Hi guys, so I am back with a Naley story. I initially planned this to be a shorter story (about 10 chapters) but it's looking to be 15 now maybe even more. I won't babble on too much in this author's note, some things may seem vague in this chapter and they're for a reason, it's an introduction to what's going to unfold let's say. I will give you more background context as we move into the story.

*Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with One Tree Hill*

Also personal disclaimer cause I feel I owe it to my readers😊, this was just one of those stories that wanted to write itself, hence my previous hiatus my creative energies have been going here and I feels it's the right time to share as I'm currently drafting the later chapters in the fic. That been said my draft is messy and raw so I can't promise weekly updates but I will do as often as I can.

Anyways on with the first chapter. Do let me know what you think. 😊

Chapter 1

The low comforting strings of an acoustic guitar provides the perfect backdrop for her flee from normality as her snow dusted ankle boots take her across the unfamiliar wooden floor.

It is by no means the typical dark bar you get lost in for a night but she can't go to one of those bars either. She isn't about to risk herself entirely. She's not reckless by nature although sometimes she wishes she were, sometimes she wishes she didn't feel everything so deeply.

And she's tired of it. Feeling. She's so tired of feeling it all.

She is grateful for the friendly demeanor of the man behind the bar, he's not eyeing eye her with much of anything really which is what she wants. Not that she expects to be eyed but there's always a funny feeling about walking into a bar alone as a woman.

She glances around, finding some kind of bearing with her surroundings, eyes falling upon the occupants scattered on high stools, cosy corners; it's an easy mix of elderly and youth, the kind of bar you'd frequent with family and friends alike. Not alone.

Haley sighs, tugging off her red cashmere beanie hat dropping it to the counter running her hand through her static locks.

A glass of silver sparkling liquid is left beside her hat and peony lips force a smile of thanks.

His elbows are planted to the counter unmoving, hands gripping the ends of his raven hair tugging on it relentlessly, a meaningless passing thought that he desperately needs to cut it coming to mind.

Something bigger is pressing him, not allowing him to observe such meaningless thoughts for too long, if at all. This is only a stop in, he needs something to settle him or maybe he's just been a coward.

It has been so long. He's not even sure what he's going to say if he even gets the chance to say anything at all. Will he even keep the door open for him?

The hum of the bar's occupants delivers a white noise sensation to organise his thoughts. Silence always causes him too much unease.

Nathan orders another beer. It is the last one. So he tells himself.

Still, he knows he is lying to himself, a skill he's perfected in recent years.

His phone vibrates abrasively against the counter as her name flashes on the screen. He figures that she knows he has not made it.

He debates with himself as he picks up the phone knowing she's just trying to help. If she knew he was in a bar though.

Nathan climbs off the stool grabbing his black coat to take the call outside clumsily shuffling his arms into the right sleeve in a hurry only to elbow the glass of the woman beside him sending it crashing down onto the bar top.

The woman quickly shuffles back barely missing the stream of vodka pouring down her side of the bar. Meanwhile, she can't help but wonder why she couldn't just come sit in a bar and blend in for a while, why under any circumstance did she have to sit beside the clumsy man who would just happen to knock over her drink the moment it lands in front of her.

Until that man finally straightens up and glances and her….and….

Holy cow. His eyes. So blue. Sapphire, she realises just like her birthstone only she's never seen that colour in real life…until now.

The raven-hair man catches the tumbling glass saving a measly 5ml measure of the drink as he mumbles a cursive word to himself before realising, she was there and he starts apologising profusely.

It takes her a few seconds to realise he's spoken, her eyes watching as he pats down his jacket which is now sprinkled with a flavour of her drink mixed with whatever spicy cologne he's wearing; like firewood on a winter's night.

Good grief Nathan thinks as he finally gets a look at the woman whose drink he'd just toppled over. Wavy auburn honey toned locks tousle over one shoulder as she eyes him behind smoky topaz eyes. She is remarkably beautiful.

