Hey, sorry I didn't update this sooner. I made an impromptu visit back to my parents, so I've been on a plane and catching up with them. I promise frequent updates againt though. And you know what I just figured out? Once I put this up, it actually takes a really long time to show up on the site. Yes, I know, I'm slow. Anyway, R&R people. Btw, loving the reviews. You guys rock! Next few chapters will be up tomorrow.

Chapter 10:

It was a week and several days after the start of Nathan and Haley's non-platonic relationship and, though nothing is ever perfect, for them, it was pretty damn close. They couldn't be happier. And that was beginning to worry Haley. Because she was never so happy for this long. She was just a bit paranoid perhaps and couldn't help but wait for the other shoe to drop. For the day when it would all be ripped away from her. She was thankful that it had not yet come. And she was hoping that it wouldn't anytime soon.

She sat in Calculus, bored out of her mind as the teacher droned on and on. There was still five minutes left of his seemingly endless lecture and the fact that she was so impatient to see Nathan only made it longer. She dropped her pencil, having stopped listening closely enough to take notes soon after class began. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the clock and watching the seconds tick by.

Four minutes now. She rolled her neck from side to side, desperately fighting the urge to fall asleep.

Three minutes. Sighing loudly, she looked around the room, shifting in her seat uncomfortably as she saw Kristen studying her intently.

Two minutes. She shuffled papers around on her desk restlessly.

One minute. She quietly loaded everything in her bag and sat waiting for the bell to ring. When it finally did, she raced from her seat toward the door, hoping to avoid a confrontation with Kristen. Just as she stepped into the hall, Kristen's hand landed on her shoulder. She swallowed and turned, faking a smile in the other girl's direction. ""Yeah?"

Nathan, a little bit down the hall could see what was about to happen and knew he couldn't allow it to. "Haley!" he called, jogging down the hall to her side before Kristen could open her mouth again.

She grinned in relief. "Hey baby." She kissed him quickly as his arm immediately moved to protectively circle her waist and he led her in the opposite direction from Kristen, who stalked off, looking frustrated and angry. Haley sighed, relaxing against him and wrapping her own arm around his waist as they headed toward the cafeteria, whispering, "Thank you."

He kissed the top of her head. "Anything for you, babe." She smiled, stopping and leaning up to kiss him again. After a few seconds, she began to pull away, but he jerked her back to him, parting her lips with his tongue. Her hands went to the back of his head, pulling him closer. He backed them up and pushed her against the row of lockers. After 10 minutes of making out, Peyton approached them. Things had escalated and she raised an amused brow at the two people heatedly making out before her.

She cleared her throat, but they didn't hear her. She tried clearing it again, but they didn't notice. Rolling her eyes, she tapped Nathan on the shoulder. But he seemed not to feel it as his hand crept to the hem of Haley's shirt and under it. She shook his shoulder and he finally pulled away from Haley, annoyed, and exclaimed, "What!"

She rolled her eyes. "You do know you're missing lunch," she informed them.

Nathan groaned, resting his head on Haley's shoulder, then lifting it again and asking, "You interrupted us for that?"

She shrugged. "We didn't know where you guys were." Turning on her heel, she walked back toward the cafeteria, expecting them to follow.

Nathan looked at Haley pleadingly. "We can just ditch them, right?"

She gave him a reproving glance, which quickly turned to a sympathetic expression as she caressed his cheek, saying, "I know, baby. But we have to go." He eased away from her reluctantly, clearly frustrated. "Hey," she grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. "Come over after school. I'll make it up to you," she promised.

He nodded, still disappointed, and his arm automatically settled back around her waist. She smiled and gave him one last kiss and they set off down the hall toward the friends they didn't quite realize how lucky they were to have.

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At a lunch table in the crowded noisy cafeteria of Tree Hill High sat a group of seven people, some lovers, some merely friends, but all their lives were so inexplicably woven and tangled together that it seemed they would never be rid of each other and the tight knit group they were the exclusive members of. At times, it seemed that certain of these members could barely tolerate the presence of another member, but they were all the closest of friends and this bound them together in a way such that nothing would ever be able to truly tear them apart.

Where there had once sat six, there now sat seven. And for that, each person occupying one of the seven spaces could not be happier. In a world where nothing can be taken for granted, where one day you could be the happiest person alive and the next you could be wallowing in self despair with no one to turn to but yourself, it was a relief to know that they all could depend on one another. And, though none of them had ever actually spoken those words aloud, it was a silent understanding, a unanimous agreement that they would always remain friends. Though they may have their disagreements, their arguments, even, at times, believe their relationship to be damaged beyond repair, nothing would ever permanently come between them.

So, they sat, enjoying each others company as they had all the days of the past week. "So, what are we doing today?" asked Brooke, gazing at the faces of the six people she now considered closest to her.

"Me and Haley have plans," offered Nathan quickly. He had no problem with spending time with his friends, but today, he wanted Haley all to himself.

Brooke's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"

"Yeah," he replied, obviously willing to fight for her companionship.

