Well, I was planning to torture you guys and make you wait for another update until tomorrow, Sophie left some really sweet reviews :). Thank you thank you thank you, Sophie. It made me smile like crazy. And I'm glad you were happy about what happened in the last chapter. And thanks for telling everyone to review. So sweet of you. :) And don't worry, Haley's reaction to the dream house... it will come. Sometime in the next chapter or two. Look forward to it... So, thanks again for all the reviews. :)

And to everyone else who's been reviewing, a big thank you to you guys too. I wish I could just give you all a big hug. :) Your awesome and your replies make me so happy! This one's for all of you. Hope you like!

Chapter 15:

The short drive back to the house Tim and Haley had shared only hours before was silent, as most of Nathan and Haley's encounters had been lately. As they pulled back into the drive, their headlights illuminated a figure exiting the house, carrying several pieces of luggage. On further inspection, the figure was found to be Michelle.

Haley felt a deep sympathy for Michelle, something she never thought she would admit. Michelle was heartbroken and it showed for all to see. She'd fallen in love with Nathan, knowing it put her in an impossible situation, but hoping that maybe one day, that impossibility could be overcome. They say hope is what dies last, but for Michelle it had only led her to this place. The place where all her dreams were shattered and the love of her life lost. To people like Michelle, hope is something you never want to give into. For hope gives you the ability to be hurt.

Though she had despised Michelle before, Haley now truly felt sorry for all she'd done to the poor girl, whose only crime had been to love Nathan. She stepped out of the car and upon seeing her, Michelle stopped, allowing Haley for a moment to see her tear filled eyes before turning away, trying to conceal her pain.

But Haley would have none of it as she approached her and brought her into a hug. "I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to stop her own tears.

But Michelle shook her head, hugging her back. "You have nothing to be sorry for. We both loved him, it was his choice, not yours. I know what it's like to love him and not have him. From what I've heard about you, you deserve him. I'm not so sure he deserves you though. Don't let him hurt you like he did me. He loves you so much, don't let him go."

Haley's own tears began to fall. "I should've stopped what we were doing. I knew it was wrong."

"Sh," Michelle whispered. "It's OK. None of this is your fault."

Haley released her slowly. "I'm sorry, so sorry for what we did to you. Michelle, I don't care what you might say, you are an amazing person and I'm glad I've met you. You taught me a lot. Nathan was lucky to have you. And I hope maybe one day, we can be friends."

Michelle nodded. "I'd like that."

Haley gave her one last short hug. "Goodbye and hopefully we'll see each other again."

Michelle gave a small smile. "We can contact each other through Nathan. Wouldn't that be great?"

Haley laughed at her sarcasm and waved goodbye as she walked down the drive to meet her cab. She made her way back to Nathan and motioned for him to roll down his window so she could tell him something. "Maybe it's best if you stay out here. I don't want a fight to start on my behalf. I'll just pack up some things and let Tim know what's going on."

He looked at her, eyes soft, knowing a lot still needed to be explained, but knowing the foundation for a relationship was being built and that all of their problems could wait, at least for now. "You sure you don't want me in there? You know, for moral support."

She gave him a small smile. "I'll be gone 10, 15 minutes max. No need to worry. This won't take long."
She leaned forward, fitting her head through the window and he leaned forward too, meeting her lips halfway in a short, simple kiss. Then, she backed away from the car, smiling once again to reassure him before turning and racing up to and through the front door.

Tim immediately came out to meet her. "Thank you, Haley for coming back. I think we should talk about this." He moved to take her in his arms, but she shoved him away.

"No, Tim," she said, keeping emotion from seeping into her voice. "I'm very sorry, but I've finally realized that this can never work. Maybe one day, we can learn to be friends again, but right now, I think we're both too hurt and too angry. We have a lot to work through until we get to that point."

He looked at her regretfully. "What about the house? Who gets it?"

She took a deep breath. "It's your house. You belong here. It was yours before we ever met. You should keep it. I don't want it."

He felt another stab of remorse at her words. "But where will you go?"

She gazed at the far corner of the room, unable to meet his eyes. "With Nathan," she whispered. "He's offered to let me stay with him."

Tim swore in anger, then calmed himself. He hugged her stiffly, one last time, mumbling into her hair. "I always knew you two belonged together. I knew I never had a chance. I just couldn't help trying." He released her, offering a halfhearted, lopsided grin. "I'll be seeing you, Hales."

