Haley ran her hands underneath the running faucet and splashed her face with water. It was hot. Another rough Carolina summer and the temperature was up and rising well into the nineties. Business for the day had been rather slow, not even the local regulars coming in for their usual. Haley jumped with delight when she heard the unmistakable roar of Nathan's Mustang. She quickly straightened herself up to a more presentable state. She had just enough time to smooth her hair and apply a coat of lip gloss. It seemed like it took all the strength Nathan could muster for him to push open the door. He looked worn, even more tired than usual. He dragged to his favorite seat and slumped down in it, positioning his backwards turned black cap. He wore the usual baggy jeans and a black tee shirt that had PORN STAR printed in huge silver letters. Haley approached him with her usual smile, placing the menu down in front of him. He barely acknowledged her presence as his eyes skimmed it.

"Strawberry cheesecake and..."

"...iced cappuccino. I know, I know."

He gave her an aloof smile as she scurried to the back to prepare it for him. Feeling a bit playful, at the last moment she decided follow Karen's advice and serve him the cherry cheesecake. Smiling with a plate in one hand and the drink in the other, she walked over to his table.

"Here you go", she said with a usual smile.

He thanked her without even looking at her face. Picking the fork up, he bit into it his dessert heartily and Haley giggled as she saw the recognition in his eyes and the scowl forming across his face.

"Surprise", she grinned. "I just thought you might like to try something new after all these years. Not much, but we do have other things on the menu, you know."

Quickly wiping his mouth, Nathan dropped the cake back onto the plate.

"Jesus Christ, that's not funny, Haley!"

There was no hint of amusement on his face.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"I ordered the strawberry cheesecake. Strawberry cheesecake! That is the same goddamned thing I've been ordering in this place since I was in high school. Is it too much to ask to have you get my order right? Jesus!"

She literally jumped at the sound of him raising his voice. A harmless little prank had escalated way out of hand and her intention was never to make him angry.

"I...I'm sorry, Nathan. I was just having a little fun. I'll get you your strawberry right away."

"Never mind", he muttered, standing up abruptly and stalking out.

He tossed a couple of loose bills on the table before storming to his car and hauling out of the parking lot. Haley could only stand there feeling hurt and embarrassed.

"Everything okay out here?" Karen asked as she emerged from the back. "I heard what happened."

"I was just joking, Karen, honest. I didn't know he'd react like that", Haley whispered, tears stinging her brown eyes.

"Wow. Guess the boy just doesn't like cherries", Karen shrugged as Haley rushed to the back in tears.

Haley hummed to herself as she wiped down the last of the tables. Dark had already fallen and Karen had already left for home. The work was done but it was no use going back home just yet. What was the point? It was so cold and lonely and empty there. Besides, either her mother would be passed out or making out with Ricky and those were two sights she couldn't stand to see anymore. She would rather stay at the cafe where she could be alone lost in thought, so lost in thought that she didn't even hear the car pull up or see the blinding head lights shining inside. The tap at the window frightened her.

"Nathan...is that you?"

"Yeah. Can I come in, Haley? I want to talk to you."

She turned the key and opened the door letting him in.

"Hi", she stammered.

"Hey."

"Um, I'm real sorry about earlier. You know, the strawberry cherry thing. That was a stupid trick."

"No, that's what I came here to talk to you about actually. You don't have anything to be sorry about. It's me. I'm the one who owes you an apology. I completely blew up over nothing and that's wrong."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay to go off on you like that. You didn't do anything. I've just got a lot of other stuff on my mind. It has nothing to do with you and it's not fair for me to take it out on you. I'm sorry."

"Stuff about Peyton, you mean?"

The words escaped her mouth before her brain could control them. A wave of sadness washed over Nathan's face.

"Yeah...stuff about Peyton."

"How is she? I mean..."

"Not good. She's really sick...weak."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Me too. It's hard. It really sucks to see someone you love like that."

"You want to talk? I mean, you could sit down and have a cup of coffee and stuff."

"Nah. I mean, thanks but maybe some other time. I'm kind of tired and I really need to sleep. Big game this week with the New Orleans Hornets and I have to fly out tomorrow."

"Oh", she said quietly. "Well, if you have to go..."

"I do. I just wanted to come by and apologize for acting like an ass earlier. I was out driving around and saw the lights on in here."

"I'm glad you stopped by. Thank you."

He nodded and half smiled. "I'll see you in a few days. I'll come by for my usual."

"No cherries", Haley grinned.

"Definitely no cherries", he winked as the door shut behind him.