So, I decided to keep my promise about updating at least once a day. Thank you to those who reviewed:

NHforever23: That was such a sweet review. I'm so happy you're really loving my story. Thank you for saying it was amazing. And lol, I know exactly what you mean about forgetting song names. You know you've heard it, but it just won't come to you. If you're referring to the songs in my most recent chapter, the first was Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson and the second was Polaris by Jimmy Eat World. :)

whazzupp8: Hey! So glad you're still reading this story. I love getting your replies! And so glad I could make your day. I know I kept you waiting long enough. :) I get what you're saying about cliffhangers. They can be good and bad at the same time. I know I always leave you guys hanging. What can I say? I'm a sucker for it. :) Yeah, I'll count on you to hold me to the updating every day thing. God knows I need someone to keep me in line. lol. Love ya!

Sorry for leaving you guys with a cliffhanger. I just love to do that, don't I? lol. Anyway, enjoy:

Chapter 7:

He looked down at her. She could see the struggle in his eyes.

She looked up at him and he could see the pain in her eyes. He wanted to say something. He wanted to make her feel better, wanted to p iss her off, wanted to show her he was doing fine without her. But mostly, he just wanted to know she still loved him.

She wanted to tell him she still loved him. She wanted to apologize and beg him for a second chance. She wanted to tell him they could make things work. But mostly, she just wanted to melt into his arms.

He couldn't do it though. He couldn't make himself say anything. So, he turned and walked away. She ran after him, pulling the grocery cart along behind her. It only slowed her down. "Nathan!" she called. He walked faster. "Nathan!" she tried, louder.

He abandoned his cart and walked toward the exit. Sighing, she brought her cart up to a cash register and watched him walk out. The cash register, a pregnant teen looked at her sympathetically. "You know, love's never easy. I've had my heart broken before."

Haley nodded, trying to be polite. The girl took forever to ring all her items up. "Good luck," she smiled, handing Haley her bags. Haley smiled back as best she could and walked out the sliding doors.

Halfway across the parking lot, a bag ripped open and its contents spilled onto the ground. "S hit!" she muttered, dropping the other bags. A hand reached out and helped her gather up the packages. She looked up. It was Nathan.

He wasn't smiling. His face was eerily void of expression. Her heart started pounding. She hadn't been this close to him in a week. He carried them with her to her car, neither speaking. He helped her load her groceries, then shoved his hands in his pockets and waited while she closed the trunk. She turned to him. "Thanks." He nodded.

Silence overtook them again. She looked into his eyes. "Why'd you help me?"

He shrugged. "You looked like you needed it." She nodded.

She cleared her throat. "Nathan, we should talk."

He looked away. "Haley, unless you're going to apologize, there's no need to."

She shook her head. "You know this is hard for me."

He turned back to her, a fire burning in his eyes. "It doesn't have to be."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm tired of everything always being so damn hard with you, Haley! We can never just be together. There's always something in our way. And that something is you."

"What do you mean, I'm in our way? I know I haven't been good to you, but... that doesn't make any sense."

"It makes perfect sense. I would've given you anything, Haley and you know it. But you were always resisting us. You never could let yourself be happy."

"You think I don't want to be happy! Because I do. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Well then, stop making it so difficult. You have the power to make yourself happy. You just have to let it happen."

She looked away from him. "What if I don't know how?"

"Just stop holding back! Just let things happen and stop being so f uckin scared all the time!"

"I'm not scared!"

"Yes, you are!" he roared. "And that is the only thing that's kept us apart."

She shook her head. "I don't believe you. It's not true. My past is the only thing that ever kept us apart."

"It's not your past that did this, Haley. It's who you are because of your past. You've become this person who won't let anyone get to close to you. Like maybe, if you keep your distance, you'll be unbreakable. You're so damn fragile."

She could feel the tears stinging the back of her eyes, but she'd promised herself she wouldn't cry. Especially not in front of him. Nathan shook his head. "And I'm tired of waiting for you to fix yourself, Haley. I thought I could be strong enough for both of us, but you just keep tearing me down. And I can't take it anymore."

He started to walk away. She grabbed his arm. "Nathan." He clenched his jaw. She let out one sob, then tried to control herself. "I'm sorry."

He nodded. "I know, but that's not enough."

And then, he was gone again, leaving her alone in a deserted parking lot. Only one tear fell.

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Haley walked in the door 20 minutes later with only three bags. Andrea and Luke were in the kitchen. Andrea stood up when she came in. "Hey... that's all you got?" Haley nodded, setting them down on the counter and taking a deep breath. "Haley, have you been crying?" Luke immediately looked up, concerned.

She shook her head. "It's no big deal."

He rushed to hug her and Andrea did the same. Lucas looked down at her. "Hales, what happened?"

She laughed bitterly. "Had a little run-in with Nathan at the store."

