I know I said that was the last update, but I decided to update for you, daddyzangel108, since you said you might not be able to read tomorrow. And to Sw33t Lavender: I think that sounds like aspectacular idea and I will definitely take it into consideration. Unfortunately, I sort of have the whole story mapped out in my head already... but if I can manage to squeeze it in there, I will.

Chapter 3:

It was 9:27. Three minutes until she was supposed to meet Jack. She had arrived at the café five minutes ago. Looking inside through the huge window, she spotted him immediately. He hadn't changed at all. He'd grown a mustache, lost a few pounds, but aside from that, he was the same old Jack. And that's what scared her. He'd had the power to draw her in once. Would he be able to do it again?

She'd had so many problems with finding herself in the past few years. We all struggle with an identity crisis at some point, but Haley's was far more difficult than the average person's. She'd lost sight of who she was, or rather who she thought she was so many times, and in the process she'd lost herself.

All this time, she'd tried to deny it; told herself it wasn't true. Well, she'd been lying. To herself and to everyone else. Because it was just as Jack had told her, she was lost. And she knew that she could tell herself otherwise all she wanted, but it didn't change the fact that she needed someone to help her. Obviously, Nathan wasn't an option anymore. It pained her to know that, but it was the truth. So, who else could she turn to?

Haley marveled at how Jack always seemed to show up at the most convenient times; when she was weak, when she was lonely, when he felt she needed saving. In retrospect, perhaps it was only convenient for him.

She knew why he only showed up at those times. It was because he could win her over more easily in such conditions, there would be fewer obstacles in his way. She also knew why he'd failed the last time. Because there'd been one obstacle he hadn't been counting on. Nathan. But Nathan wasn't here to stand in his way this time. So, would she finally succumb to him, admitting that she needed him? That he was right? Or would she remain strong and defy him again, knowing it wasn't only for herself, but for Nathan and everyone back in Tree Hill?

She didn't think she was ready to face Jack. Not now. Not yet. But she'd already agreed to it. And there was no backing out now.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, she stepped into the small café and back into a world where no one could reach her.

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Jack looked at his watch for the tenth time. She was a minute late. He had known there was chance she wouldn't show up; that she would run from him again, but he had hoped that, for any reason at all, it didn't really matter what, she would decide to hear him out.

He knew he needed to make her listen, to make her understand the point he'd been trying to get across for years. If only she would. Listen, that is.

He heard the tinkling of the bell, signaling someone entering the café and looked up, somehow knowing it was her before he ever glanced in her direction. He let out a breath of relief and locked eyes with her, giving her a small smirk. Her lips pursed in a thin, grim line as she casually strode toward his table, seating herself across from him. "I knew you'd come," his voice was low.

He saw her shiver involuntarily and his smirk widened. She shot him an icy glare. He had forgotten how much she hated that smirk. She responded slowly to his earlier comment, "Thought the least I could do was listen to your pathetic whining."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Whatever you say, Haley J." He saw the corners of her mouth twitch and could've sworn it was the beginning of a smile. He had forgotten how that nickname always made her smile.

The waitress approached their table and Haley ordered quickly, flashing the woman a dazzling smile and throwing out a quick thank you. He had forgotten how beautiful she was. He decided to sort of ease into the conversation. "So, I guess this is how they get to see you in Tree Hill. I see why they missed you so much."

Her menacing stare was enough to give him the impression he should tread carefully. He had forgotten how angry he could make her. She retorted sharply, "Yeah, well, only the people who deserve it get to see me like that."

He gave a small grin. "Guess that includes me now then, huh?" It was supposed to evoke a smile, maybe even a laugh from her, but instead, she rolled her eyes and turned away. He had forgotten how stubborn she could be.

She sighed. "Jack, what do you want from me? Don't you think you've taken enough?"

His smile faded. "You really don't get it, do you Haley? After all the time I spent trying to make you listen, you still don't get it."

She let out an exasperated puff of air. "Get what? Because far as I can tell, all you've ever told me was a bunch of shit about not loving anyone or caring about them. Well, guess what I've figured out? That's the only thing that makes life worth living."

