⁛Chapter 4⁛

October 2013

'I can't believe it is mid-term already like we've survived our first semester Nathan..,' Haley rambled as she rested her toes on the dash. 'Who would have thought us too dofuses ..no wait, scratch that you're the dofus…who would have thought you'd make it this far?' She teased as she stuck her tongue out at him.

'Haha….very funny Hales.' Nathan deadpanned as he gave her a look before grimacing. 'Please take your feet down off my dashboard.'

'I'm painting my toenails Nathan.' Haley told him.

'Yea well I don't appreciate you doing them in my car.'

'Well you should have thought of that when you came rushing into my dorm telling me you wanted to surprise Karen a day early.' Haley reminded him.

'This is a pretty colour.' She said then smiling as she wiggled her teal painted toes.

'Very pretty.' Nathan said sarcastically.

'Well I'm glad you think so cause you're painting the other one.' Haley mused.

'Haley..' Nathan said in a whiny voice.

'What you don't want me painting them in your car?'

'You just did.'

'The left one is too hard.' She whined back at him.

'God you're annoying.'

'You love when I annoy you..' Haley said smiling brightly at him.

He just shook his head at her silliness before glancing back at the road.

'So Lucas going to New York with Brooke this weekend, sounds serious..' Haley pondered.

'He has told me no more than she's told you, the two are like a tag team in this.'

'They're exclusive now…surely?'

'Lucas seems to think they are not.' Nathan said shrugging.

'Even worse if they start acting like a couple while still sticking to the story that they're not, someone is going to get hurt..'

'I think we're going to have to let them come to that conclusion on their own Hales, they won't listen to us…'

'I know.' She said glancing out at the window smiling as they passed the sign for Tree Hill. 'Speaking of non-exclusive does your mum know about you and Rachel?'

'No..' Nathan said as he tapped his finger against the wheel. 'We're not really official Hales, we're just seeing each other…'

'Like Luke and Brooke…'

'Unlike Luke and Brooke I don't love her…' He said as he gave Haley a pointed look.

'You think he does?' Haley said softly.

Nathan nodded silently.

Haley blew out a soft sigh as they drove through the relatively quiet town. 'I just don't want you to get hurt.'

'I won't, I don't want a serious relationship right now Hales, I'm just getting used to the basketball schedule not to mention trying to keep up in classes. It suits us and I guess it's better to be sleeping with one person than sleeping around…' He shrugged.

'Speaking of sleeping with one person…' Haley began but she'd barely got the words out before Nathan jumped in.

'Is Chris pressuring you?' Nathan said in that defensive way of his.

Haley rolled her eyes. 'No he's not, anyway if he was I'd succumb pretty easy because well I'm in college and I'm horny…'

'Dammit Haley…' Nathan got out. 'You can't say stuff like that..' He grimaced at her words.

'Why not? It's the truth, you've got me on this pedestal Nathan and it's not fair…' Haley told him.

'No I don't…I just don't want you to rush into anything you might regret.' He said as he pulled into a parking spot just down from the café. He cut the engine fiddling the keys as he spoke. 'You know I told you before I wish I would have waited..'

'This long?' Haley said raising her eyebrows at him.

Nathan chuckled. 'Maybe not this long but it will be better with someone you really care about..' He said softly.

Haley smiled. 'You speaking from experience now or literature…' She teased him.

'Literature..' Nathan said as they both laughed gently.

He didn't make a move to get out of the car when silence enveloped them once more and for that she was grateful, he was so in tune with her. It had been like this when they were kids. It's like he knew she had more to say, he always knew.

'I'm worried it won't be enough…I won't be enough…' Haley emphasised softly.

Nathan frowned at her soft spoken words, it always pained him when her insecurities bled through her like this, he could never understand it and his instinct to rebuke her for speaking to herself this way was strong but somehow he stilted the reaction knowing it would only upset her more.

