Haley drove her rented car through the streets, parking in front of a hotel just outside Tree Hill. After checking in and settling herself in the room, Haley began to pace. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks.

Nathan wasn't going to sign those papers.

"Why does he have to make everything so difficult!" she yelled to no-one but the walls. She kept pacing. At her current mood, she was going to wear a hole strait through the carpet. Finally she threw her jacket on and walked out of the room.

Karen's Café still had the same musty smell of books mixed with coffee and food. Haley took a breath and walked inside. She slid onto a seat by the counter and waited patiently.

"Hales?"

Haley looked up. Standing there was Lucas. Her eyes widened slightly. Karen was one thing, Lucas was another. Before she could stop herself, she jumped up and ran out of the café.

"Wait!" Lucas literally vaulted over the counter and took off after her, "Hales!" he yelled looking around. He saw her about to get into a car. He sprinted after her, gripping the window frames.

"Hales wait—" he protested.

"No, I shouldn't have come—" she began.

"You shouldn't have left," Lucas corrected her, then cursed himself at the hurt look on her face, "sorry I didn't mean that—"

"Yes you did," Haley said brokenly, "and your right."

"Come out of the car," Lucas said, "lets go back."

Haley swallowed, her hands still gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white. Lucas gently covered one of her hands with his own. Letting out a shuddering breath she didn't know she was holding, Haley let go of the steering wheel and opened the door, getting out of the car.

The two were quiet on the short walk back to the diner. Once they were inside however, the mood changed. Because the first person they saw was Karen.

The years had changed her only slightly. Her eyes still sparkled, even though there were fine lines around them. Her brown hair had a few threads of grey going through it. Yet she still hugged Haley as if she were her own daughter.

"Haley how are you?" she smiled.

"Good Karen," she managed to force through the lump in her throat, "how are you?"

"A lot better now that your back. Sit down, let me get you something to eat."

Haley slid into one of the seats. Lucas sat down next to her and leaned forward. Haley looked over at him out of the corner of her eye before looking away quickly and biting her lip.

Lucas began to laugh. His broad shoulders shook with laughter. He wasn't sure what he found funny, maybe it was the idea that somehow everything would be alright or maybe it was Haley looked like the same girl. Deep down Lucas thought, it was probably the 23 tattooed on her back.

"What's so funny?" Haley demanded, trying to act angry. But as always, Lucas's boyish laughter was infectious and she began to laugh as well.

"So how have you been?" Lucas asked when they were under control again.

"God I don't know," Haley said looking up, "I mean my life in San Francisco is great. But I've been here for a few hours and it feels like San Francisco is just a dream."

"Tree Hill does that to you," Karen laughed placing two plates of steaming food in front of them.

"Aww thanks mom," Lucas said grinning.

"This looks wonderful Karen," Haley said.

They ate in silence. Then Lucas grabbed her hand and pulled her away. Five minuets later, they were back on the roof. It was in exactly the same condition as it had been when she left. The neon lights still glowed in their respective corners, turning her red and Lucas blue depending on where they stood. Haley would bet there were still balloons hiding in their same places.

"So are you going to tell me his name?" Lucas asked sitting down. Haley sighed and looked up.

"If you know there's a 'him' then you know his name," Haley said looking at the stars.

"Ah the infamous Derek Woods," Lucas said looking over at Haley, "no relation to the famous Tiger I assume."

"No," Haley shook her head. Lucas nodded slightly, "so I see you and Nathan are being called the Scott brothers now."

"It doesn't bother me at all, in fact," he said jumping on one of the platforms, "I like it a lot."

"Boy have I been gone long," Haley said shaking her head and then she winced at the truth of her words, "I just mean—a lot's changed."

"Yeah," Lucas nodded, "let me tell you about it."

Haley jumped over to him and sat down next to him. Lucas looked up, trying to think of where to start.

"Well," he began, "Brooke left just after you did. She's somewhere on the East Coast now, I think New York. We get an occasionally post card."

"We?" Haley asked studying her former best friend.

"Me," Lucas corrected himself.

"Jenny finally got a mother," he continued.

"Nikki's back?" Haley asked frowning.

"No," Lucas laughed, "Nikki temporarily got custody of Jenny and managed to get black-out drunk and call me. She left a very obvious message on my voice mail. I brought it to the judge and a few days later Jenny was back with Jake permanently."

Haley nodded.

"Around that same time Peyton and Jake discovered they were both crazy about Jenny each other. They've been married for almost ten years now and Jake still blushes whenever Peyton kisses him."

"Well it was kind of obvious," she said in a know-it-all voice that Lucas hadn't heard her use since she taught him Geometry.

"Oh really?" he asked.

"Yeah," Haley said, "I didn't want to tell you because you had a thing for her."

"I did not have a 'thing' for Peyton," Lucas said with a laugh. Haley raised her eyebrows, "come on Hales, she's my friend's wife, I don't want to think like that," Lucas explained making a face that caused Haley to laugh harder.

"Fair enough Luke," she responded, "so what about—"

Lucas cut her off with a raising of his hand.

"Yes the apartment is still in his name, although he never uses it, no he has not had a decent relationship since you left and yes he still has the wedding ring and the socks and a bunch of bad CD's that even I would never touch."

"That obvious huh?" Haley asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

"Kinda," Lucas replied nodding, "Look Hales—"

"No," Haley shook her head, "look Lucas, I can't do this right now—"

"Why not?" Lucas asked, becoming angry but trying to fight it with all his heart. Haley shook her head and looked away, rubbing her arms up and down, "tell me why!"

"Because I have the same bad CD's!" Haley burst out, "and the old water balloons and the rings and the dress—"

The list went on and all Lucas could do was stare as Haley ranted. Tears started to collect in her eyes and drip down her face. Haley found she was having trouble talking through the lump that was collecting in her throat. Finally she was standing there taking deep breaths trying not to break down completely.

Lucas could only stare. His lips curved up in a small smile.

"Welcome back Hales."