A/N: A couple of readers have asked me to continue writing Naley stories. So here is the beginning of a brand new one. Enjoy the first chapter.

Chapter One

"Here's your B.L.T. sandwich," Haley said, giving the customer a smile as she delivered the man's food. "Enjoy and please let me know if you need anything else." She then went to attend to the next table and continued to make her rounds before she ended up behind the counter with her coworker Millie Huxtable. She gave her a smile. "It looks like it has finally settled down."

Millie nodded in agreement. She let out a heavy sigh. "Just a couple of more hours and we can go home." Hearing the bell above the entrance to the diner made the two waitresses turn to see the next customer. Millie and Haley exchanged nervous glances. Neither of them wanted to take this next customer. They watched as he went to sit in his regular table in the corner across from the counter, where he could clearly keep an eye on the two waitresses.

Haley spoke up first. "I'll do it." Millie gave her a worried look. "I can handle him. I promise." She grabbed two menus as she took a deep breath. Her day was going great. Why did the boss have to come in and ruin it? But he was still a customer and she was going to be a good hostess and wait on him.

Haley approached the two customers and put the menus down on the wooden table. She pulled out her notepad and pen. She put on a fake smile as she turned to one of them. "Mr. Jones, what a pleasant surprise. What can I get for you today? Anything to go?" she asked, wanting him to go as soon as possible.

Daunte just chuckled. "Haley, don't sound so formal. After all, we're old friends." Haley didn't answer. She was relieved when he gave her both his order and his associate's order. She quickly wrote down their orders before she left the table, relieved to get away from him. He always gave her the creeps and made her uncomfortable, but she had no choice. She had to stay and keep him happy.

Haley handed the notepad to the cook before she returned to her friend. "How do you do that? Why can I be brave like you?" Millie asked. Haley smiled at her. "If that was me, I would have spilled his drink on him because I was so nervous."

"I've been around him longer than you," Haley replied as they heard the door opening again. "I know how he operates." She turned to see who the next customer was and her eyes lit up immediately. Her day just got brighter again. Although, she wasn't sure if Nathan and Daunte being in the same room together was a good idea.

Nathan Scott. He and Haley had been best friends ever since he first walked into the diner a couple of years ago. Like Haley, he came to Los Angeles looking for a fresh start. His reasoning was a little different from hers. He wanted to get away from his parents who had put high expectations on him. They wanted him to attend college at one of the Ivy League universities, but Nathan wanted to go his own path.

Haley gave him a wide smile as the man with the raven hair approached the counter. He made a face as he noticed Daunte Jones. He knew all about the trouble he caused Haley and Millie. "Do you want me to go over there and talk to him?" Nathan asked as Haley gave him the menu.

Haley gave him a grateful look. "No, it's fine. I'm sure he will leave as soon as he's done with his food. Speaking of food, what I can get for you?" she asked him. "A cheeseburger and a side of fries? And a cup of coffee?"

Nathan smiled. "You know me so well."

"Coming right up," she said before she disappeared into the kitchen. When she reappeared, she noticed Nathan was looking down at his phone. "What are you looking at?" she asked him as she made his cup of coffee. Nathan showed her the picture. It was a couple. The man had dirty blonde hair and the young woman had brunette hair and hazel eyes. "Is that your brother and his girlfriend?" she guessed. She had remembered him talking about his older brother Lucas often. The two brothers had been close before Nathan took off.

Nathan nodded. "Yeah, her name is Brooke Davis. Actually, they were high school sweethearts before they broke it off. Then he dated Peyton Sawyer for a while before he went back to Brooke. They have been together for a year now. I think Lucas is getting ready to propose to her soon."

"That's so sweet," Haley said as Nathan returned to the faraway look he had before. She spoke again, snapping him out of his reverie. "You must miss him. Have you ever thought of going back to visit them?"

Nathan gave her a look. "If I see them without seeing my parents, my parents will be pissed."

Haley wanted to respond, but she felt a nudge from Millie. She glanced over at Daunte, who was giving her a disapproving look. She turned red. "Excuse me, but I have to go check on my other customers." She grabbed the coffee pot and she began making her rounds again.

She took her time in reaching Daunte's table. She didn't even have a chance to say anything before he spoke. "You know I don't appreciate you talking to the customers on the job," he said in a warning tone. "Otherwise, it looks like you're slacking off."

Haley gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I'll go check on your food." She turned around and let out a heavy sigh. Nathan gave her an apologetic look. She shrugged it off as she went into the kitchen.

Haley continued working under the watchful eye of Daunte. When Nathan's food was ready, she gave it to him without any pleasant conversation. Nathan also got the hint and thanked her for the food. That was it and Haley went back to work.

It was a relief when Daunte and his associate were finally finished with their meals. He and Nathan exchanged glares before Daunte and his friend left the diner. Haley wasn't surprised to find that he left a generous tip for her. Haley gathered the money and cleaned off the table. She glanced Nathan's way. This time, he was watching her with a concerned look on on his face.