'I'm really sorry…I'll get you another drink…'

Haley snaps out of her daze as she glances up at him again. Good god he was insanely tall and so bloody handsome towering over her. Of course, it would take such a specimen of a man to knock over her drink as the only reason he'd ever talk to her.

Rather to indulge in the little film scene moment her idealistic mind wants it to be Haley closes it down rather quickly, she's had enough heartache in one year she figures.

'It's okay don't worry about it, I can get another.' She tells him her eyes meeting his just as his phone which he'd left on the sticky bar starts vibrating rather abrasively against it again.

Nathan sighs annoyed at the damn device picking it up. He deadens the call before nodding to the barman asking if he can replace the woman's drink he's just knocked over.

'You don't have to do that.' She insists again.

'It was my fault.' He tells her as their eyes meet holding each other momentarily before his phone starts up again.

She has to hold back the giggle at the expression on his face as his phone vibrates once more. The feeling was fleeting but profound, she hasn't had to hold back a giggle like this for a long time.

Haley watches him leave with the device to his ear as the barman quickly gets on to making her another tall vodka. She thanks him tepidly as the second glass is replaced in front of her.

The tall handsome man comes back in a while later and resumes his seat at the bar where his pint had been left unattended for some time.

She wonders to herself if enough time had passed to discredit his little hiccup but he didn't seem to think so.

'I'm sorry for being so clumsy, that's really not like me.' He says easily sitting up on his original seat leaving the seat she had formally occupied idle between them.

His voice is husky when he speaks, like wood that hasn't been sanded down, he's rough around the edges, his laden winter coat is draped over his shoulders, he carries it like a burden reflective of whatever is festering inside of him. Yesterday's stubble is dotted like fresh gravel across his cheek line portraying an unassuming appeal she's sure he hadn't intended of.

He is by all words the epitome of tall, dark and handsome.

'It's fine honestly you didn't have to buy me another.' Haley says her lips twinging into a polite smile.

'I swear it's not some way I go around picking up girls knocking their drinks so I can buy them another…'

Her smile widens, politeness declining as she finds an ease in herself she hasn't felt for too long.

Meanwhile he internally berates himself, all of a sudden he doesn't have the words, only cringey small talk or what some may call an overused chat up line to fill the space between them.

He chances another glance sucking in a breath as he watches her; the delicate swirl, the twist of her wrist as she fingers the paper straw, it is enticing to him. She is enticing. He's willing himself to look away before she catches his prying eyes only they travel as if they have a mind of their own right up to her face and he is momentarily stunned again by her.

Enticing doesn't do her 'American next-door girl' kind of beauty justice. She is enchanting. A ridiculous word that came from storybooks he'd never been told as a kid and yet if he had he knew now in this dimly lit bar she'd be the perfect metaphor for it.

Nathan gulps glancing down at the remnants of ice in his glass. He needs another drink.

This. She. She is so unexpected. In this bar, he never expected her.

He feels nerves that seem to cling to each expanse of his rib-cage like cobwebs wrapping themselves inside of him. It's an unusual sensation for him expelling a shaky breath but around her he does.

She is different to the girls he'd once chat up in bars, usually they'd be edging their stools closer to him by now, nails piercing his arm, hell maybe even their tongue would be licking his neck by this stage. Some may call him a cocky bastard for thinking so but he couldn't lie about the way the female species had been so forward with him. He embodies the classic tall, dark and handsome just like his father had. And sure his father had used it to his full advantage.

She is barely acknowledging him now. And he isn't sure where it's coming from but he wants her to acknowledge him and he isn't about to debate with himself why he feels so strongly on the matter.

He has a fleeting thought that her boyfriend is that musician strumming away on his guitar, total cliche pretty girl in the bar dating the guy on the guitar. God, he's been spending way too much time in that apartment with Brooke Nathan thinks to himself groaning as he rakes his hands through his hair again.

'You look like you want to be anywhere but here…' She comments observing the raven hair man perturbed with himself as he shifts on his seat for the umpteenth time and tugs on his hair.

