"Where the hell do you get off..." Nathan started shouting the instant she walked in the door.

"Shut up. The only words I want to hear out of your arrogant mouth are Ow Doc, that hurts." She interrupted "Sit." She motioned to the table. To her surprise he complied. She put his arm through the range of motions. Concentrating very hard at the task at hand, her anger started to dissipate. "Have you been icing this?" she asked in a fairly normal tone.

"What am I six? Yes I've been icing it." He retorted.

"Don't take that tone with me mister."

"You just humiliated me in front of my team mates. I'll take what ever tone I damn well please."

"Did you think I was joking out there? Your spot in the line up is dependent on me. No one gets away with talking to me like that Nathan, not even you." She said.

"So you'd bench me out of spite? Why do I feel like I'm in high school again." He sulked.

"Did you just compare me to your dad?" Her anger came back in full force.

"If the shoe fits." He suggested.

"You know what? We are done here." And she strode out of the room. Of all the hurtful things they had ever said to each other over the years, that one definitely went to the front of the line. She took off the team store, picked out some random sweat pants and t-shirt, got changed, put on her running shoes and bolted out of the arena. She needed a run to clear her head. She didn't care that there were probably players waiting for her in her office, she just needed half an hour to herself. She wasn't exactly sure how the day had escalated to the point it had, but before she lost her mind altogether she needed a break. When she felt sufficiently calm she went back. She submitted her game day report to Coach Simmons and went back to her office. There were four notes taped to her door from players looking for five minutes. Without even changing out of her running gear she sought them out and took care of their issues. At one o'clock coach posted the line up for the game. By three thirty, Haley finally found fifteen minutes to check in at her office. She made a mental note to schedule time for a shower. What a day.

"I'm sorry." Nathan was waiting for her on the couch in her office.

"I take it you're pleased you are still in the lineup for tonight?" She remarked. She remained standing in front of him, hands on her hips.

"Well ya, but that's not why I'm sorry." He said.

"You are going to have to be careful about that elbow – keep the ice on it but it isn't serious enough to keep you out of the game. And that is my professional opinion, not a personal one. Don't for one second think that I did it because of what you said. You want to hit below the belt and act like a child, fine, but all you are going to get out of me is a by the book diagnosis. I won't play those games with you Nathan. It's not in my nature to be spiteful." Haley explained.

"I know that Haley." Nathan responded. "This is just hard for me." He admitted.

"I get it. It's hard for any athlete to be told he has to sit out a game. And don't think you are the first player I've yelled at either. I have quite a reputation in this building you know?" she teased.

"That is not the hard part."

"Then what is it?" She was clearly confused now.

"It's just..." he was searching for the words. "Ever since Peyton's birthday party and Brooke's ultimatum...well it felt like we were really becoming friends again."

"We are friends Nathan. But maybe we should just keep it business when we are here." Haley interrupted.

"Maybe, because what happened today had nothing to do with business. You really threw me for a loop yesterday when you said you had a date. I went back home afterward and Luke and I got to shooting hoops and then I fell and...the only reason I wiped out was because for the first time in a long time my head wasn't in the game. I've worked really hard over the past few years to keep my personal crap out of my game and there I was in some meaningless one on one and all I could think of was that some guy was making you laugh." He admitted.

"Wait a second here. Are you trying to say it's my fault that you got hurt yesterday?" Haley asked, a little offended.

Hey gave her his patented "give me a break" look. "No. That is not it. It's just..."

"Just what Nathan? Spit it out."

"How do you do it?" he asked.

"Do what?" she replied. She went and sat down beside him.

"This? Us hanging out?"

"Look, you want the truth? Here it is. Part of the reason I went off on you today was personal too. I went for dinner with Peyton on Saturday and she told me about Christine and it stung. More so because I had to hear it from her and not you. I know we are just friends, that we aren't together and I don't get a say in who you date or how you live your life, but then when you were being all stubborn and bullheaded about letting me look at your elbow, I just lost it. It wasn't fair and I'm sorry. But I meant what I said about not benching you out of personal reasons. I didn't take pity on you because of some sense of...I don't know. You just need to know that it was a purely professional decision." He smirked at her. "What?" He just kept smirking. "Don't." she said.

"Don't what?" Nathan asked. The smirk had grown to a full grin.

"Don't forget I know all your tricks Scott and I know that grin." She retorted.

"What grin?" It was an ear to ear grin now.

"That one." She pointed to his face.

"You are still cute when you are jealous you know that?" he said.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Liar." He was still smiling.

"Don't do this Nathan. I'm really trying to be OK with being friends, giving you the space you need or at least seem to want. Don't get all flirty with me. It's just cruel and I don't deserve it." She got up to go back to her own chair.

He quickly grabbed her by the hand and spun her around as he stood up. It all happened so fast that before she knew it she was chin to chest. She looked up and recognized the look in his eyes. Some things may have changed but she knew exactly what would happen next. She wasn't sure if she was excited or scared, but before she had a chance to decide, he leaned down and kissed her. It was exactly as she remember and yet better too. Five years faded away in an instant and she felt like she was home. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

When they broke apart he was still grinning. "Oh...what have I done..." Haley covered her face with her hands. Nathan did not remove his arms from her waist. "You have a girlfriend." She tried to wriggle out of his embrace.

