, clapping her hands.

Haley felt her stomach drop, her face turning pale. "He did what?" She asked quickly, her eyes wide.

"I knew it!" Danielle said, a triumphant grin on her face. "I knew that there was something out on between you two!"

Haley's eyebrows knit together in confusion at her comment, letting out a deep breath. "What?"

"He didn't actually do that," Danielle assured her, patting her arm. "I just wanted to see your reaction."

"That was..." Haley shook her head, letting out a deep breath.

"Terrible of me, I know," Danielle said, smiling at her. "But you would've hidden it better had I said anything else. I knew you two were together."

"Together is figurative, apparently," Haley mumbled, turning her gaze to lock back on Macey.

She wasn't sure why she said it. Maybe it was the relief she'd felt from the fact that Nathan had not actually asked out the beautiful woman next to her.

"What do you mean?" Danielle asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Nothing," Haley assured, letting out a sigh. "How long have you known?"

"I suspected it since the start of the Spring Festival, when you two were arguing in Mrs. Baker's classroom," Danielle informed her, clearing her throat. "I wasn't sure of it until Nathan turned me down when we all spent time at the park. No one can resist this," She said, winking and gesturing to herself.

"It's been about a month," Haley said, letting out a deep breath.

For some reason... It felt good to finally tell someone. Brooke knew, Quinn and Clay knew, but it felt nice to tell someone outside of their little circle.

"What's the sex like?" Danielle asked, grinning at her. "Don't answer that, I'll feel to jealous."

Haley let out a laugh, shaking her head and smiling slightly.

This was certainly a different dynamic than the two have ever had before.

"He's different than you'd expect him to be in a relationship," Haley commented, clearing her throat. "He likes the mushy stuff."

"Really? If I had him, I don't know if we'd ever have time to talk-"

"Easy," Haley warned, sending her a wary smile.

"You're right. Sorry," Danielle said, clearing her throat. "Was that his ex that picked up Nick today?"

"Yes," Haley said, letting out a sigh. "She's super great. Very friendly, a good mom."

"You two looked like you get along," Danielle commented.

"We haven't interacted much, but we do," Haley said, letting out a sigh. "I can't believe you figured it out. We've been do discreet."

"Maybe physically, but anyone can see the glances," Danielle said, shaking her head.

Haley smiled slightly, crossing her arms and letting out a deep breath.

"What's wrong?" Danielle asked her, raising her eyebrows.

"Nothing... It's just..." Haley sighed, looking at Macey again. She couldn't believe the person she was about to vent to about her relationship.

"Things have been weird this week, I guess..." Haley finished, tucking her hair behind her ear. "We had plans today with Nick and Macey and he sent Nick's mom to come pick him up without even telling me."

"Oh, wow," Danielle said, frowning slightly.

"Yeah, and he's been kind of distant the past couple of days," Haley commented, shaking her head. "We usually go to lunch every day, but he's been texting me like fifteen minutes before and saying he can't go. I mean, it's only been today and yesterday but still."

"Did something happen?" Danielle asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Sort of," Haley said, rolling her eyes. "It wasn't a big deal, but apparently he's making it into one. I asked if we could pick up the kids together, take one car, since I'd pretty much be leaving from his place and then taking Macey back there, and he got all weird about it."

"Oh," Danielle said, shaking her head. "That is strange. That he'd say no, and that he'd still be freaking out about it."

"Right? And I know it's not just a physical thing between us, there's definitely feelings and emotions involved, but it just makes me feel weird that he'd freak out enough that he'd hardly talk to me for two days," Haley said, letting out a deep breath.

It felt good to get this all off her chest.

"He looks at you like you hold the world, Haley," Danielle assured her, shaking her head. "Don't doubt that."

"If he wanted it to be only physical, he should've just told me. I don't think I would have done it, but now I'm involved. I really like him, and he's told me the same... Why is it such a big deal? We go pick up the kids anyways and bring them back to the same place. Why does it matter if we do it together?" Haley said, letting out a sigh.

"I think he's blowing this way out or proportion, but it would be kind of confirming everyone's suspicions about you two," Danielle said, clearing her throat.

"But is that so bad?" Haley asked her, shaking her head.

"Not at all. If I were dating a hot woman like you, I'd want the whole world to know," Danielle said, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe you should address it head on."

"He's not ashamed, right? There's gotta be something else... Right?" Haley said, looking at her and raising her eyebrows.

"No way, Haley. That's not it. He has no reason to be ashamed... You're perfect," Danielle assured her, rubbing her arm lightly.

"There's more going on," Haley agreed, nodding her head. "He'll figure it out soon, I hope," She said softly.

