Alas, my story is completed!!! What first started as a challenge, turned into a wonderful story that I'm so SO sad to see end. But I thank you all for the wonderful feedback for every chapter, and hope that you continue to read my other future works. You guys make my crappy days turn into great ones, so thanks!

---Three Months Later---

"You ready to go?' Maddie asked, poking her head into Haley's bedroom to survey her current state of evening attire.

Haley turned to face her friend and slumped her back, watching as Maddie flopped onto the bed with a sigh. She turned her attention back to her reflection in the mirror. "I look stupid."

Maddie growled, cupping her hands over her face. "You do not." It came out muffled, because well, she was annoyed and didn't care to take her hands away from her face. "You always say that, anyway. Every year."

"Yeah well that's because every year I DO look stupid. Besides, this color makes me look like a blimp." She smoothed her hands over the long orange colored evening gown and frowned. "I could kill my mother for making me wear it, I swear."

"Well, I think it's pretty. Besides, it could always be worse. Remember last year...Gwen Stratford's olive green piece of crap toga?"

"It wasn't a toga." She replied, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, but it looked like one. All she needed was one of those wreathy things made out of leaves wrapped around her head and some wings. She could be straight out of one of those Red Bull commercials."

Haley's soft chuckle filled the room, but quickly faded. The small smile on her face was replaced by a look of sadness." I really don't want to go."

"You never want to go!" Maddie lifted herself off of the bed, her silky, blue dress showing wrinkles from the position she was laying in. "Haley, this is important to your parents. You know mine throw this ritzy get- together every year for their firm and your dad could really use the job that my dad's offering him. So just go like you always do, put on a happy face, and try not to spill punch on my shoes like last year, okay? I'm still trying to get the stains out. Although I fear there's no hope for them anymore."

"The things I do for you." She grabbed her purse off of the bed before taking one final look in the mirror. "So, what does this dress say to you? Big orange blimp or radioactive carrot?"

Maddie's eyes rose towards the ceiling. "I was thinking more like slender pumpkin." She nodded, happy with her choice of wording.

"That's good enough for me." She smiled slightly. The past few months produced very little smiles but once in a while, Maddie could get one out of her. It was quite a task to do so, though. "Let's beat this Popsicle stand before my parents force us to ride in the James Station Wagon Of Love."

"Ah yes, the love mobile. That thing is ancient. And ya know what? I believe you were conceived in that car-"

"Enough! No stories of my conception, please!"

"Fine, fine." Maddie quickly walked out of the room with Haley trailing behind her. She quickly shut the light switch off, causing the rest of the hallway to fall into darkness. "Can we talk about mine then? Because I have a few good ones to share..."

"Well, well will ya look at that? She sure moves in quickly. It's like a chicken hawk stalking its prey." Maddie eyed a tall blonde girl talking to Trevor and immediately vowed to kick her ass later on that night.

"You do realize you just compared a girl to a chicken hawk." The two laughed for a short while, looking around at all the people who had actually decided to show up at the high-class event. "Why don't you just go over and talk to him?"

"Because, Haley. God! If I go over there and talk to him, he'll think I like him again!"

"You do, stupid." She smacked Maddie on the head.

"That was so unnecessary. Now you got me all flustered and sweaty." Haley shrugged. "I don't need pit stains on this dress, Haley. It's not machine washable!"

She scoffed, taking a sip of her punch. "Please, it's not like you're going to wear it again."

"That is so not the point. I paid three hundred dollars for this dress!"

Haley narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Three hundred dollars? That's ridiculous. I could have sworn you just borrowed it from Jamie Sullivan's closet."

"Say what?"

"Oh come on, that dress is so modeled after A Walk To Remember. If I wasn't obsessed with that movie I'd try to tell you otherwise."

"Well, you're a big fat pumpkin!" She watched as a grin started to creep onto Haley's face. "It's not funny you big, fat, pumpkin blimp! I take back my slender pumpkin name for you because you're an obese radioactive carrot lovin' blimp!"

"You're !" She retorted.

"You better watch it or else I'm going to spill punch on your shoes again. And this time, it won't be an accident."

Maddie sobered up at this and crossed her arms over her chest. "Alright, I'm going to see if mom needs any help spooning out caviar to old people with bad breath."

"Have fun." Haley said sarcastically.

"Oh yeah! If I'm lucky maybe I'll get to feed them too. Nothing like a sexy brunette feeding old people caviar. How's that for good porno?"

"When it comes out on video, I'll be first in line to buy it." They both shook hands and parted ways for the time being. Actually, Maddie parted ways. Haley sort of just floundered by the punch bowl, surveying the room once again.

These stupid fancy parties were usually so boring, no matter who was there or how fun they were. Haley wasn't expecting to have a great time, but she didn't expect herself to want to commit suicide due to excessive boredom either.