He shook his head. "But don't you see, Haley? Life is what makes life worth living, not people. You can't base your whole life on other people." She remained silent. He had forgotten how well she listened. He sighed. "So, what happened to Tree Hill?"

He saw her clench her jaw. "I don't wanna talk about it," she gritted out.

He smirked triumphantly. "Didn't I tell you? You never believed me. You didn't listen and you ran off and fell in love. And now look where you are. You're here with a broken heart, right back where you started, with me trying to talk some sense into you."

He saw the tears forming behind her eyes, but he had to continue. "They left you, didn't they? That Nathan guy, he did something, didn't he?"

She wiped her eyes angrily. "No, as a matter of fact, he didn't. It was me! I was the one who left. It's my own fault. See, you were wrong! He really did love me and he would've stayed with me forever, but I left him."

Jack looked confused. "But why?"

She stared him straight in they eyes. "Because of you. I left him because of you. Everything you said. It scared him; it scared me. We were so in love, but we couldn't take it anymore. All the waiting. Just waiting for one of us to figure out we'd made a mistake and leave the other one. So, I just left. And I never even got to say goodbye." She sobbed, the tears beginning to fall again.

Damn. He'd forgotten how guilty she could make him feel.

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Back in Tree Hill, Nathan had just woken up. He checked his cell. Seven missed calls. They were all from Michelle. He thought she was wonderful, but his heart just wouldn't let him love her. And that made him feel so guilty. But it was something he couldn't change.

But he couldn't just avoid her forever. So, flipping his phone open, he dialed their home number. She picked up on the first ring, undoubtedly waiting anxiously by the phone for his call. He almost laughed at the mental image. But instead, he listened to her sweet voice call out, "Nathan?"

"Yeah, it's me babe."

She sighed in relief. "I was wondering where you were."

"Sorry, I just woke up."

"No, it's OK," she assured him. "I was just worried." There was a short pause before she continued, "So, how'd it go last night?"

He clenched his jaw. He didn't want to think about Haley right now. "Fine," he lied.

"Is something wrong? You just sound funny. Is there something you're not telling me?" she rambled.

He knew she was only concerned, but he wished she'd stop badgering him. "No, damn it! I said I was fine. Just drop it."

"OK," she mumbled defensively.

He could tell he'd put her on edge and he was sorry for that, but he just wished everyone would leave him alone already. He didn't feel like talking right now. He just felt like shutting out the world for a few days; just forgetting all his problems. But he knew that wasn't possible.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"It's fine, honey. Don't worry about it."

"Um, I have to go, Michelle. I'll call you later."

"Oh… OK. Have a good day, sweetie."

"Yeah, you too. Bye baby."

"Bye."

Click. He hung up before she could stop him. Sinking back on to his bed, he rubbed his hand over his face. How had everything gotten so screwed up? He was supposed to move on from Haley; forget about her. He shouldn't be ignoring his wonderful, beautiful girlfriend. But he couldn't help remembering that she just wasn't Haley. No one would ever be able to compare to Haley.

He'd never forget her sweet smile, her tinkling laugh, her melodic voice, her beauty, her grace. He'd never forget all she'd done for him; all the second chances she'd given him. He'd never forget how much she loved him and how much he loved her. No; he didn't think he'd ever forget what she'd done for him. But he knew he'd also never forget what she'd done to him. She'd tricked him into believing that everything was OK. She'd shown him how to love, what it felt like to be loved in return, given him hope that they would remain together until the end of time. Then, she'd taken it from him in an instant. It had only taken a single moment to watch his entire life fall apart before his eyes; helpless to stop it. The moment she'd slammed that door.

FLASHBACK

"Nathan, this is ridiculous!" she'd shouted.

"What, what's ridiculous! Me? Us! Cause really Haley, I don't get what you're so upset over. Was it something I did?"

She shook her head, tears brimming. "It's not what you did. It's what you didn't do. What you haven't been doing."

"Baby, what are you talking about?" he stepped forward and caressed her cheek.