"He will. But I still think you should talk to him," Danielle said, clearing her throat. "Speaking from someone who has had a failed marriage due to lack of communication, of course."

"You're right. I'm going to talk to him," Haley said, nodding and letting out a deep breath. "Macey is just going to be asking about Nick all night though."

"Those two are inseparable, aren't they?" Danielle said, smiling slightly. "Cute kids."

"She always wants to be around him," Haley said, shaking her head.

"Hopefully they get into the same class next year," Danielle said, nodding her head.

"Nathan and I discussed requesting it, but we never did anything," She hummed, leaning back and letting out a deep breath. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Danielle said, nodding at her.

"Why did you invite me here with you? We aren't really friends, in fact, I didn't think you even liked me," Haley said, shrugging her shoulders.

"You looked like you needed to talk to someone. Well, really you looked like you could use a drink, but I didn't think I could help you with that at three o'clock with our kids around," Danielle laughed, smiling at her.

"Well... I appreciate it," Haley said softly, letting out a deep breath.

"Anytime," Danielle responded, clearing her throat. "I still don't like you though."

Haley laughed, nodding her head. "The feeling is mutual."

xxxx

Haley let out a deep breath as she pulled up to her house and saw the car that was parked in her driveway.

Nathan's car. Great.

It was nearing eight o'clock. She'd had a surprisingly good time with Danielle and Max. So much so, that Max had asked if Macey could stay the night there.

Haley had begrudgingly agreed, part of her wanting Macey to spend the night so she could grovel on her own, and the other part of her wanting to stay with her as a distraction.

But it looked like she wasn't going to have to be alone tonight.

She pulled her car past his, into the garage and let out a sigh.

Okay.

Haley got out slowly, seeing Nathan do the same.

Instead of greeting him, she walked past him to her mailbox.

He waited patiently at his car for her, watching as she grabbed the mail and headed inside once again.

She could feel him trailing behind her.

She almost smiled as he stopped to close her garage after he failed to do so.

As soon as she got inside, she dropped her mail on the kitchen counter, and turned around to look at him quickly.

"What, Nathan?" Haley asked, her eyebrows raised.

"I want to talk," He said, clearing his throat.

"Now you want to talk?" She asked him, letting out a laugh. "Did your phone die? I've been texting you all afternoon."

"No," He answered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Great," She said, letting out a sigh. "What's going on, Nathan? We had plans, and then you send Katherine to pick up Nick without telling me?"

"Where's Macey?" He asked, frowning slightly.

"How about you answer my question before you ask your own?" Haley replied, raising her eyebrows at him. "She's at Danielle's house. I spent the afternoon with Danielle. Crazy Danielle that hates me and tried to date you."

"That's... Strange," Nathan said, raising his eyebrows at her response.

"You know what's strange, Nathan? She found out about us, and the world didn't end," Haley said, sending him a tight smile.

"Oh," Nathan said, rubbing his neck and letting out a sigh.

"You know, I actually talked to her, and she's was very easy to talk to," Haley informed him, letting out a deep breath. "I actually told her that I thought you were going to end things, and she said that I was crazy. Because you look at me like I'm your everything."

Nathan froze at her words, his breathing seemed to stop.

Realization dawned on Haley. Maybe her instincts weren't far off after all.

"Oh. You are going to end things," Haley said, her voice flat.

She shocked herself by her tone. There was no waiver, or anger. She felt angry. She felt like she wanted to cry. But she wasn't going to show emotion in front of him. He didn't deserve it at that moment.

She was going to stand tall and strong, and keep her head high. She was going to ignore the fact that she thought they were headed towards something great.

"Haley..." Nathan began, letting out a deep breath.

"Save it," Haley said, biting her lip.

She couldn't believe this was happening. It felt like a dream. This Nathan was different from her Nathan had the beginning of the week.

This Nathan was an asshole.

"I think it's better that we end things now, before we're in too deep," He said quickly, despite her telling him to not speak.

"In too deep?" She let out a sarcastic laugh, rolling her eyes. "I think it's a little late for that, Nathan."

"Haley, I want to say that-"

"I don't want an excuse. I don't want you apologies. I just want the truth," She cut him off.

"I don't want to hurt Nick, or Macey," He said quietly, shaking his head. "I can't do this anymore."

"Hurt Nick? Hurt Macey? Do you think this isn't going to hurt them?" Haley asked, scowling at him.

"It might not make sense to you, but it's what I have to do to protect him," Nathan said quickly, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm sorry."

"You are such a..." Haley couldn't even find the words to describe him right now.

"I know," He said, nodding at her. "I'm an asshole. But I can't do this to him, Haley. I moved here for work. Not for a relationship."

