A day.

Haley gave it a day before the rumors started flying. What was it going to be this time? That she begged Nathan into 'saving her'. That she promised him sex all the time in return for making her his girlfriend. That she was just a project or maybe a bet or maybe someone paid him to do it.

Haley didn't know. Those damn high schoolers could get pretty vicious and creative when they wanted to and that should've worried her... but she didn't care.

They were ignorant. It was as simple as that. They had no idea half the sht she had been through and they had no right to judge her or speak badly of her because if they were in her position, what would they have done? Probably break down even further.

She knew she didn't make the best of choices in the past but she made them, that was that. There was no going back and changing it. She accepted that now. She accepted that the past was the past and that she had to move on.

Nathan helped her with that.

It just made her slightly pissed off that some people, with their holier- than-thou attitude would have the audacity to speak of her like they were better then her. They weren't. They just thought they were. It really was pitiful.

Haley walked down the hallways with a raised head, her facade of confidence lasting even as she heard the murmured whispers behind her back. She had been so tired of being weak and giving in. After spending most of her weekend in Nathan's arms, he made her realize so much but she was still raw. She was still vulnerable.

And, so, she put up a cold mask. One that guaranteed she would not get hurt by outsiders.

"Whore," Haley almost flinched at the comment someone made as they walked by. She balled her fingers into a fist as she unloaded her books and grabbed the things that she needed.

A nearby conversation drifted her way and from the first words, Haley already knew who they were talking about.

"Her?" A girl asked, not even bothering to hide her disgust. "That's just.. ughh."

"Oh, I know. He deserves so much better," the other girl said with a flip of her hair, "I mean, Haley James? Come on."

"You know, she probably begged him and he just felt sorry for her. I mean, why else would he actually want to date her?" The first girl asked as she eyed Haley with a sharp eye.

"He did, it's so obvious that he just felt pity for her. She probably pulled the 'Oh-my-god, feel sorry for me because my brother died' card on him. I mean, god, it's been like what? 2 years. Get. Over. It."

Haley could take no more. She felt her wall crashing down as she slammed her locker shut, rushing through the hallways.

They wanted her to hear. She knew that. They wanted to get to her. They wanted to make her cry. And, there she was, giving them exactly what they wanted but she couldn't help it.

How could they....

They couldn't possibly be in high school. They couldn't possibly have had a soul or a conscience because to speak of somebody, anybody, like that was beyond cruel. It was beyond just plain vicious.

Haley rushed into her first period class, grateful that no one was there yet as she broke down into her seat, the sobs wracking her body. She couldn't do this.

It was so much easier to hide before. Everyone always refused to look her in the eye because they were scared that with a simple glance, their reputation would be tainted. And, then, Nathan came. And, he wanted to help her. He wanted to love her.

But, she couldn't do it. She couldn't go through something like this. She couldn't handle any more pain and any more whispers behind her back. She had already been through that when her brother passed away and when she first started sleeping around. It was so much easier to ignore them back them, she had nothing to care for, nothing to really hold on for.

Now, she had Nathan. And, she had to hold on for him but she couldn't. She wasn't strong. And, she couldn't handle the pain. She didn't want anymore pain.

Wiping the tears away, Haley pushed down the hurt inside her and got up, walking to the bathroom. Splashing some cold water on herself, she wiped the drops away. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see no one other then Brooke Davis, staring right at her.

Brooke raised an eyebrow and handed her a pencil, "Eye liner. You probably want to fix yours."

Haley nodded thankfully and applied it carefully before she sniffled and gave it back to her.

"So, I hear you're dating Nathan."

Her face fell as she realized what Brooke was going to do. She was cornered and there was no where to run.

Brooke smiled before she said, "I'm not gonna start dissing you. Remember, my reputation is similiar to yours."

"Except people respect you," Haley said quietly.

"No, they really don't," Brooke said simply before she shrugged, "They're just scared cuz they know I can make their lives a living hell."

Haley looked surprised at Brooke's revealing statement, "What's your point?"

"My point is, chicks like us, we've gotta stick together," Brooke laughed lightly, "Okay, cheesy but it gets the point across. Nathan's my bud and I can tell he has a major thing for you. I don't like seeing people messing around with people he cares about. So, I'm here to offer you a little piece of advice. I know it'll hurt, what they say. Don't let it get to you because you know what? They're jealous. When you're around them, throw it back in their face. When they see that there's no point in saying sht, they'll stop." Brooke flashed her a smile, "And, it'll stop."

"Easier said then done," Haley said softly as she leaned against the wall, sighing deeply.

"Hey, well, if they start saying crap around me, I'll be sure to set them straight."