Haley didn't even let him speak as he came up to her. She wasn't in the mood for a lecture. "I know what you are going to say. I shouldn't be working for him if he makes me feel uncomfortable. But it's complicated." Nathan looked at her, ready for an explanation. "No, I'm not going to get you involved in this."

"Don't tell me you are sleeping with him," Nathan said in disgust. Haley could do better than Daunte Jones.

Haley gave him a look. "Not that it's any of your business, but my relationship with Daunte is strictly business, not personal. I owed him a debt and I'm paying him back by working for him. End of story. Now if you would excuse me, I have to get back to work." She didn't let Nathan respond as she walked away from him.

Nathan finished his food before he paid his meal and left the diner without saying goodbye to Haley. Haley let out another sigh. She hated being mean to Nathan. She was grateful he was looking after her, but she didn't want him involved. Daunte knew secrets about her that she didn't tell anyone else and he was holding that over her. Three years. And counting.

Haley had to admit she didn't want to be tied down to this job any longer. Even though she loved her customers and her coworkers, she wanted to move on from here. From Los Angeles. To get another fresh start away from Daunte and his demands of her.

Where would she go? Talking with Nathan about how he missed his brother made Haley realize how much she was missing her own home. It's been five years since she left home and she hadn't been back since. Maybe it was time to head back home. However, her ties to Daunte would make it difficult. If only she could find a way out.

As the time came closer to closing, the door opened up one last time. To their relief, it was just Mouth coming to pick up Millie. Although, Millie was happy to serve him a piece of pie before she clocked out for the night.

"Do you need a ride home?" Mouth offered. "I wouldn't want you to walk home by yourself."

Haley gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks, but I have my car. You guys go ahead. I'll lock up."

"Are you sure?" Millie asked. Haley nodded. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."

Haley finished her duties before she clocked out. She turned off all the lights and she locked the door. As she turned around, she jumped as she saw Daunte leaning against her car. "I assume you need a favor from me?" she guessed. "Is that why you came in the diner? If it's to replace one of your girls at your club, you can forget it."

Daunte grabbed her arm. He was so close to her that she could smell alcohol on his breath. "I think you're forgetting that I'm in charge here. If I want you to work in my club, then you will work in my club."

"Let go of me," Haley protested as she tried to get out of his grip. He just chuckled before he released her. She nearly lost her footing, but she managed to keep herself upright. She looked at Daunte who smiled in amusement. The look of pleasure on his face sicken her. What was she doing? Why she felt like she had to please this man? Yes, he gave her food and shelter, but it wasn't worth losing her self-respect. "That's it. I've had it. I'm quitting."

Daunte tried not to laugh. Haley barely listened to him as she prepared to get into her car. "Yeah right. Where would you go? You're nothing without me, Haley. After all, I know your dirty little secrets."

Haley raised her eyebrows in surprise. She shut her car door and marched over to him. She looked him in the eyes. "What makes you think I don't know yours? Do you really think I'm that stupid? That I don't know what's really going on in your club? You and your friends make me sick."

Daunte grabbed her again. "Do you really want to go there?"

A familiar voice stopped the conversation. "How much does Haley owe you?" The two turned to see Nathan, who appeared out of the shadows. He walked up to them. "I'm willing to pay you if you could let Haley out of her debt."

Daunte looked at Haley. "You've been telling your friends about us?" he demanded.

Haley shook her head. "No, I told Nathan to stay out of it," she defended. She turned to Nathan. "It's not that type of debt."

"I think you need to listen to Haley and let us handle this," Daunte told Nathan.

"I'm not going anywhere unless you promise to leave Haley alone," Nathan replied. "It's clear she doesn't want to work for you anymore. What will it take for you to leave her and her friend Millie alone?"

Daunte chuckled. "You can tell that little friend of hers that she's fired. As for Haley, she's staying with me." Nathan stood protectively in front of Haley. Daunte was still not intimidated. "I don't suppose you've told your boyfriend about your dirty little secrets, have you?" Haley didn't answer. "You know what? If you want to leave with him, then that's fine. Just don't come crying to me when your past catches up to you."

Haley breathed a sigh of relief as Daunte walked away from them. Nathan waited a few more moments before he turned back to Haley. "Are you okay?" he asked her with a worried look in his eyes. He seemed oblivious to what Daunte had just said about her past coming back to haunt her. "He didn't hurt you?"

Haley wanted to be mad at him. He really didn't know what he was getting into by confronting Daunte. At the same time, she was grateful. Her ability of trying to solve her problems by herself wasn't working. She was grateful for the rescue. She also felt a sense of freedom. She didn't have to worry about Daunte anymore. She could go anywhere she wanted. "Nathan, you didn't have to do that."

"Yes I did," Nathan replied. Haley was surprised at his answer. "I wasn't going to let anyone hurt you. Now let me take you home."

Haley was willing to take his offer this time. However, she had one request from him. "Could you stay with me tonight?" she asked. She wanted some comfort. She needed some comfort. "After all of this, I don't want to be alone." Nathan nodded before they climbed into her car and drove away from the diner.