A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in writing this chapter! I have been working non-stop lately and I have been sooo very busy but I dont want to bore you with the details of my pathetic existence...haha, so here is the next chapter... read and review but be nice! =) Its kind of short and its more of a transition chapter so sorry if it doesnt live up to the hype.. I am in a wierd mood tonight so hopefully my writing wont suck too bad...

"maybe you should sleep, maybe you just need a friend...as clumsy as you've been

there's no one laughing....you will be safe in here..." - Our Lady Peace

Tears where rushing down her face and she could feel the sting of them on her cheek. It was cold within the car and part of her longed to be outside by the growing fire... even so, her mind was racing on how to deal with the situation she now faced. Clarity finally rushed over her as she realized she would just have to fake it for now until she could find some time to reflect on everything that had just happened...

Quickly, Haley got out of the car and made her way hesitantly towards where Lucas and Peyton were. From a distance, she could see that Lucas was failing miserably on explaining things to Peyton. His facial expressions where strained and Peyton seemed to be downing as much alcohol as she could while blatantly ignoring every attempt Lucas was making to talk to her.

"Look, I dont want to talk about this now... not ever with you. I mean, you seem to have in your head that Haley needs your pigheaded attempts at rescuing her and I think its bull."

Haley came up silently, unnoticed by both Lucas and Peyton....

"Which part? Because I would think that you would agree with me on this, Peyton.. you out of all people know what Nathan Scott is capable of and who he really is..."

Haley watched as Peyton stared hard over the fire and then shrugged almost with defeat...

"Mabye so, Lucas. But I had to figure that out on my own and Haley does too...The only thing your doing right now is making things worse for everyone and most importantly for me and you... cause right now I dont know what the hell we are so mabye you could spend less time worrying about Haley and Nathan's relationship and focus on ours!"

Peyton stormed off leaving Lucas staring intently after her. Before Haley could even talk to Lucas he was gone chasing after Peyton. Haley sighed and reached for another cup to drown her sorrows in.....

By the time she was finished gulping back one, she was on her second... and third..... and fourth...

"Damn girl... plan to drink it all before the nights up?"

Haley turned towards Brooke who was smirking with some sort of hidden agenda...

"What do you want, Brooke? This isnt the time or place for me right now, so whatever it is your up to or planning...do you mind saving it for another day? I am so not in the fucking mood right now..."

She watched as Brooke's smile only got bigger and her eyes darted from hers towards the crowd of people...

"Yeah, it must be tough being in the crossfire of two guys affections... I can relate... well actually, I more than can relate because I am the object of every guys desire..."

Haley watched as Brooke cocked her head as if almost enjoying herself in her ultra-sized ego and conceit...

"But anyways, enough of this small talk... I just thought I'd give you the heads up on a couple of things, tutor girl... things your not seeing the big picture on..."

Annoyance started to cloud Haleys emotions and she could feel the heat flooding her brain and fists at the same time...

"Oh really... please DO enlighten me on what you could ever possibly know that I dont...."

"WELL... for instance, look over there Haley? Are you seeing why I am seeing?"

Brooke pointed her finger over towards the back of the fire where Haley could see Nathan and a bunch of the guys from the basketball team. Most of them were piss drunk and flirting like crazy with some of the girls who just happened to be on their laps..... Haley scanned each of their faces until her own face fell as she watched some blonde talking with Nathan. Her hand was dangerously close to his thigh and she could see Nathan's face smirking back at the girl. Haley darted her eyes away, trying to block out the whole scene before her...

Of course, she should have known better. Nathan was afterall a jock... just like the rest of them. The worst part was he was the worst example of a jock, because he wanted everything and everyone at his beck and call... Haley's mind ventured back to thier heated kiss and she wondered what the hell had it really been about then..... Had it been some type of show for his stupid friends? Or mabye just a way to get even with Lucas?

She shook her head sadly and was about to walk away from Brooke when she felt a strong grip on her arm...

"Not so fast, Tutor Girl. I am not even close to finished with you yet. Looks like you saw Nathan and that girl, right? Are you getting the point I am making or do I need to spell it out for you?"

Haley only nodded rather glumly and quickly withdrew her arm from Brooke's grasp... Her back was turned and she was walking away when she heard Brooke call out to her....

"He doesnt want you Haley and even if he does, its not going to be for long. Nathan is just like every other guy here except for Lucas and that isn't even an option for you... Take some of my advice since I'll never give it to you again... walk away cause your out of your league..."

Haley turned around back towards Brooke who had a strange look on her face. Even though, Haley knew that Brooke was right and that they would never be friends no matter what, something strange could be found on Brooke's face.... it almost looked like concern....