Telling her she had no reason to think this way wasn't going to help her and from the way she was biting her lip now and twiddling with the planner in her hands he knew it was a big feat for her to even say this out loud.

He knew that right now in this car she wasn't looking for answers, she just needed someone to listen. She needed him.

Nathan reached across grabbing her hand squeezing it in his own as he waited for her to meet his eyes.

God he wished she could see herself how he could see her. 'If he loves you and cares about you it's going to be okay.'

Haley whispered a thank you to him scrunching her face up playfully making him smile. And just like that everything felt okay again, if only for a while.

XXXXX

September 2018

Nathan hands drummed the steering wheel of the car as he waited for the throngs of kids, parents and minders leaving the building to clear the path.

Sure, he convinced himself it was busy so it made perfect sense to wait in the car, that wasn't the reason he was waiting. Not entirely.

Still, it wouldn't matter much to Lily that kid loved school, had even said to Karen and Keith she liked when Nathan picked her up because he was usually late and she had more time in school.

He smiled as he thought about her, she was such a little glistening gem in all this grey matter that was surrounding him right now.

With his sister on his mind he jumped out of the car before he lost his nerve entirely.

Lily had been chatting his ear off from the moment he picked her up from her classroom. 'Do you think mummy will like it?'

'Oh I think she'll love it Lils, you know sunflowers are her favourite?' He said smiling at the messy painting she had between her hands.

He paused outside the door trying to go over what he was going to say which was proving very difficult with his sister chattering away beside him.

'Why are we stopping?'

'You're big brother has to talk to Haley for a moment ok..'

Lily's face lit up at the mention of Haley. 'Can I show her my picture?'

'Of course.' Nathan said smiling, nonetheless.

The door was slightly ajar, still he knocked before popping his head around.

'Oh…Nathan..hey..' Haley said softly from where she was wiping down the board.

'Hi Miss Haley.'

'Hi Lily, did you have a good day at school?'

'The best we got to paint sunflowers with Miss Peyton today..'

Haley smiled as she showed her the picture.

'They are beautiful.'

'They are my mummy's favourite.'

'Is that so?' Haley said smiling at the girl's exuberance.

'What's your favourite flower Haley?'

Haley's eyes met Nathans for a moment before she glanced back down at his sister. 'I don't know what they're called actually, they're like these little purple wildflowers.'

Lily smiled. 'They sound pretty.'

'Ok Lils, I have to have a grown-up conversation with Haley for a moment…' Nathan said as he got down on his knees beside her.

Haley smiled as Lily seemed put out by her brother's words. She was shaking her head telling him she wanted to stay with them.

'Why don't you go play down in the library corner Lily, you can go in the tent, I even think there isa unicorn cushion in there…' Haley said as she pointed it out to her.

And just like that all her sadness over being left out of the conversation was forgotten about as she left Nathan in a hot second and scurried down to the tepee in the corner of the classroom.

'Well she soon forgot what she was sad about..

'I work with 5-year-olds all day…' Haley smiled. 'Have all the distraction techniques in the book…'

The silence became clammy as their gazes met again. Nathan cleared his throat before he spoke. 'Look I know the timing isn't ideal but I don't want to see you now and not say this…' He said as he slipped his hands into his pockets. 'I'm sorry Haley for the other night…'

'You don't need to apologise.' Haley countered softly as she tried to busy herself with tidying her belongings.

'No I do.' Nathan said. 'I shouldn't have raised my voice at you.' The soft edges to his tone now had her pausing and looking up at him, this was the most he'd spoken to her since she came back here where it wasn't snipey comments or undercuts.

'I can't help but feel angry Haley just being around you and I'm not blaming you…I just what happened it changed me, us and I guess what I'm saying is I don't know how to reconcile that with the you here in front of me now, I don't know if I even want to.'

Haley winced at his words.

'I'm not trying to hurt you, I know I've done that enough. But I can't just pretend that you didn't cut me out of your life these past few years.'

