Nathan nervously looked around the patio and parking lot. Still no signs of Haley. He blew a nervous breath and checked his watch again. 8:57. Three minutes until nine. Maybe she wouldn't show up after all. He hadn't banked on that. Of course it was always a possibility but one he wasn't ready to accept. He closed his eyes. The disappointment was enough to make him sick.

"You look like crap so I'll have whatever you're not having."

Nathan could barely contain his grin. Thank God. She had shown up. Haley had made it.

"Then you're in luck", he slid over a cup.

"Italian Espresso Roast…my favorite."

"I know. I remembered."

"I'm impressed. And let me guess…you're having a coffee with one cream, two sugars, decaf. Right?"

"Now it's my turn to be impressed."

They exchanged small smiles as she took a seat.

"Thanks for the Espresso", she said softly.

"Thank you for showing up. I wasn't sure if you were gonna."

Haley shrugged.

"That makes two of us."

"Why?" he asked quickly.

"I don't know. I…"

"No, I mean, why is stuff so weird and awkward between us now?"

"I don't have the answers, Nathan…"

"Neither do I", he sighed. "It sucks. I know I've said it before but I'm really sorry about this whole mess with Luke and especially that it went down in Charleston."

She took a sip from her cup and tried to blow off his comment with the shrug of her shoulders. The last thing she wanted to discuss was Lucas although Haley was smart enough to know eventually that's where the conversation would lead.

"It's done. It's water under the bridge."

"Is it? Because he's your husband. Look, I know you cared about him a lot. And I also know that he hurt you…a lot. I can see it, Hales. I see right through you. You're trying to hide the fact that you're in so much pain. But I know you are. I know it hurts."

"It does but what can you do?" she responded, her voice sounded snippier than she originally meant.

"I'm sorry."

"I know. Look, you keep seeing that but you don't have to. It's not your fault."

"I feel like it is sometimes", he sighed.

"You can't control him. You're not your brother's keeper."

"Yeah, I know. It just sucks being in the middle. Ever since Luke and me started having a relationship, it's been hard. He is my brother and I love him. He's a real good guy but it's like he doesn't think. Or sometimes it's like he just turns something off inside and stops caring. Whatever it is, it's hard to sit back and watch someone you care about make so many stupid mistakes."

"I know."

"And I still feel responsible for him and loyal to him because he is my blood but at the same time, I am loyal to you, too."

"It's a hell of a position, Nate. I understand that. And I don't expect you to take sides. I'd never ask you too, either."

"I know you wouldn't but you were pretty pissed when we talked on the phone and I told you…"

She shook her head at the memory.

"That's the past. Let's just bury it, okay?"

Nathan nodded but he wasn't done just yet. It wasn't that simple.

"It killed me, you know, to tell you, to hurt you like that. I'm just sorry about it all…"

Haley looked up.

"It happened and it sucked and you're sorry and I'm sorry and even Lucas is sorry. Everybody is sorry, we all have regrets. That's been established. But I'm moving on, Nathan. I don't have a choice. I have to take control of my life. And Lucas needs to move on too, which I'm sure he will. And…so do you."

It was something about the way her words made him feel. They stung a little and it put him on the defensive.

"I have, Haley."

She looked up in shock, surprised at his quick and direct response.

"Good", she cleared her head. "Um, I'm happy to hear that…"

"Yeah…"

"I guess you mean with Daytona."

Nathan hesitated for a minute. He liked Daytona a lot. And they had agreed to pursue a relationship. He had been comfortable with the idea but it was something unnerving about confessing feelings for another girl in front of Haley. It was weird. It was bad. It almost felt like…well, cheating.

"Um…"

He looked right in her eyes and at that moment it hit him like a bolt of lightening. Why did it feel weird? Why did he feel afraid almost? He loved Haley…he always had and always would. She had been his best friend forever. They cared about each other deeply but it would never be more than a friendship. That was just the reality of it and he had to realize that.

"Nathan?"

"What? Oh…um, yeah. Daytona and I are together", he blurted out.

A smile crept to his lips. Actually speaking the words hadn't been as terrifying as he had thought. It wasn't bad at all. In fact, it felt kind of good…liberating almost.

"That's nice", Haley said rather uneasily. "I mean, she's a nice girl."

"She is", he said with more confidence. "We have fun and plus she's really involved with the racing so it's nice to have that in common."

"How is the racing going?"

"It's good. I've got a couple wins under my belt but I'm still learning."

"You really like it, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I'm pretty good at it and I like it."

"I mean, all of it. Not just the racing but being in Charleston and everything."

"Yeah. It's what I want for now. And Coop is great, as an uncle and a friend. He's really helped me out and taught me a lot about the business. He really knows the ropes."

Haley looked at him. Although she never really got the racing thing, she could recognize that gleam in his eye that made his whole face light up whenever he spoke of it. She swore she saw a hint of that same gleam as he mentioned Daytona for the first time in a romantic way.

"That's good, Nathan."

"Yeah…"

"No. I really mean it. I'm proud of you."

