Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back! Sorry for the wait. I'm like, what, the first update on this board in like two days! Update your stories people! Anyways, I'm working on the next chapter as we speak and I hope you like this one! As always, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.

Rating: K+ to T

P.S. – I'm sure you've all heard about Chad and Sophia by now…freaking pisses me off…mumbles and grumbles The show's going down in flames…oh wait, it already did that in the season finale. LOL

The Hardest Thing

Chapter 4

Haley's POV

The alarm clock went off and for the first time in three days, I decided to actually get up and go to school. I really didn't want to but I had already missed so much from being on the tour and I had to keep my grades up if I wanted to keep on tutoring and most important of all, graduate high school.

"Hey, where are you going," Nathan mumbled as I sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. His arm snaked around my waist and pulled me back towards him. I clutched the sheets to my bare body, trying to cover myself. I don't know why I did this for it was obvious we'd had intimate relations before. We're married for god sakes. I guess it is because I feel a little self-conscious and inadequate now. I thought Lucas loved me but it turns out that he only wanted my body. Tears welled behind my eyes and I fought not to let them go.

"It's time to get up. We have to get ready for school. I'm going to go take a shower," I responded as I stood up, pulling the sheets with me towards the bathroom. I closed my eyes as I let the warm water run over my head and down my back, the tears falling from my eyes blending in with it. I ran my hands through my hair and suddenly I felt two arms wrap around my waist, his hot mouth on my neck. Shivers jolted down my spine. I quickly spun around, angry that he thought he could just come in whenever he wanted. I pushed him in the chest, "Nathan, what are you doing in here? Get out!" Nathan looked at me confusedly, fire burning in his eyes, "What the hell is wrong with you Hales? Why are you being such a bitch?" I slapped him hard across the cheek, "Get the hell out!"

Lucas' POV

"Good morning handsome," Brooke's raspy voice penetrated my mind, bringing me from my dream of Haley. As I opened my eyes, squinting in the brightness of the sun shining through my window, she kissed me softly on the lips. "Morning Brooke," I replied, turning over and closing my eyes again, trying to get back to my dream about Haley and I. "Still tired," she asked as she rubbed her hand on my shoulder. "Yes," I grumbled as I lightly shrugged her hand off, "now go back to sleep." "I guess we can stay in bed a little bit longer," I heard her say in a seductive tone as she curled her arm around my torso and snuck her hand under the sheets, rubbing her hand over the front of my boxers. I quickly pulled away from her, getting out of the bed. "God Brooke, will you stop? I don't want to have sex with you right now," I yelled then turned and headed towards the bathroom, "We need to get dressed for school."

Nathan's POV

I walked into the kitchen as I dried my wet hair with a towel, finding Haley at the island counter, eating a pint of her favorite Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream. If the slap she had given me had been any indication, I knew she was more than upset now with her drowning her sorrows in ice cream at seven in the morning. I walked up behind her and tentatively rubbed my hands over her shoulders. "I'm sorry Hales. I didn't mean to blow up at you like that…It's just-I hardly ever see you anymore and you don't talk to me. By the time I come home from work or practice, you're in bed or you come home from Peyton's and then you go to sleep. When was the last time we had a real, deep conversation Hales? You hardly even let me touch you anymore and since when do you not want to have sex-" "Marriage isn't all about sex, Nathan," Haley replied coldly as she pulled away and put the ice cream back in the freezer.

"I know it's not," I replied, "but when was the last time we made love? A hell of a long time ago, Hales." "We had sex the night before last Nathan," Haley retorted. "The keyword being sex, Haley. We haven't made love in months. Lately is always been just a quick fuck then you roll over and go to sleep. You don't let me hold you in my arms or talk to me like we used to. Do you even love me anymore? Because lately it seems that you don't. You're distant and closed off; it's like you don't want to be around me," I said, sadness filling my heart again at my own words. Tears started to stream down her cheeks, her chin and lower lip trembling, then she buried her face in her hands. "I'm sorry…" she sobbed. I inwardly groaned; I always hated seeing her so upset. I walked over and tentatively wrapped my arms around her, "Hales, please don't cry. You know I hate seeing you cry." I cupped her cheek in my hand and wiped a few tears away with my thumb, kissing the top of her head. She looked up at me with her watery eyes, searching, for what I didn't know. Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me, a deep kiss filled with passion that had long been absent between us.