Back with Chapter 3 - I have decided to date the flashbacks alongside the current time in the story just so no one gets confused. Thanks for showing interest in this story and reviewing 😊

⁛Chapter 3⁛

October 2013

Haley narrowly missed the red paper cup being flung in her direction as herself and Brooke made it through the narrow hallways of the frat house.

'Well this puts our high school ragers to shame.' Brooke said eying the couples getting rather physically inquisitive with each other in every corner, a whole lot of clothing less body shots and god could these groupies put her slut drop to shame.

It was the official start of the basketball season at Duke University and of course the Blue Devils were celebrating a winning game against the Tar Heels. You could easily get drunk on the hysteria of it all without a sip of alcohol in a place like this.

But once they came upon them the first thing she realised was that they were certainly not high on the hysteria alone. Nathan was drunk.

Haley shook her head. It was only near 9pm and he was drunk. Lucas looked no better as he yelled at the girls with glassy eyes.

Haley and Brooke squirmed in between the groupies hanging off the Scott brothers.

'Hey what do you think you're doing?' One of the girls snipped. 'You're not even a cheerleader.'

'I am and she's with me.' Brooke snapped. 'So if I were you I'd move before my heel…'

'Woah easy there Brooke it's all fun here.' Nathan slurred with a smirk as one of the girls hung off him.

'You guys know Rachel right?'

'Yea we're on the cheerleading team.' Rachel replied easily smiling at Brooke before fixing her gaze on Haley. 'We haven't met.'

'That's Haley, we're best friends.'

'Oh that' so kindergarten.' Rachel teased her nails digging into Nathan's arm.

'More like since kindergarten' Haley countered rather feistily much to Brooke's surprise.

'That's so sweet.' Rachel said in a way that was anything but sweet.

'Nathan, can we talk for a minute?' Haley said.

He nodded smirking lazily as he followed her outside.

'Are you okay?' She said turning around as soon as they stepped out into the back garden.

'Yea sure Hales. I'm just having fun, aren't you having fun?'

She smiled at his sloppiness, it was always quite humouress to see him like this but there was something there behind his eyes that she was worried about. Still, she knew it just wasn't fair to call him out on it now.

So she did the only thing she could in that moment and hugged him.

'What's this for?' His body was swaying and a little clumsily against hers.

'For tonight, you were amazing out there.' Haley said against him.

'Did you see the game?'

'I managed to catch the highlights but I knew you'd be amazing anyway, it's kind of my job to believe that.' She smiled as she pulled away from him.

'Well at least one of us does.' He mumbled.

She frowned, his words only latching onto her own worry for him.

'Nathan…' She began.

He put up his hands shaking his head wearily. 'It's nothing, look tonight's just about having fun…so I'm gonna go back in there and chat to all of them cheerleaders and drink and have fun…'

'Yea I think you said that…' Haley said smiling at him, he could be such a goof sometimes.

He smiled back at her.

'Look I'm gonna go…' Haley said. 'But if you need me..'

'I think I might be too busy having fun.'

Haley just giggled at that giving him a playful shove. 'We both know it won't be the same without me.'

'Didn't think you were into threesomes Hales.' He teased her.

'Nathan...' She whacked him again.

He began to tickle her.

'Na….Nathan…..st stop…' Haley got out between laughs as a throat clearing had the pair standing back up.

'Nathan we're about to do a keg stand and seen as you scored that winning shot you're lucky number one.' Rachel positively flirted as she eyed the pair.

Nathan in his typsy state found the whole thing rather exciting. Haley just rolled her eyes at him smiling when he said 'Night Hales.' He gave her a rather sloppy grin and walked back inside.

'Childhood nicknames and all.' Rachel said in a tone that was more so snipey than friendly.

'Look I don't really know you but have you got a problem?' Haley said never being one to not stand her ground.

'Oh no, I don't have a problem.' She said easily. 'I'm just wondering how this is going to pan out for you, I mean I already know three quarters of the squad trying to get Nathan Scott in their beds or hell even in their cars by the end of tonight and that's not even with including myself in that list.'

'So let them.' Haley said not really sure why this girl was trying to create a problem with her out of this.

'You're really that kind of friend?' Rachel scoffed.

'Yea, I am. We're really close, have been since we were kids that's it.'

Rachel gave her a look like she wasn't buying it.

Haley just shook her head, she didn't even know this girl. 'Look I don't even know why I'm explaining myself to you, I don't even know you.' She reasoned. 'I've got to get going.' Haley said semi-politely but internally aggrieved as she scooted past the red-haired girl.

⁛

Haley frowned as the rapping against her door got louder, a very distinctive rapping at that.