All the while, she has been stealing curious glances his way and conjured up her own story for him, she's always been easily entertained by her curious and creative mind. With him, she's led herself to believe he is mostly likely unavailable, minus the obvious stellar boy looks, his phone has been incessantly ringing, no doubt female…it seems like he is holding himself up in a bar she guesses from some fight at home, and as much as she never gets involved with strangers at a bar she figures what harm in engaging in some harmless chat with the blue eyed stranger who knocked her drink over.

After all, he had bought her another and well…those eyes.

Nathan drops his hands from their endless tugging on his hair surprise at her words causing his eyebrows to raise in a way that was certainly adorable to her. 'Eh…. it's just been a long day that's all.' He tells her honestly.

She simply nods like she understands as her fingers continue their idle dance with her straw.

'So, correct me if I'm wrong but you don't seem like the girl to go drinking in a bar alone. I have this theory you're with the musician…' Nathan says catching her eyes feeling a flaming heat lick up his spine, overpowering nerves with adrenaline. It's unfamiliar yet he feels like he could be addicted to it. Since when does he react like that around women? He coaches himself to pull it together, silently of course.

'You're right…' She says. 'I'm not the type of girl to go drinking alone but no I'm not with the musician.' Her tone is soft and airy, teasing almost.

Nathan smiles. 'So why are you alone if you don't mind me asking?'

'What if I said I do mind?' Haley teases him laughing softly at the look he gave her, clearly not expecting her answer. 'Why is it an okay for guys to go drink in a bar alone but as soon as woman does she gets a load of questions…'

He holds his hands up jokingly. 'Hey, I only asked one question...'

'I'm just kidding...' She says taking a sip from the sparkling drink.

He smiles enjoying the rapport with the auburn beauty.

'Maybe it's just not safe for a girl that looks like you to go drinking alone...' He teases back

Her eyes glimmer a little or else it's just the reflection of her sparkling drink in them, still he'd like to think it's the former and a reaction to his words.

'That's a horrible line.' Haley says her locks toppling over her shoulder a little more as she shakes her head.

'Well, it's either that or knocking your drink over to get your attention.' He smiles and she's pretty sure that smile has got girls to do just about anything.

'And here's me thinking that was an accident.' Haley muses.

'Maybe it was a coincidence or faith?'

'Oh god…' Her soft laughter is more of a schoolgirl giggle now, he's the type of guy she figures is too good looking to even have to warrant cheesy chat up lines like that but the fact that he is, even if it is just for jokes is a quality so endearing about him. He's chuckling now with her, line crinkling his eyes in the must adorable way. The way he seamlessly works adorable and sexy could be very sinful on a girl. 'I'll admit that was bad...' He tells her.

She likes the sound of his laugh, there's a warm quality to it that blankets her senses with familiarity. It feels like he isn't just a stranger to her even though rationally she knows he is. She knows her sister would tell her exactly that; he is just a stranger and she's just intuitive, a natural tendency to connect with people's experiences. That's all it is.

'My father passed away 2 months ago...' The words leave her without much thought for whys or how's – it's like they just escaped her.

'I'm sorry.'

She's heard it a lot over the last 8 weeks, maybe even daily somehow coming from him it sounds different.

'It all started to feel a little suffocating you know? It's like this pedestal I'm so supposed to be on to be coping with it and if I'm not there they're looking at me like I'm about to crumble and I don't know if its them that can't take my fall or me…. maybe even both…'

As her thoughts escape her so freely, so wildly she doesn't notice how he closes the large distance between them by occupying the seat she once sat at. When she glances up nervous for what she'd just admitted she's hit with a waft of his spicy cologne, wood and spice and a lingering scent that his completely his own. Its surrounding her like buttercups in a meadow. She wants to close her eyes and inhale it like she would that same dainty flower.

'The weight of those expectations could affect you more than what actually happened to you...'

