Disclaimer: I don't own anything OTH related

Chapter 19

"New Brunswick County Airport – Next Exit" Peyton read the highway sign from the backseat of the car.

As Lucas glanced in his rear view mirror, his eyes fell onto the brunette sitting beside him. He could tell that his best friend was lost in a deep thought.

Flashback

Nathan was surprised to see Jake open Lucas's front door. Nathan knew Haley was staying at Lucas's over the summer, but he had no idea that Jake was home. They had talked for a few minutes catching up briefly. Jake knew why Nathan was there and made an excuse to leave the house for a few minutes so that Nathan and Haley had some time alone.

Haley's back was to the door and assumed that the entering footsteps belonged to Jake. "Can you grab the box by the door?"

Nathan looked at the ground and picked up the empty cardboard box. He walked over to Haley and placed it beside her feet.

"Thanks, Ja…" Haley looked up, "Nathan!" her immediate reaction caused her to hug him. She had been at the funeral and wake yesterday but didn't see Nathan. She had heard that his flight was delayed. "I'm so sorry,"

"Thanks," he sad somberly.

She pulled back a bit, "How are you? Are you ok?"

Nathan nodded, "Yeah…it's hard to believe that he's really gone…" Talking about his father wasn't exactly the thing he wanted to deal with right now. He took a step back and looked around the room.

"Are you packing?"

"Kinda…Karen's coming home in a few days. I figured I should move out of her room before she comes home,"

Nathan nodded, not really hearing what Haley was saying. What he was going to tell her and how he was going to say it clouded his mind.

"Haley, we need to talk,"

She caught on to his serious tone. Suddenly she regretted her decision to stay in Tree Hill.

He motioned her to sit and Nathan sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. "Before I left, I told you that when I came back we could work things out..."

"Yeah, you said that you need time to sort things out,"

"All summer long, all I could think about was us…everything that happened between us and that we would be able to work things out when I got back, but…"

"What do you mean by 'but'?" she cautiously said.

Nathan scratched his head and sighed, "I don't know…I mean I know when we were together, it felt…right and for the first time, I was happy. I think a part of me is scared to let that go. And I want all of that back again with you. I really do, but I just don't think we can ever go back to the way things were…"

Her heart sank. She knew he didn't want to work on their relationship. It was over, but Haley wasn't about to give up…after all, she had turned down a dream tour out of her love for him, "Nathan, we won't know if we don't try. Nathan, I love you,"

"Haley…I met someone…"

Nathan saw the hurt and anger mix in her eyes as her jaw dropped in surprise. At first she tried to speak but nothing came out. The heartbroken teen tried several more times until finally, "You what?" Haley jumped off the bed. A lump formed in her throat as tears filled her eyes, "I don't believe this…"

"Haley, I'm sorry,"

"Did you sleep with her?" When Nathan didn't answer, Haley turned around to face him. She saw the guilt in his face. "Get out,"

"I'm so sorry, Hales…I didn't mean to…" he stood up at walked towards her.

It was hard for her to breath. Haley could feel her world crashing down around her. Nothing could be said or done about it, especially by Nathan. It would have been so easy for her to collapse into her arms, but she had to be strong. Haley pushed him away, "I said, get out," she said even more angrily.

End Flashback
Lucas was confused at Haley's sudden change of mind of going on tour. All Lucas knew was that she had initially turned down the offer to start over with Nathan. And when Nathan finally did come home, Haley spent hours on the phone begging her manager to get her back on the tour. Lucky for her, they weren't able to find a replacement in such a short period of time.

Lucas took his eyes off the road for a second and looked at Haley who was sitting beside him, "You sure this is what you want?"

Without hesitating she nodded her head, "Yeah, it is," Haley shifted her gaze from Lucas to the sign outside, marking their exit.

Peyton leaned forward and placed her hand on Haley's shoulder, letting her know that she wasn't alone this time. No matter what would happen, she would always be there.

Haley was glad to have a friend in Peyton…someone she could trust and confide in, other than Lucas. Peyton was also the one person who knew what really happened between Haley and Nathan and she was sworn to secrecy not to tell Lucas. Although she hated secrets, Peyton agreed. She also figured that it would only make things between the brothers even worse.