She threw the covers off as her feet padded across the carpet towards her dorm door. 'I'm surprised you remember that knock given how many times you must have got on that keg stand.'

'Just the once…' He said holding up two fingers which made Haley laugh regardless as he slipped into her room. 'I knew there was no Brooke here because she's still at the frat party with Lucas and I don't think she'll be coming back.'

Haley rolled her eyes as she sat back into her bed watching as Nathan slumped down on Brooke's one opposite her. 'What are those two doing?'

'I don't think they know themselves and they definitely didn't tonight.' He sighed running a hand over his face.

'I got with Rachel.' He said then as he sat up leaning his elbows on his knees.

'Well I hope you used a condom.' Haley deadpanned.

'I didn't sleep with her…we just…we fooled around I guess.'

'So you had fun?' Haley teased.

'Maybe. I don't know.' Nathan sighed. 'Not really.' He tugged on the raven ends of his hair.

'Nathan…' Haley hedged softly then as his face contorted in distress. The highs of earlier were slowly ebbing away from him.

'He called after the game.' He told her then.

Haley closed her eyes with a sigh before opening them again. She knew it. She bloody knew it. Dan couldn't just give him his first night of success without weighing in with his no doubt belittling observations. He couldn't even give him that.

'I'm sorry Nathan.' She said before he even said anymore, they both knew at this stage what that call entailed.

'It's nothing I haven't heard before.' He shrugged like it was no big deal but the way he was slumped down on that bed it was like an invisible weight was pressing him to the mattress.

'That doesn't make it any easier and it doesn't mean it has any less of an impact.'

Nathan didn't say anything, she could literally see the pain play across his features, whatever narrative was spinning inside of his head she wanted to stop before he let it progress too far.

'Come here.' Haley said softly.

'I'm fine.'

'Come over here.' She said unrelenting then smiling softly as he pulled his form up off the bed and came over to her. At least after a few drinks it was much easier to break his stubborn side. Actually it was rather non-existent, he didn't have the energy to uphold it.

As soon as he reached her bedside she had her arms thrown around him, despite the awkwardness of the angle and his tall frame somehow it seemed to fit for them.

'What if it's always going to be like this?' Nathan said quietly.

Haley frowned at his words as she pulled away, he wasn't looking at her, his gaze bore holes into their carpeted floor.

'I was fooling myself thinking I could just come here and be away from it all and that I was done with him and all his crap….'

Her hand came up to rub his shoulder. 'You weren't fooling yourself, you were just trying to find some way out of a really intense situation. You are away from it Nathan physically but it's going to take time to distance yourself emotionally too, that's where he has the most hold on you…I can see it…'

'I know.' He said softly as his eyes finally met hers.

His pain literally caused her own, it had always been that way between them. She rested her head against his shoulder. 'It will get easier and on the days it isn't you've got me and Luke, even your mom. You're not his property anymore Nathan.'

'I'm sorry for dumping all this on you..'

'You could never dump anything on me.' Haley reminded him with a nudge of a shoulder. 'But say if you happened to dump a little one time…' She began

Nathan just chuckled his shoulder shaking beneath her at her silliness.

'Then perhaps I could do some dumping of my own.' Haley mused.

'Oh no Hales…' Nathan whined already knowing where this was going. 'I already told you I'm not swapping daddy issues for your relationship problems.'

'It's not relationship problems and you didn't even ask me.' She scoffed pulling away from him. 'I was actually wondering how many times a day do guys think about sex?'

Nathan blanched from her sudden change in topic and giving the topic itself he stared her right down as he said the words. 'Is he pressuring you?'

Haley rolled her eyes slapping him on the shoulder. 'Relax no..he hasn't even said the big bad word….what if I actually want to fool around? You know like you did…'

'Ugh Haley….' Nathan grimaced.

'What you get to say it around me…'

'That's different.'

'How so?' She said petulantly.

He slumped back down against her bed rubbing his tired eyes. 'Because I think you deserve more than fooling around with some punk musician…that's how so.'

'Well maybe I think you deserve more than some cheerleader but I'm not here judging you about it.'

'You are now.' He chuckled.

She rolled her eyes deciding to annoy him even further. 'So how often do you think about it?'

He groaned. 'Haley I'm too tired for this.'

'No mister you're the one that came here waking me up in the middle of the night because you couldn't sleep.'

'You said you weren't asleep.'

'Stop being a smart ass.' Haley said hitting him across the stomach.

'Ow Haley…' He told her off.

She huffed.

Same old story with them.

'Not that much okay?' He gave in hoping it would close the case for good. Sure they talked about everything but sex wasn't something they delved in all too often. It was just weird.