"Nathan hurts people, he hurt Peyton and he'll hurt you even worse than what you feel now. So I am telling you because apparently your not even listening to your FRIENDS so mabye you'll listen to me..."

"You've made your point, Brooke. Now just leave me alone..."

Haley turned around quickly heading back towards the alcohol...

"And while your at it, set Lucas free off this friendship leash you have him on. Its blowing my game and Peytons... Frankly, I dont appreciate it and if you dont, and I mean, SOON... your problems with Nathan wont be the only thing you'll have to worry about."

Haley blocked out Brooke's hurtful words and grabbed another cup....It was going to be one long ass night, that was one thing she knew for sure. She grabbed another drink and drank it quickly avoiding the smirking stares of many peers that she didnt even know.

15 MINUTES LATER:

"Hey. You came back..."

Haley's blood-shot eyes glanced over at Nathan who was staring at her with a small smile on his face. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him place his hand warmly on her shoulder.

"Everything okay with you and Lucas now? I'm sorry about kissing you like that in front of everybody. I mean... I dont regret kissing you but I didnt realize the whole affect it would have on everyone and stuff...Haley, I am sorry about our date. I was a complete ass and I want to make it up to you..."

Haley stared at his face long and hard. It was always funny to her how she could find small features of people she hadn't noticed before when in stressful situations. Like right now, she noticed how Nathan's cheek had a slight scar near the back of it towards his ear. It almost could go invisible to the eye but somehow right now it was the one thing that stood out to her even a0mist his profound words....

Her fingers which where trembling out of fear or mabye just the alcohol, gently came up and traced the outline of the scar. Her eyes held his as his hand came up over hers and firmly kept her hand on his cheek....It was moments like these that made it hard for her to do what she was about to do... end it.

"Nathan, I saw you a couple of minutes ago with that girl..."

A look of confusion came on his face and she wondered what thoughts were racing in his head right now...

"I thinks its better if we just end whatever this is.. .all of it... including the tutoring. I have a friend who could help you with these last tests you have and uim... I'll make sure you aren't left in the dust for these next couple of months... its just better this way... for all of us..."

She watched as his eyes bore into hers searching for answers she was trying to hide...

"This isnt about it being better for everyone... its about it being better for Lucas, right?"

She looked away trying to keep herself from revealing any more of what she knew he could never know...

"You know I never thought you'd be the type to punk out, James. I mean you just dont seem like the type to let people manipulate you in doing things you dont want to do. But whatever, you've made up your mind so now live with it."

Initial shock ran over her as his voice ended and she watched him start to walk away. It wasnt suppose to happen like this. He wasnt suppose to just give up.. He was suppose to fight for her, make her see the light.... he wasnt just suppose to leave....

"By the way... that girl... thats just an excuse. I didnt even kiss her and deep down you know that. There isnt a girl here except you that I wanted or needed... but you... looks like to me, I am not the only guy you want or need...."

His eyes met with hers one more time before he severed what ever connection they once had. He walked away from her leaving her with questions that she didnt even know the answers too... but one she did know and she refused to let him leave without knowing it as well...

"Nathan, its not like that with me and Lucas. I mean, I dont feel for him like I feel for you-"

Her voice halted as she realized what she said and she saw him stop short and turn back towards her. He walked rather quickly not giving her enough time to run away like she would have if he didnt know her better..

"Than why are you just giving up? I mean if you feel even half of what I feel for you, isnt that more than just some friendship between you and Lucas? Tell me - where I am missing the logic in you just letting that go?"

His eyes searched hers once more and she thought of a million excuses she could say but at the current moment she didnt feel like doing that anymore. The promise she had made to Lucas.... was the promise she was now going to break.

"Your right ...there is no logic behind it. I dont want to give you up, Nathan and I am not going too."

Her arms wrapped around his neck and she buried her head into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her as well.

"Good."

She felt him chuckle in her shoulder and a small smile formed on her face.

"You had me scared there for a minute, James."

She pulled away only slightly and smirked at him.

"Oh yeah, Scott... how scared...."

His eyes darkened and she could see the hidden fear in his eyes..

"Words wouldn't even do it justice..."

She smiled at him as he placed his hand in hers leading her back towards his friends. Her eyes scanned the crowd as she saw Lucas look up at her. She could read his face and somehow without words, she knew what she was saying to him and she knew that he was reading it loud and clear...

The only thing she didnt know was how in the hell he was going to deal with it...how in the hell where they all to deal with it..... it was one of those questions that would just have to be answered with time... LOTS of time.

--- Thanks for reading , promise this is not the end... Lucas is not going to be a happy camper about all this and just because Nathan and Haley are now sorta-kinda together doesnt mean its going to be smooth sailing either... I am toying with this being a triangle type of fic, what do you all thing? Strictly Naley? or a threesome! haha, okay.. read/and review.