Haley rolled her eyes. "While I love having two people fight over me, Brooke, me and Nathan do have plans."

Brooke sighed. "Come on, Haley, we need to have a girl's night out. Please, we haven't done that in forever."

"Brooke, you know I love you but I promised Nathan I'd spend some alone time with him."

Brooke glared dangerously at her. "Haley, girl's night. You and Nathan can spend time together some other time."

Haley turned to Nathan. "She''got a point sweetie."

He groaned. "No, Haley, today was supposed to be for you and me." He looked at her pleadingly.

"Aw, that is so sweet. Sorry, Brooke, girl's night can wait, Haley proclaimed, staring into Nathan's eyes which lit up at her comment.

Brooke rolled her eyes, jealous that her friend would rather spend time with Nathan than with her. "Haley," she whined.

"Brooke," Haley mocked her, tearing her gaze away from Nathan's, who laced his fingers with hers.

Brooke pouted at Haley. "You cannot be serious. You would rather spend time with that jerk than me and Peyton? I'm hurt. No offense, Nathan."

Nathan grunted. "None taken."

"Brooke, we can have girl's night this weekend."

"It's Friday, Haley, it is the weekend. Please, me and Peyton need to have some girl time. You might have just started dating someone, but we've been dating these guys for months and we need some time away."

"Hey!" Lucas protested.

"What!" Jake cried indignantly.

"We do?" asked Peyton.

"Can I come?" asked Tim.

Brooke let out a small scream of frustration. "Yes, we do. I'm sorry Luke and Jake, but we get tired of you sometimes. And Tim, no, you can't come. You may act like a girl, but you're way too perverted."

Haley sighed. "Fine."

"No, no, no, no," Nathan groaned. "You are mine this weekend."

"Sorry, babe, guess we'll just have to spend Saturday together or something."

"Yes!" Brooke cheered, pumping her arm victoriously. She stuck her tongue out at Nate. "Ha!"

So, for one night, this close knit group would separate according to gender, few agreeable to the plan, most greatly opposed to it. But they all good-naturedly agreed to succumb to Brooke's wishes for one night, waiting until the next night when they would be able to do whatever it was they wanted. They would eventually be able to do whatever they pleased. Because, and Haley grinned at the thought, they had time.

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After school, seven people congregated around Brooke's car, Brooke grinning at the scene before her. Nathan was begging Haley to skip out on girl's night, pleading with his puppy dog eyes and attempting to persuade her with little kisses. But Brooke knew they would all eventually agree to her plan. She loved that she had this much power. And, while winning over Nathan had been part of it, she really did want a girl's night with just Peyton and Haley. She may love Luke and perhaps her statement about getting tired of spending time with him had not been entirely true, but she really needed to spend some time with her favorite girl friends just for one night.

She smiled, watching Peyton trying to console Jake, who had already planned out their whole weekend.

Tim was sitting off to the side, looking depressed, knowing that whatever came of this night would most likely not be favorable to him.

Luke stood beside her, pleading, "Please, baby. You guys can have girl's night next weekend. We all already had plans for today. I had plans for you and me too."

"Luke," she said stiffly, "I told you. It'll just have to wait. Me and Peyton and Haley have not been able to have a girl's night since Haley started dating Nathan and she just needs one night away from him to spend with us. Besides, we'll probably just spend the whole night talking about how much we miss you guys anyway."

"Fine," Lucas scowled.

"Aw, I'm sorry, honey. We can spend tomorrow together. Just you and me."

He turned to her, looking a little happier. "Promise?"

She smiled. He really did love her. "I promise," she said, giving him a soft kiss. When she broke away, five indignant people stood in front of her. "What?" she asked innocently.

"Yeah, you and Luke need a break my ass," Nathan mumbled, looking away and frowning deeply.

"Babe, it's just one night," Haley tried to convince him.

He looked at her desperately. "But that's a long time," he whined.

"OK, boys, I think it's time for us girls to leave now. Buh-bye. See you tomorrow."

Peyton hugged Jake and kissed his cheek.

Haley kissed Nathan, then pulled away. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him. "Don't go, please," he whispered in her ear.

She looked into his eyes and saw the longing there. Her heart ached for him. But she knew he could survive one night apart. They both could. At least she hoped so. "I'm sorry," she said in his ear, kissing it and letting him go.

He watched as both her and Peyton linked arms with Brooke and the three most important women in his life got in a car and drove away. It was only for one night, but he didn't know if he could stand it.

Lucas groaned. "Man, what are they doing to us?"

"I don't know, man, but I miss her already," sighed Jake, staring after Brooke's car.

Nathan turned to them. "Come on, guys. We can do this. It's just one night. We'll go to a club like we used to, we just can't pick up any girls. But we can look."

"Fine," Jake agreed.

Tim suddenly looked excited about the prospects for his night. "I'm in," he agreed eagerly.
"Whatever,"" Luke sighed.

"Alright, we can chill at my house for a couple hours first,"" Nathan suggested as they all made their way to his car.

It was gonna be a long night.