Andrea crushed Haley to herself. "Oh, Haley baby, I'm so sorry. I'll do all the grocery shopping from now on."

Haley laughed. "It's OK, really. He just told me some things I needed to hear."

Lucas nudged her. "Want me to kick his a ss?"

She smiled at him. "That's OK."

She looked at them both. "Thanks, guys."

Andrea moved to start gathering the food. "You're so welcome. Now, let's get this movie night started. We need to get you thinking about something else. Even if it's a lame teen movie."

Two hours later, they were starting their second movie when Haley's cell phone rang. Andrea picked it up and tossed it to her. She motioned for Luke to follow her and they both went into the kitchen to give Haley a little privacy, in case it was Nathan. She shot them a grateful look. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Peyton. I know about you and Nate."

Haley sighed. "So, you know?"

"Duh, Brooke told me."

Haley laughed. "Yeah, I figured she would."

"So, how you doing? Is it getting any better?"

"Not really, but I'm learning how to deal with it. Truth be told, I brought this on myself. It's been a long time coming."

"You know, I talked to Nathan and he's not doing much better if that helps."

"I wish it would, but I did this to him, Peyt. Me. And that just kills me. I pushed him away so much, that I've finally lost him. And without him... I'm losing myself. I don't know what to do. Nothing feels the same anymore."

"Haley, I'm going to tell you something and I don't ever want you to forget it. You can't be afraid of living."

"I'm not."

"But you are. Listen, my mom, she lived too fast and died too young. When she was here, it was always work, work, work. She never really slowed down to appreciate anything. And she died before she ever got the chance to. Don't be like her, Haley. Don't spend your life wishing you were brave enough to live it."

"Why would you think I would do that, Peyton?"

"Because you haven't lived yet. You've had so many bad experiences and it taught you to be afraid. You're so wary of everything that's going on around you, of anything that might break your heart, you don't realize you're breaking yourself by not letting yourself find out." There was silence on Haley's end for a couple of minutes. "You still there, Hales?"

"Yeah, I'm just... thinking."

"I'm right, Haley. I know I am. Promise me you'll try to do better."

"OK," Haley whispered.

"Good, I gotta go, but you take care of yourself and hold your head up, alright?"

"Yeah, thanks, Peyton."

"You're welcome. Bye."

Then, there was a click and a dial tone and Haley was left thinking about what Peyton had said.

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Nathan was sitting on his couch, thinking of his earlier encounter with Haley. It had been... strange. To see her for the first time in a week and end up in another fight. This had never happened to them before. Haley had always been the one to leave. And now, it had been his turn. But had he done the right thing?

He knew he had, he just didn't want to accept it. He didn't want to accept that letting her go was the right thing to do.

The doorbell rang and he moved slowly to answer it. Part of him hoped it wasn't Haley. He didn't know if he could deal with their problems right now. But a bigger part of him hoped it was. Just to be able to see her again. He couldn't live without her. It was tearing him up inside.

Swinging the door open, he found Luke on the other side. He was relieved, yet somehow, disappointed. He let him in. "Hey, man." Luke gave him a one armed hug and he reciprocated it. He closed the door behind him.

They both walked into the living room and plopped down on the couch. "Sooooo..." Luke began.

Nathan looked away. He knew what this was about. Luke looked at him. He didn't say anything.

Luke sighed. "Look, man. She's falling apart. She can't do this alone."

Nathan groaned. "What am I supposed to do, Luke? She did this to us. She kept bringing me closer, then pushing me away. And the more I tried to help her, the farther I got pushed."

Lucas sighed again. "I know, I know. What she did to you wasn't fair. I just can't stand to see you guys like this."

Nathan looked at him. "I need to move on. I need to get past this. I just don't know how."

"I wish I could help you, Nate."

"Yeah. I guess it was a bad idea to get involved with her in the first place. I always knew this would end in heartache. She'd just had too much happen to her. We both had too much to lose."

"True, but I never saw either of you happier than when you were together."

Nathan sighed. "You're right. We were never happier. But we were also never more unstable. Maybe things are better this way. It sure makes it a hell of a lot easier."

Luke looked at him incredulously. "This isn't easy Nathan. For you or for her."

Nathan rubbed his temples. "I know, but it has to be. I can't take another break up, Luke. That's why I asked her to marry me. It was either forever or never."

"And I understand. I really do. It's just... do you really want to live the rest of your life like this?"

He shook his head. "No, but I can't live my life waiting for her to decide I'm worth it. It's a waste of time. We both know it won't happen."

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I know, sad chapter. And relatively short too. Sorry about that. Don't lose faith in me yet though. I know what I'm doing... well, most of the time anyway. :) lol.

So, if I don't update tonight, I definitely will tomorrow.

Love y'all,

Ash