Lucas pulled the car up to the curb just under the United Airlines departing sign. He quickly unloaded her suitcases from the back while Peyton and Haley said their goodbyes.

"Thanks, Peyton…for everything,"

"Yeah…You just keep in touch this time, you hear?" Peyton said.

"I promise. I couldn't handle losing you as a friend again,"

"You never did and you never will," Peyton smiled, "You're stuck with me. No matter how famous you get, I'll still be collecting royalties for my song,"

Haley rolled her eyes and laughed. She looked over at Lucas who was closing the trunk of the car, "Take care of him, will you?"

Peyton nodded and promised.

With one last hug, the girls finally let go. Peyton smiled at Lucas before heading back into the car, allowing him some private time with his best friend.

"Well, I guess this is it," he said sadly with his arms open.

Haley fell into his arms, "Nah. You can't get rid of me that easily. I'll be back,"

"I'm so proud of you, Hales," he whispered, "I don't know what I'm going to do without you,"

She held back her tears, "Ok, if I don't go now, I'm going to miss my flight,"

"Ok," he let her go, "I love you, Hales,"

"I love you too, Lucas,"

Lucas slowly backed away from Haley. Haley picked up her suitcases then waved and Lucas and Peyton one last time. Before she headed inside, she called out, "Hey Luke, no matter what happens, always listen to your heart,"

He turned his gaze from Haley to the curly blonde sitting in the driver's seat of the car. Her eyes were still fixed on Haley. As Haley walked through the doors and disappeared from sight, a tear fell from her eye. Peyton looked over at Lucas and flashed him a smile, letting him know that things were going to be ok.

With a tilt of her head and with a wide grin, Peyton then dangled the keys into view. She was going to driving home. Sitting in the backseat on the way over was like torture for Peyton. She hated not being the one behind the wheel. Lucas chuckled to himself and shook his head at the crazy girl before making his way to the passenger's side.

"Peyton, come on…pick up your phone. I need you," Brooke cried into the phone.

She had been trying to get a hold of Peyton for the past few days. Although she had made many new friends in California, they just weren't her best friend. Brooke needed her best friend to talk to about the other night with Nathan.

Flashback

He had woken up just as the sun was beginning to rise. For the first time in months he let out a smile when he woke up next to the brunette. Being completely sober, Nathan remembered the night clearly.

Reality began to set in when Nathan heard his cell phone ringing somewhere in the pile of clothes beside him. It was Haley.

A panicked Nathan turned his phone off. Technically, he and Haley were still together.

"Brooke," he called out as he started to dress. "Brooke…wake up,"

"Hmm…" as she drifted back to consciousness, flashes of the night before flickered in her mind. A smile spread across her face. Then she opened her eyes to see Nathan quickly getting dressed.

Brooke sat up and covered herself, looking confused at him.

"Brooke, get dressed. We got to go,"

'Great. Another one night stand,' Brooke thought to herself.

End Flashback

A/N: I know it took me a while to update, but it's hard to write non L/P ships for me. Anyways, I wasn't sure how to break up N/H (the other version had Haley leaving and not finding out about N/B) And since I have time tonight, some shoutouts…

luvtheOC09 – I love that you're such a faithful reader. I think you've signed pretty much every chapter! It really does keep me motivated at write.

Song for No One – Originally I had Deb in on Dan's murder, but then I thought if Nathan found out it would probably destroy him. But now that I think about it more, you're right; Deb should have been on it regardless…

RosHillCrosCreekgurl – I'm glad you like the story. I know I totally love Whitey! Some of the things he says on the show are hilarious.

P.Sawyer – I was on a roll with updates last week because I wrote the chapters while I was in class. For some reason its just so much easier to write when I'm supposed to be paying attention to something else . I actually just saw the OTH premiere the other night. I totally love the L/P scenes. They were too cute…I'm hoping something more happened between L/P that they haven't shown yet. But I hate how Lucas is still hung up on Brooke. BTW, have you updated your fics yet?

Anna – thanks for reading. Glad you like it. I know I haven't updated as quickly recently, but hopefully you found other fics to read! P. Sawyer's got a couple of L/P fics.

Qoite – I have a little B/N drama coming up and some LPB troubles too

cabot007 – I love reading your reviews. You have some great feedback and I think you know now the direction of the other couples…and who knows, there may be a third one ;)