"Oh, no you don't. You are not running away this time. There is no Christine." Nathan admitted.

Haley dropped her hands from her face. "What?"

"I said there is no Christine...well I'm sure there is somewhere but not that I am dating. I had to know Hales."

"So you torture me with visions of you and a groupie?"

"Like what you are wearing right now isn't your little version of torture?" He smiled.

"What?" Haley looked down. She was still wearing her running clothes. "I picked this up at the store today. I needed to go for a run and I didn't have any clothes here." She said.

In one quick motion he pulled the t-shirt she was wearing over her head, leaving her standing there in her sports bra. He turned the shirt right side out and showed her what was on the back. "Scott. 23". She hadn't even noticed in her rush to get out of the store that she had picked Nathan's jersey. "Oh what a sad pair we are Mr. Scott." She laughed.

"Yes we are Dr. Scott...and I think it's only fair to the rest of the population to spare them from our miserable selves and stick together."

"Oh, you think so huh?" she said.

"Hales. I want this. I want you. I want us. Can we do this? Try again?" He said softly.

"Nathan, before we even consider doing this don't you think we should talk about what happened the last time?" She replied. He handed her back her shirt, which she promptly pulled over her head.

"No. I think that the past is the past and should stay there. I don't want to rehash old news, I just want to start right here, right now." He said tucking her hair behind her ear.

"How can we ignore all the history? Where do we start?" She asked.

"Easy. You let me take you out for dinner tomorrow. A real date." Nathan smiled.

"I'd like that." Haley responded truthfully. He kissed her again and then left her standing in her office with a huge grin covering her face. What a day.

Haley found some time to shower and change for the game, but she didn't really remember doing it. She knew she had done a few treatments that afternoon, that they had won the game in extra time, but she didn't really remember the details. In fact everything that happened after he kissed her had this cool sappy glow to it. She was definitely in the clouds. It was so surreal. Tuesday morning she was keeping office hours for any after game treatments, but the afternoon she was taking off for herself. She kept her cell phone with her in case of emergencies, but she wanted time to herself to prepare for her date. She showed up at Peyton's door at lunchtime to rope her into helping.

"Traitor." Haley said when she answered the door.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Peyton tried to act innocent.

"I thought you were my friend and you dangle an imaginary girlfriend in front of me." Haley teased.

"Would it help if I said I told Nathan it was cruel and unusual punishment?" Peyton offered.

"Yes. But as I see it, now you owe me." Haley smiled.

"Name your price tutor girl."

"I have a date with Nathan tonight and I need to go to the mall. Are you free?"

"Absolutely. Let me just tell Jake where I'm going and we can leave." Peyton stuck her head into Jake's apartment and let him know she was going shopping with Haley and the two of them got into Haley's car and went to the mall.

"So are you really mad at me?" Peyton asked earnestly.

"I guess not. Pey, I'm kinda nervous about tonight. Is that strange?"

"Yes. Come on, let's go get you a new outfit. Maybe it will increase your courage quotient." Peyton smiled.

Haley spent an obscene amount of money on the cutest Marc Jacobs dress she had ever seen. Peyton said it was the only dress for her. She even bought new shoes. After a trip to the makeup counter, she felt like she was prepared....well at least prepared to get ready. The girls had a light lunch at the mall and then wandered around for a while. Haley's cell phone rang as they were exiting the building.

"Dr. Scott." She answered.

"Where ARE you?" It was Nathan.

"I'm out with Peyton. Where are you?" she said with a smile.

"I came by your office and your note said you were in meetings out of the building."

"I did have a meeting. With Peyton."

"Are we still on for tonight?" he asked.

"I hope so. I bought a new dress."

"Great. I'll come by and pick you up around seven. Does that work for you?" She could hear the smile in his voice.

"I'll be ready. See you later." And she clicked the phone shut. Peyton laughed at her. "What's so funny?"

"I can actually see the glow." Peyton remarked.

"You can not."

"Oh yes I can." She teased. "Don't stress. You are going to have a great time tonight. I just know it."

"I keep wanting to pinch myself. I can't believe it is really happening."

"Just don't screw it up. We've all invested a lot of time and energy to get you two back together ya know..." she joked. "Now go straight home and get ready. Call me first thing tomorrow and let me know how it goes."

"Deal."

Haley took her time getting ready and was pleased with the result. She was ready to go by six thirty and sat anxiously waiting for Nathan to arrive. The minutes ticked by like hours and she debated pacing. She decided against it as she thought it might make her even more nervous. She debated picking up the phone and calling Kate to get some words of encouragement but before she had the chance the buzzer went. She took a deep breath and let him in.

Nathan walked through the door in a gorgeous black suit that she would bet was made especially for him it fit so well. He looked amazing and it actually caused her breath to catch in her throat.

"Haley, you look gorgeous." Were the first words out of his mouth.

"So do you." She replied. Then there was an awkward silence. They were both acutely aware it and at the same moment they laughed. How ridiculous it seemed that they were nervous now.

"We should go. Reservations are for seven thirty." He held out her coat for her and she locked the door behind them. It was going to be a great night, she could feel it.

A/N don't worry, story is not done yet but we are on the down hill side. I am hoping to break 100 reviews before the story is done, so if you like (or hate) what you read, let me know. Thanks to all my serial reviewers. You are the best! - carys