Chapter 9- Rumors

"Haley, I have heard some things, about Nathan. Things I think you need to know." Peyton hated to have to tell Haley the rumors but she knew that she had to, that is what best friends do, watch out for one another.

"Like what Pey? What's up?" Haley had an idea of what she was going to say. Things with her and Nathan were great, they had been together for almost two months and each day was better than the one before it.

"I have heard rumors that Nathan sells drugs." Peyton knew that was the only way to say it, to just spit it out. Put it out there so that they could talk about it.

"I was worried you would say that. I have heard stuff about that too. I don't know though, I have never seen sell any drugs, he has never mentioned it. Now that I think of it, I haven't even ever see him smoke pot. That wouldn't surprise me, so many people do it, but no, not even that." Haley had the sneaking suspicion that the rumors were true, but she just didn't want to believe it.

"Maybe he keeps that part of his life separate from you. If it was just one or two people who talked about it I might not believe it, but I have heard it a lot Haley, a real lot. I don't know, it makes me wonder. Have you talked to him about I at all?" Peyton knew that this had to be hard for Haley, she had fallen for Nathan, that was pretty obvious. Peyton could understand why she wouldn't want to believe it.

"No, I haven't mentioned it. This is a big deal Peyton, a really big deal. I haven't been able to gather up enough nerve to talk about it. I know I need to though, I know that I have to know if it is true. It's just, what if it is?" That was what Haley really dreaded, hearing Nathan say that it was true, that he sold drugs. That her boyfriend was a drug dealer. She shivered at the words, drug dealer.

"I guess that you can't really decide what you would do about it until you know if it is true or not. I mean, what if he says he isn't and you find out he is lying? I don't think that you could figure out how you would react in every possible situation with this. I think you just have to wait and see what happens. This is definitely something that you can't just let go though. This could seriously affect him, and you for that matter. I mean, what if he has drugs in his car when he is driving you somewhere? You can get in trouble for that. You have such a clean rep, such good grades, such a bright future, you can't put that on the line."

Haley bit her lip, something she always did when she was really contemplating something. "I know, all of that makes sense, it is just that this is the first big thing that we are going to have to deal with. Up until this point it has been smooth sailing, we haven't even had an argument. But this, this is definitely big. I think I am just scared that he will give me an answer that we can't work through. What do we do then?"

"You won't know until you ask. Do it, it will work out better in the end." Peyton nodded, letting Haley know that that was her last word, that was all she had to say about it.

"That's what I am going to do, I am going to ask. Tonight, when he calls, we will talk about it. God, I hope it goes okay."

ooooOoooo

"I have to ask you something Nathan." Haley and Nathan had been on the phone for almost an hour, talking about their days and work and just chit chatting, Haley had been avoiding the big stuff. She knew she couldn't do that anymore, she just had to get it over with.

"Sure, what's up Hales?" Nathan braced himself, he had a pretty good idea what she might be asking.

"I have heard some stuff, around school. And I kind of need to know whether or not it is true. It's hard for me to say, and I hope you don't get mad, but here goes. Nathan, do you sell drugs?" Haley held her breath, she half expected him to freak out on her or something.

"Yeah, I do. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it's just that everything has been going so well and I didn't want to put a damper on it. But yeah, I do sell drugs." Nathan had no idea how Haley would react, he was honestly surprised that it had gone this long without coming up. He was pretty well known for it around school. He was definitely the "go-to" guy.

"Like how frequently? What drugs? I just want to know what we are talking about here." Haley didn't know much about drugs, it wasn't something she had ever been involved with but she felt she deserved to know the details.

"It is pretty frequent. At least one deal a day usually. I sell mostly pot, but sometimes people ask for 'shrooms or cocaine and I can usually get my hands on it." Nathan knew it sounded pretty bad but he wanted to be up front about it all.

"Do you do these drugs too?" For some reason Haley dreaded this answer more, she didn't want her boyfriend to be a druggie.

"I do smoke pot, pretty regularly. I have done other drugs but it isn't an everyday thing. Since you and I have gotten together all I have done is smoke pot, nothing else."

Haley had to think for a minute. She knew that smoking pot was no big deal, so many people in their school did it. She could deal with him experimenting in the past with other stuff, lots of her friends had done that, but she really didn't want him to be doing all that other stuff regularly. "I kind of don't know what to say. I am glad you were honest with me Nathan, I really am. It means a lot to me that you didn't try and hide it once I asked." Haley had feared he would lie and then she would have to deal with that, that for her was a deal breaker. Once they started lying to each other, in her eyes, there was no point to staying together.

"I know that this is a lot to deal with, a lot to digest. I can't ask you to look past it. If you want to break up with me I understand." Nathan braced himself, he really hoped that that wasn't what this was going to come to.

"I think you know that I can't do that, that I can't break up with you. It is too late for that, I have fallen for you Nathan, fallen hard. As much as I don't like it I can't walk away because of it. But, I do want to set some ground rules."

"Okay, let's hear them."

"First, you won't do anything besides smoke pot in front of me. Pot doesn't bother me, any other drug does. I would rather you didn't do them, but that isn't my call to make. All I ask is that if you do you don't do it around me, and you do tell me about it. I don't want secrets Nathan, I am serious. And the drug dealing, I don't want to be involved in it at all. I also don't want to take a back seat to it, I don't want to feel as though that part of your life is more important than me. Does all that sound okay with you?" Haley held her breath, she knew she was asking a lot. She putting a lot of conditions into things.

"It is all fine with me. Let me just say, since we have started dating I have been selling less and less. I am trying to get out of it but it is hard. I won't lie, people count on me and it is really good money. It is hard to walk away from, but I am trying, it is a slow process but I do want to get out of it. I don't want it to come between us. I promise that it will stay separate from you, and you are always and will always be more important than selling drugs, I promise you that." Nathan could finally let out his breath, he had been holding it forever it seemed. He knew that this would be okay, he knew that Haley would work through this with him.

"I'm glad you don't think I am asking for too much. That is really important to me. Just know that we will deal with this all day by day, if things bother me or I feel uncomfortable I will tell you. I promise you that." Haley would see how she dealt with the reality of it, she wasn't quite sure how it would work out but she definitely wanted to try.

"Always tell me, always be open and honest with me. That is really important to me." Nathan knew he was really lucky, lucky to have a girl like Haley who was this understanding. "I have to get going Haley, I have to finish up a paper before I go to bed."

"Okay, no problem. I'll see you tomorrow, in the morning?" Nathan had been picking Haley up for school every morning since they had started dating. Haley loved it, it was like their time. She loved seeing him every morning before she started her day.

"Of course. And Haley, one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"I have fallen for you, hard. I didn't expect it, but there it is."