I know you tried
But its gotta come from the heart
Well I know I believe
It's the hardest part of love

Haley sat on her bed brushing her hair. It was five thirty on the dot, and she figured she had at least another half an hour before Lucas was there to pick her up. She looked into her closet, wondering what it was she could wear tonight. She flipped through the clothes. "No… No… No… No…" she mumbled as she touched each one. "Mmm… perfect," she giggled. She pulled out a dark blue shirt, exactly the color of the Raven's jerseys. It was a tank top which she knew clung closely to her body, and was low cut. She knew she looked gorgeous in it. It made her eyes a deeper brown, and contrasted her lightly tanned skin and dark hair perfectly. Lucas always complimented her when she wore this shirt, so she decided on it. She took out a pair of black slacks. She quickly changed into those clothes, and messed her hair around so it didn't look perfect.

Haley looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. "Lookin' good Hales," she said in an attempt to pep herself up. She heard someone laugh from her bedroom door and then open it. She smacked Lucas in his arm. "I told you to call."

"Yeah, well I decided to come over early and chat," he said with a grin. "How was school?" Haley rolled her eyes and fell down on the bed dramatically. "That bad huh?"

Haley nodded. "That bad is an understatement." Lucas prodded her lightly with his elbow in attempts to get her to spill. "Okay well first I ran into Brooke and Peyton in the hallway. Well, no. They ran into me. And when I say ran – I do mean it literally. Then, I go to the library, and you know that's my only escape from those pompous assholes. Well, not today it wasn't. None other than Nathan fucking Scott was sitting right there. And not only did he run into me, but he didn't say excuse me or anything… and THEN," she complained.

"There's more?" Lucas interrupted. Haley nodded. "Oh god, continue."

"Then I go to the tutoring office, in hopes of escaping these retards, and I'm sitting there – and someone walks in. It's the person I'm tutoring now. Guess who that could be," Haley said. Lucas's face scowled.

"Nathan?" he growled.

"Ding ding ding, want a cookie?" she growled. "And then we proceeded to argue about how I'm a book nerd and he's a pompous no good arrogant jock, and then he leaves – you know, big game preparations and all… and his little girlfriend Peyton comes in and tells me to keep my 'grubby paws' off her boyfriend. I'm like seriously chick if you're that low on self esteem that you think I'm going to steal your boyfriend – there's something wrong with you."

"Wow Hales," Lucas said. He hugged her lightly. "I'm sorry you're stuck with all this shit."

Haley nodded. "Me too."

"We've got to get going though, its almost six, I've got to be there in 15 minutes," he said standing up.

"Alright," she said. She stood up, grabbed her cellphone and her purse and they walked out the door. "What are we doing afterwards? Tims?"

Lucas gawked at her. "You're willing to go?"

She grumbled. "Only for you Lucas, only for you."

Lucas hugged her tightly. "I love you Hales!"

"Love you too, buddy," she said as they hopped into his car.

The car ride was rather insightful. Lucas was teaching her the basics of basketball, not that she didn't already know them. She'd known Lucas all her life, and all their lives he'd been interested in basketball. It was his life. He ate, slept, and breathed basketball – and since she was his best friend, she did as well. They got to the school right on time, and Lucas kissed her cheek lightly and disappeared off into the locker room. There weren't many people there yet, the game didn't start until seven, so there were only a few parents there, and the cheerleaders – whom all gave her dirty looks. Lucas was a wanted commodity, but no one could compete with Haley to even get close enough to him to date him – so they all resented her for the fact that she was close with him. Haley took a seat behind The Tree Hill Raven's bench and sat there. Soon, Karen, Lucas's mom, was seated next to her.

"Haley! How's school going sweetheart?" Karen asked her as she wrapped her in a tight hug.

When they finally ended their embrace, Haley shook her head. "School's okay – but I could definitely deal without the people."

They both let out a long laugh. "Well at least you're not hated like I was," Karen remarked.

"Oh, I am," Haley said gesturing towards the cheerleaders. "They all want Lucas, so of course I'm stuck in the middle of that battlefield."

Karen laughed again. "He's gotten popular hasn't he?"

"Yeah," Haley mumbled. She got a distant look in her eye as the basketball players ran out onto the court. Everyone cheered them on. Then the game was started, which consisted of Nathan & Lucas Scott scoring all but 10 of the points for the game, and the Tree Hill Raven's dominating the game. When it was over, Haley's attention was fixed on Nathan. She didn't know why, but she couldn't take her eyes off him. Just as she was thinking this, Nathan glanced up at her and waved. Haley smiled and waved back. She then caught the death glare from Peyton.

"Oh, I see that's one of your admirers," Karen giggled, noticing Peyton.

"Well, see… I'm stuck tutoring Nathan now – and Peyton thinks I'm going to steal him away from her. But I know that would never happen," Haley laughed. Karen just looked at her oddly. "What?"

"Oh nothing," Karen said. "But the look in your eyes when you say his name says differently."

Haley sat there shocked, mouth open wide and her eyes transfixed on Karen's, thinking about what she'd just said. "No, Kar… I don't even know him, how could my eyes possibly look different when I say his name?"

"Haley," Karen said taking her hand into hers. "I know you, I know you better then anyone but Lucas… and I know a difference like that when I see one."

"If you say so," Haley mumbled as Lucas came bounding up the bleachers after he exited the locker room, obviously already showered and changed. Karen and Haley both rose to meet him. Haley greeted him with a warm smile, and a tight hug. "Amazing job, Broody."

"Yes, Lucas, Wonderful game," Karen said as she hugged her son.

"Thanks guys, it was so awesome…" he said with a grin."Mom, Hales and I are going out – so don't wait up okay?"

"Sure, no problem. Don't be too late you two," she said with a wink. "I love you Lucas, be careful."