'Sounds like you're talking from experience…' Haley counters softly as she glances at him, her eyes expressively curious.

God, her eyes are so remarkable. That wasn't even a word that prefaced in his dictionary but again maybe it never needed to until now. They're so deeply brown with subtle flecks of amber that almost sparkle in response to her emotions, curiosity, excitement, hesitancy. He has seen it all play out in a matter of a few magic moments and he isn't sure how but he feels like he understands her more than most people in his life. Which is bizarre for barely an hour has passed since he'd knocked over her drink.

'Maybe.' He divulges to her with a sad smile. 'Is that why you're alone?'

She nods exhaling a heavy breath. 'I felt like I needed to breathe you know…'Haley meets his eyes swallowing hard at the depth she sees in them, there's more there now than that initial sapphire colour, infinite hues appear to be illuminated by his everchanging emotions. Unless it's the changing lights in the bar she tries to be reasonable and rational but all sense has escaped her tonight with him. It's dreamlike yet visceral all at once.

There is something about this man.

She isn't sure why but she feels it.

'I sound crazy…' Haley tries to downplay the brutal honesty of her words but he isn't taken her hand.

'You're not.' He promises her. 'I lost my dad this year too.' He's never said those words aloud.

'Seems to be going around huh?' Haley says quietly somehow knowing he didn't need to hear that she was sorry. His grief feels different.

'We weren't very close.' Nathan admits.

His tone isn't regretful, instead it seems like something much deeper, heavier even resonates in what he's told her and she isn't sure if there's a heavier emotion to carry than regret.

'My best friend…. gosh this is going to sound morbid; he lost his dad too this year. He was never close to him.' Haley explains. 'In fact, he didn't know him at all. I'm still deciding if it's a good thing or a bad thing that he never knew him…'

Haley scoffs catching herself, raking a hand through her honey auburn toned locks. 'That's horrible of me…I shouldn't have…'

'Maybe it is a good thing.' Nathan says before he even has a chance to catch himself. 'I mean I knew my dad but I wasn't close to him. He wasn't a good person.'

Instinct tells her he has more to say, his eyes darken shrouded by a black midwinter sky.

'There was this darkness in him…' He says and he looks away as he continues. 'I guess I always feared it would be in me too...'

A deeply pained look crosses his features, frown lines carving his forehead seem glaring against his otherwise youthful face, like his young years were never fully let be. He seems so troubled by that. She's touching him before she even realises it, her nimble fingers reach out against his grainy knuckles.

The tingling sensation from her subtle touch monopolises him in an instant. She let's go as quick as she holds on and he realises how easy he could chase that fizzling warmth she has evoked him in.

Light reflects off him around her. It's not all darkness.

The warmth inside of him now so heady it drowns out everything else. His hand on instinct reaches for hers again clasping at her wrist before she can pull away from him entirely. He smiles as he feels her pulse hammering.

She pulls away from him hastily. 'I'..I'm sorry….I should…' She stammers pulling her arm away from him like he shouldn't have touched her.

She's on her feet walking away from him before his thoughts catch up with his reality and then he's following after her aware how crazy it looks and man chasing a woman out of a bar, a woman he barely even knows but he so badly wants to.

'Hey…wait up…I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.' He says nervously placing his hands in his jacket pockets as he watches her place her phone back into her bag. If possible, she looks even more beautiful out here, her striking auburn honey tresses flowing seamlessly from her red beanie as she trudges her dainty boots through the powdery snow like a child would.

'You didn't…you couldn't' Haley counters then observing the tall man standing across from her, she really hadn't expected him to follow her.

If possible, her heart races even more at the sight of him outside with the slight dusting of snowfall clinging to the edges of his dark coat contrasting deliciously against his thick raven-head of hair.

'I don't do that often…. ever actually.' She says, arms crossing self-consciously over the camel coat she's wearing.

It's only as he watches her standing out here, he realises how petite she is, it only adds to her essence. 'Talk to men in bars?' He questions knowing there was more to her words but he wants to make her feel at ease again around him, it's all he wants.

