What You Say
Chapter One - Tomorrow

It was Thursday and Haley had finally made it home from another long day of school and work. She fell into the sea of pillows that occupied her bed. It was her safe place and she longed to be enveloped in the softness of it all day. Three weeks had passed since New Years and she was a mess. He had been there this time and he had turned her world upside down all over again.

Midnight had come and gone. Haley had been in the corner of the tiny club talking to Brooke, Theresa, and a few others when she felt someone's eyes on her. She turned around and saw him, clear across the room, watching her with the familiar smirk planted on his face. She had smiled, he had come over, and they talked as though time had never separated them. Peyton had been there, but Lucas, a friend they had brought with them, had occupied most of her night, a friend they had brought with them. Haley hadn't complained.

They had spent most of the night catching up. Nathan, who had spent the first three years after high school in Australia playing basketball, was finally back to stay. He was working and preparing to start school in the fall. He had moved to Charlotte where Peyton was living when he returned and that's where they had been ever since. He said he didn't like it there. He said he missed her. He said she was beautiful. He said he would call.

A week had passed and Haley hadn't heard from him. She'd given up and figured it was just something he had said in the moment. It was what she had wanted to hear and somehow he had always known what it was she wanted him to say, that night had been no exception. She should have known he wasn't going to call. Brooke had told her he wouldn't. She was starting to believe her. On the tenth day, her phone rang and it was Nathan. He had called everyday after that.

She never knew when to expect it. Sometimes it was early in the morning before he had to go to work. Other times, it was late at night after Peyton had gone to bed. It didn't matter that he woke her. She had forgotten how much she loved the sound of his voice. It was strong, but quiet. Haley would lie in bed and listen to his voice. Sometimes he would whisper. She liked that best. It made her feel like he was right there next to her.

Haley glanced at the clock. It was only 7:15. He wouldn't be calling anytime soon. She hated that she waited for him like this. But she wanted to talk to him. She'd gone too long without it and she didn't want to play games with him. She wanted to hear his voice. She wanted to know how his days were. She wanted to know what he was thinking. He still trusted her and he didn't trust anyone. Not even Peyton. She wanted to be there to listen. She liked that he was there to listen to her. She trusted him and she didn't trust anyone. Not even Brooke, most of the time.

"Haley, your phone's ringing," Brooke called from the living room. She practically flew off the bed. Haley picked up her phone and smiled when she saw his name on the caller ID. She walked back to her room and shut the door.

"Hello."

"Hey." He greeted softly "You home?"

"Yeah. About half an hour ago."

"How was your day?"

"Tiring. I don't know what I was thinking scheduling all my classes and a shift on one day."

"I'm sorry, Hales. I'm sure my calling at 3:00am didn't help much either."

"You'd be surprised. So how was your day?"

"Good. Peyton went to the movies with Lucas. I told her I was working late."

"You're still at work?"

"Yeah. Just hanging out in the office. I do have some things to do here, but I wanted to call you."

"I'm glad you did."

"I know." A few moments of silence fell between them. "I actually wanted to ask you something."

"Anything."

"Peyton's going to see her Dad in Boston this weekend and I thought maybe I could some see you."

Haley could barely contain her giddiness. "You want to come here?"

"If you don't care."

"You know I don't, Nathan."

"Yeah. I just - I forgot how much I missed you, Haley."

"When do you think you're going to be here?"

"You work until 6:00, right? I'm off at noon tomorrow and I thought I could meet you and we'd have dinner and maybe a movie or whatever. Anything you want."

"It sounds fun. I'll give you directions." Haley spent the next fifteen minutes trying to explain all of the exits, turns, and stoplights to Nathan before saying good-bye.

Haley couldn't stop smiling as she walked back into the living room.

"I guess your call with Nathan went well," Brooke said turning her attention away from the latest episode of The OC.

"He's coming tomorrow."

"Nathan's coming here? What about Peyton?"

"She's going out of town."

"So, why's he coming?"

"To see me."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Brooke hated to bring her friend down, but somebody needed to be realistic in this situation. She knew how deeply Haley cared about Nathan. She even knew that Nathan cared about Haley. But what was more important was the fact that Nathan and Peyton had spent almost half of their lives together. He wasn't going to leave her. If all the things she had done in the past weren't going to make him leave, then nothing was.

"I miss him, Brooke."

"I know you do, sweetie. But Nathan's with Peyton."

"I know that."

"But you pretend like you don't. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"I'm not."

"Just be careful."

"Of what? We're just friends, Brooke."

"You and I both know that's a lie. If you want to do this, then go ahead, but don't say that I didn't warn you."

"Thanks for all of the support," Haley spat sarcastically.

"I'm just looking out for you."

"Whatever, Brooke."

Haley went in the kitchen to make her dinner. She thought about Nathan. She thought about how sweet his voice sounded when he greeted her. She thought about the fact that he was coming to see her. Her smile reappeared. Tomorrow was going to be a great day.