"Well, I was already in too deep," She replied, crossing her arms defensively and looking away.

She needed to focus on something, anything besides him.

Because he kept talking, but she didn't want to listen. She wasn't listening.

Her heart was breaking. Maybe she was a little more involved in Nathan that even she thought.

He was such a jerk. How dare he be such a coward. His excuse was lame. Not wanting to hurt Nick? She didn't want Nick or Macey to be hurt either, but he didn't even consider the alternative.

They were a month into their relationship. Things were going well until two days ago. The alternative? They get married and two best friends become siblings? Did the thought of something more serious with her even cross his mind?

She found something to focus on. But it was more out of shock than anything else.

Wilson and Wrights Publishing.

What the hell was that?

Haley reached for it quickly, causing Nathan to stop talking out of the confusion due to the fact that she was opening her mail.

Haley looked over at him after she read it again, watching as his eyes trailed down to the name on the envelope.

He didn't look as confused as she did.

"Open it," He said quickly, swallowing and shifting on his feet.

"What the hell is this, Nathan?" She snapped at him, her eyes quickly shifting to him, them back down to the envelope.

If she thought she'd been angry at him before... That was an understatement.

Now she was furious. She didn't care that he was dumping her for the dumbest reason known to man. She cared that he'd done one of the things she'd asked him not to do.

"Open it," He said again, letting out a deep breath.

Haley stepped towards him, shoving it into his chest so hard that it actually made him stumble back a little bit. "What did you do?"

He looked at her, but didn't say anything.

Haley knew exactly what he did. But it confused her why he didn't look ashamed.

"Tell me what you did," Haley said, feeling her body shake with rage.

"You left your laptop open on your bed one day when you went to pick up Macey and Nick and I read what you have of your book," He told her, letting out a deep breath. "You're incredibly talented, Haley. I couldn't let that waste away. I didn't tell anyone about it. I just sent what you had in. Not to Luke's publisher, just a random one."

Haley pulled her hand away from the envelope, letting it fall, but he caught it quickly.

She couldn't believe what he'd just said.

The nerve.

"I think it's time you leave," Haley said calmly, feeling her voice shake lightly. "And take that with you because I don't want it."

"Take a risk, Haley! Do something brave for once!" Nathan argued with her, shaking his head. "Do you always want to be stuck at the same job? One that you don't even like? Whether this is a rejection letter, or an acceptance letter, you should read it."

"You did exactly what I asked you not to do. You did what you promised me you wouldn't do," Haley said, glaring up at him.

"No, I didn't. I didn't tell anyone about it. I just wanted to prove to you that you can do this," He said, shaking his head and looking down at her. "You don't believe in yourself. You're letting your own talents go to waste, and I couldn't stand to see it after I read what you'd written."

"Stop talking," Haley said, stepping away from him and shaking her head.

"I did it for you," He attempted, letting out a deep breath.

"I don't want to hear it, Nathan," She said, shaking her head.

"Haley, think about what I just said? Do you really want to be writing cat food jingles for the rest of your life? What you have is great, and the world deserves to read it," He said quickly, frowning at her.

Her head was spinning. She felt her anxiety begin to rise. If he didn't leave, she was going to have a panic attack.

This was all too much for her. The break-up, and now this within the span of a few minutes. She couldn't handle it.

He'd promised to keep her secret. Maybe it didn't seem like a big deal to him, but to her it was everything.

What did he expect to come from this? Her to jump into his arms?

Hell, what did he expect from any of this? Breaking up with her? She'd say okay and they'd still be fine? No. He was being selfish.

She wasn't going to let him get away with any of this.

"Get out," Haley said, pointing at the front door. "I'm done with you, Nathan. You said you don't want to hurt Nick or Macey? Well you just did. I don't want to see you anymore. You broke my heart, you broke my trust, and I don't want to deal with it or you anymore. So get out."

For the first time, she saw a real sadness in Nathan's eyes. One that almost made her take back her words. But she didn't.

This wasn't her problem anymore. This was all on him.

He stepped past her, setting the envelope back on the countertop with a deep breath. "Bye, Haley," He said softly.

Just like that, he was gone.

And Haley could finally crumple.

She slid down to the ground, moving so she was underneath the bar, her back against the wood.

She pulled her knees to her chest, squeezing her eyes shut.

Nathan Scott wasn't what everyone said he was. He was a coward. He jumped at the first sign of commitment, and he'd brought everything crashing and burning down with him.

But thoughts like that didn't take the pain away.

She wasn't sure if anything would take it away.

A thought crossed her mind that sent her spiraling even further.

What was she going to tell Macey?