'So what are you saying?' Haley wondered feeling the sadness crawl up her throat. It was very clear to her their friendship as she knew it ended the night she left so why did it feel like it was ending all over again?

'We've both moved on with our lives Haley.' He said softly.

'Where does that leave us?'

Nathan opened his mouth before closing it. He really didn't know what to say.

'Are we friends Nathan…what, what are we?'

'Just not enemies.' He said clearly not wanting anything more or anything less.

He quickly glanced away from Haley then as he called on his sister who began to pick up the books she'd taken over to the tepee.

'Good luck with your placement, I hope everything works out.' He said with a degree of detachment that hurt her heart.

'Bye miss Haley.' His little sister said brightly, her blue eyes just like her brothers only served to shatter her heart even further.

Haley sighed as she dropped her realms of notes into her handbag. Suddenly she didn't feel like staying in this classroom any longer. She flipped off the lights in the classroom stepping out when she heard the giggly voices of her colleagues. Erica Marsh to be exact.

'Nathan Scott I didn't think he was a dad…'

'He couldn't be…' The twiggy brunette beside her replied.

Peyton discreetly rolled her eyes Haley's way at the way the ladies were fawning over him.

'Maybe that's why he's not in the NBA right now…'

'It's his little sister.' Haley said not even able to stop herself from cutting their giggling and awing about him.

She didn't like how Erika seemed to light up at her words before she cut Haley a look. 'Haley James, best friend right?' She mocked as if she knew the whole story, although it certainly wasn't hard to connect the dots. Haley was sure her sudden disappearance from this town and Nathan's side no less gave them enough to talk about around this small town.

'What brings you back here?'

'I'm finishing my teaching placement.'

'Oh I didn't realise you were still in college.' Erica said sweetly.

'Weren't you two best friends?' She said then.

'We're not in high school anymore.' Haley said giving the perky girl a look as if to let it go.

Erica just shrugged like she didn't care much at all for that drama although Haley knew she was just chomping at the bit to get some information. 'Right I've got to get set up for bakery club, I'll see you ladies tomorrow.'

'Do we like her?' Peyton wondered.

'She's not all bad.' Haley reasoned softly.

'She seems it.' Peyton countered.

'She comes across quite let me say it bitchy but it's only because she's got this innate need to outdo everyone, she can't help it. We were in the same year in high school…'

'So what did Nathan want?' Peyton said then as the two of them made their way out of the building.

'The whole let's not crawl down each other's throats and just be civil…' Haley said stepping outside.

Peyton smiled. 'Seems like the right thing to do whether it actually comes about remains to be seen….'

'He seemed petty adamant.' Haley said. 'Anyway, I think it's the only way with the wedding coming up, there will be lots of planning, rehearsal dinners..'

'And what best man and maid of honour…'

'Unfortunately.' Haley sighed.

Peyton smiled. 'Who doesn't love a wedding without some drama?'

'Trust me, not this kind of drama.'

XXXXX

The next day Haley figured she was playing it fairly safe popping into Karen's directly after school but life had other plans for her fail-safe option. There Nathan and Lily were at a table by the window with books out.

It was a crisp, fall sunny day the kind that lingered on as far possible until winter bathed the town in its frosty glaze. The kind of day Haley expected everyone to be out and about basking in the sun's last rays but no, it seems the entire town had similar plans to her and came here.

'Haley…' Lily said all excitedly.

'Hi..' Haley said as she faced their table. Nathan offered her an uneasy smile no doubt wondering if she was going to linger there.

Things were bad when even a 5-year-old couldn't diffuse the situation between them.

'Haley can you help me please?..'

'I'm sure your brother can..' Haley said smiling down at her.

'Nathan doesn't really like maths..' Lily said. 'And there isn't many seats left Haley you can sit with us..'

