Thank you. Again.

And please people sign that darn petition to get Tim more screen time.

Because he rocks and you know it.

So review. Don't you know it's the new cool thing to do.

Laters xxxx

"I'd say" Theresa cut in angrily.

Nathan stood and turned to face her. "Look, I'm sorry. I should have told you. But I didn't think you'd mind"

Therese huffed, "Mind? You humiliated me in front of the entire school. How would I not mind?" He voice rising with every syllable.

"Hey, its not like we were even a couple. At least not in the conventual's sense." He said in a hushed voice.

It was then that her heard Haley laugh humourlessly. He knew this couldn't be good.

"That doesn't give you the right to treat her like crap," Some random girl called out, probably one of her cronies no doubt.

"Hey! I didn't do anything to her. We make out at a party a couple of times and suddenly I owe you an explanation?" He asked angrily. If anything, he did not like being ganged up on.

"It would have been nice" Theresa said sarcastically.

"Nice? You know what. Don't play the victim. You're not very good at it. I heard about you and Guy."

She looked surprised. But not embarrassed. " It was nothing," She said, a little more quietly then before.

Nathan nodded, "Yeah, well this thing between me and Haley. Not nothing. So I'm not going to apologise to you"

Theresa smiled. "Sure". She turned and faced the captivated audience. Whish seemed to including the dinner lady's." Shows over I guess" She turned and strutted back to her dinner table.

Nathan turned to face Haley. But she was gone.

"Haley open the door"

"No!"

"Hale's... Come on. I said I'm sorry." Nathan's voice rung through the girl's toilets. Well there goes his pride.

"Go away!" She shouted over the cubical.

" I'm not leaving you," He said in frustration.

"Then you'll be standing there a long time" She called back.

"Fine. But if I get in trouble for this I hope you know it's your fault!" He said before sitting down on the tiled floor. His head leaning against the door that held a crying Haley.

"How is it my fault?" She sniffed.

He sighed. He had hoped that it wouldn't come to this. But he didn't have an option. He needed to make her trust him. And the sound of her crying had almost broken his confused little heart. And he was thankful that there was no one else around to hear them.

"Because…Well, your so damn wonderful. You're smart, funny and so incredibly beautiful. And, I've always known it. Even when I was annoying you. It was because I needed to be around you. And I knew you'd never feel the same. It pissed me off. I'm Nathan Scott. I always get what I want. And I wanted you. And I couldn't have you-"

"So you slept with random sluts?" Haley asked furiously

Nathan cringed," We'll, I'm not quite the man whore every one thinks I am. It's mostly just reputation. I mean sure. There has been girls but-"

"Point?"

"Oh yeah well, I did use them. But they used me too. They want to be popular so they'll just use people to get on top. But. Well. It didn't matter in the end. Because I always thought of you. I liked you. Always have, even when you poured hot chocolate down my lap. Which by the way, your lucky I'm not scarred for life"

He heard her laugh. He smiled.

"We cool?" He asked

The door swung open. Right into his head.

"OW!" Nathan yelled while clinging onto his head.

Haley gasped, "Oh…Nate, I am so sorry" She said, but had to cover her mouth to hide her smile.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him in. "Ah poor baby." She whispered, a pout on her face.

"I'm fine," He said woozily.

"You sure you don't need me to kiss it better?" a grin etched on to her face.

Nathan perked up, "Well now that you mention it"

Haley laughed, "Yeah, where does it hurt?" she said soothingly.

He pointed to his lips. She rolled her eyes but kissed him all the same.

"All better?"

Nathan smiled, "I hope so…. But can we get out of here? The tampon dispenser's freaking me out"

Brooke ran faster then is humanly possible into the parking lot.

"Sorry I'm late I was just-"

"Brooke we know what you were doing. You were with Luke" Payton said matter-of-factly

"For your information, I was helping a group of nuns heal sick people…sick orphans"

"Really? In Tree Hills male locker room?" Payton smiled

"It could happen" Brooke said with a grin.

Haley shook her head, "Hey, less bickering more driving. I'm going to be late."

"Yes ma'am" Payton said speeding off.

"Okay, that was scary" Haley said climbing out of the car.

"Never again" Brooke said joining her.

"I'm not that bad!" Payton said laughing but stopped when she saw her best friends evil glares.

"At least I'm not late" She said before running into Karen's café. Where she was greeted with an almost empty café. She then proceed to run into a Karen.

"Oh hey Karen"

"Hey Haley" She said with that knowing smile.

She sighed, "What?" She asked as she put on her apron.

"I heard about you and Nathan," She said contentedly.

"Well it seems everyone has. Luke tell you?"

"Yeah. So you finally relented." She said chuckling.

Haley couldn't help but smile at his persistence. "Something like that"

Karen nodded, "Well, as long as you're happy"

"I am. Even though this means I'll have to actually talk to Tim from know on" She frowned.

"Yaeh, that boy does seem rather.."

"..Perverted? Oh he is." Haley said nodding.

Karen laughed, "I'll take your word for it."

"Anyhow, I have my first date with him on Friday and I was wondering-"

"If you could have the night off? Well, I guess it would be okay, after all it is for the greater

good right?"

"Thank you so much!" Haley squealed.

"Yeah Yaeh," Karen said dryly. But couldn't help smiling at the young girls excitement.

Next time - the date. And Luke will finally make an appearance.