'Not that much.' Haley scoffed. 'It says in this magazine you think about it every 3 seconds.'

'So why did you ask me?'

'Is it every 3 seconds?'

'Haley I just want to go to bed.'

'Well you're not sleeping here.'

'Like I want to sleep in the same bed as you now when you're on about that..'

'What you can't even say the word now?' Haley said highly amused. 'Gosh if three quarters of the cheerleading team could hear that?'

'What are you talking about?'

'Oh you had to be there.' Haley said as she got back in under the covers. 'Nathan…' she whined unable to sink into the covers with the way he was thrown across the outside of the beds. 'Are you getting in?'

'Hmm…' He groaned obviously falling asleep.

'If you fall asleep there I'm going to kick you…'

'Oh I'm scared.'

'Nathan..'

He chuckled sleepily as he pulled himself off the bed. 'I miss your double.' He joked as he scooted in beside her sandwiching Haley against the wall. 'I think I'm getting too tall for this now.'

Haley smiled closing her eyes as he mumbled on about his height and how they really couldn't squish into a single bed anymore. It was rather funny, they were still like a pair of kids sometimes. The comfort from it was everything to her though.

'Hales…'

'Hm…' She said feeling sleep take over her now.

'He's not pressuring you is he?'

She smiled at his concern. 'No he's not I promise.'

'Is he threatening you?' She whispered softly then.

'Empty threats Hales, like always.'

She sighed softly. 'I miss us.'

'We're right here.'

'I know, I just it's all changing so fast.'

'Go to sleep you knucklehead.' He teased her chuckling as Haley slapped him and mumbled under her breath what a brat he was for not joining in her sentimental moment. He just smiled as sleep finally overcame him.

August 2018

Haley tossed and turned against the soft durability of the new mattress, an unusual twist of fresh bed linen and sawdust assailing her scenes. It really was a beginning for Brooke and Lucas and it was a strange feeling lying here amidst that when her past was screaming down the hall.

Sighing she threw back the light cotton bed linen and padded out quietly not wanting to stir anyone. She had half a mind to walk home and even though she was in what had always been her safe haven grown up, life had thought her that even walking the avenues of Tree Hill at night was too much of a risk.

Haley padded into the dark kitchen about to seek out the cupboard where Brooke and Lucas stored the glasses before she noticed the bright azure blue light highlighting the shadows of their open planned living room.

Haley went over to the sliding door. Even though it was late August the stuffiness of the night made it feel like mid-June. She stepped out and there he was. He seemed troubled and Nathan was never a boy to be victimised by the night but maybe now as a man he was. Still this wasn't him.

She frowned as she noticed the beer can in his hands. He hadn't drank all evening from what she'd seen so the sight of him sitting here at 3.17 a.m. with a can in his hands left her feeling unsteady.

Maybe it was because she was here. After all these past 24 hours had done a number on her. Still she felt she didn't hold that place in his life anymore, she didn't think she could affect him the way he could her.

'What are you doing here?'

'I couldn't go home. Brooke and Lucas drank.' She gave him the obvious answer not sure she could handle anymore deep truths when it came to them tonight.

'What are you doing here?' He repeated again.

She frowned crossing her arms over herself.

'I told you Nathan.'

'I know you did. It just doesn't add up, you sticking around especially when things are bad.'

'That's not fair.'

'It's just an observation.' Nathan said impersonally as he sipped on the drink.

Everything about him was so remote. It's not like she deserved his warmth but the austerity was in ways more agonising than the years apart from him.

'Let me guess you already told her and she made this observation…' Haley quipped fighting for herself, lord knows she had done it enough times when it came to them.

'What are you talking about?' Nathan said baffled.

'Rachel.' Haley said not backing down now. He stiffened at her words.

'Rachels not here Haley.' He said coolly. 'And I think I've a bit more on my mind than just ringing her up to tell her about you.'

'It used to be one of your favourite pastimes.' The words left her mouth before she even realised, hurt consuming her now and twisting to this bitterness that was seeping out of her.

The look he gave her could have cut through her but she looked away before it did. She wondered if his eyes would ever take on that gorgeous cerulean shade again. Now they just seemed to mirror the vast dark ocean.

'Why would you even bring that up?' He snipped at her like she was a naughty child.

'Oh I don't know maybe cause I'm the queen of starting things and then walking away. So let's finish it Nathan….just in case it's what another 3 years until we do this again?..'

'Whose fault is that?' He bolted up.

They looked each other on steadily neither backing down from each other.

'We're both at fault.' Haley said then.

'You left.'

'You didn't find me.' She countered.

