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Summary: Haley must make a choice between Jake and Nathan but she doesn't want to. Things between the three get more complicated as someone else's opinion gets voiced and throws Haley way off track. Jaley/Naley.

Ch.6 – A Light That Was Never Meant To Shine

Haley was looking back and forth between the two men in a complete bind. What was she supposed to do now? She had no clue.

Luckily the bell rang two minutes after Nathan's outburst and Haley shot out of the room escaping the inevitable. She would have to choose. But the problem was… who?

I mean yes she did love Nathan but at the same time he was an ASS!. And Jake… Jake was just a different story. He was nice and gentle but… she didn't love him… well at least not like she loved Nathan. It was too hard for her to choose. She would just have to try and avoid them both. Fat chance that would happen but she had to give it a try.

It had been a full week of success. Haley had only said 5 complete words to both men avoiding the "inevitable".

But her luck had changed that day. She had to stay late tutoring someone and Lucas had already gone home so she was stuck walking… until she ran into a face all to familiar to her.

"Hey Haley. Do you need a ride?"

"No… I'm fine… just need a bit of time to myself…"

She was home free but the gods must have had something against her because it began to pour.

"Haley! Get into the car! I don't want you to get sick because you're too stubborn to accept my offer!"

He was very persistent… not something she saw very often.

"Okay."

Haley got into the car and it began to drive away. She looked out the window and sighed praying that this nightmare would be over.

"So… I've noticed that you've been avoiding me… the thing is I don't know why… I mean… it was Nathan who threw out this silly ultimatum, not me."

"Well Jake… if I'm around you then Nathan will think I choose you and I didn't… but at the same time I didn't chose him either."

Haley sighed. She was trapped… either way someone got hurt… Nathan… Jake… even her.

"Well could you do me a favor and try to hurry up your decision because I still need a tutor and if you aren't going to then I'll beg someone else to give up more of their time to help me but I really don't want to do that."

Haley's eyes suddenly widened when she heard this. She forgot… Jake was failing math… that was the reason why this thing happened. He needed her. She finally decided to speak up again.

"I'll do it."

"You'll do what?"

"I'll tutor you."

"Really?"

Jake was very pleasantly surprised. He didn't think that she would actually choose now.

"Yes really. But I don't want to lose Nathan either. So maybe what we could do is I could tutor you in secret and I could let everyone know that I choose Nathan. That way no one gets hurt."

Haley face radiated at the idea as Jake's fell. The last thing he wanted was to be her secret. He didn't like hiding from people. But he didn't have a choice… he need the tutoring.

"Yeah… I guess you're right."

His voice didn't sound very enthusiastic and Haley turned to him confusion. Wasn't this a good idea? He could still get tutoring and she could still be with Nathan. She didn't even notice the problem that was right under her nose.

"What's wrong Jake? Do you not think my plan will work? I mean… it's a risk… but I'm willing to take it."

She smiled at Jake with such love in her eyes that he couldn't refuse her.

"Nothing's wrong Hales. It's cool… let's do it."

Haley's face lit up and she tightly hugged him when they were at a red light. It was all going to work.

"So… where and when should we do the tutoring?"

"Uh… I don't know yet but once I figure it out I'll call you… okay?"

"Okay."

"So… just don't tell ANYONE at all and I think we'll be good."

Haley grinned as Jake pulled up in front of her house. She exited the car went up to the door and waved before entering the house.

"What am I getting myself into?"

Jake knew that this plan would backfire eventually… it was only a matter of time until somebody caught on.

Haley entered her house and immediately ran to her room and dialed up her friends number hoping to find understanding in her.

"Hello?"

"Hey Peyton… it's me Haley."

"Oh… hey Haley. What's up?"

You could hear the smile in Peyton's voice when she found out who it was. They had really gotten closer once Peyton had discovered her feelings for Lucas.

"Nothing much but I need a favor."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Well… if I tell you you have to promise not to tell a single soul… not even Brooke."

Peyton could sense the urgency in Haley's voice.

"Of course… your secrets safe with me. Now what's going on?"

"Okay. Well today I ran into Jake on my way home and I got a ride with him and I decided to tutor him…"

"That's great Hales! But why do you want to keep that a secret?"

"There's more… I decided to tutor him in secret so that I could still be with Nathan."

"WHAT? WHY?"

"Because Peyton! I'm still in love with him and I'm not ready to just give him up. I love him too damn much!"

"Okay. Calm down Haley… it's okay… I didn't mean to snap… it's just that Nathan is a total ass and I'd hate to see him get in control of you."

"He's not in control of me!"

"Oh really? If he isn't then why are you doing this? You can call it love if that's what you want… but that's no it… you just can't grasp the fact that it was better when you were with Jake. I mean we all saw it… you were way happier."

There was a pause until Peyton decided to talk again.

"I mean… think about it… do you think in a million years that Jake would ever cheat on you?"

"No… no I couldn't"

"Yeah… I thought so. And you come to me asking if Nathan ever cheated on me? I think it's clear that could have more with Jake then you ever could with Nathan."

There was another pause when Peyton again began to speak.

"You can't trust him Hales… and without trust you have nothing. Just think about that. And when you've come up with something you would like to share you can call me and I'll be hear to listen. But until then…"

"Until then…"

Haley said in a whisper. Peyton was right. Nathan was controlling her. How could she have let this happen… it was so surreal.

"Bye Haley."

"Bye… oh and Peyton?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For helping me see the light I mean."

"Anytime."

And with that Peyton hung up the phone and left Haley with her thoughts.

Reviews are very much appreciated. This is my first OTH fan fic so constructive criticism is very much appreciated. Thank you for reading my fic!

Hello everyone! Elwoodluver00034 here!

So I was thinking… I want to take a pole! Choose between either:

Jake/Haley

- or -

Nathan/Haley

I would love to hear who you guys want to see end up together in the end!

ALSO! I haven't thanked ppl for their support yet and I thought that this would be a good time too.

Catbot007 – thnx sooo much for everything you've done to help and stuff! LUV YA!

Jacqeuline22393 – thnx for all ur support. I luv reading ur reviews!

Sam – I'm glad that you enjoy my fic! Keep on reviewing!

MisFaith1029 – Also thnx for enjoying my fic! It means a lot. And thnx for the reviews. I LUV TO READ THEM!

2060mipy – thnx for the confession! I love to change people's opinions!

AND THNX TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REVIEWED MY FIC! I LOVE THE FEEDBACK!

Also thnx to all of the people who have read my fic.

And to all the people who put me on their favs and alert list. THNX SOOOOO MUCH!

Well… bye-bye now!

Until next chapter,

Elwoodluver00034