She nodded and choked back a sob. ""I really am sorry I put you through this, Tim. You're a great guy and any woman would be lucky to have you. I don't deserve you. And you deserve better than me. You know that, you know I'll only bring trouble to your life, that I'll only hurt you. So maybe me leaving is for the best. Although what I did was and will always be wrong and I can never justify or make excuses, you should be glad I'm leaving. You're free."

A single tear rolled down his cheek. "I never wanted to be free. I always loved you, you knew that. But with time, we'll find a way to move passed this."

She shook her head with a laugh. But it was a hollow laugh, devoid of meaning. "If there's one thing I've learned, the past never stays in the past. It always comes back to haunt you. You know, for most people, their future becomes their past. Because they can never forget. I just hope I'm wrong. I hope one day, we'll be able to."

He nodded, determined not to let anymore tears escape. "Me too, Haley. Me too."

He retreated to the kitchen and she moved about quietly in their room, packing what she needed. Clothes, accessories, toiletries, all her little knick knacks; her memories. But she left behind all the pictures of her and Tim. She didn't need that burden anymore. Those were the memories she'd let him keep; he could decide whether to keep them or throw them away.

She surveyed the room one last time and thought about what she was doing with her life. Over the span of the last decade, she'd made a lot of mistakes, a lot of the wrong decisions. But she felt confident that this, leaving New York with Nathan, was right. It made more sense than anything she'd done lately. She knew in her heart that she would always love him. He was it for her. She just hoped he felt the same way. But whether he did or not, it was time for her to start taking chances. How else would she correct the damage she'd done?

It's October again
Leaves are coming down
One more year come and gone
And nothing changed at all

It was time for her to fix what she'd done wrong. She knew she couldn't take back her mistakes, but she could try to move on. Moving on wasn't something she was used to doing. She usually just ran from anything that the past threatened.

Now, she realized that, that was perhaps her biggest mistake. Running. It was time for her to stop running and to start living.

Wasn't I supposed to be so strong
And face the things that I was running from
Let me feel, I don't care if I break down
Let me fall, even if I hit the ground

She needed to forget about pain and the numb feeling that had spread throughout her body, her life. She needed to start feeling again. And not just sorrow, happiness as well.

And if I cry a little
Die a little at least I know I feel
Just a little

Looking around the now half empty bedroom, she built up her resolve, determined not to let it crumble again. Too many times, she'd let it weaken and too many times that had proved to be her downfall. She wouldn't let something as trivial as leaving New York behind stop her from something as great as her relationship with Nathan. She had to learn what was important and she needed to start now.

I've become much too good
At being invincible
I'm an expert at playing it safe
And keeping it cool

She wouldn't let past mistakes or regrets rule over her life any longer. She would look forward to the future and she wouldn't allow the past to choke her life any longer. She would free herself from it and not look back.

But I swear this isn't
Who I'm meant to be
I refuse to let my life rule over me
Let me feel, I don't care if I break down
Let me fall, even if I hit the ground
And if I cry a little
Die a little at least I know I lived
Just a little

She had to face her past and finally end the struggle that had ruined what little of a life she had left. She wouldn't let it mess with her anymore. These were her final thoughts as she walked back through her home of the last year, slowly, drinking everything in one last time.

I wanna be somebody
I wanna be somebodyI wanna be somebody
I wanna be somebody
Who can face the things
That I've been running from

She left the house, making her way back down the drive to where Nathan's car was stalled. She'd known he would wait for her, but part of her couldn't help feeling relief that he hadn't driven off and left her. After all, she deserved it. She had run out on him before, never giving them a chance to work through the problems that had arisen.

Let me feel, I don't care if I break down
Let me fall, even if I hit the ground
And if I cry a little
Die a little at least I know I lived
Just a little

She opened the back door of the car and threw her bags all in the back before climbing into the passenger seat next to Nathan. They shared an understanding smile, then he backed out, each second taking them closer and closer to leaving it all behind.

It's October again
Leaves are coming down
One more year's come and gone
And nothing changed at all

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So, I'll get more updates up tomorrow. Hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed my little day of writing. Note: It may not happen often, so be happy with what you get. I will, however, get at least an update or two up a day. :) So, leave me some reviews and I'll write you something good. :)

What did you like?

What did you not like? (And yes, scary as it is, I'm opening the door to constructive criticism and suggestions, please no flamers)

What were your favorite parts?

You don't really have to tell me all that, I just felt like something was missing. :) Just a nice little short and sweet review will do. Not that I mind long ones. :) Whatever you're up to.

And I'm babbling, so we'll just leave it at that...

P.S. I know it's short, but next few will be longer.