'I called you..'

'And when I lifted the phone you didn't speak…'

Nathan turned away from her. Haley sighed.

'Yea well maybe I had nothing to say to you anymore.' He lied.

'Nathan…' She began.

He put his hand up as if he couldn't take anymore. 'I'm not doing this Haley, let's face it this is the most we've talked in 3 years and it's because you had to come back here.'

'What about you?'

'What about me?' He said deflecting her question.

'Why are you back here?'

'It doesn't matter. You know what, none of this matters.' He lied as he walked past her without another word and went back inside.

XXXXX

'You being out here all morning?' Brooke said softly as she came upon Haley's small figure sitting huddled on the top step of the balcony, the light cotton sheet wrapped around her.

'I didn't really sleep.' Haley admitted half-heartedly.

Brooke sunk to the step beside her, the two girls sat breathing in the morning air.

'You know I've an album full of songs on this scatty notebook..' Haley sighed wearily. 'I used to do the odd song, very low key in this bar Quinn's husband owned. And I'd play John Mayor to my heart's content….'

Brooke smiled as she listened.

'Until last week I decided I was going to get up on stage and sing one of my own. I don't know where it came from, it was like this urge inside of me and I just had to go with it….so I decided I would and that was the night my mum called about dad…' Haley admitted as Brooke gave her a comforting nudge.

'What was the song about?' Brooke asked.

'Nathan.' Haley said softly.

'You know we're looking out for you right?' Brooke said speaking on Lucas' behalf too.

'I've always known that.' Haley said quietly. 'Sometimes I feel you and Lucas were so adamant standing by both of us separately that the memory of us all just ceased to exist…'

'What do you mean?'

'You and Lucas lost something too you know..'

'We did but the hardest part has being watching you both fall apart separately.' Brooke admitted softly.

Haley closed her eyes painfully. There was no point denying it any further, she had fell apart and as much as she wished he hadn't - in some way Nathan must have too.

'We each had a piece of you and Nathan knowing you had nothing of each other anymore. It was hard.' She admitted.

'I caused so much pain.' Haley whispered.

'You were in pain. You both were and living back there won't change that, you deserve to let go of that loss…'

'That loss being Nathan and I or…'

'Whatever way you want to look at it I guess, sorry if that's not helpful.' Brooke said as she gave her a sad smile. 'Maybe it's all connected.'

'I can't let him go Brooke, I've been trying and failing miserably for 4 years.'

'Is Rachel here?' Haley asked softly then.

Brooke immediately went from comforting friend to reactive mode. 'God know, why would …she, that bitch wouldn't dare set foot in my house..'

'But Nathan…I just figured she was…' Haley stammered.

Brooke's eyes widened. 'You don't know?'

'Know what?' Haley said impatiently catching the look of recognition on Brooke's face as she realised just how out of the loop Haley was.

Brooke bugged out as she pulled herself off the step. 'Haley this really isn't my place…' That just sparked Haley off as she pulled herself up from the step too.

'No. Brooke don't do that.' She said frustrated with the same brush off Nathan had been given her. 'Ok I expect it from Nathan but not from you…what's going on?'

'Haley…'

'Why is no one telling me what's going on around here?'

'Haley…' Brooke attempted just as Nathan stepped back onto the patio. 'Will you two stop shouting?' He gruffed annoyed Haley was still here.

'Oh look perfect timing maybe you can tell me.'

'Tell you what?'

'I'm sorry I thought she knew..' Brooke said as she slipped back inside, cowardly maybe, but she'd done enough on Nathan's behalf and he was the one that said Haley would find out in her own time. She hadn't and now that conversation was on him.

'Are you here because you and Rachel broke up?' Haley found the courage to ask him then, putting the pieces together in her head. It made sense something like that would drive him back to Tree Hill, that and the fact she hadn't seen sight of the overt red head since she'd got here.

'No.' Nathan said tightly. All he wanted to do was tell Haley to get out of here but he was backed into a corner, she was going to find out somehow. And it's not like he was hiding it, right now it was the least of his worries. 'We broke up two years ago.' He said disinterested.

Her mouth dropped open, it looked like she was going to speak, she stuttered a little before she closed her mouth again. Complete and utter silence.

'You can smile now.' Nathan quipped.

'What do you mean…2 years…' Haley stuttered ignoring his comment.

'Look Haley I don't particularly want to start my day rehashing that part of my life with you of all people so if you don't mind..' He didn't even give her the chance to stall him as he walked back inside coming out moments later to find her in the exact same position.

Nathan tugged at the joyful dog before he could even bound over to Haley as he passed by her without so much as a second glance as he walked off the deck.

