Thanks everyone for all the great reviews!
"Nate!" Brooke called. She had spotted him at the front door and was galloping toward him.
"What's up, Brooke?" Nathan dodged her before she knocked him over.
"You know that Senior, Grant? The one on the football team?" Brooke asked.
"Yeah," Nathan said with more anger in his voice then he knew he had.
"Well, he tried to take Haley up stairs but she didn't want to but then he started like dragging her away and then guess who saved your girlfriend's ass? I'll tell you, Peyton and I." Brooke said in all one breath. Nathan cleared his throat.
"Me and Peyton,"
"What ever, don't you care?"
"Yes, that's why I was going back in there." Nathan brushed past her and entered the party. He found Haley sitting on the edge of the stage talking to Tim and a pretty girl that Nathan would have been happy to take up stairs. Then he looked at Haley and saw that this girl was no match. He could tell she was not listening to them at all.
"Excuse me, Haley, there's someone I want you to see." Nathan grabbed her hand and pulled her down from the stage.
"What do you want?" Haley asked once they were out of ear shot of everyone else.
"To apologize, I over reacted when I saw you with Grant, I thought you were going with him." Nathan started. They had started walking towards the elevator.
"Well, I wasn't." Haley retorted.
"I know, I just saw until you stood up. Look, I know I over reacted. I'm sorry,"
"But did you really mean what you said back there? About me having not changed at all?" by this time, they were almost to Haley's room.
"I've never meant anything less. After Lucas told me what really happened, I blamed it all on my self. I mean what if Brooke and Peyton didn't get there in time, what if no one saw and no one tried to stop him?" Nathan had started pacing.
"Nathan, it wasn't your fault! Why are you blaming this on yourself?" Haley asked.
"Because I felt like I should have been there to stop him, to protect you." Nathan said so soft that Haley could barely hear him.
"Why?" Haley wasn't getting the message.
"Because," Nathan stopped he walked over to Haley and ran his hands through her soft hair, "Because I'm in love with you." Nathan whispered. Haley let a single tear fall from her eye before she kissed him.
"I love you to." she whispered.
Sorry it was soooooo short but I just wanted to get this chapter out. Drop me a review and tell me what you think!
XOXO
Emily
