Walking along, Haley's head jerked up to the smell of burning and the loud roaring of a fire. Normally concern would become the best of her but tonight she didn't have it in her. Instead she took out her cell phone and reported the fire, not knowing what building was amidst the flames.

Slowly she continued on her way and again found herself on a doorstep. She brought her hand up to the wooden door and lightly rapped three times. The door opened and Haley looked up to him and broke down. Silently he pulled her into a giant comforting hug as he had done so many times on the tour, this time though it was different, it wasn't just any situation, this time her fear had come true.

They stood embraced in the doorway as Haley sobbed for what felt like hours until Haley's body slightly collapsed. Luckily Chris was able to tighten his embrace and keep her from falling completely.

"Come on." He whispered softly as he guided them inside, closing the door with one hand as he had his other arm around Haley's back, keeping her enclosed to his body as she continued to cry. He led them up to a spare room his parents kept for their son's 'famous buddies'.

Yes Chris Keller still had a room or two at his parent's house in Tree Hill. Every so often, whenever he was in town or stopping by for a visit he was always welcome in their home, and this time he was here for personal reasons. One, to make sure Haley went back to Nathan and two; to be there for her if something happened, per request of Haley herself. The tour was actually stopped in Charleston for a few days which provided perfectly for Chris' attempt to ensure Haley's happiness. He would stay in Tree Hill until Haley was settled and then he would hop back on the tour bus, a pit stop in his claim to fame.

He guided her to the bed which she slowly sat down on, slightly calmed down. Chris gently rubbed her back before heading back downstairs to retrieve Haley's luggage.

While downstairs Chris decided to call Lucas and tell him Haley was back in Tree Hill and she could use all the support she could get, he also decided on what had become Haley's choice of drink while on the tour, Sprite mixed with Malibu.

Flashback

"Haley! What do you want?" Chris yelled over the music to Haley who was standing beside him at the bar.

"Um, I don't know um, Sprite?" Haley told him hesitantly. She had never been one for drinking anything alcoholic so by nature she didn't know any of the names of anything thing she had drank and actually enjoyed.

"Yea, she'll have a Sprite with Malibu." Chris told the bartender who hurried away to fetch the singers their drinks. Moments later Haley was handed her drink, a lime wedged onto the side.

"Since when did Sprite become so fancy?" Haley joked to Chris as they headed to the VIP section of the club. Yup, being on a tour, performing in multiple cities with multiple clubs definitely had its advantage.

"Yea, I should warn you-" Chris started, but didn't bother finishing as Haley took a sip from her drink.

"Chris what is this?" Haley asked. Slightly surprised by the coconut taste.

"Okay, Haley, don't go prude on me…it's just your Sprite, like you wanted. With a little splash of Malibu rum." Chris explained.

"I'm not mad. I just didn't know." Haley insisted.

"Okay, so then, do you like it?"

"Yea, it reminds of this time when…my parents sent me this coconut sunscreen from when they were in Florida." Haley told him matter-of-factly.

"Right."

"Yea I know, you were probably expecting some long ass story of a trip I took to the Dominican or something, and that's what it reminded me of." Haley admitted while taking a sip of her new favorite drink.

"A little yea." Chris chuckled.

From then on Sprite and Malibu had become a regular drink for Haley. When she was at a bar or club, when she needed something to help her sleep and when she was feeling depressed with her current situation with Nathan. Along with the drink, the little anecdote Haley had shared with Chris had sealed an invisible alliance between the two.

Chris had returned to the room to find that Haley had now huddled herself under the blankets and against the wall the bed was pushed against.

"Haley, here drink this." Chris suggested as he sat on the bed next to her tiny form, holding the glass out to her.

There was no response.

"Haley?" Chris sang.

Still no response.

"C'mon babe. You're going to have to talk eventually." He urged.

"Lucas is on his way over." He tried.

Haley only embraced herself more and the only sound she made was the sound of sniffling as she silently cried to herself.