She needed to get away from here, too much was hitting her and it was coming at her hard and fast. Sighing realising her bag was still in the bedroom inside Haley stepped back in through the patio door where the atmoshpere in the room felt highly uncomfortable.

'Stay for breakfast..' Lucas said trying to dispel the unsettledness.

'Thanks but I really should get going, I need to be at the hospital.' Haley said softly as she went down towards the room she left her belongings in.

Lucas gave Brooke a look at her words. 'Her dad is sick.' Brooke supplied.

'And you didn't think to tell me that…' Lucas whispered at her.

Brooke rolled her eyes. 'Are we really going to play the who didn't tell what card now given the boy that's just stormed out of here and the girl that's close to crying down in that room..' Brooke mumbled back.

Haley eyed the pair curiously catching their heated whispers as she stepped back into the room.

'Haley I'm sorry about your dad…'

Haley just nodded. 'It's ok, he's coming around..' She said. 'I should get going though. Thanks for letting me stay…'

'Haley…' Brooke stopped her as she made her way to the door.

'Brooke you don't owe me anything. In fact I shouldn't have snapped at you..'

'You've a lot going on.' Brooke noted.

'Still you guys have stood by me through everything. I was just blindsided that's all…'

'Look without bringing it all up, there was a lot going on at the time when they broke up. Aside from that we figured you might hear from your mum.'

Lucas' ambiguity only concerned Haley further. He was never one to shy away from the truth.

And she was at a dead end here, she was well aware for some time she had to place herself on the side-lines of their lives - she was naïve to think that she wouldn't be left there.

'Can I ask you guys one thing because I can't ask Nathan.'

Brooke only hoped it wasn't why.

'Is it over for good this time?' Haley questioned.

'It's over for good.' Lucas said with completely certainty.

XXXXX

Nathan bent down unlocking the leash from his collar and Marley bounded up ahead of him onto the porch steps where Brooke was currently sitting with her cup of coffee.

He didn't say a word as he came past her and shook the sand out from his runners.

'She's gone.' Brooke said. Nathan still didn't say anything.

'Are you mad at me?'

'No.' Nathan said. 'She was gonna find out. I kind have figured she already had.' Nathan said as he threw the towel over their wooden decking to dry out.

Brooke continued to pet the pup. 'Did you know about her dad?'

'She told me.' Nathan said as he leant over the railing. 'It's why she's' here.'

Silence carried between them for quite some time before Brooke spoke. 'Nathan, look I know the wedding isn't for a couple of months but you are both a big part of it, maybe now is your opportunity to figure things out…'

'There's gaps in your lives that Luke and I we didn't want to fill in for each of you, I think you should..'

'There's gaps for a reason.' Nathan said.

'I know Nathan but don't you want to know what being away entailed for her? Maybe it's not as easy as you think. Maybe there's more to it.' Brooke tried to reason. 'If not for her, you at least owe yourself that chance, that closure… whatever you want to call it.'

'I don't know if I can go back there Brooke, not right now.' Nathan admitted quietly. Brooke sighed as she pulled herself up from the step.

'Well then maybe you need to just try and figure out how you can be around her without all this suffering because something tells me that Haley is going to be in town for quite some time.'

XXXXX

It had been a week since she left Brooke's house that morning completely consumed and rattled by the fictitious stories she was conjuring up for herself the last few years. She figured the big stuff, like him breaking up with Rachel would come her way. It hadn't and now she was just left with the why, when's and how's of it all.

Haley knew she was in no place to demand answers now. She had left. And sadly she was also fully aware that it was too late to even wish that she had closed the physical distance between them sooner.

It all still hurt the same.

'You look tired honey..' Lydia acknowledged as Haley fixed the lid on her coffee cup.

'I'm fine mum you don't need to worry so much.'

'I'm always going to worry.' Lydia said as she gave her daughter's shoulders a squeeze.

'Dad's coming home tomorrow.' Haley said with a gentle smile as she turned around facing her mum. 'I'm just trying to focus on the things that are going right and not the giant mess in my heart.' She wasn't even sure if she could handle another frosty encounter with Nathan.

Haley had told her mum everything. Lydia had known about Rachel but took it with a pinch of salt figuring it wasn't even truth not that Haley could blame her, she'd lost track herself over how many times Nathan and Rachel broke up and got back together in the first year of college. It almost made their relationship seem longer than it was.

'Haley, you knew this time was going to come.' Lydia reminded her. Oh her mother, the voice of reason.

'Yes mum but I had it scribbled down in black pen as the 21st of December not the 31st of August..'

Lydia chuckled softy. 'It'll get better but before it does it might get a little worse.'