Lily smiled sweetly at Nathan. He caught that little glimmer in her eyes and held back the eye roll wondering if she'd somehow caught the 'meddling' gene from her mother. It didn't help that she was at the fairy-tale age of princes and princesses and thought Haley would be perfect for her big brother. And that's exactly what she told him herself when they were leaving school yesterday. Life was a funny thing, sometimes.

'Lily just a few sums ok, I'm sure Haley has stuff to be doing.'

Haley was grateful he at least saved her from making up an excuse to say no to Lily. It was impossible to say no to her. Even more impossible for the fact she had Nathan's eyes.

Haley wasn't sure how much time had passed as she sat there helping lily with her counting while Nathan finished up his food beside them, it felt like the most natural thing in the world the three of them sitting together like this. Her mind could fool her a whole lot sometimes.

'I'm going to show mummy..' Lily said all excited as she pulled them off the chair.

'She's like your mum…' Haley said as the two were left at the table. And you. She wanted to add but held herself back, the similarities of their dark features were apparent, their mutual distaste and impatience for maths which made her smile and a thought that caused her heart to tighten a bit was how subtly unsure of herself Lily could be, much like Nathan had been when he was younger.

'Yea.' Nathan said interrupting her from her flow of thoughts. ' Unfortunately she seems to have inherited that trait of running around the place and not being able to sit down. She's all excited about you teaching in her school you know.'

Haley just smiled welcoming the civil conversation, she was no fool she could tell by how tense he was that he didn't particularly welcome them sitting across from each other like this but he wasn't completely shutting her out either.

'Haley…' Karen said warmly coming towards the pair before she had a chance to respond to Nathan. 'You know I'm considering actually adopting you, my boys refuse to help her with her homework and every time Keith does, it comes back with these strange red marking all over it..'

Haley just smiled. 'I'd say adopt me quick before I start charging for lessons.' She teased as she stood up and embraced Karen in a hug.

'What are you doing for dinner?'

'Oh..am…'

'You should come over for dinner, I didn't even get to make you breakfast last week.' Karen said kindly.

'I'm not sure…'

'It's the least I can do besides your mum is still over at the hospital most nights, you my dear need a good home cooked meal..'

How could she resist that?…'Sure Karen, thanks.' Haley smiled not meeting Nathan's gaze as she threw her bag around her shoulder grabbing her coffee. 'I better go, I guess I'll see you later…same time?'

Karen smiled. 'Lock up at half 5, dinner for half 6 some things never change.'

'You know I'm coming over for dinner tonight.' Nathan said as Haley left the café.

'I didn't actually.' Karen said. 'But not that it matters I would have invited Haley anyway. If it's that hard on you can just come another night.'

'Why are you using that tone like I've done something wrong?' Nathan mumbled.

'Because you could let up on her a bit.'

'I went and apologised this morning mum. I don't know what else you expect me to do other than the classic forgive and forget..'

'Come to think of it that's exactly what I expect you to do..' Karen said pointedly.

Nathan just looked out the window stubbornly.

His mother sighed. 'Honey her dad isn't well, I haven't seen the girl who was like daughter to me for a long time, you might not want to catch up with her but I do, that's all there is to it.'

'I promised Lily I'd come over tonight.'

Karen couldn't help but smile at that. She knew just how Lily had those brothers of her twisted around her little fingers.

'Well then you can, you don't even have to talk. Haven't you been impersonating a mute for the last few days?'

Nathan just gave her a look.

'Honey it was a joke..' She toyed with him.

Nathan sighed, knowing his mum was right, it wasn't fair to put her in any kind of position between himself and Haley. He glanced out the window, his stomach twisting at the sight. 'What the hell is he doing here?' Nathan gritted out.

Karen glanced up noticing Dan getting out of his car.

'I'll deal with it.'

'No you've got customers and Lily is back there, let me..'

'Nathan you know what he's like…' Karen attempted but her son was already out of his seat.

'Mum there's nothing more he can say to me, the damage has already been done.' He stated. 'Besides he's here for me we both know that.'