'Open up to strangers...' Haley tells him honestly as their eyes meet.

'What's your name?' Nathan says softly stepping towards her.

The name is there on her lips but somehow it doesn't come out, for all she knows he is seeing someone.

A guy like him.

These kinds of things just don't happen to her.

'I have to go.' Her phone starts ringing again. She's about to dig for her in her bag when a dark shadow is cast across her entire frame. He's towering over her. Haley swallows hard, his breath tickles her nose. He reaches for her hand his callous fingers grazing against her racing pulse line and she knows she has to pull back like she did inside but she's stuck here. Wings of giant butterflies tickle her tummy, her senses monopolise her, he surrounds her entirely and completely and she can't make it stop. Does she even want to?

His thumb continues to stroke her pulse point, his nose softly nudges hers as his lips hoover like a slow paper cut bleeding her desire, a whirlpool of heat carries from their parted lips before his lips touch hers, it's slow and hesitant but his soft subtle sucking almost serves as an aphrodisiac. He's gentle but there's a force behind it that could be sinful. When her lip's part his tongue slides in stroking hers, she whimpers and she can feel his lips curve into a smile against her own. Their tongues begin a dance of taste and retreat, their lips are chasing each other's now in a slow dwindling race as they regretfully near the finish line.

She doesn't recognise her heavy pants as she parts from him, the delicious warmth from their shared breath contrasts heavenly against the frosty temperatures around them.

The iridescent hues of his eyes are blackened with lust. It's unfamiliar for her to be looked at like that. Her heart is like a train pounding down tracks until it comes to a screeching halt.

The haze that hijacked her senses breaks away. 'I'm sorry…I really have to go…'

XXXXX

'Who is she?' Brooke says without missing a beat as she comes into her apartment with coffee in hand.

'I don't know what you're talking about Brooke.' Nathan mumbles fixated on the drawings in front of him.

'Are you working?' She frowns taking in his hunched over form.

'First week in a new job and I've an important client meeting tomorrow…' He responds not lifting his head from the pages.

'That's a scary thought…' Brooke said more so to herself as she leaves her sugary smelling latte down on the counter.

'What is?' Nathan prods finally looking up from his designs.

'Who would have thought that out of our high school gang you and I would be the ones working on a Sunday?' Brooke says making a disturbed face.

Nathan just chuckles taking a sip of his own coffee.

'Now that I've got your full undivided attention, who is she?'

'Who?'

'Don't play dumb…aside from how desperate you were to get me off the phone last night I could smell the perfume on your jacket, she smells pretty I'll give her that...'

'What were you doing with my jacket?'

'Stop deflecting my question. I needed your key I lost mine…I know already..' Brooke says defending herself before Nathan can attack her over it. 'Now out with it, who is she?'

'God, I forgot how annoying you are.' Nathan mumbled.

She's standing there, perfectly manicured lilac nails resting on her hip.

'She's no-one alright…' He admits regretting his choice of words already. He's lying to get Brooke off his back but the lie coats his tongue distastefully.

She watches with interest the almost sorrowful look that crosses his features then.

'That's a lie, she's someone but I didn't even get her name.' Nathan sighs dropping his pencil onto the large A3 sheet of paper.

'Wow…. ok….'

'No …. not like that.' Nathan says giving Brooke a look. 'We just got talking in the bar you know...' He doesn't particularly like the slow smile that's spreading across Brooke's face as he attempts to tell her. 'What?' He asks hesitantly.

'You like her.' Brooke says talking to him like he was back in high school again. 'Like…like her…like her.'

'You're really not making sense right now Brooke…'

'So, what happened? Did you not turn on the Scott charm?'

'She left.' Nathan shrugs.

Brooke raises her eyebrows in amusement.

'She said she had to go…. can you stop smiling at me like that?'