'Gee thanks.' Her daughter sighed as she fixed her lip balm.

'If Nathan's that's hostile towards you honey it's because he his hurt which in my world means he still cares and I don't think that boy even if he wanted to could switch that off.'

'You'd be surprised.' Haley said softly as she turned towards her mother.

'You know what I think you should do?'

'Grovel..'

'No honey..' Lydia chuckled. 'I think you should go with the whole let the dust settle approach, be civil even if he's hostile, give it time - just be around each other again and let the rest happen. Diving straight into the past when your emotions are already so heightened is only going to make you both feel more aggrieved.'

'I guess.' Haley said softly as she gave her mum a small smile. 'Thanks mom.'

'You know I'm with you honey even if I don't understand all of it, you always had that flightiness in you…you get that from your father.'

Haley just smiled. 'I miss him here.'

'Two more nights.' Lydia promised. 'Now come on, you don't want to be late for work. You're not the student anymore.'

XXXXX

Haley sang away softly to herself as she stacked her papers on her desk into a neat tidy pile. The bell had just rang signalling the end of her first week of teaching at Tree Hill Elementary. She felt good about her decision now. Technically, Sacramento Uni were allowing graduates to complete their final teaching placement outside of state so it was possibly something she could have always done but she'd never allowed herself to give it much thought. Maybe it was because being back here in Tree Hill, this school, at Karen's…all of it was just a reminder of how much had changed, at how naïve she once was and how complicated life had since become.

'Please say you're going to this social tonight…' The curly blonde said as she dropped the box of art supplies inside Haley's classroom door.

Peyton Sawyer. She was the art therapy teacher in the school and had started at the same time as Haley. Her blunt yet heartfelt nature bounced off Haley's own gentleness and exuberance wonderfully. Not to mention she wasn't from here and didn't know her entire history so that was always a plus.

Speaking of history.

Haley was about to respond when Lily came skipping into her classroom. 'Bye Haley.' She said cheerfully.

'Lils you can't just run into classroom….' Nathan began only to realise who Lily had been running to. 'Haley….eh…what…what are you?' He stumbled for his words awkwardly as Lily just looked at him with a big grin on her face. 'Haley is a teacher.'

'I'm on placement here.' Haley said softly catching his eye. 'For the year.'

He just nodded as he tugged on his sister. 'Oh well I hope it works out.' He said rather awkwardly. 'Come on Lils we've got to go.'

'Aren't you going to say goodbye to her?' She said giving her brother a look as if he was being rude.

'Bye Haley.' Nathan said as kindly as he could possibly manage.

It would be amusing if it didn't feel so frigid between them.

'Bye guys.' Haley said softly as Lily waved at her on the way out.

She caught the amused look on Peyton's face then.

'Don't even…' Haley began

'Ex…' Peyton said. 'My god that was awkward…'

'More like ex best friend..' Haley said with a sigh

Peyton's eyes widened. 'That looks like that…'

Haley rolled her eyes.

'What? …He's hot..'

'Isn't that an engagement ring I see on your finger?… ' Haley said

'So he is a good lucking man.. ' Peyton teased unrelenting. 'Well there had to be something between you with all that tension in here?'

Haley shook her head. 'Just good old fashioned we had a fallen out and refused to deal with it for 4 years of our life until we've both come back to our home towns…'

'Gosh I knew this place was juicy.'

'My story not so much.'

'I'd say you have your secrets Haley James.'

'Yea one of them just walked out the door with a scowl on its face.' Haley deadpanned.

Peyton chuckled. ' How about we skip the social and just go straight for drinks at the bar?'

Haley didn't need to be told twice.

XXXXX

'What is she doing here?' Nathan said as he fiddled with the bottle water on top of the bar badly wishing it was something a hell of a lot stronger.

'Relax they just came for drinks after school like the rest of Tree Hill. It's a Friday night after all.' Lucas said as he ordered himself a beer. 'Besides, I thought you two talked.'

Nathan opened his mouth before closing it again, words failed him.

'She's going to be in your life Nate, you know this day was going to come back around.'

'That doesn't make it any easier.'

'It will get easier.'

There was no missing the double meaning behind his words. Nathan just sighed.

'Come on let's shoot some pool, I can school your ass and make you feel worse.' Lucas goaded him.

And Lucas was schooling in ass but his victory wasn't exactly something to boast about. Nathan was just too distracted and Lucas was getting to buzzed to even question him on it now.

He frowned as he watched the two ladies all but stumble out by the back exit. Handing Skills his pool stick telling him to finish up he followed after them not even thinking about what the hell he was going to say to her, never mind do.