"Yes mother, I love you too," he said as he kissed her cheek. She smiled and left. "Ready?" Lucas asked Haley as they started down the bleachers.

"Ready as I'll ever be," she mumbled as they exited and went to his car.

They showed up to Tim's fashionably late, because they'd of course gotten a little side tracked talking and whatnot, so they stopped off and chatted it up until about 10 o'clock, when they'd figured they should make an entrance. They parked a little bit down the street from his house, because there were cars lined up and down the street. Haley looked in the window of Tim's house, and heard the booming of the music. "Not a party, huh?" Haley growled angrily as her and Lucas entered.

Everyone stopped and turned to look at her as they walked in. "Well, aren't you just the life of the party," Lucas whispered in her ear.

"It's only because I don't fit in, Luke," she whispered back.

Tim came over and shook hands with Lucas and looked at Haley. "Hey Luke, what's up dude? Who's this?" he grinned.

"Haley, this is Tim… Tim, this is Haley," he said introducing them.

"Hey," Haley said quietly.

"Hey, nice to meet you – liquors in the kitchen," he said before sauntering off to meet some more guests.

"Oh yay, here comes another welcoming wagon," Haley grumbled as an obviously drunk Peyton and Nathan walked up to Lucas and Haley.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Nathan growled.

"Yesh, and you toos," she slurred, and managed to hiss, at Haley.

"Partying," Lucas said stepping in front of Haley, and getting in Nathan's face.

"Well, seems to me like no one wants you here," Nathan growled again, more angrily then he had before. He stepped up a little, trying to intimidate Lucas.

Lucas threw his head back and laughed right into Nathan's face. He grabbed Haley's hand and the two walked away. Nathan walked away furiously in the other direction, leaving Peyton to attempt to stumble after him. "Well," Haley giggled. "That was interesting, to say the least."

"Agreed," he added. "Want a beer?"

"Nope," Haley said as they walked into the kitchen. She looked around and found some vodka. She mixed herself a tall drink, composed of almost 90 vodka. She giggled as Lucas looked at her wide eyed. "Hey, if you're going to drink – might as well hit it hard."

Lucas grabbed himself a beer, and laughed. "Yes, I guess so… but I'll just as soon stick with my Coronas."

Haley laughed. "I'm going to go see who's all here, maybe check out on the dock and get some fresh air, I'll catch you soon," she said – leaving a stunned Lucas standing there. Haley had never been one to go off on her own, she was a shy type, and didn't really socialize. He liked this change in Haley though, she was becoming more outgoing – and he thought it would do her some good.

Haley laughed as all the people wherever she walked, stared at her intently – or angrily. She just shook them off and walked her way outside. She stepped out onto the porch, and then the path that lead the way to the dock. She could see the outline of someone standing at the end, but she decided to brave it anyway. She shuddered when she got to the end, and felt the cold sea wind whipping across her body.

"Should have thought about the sea breeze before you came down here," the man remarked. Haley knew the voice instantly.

"Thanks for the brilliant idea, much MUCH too late, Nathan," she mumbled as she walked to the opposite side of the dock then he was on.

"What? Embarrassed to be seen standing next to me?" he said as he turned to face her. In the dark, all she could see was the outline of his body from the moonlight, and the soft glow of his eyes, with the moonlight reflecting in them. "I promise not to push you in or anything, Haley." He remarked sincerely.

She took a step in his direction, and stood at his side. "Oh you know my name?"

"Yes, Haley James. I know more then you'd suspect me to," he added.

She shuddered when he said her name. "I see," she whispered quietly. Her teeth chattered lightly.

"It's a bit cold out here, huh?" Nathan said, not seeming to be talking to her – just maybe saying it out loud in hopes of starting a conversation. He took a step closer to Haley, and put his arm around her shoulders. She pulled away quickly. "Hey, I was just trying to be nice – and help you keep warm."

She took a long, gulp of her drink and loosened up a bit within seconds. She nodded and took a step closer to him, and he replaced his arm. She immediately felt the warmth of his skin against hers, and took another gulp. This one killed half the glass. She felt it warm her from the inside out, or maybe it was just the spark she felt when Nathan touched her at all. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"What are you drinking?" he inquired.

"Vodka," she said flatly, and took another gulp.

"Oh – hardcore drinker, huh?" he laughed.

She shook her head. "No, not at all. I just know – if you're going to drink – drink it hard."

He laughed again, his eyes lighting up even more then they were from the moonlight. She downed the rest of her glass. He pulled her closer to him. He could smell the alcohol on her breath. He leaned his face closer to hers. "You look gorgeous tonight," he whispered huskily in her ear.

She smelled his breath just to see if he was drunk. 'Nope,' she thought as she took a whiff. 'He probably hasn't even had a single drink yet.' "Oh, yeah?" she said with a slight grin. The alcohol was really making an affect on her right at this very moment.

"Yeah," he said as he brushed his lips against hers lightly. "Beautiful." He said as he engulfed her mouth with his in a deep, passionate kiss.

She kissed him back, and hard. She wanted his entire mouth on hers. She couldn't get enough of him. She breathed in the scent of him as deep as she could, tasted his lips, his tongue, every inch of his mouth. She ran her hands up the length of his sides, his chest, his back, his arms, and rested them on his face. She heard someone coming up the dock, and she didn't care. She eagerly pulled his mouth closer to hers, and continued their kiss.

"What the fuck is going on?" Lucas screamed as he broke the two apart. "Nathan, what the fuck are you doing? Leave her alone. She's obviously drunk."

Nathan laughed and shook his head. He sauntered up the dock laughing loudly. "If you insist," he mumbled.

"Come on Hales," Lucas said putting his arm around her, and draping her arm around his own neck. "I think it's about time I get you home."