Hey, someone e-mailed me asking, and there are six chapters left, just so everyone knows.

Let Me Go

Chapter Fourteen: Friends in Weird Places

"So, I take it you're avoiding both Jake and Nathan." Brooke crashed onto Haley's bed, looking up at her friend with interested eyes.

"Yeah. Both have tried calling me like ninety times, but I just won't answer."

"I get that you're mad at them and all, but why not just pick one, you know? Specifically, Nathan. I mean, you love him don't you?"

"Of course. It's just, it's too awkward now."

"Yeah, but if you love him and he loves you, then it won't be that awkward anymore, right?"

"Things aren't as simple with everyone around then they are with you and Luke, Brooke. You two are like the image of perfect, and everyone else just wants to follow in your footsteps."

"I wish I knew what you were talking about." Brooke whined.

"Brooke, everyone wants to be you and Lucas. You're Tree Hill's dream couple. You've been together forever, similar to Jake and I, minus all the breakups. You've been voted homecoming queen and king like every year. You've been voted 'Cutest Couple' in every yearbook, and I mean, come on! Everyone wants to be you and Lucas Scott."

Brooke giggled. "I love him, Haley, I really do. And I won't let anything stop me from doing so. You should do the same. You should let yourself love Nathan, because if you don't, you're making life way more complicated then it should be. It's simple, if two people love each other, then they get together."

"But what about Jake?"

"Jake is going to have to move on. Stop being so caring, Haley. You need to selfish yourself up a bit. Jake doesn't matter anymore, because you don't love him. I know it, you know it, and the freaking American people know it! Come on, Hales! We could marry into the same family!"

Haley smiled. "You're the bestest friend ever. You do realize that, right?"

"Of course."

The wind whipped her hair around her shoulders as she looked around the dark area. Most people were creeped out by graveyards, but not her.

Particularity because she'd been coming since she'd been eight. It was what Brooke had been afraid to mention days before, and it was something she often felt depressed about.

Through the darkness, she managed to find her way to a bench that she was extremely familiar with. She'd sat there countless times for hours, praying or crying, or both.

Tonight, as she walked towards it, she saw that she wasn't alone. There was someone else sitting there. She was too close to turn away, so she took a seat besides the person, looking in front of her at the tombstone that she remembered so well.

Samuel David James

1979-1997

Son, husband, and brother

Samuel had been her brother, just eighteen. She'd loved him beyond belief, but one night, while hanging out with some friends, he'd gotten into a car attempting to persuade his friend not to drive in a state of being drunk, but his friend had anyway. He'd vowed to stay in the car, hoping that it would make him more cautious. It hadn't. Samuel had been killed in the accident his friend had gotten into. His friend, Jonathan, had never gotten over Samuel's death, and neither had Haley. She could forget for a while, but eventually, it would all come back to her, and she'd have to return here to talk to him.

Her eyes watered as she looked over it, and tried to ignore the person besides her. It was to no avail, as the person turned to look at her.

The awkwardness was apparent as the two tried to ignore each other a little more. Finally, the person broke the silence.

"It's weird how this place can comfort someone, isn't it?" Haley turned to look at the girl. Her hair was curly, and her eyes seemed to be green. Haley could see her clearly through the light besides the bench, and the girl seemed pretty.

"Yeah, really weird."

Haley looked over to where the girl was looking. A tombstone with the name, 'Elizabeth Sawyer'.

"Your mom?"

The girl nodded. "Yeah."

"Sorry."

She shrugged.

"I'm Haley." Haley offered, and the girl turned to give her a smile.

"Peyton."

"So, bad night?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Me too."

Peyton smiled. "I would love to be caught up in someone else's problems tonight?" She offered.

Haley smiled. "Sure you won't die of boredom?"

"Positive."

"Okay, well, I've been in love with this boy Nathan since, forever. Eighth grade actually, and I never thought he felt the same. Which is why, when one of his really good friends asked me out, I said yes, because I thought I liked him. Jake and I had been dating on and off since then, mostly off, and now, all of a sudden, Nathan springs out of no where, telling me he's loved me as long as I've loved him, just as Jake tells me minutes later he wants to get married as soon as we're out of high school. Now, I don't know what to do, because they got into this huge fight at school, and they're both apologizing, and they want me to choose between them, and I don't know what to do anymore." Haley finished with a shrug, and looked over to Peyton.

"Sounds complicated. But if you ask me, you can make it really simple. Do you love this Nathan guy?"

"More then anything."

"And what about Jake?"

"Not so much."

"Then shouldn't it be simple?"

"Easier then it sounds. I'm not really one to break people's hearts."

"So? You're going to regret it, and they asked you to choose."

"True, but I don't know.."

"Look Haley, life isn't fair. You only get one chance in life, and this is it right here. You either be with Jake, and think about what could have been for the rest of your life, or you could be with Nathan, and think about hurting Jake's feelings, or you could choose neither, and still think of what could have been with both of them. You're stuck, but I think the choice is a no-brainer."

"Nathan."

"Yeah. And this Jake guy, what's his last name?"

"Smith. Well, Jagielski-Smith, but he just goes by Smith."

"Jake Jagielski." Peyton thought for a moment.

"You know him?"

Peyton bit her lip, and then shrugged. "Probably from some other lifetime."

"So, you think I should go with Nathan?"

"He's what your heart desires, isn't he?"

"Yes. I mean, no. I mean, I don't know. Yes."

"Then it's really pretty simple."

"I guess."

"Hey, if you do choose Nathan, tell me about this Jake guy." Peyton winked, standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"Home. I've done my thinking. Now you should do yours."