'It's just kind of ironic the girls walking away from you, wasn't that like your party trick in college timing how quick you could run out of girl's bedrooms before they woke up…'

'Haha very funny...' Nathan quips.

'So, what you meet this girl she leaves and you still didn't make it to Lucas…'

'I got side-tracked alright…sure Brooke the plan was two beers and then Lucas and then I met her and I….' Nathan blows out a breath running his hand over his face.

'Jee whiz she sure did a number on you didn't she?' Brooke says rhetorically plopping down on the cream leather couch across from him.

'I'm a coward.' Nathan says quietly as he fumbles with the raw paper edges of his sketches strewn across Brooke's table. 'I still could have gone over there I just…I lost my nerve…'

'You're not a coward.' Brooke tells him.

'Aren't I? I mean the least I owe him is that planned visit last night after years of silence.'

'There are things he doesn't know Nathan…need I remind you that the things he does know it's not the full truth...'

'Brooke…'

'What? I mean I could….'

'You're not.' Nathan says resolutely. 'It wouldn't change anything.'

'It would change everything you know that right? He blames you.'

'He's just looking for someone to blame, I get that but even if he knew …. the stuff between us goes beyond that. It would be easy for me to sit here and blame it all on..'

'It just doesn't sit right with me, it never has.' Brooke interrupts him softly.

'It was the right thing to do besides it was never all on you, you know that right?'

She nods expelling a slow breath. 'So, what are you going to do?'

'I don't know Brooke. But I think it's time I actually showed my face.'

XXXXX

Haley taps away on her laptop peering over the rim of her glasses as her roommate passes through their living room. 'Hey Hales, you getting ready for tomorrow?'

Haley nods before placing the laptop down on the table in front of the TV 'Ready as I'll ever be I guess…'

Lucas smiles. 'It will be good for you being back.'

'I know.' She softly agrees.

'You okay?'

She knew those words are his roundabout way of saying he's worried about her no less because of her obvious disappearance last night. Lucas he cares, Quinn cares...her family and friends they have been everything through this she couldn't deny that but it's all starting to feel suffocating, she feels like she's harboring their blanket of concern for her as much as her grief not to mention the guilt for feeling this way around them.

Like she just wants to run.

She closes her eyes against the memories of the dark-haired man last night. An escape. That's all it was…..but still that kiss, unlike any other.

A soft sigh escapes her as she meets Lucas' expectant eyes realising she hasn't giving him a response. She gives the only one she knows in his company. 'I'm okay, Lucas.' He isn't convinced. 'I'm okay.' Haley promises with a smile. 'Yesterday was just a little tougher than others you know….eh Quinn and I spent the day together.'

Lucas would believe her to be spiraling if she told him the truth about finding a bar the other side of Boston to drink in. It just isn't in her nature.

He doesn't probe her any further and for that she is grateful.

It's only then she inhales the delicious aroma of Italian and her stomach literally growls on the spot.

'Mac and cheese…' Lucas announces leaving the brown takeaway bags on the table.

'You shouldn't have…' Haley says although they both don't believe her words.

'Hey, you finally have me craving the stuff…' Lucas says with a roll of his eyes.

'So, what it only took 5 years of friendship?' Haley teases

'Nah I'd say more like two and a half…' Lucas chuckles just as the doorbell rings.

Haley glances at the clock noticing the late time. 'I wonder who that could be...' She says as she places glasses on the table as she hops up from the couch.

'Not expecting anyone are you?' Lucas hollers after her as Haley walks down the short corridor to open the door.

Pulling it back her heart plummets to the pit of her stomach as her eyes meet those of the blue-eyed stranger from last night, she's sure her mouth is forming the perfect 'o' right now as she stares at the handsome man on the other side of the door. She's still deciding if he escaped her or if he's her escape, the jury is still out on that one.

Although not for long.

'It's you…' He says softly his handsome features are softened, he is as dazed and surprised as she is.

'Hales who is it?' She vaguely hears her best friend calling out for her even though he is coming closer

'What the hell are you doing here Nathan?'