Karen sighed as her son went out there, this was the last thing he needed. Sure he'd built up enough armour from their many battles with his father but when it came to Dan he was weakened somehow. She hated to even think it but they all were. Dan Scott was a force to be wreckened with and whenever he came back into their lives the storm seemed to become even more fierce.

'What are you doing here?'

'Well hello son.' Dan said snidely as he crossed his arms and leant against the bonnet of his pristine silver Mercedes.

'What do you want?'

'What makes you think I want something?'

'You always want something Dan.' Nathan snipped.

'Maybe I just had to see it for myself, my son back in Hicksville.'

'Says the one who brought me up here.'

'I had no choice but to stick around, at least back then there was hope for you.'

Nathan just shook his head in disgust at his words. 'Just stay the hell away from me and stay the hell away from my family.'

'Family?' Dan scoffed. 'Yea….I see Luke has his own family now. And my own pathetic brother had to of course take my leftovers and make a family of his own and I guess that just leaves you and I…'

'There is no you and I.' Nathan said rooted in his spot knowing he should have walked away, there was always something about these confrontations with his father that stopped him, like he was willingly handing himself on a plate knowing Dan was just going to chew him up and then spit him out like he was nothing.

'Maybe not but then you're all alone so. Unless you're here for that petite little girl you used to call a best friend…don't tell me your back chasing her because that would make you even more pathetic, Rachel left, she left…you know we're not awfully far apart from each other..' Dan said smirking knowing just how to twist that coil until it snapped. It was an art he had perfected with Nathan no less.

'Do not compare me to you! I'm nothing like you….' Nathans seethed turning on his heel again much to Dan's satisfaction as he could see his son fighting the urge to completely loose his cool.

He knew exactly how to bend and twist him until his composure was completely and utterly rattled.

'Well I dare to argue, see you inherited a lot of things from me Nate…one thing in particular..' He said making an obvious dig.

The fact he found some enjoyment in that disgusted him.

'Just get the hell out of here Dan and go back to wherever the hell you came from….'

He just shrugged completely unaffected by his words.

'You sound a bit out of breath their son, you might want to watch that.' He snipped before he got back into his car and peeled away from the kerb at high force.

It was only then Nathan took the time to glance around not that it truly mattered he'd being privy to many public humiliating moments with Dan Scott in his lifetime, why stop now?

Without noticing anyone in sight he trudged with heavy feet back towards the café missing the petite blonde who had been hiding around the corner as she rested her head back against the wall .

XXXXX

Later that evening Haley made her way over to Karen's carrying a little shopper bag with some desert she'd took to baking out of the sheer need to quieten down her mind and distract her thoughts from anything but that encounter between Nathan and Dan.

It wasn't a complete and utter shock, sure she had been privy to Dan's horrible moments when they were growing up driven by his own inability to play college ball Nathan became like a puppet, someone for him to propel on strings, live out his dream through and when he didn't perform how he wanted despite him manipulating the strings - well the outcome could be scary. There were many nights Nathan turned up outside her bedroom window particularly after Dan had gained full custody of him.

When they went to Duke those puppet strings loosened a little obviously with the distance between them and without Dan belittling him every second of everyday a confidence actually exuded Nathan's abilities. Sheer enjoyment she remembered calling it, the first time she watched him play for the university when Dan wasn't there. It was like he was free. Almost.

He'd often recounted to her, nights they spent together how he wasn't even sure it was his dream anymore although she would have sworn to him when she watched him fly through the air like that sailing the ball through the net it was like a dream. He had been so happy.

Obviously, he had let that dream go and fractured his relationship with Dan even more so in the process.

'Hey kiddo.' Keith said as he noticed Haley coming down the pathway.

Haley smiled as his old childhood nickname for her as she came upon him, he came around from the back of his truck.

'Hi Keith.' She said easily.

'You know you're quiet popular in our house? Some things never change' He teased. 'I've been demoted as homework helper.'