'Ok you need fresh air..'

Haley huffed out a breath as she plopped to the step. 'Why did we drink that tequila?'

'Because it's Friday night and you've just finished your first week in school…not to mention a juicy run in with your so-called ex best friend.'

'Ok where's your phone?' Peyton said as Haley closed her eyes and leaned her head against the railing. 'Brooke isn't it?' Peyton said as she went to dial the number.

'I wouldn't call her.' Nathan said standing at the top by the exit door just as Peyton was about to punch in the number.

'And you are…' She played pretend seeing the familiar face from the classroom earlier.

'Nathan…' He said wondering how much this girl who was seemingly with Haley would garner from that.

'Peyton Sawyer.' The girl said as she handed Nathan Haley's phone. 'Any chance you know a Brooke?'

'I do and I wouldn't call her. She's usually out with us but her mother's in town and…..' Nathan trailed off no finishing that sentence.

'One of those…' Peyton tried to lighten.

'Something like that.' Nathan said stiffly. 'Is she ok?' He said then as he glanced down at a dozy Haley.'

'She just needs to get home. My partner, Jake he is actually coming to collect me so I thought we'd get a lift to Brooke's on the way.'

'Jake Jagelski?' Nathan said curiously.

'That would be him and I'm only here 6 months and still surprised with how small this town is.'

Nathan smiled shuffling rather awkwardly as he glanced at Haley as she sunk her head down between her knees mumbling something.

'I'll get her home.' The words left his mouth before he even realised what that meant. 'I mean…I live with Brooke and Haley's isn't far from there.'

'Oh no you don't have to….I…' Peyton stumbled not really sure what to do, but pretty sure Haley would disown their friendship as quick as they had formed it if she left the girl to Nathan. Then again, maybe in hindsight this would do her a favour. So she went on gut instinct. 'Thanks Nathan…'

Nathan came down the steps then crouching down before he pulled Haley up steadying her arm across his shoulders just as the lights of the car shone across them.

'Thanks again, let her know I waited ok.'

'I will.' Nathan promised. 'See you around Peyton.'

Peyton walked away not before looking back at the former best friends, for a small-town things were sure complicated.

The shuffling back up the stairs had woken Haley as he brought her into one of the empty dressing rooms in Tric. Sitting her down onto the dresser table so she wouldn't fall asleep on him again Nathan fixed her a glass of water.

'Here, drink up…' He said as he handed her the water steadying her a little as she took a sip.

Haley took a couple of sips grimacing at the tasteless liquid as it pooled with the alcohol she'd ingested earlier than evening.

He wasn't even aware of his hand rubbing up and down her arm as he held her, didn't even realise he was doing it until her eyes caught his, so openly curious.

Nathan swallowed hard as he peeled his hand back, there was always something so forthcoming about a drunken Haley, experience told him that.

He wasn't sure he was able for what she could possibly say, he wasn't sure he could take it. 'Are you okay?' He said as he watched her head drop a bit before she looked at him again with slightly glassy eyes.

'Maybe you should lie down for a bit…'

'No….' Haley's voice was dry.

His eyes held hers. Nathan swallowed hard as he watched her watching him, it unnerved him, it felt like even after all this time she could see through every single thought inside his head. He hated that.

Nathan began to step away from her just as she spoke. 'I miss you.' Haley said softly.

'Haley….don't…' He said almost desperately, he also knew Haley rarely obeyed his little orders when drunk either.

Her hand reached for his tangling their fingers together and he glanced down.

'What's going on in here?'

His mother's voice had him springing away from her. 'Eh Haley…'

Well if her proximity to Nathan hadn't sobered her up she was certainly feeling it now. Karen here too to witness what a mess she was, just great.

'Had a little one too many…' Haley filled in looking at the woman that had become a second mother to her smiling sheepishly. 'Nathan was just getting some water.'

'Are you ok?' Karen said softly as Nathan stepped away from them and left the dressing room. Once he got outside he leaned his head against the wall exhaling a deep breath.

'Why aren't you mad at me Karen?' Haley asked softly. 'I hurt him…so bad.' She whispered the last part.

'I understand you know.' Karen said earnestly then as Haley met her eyes, she wanted to ask what but she was afraid of the answer.

Instead she let her head drop as she released a breath.

'It's going to be okay Haley, come on.' Karen said. 'You can come home with me.'

'Karen I'm not…'

'Your mother is at the hospital right now and you're in no state to be going home to that empty house alone now I won't leave room for argument.'

