Another chapter up today, yes! Okay, anyway, enjoy. My head hurts, so I don't think I'll be writing anymore today. Tomorrow though for sure, because school is finally out.

Let Me Go

Chapter Twelve: Didn't Your Mother Ever Teach You To Lie?

Haley let her head fall into her hands as she sat on her bed, wrapped up in her blanket.

She hadn't known what had come over her. The good Haley inside of her had screamed, 'No! You can't do this to Jake, it wouldn't be fair!' And she'd just let the good Haley inside of her take control.

Now, she regretted it. The look on his face when she'd told him it would be too hard for them to be together had been devastating. She's wanted so badly to take him in her arms, and kiss him.

And that kiss they'd shared had been heaven. It had been so slow, and so perfect, and they'd both never wanted to end it.

And now that she thought of it, it was ironic, and not in a good way. She'd loved him for what seemed like forever, and he'd felt the same way for her? Wow, that had been a shocker.

Haley crawled onto the side of her bed, opening up her bedside table, and pulling out a mirror that had been her grandmother's. It was beautiful, and she'd always pretended to be a gorgeous princess when she was little, whenever she'd look into it.

Now, she looked anything but perfect. Her mascara had run down her eyes, and they were puffy on top of that. Her nose was red from all the sniffling she'd been doing, and overall, she didn't look like she'd be winning any beauty pageants anytime soon.

Haley heard a knocking at her door, and she looked up to see Jake. Instantly, a sob escaped her lips, as he hurried towards her, instantly holding her in his arms. She wanted so badly to push him away, to blame him. But she knew she couldn't, because it wasn't her place.

"Hales, what's wrong?" He stroked her hair, kissing her forehead softly.

She detangled herself from his arms, burying herself back into her blankets.

"Nothing. It's nothing," She wiped her eyes, "What's up with you?"

"I um, I came to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Nothing, it isn't important."

"No, tell me." She smiled at him, urging him on.

He pulled a box out of his pocket, "I'm not sure now's the time, when you're all upset."

"Oh my God," She looked at the box, and then back at him, "We can't get married, Jake."

"Haley, I love you, I just think that, even if it's not now, we could-"

"Jake! I can't marry you." His eyes saddened, and Haley knew, despite all the pain she was about to cause him, she had to tell him. She had to tell him what had happened. Honest was the best policy, right? It's what her mother had always told her.

"I don't understand. If we love each other-"

"Nathan came over to see me." She interrupted.

Jake nodded. "Okay, but I don't see this has anything to do with you and me.."

"He confessed that he's loved me since we were younger. And he asked me to be with him."

Jake furrowed his eyebrows. "And do you love him?" He asked her quietly.

Biting her lip, she nodded.

"Oh."

"I love both of you, I guess." And she did. She just wasn't in love with him, like she was with Nathan.

"You're in love with him, Haley."

"I don't even know that, Jake. It's been a crush since like forever, but I'm not even sure how I feel.." She was lying again. There was no doubt in her mind she was in love with Nathan.

"Do you love me?"

"Yes."

Jake laughed. "I thought we were happy."

"We were! We are. I'm just- I need a little bit of time to figure some stuff out between everything, you know?"

"So, we're breaking up?"

"I don't know." Haley shrugged.

"I um…I have to go, so I'll see you at school tomorrow, okay?" He walked away, and Haley sighed, putting her hand to her now aching forehead.

Now she was regretting everything she'd done that day. Basically telling Nathan she didn't want him, and telling Jake she wanted to break up?

And now, what she should have done became apparent.

Haley should have lied.