Haley smiled. 'You know I'm going to have to start charging.' She teased back easily.

'You'd make a pretty penny. How's that teaching thing going anyway?'

'It's good. I actually can't believe I'm teaching here in Tree Hill…feels full circle you know..'

Keith smiled. 'I take it that means you might be staying a while?'

Haley was just about to speak when Nathan came upon them in a pair of navy overalls with spatters of grease smeared across them and all over is hands.

'Keith, you're gonna have to take that one in tomorrow, it needs to go up on the lift.' Nathan said as he dropped the tools in the back of the truck. It was only when he turned that he noticed her.

Haley swallowed hard at the sight of him, a far cry from the teenagers that used to wear the same ones. Yeesh, he was all man. She shook her head of her thoughts feeling the heat swarming her cheeks. 'Hey…' She said softly.

He just nodded at her in acknowledgement as Keith smiled at the pair.

'I should let you go in and get cleaned up you know what your mums like with overalls at the table. Why don't you walk Haley in?' Keith said giving Nathan a knowing smile.

He wanted to throw the spanner at his uncle for the mischievous grin he was giving him right now. This wasn't funny at all but Keith knew exactly how humouress this was, at least for him.

There was no need for him to walk Haley in, she knew exactly where to go and they all knew it.

He walked her in no less.

Nathan let Haley go up the path first as he followed behind her. He opened the door stepping aside to let Haley in, she offered him a small smile passing in front of him as he followed behind her.

'Haley, you made it.' Lily said happily from where she was perched at the kitchen writing. 'Hi Natey..' She waved enthusiastically at her brother knowing he wasn't particularly fond of that nickname.

'Hey Lils.' He said as he walked in past her and ruffled her hair.

She giggled trying to pull away from him. 'Eww you're all gross.'

Karen shook her head at the pair before smiling at Haley.

'You need any help in here?' Haley said easily as she slipped her bag off then and hung it off the coat rack, it was a strange thing to feel such a sense of familiarity and displacement simultaneously.

She was determined to ignore the questioning voice inside her mind and allow herself to soak in the openness and warmth Karen was enveloping her with even if a small part inside of her felt like she didn't deserve it.

'You miss Haley James are off duty this evening.' Karen said. 'You sit your pretty self-down there beside my daughter, dinner will be ready shortly. Don't let her bribe you into doing anything nice, she's on a time out.'

XXXXX

'I'd say you're missing some of that California heat…' Keith said as they ate away at their dinner. For the most part conversation had felt easy, she'd almost forgotten how informal and comforting dinners at Karen's were, Lily sitting at the table took the attention away from herself and Nathan as she was distracting both of them for a good part of the conversation.

Haley smiled. 'You actually adjust to the heat…'

'I'm not so sure my kind of species ever adjusts to heat…'

Karen smiled. 'You should have seen him in Australia Haley, I don't think we ever laughed as much as we did on that trip..'

'Daddy wore this white hat that was shaped like a bucket all the time, he looked silly.' Lily piped in.

'Hey now big ears you need to continue practicing them spellings..' Keith said giving his daughter a look.

'Who do I need to practice them? Nathan said I don't need to use them.'

'This coming from a C student.' Karen said knowingly smiling to herself.

'C+ actually…' Nathan said giving his mum a look.

Haley couldn't help but smile.

'Don't listen to your big brother, he's silly.' Keith said.

'No you're the one who looked silly.' Nathan piped in.

'You're both silly…' Lily said sticking her tongue out at the boys.

'Oh right that's enough of that now, Lily it's nearly time for bed so we need to go up and get your teeth washed.'

'But I want to stay while Haley is here.'

'No it's time for bed, you have school tomorrow.' Keith told her then.

'But Haley has school tomorrow…'

Nathan smirked at that as he glanced at Keith.

'Yea and Haley is the teacher and you're the kid, now chop chop say goodnight to everyone..'