Haley raised an eyebrow, surprised, "You don't even know me."

"But, I know Nathan. He's my best guy friend and well, you know the rest," Brooke grinned before she handed her some lip gloss, "Put some on, it's Marshmellow Yum Cake. My fave. It always makes me feel better."

Haley cracked a smile at Brooke's comment, "It's just lip gloss."

Brooke shrugged and put the lip gloss back in her purse when Haley was done with it, "It's more then just lip gloss. Later." And, with a tinkle wave, she was gone, leaving Haley standing in the bathroom, mulling over what had just happened.

--

Nathan didn't notice anything. At least, not at first. Everything seemed as normal as possible, he was used to people staring at him, but this time, instead of looks of envy, it was looks of confusion and the occasional smile, as if they knew something that really wasn't there.

Walking to his locker, he opened it and stuffed his things in before he grabbed a few books and notebooks, a conversation travelling over to him. He didn't want to listen but as soon as th name, Haley James, was mentioned, his attentions piqued.

"Oh, I know. He deserves so much better. I mean, Haley James? Come on."

"You know, she probably begged him and he just felt sorry for her. I mean, why else would he actually want to date her?"

"He did, it's so obvious that he just felt pity for her. She probably pulled the 'Oh-my-god, feel sorry for me because my brother died' card on him. I mean, god, it's been like what? 2 years. Get. Over. It."

Anger flamed in his eyes as Nathan made his way over to the girls, not even noticing Haley rushing off to her first period class. He stood in front of them, his eyes cold, his posture dominating and the girls immediately stopped talking.

The first girl, looking up at him nervously stuttered, "H-H-Hey Nathan."

Nathan looked at them intensely, "Do you know me?"

The second girl laughed nervously before she said, "Well, duh, everyone knows you."

"No, I mean do you know me?"

She paused before shaking her head, "No."

"Right, and you don't know Haley either. So, next time, you have the sudden urge to talk about us like you do know us, don't," He walked away, throwing out behind him, "You'll regret it."

The first girl snorted before rolling her eyes, "Oh my god, I can't believe he just did that." She bit the inside of her cheek, "I mean, come on, why would you defend that piece of-"

"It doesn't matter," the second girl said with a small nervous laugh, "Who cares about them?"

--

Brooke almost ran into Nathan as he walked past the bathroom, his eyes dark with anger. "Whoa, tiger, watch where you're going there."

"Brooke," his tone softened a bit as he greeted her, "Hey."

"Rough day?" She asked, her eyes focusing in on the tenseness of his body.

"I'll deal."

"Right," she said quietly, "I don't think your girlfriend will."

"Haley?" His eyes immediatley showed worry, "What happened-"

"Don't worry," Brooke said reassuringly, "I just did some damage control but she needs you."

"Where is she?"

"In there," she nodded towards the bathroom. Before she even finished her sentence, he was already rushing inside, handing his books to her. Smiling, Brooke sighed, "You're welcome."

--

"Haley?" Nathan asked quietly as he walked into the bathroom, the fact that he was in the girl's bathroom never even running across his mind. Haley needed him, that was all that mattered.

She bit her lip as she heard the sound of his soothing voice. She loved the way he said her name...

Getting up off the ground, Haley straightened out her clothes, making sure she looked presentable. "Hey," she whispered before she came out of her corner, walking towards him.

Immediately enveloping her in a hug, Nathan rested his cheek against the top of her head, rubbing small circles on the revealed skin of her arms, wishing to rub away the pain and hurt that was trapped in her petite body.

She hugged him tighter and Nathan could feel the drops of tears escaping from her eyes and onto his shirt. He didn't care.

The bell rang, signalling the students that there was only 5 minutes left before class started but they both remained there, unmoving, afraid to penetrate the silence.

They were both at peace now, momentarily but at peace nonetheless. Haley tightened her hold on Nathan's waist as another wave of sobs wracked through her body. She looked up at him with teary eyes, her gaze speaking more then her words could.

And, he nodded, understanding her pain and understanding her fear. She was so lost and so broken. He wanted to help her and she was willing but it was so hard. This path was long, winding, and dark. If there was even an end, neither of them knew.

Nathan let out a sigh as he gently brushed the tears away from her face, kissing the stains that they left on her cheeks. He gently pushed the hair out of her face as he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.

She didn't respond at first, almost as if she was scared. But, as the kiss grew more passionate, so did she and by the end, the tips of her fingers were pushing against his chest, wanting more from him, craving more. She needed him so desperately now and if left here.. she didn't even want to think of the consequences.

Gasping for air, Haley leaned her forehead against his as she held onto him tighter. "Don't leave me."

"I won't."

The bell rang again.

Neither noticed.