It was pointless. Every year she'd spend money on a stupid, ugly dress that she'd wear for one night. And she didn't exactly have a choice either. Since her parents were extremely good friends with Maddie's parents, they wouldn't dare give up a social engagement such as this...especially since Maddie's father's law firm was so prestigious. Also put aside the fact that they were suck ups, and by the end of the evening, their noses would be as brown as a hunk of sickeningly sweet chocolate.

Haley rolled her eyes at her thoughts, taking another sip of the bland punch. Just a few more hours and she'd be home in her nice, warm bed. School was finally over, which meant she didn't have to worry about certain people or things and could rest easy at night. It was a comforting thought.

She felt a tap on the shoulder and turned around, seeing her mother with a rather drunken look on her face. "Enjoying the party?"

"Obviously not as much as you." Haley watched as her mother swayed a bit. "Exactly how much did you have to drink?"

"Oh some of this, some of that. Don't worry about it. I have a designated driver." She pointed over to her father who waved back and began grinding with an old woman in her late 80's.

"Yeah because that's definitely working out for you. You better watch it before grandma over there moves in on your territory and they high tail it to Vegas. Wouldn't want that to happen."

"Somebody's not happy." She pinched Haley's cheek rather roughly.

"Ya think?" Haley retorted sarcastically, pushing her mother's hand away before she could grab another hand full of cheek flesh.

"Well I have something that could make you happy!" She pointed to the door and watched as Haley's mouth dropped open.

"What is he doing here?" The bitterness in her voice made her mother cringe. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

"I'll explain later. Just...." She bit her bottom lip and patted Haley on the shoulders. "Uh, have fun."

"Yeah, fun." Was this really what she needed right now? All of this time she just wanted to forget about him and people just kept trying to push them back together. Sure, some would say fate. Haley would just call it a pain in the ass waste of time.

He walked over to her, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his gray dress pants. "Hey." He was certainly nervous of what she would do. Haley was an unpredictable person at times. And after all they had been through, there was no telling what she would do.

The tone of his voice was timid, scared in almost a way. She definitely took notice in that. However, she wasn't going to let him get to her. "Hi." Her tone was harsh, cold.

"Your mom invited me-"

"Yeah and I have no idea why. It's not like it's her party." She slammed her punch glass onto the table. "You shouldn't have come."

She did have a point there. This party was lame. "You know what? You're right. I shouldn't have. But I did. And you want to know why? Because I miss you, Haley. Alright? I miss you."

"If you missed me so much then why didn't you try to call me for the past three months? Or maybe try to talk to me at school when you weren't with your dumb jock buddies? Oh wait, I know why. Because you're weak, Nathan."

There. It was said. Nathan Scott was weak. For once, he didn't have anything to say back. He knew it was true. He was as weak as they come.

"You're weak for sleeping with Brooke. You're weak for not telling me, and you're just as weak for not trying to get me back. Even though if you tried I'd probably shoot you down every time anyway. But still. It's the thought that counts and you definitely didn't put any thought into it."

He looked down at the ground, hesitating for a moment. "You're right. I am weak."

Did she just hear him right? Nathan Scott admitting he was...weak? Oh, this was a first. She nodded as he stepped closer to her. "I want to start over again."

Haley looked into his eyes. They were sad, desperate, and sincere. There was honesty buried in their core. Yet, she didn't want to give him the chance to hurt her again. "I don't know if I can do that."

"I'm making an attempt to get you back, Haley. Maybe I am weak, but not as weak as you think I am."

Minute after minute, she was unwillingly letting her guard down. She knew in her mind she shouldn't give him the time of day. But in her heart, she was telling herself to let him in. "Do you understand how hard you'll have to work to build up my trust in you again? I mean, seriously Nathan. Why am I even having this conversation with you when you'll wind up hurting me again?"

"Because I love you." He took her hand into his and held it gently. "I made a mistake."

Haley nodded. "I know that. And If I let you off the hook, partially, not totally...you are going to owe me so big. I mean it, Nate. I'm really having a hard time believing that your promises are sincere." His eyes fell and settled onto the ground. Oh, who was she kidding? She was basically miserable for the past three months. She missed him. And although she was still mad beyond words at him, she loved him. "But I'm willing to start over again. If you're willing to stay true to what you say."

Nathan smiled, extending his hand out to her. "So, we're starting over again. Right?" Haley nodded once again. "Well then, I'm Nathan Scott. And you are?"

"Haley James." She took his hand and shook it gently.

They both smiled, Haley a bit uneasy, but willing to take a chance. "Friends?" He asked, his eyes hopeful.

"Friends."

And they both kept their hands interlocked, small smiles placed on their once somber faces. Maybe things weren't totally back to normal, but it was a start.

Friends...for now.

The End.