He wrinkled his nose.

"Why?"

"Because you did what you wanted to do. I mean, how many times when we were kids mopping the floor at the Den or playing miniature golf, did we talk about our hopes and dreams? We were gonna get out of this town and do something we loved. Well, you did it. You found your niche. You discovered a whole new world. Hell, all I found was Luke."

She half smiled at her lame attempt for a joke but the meaning wasn't lost on Nathan.

"It's not too late, you know."

"For what?"

"For you, Hales. It's never to late to live your dreams."

She laughed out loud as she used the red stirrer to play with what lukewarm liquid was left in her cup

"And what was my dream? Do you remember?" she asked.

"How could I forget? You always wanted to be a famous singer."

Haley smiled. Of course Nathan would remember.

"You think I'm ready to scrap my day job and pursue the big time recording contract?" she teased.

"Not hardly. You're still tone deaf, Hales", he grinned. "But seriously. That dream might not come true but there's other stuff. I've known you practically all my life and I know there's so much more to you than being stuck alone in a small town devoting your life to some bar."

She looked him right in the eye.

"It's good enough for your mother", she carefully reminded him.

"That's the thing. It's not. The Den is her dream and she works hard to keep it all going and I respect that. But my mom is better than that. Just like she's better than Tree Hill and Dan Scott and all of it. She could be so much more than that. I want more for her. Just don't let it happen to you."

"I'm fine. I'll be okay."

He touched her hand.

"But are you happy?"

The question threw her off guard.

"Are you?" she countered.

Nathan took a deep breath.

"I am. For a while I didn't know and I was trying to find myself and I was on one of Lucas' searches for something more. But I'm done looking and I'm done running, Haley. I already have everything I need."

He looked peaceful and that made her feel good. Nathan deserved peace and happiness.

"Good. I'm really happen for you, Nathan."

"Listen, I know things have happened and we've changed but it's always been you and me against the world, Haley. I miss that. And I want it back. Just promise me whatever happens, we'll always be there for each other."

He gently caressed her smaller hand in his. He tried to look in her eyes but they were focused on something other than him.

"I have to go", she stood abruptly.

"Hales!"

"No, I mean it. Sorry. I have stuff going on and maybe I'm the one who has changed. I don't know if I can be that same Haley but I'll always be your friend, Nathan. But for now I have to go. We'll talk soon, I promise."

He turned behind him to see what the distraction was. A few feet away parked at the curb was the black F-150. In the passenger seat sat his brother.

"Is that Luke?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah. Look, I have to go…"

"What is he doing just sitting there?"

"I…I don't know", Haley lied. "Um, I'll see you at work."

She seemed panicky.

"You okay, Hales?"

"I'm fine."

"Well, you didn't drive your car. Can I at least give you a ride somewhere?"

"No", she shook her head. "It's okay. I'm fine."

And with that, she scurried off. Haley walked out of the parking lot and onto the sidewalk. The street led to her apartment just a few blocks away. She was so close but she cursed silently under her breath as she heard the engine inching up next to her.

"Haley, I need to talk to you", Lucas said, rolling down the window.

"I can't right now", she didn't look at him. "I'm busy."

He rolled his eyes.

"That's bullshit, Haley! I saw what you were busy doing. Look, get in. We need to talk and besides, I have to go to the apartment and get some more stuff…"

"No. Do that on my shift. And we don't have anything else to say to each other."

"That's so stupid! Dammitt, Hales! Why are you being like this? Why can't you just talk to me?"

She stopped and turned, looking right at him.

"No! Do you understand that, Lucas? I know it's a word you're not used to hearing. Practically your whole freaking life you've had people catering to you and telling you what you wanted to hear, when you wanted to hear and giving you what you want. You say you've changed but you haven't. Nothing ever changes! Well, I'm done. I'm not dealing with your crap anymore. So, no you can't come over right now and no I am not going to talk to you. The answer is no!"

She stood her ground and kept her voice serious enough to have him concede and angrily screech off. Suddenly she was left alone and the irony of the moment hit her. Maybe Nathan had been right. What about her hopes and dreams? They had all been left by the wayside and her life was a mess. Tears falling, she made her way home and opened the door to her apartment. She collapsed sobbing on the couch. In the kitchen, the handsome, shirtless visitor she had been helping out and who had been staying with her emerged.

"You alright?" he asked, concerned. "Haley, what's wrong? Talk to me."

Her body heaved as she cried and he held her in his arms.

"Adam, why is everything so damned screwed up?" Haley managed to ask.

He didn't know what had happened to cause her outburst and he certainly didn't have the answers. His life was at a crossroads as well. But he loved Haley with all his heart and it killed him to see her in so much pain. Instead, he placed a loving kiss on her forehead.

"I wish I knew. I wish I had some of the answers but I don't", he sighed, holding her as she continued to whimper. "All I know is that one day it will get better."

She wiped her eyes. He had always managed to comfort her.

"You promise?" she sniffled.

How could he not, staring into those eyes.

"Yeah, little sis", he took a deep breath. "I promise."