Lily pouted a little.

'Remember you already had a time out today Lils…' Nathan said then giving his little sister a look.

'Ok…' She said as she pulled herself from the chair with a puppy dog look that nearly had them all caving as she said goodnight to everyone.

Haley smiled as she began to gather up the plates. Keith went to stall her…'No ,it's the least I can do..' She said shrugging as if it were no big deal.

They sat in relative silence as Haley gathered the dishes and brought them inside.

'So were you ever going to tell me about your run in with Dan?' Keith said to Nathan when Haley was out of earshot.

'Keith…' Nathan began closing his eyes in complete denial about this topic of conversation.

'You know you don't have to bottle everything he says and keep it for yourself…'

'I'm not…' Nathan reasoned and Keith just looked at him like he didn't believe it for a second.

'I'm not okay. 'He reiterated. 'There's nothing to bottle Keith, he was just trying to rattle me like he always does. I'm done….I was a long time ago..'

'I know son I just, I know my brother and how he prays on people's minds and you may be done with him but be careful with what he wants with you…'

'Dan's wanted nothing with me since the day I told him that I…' Nathan began, Keith gave him the nod and he turned to see Haley come back into the room.

There was no missing the stark halt in conversation from the two as she stepped back inside.

'How about some desert?' Keith said clearing his throat and putting on an easy smile as if the last few minutes hadn't happened.

Haley just nodded her head as she sat back down, she didn't know what to think anymore. She thought she was just over-analysing things, thinking that there were things Brooke and Lucas were not saying but now she wasn't so sure.

She wasn't so sure of anything at all.

XXXXX

They had been out here a while. Neither saying much. She couldn't pertain if the silence was a little less uncomfortable than before if it they'd just become climatised to it. Each thought did little to settle her heavy mind.

'Can I ask you a question?' Haley said softly.

When Nathan didn't say anything she continued on her path anyway. 'Why did you not go for the NBA?'

And there it was.

The question he'd been waiting for from her. He'd said the answer so many times it was default but saying it to Haley felt different. Maybe it was the fear that after all this time she'd still be able to read him or read the hesitance behind his public truth.

His forearms stayed in their rested position over the railing as he spoke. He didn't look her way. 'Long term I couldn't see myself doing it and it was never going to be a short-term thing so I decided not to. Winning the championship in Duke, I felt if that was as good as it was for me I'd be happy with that and I was.' Nathan said as if her question held no personal turmoil for him whatsoever.

His answer seemed rehearsed almost, as though he was standing up to the mic letting everyone know he wouldn't be going for it.

Sure he answered her but it felt like the kind of answer you'd give your grand aunt who wouldn't stop questioning your private life at a family wedding.

'So New York …' Haley prodded softly.

'New York wasn't…..' Nathan paused for a moment. 'I interned at Putnam and Pret the summer I finished in Duke and they took me on after that. It just kind of worked out..'

'So, are you able to work form Tree Hill?'

'Something like that.'

She could feel him tightening up completely and she knew she ran a risk with her next words but when didn't she ever risk herself when it came to them, some things would never change.

'I'm sure Dan didn't take that well.'

He flinched at her comment quite obviously before he closed up completely on her. 'I don't want to talk about him.' Nathan said as he turned around to go back inside.

'Nathan….wait…' Haley almost begged him.

He closed his eyes willing himself to just keep walking, somehow he stayed.

'You know he can't get to you anymore, right?'

His father's earlier words played on his mind and as much as Nathan hadn't wanted to give Dan the upper hand the truth was it was never his to give in the first place, he always had it.

'It doesn't really matter Haley….he's my father after all…'

'And Luke's..' She justified as she turned to face him, her insides twisting at the look of self-reproach on his features.

'Yea but no one ever told Luke that he was like him.' He said not giving her another second as he walked back inside.

There was no missing the meaning behind his words. And like that night, just like now…there was no coming back from it.