XXXXX

Haley knocked on his bedroom door before stepping inside to see the sight of him laying above the covers with his hands behind his head staring at the ceiling. The nostalgia of it all was suffocating with being back here, nothing in his room had changed. She was sure if she even fingered the wooden door to his bathroom she would feel the letters of their names.

'Nathan…'

'What do you want Haley?'

She flinched at his cold tone, obviously he'd reached his limit of her and she didn't blame him.

'I'm sorry I didn't think you'd be here. Karen she…'

'She told me. She still cares about you Haley.'

She wasn't sure if he was trying to soften his previous harsh tone with those words or just let her know he didn't care at all.

She was exhaustingly sobered up now, turns out drowning her emotions had been completely futile and just left her feeling horribly barren.

'I still care.' Haley said softly then. ''I'm not saying this to appease my own guilt for leaving - that's something I have to live with but I can't live with you thinking I didn't care, I know what it looks like….I …'

'Why are you saying this?'

'I left for you.' She blurted out.

His eyes only got colder. Those words set him off entirely. 'Is that what you tell yourself huh? That you did it for me.' He said pointing to himself as he jumped off the bed then.

'I thought when I left things would get better for all of us..'

Nathan laughed emptily at that. 'You know what Haley seen as you so desperately want to go down memory lane at least don't remain a coward about it like you were then.'

'It's the truth.'

'You left because you couldn't bear to look at me anymore, you hated me.'

'That's not true…'

'isn't it?' He fought. 'How can you possibly say you did it for me?'

She had tears in her eyes now. 'I had no other choice.' Her voice broke. ' I know you can't understand that Nathan but I did what I thought was best for us at the time god I only just turned 20 …I knew if I stayed none of us would have lasted.'

'So what you left so Rachel and I could be together….don't act like you wanted that to last Haley.'

'I didn't' She told him honestly. 'But I wanted you to be happy.'

'Happy….' Nathan said like he'd never heard the word in his life. 'Yea that's what I was. happy.' he snipped at her.

'Nathan…' Haley began to reach for him and he distanced himself from her.

'Maybe I did it for us, Nathan. I knew if I stayed around you that our mess was going to become everyone else's too so yea I ran but I couldn't sit there and watch you slowly begin to hate me…'

He took her words in silence before a few moments before he found his voice. 'I was hurt Haley, we both were but I could never hate you…at least not then.'

'So that's what you're saying…now you..'

'Now I don't know what to feel.' Nathan interrupted as he ran his hands over his face tiredly. 'All I know is that I just…I don't want to be around you Haley, I can't…'

'I didn't come here to annoy you.'

'I know that.' He said, his tone much softer then as he sat at the end of his bed and just stared at some spot on the floor.

'I'll be gone first thing.' Haley said softy.

Somehow that made him feel even worse.

XXXXX

Nathan came down to the kitchen the next morning running his hands tiredly over his face. 'Where's Lils?' He said sleepily.

'Keith took her down to the garage for the morning.' Karen said easily as she brewed them both coffee. She got a good look at Nathan then and shook her head. 'You don't look great honey.'

Nathan sat down at their small breakfast table. 'That girl will be in overalls before she's in skirts.' Nathan mused deciding not to comment on his mother's observation.

'It's not a bad thing. I happen to remember Haley was always a bit like that and you used to rather like it.' Karen teased softly.

Nathan flinched at the mention of her name failing miserably to show it didn't affect him.

'How are you?'

'I'm fine..' Nathan answered as if on autopilot.

'Well how about I ask you how you are since Haley came back?'

Nathan shrugged. 'I told her last night I just can't be around her right now, I told her that.'

'I don't think she's going anywhere honey.' Karen said as she handed him a cup of coffee.

'I know.' he sighed.

'I think you need to give it time, emotions are simmering almost at boiling point between you two from what I could see.'

'I just..why is it I have to fill in the gaps mum? Why not just let it go? I wasn't there and she certainly wasn't in my life.'

'She wasn't as far away as you thought honey.' Karen said as she sat down across from him.

Nathan looked at her confusion etching his features.

'It's not something I know, just something I believe.' Karen said softly.

'Mum those words aren't really helping right now.' Nathan said as he stared holes into the familiar table cloth of his youth

Karen's hand found his then squeezing it tightly. 'I'm not saying them to help you or even for you to try and figure it all out, maybe it's just a little reminder to find the grey area. It's not always so black and white…'

He offered the only smile he could manage as they sat there together.

'You don't have to be worry about me.' Nathan promised her.

'I'm always going to worry about you two boys just like I do your little sister. It's part of the contract.' She teased giving him a look. 'I can already see being here is good for you, you seem brighter somehow.'

'I've missed home.' He said quietly.

'Then maybe you should stay a while.'