She rubbed her cheek against his hand. "Do you realize that's the first time you've touched me in days?" she whispered. He grimaced and withdrew his hand.

She sighed and opened her eyes. "This is stupid. It's the elephant in the room. We never want to talk about it, but it's always there. And it's doing this to us."

He looked away. She stepped right in front of him and commanded softly, "Nathan, look at me."

His eyes slowly caught hers. She could the see the pain there. The same pain she knew was reflected in her own eyes. The pain that was always there now. "I know what you're scared of. That I'm gonna realize I should've gone with Jack; that I'll leave you. But baby, I chose you. And I will not leave you. I don't care what happens."

He sighed and took her in his arms; something he hadn't done in months. Yet it still felt comforting. "I know, but don't you see? You won't leave me because that's the kind of person you are. You have too good a heart to do that to anyone; let alone me. But I don't want you to stay here with me and feel like you're trapped. I know you wonder sometimes, Haley. You wonder if you really did make the right choice. And I don't blame you. But it still hurts. And I know it hurts you to know that you're hurting me."

"But I love you," her voice cracked as she pressed closer to him.

He kissed her deeply. It was a long, slow, drawn out kiss that seemed to last for eternity. And they never wanted it to end. It would be their last one for a long time, possibly forever. And, though they didn't realize it at the time, deep down, they both knew that. But finally, Nathan pulled away. "I know you do and I love you too, but it's still there. And we can't keep hurting each other. That's supposed to be the reason we're together. To stop hurting."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" she asked.

"We have to find a way to put Jack and New York behind us." He held her tighter for the longest time.

She drew all the warmth and love she could from his arms. But it didn't block her next thoughts. She knew there wasn't a way to put that behind her. It would always be a factor. She could never completely move on from that. And she knew what she had to do. For both of them. 'I'm sorry, Nathan. Goodbye,' she thought.

And that's exactly what she wrote shakily on a piece of paper an hour later while Nathan was in the den watching TV. She picked up the suitcase she had hastily packed and capped the pen. She'd considered writing a long letter, explaining everything, but she knew it was easier this way. She didn't want him to know; she knew it would be harder for him to let go if she justified it to him.

So, looking at the room they'd been sharing in his apartment for the last time, a single tear trickled from her eye. She wiped it off with her thumb and quietly walked through the den. She lay the note on the kitchen counter, where she knew he'd see it. The tears were flowing steadily now.

Just as she reached the door, Nathan turned and saw her standing there. He jumped over the back of the couch and moved toward her. "Haley, what's wrong?"

She just shook her head. "Baby, talk to me," he begged.

A strangled sob escaped her lips as she quickly kissed his cheek and walked out the door.

END FLASHBACK

He'd never understood why she'd chosen to leave. He knew they still had problems, but he'd thought they had begun working them out. He'd thought they made progress, that it would be OK. But apparently, he'd been wrong. So wrong.

He could barely keep the tears from coming now as he thought back on the day his life ceased to be important. It was the day he stopped believing in dreams. Dreams were only there to give you false hope; something he knew would only hurt him in the end.

Haley had hurt him. She'd hurt him so deeply, he'd thought nothing would ever be the same again. And, he supposed, nothing really was.

They needed Haley back. Not just Nathan. All of them did. Even as they denied it, they all needed her for their own reasons.

But no one could find her. And she wasn't coming back.

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So, leave me a review and I will update more tomorrow. I know it's been a little depressing the last few chapters, but all good things must be worked for. In other words, you leave good reviews, I give you Naley. It's very simple actually. Haha. Just me and my sense of humor. I feel I have to establish what's going on in everyone's heads and get you guys adjusted to the situation as it stands now, which means that the Nathan/Haley interaction will come in Chapter... 7? Possibly 6, at the latest 8. Which means we will see some Naley sometime in the next day or two. I hope that is encouraging. Also, be prepared for many more plotstwists in this story than in its prequel. Nothing as dramatic as murder or rape or anything, just simple things that are surprising, like relationships etc.

Thanks for reading! Please review.